Brandon and Jeremy sit down with Seth Whitehead, Executive Director of the Illinois Petroleum Resources Board, to talk about the history, future, and public perception of oil and gas in Illinois. Seth shares how IPRB educates students, supports environmental restoration, and helps tell the story of an industry made up largely of local, family-run producers. They also discuss fracking misconceptions, the impact of shows like Landman, abandoned tank battery cleanup, workforce development, and why energy demand means oil and gas will remain essential for years to come.

In the very first episode of The Landcast, Brandon and Jeremy dive into the realities of becoming landmen and what it actually takes to succeed in the industry.

Jeremy shares stories from his early days working title in the Barnett Shale and isolated West Texas courthouses during the Eagle Ford boom, where complex mineral ownership, sandstorms, and century-old records became his training ground.

Along the way, they explore the difference between surface and mineral title, why courthouse research is more art than science, the importance of asking questions, and why some highly academic personalities struggle in the industry. Brandon and Jeremy also discuss the evolution of modern land work, the relationship between landmen, title companies, surveyors, and attorneys, and why adaptability matters more than perfection (which also matters, of course).