Intelligent, insightful conversation about the legal and business issues surrounding industrial, pesticidal, and specialty chemicals and products

March 12, 2026

The Global Race on PFAS Regulation: What US Companies Need to Prepare For Now — A Conversation with Lindsay A. Holden, Ph.D. and Carla N. Hutton

This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with my colleagues, Carla N. Hutton, Senior Regulatory Analyst for B&C, and Lindsay A. Holden, Ph.D., DABT, Senior Toxicologist/Regulatory Scientist for B&C and The Acta Group (Acta®), our consulting affiliate. We discuss the relentless pace of state per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) regulations. For those expecting a slowdown, think again. Perhaps in response to perceived inaction at the federal level, over half the states are...
February 26, 2026

Global Trade Dynamics: Chemical Industry Insights — A Conversation with James Aidala and Claire Hansen

This week, I was pleased to welcome back to the studio Jim Aidala, Senior Government Affairs Consultant at B&C and its consulting affiliate, The Acta Group (Acta®) and Claire Hansen, an Associate with B&C and Regulatory Analyst with Acta, to discuss the ever-changing influence of foreign policy on the chemical industry. As we all know, there is a lot going on in the world and much of it may seem somewhat tangential to the chemical industry. On closer inspection, Claire and...
February 5, 2026

2026 Forecast: TSCA Reform Developments — A Conversation with Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. and Ryan N. Schmit

Download transcript. This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Richard E. Engler, Director of Chemistry for B&C and The Acta Group (Acta®), our consulting affiliate, and Ryan N. Schmit, Of Counsel with B&C and Senior Regulatory Consultant with Acta, about the recent release of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment’s Discussion Draft of suggested amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The document has inspired spirited debate over the...
January 22, 2026

2026 Forecast: Capitol Hill Issues — A Conversation with James V. Aidala

This week, I was pleased to welcome back to the studio Jim Aidala, Senior Government Affairs Consultant at B&C and its consulting affiliate, The Acta Group (Acta®), to discuss his take on what to expect from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Congress on pesticide matters in the new year. As an astute student of politics and a keen observer of EPA chemical policies and personalities, hearing Jim’s observations is always informative. As many of you know, Jim is a...
January 8, 2026

Accelerating Chemical Innovation: Inside Argonne’s Chain Reaction Innovations Program — A Conversation with Rachel Harris, Ph.D.

This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Rachel Harris, Technical Project Manager, Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI), Argonne National Laboratory, and our own Dr. Richard Engler, to discuss Argonne National Laboratory’s Chain Reaction Innovations entrepreneurship. We here at B&C truly appreciate the value and importance of chemical innovation, so when we learned of Argonne National Laboratory’s Chain Reaction Innovations program (CRI program), we wanted to share information...
December 11, 2025

Inside ACS’s Green Chemistry Challenge — A Conversation with Adelina Voutchkova, Ph.D. and Richard E. Engler, Ph.D.

Download transcript. This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Adelina Voutchkova, Director of Sustainable Development at the American Chemical Society (ACS), and my colleague Dr. Richard Engler, B&C’s Director of Chemistry, to discuss ACS’ much-coveted Green Chemistry Challenge Awards and ACS’ Green Chemistry Institute (GCI). Institutionally, GCI has grown as the imperative for greener and more sustainable chemicals has increased. So also have the stature of the Green...
November 20, 2025

Behind the Scenes of Chemical Safety Reform — A Conversation with Ryan Schmit

Download transcript. This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Ryan N. Schmit, Of Counsel with B&C, and Senior Regulatory Consultant with The Acta Group (Acta®). Ryan joined us a few weeks ago and we wanted to show off our newest Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) superstar. We discuss Ryan’s illustrious career with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the past 15 years. As you will hear, Ryan has been at the forefront of TSCA policy development, Frank R. Lautenberg...
November 6, 2025

The Future of Chemical Data Intelligence — A Conversation with Greg Gartland, Chief Executive Officer of 3E

Download transcript. This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Greg Gartland, Chief Executive Officer of 3E. We discuss 3E’s business offerings, how it defines its place in the very competitive world of chemical information management, the role artificial intelligence has in this space, and trends Greg sees driving growth in chemicals, product stewardship, and sustainability. ALL MATERIALS IN THIS PODCAST ARE PROVIDED SOLELY FOR INFORMATIONAL  AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES. THE...
October 23, 2025

U.S. State PFAS Initiatives — A Conversation with Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. and Carla N. Hutton

Download transcript. A few months ago, I recorded a podcast with my colleagues, Carla N. Hutton, Senior Regulatory Analyst for B&C, and Dr. Richard E. Engler, Director of Chemistry for B&C and The Acta Group (Acta®), our consulting affiliate, on the ever-expanding and complicated scope of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) regulation in the United States. We convened a webinar on this topic in mid-May that attracted a record-breaking 1000+ registrants, suggesting to us that...
September 18, 2025

EUDR Issues — A Conversation with Claire Hansen

Download transcript. This week, I sat down with my colleague, L. Claire Hansen, a Legal Intern here at B&C and Regulatory Analyst for The Acta Group (Acta®), B&C’s consulting affiliate, to discuss the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). With its fast-approaching December 30, 2025, effective date, U.S. product exporters to the European Market whose goods contain seven commodities -- cocoa, coffee, cattle, palm oil, soy, wood, and rubber, and those products made from them...