What If? Big Questions Facing NDT

In this episode of Chat NDT with ASNT, recorded live at ASNT 2025, host Haley Cowans speaks with Lennart Schulenburg, CEO of VisiConsult X-ray Systems & Solutions, about the transformative technologies reshaping the NDT industry. This wide-ranging conversation explores how artificial intelligence is already assisting with defect detection and inspection program development, while raising bigger “what if” questions about the future of human roles in inspection. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is sponsored by Carestream NDT. We explore how a breakthrough in technology is reshaping the future of radiographic inspections with Brian White as he shares the story behind the development of conformable digital detector arrays at Carestream. From early design challenges to real-world “aha” moments, Brian explains how this innovation bridges the gap between traditional film radiography and the digital, data-driven future of inspection. If you’re curious about where radiographic testing is headed—or how AI, connectivity, and smarter imaging tools will transform the industry—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is sponsored by North Star Imaging. Host Haley Cowans is joined by Rebecca Rudolph, General Manager of North Star Imaging, to explore the critical role of regulated image quality in radiographic testing. They discuss how industry standards, advanced technologies, and skilled technicians work together to advance inspection quality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jose Santo, an NDT engineer at Blue Origin and advocate for the profession through ASNT’s Faces of NDT program, shares his inspiring journey from growing up in Brazil to working on cutting-edge aerospace projects. In this episode, he talks about how NDT transformed his life and why he’s passionate about showcasing the incredible opportunities this career offers. Whether you’re just discovering NDT or are a seasoned professional, Jose’s story is filled with insights, inspiration, and a powerful reminder of the impact this field can have.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During downtimes, or times of economic uncertainty, we see NDT practitioners wondering how to broaden their skill set and potential career paths. One great way to get started is by networking with your peers, but it can be hard to know how to get started. In this episode, I spoke with Joshua Spychalla, who recently graduated from ASNT’s leadership development program, RISE. His capstone project focused on networking in NDT, and so we talked about how to get started, some tips for maintaining professional relationships, and how NDT technicians can share their knowledge and learn from others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve all heard a lot about AI, but it’s sometimes hard to understand how it can actually change our daily work. In this episode, we spoke with Maximilian Topp and Dominik Nestler of sentin to demystify the big picture of AI, applying AI’s potential to radiographic testing and other issues facing the NDT industry, including workforce shortages and ethical oversight.To learn more about ASNT, visit asnt.org or follow us on social media @asntinfo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thermal and infrared testing is a crucial NDT method that’s well suited to many inspection challenges, but it’s a bit less well-known than some NDT methods. Last year, ASNT published the fourth edition of the Nondestructive Testing Handbook: Thermal and Infrared Testing, the largest and most complete handbook ever published by ASNT. We're joined by the technical editor for this new edition, Dr. Xavier Maldague, to give our listeners a primer on thermal and infrared testing. We spoke about the advancements that have been made in infrared testing and its application in many industries within NDT, as well as the key updates to the new handbook. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ultrasonic testing is a rapidly evolving method in NDT. You might be familiar with phased array, but that’s only the beginning. In this episode, we spoke to Gavin Dao, director of business development for AOS/TPAC Group, about how newer ultrasonic testing techniques are making inspections faster and more accurate—and how any industry could benefit from keeping up to date with the latest developments. This episode is sponsored by The Phased Array Company (TPAC). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most people who are familiar with NDT are familiar with radiographic testing, but we hear much less about neutron radiography. As technology continues to evolve, NDT methods must evolve to meet it, and neutron radiography is poised to play a bigger role in the industry. For this episode, I spoke to two neutron radiography experts about this method: Dr. Hassina Bilheux, a Senior Neutron Imaging Scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Dr. Martin Wissink, the Imaging R&D Lead at Phoenix LLC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re launching a new series on our YouTube channel called NDT Tech Talks, which will feature conversations between NDT technicians about their careers, their best NDT stories, and their thoughts about the state of the industry as well as its future. We wanted to present the pilot episode to our podcast audience, but you can also listen to the episode on our YouTube channel, @asntinfo. With that, enjoy this first conversation between Brent Moulton and Eddie Pompa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.