Season 29 of Beyond Clean will launch on July 7th, 2025. In the meantime, please enjoy a few of our favorite episodes from Season 18! Scopes are some of the most expensive devices we have in our inventory -- both flexible and rigid models. So, when these devices break or need replacing, it's always a pretty big deal. How do you address it in your facility? On this episode of Season 18 "Investing in Instrument Safety," which is focused on getting our teams the time, money, and support we need to ...
Jun 30, 2025•30 min•Season 18Ep. 6
On this episode of StreetClothes , we talk to a healthcare professional who spends her time away from the hospital chasing trails and wide-open views. Whether she’s trekking solo through Iceland or tackling steep paths with friends, this adventurer finds peace wherever her hiking boots take her. Tune in to hear how Brenna Doran embraces the calm and clarity of the outdoors—one step, one trail, and one hike at a time… If you like this series OR have an interesting side-hustle, passion project, or...
Jun 29, 2025•41 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Everything’s bigger in Texas—including the opportunities in Sterile Processing recruiting! In this week’s episode of Everything is Cleaner in Texas , hosts Hank Balch and Dusty Glass sit down with Shevelle Speed to talk career ladders, leadership, and what it takes to build (and keep!) a strong team in one of the country’s largest healthcare hubs. From an unforgettable personal journey to system-wide recruiting strategies that actually work, Shevelle shares what’s possible when leaders lead with...
Jun 28, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Season 29 of Beyond Clean will launch on July 7th, 2025. In the meantime, please enjoy a few of our favorite episodes from Season 18! Do broken cultures inevitably lead to broken instruments? Does lack of trust between the Sterile Processing & Operating Room teams lead to lack of timely turnovers? On this Season 18 "Investing in Instrument Safety," which is focused on getting our teams the time, money, and support we need to protect our surgical inventory, we sit down with Jason Pacino Opera...
Jun 23, 2025•39 min•Season 18Ep. 4
Anchors aweigh, #CleanFreaks—it’s time to set sail on a one-of-a-kind SPD journey! On this week’s episode of Everything is Cleaner in Texas , hosts Hank Balch and Dusty Glass sit down with Nathaniel Gonzalez to dive into the fast-paced, high-stakes world of Sterile Processing in the U.S. Navy. From Navy boot camp to leading surgical support on land and at sea, Nathaniel shares what it's really like to serve—and sterilize—under pressure. Whether you're a proud veteran, a curious civilian, or just...
Jun 21, 2025•34 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Season 29 of Beyond Clean will launch on July 7th, 2025. In the meantime, please enjoy a few of our favorite episodes from Season 18! Is there such a thing as the perfectly set up tray? One that protects your instruments, makes the OR jump for joy, and above all, keeps the patients we care for as safe as possible? This week on Season 18 “Investing in Instrument Safety” which is focused on getting our team the time, money, and support we need to protect our surgical inventory we meet with Nichola...
Jun 16, 2025•30 min•Season 18Ep. 7
On this episode of our StreetClothes human-interest podcast series, we talk to a healthcare professional whose passion for two wheels brings freedom, focus, and a whole lot of fuel to life outside the hospital. From the thrill of the throttle to the quietness of the long ride, this rider has discovered that nothing clears the mind quite like a full tank and the open road. Tune in to hear how Jennifer Barnickel unplugs and reconnects one curve, one gear, and one mile at a time… If you like this s...
Jun 15, 2025•39 min•Season 1Ep. 7
From East Texas roots to healthcare systems nationwide, Juan Ramos is proving just how far a career in SPD can take you. In this week’s episode of Everything is Cleaner in Texas , hosts Hank Balch and Dusty Glass sit down with Juan to trace his journey from CSR tech to Mercy Ships volunteer to seasoned SPD consultant. With equal parts heart and hustle, Juan breaks down the real story behind consulting: what it is, what it’s not, and how it can drive sustainable change in your department. Whether...
Jun 14, 2025•35 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Season 29 of Beyond Clean will launch on July 7th, 2025. In the meantime, please enjoy a few of our favorite episodes from Season 18! You know that technician right beside you in decontamination today? Yeah, that one breaking a sweat as they keep up with the 20 add-on cases that just rolled in. Well, they may just end up running the entire hospital one day. True story. On this episode of Season 18 "Investing in Instrument Safety," which is focused on getting our teams the time, money, and suppor...
Jun 09, 2025•40 min•Season 18Ep. 5
If you’re not advocating for your department, who will? It’s time to speak up—Texas style! On this week’s episode of Everything is Cleaner in Texas , Hank Balch flips the mic to talk with host Dusty Glass about the real-world challenges of advocating for your department—especially when upper leadership thinks everything is just fine. From sharpening your communication skills to knowing when (and how) to make your case, Dusty lays out a roadmap for speaking up with purpose and confidence. Whether...
