Shows
The Civil Engineering Academy PodcastBillion-Dollar Blunders: The True Cost of China’s Global BuildoutDouble-digit, billion-dollar investments into infrastructure projects going down the drain with them? 😨In this episode, Mark Oakeson joins us again to dive into the wave of mega infrastructure projects built by China across the globe that are already cracking, leaking, and flat-out shutting down. These are massive, government-funded projects that were supposed to last 50+ years…but instead, they’re turning into billion-dollar blunders. Why?Why are they failing so fast? What went wrong during design and construction (and politics)? And most importantly, what can we civil engineers learn from it? Especially now with the U.S...
2025-07-3121 min
The Civil Engineering Academy PodcastStop Waiting, Start Passing: Why Civil Engineers ProcrastinateEvery one of us is guilty of procrastinating on our exam prep. Whether it’s just “a little bit” or “a lot” is not the problem — the cost of it to our career is. But the good news? It’s beatable! 💪 👇In this episode, Mark Oakeson jumps back on the show to help us unpack the real reasons we drag our feet when it comes to studying for our exam.We’re not here to beat you up about it – we’ve been there. 😅 Instead, we’re here to dig into what’s actually happening behind the scenes, and why it show...
2025-06-2523 min
The Civil Engineering Academy PodcastThe State of the AEC Industry in 2025 with Mark OakesonHow’s the AEC industry currently doing with lots of Government funding…but high interest rates, inflation, and (even worse) tariffs? 🤔 That’s exactly what we cover in this episode!For this one, we sat down with Mark Oakeson to unpack the key insights from the annual Utah Business’s AEC roundtable he’s part of — where AEC leaders came together to discuss the biggest challenges, trends, and opportunities (and hopes) shaping the industry today.From the lack of skilled workers problem we need to solve (and how) to how publicly and privately funded projects are doing in th...
2025-04-0128 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastThe Experience "Loophole" in the PE Licensure ProcessImagine this: you earn an ABET-accredited degree, pass the FE, and work in engineering for 15 years…only to be told you can’t take the PE Exam because there are no PEs to sign off on your experience?! 😨That’s exactly what an engineer shared with us on LinkedIn, and that’s the same problem many engineers face in industries where the PE isn’t as common as civil engineering. 😱So, in this episode, Mark Oakeson joins us again to dive into this loophole in the PE licensure process that leaves a lot of engineers stuck…plus diffe...
2025-03-1222 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastDeveloping New Leaders with Mark Oakeson🚨 The Civil Engineering industry is facing a HUGE problem! ⚠️Experienced engineers are retiring, there are not enough young engineers ready to step into leadership roles, and companies are struggling to fill in the gaps. 😨Yep, it’s kinda bad (that’s the bad news), but there’s a simple fix to it (that’s the good news).In this episode, Mark jumps back on to talk about this problem based on his own experiences as a manager at his firm, why this is happening, and more importantly, what companies and engineers can (read: should) do about i...
2025-02-0724 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastThe 2023 NCEES Squared Report Review with Mark OakesonWant to know what the latest FE and PE exam pass rates are? Your chances of passing based on graduation date and years of experience? How many people are taking these exams? 🤔 Then you’ll want to listen to this episode with Mark!
In this one, Mark jumps back on the show to dive into the 2023 NCEES Squared Report. This is your update on the current state of professional engineering licensure…directly from the horse’s mouth! 😉
From stats on pass rates to licensure, both in the US and internationally, all the way to trends in the profe...
2024-09-1333 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - The State of the AEC Industry with Mark OakesonDo you know how our AEC industry is doing and what we can expect in the years to come? No?! 🤔 Then this episode is for you! Mark jumps back on to share his recent roundtable discussion with other leaders of AEC companies to discuss their challenges, problems, new technology…all the way to what the future looks like for the industry. Is it positive? Well, give this a listen and you’ll find out! 😉
Tune in to Learn:
The biggest challenge in the AEC industry right now...plus 2 factors that can reduce it
2024-02-2423 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - CEA in Review for 2023!In this episode, I reflect back on all the things we developed here at Civil Engineering Academy in 2023, plus a sneak peek into what we have for you next year. 😉 From adding new team members to a new brand specifically for civil engineers to new courses launching in 2024. That’s right! we’ll keep helping you thrive in your career…way beyond the FE and PE. 📈 👷
Tune in to Learn:
The progress of our PE course update to match the April 2024 specifications
Our brand new review course to help you become a Certif...
2023-12-2317 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Civil Engineering Salaries and Trends in 2023 With Mark OakesonHow much do civil engineers make? 💸 That’s a question Mark and I answer in this episode by diving into the latest and greatest ASCE Salary Report! In addition to spelling out the numbers, we talk about other important aspects that go into your career, such as job satisfaction, raises, opportunities, etc. Believe it or not, the future is brighter than you think. 😉
Tune in to Learn:
The trend in average salaries for civil engineers: up or down?
How much entry-level civil engineers make (and how much experience they need)
2023-12-2124 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - The Future of Tall Wood Structures with Mark OakesonIs mass timber the future for tall buildings in seismic regions? 🤔 Well, it may be! In this episode, Mark and I discussed the Tallwood Shake Table Test, which tested cross-laminated timber (CLT) as an alternative material for seismic zones. Contrary to concrete frames that crack in the face of seismic forces, CLT uses a low-damage system! 😲 Check it out ⬇️
Tune in to Learn:
A seismic testing of tall wood structures called the Tallwood Shake Table Test
The promising future of cross-laminated timber (CLT) as a construction material
The sustainabi...
2023-10-1424 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - The Best Places for Civil Engineers Ranked By ASCE with Mark OakesonEver thought of moving to a different city for better career opportunities? Yes? 🤔 Then the ASCE has a selected number of them you can start with in their Best Places for Civil Engineers Index. This is a compilation of the top 10 best places in the country for civil engineers based on different factors that go into the life of a civil engineer. If you're considering a move, listen to this to find where to head to! 😉
Tune in to Learn:
The top 10 best US places for civil engineers to work and live in 2023...
2023-09-0822 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Navigating Stress in the Life of a Civil Engineer with Mark OakesonDo you feel like the work never ends? That you don’t you have enough quality time with your family? That you’re not as productive as before? If yes, then you might be stressed out. In this episode, Mark and I dive into how civil engineers can navigate the stress that comes with the work, from stress triggers and symptoms to ways to cope with it for your sanity.
Tune in to Learn:
Is Civil Engineering a stressful profession — if yes, is it worth it?
