American actor
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40 episodes with Todd Bridges
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3 episodes with Todd Bridges
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3 episodes with Todd Bridges
2 episodes with Todd Bridges
2 episodes with Todd Bridges
Advancing the practice of engineering with nature is a primary goal for the Engineering With Nature Program, and technology transfer through publications is a critical pathway to achieving this goal. In Season 8, Episode 8, host Sarah Thorne is joined by Amanda Tritinger, Deputy Lead of the Engineering with Nature Program, and Courtney Chambers, Communications Lead for the Engineering With Nature Program. They're discussing the importance of the Programs' key publications, including two new ones in 2025.Publications are critical to advancing the practice and closing the gaps in knowledge. As Amanda says, “They showcase real-world applications of natural infrastructure and inspire others to adopt these strategies in their own projects. By publishing, we make it possible for natural infrastructure to be integrated into more projects and drive innovation across multiple sectors.” This episode highlights several examples of innovative EWN Publications, including:The EWN Atlas series;Natural Infrastructure for Mission Readiness at U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Installations – Also known as “The Navy Playbook”; andThe Four Coasts Project Idea Handbook – design concepts that incorporate Engineering With Nature from four of the EWN Proving Grounds districts: San Francisco, Mobile, the Great Lakes, and Philadelphia. Courtney explains that the Atlas series was born out of a conversation that Todd Bridges, founder of the EWN Program, had with the then USACE Director of Civil Works, James Dalton who suggested that people would understand the key principles of EWN if they could see what they look like in practice. Its success has led to these additional innovative publications.Hollie Janson Schmidt, National Director of the Planning Group for Advisory Solutions at Jacobs, was the project executive responsible for developing the Navy Playbook with EWN. She joins the conversation and explains that, “The intention of the book is to really be nontechnical and user friendly so that someone could look at some of these sketches and really understand some of the characteristics and the components that we're addressing.” She adds, “It's just really meant to sort of excite people with the visuals and the beauty of what we were trying to bring forward.”Mindy Strevig, Managing Engineer at Anchor QEA, leads the collaboration on the development of the Four Coasts Handbook. She also joins the conversation and notes “The goal of the Four Coasts Handbook, is to get those solution concepts visualized and conveyed in a way that folks can continue those conversations through their traditional processes to get these projects funded, garner support, and move them to implementation.The EWN team continues to promote the work of the EWN Program and its partners through publications like these, as well as through ERDC Tech Notes and Tech Reports, and peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals. Amanda stresses that “these publications are invaluable to our practitioners because they provide a strong scientific foundation combined with the real-world application of natural infrastructure. By publishing this work, we ensure that knowledge is shared, lessons are learned, and innovations are being scaled up. These publications are critical to advancing the practice. They're how we bridge that gap between research and implementation and offer actionable insights.” For more information and resource links, please visit the EWN website at https://www.engineeringwithnature.org/ Amanda Tritinger – LinkedInCourtney Chambers – LinkedInHollie Janson Schmidt – LinkedInMindy Strevig – LinkedIn
We are beyond excited for this long-awaited episode—one that fans have been anticipating for decades! Today, we welcome the one and only Todd Bridges, who shares incredible insights into his standout Little House on the Prairie episode, The Wisdom of Solomon.This powerful episode has stood the test of time, gaining even more popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic—so much so that Snoop Dogg himself posted about it! (Yes, Snoop Dogg is a Bonnethead.) Todd takes us on a deep dive into his experience filming this serious and impactful story, his audition process, his understanding of the material, and his belief that a similar episode likely wouldn't be made for TV today. We discuss why Little House has endured compared to modern television, and why tackling tough topics—like those explored in The Wisdom of Solomon—is crucial for sparking important conversations, understanding history, and learning how we can be better because of it. Todd also shares insights into his unexpected breakout role on Diff'rent Strokes, what it was like to be part of the child-actor scene in the '70s and '80s, and his exciting upcoming projects—including a new show in development and his podcast with his wife, Dang!. The podcast explores those jaw-dropping moments in life that make you say, “DANG!”—whether good or bad.Then join Pamela, Dean and Alison on Patreon where we further discuss this episode, and give some sneak peeks into the NEW adaptation of Little House on Netflix!Don't forget to subscribe, comment, leave a review, and share this episode with fellow Bonnetheads.Links and Resources:Haven't signed up for Patreon yet? Link is below!PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/LittleHousePodcastwww.LittleHouse50Podcast.com to connect with our hosts and link to their websites.The merch shop is under renovation - we will keep you posted on the status!www.LivinOnaPrairieTV.com Check out the award-winning series created by Pamela Bob, with special guest stars Alison Arngrim and Charlotte Stewart.Prairie Legacy Productions - the place to go for info about all new Little House events!Little House 50th Anniversary Bus Tours - www.SimiValleyChamber.org select Little House 50th Anniversary and then Bus TicketsFacebook/Instagram/TikTok:Dean Butler @officialdeanbutlerAlison Arngrim @alisonarngrimPamela Bob @thepamelabob, @prairietvTodd Bridges Podcast: DANG! https://www.dangpodcast.com/Social Media Team: Joy Correa and Christine Nunez https://www.paclanticcreative.com/
Send us a textJoin former child star Moosie Drier, and author Jonathan Rosen, as they chat with Todd Bridges from Diff'rent Strokes!Todd discusses his time on the beloved series, appearing in the iconic mini-series Roots, competing on Battle of the Network Stars, his new podcast Dang!, and much more!Support the show
Send us a textJoin former child star Moosie Drier, and author Jonathan Rosen, as they chat with Todd Bridges from Diff'rent Strokes!Todd discusses his time on the beloved series, appearing in the iconic mini-series Roots, competing on Battle of the Network Stars, his new podcast Dang!, and much more!Support the show
