Pendulum Land Podcast

Eminent domain can seem oppressive and unfair.  The American system of compulsory acquisition features constitutional restrictions and obligations, as well as numerous duties imposed on condemning authorities and rights conferred upon impacted landowners.  Our right of way acquisition process has come a long way, yet imperfections persist.  Do we have the best system in the world? Is it fair enough? Are there loopholes that still need to be closed, and is there more that we should be doing to protect our citizens? Texas eminent domain attorney Sejin Brooks joins Infrastructure Junkies to offer his insights into what's broken within the systems of right of way acquisition, eminent domain and the Uniform Relocation Act.

Renowned Author Howard Mansfield returns to Infrastructure Junkies to discuss two more chapters of his book, The Habit of Turning the World Upside Down.  In this Season 4 finale, Howard tackles "The Last Medieval Clam" by recounting some of the earliest battles for American soil which occurred in the courts across the ocean, and involved people who never set foot in North America. Then the conversation turns to "The Pipeline in the Neighborhood" where the human effects of a massive infrastructure project are once again examined.   This episode of Infrastructure Junkies is generously made possible by Blackbird Right of Way, LLC, experts in the Uniform Relocation Act benefitting projects all over the United States.

Dominion Energy Senior Counsel Karla Carter joins Infrastructure Junkies to discuss the complicated history of heirs property issues.  What exactly is "heirs property"? What are the effects--both intended and unintended--on certain segments of the American population?  What are our obligations to heirs property in the right of way context?   When condemning agencies encounter parcels of property which were inherited by its currents owners--often passing intestate and without the benefit of a will--the easiest option is sometimes to simply proceed to condemnation.  Karla Carter explains why this has become an issue of social and environmental justice and how the abuse of partition suits has been utilized to deprive certain segments of the population of their land.  In fact, heirs property is the leading involuntary loss of African American property in the United States. Listen in and you will understand why heirs property is so much more than a land title issue. For more information on the subject, go to https://farmlandaccess.org/heirs-property/  This episode was generously sponsored by Pendulum Land Services, LLC.

Southeastern Virginia is comprised of seven cities, each of which is waterfront, and many of which are separated by large bodies of water.  The Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel was constructed in the mid 1950's to connect Norfolk and Virginia Beach with Newport News and Hampton without obstructing marine traffic.  The Virginia Department of Transportation launched one of the largest infrastructure projects in North America to expand the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.  Chief Engineer Ryan Banas joins Infrastructure Junkies to explain this incredible feat of infrastructure expansion, and in the process, tells our audience exactly how this bridge goes under water.

A controversial and sometimes shady right of way project may be single-handedly responsible for the City of Los Angeles as we know it, and all that it represents.  The Los Angeles Aqueduct, the brain child of William Mulholland and Fred Eaton, miraculously transformed a sleepy oil town into a world famous metropolis.  Armchair Engineer Adam Ratliff (TikTok: @armchairengineer) joins Infrastructure Junkies to explain the genesis of this project, all that it entails and how it was accomplished, the disastrous effects on the Owens River Valley, and the tragedy of a dam failure which claimed the lives of over 400 people.  One thing is certain:  if there is no aqueduct, there is no modern day Los Angeles. This episode of Infrastructure Junkies was generously sponsored by Blackbird Right of Way, LLC, specialists in the Uniform Relocation Act.  Check out their website at blackbirdrow.com.

Waterfront property lawyer Bryan Peeples joins the Infrastructure Junkies to discuss exclusive rights enjoyed by waterfront property owners -- better known as "riparian property rights".  Bryan explains that riparian rights are valuable real property rights which, in most cases, cannot be taken without just compensation.  Bryan defines each of the five riparian rights and explains how to exercise them. Bryan also explains some key differences between landlocked property and waterfront property of which all potential  purchasers of waterfront lots (including condemning agencies) should be aware.

Incoming International Right of Way Association President Fred Easton joins the Infrastructure Junkies to discuss his vision for the upcoming term.  Fred brings his philosophies and grand plans to the discussion table, as well as his passion for education within the organization.  Listen in to get to know Fred Easton better, and don't miss the special celebrity guests!