Subtle stress triggers you need t...
2023-06-3027 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - The 2022 NCEES Squared Report with Mark OakesonIf you plan to become a professional civil engineer, then this episode is for you! Today, Mark and I dive into the latest NCEES Squared report detailing the stats about its professional exams (aka your FE, PE, and SE exams), the current state of licensure in the country, and the organization's programs to help you track your PDHs and get licensed in other states — and even from other countries! 😲
Tune in to Learn:
The total number of test-takers by exam type
Insights into the SE Exam transition to CBT in 2023
...
2023-06-2323 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - The Construction State of the Union with Mark OakesonRemote Work. Supply Chain issues. Rising interest rates. After all these Covid-19 side effects, what’s the state of the construction industry today? And most importantly, what’s ahead? What will change? What type of projects will boom? 🤔 That’s what Mark jumps on to talk about after attending a roundtable involving all three key players in the AEC industry. Give it a listen! 😉
Tune in to Learn:
What the Utah Business Roundtable is — and why it applies everywhere else
The current state of labor and wages in the construction industry (with...
2023-04-2121 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA 166 - The Declining Enrollment of Civil Engineers with Mark OakesonWhy are fewer people getting into civil engineering when the numbers show they will be needed more than ever? Today, we’ll dive into the current state of the civil engineering job market and the aspects that play a significant role in it. From college education and possible education alternatives to salary issues and future trends.
Tune in to Learn:
The surprising number of engineers that will be needed each year for the next decade
The reason younger generations are avoiding getting into engineering programs
Why "money" alone is not an excuse not to go to en...
2023-01-1326 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - The Secrets to Passing Your ExamsWhat if I said that passing your FE/PE exam boils down to two extremely simple things? Well, believe it because it does. Today, Isaac and Mark will discuss not only what these two secrets are, but also how you can apply them to get over the hump of passing your exams.
Tune in to Learn:
Two simple secrets to passing your professional exams
Passing rate differences for first-time and repeat takers
The biggest hurdles for FE/PE repeat takers and how to overcome them
A downside of the CBT format — and one resource to help wi...
2022-10-1423 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - I Bless the Rains Down in AfricaToday, Isaac sums up his trip to Kenya with CHOICE Humanitarian, an organization helping those living in rural poverty. From lack of clean water to poor housing conditions, he elaborates on what he came away with after seeing the world through different lenses — and how you, as a civil engineer, can help these people more than you think.
Our Partner:
Built Bar - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/built (Use Code: CEA10)
Resources Mentioned:
CHOICE Humanitarian - https://choicehumanitarian.org
Tsavo East National Park - http://www.kws.go.ke/content/tsavo-east-national-park
Tsavo We...
2022-09-1035 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Engineering Our Future PE Course and Tips with Luis DuqueIf you want to pass your PE exam but think there’s no time for you to learn all the technical content, then this episode is for you. Today, Luis Duque from Engineering Our Future shares a recently released study guide that teaches you how — not what — to study for the PE exam so you can pass it once and for all…as he did on his first try.
Tune in to Learn:
How Luis prepared for and passed his PE Exam all by himself
An underappreciated outcome of taking the PE exam that supercharges your career
...
2022-07-2924 min
The Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Conceptual Problems You Need to Know for the FE and PEYou can expect 10-15 theory questions during each session of your FE or PE exam. The problem? You either know how to answer them or you don’t. So today, Isaac walks you through 12 of these, detailing what you should do in order to be prepared and how to approach them on exam day to give you the best shot at getting them right.
Question Topics Covered:
Wastewater treatment plant design
Open channel flow
Concrete construction work
Project management
Field compaction
Soil shear strength
Mechanical properties of materials
Level of service (LOS)
Types of concrete
Truss sy...
2022-05-2126 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Snow Canyon, The PE, and Spring BreakToday, directly from the backstage of a family trip to Snow Canyon State Park, Isaac elaborates on his own experience of persevering and passing the PE exam as a repeat taker — and how you can too.
Our Partners:
PPI - http://www.civilengineeringacademy.com/ppi
School of PE - http://www.civilengineeringacademy.com/sope
Tune in to Learn:
Why Snow Canyon State Park is worth the visit for geotechnical engineers
Two rules to use when choosing your depth section for the PE exam
Which depth exam is the easiest (based on re...
2022-04-2015 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Is Travel Required for Success as an Engineer?Depending on the company you work for, you’ll probably go on work trips from time to time. In today’s episode, Isaac and Mark discuss their own experience taking lots of work trips throughout their careers, and whether or not they really benefit you as a professional.
Tune in to Learn:
Is Travel Required for Success as a Civil Engineer?
The Types of Companies That Require More Frequent Travel from Their Employees
The Intangibles of Face-to-Face over Online Meetings (Even in This Day and Age)
The Logistics and Anxiety Factors of Traveling
The Positives and Nega...
2022-03-1125 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - The Wonderful World of Concrete with Mark OakesonThe World of Concrete is a conference held in Las Vegas, taking place every year in January. As the name goes, it brings together both professionals and companies within the concrete world. Today, Mark Oakeson, a repeat attendee of the conference, shares all the ways you can benefit from going to it as well.
What You’ll Learn:
What the World of Concrete Conference is And Who It’s Built for
New Pieces of Tech About to Change the Concrete Industry Forever
What You Can Learn at the World of Concrete from Hands-on Engineers
Why Conferences are...
2022-02-2533 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - A Discussion on Performance-Based Designs with Mark OakesonAll structural engineers know the endless codes they have to adhere to. These are all standardized values that vary depending on the material being used, building type, construction method, etc. But what if you could base your design only on the performance you want your structure to have when experiencing different events?
What You’ll Learn:
A Brief History of Codes and Standards in Civil Engineering
What is Performance-Based Design?—And How Did it Get Started?
What are the Four Levels of Performance-Based Design?
Risk Categories in Structural Design—And What Differs One from the Other
Is Per...
2022-01-0828 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - How to Create a Solid Financial Future with Chris CookAs engineers, pretty complex problems, whether theoretical in school or real on the field, can become familiar as we go along our careers. However, the somewhat simpler mathematical equation of compounding interest can sometimes be neglected. Today’s episode will show you the crucial importance of budgeting, getting out of debt, saving, and investing for our future.
Chris Cook is a licensed financial adviser with a long and pretty diversified experience in the field, currently working at the Utah-based wealth management firm Diversify, Inc. He began his career working at an insurance division and later transitioned to so...