Catch up with ALLISON INTERVIEWS Host, Allison Kugel: Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theallisonkugel/ Allison Interviews Blog - allisoninterviews.com Allison's Book, Journaling Fame: A memoir of a life unhinged and on the record In the latest installment of the Allison Interviews Podcast, journalist and host Allison Kugel talks with actor Todd Bridges, about his television career, including Diff'rent Strokes, Little House on the Prairie, Roots, Everybody Hates Chris and the Comedy Central animated series Everybody Still Hates Chris; staying sober for 32 years, finding G-d, parenting, and his new podcast Dang! With his wife and co-host Bettijo Bridges. Todd's Links Dang! Podcast: https://www.dangpodcast.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toddbridges Everybody Still Hates Chris (Comedy Central: https://www.cc.com/video-clips/0v4k5b _____________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to the audio podcast of Allison Interviews on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and subscribe to the video podcast on YouTube. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What do you think will be the top baby names of 2025? Will "Mildred" make a comeback? What's in a name…that makes it popular to one generation, and downright ugly to the next? From "Bertha" and "Layla" to "Reagan" and "Katrina," history shows us that politics, pop songs and news events all play roles in sending baby names skyrocketing or plunging in the rankings. Mo (short for "Maurice"!) returns to his elementary school to speak with his fifth grade teacher about his own name then talks to Columbia University linguist John McWhorter and actor Todd Bridges about other names that have seen better days.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dr. Todd Bridges is a Professor of Practice in resilient and sustainable systems in the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia. Prior to joining UGA in 2023, Bridges served for 17 years as the U.S. Army's Senior Research Scientist (ST) for Environmental Science, one of 40 Senior Research Scientists in the Department of […] Read full article: Episode 135: Dr. Todd Bridges on Engineering with Nature
Send us a textIn an exclusive interview, west coast hip hop artist, Chanda Tresvant aka Trapanese discusses growing up in California.A fraternal twin, she describes what it was like being in a family connected to the entertainment industry. She reveals that the legendary lead singer of New Edition, Ralph Tresvant, is her cousin and that having the same last name is nothing but a positive. Trapanese reassures everyone that the two of them come from different eras and create different music as she is known for her rapping, while Ralph Tresvant for his singing.Starting out as a video vixen that played parts in music videos by G Perieco and even the late west coast rap icon Nipsey Hussle. Chanda Tresvant revealed her top 5 dead or alive west coast hip hop artists of all time which included Snoop Dogg and Easy E. Trapanese also gave her top artists who she would love to collaborate with that included Lil Wayne.Being multitalented, Tresvant spoke about her acting aspirations and working with Todd Bridges from Different Strokes classic & Everybody Hates Chris mother for acting. Her sense for style and fashion extends from her other career in being a runway model. Support the showJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG261e_-_MmsxulLsGeakdQ/join
Introducing Dr. Brian Bledsoe, Director of the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Georgia and farmer, guitar player, and dad (not in that order.)Our hosts Alysha Helmrich and Todd Bridges join Bledsoe in reviewing his lifelong commitment to research and interdisciplinary collaboration. His career has largely focused on river management and hydrology, leading him to work not just with engineers but ecologists, economists, geologists, lawyers and more. When he proposed a new institute at UGA focusing on natural solutions for infrastructure problems, he found a large community of interest that confirmed just how critical interdisciplinary expertise was for resilience. Bledsoe described the "tremendous potential" nature-based solutions have to change how we approach development. His own mission in the movement is "to act as a connector of people who are committed to rethinking infrastructure." IRIS itself is meant to adapt to needs of the researchers, stakeholders and students that comprise it, but Bledsoe hopes that the institute can act as a lighthouse for natural infrastructure solutions. He explains how IRIS is promoting this work for their large community of students and partners, and calls on practitioners of the IRIS mission to be "relentless listeners," sharing knowledge while learning from others. Listen now to learn more about IRIS's ongoing work on nature-based solutions!Brian's poems:When in doubt,Don't just build it stout-Spread it out!Bend, don't breakHard and strong will failGreen sapling.Dr. Brian Bledsoe, UGA IRIS: https://iris.uga.edu/iris-people/brian-bledsoe-p-e/ Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems: https://iris.uga.edu/IRIS's new Natural Infrastructure Certificate: https://iris.uga.edu/natural-infrastructure-certificate/ASCE's statement on NbS: https://www.asce.org/advocacy/policy-statements/ps575---nature-based-solutionsIRIS's NbS Job Board: https://iris.uga.edu/the-iris-job-board/Check out this past episode that also discusses interdisciplinary resilience: https://iris.uga.edu/2023/11/15/resilient-futures-podcast-episode-2-promoting-resilience-interdisciplinary-expertise-and-collaboration/
To say that Douglas Vermeeren is one of the busiest actors filming roles in feature films in Europe and the USA is an understatement. To keep up with his roles in productions in 2024, let's start with the Western “Unnatural 2,” Douglas plays Lucifer, directed by Whit Whitman and shot in Kentucky in May 2024 for Little Monsters Productions. He then flew to attend the Cannes Film Festival before booking a role as gangster Archie Baker in “Clean Right Hook,” shot in London, UK, in Late May /early June 2024, directed by Sam Purewal for Black Coppice Productions, Then back to the US for “Deadly Endings” shot in New Haven CT in June 2024. Douglas plays Bradley West with filmmaker Richard Harlost. Douglas also found time to shoot the role of Raynard in “Alien Horde,” his second film with Mahal Empire. And if that's not enough, you can see Douglas in Paramount+'s six-episode documentary series “Mafia Spies,” now streaming. Based on the book Mafia Spies: The Inside Story of the CIA, Gangsters, JFK, and Castro. On the film festival circuit, Douglas is proud of two independent feature films, “Jack Knife” and “Tenants,” which are winning awards worldwide. Other roles include starring alongside former WWE star Al Snow in “Homeless for the Holidays.” As Callum in “Bikers Vs. Werewolves” with Robert LaSardo and Michael Pare. As Denver Haywood in “The Boy From Below” with Dee Wallace and Leah Voysey. As Neal in “Skate to Hell” with Eric Roberts, Todd Bridges, Jenna Jameson and Robert Carradine. And Bradley in “Deadly Endings” with Felissa Rose. Want to watch: YouTube Meisterkhan Pod (Please Subscribe)
Karyne returns to the show and we jump into this amazing episode guest starring, Todd Bridges! I hope you enjoy this episode! “Yearning to escape the hard life that sent his father to an early grave, Solomon Henry, an 11 year old boy, runs away from his parents and seeks solace in the in Ingalls’s family.” The Wisdom of Solomon originally aired on February 28, 1977 The opening song “Albert” is written and performed by the amazing Norwegian band, Project Brundlefly and is used with permission. Check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectBrundlefly Become a Patron! The post The Wisdom of Solomon first appeared on The Little House on the Prairie Podcast: Walnut GroveCast.