In anticipation of our mid-season finale with incoming International Right of Way Association President Fred Easton, we are re-releasing an entertaining and controversial interview with Jake Farrell, who took the reigns of the IRWA at the San Antonio conference in 2021.

Renowned author Howard Mansfield returns to Infrastructure Junkies to discuss two more chapters of his fabulous book, The Habit of Turning the World Upside Down. Listeners met Howard in the kickoff episode of Season 4 when he brought us tales of attempts to drain the Great Dismal Swamp and the Ballad of Romaine Tenney.  This time Howard discusses "The Land of Many Uses"--our national forests.  From the mass destruction of old growth American timber throughout the 19th and 20th centuries to the creation of national forests...these national treasures may not be as safe as we would like them to be.  He then explains to us in his own words what happens when "My Roots are Deeper than your Pockets"--when one's land is more important than any amount of money, even if the landowner lacks sufficient financial resources.  We as right of way professionals deal with the idea of "just compensation" to the point that we may actually become desensitized to the sentimental and emotional attachment to real property that some people feel.   Thank you to Blackbird Right of Way, LLC for its generosity in making this episode possible.  Blackbird is a DBE certified right of way acquisition company that specializes in complex relocations throughout the United States.  From one parcel to 100, make Blackbird part of your team!

In this 5th installment of the Infrastructure Junkies Roundtable series, your hosts invite some young(er) right of way professionals to share what's on their mind in this popular format. You know the routine...everyone brings one topic in right of way, and one in pop culture and the group discusses.  Listen in to some outstanding insight about the winding road to the right of way industry, YouTube stardom via the Terrell Show and a young jazz starlet Samara Joy, the joys of the Uniform Relocation Act, what is your high school anthem?, effective outreach to recruit new Infrastructure Junkies, how much Taylor Swift is too much?, gender equality and discrimination in the right of way industry, and finally the magic of The Red Green Show! This episode was generously sponsored by Pendulum Land Services, LLC. Thank you, Pendulum!

Infrastructure Junkies host TikTok sensation and co-influencer, the Armchair Engineer to lead them through an examination of what is perhaps America's greatest infrastructure marvel of all time, the Hoover Dam.  Listen in to learn about the taming of the wild and wonderous Colorado River and political jockeying for water allocation among the seven states which border that tributary. How was that dam conceived? How was such an incredible infrastructure achievement constructed? The perils of construction could never be replicated today.  The Hoover Dam provides hydroelectric power to communities, irrigates countless farms, provides drinking water to millions, and represents a veritable triumph of 20th century engineering.  Adam Ratliff explains how reservoirs function as water "savings accounts" and the current status--and future prospects of Lake Mead.  This is one fantastic episode! This episode was made possible by Blackbird Right of Way, LLC, a DBE certified right of way company specializing in complex relocation assistance.  Thank you, Blackbird!

It's difficult to imagine that just a century ago, airplane contrails were never seen in the sky.  There was no airline industry to speak of.  In 1900, airplanes did not even exist.  Now we live in a world that relies on safe and reliable air travel. What was the genesis of our massive airline infrastructure?  Professor Greg Jackson from the "History That Doesn't Suck" podcast joins Infrastructure Junkies to tell the story of Wilbur and Orville Wright - brothers from Dayton Ohio who had the vision of a flying machine before any such machine existed.  How did the Wright Brothers transform a vague vision into the idea to fly off of the side of a huge hill in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina?  How did that experiment go?  And how did they get from a rudimentary hang glider to reliable air transportation and war machines?  Join Professor Jackson and Infrastructure Junkies to find out!