2021-12-0332 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastDidn't Pass the PE in 2021? Now What?“Failure is part of life”, they say. But when it comes to failing your PE exam, it just seems to hit harder than almost anything else, right? After all, you’ve put a significant amount of time, energy, and money into it. But make no mistake, you’re definitely not alone.
Today’s episode will reveal what you can do to not only recover from an exam failure but also get back in the game as soon as possible. Whether you’ll have to retake your exam or take it the first time in 2022, your preparation and strategies f...
2021-11-1920 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Making Civil Engineering Practical for the WorldThis week, YouTube superstar Grady Hillhouse from Practical Engineering jumps on the show! Grady is a geography college graduate, turned professional civil engineer, turned successful content creator with way more than 1+ million views per video. Yeah…what a journey! Tune in to learn about his engineering background, how he started the channel as a hobby, and much more!
What You’ll Learn:
From Geography to Civil Engineering: Grady’s Unusual Path into the Field
The Importance of Geotech Classes―Regardless of Your Area of Expertise
The Biggest Value of an Engineering Degree Most Engineers Don’t Recognize
...
2021-11-1320 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - The Great Resignation and ReprioritizationThe pandemic completely changed how people live and work. While some things may get back to “normal” in the post-pandemic world, the “Great Resignation” shows that some new working preferences are probably here to stay. Today, you’ll learn how this phenomenon has affected the civil engineering world, and how things will play out in the field moving forward.
What You’ll Learn:
What the Great Resignation and Reprioritization is―And How It Started
Why is This Phenomenon Happening Today?
Eye-Opening Stats from a Microsoft Research on a New Work Trend
Has the Great Resignation hit the Civil Engi...
2021-11-0528 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Life of a Civil Engineer a Year Out of School With Cody SimsThe first time Cody Sims appeared on the show, he was a college student with an internship position. Now, one year later, he jumps back on to talk about how his life has significantly changed after graduating, passing the FE exam, and starting to work as a full-time civil engineer.
If you’re a student about to graduate, uncertain about the road ahead, then this episode will do you a huge favor! Cody lays out the details of what he did to study and pass his FE exam on the first try, successfully apply for a job an...
2021-10-2631 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - A Dive Into the 2021 ASCE Infrastructure Report CardThe 2021 edition of the ASCE Infrastructure Report Card is out! It brings light to the current conditions of America’s infrastructure by assessing different individual categories, from bridges to hazardous waste. As a civil engineer working in one of these fields, you should probably check this out.
Therefore, today we’ll dive into the main points of the report. This includes the many challenges the country still has to face, the recommendations on how to improve the infrastructure moving forward, and why this means that civil engineers will be needed MORE than ever before!
What You’...
2021-10-2121 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - More Than Engineering with Jeff PerryIn the COVID era, people being unhappy with their careers is a topic that has come up a lot in the news. However, most of them don’t realize that this unhappiness is not limited to their workplace alone. If you feel like you’re not living a happy and fulfilling professional life, and even think you maybe want to switch jobs, then this episode is for you!
Today, Jeff Perry jumps on the show to talk about his work helping people find fulfillment in their careers. At More Than Engineering, Jeff helps engineers deal with their curr...
2021-10-1532 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - All Your Questions Answered About the PE Going CBT!Long gone are the days where you would go into a conference center carrying your suitcase filled with books, references, and codes, with thousands of other people, all of you feeling nervous and anxious. Starting January 2022, the Civil PE exam is going to be a computer-based test (CBT). And today, you’ll learn EVERYTHING you need about this new format so that you can better prepare for it―and pass it!
Questions Answered:
How Will the Specifications Change?
Will it Still be an 80-Question, 8-hour Exam?
Are They Still Going to Ask Breadth and Depth Questions?
What...
2021-10-0919 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Top Reasons Why Engineers Make Great EntrepreneursWhether you already have a career you really like or you're just getting started, engineers always want more. They want to improve themselves and their life, do greater things and achieve more. It’s no surprise most of them want to become entrepreneurs. If you do, then you’re in the right place!
In today’s episode, you’ll learn 10 reasons why you already have what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur. Your engineering background armed you with skills you’ve never thought you could use to start a profitable business on the side of your career. An...
2021-09-2915 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - The Highest Paid Civil Engineering IndustriesHave you ever heard that a civil engineering degree allows you to work in many different industries―even some you don’t even know yet? Well...that’s true. But have you ever been told the average salary for each of them? Well...you’re about to. And it’s going to make you even MORE interested in civil engineering!
What You’ll Learn:
The Highest Paid Industry Within Civil Engineering―And How Much You Can Make
Three High-Paying Alternative Industries You Didn’t Know―And How They Work
The Average Salary for Each Discipline
Equally Important: The Lev...
2021-09-2328 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Celebrating 100 Episodes of CEA!We've hit the 100th episode of the Civil Engineering Academy Podcast! It’s been a really fun and educational journey for us, and we truly hope it’s also been great for you. Actually, we’ve had so many interesting guests and covered so many topics that we know we could help you with something.
Celebrating this important milestone, today’s episode is an overview of our journey so far, with our top 10 podcast episodes for you to listen to again. Also, Isaac dives into why he started Civil Engineering Academy, where it’s at right now, and where...
2021-09-1724 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - All That Goes Into a Demolition Plan with Mark OakesonWhile big, headline-making demolition projects certainly get our attention, the small ones require just the same amount of “engineering knowledge”. Today, Mark Oakeson jumps on the show to talk about a demolition project he just did. He explains all the details regarding how this type of project takes place in real life, from start to finish.
What You’ll Learn:
Difference Between Big and Small Demolition Projects
What Goes Into the Preparatory Work Before the Actual Demolition Starts
How to Assess the Reliability of the Existing Structure―And Why You Should
How to Determine the Impacts on the S...
2021-09-0829 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Improving Your Mental Wellbeing with Michelle DickinsonMental burnout, depression, anxiety...you name it. Mental health issues have always been around. It was when the pandemic hit, however, that it became obvious the true damage it can cause, especially on a personal level. If you want to know how to better handle such things when life gets tough, this episode is the #1 thing you need.
Today on the show, Isaac chats with Michelle E. Dickinson, a Wellbeing Strategist, mental health advocate, TEDx speaker, and author. Building on her own childhood experience taking care of her mother who suffered from bipolar disorder, Michelle is now...
2021-09-0225 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - The Surfside Florida Condo Collapse with Mark OakesonIn every structural design class, students are presented with case studies of historical structural failures to learn from. And the case of the condominium collapsed in Surfside, Florida, will certainly be one of them in the future.