Live long and prosper, Trekkies! We are here with the inimitable Rosalind Chao. You Might Know Her From: The Joy Luck Club, Mulan, 3 Body Problem, Sweet Tooth, M*A*S*H, Star Trek: The Next Generation & Deep Space Nine, I Am Sam, Just Like Heaven, Freaky Friday, and The L Word: Generation Q. Rosalind gave us all the goods on “the summer of Chao” with her one-two fantasy punch on Netflix, the fervent (and divided) base of fans formerly known as “trekkies,” and her history-making turns in The Joy Luck Club and the live-action Mulan (but is the industry making any progress? Sigh.) Plus, Rosalind teases Pei-Pei's return in Freaky Friday 2, explains why it was important to embrace the trans community with her role on Gen Q, and gets to the bottom of her tucking her hair behind her ear in Just Like Heaven where Reese Witherspoon f*cks a ghost. Rosalind Chao, we love you! Patreon: www.patreon.com/youmightknowherfrom Follow us on social media: @youmightknowherfrom || @damianbellino || @rodemanne Discussed this episode: Cold plunging on TikTok Faye Dunaway documentary on MAX `is worth your time Jessica Pare is Megan Draper We lost Shelley Duvall, Shannen Doherty, Dr. Ruth, Richard Simmons this month Richard Simmons on Rosie Tiny Tim's “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” (died in 1996) We will start exchanging clip flash drives Jennifer Hudson on Sesame Street Della Reese safety glass PSA Martha Raye for Polident Ellen Greene in Little Shop Dreamgirls concert with Audra McDonald, Lillias White, Heather Headley (pitch match clapback @ 3:45) Was rumored that Kim Cattrall was coming back to AJLT but it has been revealed to be fake We will be doing recaps of And Just Like That S3 on the Patreon Faye Dunaway peeling an egg for Parco Janet Jackson saying “I don't like speaking” Janet at a meet n greet in a “So you doing the bending” shirt Wife Swap woman who sungazed instead of eating 3 Body Problem (Liu Cixin) on Netflix just renewed for seasons 2 and 3 Reads audiobook of Book 1 from the series Zine Tseng plays younger version of Rosalind's character Plays an oil baron style villain on Sweet Tooth (Netflix) Worked with Lindsay Lohan in Freaky Friday and Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges in Diff'rent Strokes Lied about her age to get the M*A*S*H finale and spin-off, AfterM*A*S*H Keiko O'Brien on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Played Rose in The Joy Luck Club (1993) Mulan's mom in 2020 live action Disney remake Played Maya Erskine's mom in the rom-om Plus One Ok Anne likes Jack Quaid now Did show with B.D. Wong off-Broadway in June (What Became of Us) Freaky Friday 2 is happening and Pei-Pei is back Here's Lucy and Genny Lim's play, Paper Angels: both with the legend, James Hong Jessie Nelson and JoAnne Akalitis Micah's mom on The L Word: Generation Q Reincarnated daughter of Robin WIlliams in What Dreams May Come Played the Dean, Dr. Kim on The O.C. and had great chemistry with Ben McKenzie Rachel Bilson is kewl Supercut of Rosalind in Just Like Heaven We love Mark Waters
Kim Fields (The Upshaws, Living Single, The Facts of Life) and I reconnect after a few years and get right down to powerful and meaningful insights on everything from Kim's detail-oriented personality and her incredible mission to make something amazing of her life (and oh wow, did she!) to why breathing, acknowledgment and light are so important. Get your FREE 2-week trial with Aura: https://aura.com/reallyfamous You'll hear about entrepreneurship endeavors, coffee, Kim's Refresh wellness retreats, broadcasting and internship, Kim's multi-hyphenate work on The Upshaws (Netflix). We talk about our mutual friend Todd Bridges and a powerful emotional reaction Kim had to the recent Diff'rent Strokes reunion. Kim opens up about not wanting to be a "has been, child star statistic" and what she's still working on in her personal life. You'll hear thoughts on parenting and balance and the high wire act so many of us do. Plus I analyze Kim a bit at times. Because, you know, I'm a therapist and that's how I roll. And I'm pretty sure it's a good thing here. LINKS The Upshaws ➤ https://www.netflix.com/title/81028174 Kara and Kim's original talk (2017) ➤ https://really-famous.com/kim-fields Kara and Todd's talk (YouTube) ➤ https://youtu.be/qcgDbtCHpIE Kara and Todd's talk (podcast) ➤ https://youtu.be/rEPEn5RQ0eM Signature Blends by KF ➤ https://www.signatureblendsbykf.com/ Refresh Retreats by KF ➤ https://refreshretreatbykf.com/ Therapist and mental health consultant in entertainment - learn more ➤ https://hollywoodwellness.org/ Watch Dinner With the Parents ➤ https://www.amazon.com/Dinner-Parents-Season-1/dp/B0CXXGWMWH See highlights of my fireside chat with Jameela Jamil in Las Vegas ➤ https://really-famous.com/jameela-jamil My talk with Josh Radnor ➤ https://really-famous.com/now/josh-radnor Subscribe on YouTube for all my interview videos ➤ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbR3_S40FqVaWfKhYOTneSQ?sub_confirmation=1 Shop with my Amazon Influencer link: https://www.amazon.com/shop/reallyfamous Get a Really Famous mug ➤ https://really-famous.myspreadshop.com/really+famous-A5d211932162c5f1ba0e0ae33?productType=949&sellable=xrOAqlvEk1UqmOlaDVqJ-949-32&size=29 Share your thoughts ➤ really-famous.com Celebrity interview by Kara Mayer Robinson Music: Take a Chance by Kevin MacLeod - Incompetech - Creative Commons