Environmental attorney Jim Lang joins the Infrastructure Junkies to educate us on wetlands and their effects on a right of way project, infrastructure development or property acquired by eminent domain.  How do you define wetlands, and what the heck are they?   How are wetlands identified?  Why are wetlands important?  How are wetlands regulated? And what penalties will I face if I ignore or disturb wetlands?  If an agency or project manager identifies wetlands within a project's footprint, what should they do?  Finally, can a wetlands mitigation bank be utilized to solve the problem? Jim Lang's practice is headquartered in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area, where he founded his firm's waterfront law practice group.  For more information about topics involving wetlands, waterfront law and riparian property rights, check out his website at Waterfront Property Law, serving those who work, live and play on the water. This episode was generously sponsored by Pendulum Land Services, LLC.  A SWaM certified, DBE right of way acquisition company also headquartered in Hampton Roads, Virginia.  Check out their website at Pendulum Land Services.

One year after last season's blockbuster episode about the challenges of the oil & gas and pipeline industries, renowned energy lawyer Tom Forestier returns to Infrastructure Junkies to update us on the current prospects of that industry.  Just as it wasn't over "when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor", rumors of the demise of the oil and gas industry were greatly exaggerated.  Exports of hydrocarbons are up and oil companies are recording record profits.  So why do we still pay so much at the pump?  Tom explains it all. Tom also gives us an overview of "Environmental Justice" and how it affects right of way projects.  Learn what environmental justice means, how it is applied, what are the goals and objectives of environmental justice and how it must be accounted for on infrastructure projects.

New Jersey's Owner's Counsel of America representative, Tony DellaPelle, re-joins Infrastructure Junkies! to discuss his front line experience on a  serious issue that is not going away for coastal communities and residents--storm damage.  Tony describes the unexpected devastation of Hurricane Sandy to the Jersey Shore back in 2012, and the reactions of residents and politicians alike.  After the storm, Governor Chris Christie led the effort to mitigate the effects of future storms by constructing dunes and buffers.  But New Jersey had no plans to pay for easements required for those storm mitigation buffers and gave no consideration to the possible damage to value of coastal properties.  Does the public interest in protecting our coastlines from rising seas outweigh private interest in real property?  Do landowners have a moral, ethical or social obligation to surrender rights without compensation--thereby bearing the substantial costs of mitigation efforts? This is a fascinating examination of one state's reaction to a devastating hurricane.  What steps can be taken to proactively deal with future storms?  That may be the substance of discussion on a future episode! This episode is made possible by Blackbird Right of Way, LLC, which specializes in complex relocations under the Uniform Relocation Act.  From one parcel to 100, anywhere in the lower 48 states, Blackbird is ready to become a part of the team.

The Infrastructure Junkies team up with Clint Schumacher of the Eminent Domain Podcast to bring you a very special joint episode with a superstar guest.  Two term Mayor of Austin, Texas, Steve Adler, joins your three hosts to discuss his time as Mayor of one of America's most vibrant and progressive cities.  What was it like to lead the charge on huge infrastructure packages to benefit citizens long before the federal government passed its own legislation? What makes Austin so unique?  And how did Mayor Adler's career as a landowner eminent domain attorney affect his perspective as the leader of the Texas capitol? This episode was generously sponsored by Blackbird Right of Way, LLC, your "go to" consultant for displacements under the Uniform Relocation Act.

Renowned author Howard Mansfield joins Infrastructure Junkies! to explain his fascinating book on property rights, The Habit of Turning the World Upside Down.  Mansfield details the odd and sometimes disturbing relationship Americans have with land and real property, and brings forth two compelling stories from his book.  He details the tragic demise of a Vermont farmer named Romaine Tenney who stood in the way of highway construction in 1964.  The Uniform Relocation Act was not yet in existence, and Mr. Tenney could have really used the assistance of a relocation agent… or could he?  Kristen Short Bennett's commentary on the story is surprising and compelling.   Howard Mansfield also details George Washington's plans to drain the huge and magnificent Great Dismal Swamp located in southeast Virginia and Northeast North Carolina in the 1700's.  The land hungry Washington planned to convert the swamp to farmland, but those plans never came to fruition.  Before wetlands regulations, before nature conservancy, before any sort of national environmental conscience, George Washington's irresponsible and hare-brained scheme resulted in 250 years of environmental destruction and annihilation of a multitude of ecosystems. Enjoy Mr. Mansfield's fascinating presentation and perspective on American property, and never forget the obligations that right of way professionals have to our land and our country.   This episode is generously sponsored by Blackbird Right of Way, LLC. Visit our podcast's website at Infrastructure Junkies.

