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. Learn more about Univar Solutions at UnivarSolutions.com.
Episodes
Smart Acids Podcast | S4E5: Rooted in Family, Driven by Chemistry
In this episode, hosts Andy Erickson and Chris Ernst welcome sibling leaders Shelly Manos and Brandon Lowery from Continental Chemicals, a family-owned business with deep roots in the chemical industry. They share the inspiring story of their father’s entrepreneurial journey, the company’s 50-year legacy, and how their partnership with Univar Solutions has e...
Recorded live at our invite-only Carrier Kickoff (CKO) transportation event In July 2025. This special episode of Smart Acids hits the road with industry leaders to unpack the forces shaping freight, logistics, and chemical supply chains in 2025 and beyond.
Hosts Andy Erickson & Chris Ernst are joined by:
Chris Pickett – Lead Market Analyst, Pickett Research & CTO, Flock Freight
Ryan Streblow – Preside...
In this high-octane episode of Smart Acids, we’re riding shotgun with Chris Pickett, Lead Market Analyst at Pickett Research and Chief Commercial Officer at Flock Freight—the largest Shared Truckload brokerage in the U.S. Listen Here:
Chris shares:
🚚 The current state of the U.S. truckload freight market
📊 Surprising data points shaping 2025 logistics
📈 How to use data to stay ahead of marke...
In this episode, we sit down with Jacob Givens—actor, social media influencer, and Director of Promotion & Marketing at Biofriendly —to explore the intersection of Alternative Music and Alternative Fuels. With over 500,000 followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, Jacob has built a loyal audience by blending nostalgic 90s music content with a passion for environmental change.
We dive into:
How Jacob uses music to connect...
Join hosts Andy and Chris as they dive into the complexities of tariffs and their impact on the chemical industry in this enlightening episode of the Smart Acids Podcast. Featuring expert insights from Dwayne Roark, VP of Corporate Affairs, Communications & Marketing at Univar Solutions, this episode explores historical tariff acts, current updates, and innovative strategies to navigate these challenges. Discover the best path ...
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 insights into how vital the right chemistry solutions are and why he is optimistic about what lies ahead for the chip industry.
01:03 Joe 'Sherlock' Holmes expla...
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 what has remained constant.
01:30 – Papa Z shows up in a suit and tie and turns the tables with a surprise quiz
04:30 – Chemical distribution over time, including changes in di...
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 Solutions. Listen as he explores the industry's latest market trends, including:
- Pricing fluctuations
- Changing market
- End-use evolution
01:50 – Welcome back, Papa Z
02:12 – Quiz: inventions...
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 of International Trade Services for Univar Solutions. Listen now as Dixon discusses how carriers are withstanding disruptions such as the Baltimore Key Bridge incident, how the supply chain...
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 food trends of 2024, including cost engineering, manufacturing better-for-you products, and reformulating with wholesome, healthier ingredients for health and nutrition. As Smart Ac...
"Everything in our world is chemistry and chemistry is everywhere in our lives," - David Allen Cole, CEO of the Science History Institute
This episode is one for the history books. Smart Acids hosts Andy Erickson and Chris Ernst welcome "The Historian" David Allen Cole, CEO of the Science History Institute, to share stories and historical context around the perception of chemicals, areas of upcoming che...
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, and North America. Tune in for a chemical industry insider’s take on potential challenges associated with economic recovery and the value of the producer/distributor relationship. <...
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 first, see if an uncaffeinated Chris lives up to his Energy Director credentials when he takes the Smart Acids Energy Drink quiz.
4:58 – Energy sector breakdown: Upstream,...
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 requirements of ethanol products.
1:33 - Differences among ethanol classifications
2:00 - Undenatured ethanol
2:14 - Specially denatured alcohol
3:30 - Distilled spirit...
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 to industrial to beverage and food-grade alcohols. Tune in for product insights and test your musical knowledge as we go through the changes.
Smart Acids™ is the source for product ...
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 borrowing is impacting manufacturers, and what’s most exciting about upcoming trends. Also, find out how you measure up against our guest in the ‘rhymes with gritty’ game.
Smart Acids™ is the sourc...
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 facing the chemical distribution industry and the role that NACD is playing.
- Special guest host intro, Dwayne ‘the self-proclaimed Rock’ Roark (1:55)
- Welcome Eric ‘the fillibuster’ Byer (3:25)
- B...
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 upcoming season, current industry challenges, and the latest innovations. Think product synergies and soil health. Why are players in the Ag space bullish on our present market? We’ve got you ...
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 ethanol, IPA, and propylene.
Bonus round: do you know your IPAs and pale ales?
IPA Updates
- Propylene pricing dynamics
- Circularity and pushing for reuse
Ethanol Updates
- S...
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 Univar Solutions fleet – the largest private fleet inside the chemical industry – can go the distance for customers. 10-4.
"It's a hyper inflated or hyper deflated market,"...
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