Today, Mark Oakeson jumps back on to walk you through some of the aspects he thinks may have led the building to collapse. To do this, he combines his own career and work dealing with structural design on a daily basis with assessment reports evaluating the condo’s conditions.
What You’ll Learn:
● Well-Known Structural Failures of the...
2021-08-2623 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Egos, Vulnerability, and Personality Traits with Salman RazaEffective communication in the workplace would solve most of the problems we, engineers, face every day. Yet it’s incredibly hard to achieve it. Do you feel like heated situations in the office could be avoided by simply knowing how to deal with other people’s personality traits as well as your own? Well, then this episode is for you.
Salman Raza has been advising companies on their organizational culture, strategy, and infrastructure for a long time with his consultancy business Razalution Bureau. He teaches managers, leaders, and employees how to communicate and interact effectively in professional sett...
2021-08-1941 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - How Racism and Economics Affect Infrastructure with Collin YarbroughCivil engineering is famously known for its positive impacts on society once a project is completed and fully functioning. Today’s episode, however, will make you reflect on societal questions that play a crucial role in our communities long before the project is even approved.
Today’s guest is Collin Yarbrough, a pipeline engineer, bakery owner, and the author of Paved A Way. During his graduate studies, he was required to write a paper that later turned into his groundbreaking book, which tells the stories of how infrastructure projects have been silently contributing to social issues such as r...
2021-08-1229 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - How Surveyors and Civil Engineers Work Together with Cory George“Your design is only going to be as good as the survey that it’s drawn on”. That’s how today’s guest emphasizes the importance of land surveying for civil engineering projects.
Cory George is both a licensed Professional Engineer in NC and SC and a licensed Professional Land Surveyor in NC, SC, TN, FL, and DC. After “falling into the field” while still a major in college doing research for the engineering department, he has now started his own surveying and engineering business called Pilot Surveying and Engineering.
Cory and Isaac discuss various aspects of the...
2021-08-0529 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Is the Civil PE Exam Tricky with Daniel Reyes, PEThat’s a fact: The PE Exam can be tricky. Whether it’s a calculation-based or a theoretical question, we have to watch out for everything during the exam to make sure our answer is correct. Our guest today will tell you how to prepare for the exam and handle those subtle questions that can trick you into choosing the wrong alternative.
Daniel Reyes is a structural engineer currently working at a consulting firm in Columbus, Ohio. He’s just beaten the exam’s low pass rates for repeat takers after enrolling in the Ultimate Civil PE Review C...
2021-07-2933 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Balancing Motherhood and Civil Engineering with Bahaar Taylor, PEWork-life balance is a topic that keeps coming up in our everyday lives. At the end of the day, we all have not only career goals but also personal goals and family responsibilities. Even though it can sound daunting, today’s guest will show you it’s possible.
Bahaar Taylor is a structural project engineer at Erickson Structural Consulting Engineers in Washington, a 2021 ASCE New Face of Civil Engineering, wife, and mother of two. After getting her degree from Brigham Young University, she got elected as the president of the Oregon Chapter, and that’s exactly when she ha...
2021-07-2225 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Engineering Our Future with Luis DuqueCalling all international students and professionals out there! Today’s episode features Luis Felipe Duque, an engineer in the US from Colombia, who has recently become a Professional Engineer after passing his PE exam.
Luis is currently a bridge engineer working on the erection, retrofitting, and dismantling of bridges at Foothills Bridge Co. in Boulder, Colorado. His passion for construction started out while watching his father’s work as an architect, but he soon realized he wasn’t that interested in this side of the job to follow in his footsteps. However, since he’s always liked the hand...
2021-07-1525 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Building Real Estate Passive Income with Lane KawaokaRegardless of our profession, we all know the importance of properly handling the money we worked hard for and putting it to work in our favor. While there may be several well-known investment options, from 401ks to index funds, today’s guest is a strong advocate of the power of passive cash flow investing.
Lane Kawaoka was a licensed professional (PE) civil and industrial engineer turned accredited real estate investor. After renting his first home in Seattle because his engineering job would not allow him to stay home that much, he realized that he could keep buying an...
2021-07-0928 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Passing the PE After Multiple Attempts with James JohnsonSix. That’s how many attempts it took today’s guest to pass the PE exam and get his license. For those out there who may be feeling disappointed for having failed the exam before, this episode will prove that it’s all part of the process.
James Johnson is a construction engineer at the Indiana Department of Transportation, where he’s had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects from roads to bridges, and even the first project in the entire state of Indiana to use galvanized steel beams. His PE license will really bolster...
2021-07-0127 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Becoming a ASCE New Faces Honoree with Danielle SchroederToday’s guest is Danielle Schroeder, an Associate Engineer for Pennoni Associates in Philadelphia and an honoree of the ASCE’s 2021 New Faces of Civil Engineering. She first learned about the field while attending an engineering girl’s camp as a high school student, and then went on to graduate with both a Bachelor and Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Drexel University. After graduation, she has worked on a wide range of projects, including retrofitting the Burlington-Bristol Bridge.
As a huge advocate for and leader of STEM outreach events among young people, particularly young women from k...
2021-06-2327 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Learning Sales for the Professional Engineering Industry with Mark WainwrightWhile becoming a true expert in our particular field and subject of interest can lead us throughout our career, being a successful engineer requires much more than being extremely good at our craft. There are people skills we inevitably need to learn, soft skills related to project management we need to understand, and as today’s guest will prove, sales skills.
Today on the show, Isaac interviews Mark Wainwright, a marketing and sales professional with 25 years of experience working for and with professional services firms—civil engineering firms fall into this category. Building upon his past experience in t...
2021-06-1636 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Winning After Losing: Building Resilient Teams with Lt. Gen. Thomas BostickThe field of civil engineering allows us to positively impact the lives of many people and make a huge difference in our nation. Even though getting through our schooling and professional exams can be really hard, the end result of all this hard work is well worth it. As our guest today put it, “The nation needs engineers and will always need engineers. And if you stick with it, you'll have great opportunities”.
Today’s guest is none other than Lieutenant General Thomas P. Bostick, a graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, an instru...
2021-05-2836 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Tips to Create Better Virtual MeetingsAs history books will never let us forget, 2020 was the year the world went remote. Along with that, live events, family gatherings, as well as in-person office meetings shifted to virtual settings. Since the technology will only keep improving and not go away, it’s crucial that we learn the basics of how to run an engaging and effective virtual meeting instead of a long and arduous virtual talk.