Jun 07, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 8
What happens when only one person in your department knows how to reprocess a certain tray? Or find the IFU for that rarely used scope? Or figure out why the cart washer stopped working—again? On this season finale episode of Beyond Clean’s Planet Decontam, Angela Russell joins us to tackle the real dangers of tribal knowledge in decontam. From unwritten workflows and on-the-fly training to the daily pressure of being the only one who “knows how to do that,” Angela shares strategies for building...
Jun 02, 2025•41 min•Season 28Ep. 8
On this episode of our StreetClothes podcast series, we talk to two healthcare professionals who find comfort, creativity, and a little pinch of calm in the art of baking. Whether it’s homemade bagels, a failed bundt cake, or family traditions passed down through generations, these self-taught bakers have each discovered their own flavor of joy in the kitchen. Tune in to hear how Vanessa Frank & Chelsea Wolner are keeping things sweet outside their 9-to-5s—one pie, muffin, and cookie at a ti...
Jun 01, 2025•46 min•Season 1Ep. 6
SPD leaders don’t just manage—they mentor, motivate, and make big things happen. And in Texas, that’s how it’s done! This week, host Dusty Glass sits down with Felicia Sheriff for a heart-filled conversation about what it really means to lead with purpose in Sterile Processing. From creating a culture of trust to redefining employee onboarding and training, Felicia shares her tried-and-true strategies for building strong, resilient teams from the ground up. Whether you’re wrangling outdated trai...
May 31, 2025•32 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Time to suit up, #CleanFreaks—because this week we’re tackling the real-world challenges of PPE! Join us as we sit down with Marcus Super from Mastel Surgical to explore what makes personal protective equipment truly essential in decontam. From one-size-fits-none challenges to breakthrough PPE innovations, Marcus explains why the right PPE is about more than just checking boxes—it's about keeping our frontline techs safe and comfortable while #FightingDirty. Together, we’re diving into budget ba...
May 26, 2025•35 min•Season 28Ep. 7
Saddle up, #TexasCleanFreaks–because this week we’re tackling one of the sneakiest budget-busters in SPD—power equipment failures! Join Dusty Glass as he sits down with Elvis Lormeus, Corporate Product Manager at STERIS, to dive into the hidden dangers behind equipment breakdowns in Sterile Processing. You’ll discover how small missed steps in reprocessing can lead to major power equipment failures—and how preventive maintenance, IFU knowledge, and smart vendor support can help your team stay a ...
May 24, 2025•28 min•Season 1Ep. 6
From missing instruments to delayed trays, delivering safe, on-time instrumentation is no easy feat. In this exciting series finale episode from our “Process Better” series, Mike Andresen, Director of Business Development at Medline, takes us inside the full scope of end-to-end instrument support—and the strategies that make it all work. From vendor partnerships to internal process improvement, Mike shares how collaboration across SPD and OR teams is driving smarter, more consistent results. If ...
May 20, 2025•31 min•Season 1Ep. 5
A tiny needle. A missed burr. A hidden blade at the bottom of the sink. These aren't just near misses—they're real exposure risks facing techs in decontam every day. So, how prepared is your team to respond? This week, we're joined by Garrett Hollembeak, infection preventionist and Editor-in-Chief of Transmission Control, to explore pathogen exposure through the eyes of an IP. From bloodborne pathogen kits and near-miss reporting to PPE breakdowns and employee health follow-up, Garrett shares a ...
May 19, 2025•38 min•Season 28Ep. 6
On this episode of the StreetClothes podcast series, we talk to a healthcare professional whose passion project is generating some serious buzz in his own backyard! With 31 hives and counting, this busy bee has discovered the joy—minus the occasional sting—and the liquid gold rewards of working with nature’s busiest pollinators. Tune in to hear how Cody Troutt's adventures in beekeeping bring the sweetest kind of work-life balance to life beyond the hospital… If you like this series OR have an i...
May 18, 2025•40 min•Season 1Ep. 5
On this week’s episode of Everything is Cleaner in Texas , we’re wrangling one of the toughest, sneakiest outlaws in SPD — the one and only biofilm! Join host Dusty Glass as he sits down with STERIS’s Amy Williams to break down how this invisible threat forms, spreads, and sticks around longer than it should. From point-of-use cleaning to the risks of dried-on bioburden, Amy shares practical insights, tough truths, and the strategies every frontline team needs to know to stop biofilm in its trac...
May 17, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 5
From the shelf to the sterile field, smart inventory makes all the difference! In this week’s new episode from our “Process Better” series, Tracy Smith, National Market Sales Director at Medline, takes us inside the everyday realities of supply management across SPD and the OR. From improving pick accuracy to staying ahead of expirations, Tracy shares practical strategies to help teams bring structure and consistency to their inventory process. Whether you're trying to stay ahead of expiration d...
