The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast

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The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast is your gateway to all things civil engineering! We are here to help you at every step of the journey to becoming a professional civil engineer and also help you boost your career and life. We will share tips and tricks to help you ace the civil FE exam, PE exam, and take your career from engineer to manager or owner. We also occasionally discuss current topics, engineering trends, and generally cool engineering that is happening in the world around us. So join us! Check out our home page at civilengineeringacademy.com. Thanks!

Isaac Oakeson


    • May 28, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 27m AVG DURATION
    • 289 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast

    An Immigrant Engineer's Path to Passing the PE Against All Odds with Hadi Azzawi

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 30:06


    Passing the PE Exam is one thing, but doing it as an immigrant, with language barriers, and after hitting a wall multiple times before already?! That's a whole nother story — and it's real!

    Find Your WHY: The True “Secret” to Passing the FE or PE Exam

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 14:41


    Prepping for your exam isn't a walk in the park. It's hard. It  takes discipline. And you'll want to quit more than once. (Been there.

    Colin Tinsley's Journey from 5 Attempts at the Construction PE Exam to Firm Owner

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 27:52


    From frustrated PE examinee after 4 failed tries to…wait for it…future firm owner?!

    Port of Corpus Christi's Use of Digital Twin Tech With Darrell Keach and Rex Hansen

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 41:17


    The concept of “Smart Cities” is here!

    America's Infrastructure Just Got Its Grades (And They're Not All Bad!)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 29:40


    How Aggie Li Crushed the Civil FE on the First Try While Still in School

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 26:39


    What's it like to crush the Civil FE Exam on the first try, with less than two months of exam prep…all while still juggling a full course load in grad school?!

    The Engineering of Communication Towers With Sudarshan Kasera, PE, PMP

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 24:22


    Here's a career path that doesn't even come to mind when you hear “Structural Engineering,” but uses the same basic knowledge and it's just as lucrative — Telecommunications.

    Building, Running, and Growing a Civil Engineering Firm with Kevin Franson

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 28:48


    If you're the entrepreneurial type of civil engineer with (big) plans to open your own “shop” some day and scale it, this episode pulls the curtain on everything you need to know for that journey.For this one, we sit down with Kevin Franson, one of the owners and the General Manager at Franson Civil Engineers — a water resources engineering firm based in Utah.Kevin gets into the real stuff that helped scale the firm to two offices and a growing team — hiring strategies, company culture, handling conflict, how to stay competitive, and a lot more to apply at your firm, now or when you start it.

    The State of the AEC Industry in 2025 with Mark Oakeson

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 28:46


    How's the AEC industry currently doing with lots of Government funding…but high interest rates, inflation, and (even worse) tariffs?

    The Next-Level Software for Managing Engineering Firms With Robert Yuen

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 22:08


    Running an engineering firm is already hard enough. Why make it worse by using static spreadsheets, many disconnected apps, or (even worse) century-old methods your grandpa used to run his shop?

    Building Better Software for Consultants and Engineers with Adam Loewentheil

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 32:36


    Tired of juggling multiple tools to track deadlines, assign tasks to team members, store documents…and everything else that comes with managing your projects?

    The Experience "Loophole" in the PE Licensure Process

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 22:40


    Imagine 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?!

    The Best Study Strategy to Pass Your Exam That You're Not Doing Enough

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 22:47


    Do you think those who pass their exam are simply smarter than everyone else (including you)? And if you've already failed one of these before, do you think you're simply not “smart enough?”

    Thriving in Male-Dominated Industries with Hannah Dunham

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 27:02


    Did you know that only 16.7% of women with an engineering degree actually work in engineering?!

    Mastering Your Financial Future as a Civil Engineer with Andy Cole

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 29:22


    As civil engineers, we're used to solving big, complex problems no one can solve…until we run into a simple life debate we can't figure out.

    Yameli Herschelman's Journey to Passing the PE After 6 Attempts With CEA

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 21:49


    Imagine failing the PE so many times that you decide your next attempt would be your last — pass or walk away.

    Developing New Leaders with Mark Oakeson

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 24:32


    CEA 2024 Year in Review!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 23:28


    Do you do annual reviews to reflect on what you've accomplished and what's next?

    Alberto Ortigão's Journey to Getting His PE After 50 Years in Geotech

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 26:12


    Picture this: you're 50 years into your career, have done all types of work all over the world, have your Master's, a PhD, and the CEng. Time to hang up your boots, right?

    Crushing Construction Management with Lokesh Palani

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 31:11


    Would you choose a career based on its similarities with…wait for it…chess?!

    The Art of Managing Engineering Projects with Aaron Shavel

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 25:32


    Have you been eyeing the Project Management route for your career and want to know what it looks like?

    Crushing His TLine Career and the Geotech PE Exam with Seth Anderson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2025 23:11


    Overwhelmed by the number of codes required for the Geotech PE Exam? Scared by its low pass rates…year after year?

    Inspiring the Next Generation of Geotech Engineers with Kirsten Grant, PE

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2024 25:33


    Diving Into the Numbers on Syndications for Engineers with Brian Armstrong

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 34:10


    Let me guess: you listened to our previous episode with Brian Armstrong and got interested in what the numbers look like in that real estate syndication opportunity for engineers. Correct?

    Crushing the Civil FE Exam After 11 Years and 4 Tries with CEA With Angela Concha

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 25:07


    Going for the FE a few years after school is already tough. But 11 years, with three failed attempts in the track record, and facing language challenges for coming from a non-English speaking country?!

    Jessica Wellcome's Path From Architecture to PE Exam Triumph

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 28:44


    Many non-civil engineers have passed the Civil PE Exam, and our latest guest, Jessica Wellcome, is another awesome example…whose journey is nothing short of inspiring!

