Smart Acids™
Smart Acids, a Univar Solutions podcast, is the source for product insights and current market moves related to chemical and specialty ingredient distribution—breaking it all down one boron at a time. Join hosts Andy Erickson and Chris Ernst for straightforward and honest chat that speaks to the why behind pricing and supply, delivered in a smart, fun and entertaining way.
Episodes
28 episodes
Chips: Beyond phones and video games
In this episode, the Smart Acids hosts welcome Joe 'Sherlock' Holmes, Business Development Manager, Electronics. Joe gives us a glimpse into the world of semiconductors and paints a vivid picture of the industry's ecosystem. He'll also provide ...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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23:11
A look back at two legendary careers
Smart Acids welcome back both Duane 'Papa Z' Ziolkoswki and Rick 'Ricky Lee' Roth. In this special episode Duane and Rick provide a retrospective on each of their 40+ year careers, the distribution industry over time, what has changed and...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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19:11
Pricing roller coaster ride and the return of ethanol
Learn about the alcohol market's ups and downs and gain valuable insights into what's ahead for IPA and ethanol. The Smart Acids hosts welcome Duane "Papa Z" Ziolkowski, Product Director, Solvents for Univar Solutio...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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14:42
Global Supply Chain 360 + Baltimore Key Bridge Incident
What’s the current state of our global supply chain and what’s driving costs, efficiencies and risk to the maritime shipping network? The Smart Acids return to navigate what's happening at sea with Jeff “Starbuck” Dixon, Director ...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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15:57
Chef Mike's top food trends of 2024 + culinary product development
What's shaping the future of food and beverage markets? Chef Mike Haracz brings his corporate chef expertise to the Smart Acids table to discuss the innovative landscape of the food industry and culinary product development. Let's dig into top ...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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23:23
Smart Acids' excellent adventure through science history and chemical innovation
"Everything in our world is chemistry and chemistry is everywhere in our lives," - David Allen Cole, CEO of the Science History InstituteThis episode is one for the history books. Smart Acids hosts Andy Erickson and Chris Ernst welcome ...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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19:19
BASF shares global production outlook + why do producers need distributors?
Smart Acids hosts Andy Erickson and Chris Ernst welcome Detroit native and BASF Strategic Customer Network Leader Jarrett "Hustle" Russell to share a global outlook about what’s happening with production and demand across Europe, Asia-Pacific, ...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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10:20
Energy Commodities Report: Is Oil & Gas dead?
Smart Acids hosts Andy and Chris welcome Chris "The Foreman" McAfee, Senior Director of Energy Upstream at Univar Solutions, for a view on the oil and gas industry landscape, what’s ahead for commodities, and the rising price per barrel. But fi...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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12:10
Ethanol Update Part 2: Navigating specially denatured alcohol permits
Smart Acids hosts Andy and Chris welcome back our resident expert of alcohol (the alcohol with two carbons, aka ethanol), Product Director Duane "Papa Z" Ziolkowski, for a quick rundown of the different classifications and regulatory requiremen...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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7:45
The Industrial/Beverage split: Ethanol product moves
Returning guest Duane "Papa Z" Ziolkowski, product director at Univar Solutions, talks about all things ethanol, including its changing landscape, the role of imports and non-GMO, and how this essential – and circular – product moves from fuel ...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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11:27
Industrial Specialty Chemicals: Down to the nitty-gritty
Smart Acids hosts Andy Erickson and Chris Ernst welcome Univar Solutions VP Industrial Solutions Michael ‘Diamond Delli’ DelliCompagni to talk about the industrial side of specialty chemicals, market moves in this segment, how the cost of borro...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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14:24
Smart Acids go to Washington - Featuring NACD CEO Eric Byer
Smart Acids hosts Andy Erickson, Chris Ernst and special guest host Dwayne ‘the self-proclaimed Rock’ Roark welcome CEO of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD), Eric ‘the filibuster’ Byer, to talk critical policy issues faci...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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21:05
Ag Market: Growth, circularity, and seasonal changes
Let’s talk all things ag – seasons, cycles, and other organic matters. Special guest Christian Jeuris, Agriculture Business Development Manager at Univar Solutions, helps us get to the bottom of Agriculture’s cyclical market, the state of the u...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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11:12
Do you know your pale ales? Plus ethanol, IPA, and propylene pricing dynamics
Smart Acids host Andy Erickson and the hops to his hazy pale ale, co-host Chris Ernst, talk IPAs – isopropyl alcohol vs the latest craft brews – with Product Director Duane "Papa Z" Ziolkowski. Hear market updates and pricing dynamics for ethan...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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9:48
Current State of Trucking: Part 2 transportation market breakdown
Breaker-Breaker...Transportation Leader Rob McRae knows what’s driving the future of distribution. In this episode, McRae takes a comparative look at the truck transportation subsector and current state of today's carriers, and why our very own...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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9:57
Reliance on rail: Part 1 transportation market breakdown
Transportation Logistician Rob “The Rainmaker” McRae has a passion for all things that move. In this episode, McRae gives the Smart Acids team a market update on the rail transportation subsector, current freight shipping capacity, talk of rail...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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14:31
Bulk chemical big picture of Chlor-Alkali market dynamics
Let's talk Chlor-Alkali market dynamics. What does the chlorine and caustic demand situation look like globally? The Smart Acids team closes out the year with Univar Solutions Chlor-Alkali VP Gary "The Czar" Gable giving a big picture view of t...
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9:11
What's driving the future of distribution?
What industries are delivering upside in today's chemicals and ingredients market, and what's driving the future of distribution for 2023? With more than 30 years' experience in the business, "Magic Man" Dan Matheny, VP of Product Manag...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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14:48
Surfactants shifts and who's betting heavy on bio-based surfactants
As Andy waxes poetic about the autumnal shifts of the season, Chris checks in on changes within the Surfactants market with Lidia Smorodina, "The Whispering Assassin" and senior product manager, specialties.Listen now to our latest mark...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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11:33
You Be the Chemist Challenge winners take on the Smart Acids
The Smart Acids are back for a special edition episode featuring the winners of the 2022 National You Be the Chemist Challenge (grades 5-8). Univar Solutions is a proud sponsor of the Chemical Educational Foundation (CEF) annual STEM c...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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18:06
Crude oil market report ahead of annual planning cycle
Smart Acids want to know: How are demands and supplies trending on crude oil? "It's a question of how much supply is needed and how fast," says Billy "The Piano Man" Grohl who returns to give us a market update heading into the end of the year....
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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10:52
Owning the last mile: Supply chain sustainability
What are the biggest challenges that lie ahead for global industries becoming more sustainable? The Smart Acids talk technical with leaders in environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and governance roles at Univar ...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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21:32
Revival of superfund tax and ripple effects across chemical space
What’s the ripple effect of the revived U.S. superfund-related tax across the chemistries and industries we serve?The Smart Acids get serious with experts from both the tax and commercial side to discuss the superfund tax's rip...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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16:34
What's the big deal with bulk chemicals?
On the latest episode of the Smart Acids, hear Univar Solutions Chlor-Alkali VP Gary 'the czar' Gable (01:32) break down the Chlor-Alkali market, global trade dynamics and pricing trend predictions. Tom ‘TomKat’ Edman (11:05) dives into specifi...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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20:41
International impacts, phosphate and surfactant moves
“If you’re importing raw materials, don’t run your inventories low. Make sure you’re keeping some measure of inventory on hand and a buffer to guard against delays.” Listen as the Smart Acids learn more from International Trade Dir...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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20:30