Mark jumps back on the show to join Isaac on a deep dive into some techniques we can all use to make our virtual meetings better. As working en...
2021-05-1923 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Mental Health Challenges in Civil EngineeringWe’ve all at some point wondered how the process to become a civil engineer in other countries goes and what requirements and examinations people need to meet and pass in order to get the desired initials, whether they are P.E, C.Eng., etc. Today, we’ll take a closer look at how this process takes place in the UAE, as well as a deep dive into a really important topic most civil engineers simply, and mistakenly, ignore: Mental Health.
Abdulrahman Atif and Ghanim Kashwani are two civil engineers from the UAE who have been friends sinc...
2021-05-1233 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Learning Leadership with Mark CrossfieldAny pathway within civil engineering is full of speed bumps. Although there are countless options within the field, we may sometimes feel stuck, uncertain of what we should and could do next. Should we make the leap and move into a leadership role? Do we want to move into a leadership role? Should we switch between organizations? Today’s episode will answer these career questions we all have.
Our guest today is Mark Crossfield, an accredited coach at Bravo Coaching and a chartered civil engineer who has already led multi-disciplinary railway and highway infrastructure teams in the UK...
2021-05-0733 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - The NCEES 2020 Annual Report in ReviewAs it does every year, the NCEES organization has already released its 2020 Annual Report, in which it provides an overview of the initiatives it has been involved in, a roadmap of what happened in the previous year, and where it’s headed looking forward. Today, Isaac walks us through some of the most important points and how they affect our licensure as professional engineers, but also how we prepare and take the FE, PE, and SE exams.
Starting with a frustrated 100-year celebration due to COVID and more efforts towards educating policymakers about the value of a pr...
2021-04-2822 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - A Taste of Our LIVE Problem Solving Workshops (Seismic Review)Today is not a normal episode of the Civil Engineering Academy Podcast. Whether you’re getting ready for your Geotech Depth Exam on the PE or the California Seismic Exam, this audio version of our last live workshop will make you feel guilty if you haven’t participated in it. Seriously.
Isaac and Mark walk us through some seismic, geotech, and deep foundation materials, explaining some key concepts that will most likely be tested on the PE and California Seismic exams, both as theoretical and problem-solving types of questions. In addition, they lay out the resources we can...
2021-04-211h 07The Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Reality vs Expectations in Civil Engineering CareersWe all choose our career paths based on our younger self’s dreams and expectations of what we might be able to do and work on someday in the future. Whether we thought we would design and build the next Burj Khalifa or get rich off an extremely high salary right after getting our first job out of college, the truth is that, even though we can still accomplish such things, we have to be mindful of how we go for it.
In today’s episode, Mark Oakeson jumps back on the show to discuss the expectations most...
2021-04-1428 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Applying the Mario Effect to the FE and PE ExamsThroughout our lives, we’re always trying to overcome the hurdles of reaching the next level, whether it’s going from junior to senior in college, getting the PE license after passing the FE, or even going from one job position to the next. The real challenge, however, lies in how we frame the situations we need to go through in order to reach such a new level and not really the situations themselves. That’s called the Super Mario Effect.
First mentioned by the Youtuber Mark Rober during his widely famous TEDx Talk, the Super Mario Effect...
2021-04-0812 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Which Civil PE Exam is Easiest to Take? Which is Hardest?As engineers with an analytical science-based background, we tend to rely a lot on what the numbers tell us about something. Therefore, the statistics on the Civil PE Exam give us a hint on which depth exam can be considered the easiest one to take and pass. Today, however, Isaac combines his years of experience as a test taker himself and as an instructor to those seeking their PE license to dissect these numbers and the amount of work each exam requires.
By mentioning the specs required by the NCEES for each of the five exams and...
2021-03-3117 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - A Day in the Life of a Transmission EngineerThe five main branches of civil engineering are widely recognized by most of us who choose a career in the field. We begin to develop an interest in one of such branches during the early college years after taking more specific classes or attending presentations of companies within this branch. Today, however, Isaac reveals how a particular presentation got him into an area that few people know of as a potential branch they can get into: The Transmission World!
Transmission engineers are those who combine the knowledge from different fields, such as civil and electrical engineering, and...
2021-03-2520 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - How to Deal with the Stresses of Exams and Life with Dr. Laura JagetAlmost every single one of us has already faced a period in life in which we were completely stressed out, whether it was due to exams we were about to take, personal life issues, or even the combination of these two. Dealing with all this can, and certainly will be challenging. Today’s guest, however, provides the best approaches to weather the storms of life.
Dr. Laura Jaget is a retired chiropractor that has a 28-year of experience under the belt who created the How To Life brand, a podcast and Youtube channel geared toward helping, guiding, an...
2021-03-1923 min
New Republic InvestorNRI 05 - A Historic Day in Crowdfunding Limits, Co-Founder's Newsletter, and Gumroad!Today we dive into a historic day in crowdfunding...the limits have been raised from $1M to $5M and Gumroad was the first company to come out the gates swinging and raising $5M in 1 day! We touch on the co-founder, Kendrick Nguyen's, newsletter, my first dive into an investment, and more.
Join me, Isaac Oakeson, on my own journey into Republic.co as we search for some great companies we are passionate about investing in.
Join our FB community here:
Email me here: newrepublicinvestor@gmail.com
2021-03-1716 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - How to Give Your Full Attention in a Distracted WorldWhether we were studying for final exams in college, putting in the daily effort to prepare for the FE or PE exam, or trying to get any sort of task done at work, we’ve all faced the challenge of trying to focus but simply not being able to. Maybe it’s a coworker or a classmate that asks for something, maybe it's the phone that keeps ringing, or maybe it’s as simple as our cell phone staring at us. Today, Mark jumps back on to address this exact challenge and how to develop the skills to handle it.
2021-03-1123 minNew Republic InvestorNRI 03 - Diving into Startup Companies, How They're Selected and More FAQsToday we dive into startup companies, one of the areas you can invest with Republic.co. We also talk about how startup companies are vetted and selected, and we hit more FAQs including what angel inventors SAFE agreements are.
Join me, Isaac Oakeson, on this journey of investing with Republic.co as an startup investor. Maybe we can find a unicorn in here :)
Have questions? Shoot me an email or join our FB Group and let's talk! You can reach me at newrepublicinvestor@gmail.com.
2021-03-0919 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - How Much Preparation Do You Need to Study for the PE Exam?We all know the PE license opens doors to a variety of possibilities in our careers, which also have their own indirect benefits in our personal lives. While we may decide to take the PE exam with an eye on its future benefits, most of us struggle with the basics: How much time do I need to put in every day? How should I organize my study time? And how many months before exam day should I start preparing for it?