Part two of Cynthia Bailey continues our engaging conversation with the renowned model, actress, and reality TV star known from Bravo's “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” and we delve deeper into her life and career with a behind-the-scenes look at her experiences on CBS's “Celebrity Big Brother.” We kick off with Cynthia discussing her time on “Celebrity Big Brother.” She highlights her interactions with fellow cast members and the unique challenges of the show by describing her initial apprehension and how Todd Bridges became a significant support system for her, helping her navigate the complexities of the game. She elaborates on the strategic and social dynamics within the house, explaining how she quickly learned to handle the pressure and the necessity of occasional deception to survive the competition. As the conversation progresses, Cynthia shares the dynamics within the house, including her close bond with Carson Kressley. She describes the camaraderie that developed among the cast members despite the competitive nature of the show. A humorous moment arises when she talks about the challenges of sharing one bathroom with 12 cast members, a situation that led to unexpected friendships and, at times, tension due to intense isolation from the outside world, which left her feeling “triggered” every time she drives past the CBS Studio Lot. Cynthia also recounts a near confrontation with Todd Bridges, revealing how high tensions could get in the house. Despite the pressure, she reflects on how these intense interactions ultimately led to strong, lasting friendships. She confesses that living in such a “pressure cooker” environment was one of the most challenging experiences of her life, but it also taught her a lot about herself and human nature. In “Haute Topics,” we address the Prince Andrew/Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking scandal, with Cynthia providing her perspective on the disturbing revelations. She expresses her disbelief and sadness over the situation, emphasizing the need for justice and accountability. The discussion broadens to the issue of sex trafficking in Atlanta, highlighting the city's unfortunate status as one of the top hubs for such crimes. The conversation takes a personal turn as Cynthia discusses her views on the misuse of wealth and power, even touching on her friend P. Diddy's legal issues and sharing her belief that true intentions and actions eventually come to light. She recounts her early interactions with P. Diddy and how the recent allegations against him have affected her perception of him. Despite these controversies, Cynthia remains hopeful that justice will prevail. As we shift to fashion with “Runway Rundown” we critique recent red carpet looks, starting with Cynthia's fellow “Real Housewives of Atlanta” castmate, Porsha Williams. The group praises Porsha's stylish gown, appreciating its design and the confidence with which she wears it. Next, we go gaga over Cynthia's cover shoot for Glamour Magazine in Bulgaria, discussing the sophisticated and youthful look she embodied. We conclude with the second half of her powerful coffee reading which reveals significant letters and symbols, indicating major changes and opportunities in Cynthia's life. Pol' encourages her to focus on herself and close past chapters to embrace new beginnings. Subscribe to our audio: linktr.ee/undressedpod TikTok @undressedconversations YouTube: Undressed with Pol' and Patrik Follow Pol Atteu: Instagram: @polatteu Tiktok: @polatteu Twitter: @polatteu www.polatteu.com Follow Patrik Simpson: Instagram: @patriksimpson Tiktok: @patriksimpsonbh www.patriksimpson.com Follow SnowWhite90210: Instagram: @snowwhite90210 Twitter: @SnowWhite9010 www.snowwhite90210.com Watch Gown and Out In Beverly Hills on Prime Video. www.gownandoutinbeverlyhills.com #UndressedPodcast Armenian Coffee Reading: https://polatteu.com/armenian-coffee-cup-read Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Harvey Brownstone conducts an in-depth Interview with Todd Bridges, Co-Star, “Diff'rent Strokes”, Author, “Killing Willis” About Harvey's guests: Today's guest, Todd Bridges, is an actor, director and producer who rose to international stardom as one of the most popular and beloved child stars of the 70s and 80s. He first captured our hearts as “Loomis” on the TV show “Fish”, and then as “Willis Jackson” on “Diff'rent Strokes”. He's also appeared in dozens of movies including “Thursday the 12th”, “The Sounds of Silence”, “Turning Point”, “Dead Ringer”, “Nightblade”, “Hospital Arrest”, “Hope for the Holidays”, “Cheer Bloody Murder” and many more. And on television, in addition to his iconic work on “Fish” and “Diff'rent Strokes”, he appeared in the groundbreaking miniseries “Roots”, as well as on “Little House on the Prairie”, “The Waltons”, “The Facts of Life”, “Circle of Pain”, “The Young and the Restless”, “Everybody Hates Chris”, and many more TV shows and movies. But behind that beautiful smile and charismatic talent as an actor, and enormous likeability, this is a man who has had to overcome a number of exceedingly difficult traumas and obstacles, including child abuse and betrayal of the worst kind, as well as police harassment, racism, wrongful prosecution, and vicious treatment by the tabloid press while he was struggling to overcome a very severe and debilitating substance abuse addiction. In 2010, he wrote a highly compelling, heart wrenching and unforgettable memoir entitled, “Killing Willis: From Diff'rent Strokes, to the Mean Streets, to the Life I Always Wanted”, in which he chronicles his tumultuous and gut-wrenching journey, from the heights of superstardom to the depths of despair, through his addiction, criminal court prosecutions and long road to rehab, recovery and healing, and to rebuilding the highly successful career and family life he is now enjoying and so richly deserves. Our guest has given so much back to the community. In 1992 he founded the Todd Bridges Youth Foundation, and in 2010 he became the official spokesperson for ICDC College's Alcohol and Drug Counselling Program. Through his work as an addiction counselor and founder of the Society for Ethical Addiction Treatment, he has helped thousands of people conquer their drug and alcohol addictions and live positive, constructive lives. And I can tell you, as a retired criminal court judge who knows only too well what this man has been through, it's truly an honor to have him here with us. For more interviews and podcasts go to: https://www.harveybrownstoneinterviews.com/ To see more about Todd Bridges, go to:https://realtoddbridges.com/https://www.facebook.com/todd.bridges2/https://www.instagram.com/toddbridges/https://twitter.com/ToddBridgeshttps://www.seatsociety.orghttp://toddbridgesyouthfoundation.org #ToddBridges #harveybrownstoneinterviews