This is a leaked episode of our other podcast, Infrastructure Junkies Unfiltered! which can be found at the Infrastructure Junkies Website under "Exclusive Content".  Fred Easton joined IJ Unfiltered to discuss his experiences as an expert witness in eminent domain cases.  Believe it or not, Fred was once fired as an expert witness on a legal case for being "too honest".  As we all know, lawyers want their experts to say what they want them to say, and when that expert forms his own opinion--and sticks to his guns, he can find himself off of the case.  Fred also gives us a glimpse into the survey world and offers his hot take on the new Casey Anthony miniseries.  Tune in!!

The most interesting man in right of way, Donnie Sherwood, presents some of his more colorful personal experiences in appraisal assignments.  Learn how he handled timber cruises to value trees on a tract of property which was being acquired by a state agency, and the snakes, hogs, spiders, rats and other terrifying creatures that he encountered along the way.  Have you ever wanted to meet an Eastern Timberback rattlesnake inches from your head...or be chased by a cottonmouth water moccasin for 75 yards through a swamp? Donnie did just that during an assignment in Big Thicket, Texas. If he stuck it out in the right of way field for 48 years, so can you! And if you have ever considered teaching an International Right of Way Association course in Saudi Arabia or another exotic land, tune in.

In this fascinating discussion about various issues encountered in right of way or eminent domain appraisal assignments with our good friends Brian O'Neill and David Burgoyne, Infrastructure Junkies! takes a deep dive on what's hot in the industry.  Our guests educate us on the purpose and mechanics of review appraisals, which is an opinion on the quality of another appraiser's work. They also touch on appraisal requirements established by the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisitions Act and walk us through the difference between major and minor deficiencies in an appraisal.  Hear how and why the right of way appraisal business is very special, and how it is different from "run of the mill appraisals".  Hear why temperament is a critical key to being an effective eminent domain appraiser, what obstacles and barriers there are in eminent domain appraising and why Dave gets so wound up by hubris and arrogance of many appraisers.  Along the way, discover the beauty of Brian's home state, Idaho, and maybe Dave doesn't know as much about oysters as he wants everyone to believe.  And Kristen puts Mr. Burgoyne through the paces of "Over, Under, Push". This episode is generously sponsored by National Right of Way Review Appraisal, where our friends offer their exemplary appraisal services.

Welcome to the fourth installment of Infrastructure Junkies Roundtable with Wade Brown of American Acquisition Group and Ross Greene with Pender & Coward's Eminent Domain Practice Group.  You know the routine...everyone brings one right of way issue and one pop culture topic that is on their mind, and magic ensues!  This time, we delve into the breadth of "infrastructure" as we know it, and who is the "good guy" and who is the not so good guy.  Ross wants to talk about replacing interstates with green space and how we tend to find another path to get to where we need to be.   Wade is frustrated with educating inexperienced strategic partners in the right of way process.  Dave has a newfound respect for negotiators and negotiation agents who wear many hats in the process.  As for pop culture, let's just say that Wade flips out about slow drivers in the left lane, Kristen hates "vocal fry", Ross loves fantasy movies, and Dave has his opinions on the best lead vocalists in rock and roll.  Enjoy!

In this special bonus episode, Dave and Kristen leak an episode of their brand new subscription only podcast "Infrastructure Junkies Unfiltered!"  Unfiltered is a weekly show that consists largely of discussion and analysis of hot topics in right of way and eminent domain, pop culture, and everyday life and well being. In this leaked episode, Dave and Kristen discuss the effects of recent hurricanes on infrastructure, the movie Bridesmaids, and why Kristen is sore (this ought to be good). PLUS, is IIJA already in trouble? And what the heck is wrong with Dave these days???? To find out more about "Infrastructure Junkies Unfiltered!" and to follow, check out the website at Infrastructure Junkies.com  or their subscription page to the new show.