In today’s episode, Isaac addresses these common concerns and provides guidelines and tools that you ca...
2021-03-0419 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Becoming an Engineering From Honduras to the US with Martha CastellonBecoming a professional engineer is a difficult task at any point in time, regardless of where we were born or live. However, challenges become even greater when we choose to pursue a career in a different country. Not only are the language and culture adoption barriers to overcome, but the way things work out in the new place can also be intimidating. Today, our guest explains how she managed to overcome all of these.
Daughter of two engineers and sister of talented siblings ranging from engineers and doctors, Martha Castellon was born and raised in Honduras. Needless...
2021-02-2432 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - How To Crush The Transportation PE Exam with Shannon BeranekWe’ve already touched on many cases of people passing the PE exam later in life, as well as on the temporary and uncomfortable conditions we may face in order to achieve something better down the road. Today’s guest is an example of both. After dealing with medical issues that caused a 75% loss of kidney function and being almost 20 years away from the civil engineering arena, Shannon Beranek can proudly say she’s a PE.
Shannon Beranek is currently one of the two engineers for the city of Urbana, after going to college to get her bachel...
2021-02-1844 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - How to Deal with a Challenging PersonalityRegardless of the field we’re in, there will always be heated situations that tend to make us lose our temper and completely get out of the “professional mode”. It can be our boss or supervisor that is a little bit difficult to deal with, or maybe we’re in charge of a team and one of our subordinates has this unique personality trait that can make things uncomfortable. Since we cannot escape these situations, we’d better learn to handle them.
Today, Mark Oakeson jumps back on the show to discuss some tips and tools we can use to...
2021-02-1023 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - New Exam Resources at the School of PE with President Vinod DegaFor the loyal CEA audience out there that listened to a previous episode on the best resources for the AM portion of the PE exam, the School of PE is already a well-known and innovative player in the exam preparation material industry. With its recently released breadth review guide, it brought a modern feel to the industry by not only providing a different printing style but also an integrated use of technology to enhance the learning experience. Today, Isaac sits down to talk to the man in charge of all this.
Vinod Dega is a civil engineer an...
2021-02-0333 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - All the Books You Need to Crush the AM Portion of the PEWhile the PM portion of the PE exam can be considered difficult because it dives deep into someone’s knowledge about a specific discipline of civil engineering, the AM portion can be just as challenging since it mixes up questions from all five major areas. Therefore, getting ready for the breadth portion of the PE exam is of crucial importance. Today, Isaac details the most common and best resources that will definitely help you out with your breadth exam.
Starting with the ever-present and always recommended books, such as the Civil Engineering Reference Manual (CERM)— which is now...
2021-01-2721 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Tips to Becoming A Transportation Engineer with Brent ChaseEven though life is full of challenges and sometimes it makes us uncomfortable with where we’re at, more often than not, these individual situations are just steps along the way to something better. Doesn’t matter if you currently are on the job hunt or working with something that you may not be as passionate about as you thought you would, our guest today — who went from bus driver to transportation engineer — explains that these are just part of the process.
Brent Chase is a transportation and project engineer at David Evans & Associates (DEA), fo...
2021-01-2130 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Advice and Tips No Matter What Stage You Are At“New year, new me”, the old maxim we’ve all used or at least heard of when preparing for the upcoming year every December. That’s when we stop to reflect on the things we’ve accomplished, and most importantly, think about where we want to go from there. We’re two weeks into 2021 already and that’s precisely when we start working on all the goals we set for ourselves, be it personal or professional. Today, Mark Oakeson jumps back on the show to discuss the approaches and tips engineers can use to make some changes in their professional l...
2021-01-1342 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Passing the Civil PE Later in Life with Zdenek VymazalAccording to the rules specified by NCEES, people can take the PE exam whenever they feel both financially and personally ready for it, but they can only get their license after meeting the experience requirements. Therefore, most test-takers are recent graduates in their twenties and young engineers in their early thirties, which creates the belief that those with a bit more life experience are not as likely to pass the test. Today’s guest, who is in his sixties, will show that this belief is in fact a misbelief.
Born and raised in the Czech Republic (former Cz...
2021-01-0733 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - 2020 in Review at Civil Engineering AcademyHistory books will definitely never let us forget the crazy year of 2020. A year that changed everybody’s ways of working, doing business, celebrating, and enjoying time with loved ones. Regardless of all the bad things that happened, we have to both recognize and be grateful for all the things that went well. In order to recognize the bright spots of 2020, as well as to prepare for a better 2021, today’s episode is a recap of all we’ve accomplished this past year, and a list of goals we’re setting for the upcoming one.
After re...
2020-12-3020 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - How to Crush it with LinkedInWith technology just getting better every single day and making it easier for people and companies to work and connect with one another, the old-fashioned way of emailing a resume, or even visiting each individual company with a printed version of it, has been replaced by professional networking platforms. The most famous one is, with no doubt, LinkedIn.
As the largest online professional networking platform in the world, with more than 600 million users and 30 million companies, most employers resort to it in order to pre-select candidates for their available positions. In addition to that, many other features...
2020-12-2332 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - How are Bridges in Your State?Today’s episode is another one on our “America’s Infrastructure Report Card Series”, so to speak. Produced by the ASCE, these report cards are released every four years with the purpose of bringing to light the existing infrastructure problems and limitations in different sectors within the United States, ranging from bridges and dams to wastewater and energy.
Today, Mark Oakeson jumps back on to discuss with Isaac the last report card on bridge conditions nationwide, released in 2017. The overall grade assigned was a C+, which may not seem that bad initially, but according to the report, almost 1...
2020-12-1632 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Becoming a Better Public Speaker with Neil ThompsonCivil engineers, as with all the other professionals within the STEM sector (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), are undeniably more comfortable with the “hard skills” they are required to learn in school than they are with some, if not all, “soft skills”. However, once they start working, they realize that these soft, interpersonal skills can be just as valuable for their careers as their math-focused, college-trained competencies. Or even worse, they may end up having to use more of the former than the latter. Today’s guest is a living example that people in STEM can acquire and master such inter...
2020-12-0929 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA 59 - Passing the Civil FE Exam with DJ LeslieGoing through engineering school is hard, let alone passing the FE exam that comes along with it. Some engineers have taken the strategy of taking the FE exam right after school as the best option. In contrast, others get so busy with family- and work-related stuff that devoting hours to studying for the exam daily seems a barrier in itself, which causes them to postpone it — most of the time indefinitely. Today’s guest is the living proof that being out of college for a bit and in an exam setting is not that much of an obstacle.