A Morning News Update That Takes Into Account The News Stories You Deem 'Highly Conversational' Today's Sponsor: I Love RVinghttp://thisistheconversationproject.com/rv Today's Rundown:Online influencer Andrew Tate detained in Romania, handed UK arrest warrant, his spokesperson sayshttps://apnews.com/article/romania-andrew-tate-influencer-detain-uk-61697418a833bba10378bad7cbda5d76 Candace Owens 'Stakes' Her Entire 'Reputation' on Wild Claimhttps://www.mediaite.com/news/daily-wire-host-candace-owens-stakes-her-entire-professional-reputation-on-french-first-lady-being-a-man/ Republican Rep. Ken Buck to leave Congress next week, narrowing GOP's slim majorityhttps://apnews.com/article/ken-buck-resigns-congress-colorado-ba8123ca43626ee07150a423aa0fcb07 New Zealand to seize black boxes from LATAM Boeing 787 as passengers recount incidenthttps://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/new-zealand-says-seizing-black-boxes-latam-boeing-787-2024-03-12/ Haiti's prime minister Ariel Henry resigns as law and order collapseshttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-68541349 Nick Saban: ‘Things I Believed in No Longer Exist' in College Sportshttps://www.si.com/fannation/name-image-likeness/news/nick-saban-things-i-believed-in-no-longer-exist-in-college-sports-matt9 Tiki Barber chastises Saquon Barkley for Eagles deal, and Barkley wasn't having ithttps://www.yahoo.com/sports/tiki-barber-chastises-saquon-barkley-for-eagles-deal-and-barkley-wasnt-having-it-234156954.html Simone Biles' husband Jonathan Owens reportedly signing 2-year deal with Chicago Bearshttps://abc7chicago.com/simone-biles-husband-jonathan-owens-chicago-bears/14517899/ Website: http://thisistheconversationproject.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/thisistheconversationproject Twitter: http://twitter.com/th_conversation TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@theconversationproject YouTube: http://thisistheconversationproject.com/youtube Podcast: http://thisistheconversationproject.com/podcasts #yournewssidepiece #coffeechat #morningnews ONE DAY OLDER ON MARCH 13:Dana Delaney (68)Common (52)Jack Harlow (26) WHAT HAPPENED TODAY:1987: Bryan Adams' Heat of the Night became the first commercially released cassette single in the U.S.2002: On Fox's Celebrity Boxing, Tonya Harding beat Paula Jones, Danny Bonaduce whipped Barry Williams and Todd Bridges defeated Vanilla Ice.2012: Encyclopedia Britannica announced that it would no longer publish printed versions of its encyclopedia. PLUS, TODAY WE CELEBRATE: Ken Dayhttps://nationaltoday.com/ken-day/
It's old home week and time to get the original EWN Podcast gang back together. In Season 7, Episode 4, host Sarah Thorne is joined by cohost Jeff King, National Lead of the Engineering With Nature Program (EWN), and our friend, colleague, and inspiration behind the Engineering With Nature Program, Todd Bridges. Todd is now Professor of Practice in Resilient and Sustainable Systems in the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia (UGA). A lot has happened since February of 2023 when we celebrated Todd's 30-year career with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), where in addition to being Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science, he founded and was the first National Lead of the EWN Program. Having taken only a month off after leaving USACE, Todd says that he “failed at retirement. I'm as busy now, if not more so, than I was before. But I think a ‘busy life' is a ‘happy life.'” For Todd, change is inevitable and keeps one energized: “I wouldn't trade the 30 years that I was blessed to have with the Corps of Engineers for anything. It was vastly fulfilling in so many ways, on so many levels. But change is necessary, and I've been enjoying embracing the change and continuing to do whatever I can to make a difference.”We discussed some of the highlights of Todd's busy first 11 months at UGA where he is teaching and advising engineering students about natural infrastructure, and has his first graduate student, Scott Blackstock, a Captain in the US Army who will focus his research on nature-based solutions. Todd is also podcasting at UGA, cohosting the Resilient Futures Podcast with Dr. Alicia Helmrich, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering. The Resilient Futures Podcast focuses on what it takes to create resilience in a variety of different contexts.In addition to his teaching and advising, Todd has continued to spread the word on EWN and nature-based solutions (NBS) in many forums, including: participating in two summits hosted by the White House—the Invest in Nature Summit and the Climate Resilience Summit as well as being selected as one of 11 lead authors on the United States' first National Nature Assessment to lead development of the chapter on “Nature and the Safety and Security of the United States.”Todd continues to be active in the Network for Engineering With Nature (N-EWN), which he cofounded with Brian Bledsoe in 2018. As Todd explains, “Progress runs on the rails of relationships. I'm very encouraged by what I'm seeing in the growth. Today we have more than 25 partners that are committing their own sweat equity to a wide range of N-EWN initiatives.” In February 2024, Todd and Jeff participated in the Policy Forum for Nature-Based Solutions in Washington DC, sponsored by N-EWN and the National Academies' Gulf Research Program. The Policy Forum brought together a diverse array of stakeholders, including policymakers, regulators, practitioners, academics, and others. It provided a platform for rich discussions on the transformative potential of nature-based solutions across various sectors.Jeff and Todd are both energized by the growing acceptance of nature-based solutions. As Jeff notes, “Five years ago, nature-based solutions were not ubiquitous. Today we're constantly talking about NBS, and more and more NBS projects are coming online.” Todd agrees: “There's been a convergence of thinking—an alignment of need and opportunity that we need to capitalize on now if we want to really make a difference for the country and for communities.” He adds, “The future is very bright for Engineering With Nature.” For more information and resource links, please visit the EWN Podcast page on the EWN website at https://www.engineeringwithnature.org/ • Jeff King at LinkedIn• Todd Bridges at LinkedIn