Despite the best of intentions (and in spite of careful planning), agencies must sometime cancel a right of way project.  When a project is cancelled, what lies in the aftermath?  Does it matter how far along the project had progressed?  What if eminent domain had already been used?  Does acquisition by quick take vs. slow take make a difference?  And what should the repercussions be on the cancelling agency? New Jersey attorney Anthony DellaPelle from the law firm of McKirdy, Riskin, Olson & DellaPelle, P.C. joins Infrastructure Junkies! to share his wisdom on this subject.  With his long and varied career in eminent domain, Tony is able to offer insight and perspective on behalf of both landowners and agencies.  And buckle up for his answers in "Over, Under, Push" and "Riddle Me This!"  This is a a great episode!

We know that IIJA will pump TRILLIONS of dollars into the American infrastructure industry, but aside from the dollars being invested, what effects can we expect?  Infrastructure Junkies! invited Philip Sanchez, a New York attorney with the law firm of Herrick, Feinstein, LLP, to the show to give us the lowdown on what to expect...and you better buckle up!  Phil explains why this new legislation will have an even more dramatic effect on American society than what we saw when the interstate system was constructed.   Are we ready in the right of way industry to meet the demands of this bill?  Let's find out!

Do you want to talk relocation assistance under the Uniform Relocation Act?  You have come to the right place!  Join Infrastructure Junkies! as Kristen Bennett takes us on a deep dive into the differences between moving, reestablishment, and ineligible relocation expenses.  This episode was inspired by a recent encounter with a move planner, and Kristen will discuss grease traps, vent hoods, and sprinkler systems…along with other sometimes questionable relocation items.  Also, find out when and how displacees can be reimbursed for expenses pertaining to code compliance.  Kristen will even give listeners direct references to the rules in the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR Part 24) and the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act (Uniform Act)!  Let's get in the weeds together!

Infrastructure Junkies! returns for the second half of Season 3, highlighting the International Right of Way Association International Conference in Cleveland, a trip to Podcast Movement in Dallas, and plans for the future and upcoming events for our listeners! Find out what happened over the summer and what is in store going forward.

The Infrastructure Junkies! invited President Judy Jones to center stage to explain how and why she assumed the helm a year earlier than originally planned. Is she ready? Did she need another year to prepare? Learn more about her unlikely path to this position, her philosophies, leadership style and her goals for the International Right of Way Association. This episode of Infrastructure Junkies! was graciously underwritten and sponsored by Blackbird Right of Way LLC, DBE certified relocation specialists who will handle all of your relocation needs, no matter how complex. From one parcel to 100.

Infrastructure Junkies! welcome back Professor Greg Jackson from the History that Doesn't Suck Podcast to tell you a story about one of the greatest infrastructure marvels in American History:  the transcontinental railroad.  Learn about the reasons why our young country so desperately needed this new infrastructure development, how it was set up as a race between the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific, the high stakes of failure, the challenges of drilling through mountains, native American hostilities, weather, and also learn about the remarkable people that got it done.  What a story! This episode was generously sponsored by Blackbird Right of Way LLC, your experts in the Uniform Relocation Act.  From one parcel to one hundred, anywhere in the United States, Blackbird gets it done! 

Appraiser Bob Grace joins Infrastructure Junkies! to discuss the wild and wonderful world of fixtures in the right of way field.  The appraiser's first encounter with items in the acquisition inspection will set the stage for how certain "things" are handled throughout the eminent domain process.  Are they realty or are they personal property? And what is a "trade fixture"? Get that determination wrong, and bad things can happen. Tune in!

For the first time ever, The Eminent Domain Podcast and Infrastructure Junkies! team up for a JOINT EPISODE which examines the nuts and bolts of IIJA.  We focus on how and when it will affect our industry, where the funding is going--and where it's not.  Attorney Jeremy Young has studied the landmark legislation and provides your hosts a wonderful and fascinating overview of what is to come.

