In the first full episode of Uncapped with Executive Roustabouts, Jon Krome sits down with former colleague and longtime industry leader Rod Skaufel for a candid conversation on career growth, leadership, culture, shale development, safety, regulation, AI, and the future of oil and gas.

Drawing on decades of experience across Mobil, Aera Energy, ExxonMobil, BHP Billiton, and Cobalt, Rod shares practical advice for younger professionals, including why ambition is not a dirty word, why excellence still matters, and how strong teams are built over time.

Jon and Rod also revisit lessons from heavy oil and shale, discuss the challenges of remote work and mentorship, and explore how the industry is evolving through technology, automation, and changing workforce expectations.

This episode sets the tone for what Uncapped is all about: honest, experience-based conversations with executives who have led through complexity and still have plenty to say.

Welcome to Uncapped with Executive Roustabouts, hosted by Jon Krome.

In this intro episode, Jon shares the vision behind the podcast, his journey into the oil and gas industry, and why now is the time for more honest, unfiltered conversations with the people who have actually led it.

This is not another industry podcast filled with headlines and surface-level takes.

Uncapped is about real experience, real perspective, and the kind of insight you only get from decades in the field.

If you’ve ever wanted to understand how oil and gas executives actually think, this is where it starts.