    Charting a Course in Civil Engineering with the Navy's Program for Engineers With Jason Schecter

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2024 26:33


    Is it possible to work as a civil engineer in…wait for it…the US Navy?! ⚓ Well, the answer is yes. (I know… what?

    The Key Differences Between the WRE and the Environmental PE with Matt Fanghella

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 27:28


    PE Water Resources vs. PE Environmental Exam: what's the difference? Even better, if you work in any of these two fields…which one do you take if they overlap quite a bit?

    Kim Truong Shares Her Winning Civil PE Water Resources Exam Strategy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 23:21


    Did you know one of the most difficult topics in the Water Resources PE Exam is not related to Water Resources?!

    Revolutionizing the AEC Industry with AI: Insights from Dr. Sam Zolfagharian

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2024 35:22


    Passing The PE After Only ONE Month of Studying Time with Connor Aycock

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 25:38


    From Architecture to Passing His Structural PE Exam with Justin Krishart, PE | CEA 257

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 31:21


    Transportation Engineering Innovations with Dr. Said El Said, PE, PhD | CEA 256

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 26:29


    Do you know what Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are? Connected Autonomous Vehicles?

    Perseverance Pays Off: A PE Journey of Seven Attempts with Tucker Stafford | CEA 255

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 35:08


    What would you do after failing the PE Exam five times?!

    How Companies Can Attract Talented Engineers in a Labor Shortage with Tyler Wiggins | CEA 254

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 34:04


    Is the shortage of civil engineers only a lack of interest in the field by people, or have companies just been offering…well, too little?

    Engineering the Future of Transportation with Byron Tang, PE, TE, PTOE | CEA 253

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024 26:11


    Are self-driving cars really the future…in a country with a traffic fatality rate that (literally) dwarfs that of other countries in Europe and Asia?

    Real Estate Investment Strategies for Engineers with Brian Armstrong, SE | CEA 252

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2024 33:21


    Getting the PE does wonders for increasing your income. Period! But if you want to become financially better off, shoving that extra dough into traditional 401ks is..well, not the answer! ❌ In this episode, I chat with Brian Armstrong, a civil Structural Engineer turned real estate investor who's used his high salary as an engineer to build a passive income machine with real estate!

    The 2023 NCEES Squared Report Review with Mark Oakeson | CEA 251

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024 33:47


    Want 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?

    Acing the PE with Autism and ADA Accommodations with Nicole Gonzalez Hatfield, PE | CEA 250

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024 28:14


    Did you know the NCEES can customize the PE exam based on your unique needs? Whether it's additional testing time, break time, or even changes in the testing environment?

    An Update on the Civil Engineering Job Landscape with Brandon McGill | CEA 249

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2024 26:47


    The civil engineering industry is going through a big labor shortage of the exact type of engineers companies are desperately looking for.

    How to Become a Civil Engineer: Bridging the Gap with Michael Bempah | CEA 248

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2024 25:12


    Civil engineers touch on everything everybody uses every day…literally. But even then, the profession isn't as famous as others. That's what Michael Bempah set out to change! After graduating in Chicago, Illinois, he noticed pretty soon that nobody knew what civil engineers do. Especially members of minority groups, who didn't even see it as a possible career for them. As an African-American himself who had a good job at the Illinois Department of Transportation and then even started his own firm, Pinpoint Precision Engineering, he knew the field doesn't get as much good rep as it should. In this episode, we dive into the lessons from his book, How to Become a Civil Engineer, on how to spread the word about the profession… …and how practicing civil engineers like you can (and should) help! Check it out!

    Behind the Scenes: How Taylor Austin Mastered the PE Exam in CA! | CEA 247

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 24:07


    Off the Beaten Path: From Engineer to Financial Planner with Ryan Sullivan | CEA 246

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 28:37


    Today's economy is wild! Is inflation holding you back on the financial roadmap you created for yourself, fueled by your engineering career?

    Building the World's Largest Waterpark with Muhammad Abrar | CEA 245

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 24:02


    What is it like to work on big, headline-making projects? You know, the big stadiums, the tallest buildings, the one-of-a-kind structures?

    Inside the MEP World with Ramin Parsi | CEA 244

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2024 20:54


    Ever wondered what it would feel like to start and run your own engineering firm? Have you already considered it, but the downsides keep you from taking the leap?

    Engineering Professional to Professional Engineer in 20 Years with Joe Ebinger | CEA 243

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 33:37


    Building Dreams With Project Schoolhouse With Renata Aleman | CEA 242

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2024 26:17


    1.8 million. That's how many people in Nicaragua (alone) still don't have access to clean, drinking water.

    An Engineer's Guide to a Purpose Driven Life with Jeff Perry | CEA 241

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2024 28:29


    Picture this: You have a good engineering job. You make decent money. Your family is fine. So, why do you feel unsatisfied with your life and career?

    Blueprints and Passports: Samia's Engineering Expedition | CEA 240

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 22:14


    From Bangladesh to a P.Eng. in Canada to a PE in the US…Samia Bhuiyan has been proving all the stereotypes wrong across the world!

    DeFEating the Odds: A Student's Battle with the Civil FE Exam | CEA 239

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2024 33:59


    Failed the Civil FE Exam once? Twice? Five times? Well, "don't waste a failure." That's a mantra Ryan Turley adopted to pass this thing on his 5th attempt!

    The Civil Side of Silicon: A Civil Engineer's Transition to Tech with Stefanie Reichman | CEA 238

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2024 33:59


    Feeling trapped by “traditional” engineering roles? Do you want a way out to a career you truly enjoy?

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