Where Is Jon? The Journey from Pleb to Pioneer
For those wondering why Jon has been a bit absent from the podcast lately — we need to rewind to this episode. He’s not gone… just deep in the grind.
In episode one of this two-part special, Max sits down with Jon for a candid, unfiltered (and at times filthy) journey from “pleb” garage miner to true pioneer.
They trace it all — from early 2012 PC experiments and S9 heat-capture hacks, through the China exodus era, to building real-world community with Ungovernable Misfits, Pleb Miner Month, and the Meshtadel.
Along the way, they revisit the people and moments that shaped it: friendships, late-night calls, old-head mentors, boots-on-the-ground lessons — and the hard truths that cut through the noise of LARP mining dreams.
It all leads to the turning point.
Site scouting in Western Pennsylvania. Dead ends with utilities. Learning curves with natural gas. Then a call that changes everything — and the discovery of a coal-bed methane opportunity sitting almost in his backyard.
Full circle. From pleb to pioneer.
This is a story about doing, not talking.
Heat capture ingenuity, failed deals, community-driven breakthroughs, and the relentless grind of turning land, power, and gas into something real.
If you’ve ever wondered how curiosity becomes competence — this is the blueprint.
This is a 2 part episode, head over to [Episode 2](
https://fountain.fm/episode/sErlUdgtIx4HaSSfkrhe)
https://fountain.fm/episode/jXrSQrfMj8TUUQHRLz8L