On interdisciplinary collaboration, promoting resilience projects and disaster management strategies with Executive Director of ASCE, Tom SmithAlysha Helmrich and Todd Bridges are joined by Tom Smith, Executive Director of the American Society of Civil Engineers, to discuss interdisciplinary collaboration between engineers, policy experts, and environmental managers. The group engages in a detailed discussion of how to promote resilience projects and disaster management strategies. Find the full episode description here. Find links mentioned in the episode below!Pathways to Resilient Communities - Pathways to Resilient Communities (1).pdf (asce.org)ASCE 73 Sustainable Infrastructure Standard - ASCE releases groundbreaking standard for sustainable infrastructure | ASCEASCE-NOAA Workshops and Report - New ASCE-NOAA report details tangible needs, progress toward climate-resilient infrastructure | ASCEASCE Future World Vision - Home | Future World VisionASCE INSPIRE Conference - Home | ASCE INSPIRE 2023ASCE 7 Supplement - New addition to the ASCE/SEI 7-22 Standard protects buildings from a 500-year flood event | ASCEASCE Report Card - America's Infrastructure Report Card 2021 | GPA: C-ASCE Code of Ethics - Code of Ethics | ASCEG20 Policy Brief - T20_PolicyBrief_TF3_-Investments-Climate-Resilient-Infrastructure.pdf (orfonline.org)Plot Points Podcast and new ASCE Book - The infrastructure system resilience big picture starts with incremental progress | ASCE
Join co-hosts Dr. Alysha Helmrich and Dr. Todd Bridges as they introduce themselves and the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems, reintroduce the show, and try to define resilience! (Previously named the Future Cities podcast -- same content, new branding!)
Todd Bridges, "Willis" from "Diff'rent Strokes" joins John for a hilarious and touching behind the scenes interview! Todd talks about the first time he met Gary Coleman and Gary's kidney issues on set, Conrad Bain as a father figure, asking the producers to make Janet Jackson his girlfriend and the first time he met Dana Plato. Todd and John crack up as Todd talks about the pranks he and Gary played on the director and producers of "Diff'rent Strokes". Todd also discusses his sobriety, being the first black actor on "Little House on the Prairie" and "The Waltons" and working with Abe Vigoda plus many more stories! Appreciate you being on "That's Classic!" Todd! Subscribe for free to That's Classic! YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBtpVKzLW389x6_nIVHpQcA?sub_confirmation=1 Todd's website for his book, autographs, etc.: realtoddbridges.com Links: www.facebook.com/thatsclassictv Hosted by John Cato, actor, voiceover artist, and moderator for over 20 years for the television and movie industry. John's background brings a unique insight and passion to the podcast. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-cato/support
On his way to prison, a man gets intercepted by a secretive government agency who tasks him with monitoring the world's most dangerous podcast in exchange for commuting his sentence. On Episode 578 of Trick or Treat Radio we discuss the Screambox Original film Subject from director Tristan Barr! We also talk about filmmakers doing a lot with very little, glorified fencing, and we may finally get some closure to the crazy caper of the missing Casablanca DVD! So grab your Funk U t-shirt, double your RAM, and strap on for the world's most dangerous podcast!Stuff we talk about: NECA, Puppet Master, F Mother Nature, Patreon Takeover, build the hype, Screambox, double your RAM, RIP Terry Funk, RIP Windham Rotunda aka Bray Wyatt, Stranglemania, Cactus Jack, Wrestlemania 13, Beyond the Mat, World Class Championship Wrestling, Jimmy Jack Funk, Dory Funk Jr, Raven, Dr. D David Schultz, Isaac Hayes, Lord Alfred Hayes, Ultimo Dragon, Mick Foley, Undertaker, Tom Savini, Firefly Funhouse, WWE, Brodie Lee, the Todd Bridges of the group, she's a padme, glorified fencing, the crazy caper of the missing Casablanca DVD, Peter Jackson, Lord of the Rings, holding directors sacred, Meet the Feebles, Takashi Miike, Gozu, Jack Knight Starman, Subject, Tristan Barr, Oz, Black Mirror, Bloody Disgusting, Oldboy, Audition, Robodoc, Peter Weller, Holy Shit!, MZ goes under the knife, triple ball-pass, a little lop off the top, The Ravenhorror Picture Show, The Three Mothers, Emo Funk, Cornucopia of Content, Good Morning Cell Block Six!Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/trickortreatradioJoin our Discord Community: discord.trickortreatradio.comSend Email/Voicemail: mailto:podcast@trickortreatradio.comVisit our website: http://trickortreatradio.comStart your own podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=386Use our Amazon link: http://amzn.to/2CTdZzKFB Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/trickortreatradioTwitter: http://twitter.com/TrickTreatRadioFacebook: http://facebook.com/TrickOrTreatRadioYouTube: http://youtube.com/TrickOrTreatRadioInstagram: http://instagram.com/TrickorTreatRadioSupport the show
Let's talk about bridges. Being based in Portland, Jeff and Rick see them a lot. To give you an idea, there is a bridge pedal that occurs in the city and you can travel over nine different bridges over the Willamette river...and that is not all of them. We are talking 23 miles of biking awesomeness. Rick has a special love for three types of bridges. The Ribbon Flotation Bridge, the Bailey Bridge, and the MGB Bridge. He learned to construct these bridges when he was in the Army. It was neat and he had fun learning how to do this hard work. He also got to drive really awesome vehicles. Jeff really loves to build bridges out of Lego. He and his daughter spend hours upon hours building cute little bridges with red and blue bricks. But never yellow. Yellow is for the devil. The longest bridge in the world is called the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge. It stretches out for 102 miles and is in China. I mention this only because Rick has never been China. So he has never been on that bridge, and is therefore very sad. Rick's favorite bridge may be the bridge that he jumped off of the first time he bungee jumped. It was a beautiful sunny day, and it was a nice solid bridge. But, money was paid and his youth was not going to be wasted, so off he jumped. he had fun. Jeff has stated that his favorite bridges are those on star-ships. While those are neat with all of their flashing lights and alarms and inexplicable steam pipes, it is not really the answer we were looking for. I do not think he studied properly. Todd Bridges was an actor on Diff'rent Strokes. But that is also not the answer we were looking for. Needless to say, we are phoning this page in. It may be midnight when I am doing this, so you get what you get. If you would like to see some pretty pictures, check out this website: https://jeffandrickpresent.wordpress.com/2023/07/29/ff-13-the-bridge/(opens in a new tab) We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube! Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need. http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Go Cart by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3813-go-cart License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Three podcasting nerds use a computer program to literally create the perfect episode, which promptly turns their lives upside-down. On Episode 574 of Trick or Treat Radio we celebrate our Eleven Year Anniversary with friends, games, classic films, and sharks. First we catch up with old friend Stephen Scarlata to hear all about his new documentary, Sharksploitation! Then we are joined by Rocky to do a table read of select scenes from the film, Weird Science! We wrap it all up with a game of Six Degrees of Sitcoms with the Zombie Grrlz! So grab your double-headed party favor, put a bra on your head, and strap on for the world's most dangerous podcast!Stuff we talk about: Stephen Scarlata, Sharksploitation, Best Movies Never Made, Josh Miller, Jaws 3 People 0, Rob Shrab, The Meg, The Neon Maniacs of Podcasting, sharks in cinema, Jaws, Peter Benchley, the history of sharks in film, Monstrum, how a documentary takes shape during filming, Cruel Jaws, Sharknado, Jodorowsky's Dune, Asylum Films, Larry Fine, Cocaine Shark, Mark Polonia, Noah's Shark, Tied In, Jim Kunz, Patrick Huber, Ben Wheatley, Jason Statham, Year of the Stath, Tied In Film, Spaceballs: The Book Report, Weird Science, Table Read, EC Comics, Anthony Michael Hall, Kelly LeBrock, Ilan Mitchell-Smith, Bill Paxton, wearing a bra on your head, Rep Man, Ronaldo's Choice, Super7, ReAction Figures, Peter Package, Stephen Segal, put your potatoes in, Zombies Grrlz Podcast, Foreign Exchange Testicle, pacing while you podcast, The Exorcist, Roller Boogie, Max Von Sydow, Strange Brew, George Clooney, The Facts of Life, Todd Bridges, Firehouse, the orgy attic, Dr. Chris, Radio of Horror, The Vampire Minute, Rick Jones, Outside the Cinema, Quentin Tarantino, Women in Prison film, Snapper Carr, if you ain't first you're last in a Human Centipede, Bill By Force, Big Beautiful Curls, The Professor X of Podcasting, No Sleep til Monday, The Flash, Sympathy for the Devil, Let the Chum Hit the Floor, One Ball to Rule Them All, The Six Degrees of Wopat, First Track on the Left, and Mission Difficult.Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/trickortreatradioJoin our Discord Community: discord.trickortreatradio.comSend Email/Voicemail: mailto:podcast@trickortreatradio.comVisit our website: http://trickortreatradio.comStart your own podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=386Use our Amazon link: http://amzn.to/2CTdZzKFB Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/trickortreatradioTwitter: http://twitter.com/TrickTreatRadioFacebook: http://facebook.com/TrickOrTreatRadioYouTube: http://youtube.com/TrickOrTreatRadioInstagram: http://instagram.com/TrickorTreatRadioSupport the show
Get ready for an exciting new season of the Engineering With Nature Podcast! Season 6 of the Engineering With Nature® Podcast launches on June 14. Host Sarah Thorne recently caught up with Jeff King, National Lead of the Engineering With Nature Program, to discuss highlights from Season 5 and give us a glimpse of what's ahead. The EWN Podcast launched in July 2020. With over 35,000 downloads to date, there's a lot of interest in the topics discussed. As Jeff notes, “I just can't believe the success we've seen in Season 5. When we kicked off Season 5, we had just over 24,000 downloads; and now as we kick off Season 6, we are over 34,000 downloads.” He adds, “I receive so much positive feedback from our listeners. Everywhere I go, people want to talk about the podcast. So, I know the EWN Podcast is reaching a lot of people out there, and we want to continue to do that.” Season 5 featured a broad range of EWN practitioners and leaders—scientists, engineers, policymakers, and others—within USACE, other US federal agencies, academia, industry, and nongovernmental organizations. All focused on innovative approaches to incorporating nature-based solutions into their work and encouraging others to do so. Sarah and Jeff review highlights from Season 5 episodes, and note that it was a particular privilege to have Lt. Gen. Spellmon, 55th Chief of Engineers and the Commanding General of the US Army Corps of Engineers, as a guest on Episode 6. His leadership, vision, and insights on innovation and partnerships and thoughts for the future were truly inspirational. Sarah and Jeff also discuss the significant transition within the EWN Program with the retirement of Todd Bridges, the former National Lead for EWN. As Jeff describes, “We celebrated the retirement of a very close friend and colleague Dr. Todd Bridges, who retired at the end of February. We did a special episode, Episode 7, where we asked Todd to offer his thoughts on being in this role for such a long period of time. It was certainly inspirational, and he is definitely a visionary leader for Engineering With Nature.” Sarah concurs, adding, “It was my pleasure to work with Todd for the past 15 years, including on the initial development of EWN. Under Todd's leadership, Engineering With Nature was initiated in 2010 as a little project on the side of the desk, and now it's a global movement.” Season 6 continues discussions of EWN and the application of nature-based solutions under the theme of Expanding the EWN Lattice. As Jeff explains, “I really am excited about having a new season to tee up, where we can really explore a lot of diverse topics.” Drawing inspiration from the three-dimensional nature of a crystal, he aims to expand the lattice of Engineering With Nature, considering all the interconnected facets, such as people, policies, research, and landscapes. Together, these elements create a larger, more encompassing feature that is EWN. Expect an impressive lineup of guests in Season 6, including scientists, engineers, landscape architects, government leaders, industry professionals, and representatives from First Nations. Each guest will offer unique perspectives on what's happening in their respective fields, the opportunities they see, and what it all means for Engineering With Nature. The Season will kick off with Episode 1, featuring an in-depth discussion with Jeff about his passion and vision for Engineering With Nature as the new National Lead. Mark your calendar for the launch of Season 6 on June 14! We hope you'll tune in. For more information and resource links, please visit the EWN Podcast page on the EWN website at https://www.engineeringwithnature.org/ Related Links • Jeff King at LinkedIn • Sarah Thorne at LinkedInThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5872676/advertisement