Indian property rights scholar Bethany Berger, a professor at the University of Connecticut School of Law, joins Infrastructure Junkies! to explain the intersection between Indian rights and right of way projects and infrastructure development in the United States.  She discusses the derivation of Indian property interests, how Indian reservations were established, the laws that govern Indian property rights, the source of those laws, and the effects of burial grounds and Indian artifacts on a project. For more information on this topic, the regulation on rights of way over trust and restricted lands on reservations can be found at 25 CFR 169 (there are some older statutes that apply to reservations generally), and the best resource to find out more about Indian property rights is Cohen's Handbook on Federal Indian Law, which is available on Lexis (but not Westlaw).  Ch.15, section 15.09[4] is all about rights of way, and Ch.20 section 20.02[3] is all about the National Historic Preservation Act.  Special thanks to our sponsor, Blackbird Right of Way, a full service, DBE certified right of way company, for making this episode possible.

Tom Forestier, a partner with Winstead, PC, has represented some of the largest companies in the oil and gas industry for his entire career.  Tom joins Infrastructure Junkies! to discuss how the oil and gas industry has lost public support, the disfavor of fossil fuels, and the difficulty of building pipelines in this new era.  And did someone mention bourbon?  Yes, please!

Your hosts explore application of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended, to businesses impacted by a right of way or eminent domain project.  Martyn Daniel, an eminent domain and business relocation consultant and Brandee Caswell, an attorney who assists large companies with complex relocations, offer their perspectives on application of the URA to this complex and sometimes imperfect process.  Find out the role of the Karate Kid in relocations, and whose alter ego is Daniel Larusso, Johhny Lawrence, Mr. Miyagi and Ali with an "i"!   This episode is generously sponsored by Blackbird Right of Way LLC.

Two of the best and most successful property rights (landowner) eminent domain attorneys in the United States, Andrew Prince Brigham (Jacksonville) and Christian Torgrimson (Atlanta), join Infrastructure Junkies! to share their perspectives from the other side.  Along the way, they discuss what attracted them to defending landowners, their perspective on the ongoing debate of whether eminent domain is good or evil, as well as jury trial strategies.  Learn what they view as unfair practices by condemning authorities and which agencies are more difficult than others.  They identify bad condemning authority practices and behaviors and best of all, appraisers and appraisal tactics which they are able to exploit at trial.  As would be expected, each guest handily survives "Cross Examination with Dave"! This episode was recorded on location at the Eminent Domain and Land Value Litigation Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Infrastructure Junkies! would like to thank Amy Weinberg at ALI-CLE for providing our team the space to record at the conference. Infrastructure Junkies! would also like to thank Pender & Coward's Eminent Domain / Right of Way Practice Group for its generosity in sponsoring this episode.

Infrastructure Junkies! kicks off Season 3 with a blockbuster roundtable with special guests Lisa Harrison and Marcus Boyd. Tune in to consider hardline negotiations in right of way, silver linings in relocation benefits, the need for diversity in the right of way industry and whether the infrastructure industry is really ready to "go green". Along the way your hosts and guests consider the benefits of being a vegetarian, reality TV guilty pleasures, the need to read, and Texas Tech basketball, baby!  This episode was generously sponsored and made possible by Pinnacle Consulting Management Group.  Thank you, Pinnacle!

Patrick McCallister joins the IJs to discuss his education outreach to recruit the next generation of Infrastructure Junkies as well as his new Eminent Domain and Right of Way Clubhouse.  "Tish" from Boots, Bibles and Scrapbookin'! Podcast breaks into the studio and takes the interview into her own hands.  Hilarity ensues.

Professor Tanya D. Marsh from Wake Forest University School of Law teaches the only law school course on cemetery and funeral law in the United States.  She joins the Infrastructure Junkies to educate us all on what to do if human remains lie in the path of a right of way project.  How can graves be condemned through eminent domain? Does a corpse have the right to just compensation?  And what even are "human remains" that trigger special treatment?  Find out here!        