May 13, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Three turns of a screw could be the difference between a clean instrument and a dangerous infection risk—yet how do we know which instruments actually need to come apart in decontam? On this episode of Beyond Clean's Planet Decontam, we welcome the new President of HSPA, Arlene Bush, to weigh in on the critical debate around instrument disassembly during manual and automated cleaning. From navigating complex IFUs to training strategies that empower frontline #CleanFreaks, Arlene tackles the real...
May 12, 2025•41 min•Season 28Ep. 5
From east to west and everywhere in between, no one’s seen it all quite like Ron Hunsucker. In this week’s episode of Everything is Cleaner in Texas , we sit down with the legendary “Cowboy of Clean” to talk shop on everything from certification journeys to culture shifts in Sterile Processing. With four decades of boots-on-the-ground experience, Ron shares the wins, the lessons, and the leadership mindset that’s shaped his work across every corner of the Lone Star State. Whether you're learning...
May 10, 2025•40 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Set assembly might seem routine, but it’s one of the most critical opportunities to ensure instrument accuracy and performance. So, how do you create a process that supports accuracy without slowing down your team? In this episode of our “Process Better” series, Tory Teakell, Clinical Solutions Manager at Medline, walks us through the essential role of assembly and inspection—and how purposeful audits can turn good processes into great ones. From managing productivity pressures to improving tech...
May 06, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Hey #CleanFreaks -- What if the dirtiest surface in your SPD’s decontam isn't at your workstation, but on the floor you're standing on? This week, we welcome infection prevention expert Ericka Kalp to expose the hidden dangers lurking on the surface of your SPD’s floors—and why ignoring them could be putting your patients and your team at risk. From selecting the right disinfectants to establishing clear cleaning accountability between departments, Ericka reveals how those microscopic microbes u...
May 05, 2025•36 min•Season 28Ep. 4
On this episode 4 of the StreetClothes podcast, we talk to Lindsay Brown, a Minnesota clinician who has a passion project unlike any other! Not only does she know where babies come from (every child's eternal question), she also knows how clinical expertise beautifully combines with nurturing care during life's very first moments. Tune in to hear how Linds's work as a doula brings comfort and advocacy to the birthing experience outside of her 9-5 healthcare role... If you like this series OR hav...
May 04, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Across the great state of Texas and beyond, Sterile Processing pros are sharpening their skills, building confidence, and making a real impact where it matters most – patient safety. In this week’s episode of Everything is Cleaner in Texas , hosts Hank Balch and Dusty Glass team up with Kurt Van Sickel, Program Director and Career Coach at Good Works Collective, to spotlight the power of professional development in SPD. From the classroom to #FightingDirty in decontam, Kurt shares how upskilling...
May 03, 2025•39 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Instrument damage is more than just a headache—it’s costly, disruptive, and far more common than most realize. So, how can we prevent it before it even happens? In Episode 2 of our “Process Better ” series, Tory Teakell, Clinical Solutions Manager at Medline, joins us to explore the most common causes of instrument damage across surgical workflows— and how better care, handling, and training can reduce damage and raise the bar for quality. From transport to assembly and back again, Tory walks us...
Apr 29, 2025•33 min
Three bays, two basins, or one compliance nightmare? When it comes to your decontam sinks, the wrong setup doesn't just slow you down – it can send your entire workflow underwater! On this episode of Beyond Clean's Planet Decontam, Jessie Lopez joins us to break down why the proper sink setup can make or break your entire reprocessing cycle. From missing rinses and awkward sink setups to chemical confusion and ergonomic nightmares, we're uncovering how these small missteps at the sink can compro...
Apr 28, 2025•40 min•Season 28Ep. 3
Everything’s bigger in Texas—and that’s especially true in the Texas Medical Center, where the pace never slows and the pressure is always on! In this episode of Everything is Cleaner in Texas , hosts Hank Balch and Dusty Glass sit down with Anna Castillo-Gutierrez for a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to work inside one of the most complex, high-volume medical centers in the country. From nonstop surgical schedules to navigating rapid turnarounds, Anna shares how her Sterile Processing...
Apr 26, 2025•39 min•Season 1Ep. 2
What started as a podcast quickly became a global platform for Sterile Processing education—and in our Season 1 finale, we’re sitting down with the man behind the mic, the #OriginalCleanFreak himself, Hank Balch. As the Co-Founder and President of Beyond Clean, Hank takes us behind the scenes of how one idea—offering free, accessible Sterile Processing educational content—has reshaped how frontline professionals learn, connect, and lead. From launching the first CE-approved podcast to building a...
Apr 23, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 8
