CoolSys Refrigeration Expert Shares Knowledge and Experience Around the World
May 26, 2021
Brett Wetzel says it all started as a “rogue idea at 3:00 in the morning.” Now, just three months after its launch, the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast has become a sensation for Brett, a CoolSys Level 7 Service Tech, and his podcast partner, Kevin Compass. The show has listeners around the world — as far away as South Africa, New Zealand and Qatar (a country on the Persian Gulf) — and has already amassed 9,400 downloads since its February 17 premiere.
“We were doing this just for fun at first,” Brett says. But then he noticed something: Listeners were reaching out, thanking him and Kevin for providing information and education that had not been covered well in their training, that they had forgotten, or that they were hesitant to ask co-workers about for fear of being criticized or ridiculed. “We want to make people better and help them feel like they can be good at their job,” Brett says.
Others were also paying attention to the fledgling podcast. Component manufacturers Westermeyer Industries and Parker Sporlan signed on as sponsors, enabling Brett and Kevin to purchase equipment to enhance the podcast. A member of the CoolSys team also contributed to the cause. “They told us, ‘I want you to do more. This is what this industry needs,’” Brett says.
From Scratch, A Side Hustle Arises
Before his middle-of-the-night flash of inspiration, Brett had never considered becoming a podcaster. Following a challenging start in life, he worked his way up the ranks to his current position at CoolSys — formerly Source Refrigeration & HVAC — in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. In his job, he travels from branch to branch, resolving issues and educating techs about various types of equipment.
Brett has made his mark on CoolSys in another way: He was the first employee to receive four Value Coins — and also the first to receive five coins. And thanks to the impact of his podcast, Parker Sporlan has nominated Brett for the annual “40 under 40” recognition in ACR News.
Something for Everyone
Despite its name, Brett says, the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast is starting with a solid foundation of basic refrigeration knowledge so that anyone can grow in their skill and understanding as the podcast develops. Topics of conversation have included VFD controlling, programming and troubleshooting; a series on oil systems; hot gas and electric case diagnostic — and even secrets to advancing your career. Their newest series covers CO2, beginning with CO2 subcritical pumped liquid.
In becoming a podcaster, Brett has found an intersection of his skills and talent as an educator and a refrigeration expert. And that, he says, is where his passion lies. “It may sound corny for me to say this,” Brett says, “but it really is true that if you do something you enjoy, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”
The Advanced Refrigeration Podcast is available on YouTube and a number of podcast platforms, including Spotify, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Breaker and others. If you’ve never listened to a podcast before, search for “Advanced Refrigeration Podcast” in Google or any other search engine to get started.