To...
2020-12-0242 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Dunn and Associates Structural Engineering President Tait KetchamThe stories behind people’s reasons for getting into civil engineering are just as unique as their aspirations once they get into the field. While some of us dream about working on a particular project, whether it be building the highest skyscraper on Earth or the brand new stadium of our favorite basketball team, others visualize themselves stepping up into management roles and becoming the president of national or even multinational engineering firms. Today’s guest is a perfect example of a successful engineer who followed his passion for a specific discipline of the field and proved to everyone else...
2020-11-2626 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Indian Health Sr Field Engineer Charles ThompsonEveryone has a different story about how they got into Civil Engineering. While some people had a love for the problem-solving process of mathematics and physics from an early age, others discovered their passions for one specific area or discipline of the field a little bit later in life. Today, we go through the story of how someone who was pretty familiar with the military went up to an officer of the USPHS Commissioned Corps, got himself a summer job, and has been with the Indian Health Service for 18 years.
Today’s special guest is Charles Thompson, th...
2020-11-1836 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - ASCE's Infrastructure Grade on the Energy SectorAmerica’s Infrastructure Report Card, produced by the ASCE, is released every four years and has the purpose of bringing to light the existing infrastructure problems and limitations in different sectors within the United States, ranging from bridges and dams to wastewater and energy. The ASCE’s committee is made up of 28 civil engineers who work closely with technical and industry experts, assessing relevant data and reports, and then assigning grades based on aspects such as current capability, future need, resilience, funding, and more.
Today’s episode is all about the last report card, which was released in 201...
2020-11-1121 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Salary Trends and The Top 5 Cities to Work for Civil EngineersThe American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) releases a report on the median pre-tax annual salary of civil engineers every year, using the answers provided by respondents working within the field, from different levels of higher education, and spread out across the various disciplines of the subject. With this in mind, the ASCE just released the 2020 edition of this annual salary report, titled Civil Engineers’ Income and Job Satisfaction Continue to Rise. Today’s episode is a further examination of this report, as well as a list of the highest-paying cities in the US for civil engineers, compiled by the...
2020-10-2813 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Single Mom to an Engineer: Living the American Dream with Melody GonzalezThis is another episode that will certainly empower and motivate many women out there who feel that inner passion for pursuing career positions in areas of expertise that are somewhat still mainly dominated by men. Today, we hear from Melody Gonzalez, a female immigrant from Venezuela, single mother of two kids, who made her way in becoming an engineer despite all the obstacles she faced in life.
As an immigrant, she had to deal with all the changes that come with an international relocation, such as environmental and cultural changes, as well as language barriers. Since she...
2020-10-2140 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - The NCEES Chief Officer of Exams - Tim Miller, PECivil engineering is definitely among those industries that have been impacted the most by COVID-19. What’s worse, not only licensed engineers have been hit by the side effects of COVID, but also those who were preparing for the PE exam. Exams got canceled, people started losing hope and motivation, refunds were requested, there was worry about the safety of test centers in future exams, etc. Complete chaos? Not at all. On today’s show, we hear directly from within the NCEES organization about how they are navigating our current situation and the measures they are taking in order to pr...
2020-10-0651 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Never Giving Up with Fernando A. Ceballos, P.E.On today’s episode, Isaac has an intriguing and inspiring conversation with Fernando Ceballos about the hurdles he faced in his personal and professional lives, from being a kid with divorced parents and losing his dad while still in college to how being dyslexic affected him and his preparation for the PE exam. He is a guy with humble and troubled beginnings who has thrived professionally and is now helping others overcome their own challenges.
Fernando is a project engineer for Pape-Dawson Engineers, a statewide firm in Texas, working with multifamily, commercial and industrial land development, while al...
2020-09-3028 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - International Professional Engineering with Noah and MostafaOn today’s show, we hear from two international engineers, Noah and Mostafa, about how they got into the field, their journeys, the paths they needed to go through in order to become licensed professionals in their respective countries (and how it differs from the US), as well as their experiences in the civil engineering arena, and their favorite projects they have worked on themselves.
Mostafa is a Ph.D. with over 15 years of experience in the profession, who has worked on high-level projects in countries including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Canada. Just af...
2020-09-2347 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Come Learn How COVID is Affecting Construction SitesSince COVID-19 hit earlier this year, we haven’t really been able to discuss other topics. And even if we do, COVID-related procedures and measures are always part of the debate. It has disrupted all kinds of markets and has changed all different aspects of social and professional life. The civil engineering arena, which relies heavily on workers performing tasks on-site and meeting deadlines, was also considerably disrupted by COVID. On today’s show, Mark Oakeson, who has been experiencing this ‘new normal’ by himself, sits down to discuss with Isaac how the novel coronavirus has impacted construction sites, from saf...
2020-09-1626 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Women in Engineering and Transportation Engineering Advice with Melissa BradyPowered by social movements all over the world, women are getting more and more space, visibility, and respect within areas of expertise that were mainly dominated by men some time ago, such as natural sciences and engineering. Today Melissa dives a bit into women in the engineering field and some things she's had to deal with.
Melissa and Isaac also dive into the details of her life as a mother and an engineer, how she deals with her work-life balance, especially now with COVID and the work-from-home culture, her experiences as a woman in the field, her w...
2020-09-0836 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Did You Know About Threats to PE Licensure?The term Licensure refers to a restricted practice that requires individuals to have an official license granted by a licensing board before performing a certain profession or activity. The practice of this activity without a valid license may incur civil and criminal penalties. However, it’s more than common for lawmakers to categorize highly educated PEs with other professionals in totally different areas of expertise as an attempt to simplify the bureaucracy over occupational licenses. This is what the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) defines as threats to your PE License, and today’s main topic: The deregulation of y...
2020-09-0120 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Internship Advice You Don't Want to Miss with Jeff CastilloWe’re all familiar with the fact that every single person has a distinctly moving and interesting story of how they got into Civil Engineering and the various obstacles each of them had to face while pursuing that path, ranging from family responsibilities to personal difficulties in learning a specific subject. Today, Isaac brings another one of these incredible stories by talking to Jeff Castillo, a fascinating guy with an arduous past, including being homeless for about a year (that’s right) and getting arrested (that’s right, again) a couple of times.
He got his first constr...
