Get A Grip On Lighting Podcast

In this spirited episode of Get a Grip on Lighting, hosts dive deep into the highs and hiccups of the LSC training held in Dallas — a hands-on lighting controls certification course that left attendees saying, "It hurt good." 

🔥 Highlights Include: 

• Insights from course creators Webster Marsh, Ron Kuszmar, and Chris O'Shea as they reflect on what worked and what evolved. 
• Emphasis on hands-on learning over theory, ada...

In this episode of Get a Grip on Lighting, Michael Colligan, Greg Ehrich, and Scott Wachter dive deep into the latest efforts to address light pollution through education and innovation in the lighting industry. Scott reveals the launch of Lighting Specialist: Darkness Restoration Part One, a pioneering training program designed to equip professionals with practical knowledge to mitigate night pollution in poor outdoor lig...

In this illuminating episode of Get a Grip on Lighting, science journalist Lynne Peeples—author of The Inner Clock: Living in Sync with Our Circadian Rhythm—joins Greg and Michael for a deep dive into the fascinating world of biological timekeeping. 🌞🕰️ 

From her background in biostatistics and journalism to her personal struggles with sleep and seasonal affective disorder, Peeples shares why aligning our lifestyles with...

In this illuminating episode, Karl Zartarian, Regional VP at Barron Lighting Group, joins the show to discuss innovation, strategy, and the evolving landscape of emergency and specialty lighting. From anti-ligature exit signs for institutional settings to RGBW panels with DMX controls, Karl shares practical insights and real-world applications that are shaping the future of lighting.

💡 Topics include: 

- Why green exit sig...

In this vibrant episode of Get a Grip on Lighting, hosts Greg and Mike welcome back Kathryn Toth, an award-winning architectural lighting designer renowned for her mastery in crafting artistic lighting solutions across commercial, residential, retail, and landscape spaces.

🌍✨ 🎙️ Highlights Include: 

- Decorative Lamp Design Tips: Kathryn shares her preferences for medium and candelabra base lamps that enhance ambiance and...

In this mind-bending episode of Get a Grip on Lighting, tech visionary Tony Lawrence dives deep into the future of light, AI, quantum computing—and even interdimensional data transfer. From mining Bitcoin with a lightbulb, to using quantum entropy to generate synthetic data, Tony explores how light itself is becoming both a medium for communication and a tool for cybersecurity, surveillance, and perhaps even time travel. I...

In this episode of Get a Grip on Lighting, hosts Michael Colligan and Greg Ehrich dive into the ever-important topic of emergency lighting and exit signage. From battery packs to combo units and LED emergency backup tubes, they explore the evolving landscape and the challenges distributors face when retrofitting or maintaining systems. They emphasize the critical importance of separating emergency systems from general ligh...

In this eye-opening and unscripted episode, Mike and Greg peel back the curtain on one of the most underappreciated parts of the lighting industry—customer service. From misfit lightbulbs and warranty nightmares to dremel-happy customers and failing retrofits in century-old churches, no story is too strange and no frustration is off-limits. Whether it’s juggling returns, handling broken bulbs, or chasing down elusive manuf...

🚀 On the latest episode of Get a Grip on Lighting, Matt Honson, President of NAILD, dives into the evolution of lighting distribution, industry education, and the urgent need for transparency in product labeling and eco-fee schemes.

- Why collaboration among independent distributors strengthens the industry 

- Why integrity comes natural when you are living in the light 

- There shouldn’t be anything to hide when you are wo...

Join Michael Colligan and Greg Ehrich on Get a Grip on Lighting as they dive into the evolving lighting industry in 2025. With rebates disappearing and competition tightening, distributors must rethink their approach. Michael highlights a unique opportunity in repairable fixtures—bringing back the distributor's original role of providing lighting components instead of simply selling new fixtures. Greg shares real-world exa...

In this episode, we sit down with Taresh Grover, co-founder and COO of Pullogic, an AI-powered platform transforming supply chains. From predicting demand to optimizing inventory, AI is revolutionizing distribution—especially in the lighting industry. Taresh shares insights on how AI helps manufacturers and distributors reduce lost sales by forecasting demand and making smarter replenishment decisions in real time. He also...

The podcast features Elizabeth Chamberlain, Director of Sustainability at iFixit, discussing the Right to Repair movement and its impact on the lighting industry. Traditionally, lighting was designed with standardized, replaceable components, ensuring easy repairs. However, modern LED fixtures often have non-repairable parts, leading to more electronic waste. Liz explains iFixit's mission to provide free repair guides and ...

Lighting controls are no longer a nice-to-have—they’re fast becoming the backbone of smart, energy-efficient buildings. In this episode, Michael Colligan and Greg Ehrich sit down with Scott Metker, COO of Autani, to explore how the convergence of lighting, HVAC, and data is transforming the built environment.

From the rise of wireless and hybrid systems to the untapped potential of demand reduction and data-driven d...

In this explosive discussion, Devin Wall returns to break down the deep-state influence in the lighting industry—focusing on tariffs, accreditation agencies, and the power dynamics shaping the market. 

 🔦 Key Topics Covered: 

 - Why Devin supports tariffs & U.S.-based manufacturing 

- The real role of accreditation agencies (like DLC) 

- How non-player characters are controlling lighting policies 

- Is the DLC helping or ...

In this episode of Get a Grip on Lighting, we sit down with Webster Marsh, host of the Lighting Controls Podcast, and Lighting Specialist in Controls instructor, to talk about the exciting future of lighting controls certification and why the industry desperately needs certified professionals. 

 💡 Key Topics Discussed: 

- Why the demand for lighting controls expertise is growing now more than ever. 

- How rebate programs ar...

In this compelling episode of Get a Grip on Lighting, Spencer Myles and Brian Amundson dive deep into the complexities of the lighting industry, exposing the challenges posed by rebate programs, direct install initiatives, and shifting market dynamics.

✨ Key Topics Discussed:

• The unintended consequences of rebate programs and how they can harm distributors.
• The rise of direct install programs—who benefits and wh...

Our old friend Mark Jewell joins us to talk about selling in the lighting industry—especially as rebates begin to dry up. A lot of people are worried about what the end of rebate programs will mean for project sales. Mark says we shouldn’t be. Michael and Greg aren’t so sure. In this episode, Mark talks us down off the “rebate ledge” with some sensible math. Rebates are great, but they’re not the only reason to upgrade. Wi...

For this episode, we hoped to welcome Brian Bastien of Product Care Recycling to discuss Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programs and their impact on the lighting industry. The President of NAILD reached out—non-profit to non-profit—to open a conversation about how these programs support sustainability and what they mean for lighting distributors.
 
 Surprisingly, every expert we invited declined the opportuni...

Jason knows so much about lighting that he wrote 2 books on the subject (see below). Jason chats with Michael and Greg about his books, wasteful lighting fixtures, the circular economy, and wired and wireless controls. And for pete's sake, don’t go with flat panels if there are better choices.

Jason Livingston LC, IES, IALD is the principal of Studio T+L, a lighting design and theatre planning firm in Brooklyn, NY.  His li...