Professor Greg Jackson returns to finish the gripping story of how the Brooklyn Bridge was designed and constructed.  This American infrastructure marvel represented the greatest right of way feat of its time and set the standard for bridge engineering going forward.

Check out the wondrous story of the greatest American infrastructure achievement of the 19th Century:  the Brooklyn Bridge.  Professor Greg Jackson of the wildly popular History That Doesn't Suck podcast joins the Infrastructure Junkies! to bring the story of our nation's greatest infrastructure marvel to life.  Listen to how the brilliant John Roebling identified the pressing need to connect Brooklyn with Manhattan in the mid 1800's and then conceived the engineering technique to accomplish this vision. A road supported by string?  Not quite, but this marvel still provides safe passage to over 100,000 people every day nearly a century and a half after completion.

Do you have a "hot" infrastructure project with heavy media scrutiny? Has the use of eminent domain become controversial...or has the landowner utilized the media or politicians to weaponize its case?  Are some impacted property owners a hotter potato than others?  Join Infrastructure Junkies' fascinating interview of PR expert Brian Daskam, who guides your hosts through the minefield of controversial projects.  And bonus!  Get Brian's hot take on 90's music and....coffee?  Oh, and a spirited round of "Cross Examination with Dave!"

Yes, you heard it right.  Almost 20 years ago, Jeff Meader suffered a very unfortunate and stressful experience involving eminent domain.  But this savvy entrepreneur took the proceeds from that painful process and turned his nightmare into a dream come true for himself and his family...and the Eminent Domaine Winery was born.  If you are interested in the human aspect of the right of way process, this episode is for you.  If you love wine or are interested in the nuances of how it is created, this episode is for you. If you just love a feel good human interest story, this episode is for you.  Join us! Infrastructure Junkies would like to thank this episode's sponsor, HDR, for bringing us the idea for this episode, and for its generous sponsorship which made production possible.  We are most grateful for the support of Leigh Enger and her team at HDR for their support.  

Cyndi "Julie" Whelpley and Koby "Seth" Godwin join your hosts, Kristen "Courtney" Bennett and Dave "Chad Harwicke" Arnold for the next exciting right of way / eminent domain roundtable! (Why exactly do they all have "bar names"?)  Topics in this exciting episode include property rights on Indian reservations, the importance of title reports, muli-generational workforces and return to the office and how to find the next generation of Infrastructure Junkies. Oh, but that's not all!  Listen to everyone's most terrifying near death experiences, past regrets, the fallacy of The Notebook....and you won't believe Koby Godwin's past profession!  You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll vow to never set foot on another escalator for as long as you live. Tune in!!

Is eminent domain appraisal methodology nothing more than "chicken sacrificing voodoo"?  Do appraisers really use an Ouija board to determine values in complex appraisals?  (Yes.)  And must appraisers keep their Ouija boards in their work files??? (No.) Superhero appraisers David Burgoyne, Brian O'Neill and Christina Thoreson take over the Pendulum Land Podcast to set the record straight, and Ross Greene valiantly defends his statements from a controversial prior episode.  In this riveting episode exclusively sponsored by National Right of Way Review Appraisal, find out whether appraisers are beholden to those paying their fees, whether the various appraisal methodologies can be manipulated, and ARE THEY??  But even more importantly, since this is "REVENGE OF THE APPRAISERS", what is the best revenge movie of all time? And how did David Burgoyne and Brian O'Neill fare during "Cross Examination With Dave"? Finally, tune for David's reverse movie and music quiz for your hosts!

Hey, Infrastructure Junkies!  Dave and Kristen are attending the Podcast Movement '21 convention in Nashville, and want to introduce you to their newfound friend, Tish!  Check them out in this lighthearted intermezzo!!!

Your PLP hosts took some time off to rest their Simple Minds and plan the second half of Season 2! Listen in for a short update on two brand new episodes dropping in August, Infrastructure Junkies Hall of Fame inductees, and a spirited discussion about the worst songs in rock n' roll history!!

