In episode 34, the season finale of The Downtime, WTWH Media’s weekly manufacturing podcast, co-hosts Sarah Wynn and Sheri Kasprzak reflect on 2025 and look ahead to the new year. The duo chats about industry trends this year, the podcast’s evolution, and unveils plans for season two.
Recapping 2025 packaging trends
The episode kicks off with a recap of some of the top stories and interviews that shaped packaging and manufacturing coverage this year. Wynn highlights 2D barcodes, flexible packaging, compact footprints, and artificial intelligence (AI)-related content.
For more on these topics:
- 2D barcodes scan in a new wave of digital transformation in packaging
- A deep dive into flexible packaging: evolving sustainability, consumer convenience drives growth
- Three trends shaping packaging’s future at Pack Expo Las Vegas
The Downtime Diaries: Our podcast story
The co-hosts share the origins of the podcast, including how Kasprzak originally pitched naming the show Girls Gone Weld. They explain how they ultimately chose The Downtime and launched the show in April 2025, producing 34 episodes this year.
“I always say that this podcast is a lot like flying a plane, and then building it as we’re in the air,” said Kasprzak.
Wynn and Kasprzak also emphasize the importance of storytelling in technical fields, showing how human experiences intersect with industry insights.
New year, more Downtime
Season two of The Downtime will premiere on Thursday, January 8, 2026, featuring Wynn’s interview with Christine Bush, director of the robotic center of excellence at Schneider Electric.
About The Downtime podcast and co-hosts
The Downtime is a weekly manufacturing podcast from WTWH Media that features insights from its automation and controls publications. It’s co-hosted by Wynn, who serves as the senior editor (digital) for Packaging OEM, and Kasprzak, who is the executive editor for Plant Engineering, Control Engineering, and Consulting-Specifying Engineer.
New episodes drop every Thursday and are available on this website, along with YouTube, SoundCloud, and Spotify.
Check out The Downtime’s recent episodes
Episode 29: Fanuc’s robotic solutions for warehousing and material handling automation
Episode 30: Garvey debuts aluminum Bi-Flo accumulation table for non-washdown applications
Episode 31: Morrison Container Handling Solutions on timing screws and OEM support
Episode 32: Career insights for women in the trades from an engineer
Episode 33: Storytelling the year in packaging and manufacturing