2020-08-2532 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - A Special Announcement and Our Newest Team Member Andy RichardsonIt’s not new to anyone that the depth portion of the PE exam, as the whole exam itself, can be pretty challenging. Given that our mission at Civil Engineering Academy’s mission to help you on your journey to becoming a professionally licensed engineer, Isaac, and the CEA crew have teamed up with Andy Richardson to provide test-takers with the best coursework and materials related to the depth portion of the PE Exam.
Andy is the owner of a structural engineering company called 29E6 in South Carolina. They do a lot of work with architects and cont...
2020-08-1530 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Top Civil Engineering Universities in the USAThere are plenty of civil engineering schools today, located in all different parts of the country, ranging from the world-renowned and relatively expensive ones to the small- and mid-sized schools, with more affordable tuition fees. Even though the range of options can be pretty huge and diversified, everyone will have a unique university experience that includes their own needs and capabilities, both financially, academically, and socially.
Taking into account how overwhelming the process of choosing a specific university can be, today’s episode is a dissection of a list compiled by the U.S. News, in which th...
2020-08-1119 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Top Tips Dealing With Professional Development HoursToday, Mark Oakeson jumps back on the show to discuss Professional Development Hours, aka PDHs. Given today’s world, the interplay between science and technology has allowed groundbreaking methods and processes to constantly disrupt “old-fashioned” ways of building, doing, and creating things. Within civil engineering, this wouldn’t be different. As an applied science in itself, civil engineering is constantly changing and going through innovative transformations that enhance specific aspects of the field. Therefore, professionals need to keep up with these changes, and PDHs play a big role in this day-to-day update on industry news and trends.
This epi...
2020-08-0429 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Intern, College, and FE Tips with Jed-Jason RamosToday’s guest is Jed-Jason Ramos, who has recently received the position of project engineer with the Walsh Group, one of the largest builders in North America, after being an intern at this very same company twice, in 2018 and 2019. Born in Hawaii, raised in Southern California, he earned his degree from Brigham Young University-Idaho. Jed has some good insights to share with both those who are still in civil engineering school and those who are already practicing it.
This interview features insights about how he uses Simon Sinek’s theory of “The Why” to approach any task he encoun...
2020-07-2845 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - FE Tips and Advice with Maithili DeyToday I have a special guest come on - Maithili Dey. She recently passed the FE exam last year and has some great tips and advice she's picked up along the way. Come learn more from her in this episode!
Although the majority of PE/FE test takers may be from the US itself, international professionals who have had their academic careers outside of the country also need to go through the same process in order to be able to work in the US. And in today’s episode, Maithili Dey (from Bangladesh) elaborates on her journey as a...
2020-07-2135 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - The Top 10 Civil Engineering Firms in the WorldToday we go international and look at the top 10 civil engineering firms in the world. This is pretty much based on revenue and employee size. Some of these companies are HUGE! If you've ever wanted to work for one of them then maybe this episode is for you!?
Almost every engineer has already thought about the possibility of working for one of the largest and most renowned engineering companies in the world. Those that employ professionals all over the globe and have incredible, and most of the time unbelievably, massive revenues, which allow them to keep growing. In...
2020-07-1424 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - PE Exam Test Take Strategies with Mark OakesonToday Mark Oakeson jumps back on to the podcast with me as we discuss all the test-taking strategies for the PE exam. We discuss pass rates, how to determine what depth exam to take, how to organize your references, how to guess property, how to take the exam and more! If you are taking the PE exam this fall or next spring then this is worth your time.
If you’re currently studying for the PE, or you know you’ll have to prepare for it some point in the future, this episode you’ll guide you through...
2020-07-0741 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - 3D Concrete Printing with Scott DenneyToday’s episode touches on the relationship between the ever-increasing and fast-paced development of technology and how it may impact the civil engineering world. Isaac sits down to chat with Scott Denney, a professional engineer with a great deal of experience in the construction industry, but who now works as an executive project developer at Pikus Concrete & Construction, a company performing activities in the 3D printing industry. In addition to many other career-related tips and predictions on the field’s future, given the development of technology, Scott also mentions how he prepared for the PE exam. He took a PE R...
2020-06-3027 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - How to Crush Your InterviewToday I bring my brother Mark Oakeson, PE, SE back on to the show. We discuss how to crush your interview. Take some time to learn from both of us as we ourselves have done both the interviewing and been the interviewee. There's a lot to learn in this one as it's our longest episode by far. There was just so much here that we kept it going. So if you are in the hunt for work, you've been laid off because of COVID, or you are just starting out, there will be something you can gain from listing to thi...
2020-04-2849 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - Ethic Issues After PE LicensureToday my brother Mark Oakeson joins me as we discuss the code of ethics from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) after you receive your PE license. Issues that can come up, warnings and personal experiences are all coming your way! It's a good time.
Resources Mentioned
99 Designs - If you need a logo, website, t-shirt, business cards, or anything you can imagine graphically created then go to https://www.civilengineeringacademy.com/99designs and get a team of graphic designers going! It's a sweet service with amazing graphics.
Civil Eng...
2020-03-3037 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - How to Improve Your Game as a Intern - What to Do and What Not to Do to Make the Best of Your Experience!Today we discuss a bunch of key points about making the most out of being an intern. If you are in the hunt or you are an intern come to learn from Mark Oakeson and me as we dive into the key points on how to make the most of your intern experience and really boost your career and life.
If you enjoyed this episode make sure to share it with a friend!
Resources Mentioned in the Program:
The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - Our complete review course for th...
2020-02-0436 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - What is the Best Career Path for Civil Engineers?Are you interested in learning about all the different career paths civil engineers can take? Join me as I chat it up with my brother Mark Oakeson about all the different career paths a civil engineer can take within Government, Education, Industry, Consulting, and Construction! There are so many different areas a civil engineer's path can take them, so it's fun to talk about it to spur some ideas on where you are and where you might be headed in the future.
We will also dive into learning about how to take your career to the next le...
2020-01-2132 minThe Civil Engineering Academy PodcastCEA - A Day in the Life of a Structural Engineer with Mark OakesonWant to learn what a structural engineer does, what challenges they face, and what they enjoy doing? Then look no further. Join me as I interview my brother Mark Oakeson as he details his journey to become a structural engineer. He gives some excellent advice for anyone curious about becoming a structural engineer, and it's fun to learn about the strategies and tips you should pick up on early in your career so you can make the most of it.
Mark has over 22 years of structural engineering experience managing multi-million dollar projects in virtually every role in the...
2019-12-0335 min