The PLP crew interviews new International Right of Way Association President Jake Farrell LIVE from the 67th Annual International Conference in San Antonio, Texas!  Check out this poignant and compelling interview with Mr. Farrell, where he discusses his path to a right of way career, his unusual journey to IRWA leadership and his planned legacy for that organization.  Along the way several surprise guests send their messages to the guest of honor, including a certain celebrity from Los Angeles!  And what hard hitting interview would be complete without "Cross Examination With Dave"??!!  (Jake promises that Nebraska is not nearly as boring as everyone thinks it is!)  Check it out!

Your hosts each bring a right of way topic and a pop culture obsession to this episode for some fascinating discussion!   Listen in for a soapbox speech from Dave about the "property rights" fallacy, fresh water  infrastructure insight (and our acute need for more attention to it) by Carrilin, the misleading portrayal of eminent domain on television and in movies from Ross, and hot right of way topics for future episodes with Kristen.  And along the way, you will have the pleasure of hearing Kristen pontificate about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, hear about Ross's man crush on Kevin Costner, the joys of the Outlaw Country movement, and more than you would ever need to know about K-Pop.  (Whaaaaattt???) Best of all, welcome to the Infrastructure Junkies Airwaves!  Check out personal music playlists from each of your hosts here: Infrastructure Junkies Airwaves - Dave! Infrastructure Junkies Airwaves - Kristen! Infrastructure Junkies Airwaves - Carrilin!

Texas eminent domain attorney and varsity football coach (because everyone in Texas is involved in football) Clint Schumacher discusses the inspiration behind his popular Eminent Domain Podcast, the biblical history of eminent domain, emerging hot issues in the field, and his views on the application of the Uniform Relocation Act.  Finally, Clint engages your hosts in a powerful discussion about his captivating new book, Second Wind: Decisions the Resilient Make to Overcome Adversity, as well as the inspirations and lessons of his book.  Listeners will also learn the significance of the title of this episode (hint: it's a movie) and hear Clint admirably defend himself during "Cross Examination with Dave"!  Tune in!

Have you ever gotten to hear the opening statement of an eminent domain jury trial with $7 million of agency money on the line? Tune in, and you will here!  Superstar Seattle lawyers Matt Hansen and Tara O'Hanlon from the law firm of Miller Nash Graham & Dunn celebrate the First Annual Billy Squier birthday episode of the Pendulum Land Podcast with your hosts!  Matt and Tara explain how the valuation of restrictive covenants--and the risk of ignoring them--came into play in their recent jury trial (which was conducted via Zoom).  Tara sets the table for our audience by re-creating her opening statement and then our guests navigate the audience through the rest of the odyssey. (Spoiler alert!  The good guys won!)  Most importantly, our guests demonstrate their mastery of the classic romantic comedy starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.   PS - What's the antonym of "mastery"???

The Pendulum Land Podcast's best barrister buddy from across the pond, Meyric Lewis, enlightens your hosts on "compulsory acquisition"--England's version of eminent domain.  Relocation benefits in Britain? Maybe not so much! And did you know that "climate change litigation" nearly halted the expansion of Heathrow Airport?  Along the way, your hosts thank our British barrister friend for various tidbits of British pop culture...while finding themselves forced to apologize for a few things as well.  Perhaps most importantly, our English friend survives "Cross Examination with Dave!" (And--spoiler alert!!-- England was indeed having an off day when "fish n' chips" was invented!!!!)  Join us!

The Pendulum Land Podcast crew ventured down to the Big Easy for its first ever live podcast recording at the 2021 Transportation Symposium and the International Right of Way Association's Region 2 and Region 6 Joint forum.  Special guests Wade Brown (American Acquisition Group) and Erin Newberry (HDR) joined the podcast as representatives of their respective regions for a trivia contest with an incredible prize on the line.   Along the way, your hosts examined the history of American interstate and railroad infrastructure, as well as some fun trivia about the airline industry.  This episode is full of interesting information about the right of way industry and features plenty of laughs along the way. And listen to audience reviews at the end of the show!