Dana continues Hollywood secrets series, she is triggered by the details surrounding Amanda Bynes found naked wandering the streets around Saint Patrick's Day in downtown LA, clearly out of it…Dana worked on her last movie before she went off the deep end…Dana shares her thoughts on this as it relates to Amanda's mental health struggles…is Hollywood responsible?It makes her think of Hollywood predators that use their power and money to target kids that are hurting or want to be famous actors or musicians and permanently F them up… Hollywood big names are predators to underage kids and Dana tells you how it usually works and how they gaslight all of us into ignoring it. Drew Barrymore has also discussed this... Dana explains…Dana tells you the stories surrounding allegations and indictments of Hollywood Agents, Actors and Executives targeting children and teens like: Marty Weiss, Dan Schneider, Brian Peck, Jon Grissom, Alphy Hoffman, Charlie Sheen, Woody Allen, Joby Harte, Nils Larsen, Kevin Spacey, Gary Goddard, Garth Ancier and David Neumann…So many people have been impacted by Hollywood Predators some of which have decided to talk about it…here are their stories: Alex Winters, Julianne Hough, Elijah Woods, Anthony Rapp, Todd Bridges, Corey Feldman, Corey Haim, Jamie Lynn Spears, Britney Spears, Brooke Shields, Amanda Bynes, Jennette Mccurdy, Brad Renfro, Ricky Garcia, Anthony Edwards and many more…Dana couldn't cover all the stories in one show….but tries to make a dent.What are the mistakes the Parents make and why…How do you protect your kids in Hollywood…Dana ends the show with the UNBELIEVABLE full story of the allegations made against Director, Bryan Singer, DEN and his friends.What was happening at the DEN Estate or M & C Estate and what was it used for? Was the DEN Digital Entertainment Network a way to traffic teens for sex in plain view?Dana asks the question do we really want to watch the art of pedophiles?Dana intentionally puts all these stories in one episode, so you can't look away from it, and ends the show with her final thoughts…Support the showDana is on Cameo!Get Dishing Drama Dana Merch!https://represent.com/store/dishing-drama-dana-wilkeyFollow Dana: @Wilkey_Dana$25,000 Song - Apple Music$25,000 Song - SpotifyTo support the show and listen to full episodes, become a member on PatreonTo learn more about sponsorships, email DDDWpodcast@gmail.comDana's YouTube Channel
This very special episode of the EWN Podcast features Todd Bridges, Founder and National Lead of the Engineering With Nature Program. We're celebrating his 30-year career and retirement from the US Army Corps of Engineers (on February 28, 2023), and discussing his visionary leadership of EWN and what's up next for him. Host Sarah Thorne is joined by Dave Trafford, Producer of the EWN Podcast, and Chief Executive Producer, Story Studio Network. Sarah opens by sharing about her long collaboration with Todd: “Todd, I've had the opportunity to work with you the past 15 years—literally half of your career. It's been a tremendous opportunity for me both personally and professionally; and for that, I truly thank you. I've sure learned a lot. It's been really inspirational, watching you follow your passion and seeing the tremendous accomplishments that you've had with EWN and on so many other fronts.” Reflecting on his 30-year journey with the Corps, Todd says: “What resonates most with me are my reflections of and gratitude for the people that I've had an opportunity to meet, develop relationships and work with, on meaningful topics. It's a personal hobby of mine to collect people's stories, and I have a rich treasure box of stories about people that I've met and interacted with and enjoyed over the last 30 years.” Todd began his career in, as he says, “a very pragmatic way”. While completing his doctoral work at North Carolina State University and needing a job to support his family and expectant wife, he received a hand addressed envelope with a job announcement from the Waterways Experiment Station (the predecessor of the today's Engineer Research and Development Center [ERDC]). “I frankly admit that I had no idea what the Army Corps of Engineers was. I read through this job announcement, and I had a passing thought that somebody was playing a practical joke on me because the description of what they were looking for was exactly in alignment with what I had been doing my doctoral research on. I called them. I applied for a job, and the rest is history.” Todd is recognized for his passion for his work. As he says, “It's so important to be invested in what you're doing, and you can't manufacture it. There's no artificial source for it. What you're good at, and where you can make a difference, is very strongly associated with what moves you personally. For me, this area of work—humanity's relationship with nature—is motivating for me on so many levels.” Looking to the future of EWN, Todd is optimistic and confident that EWN is in good hands. “As I've said before, the future for Engineering With Nature is bright. The reason is a combination of many things, but one of the fundamental reasons is that the team is strong, within the Corps and with our partners and stakeholders. They are well positioned to move forward and make great progress. I look forward to observing and contributing to that as I can. I'm just so impressed by the team members across our organization, including Jeff King who takes over as Lead of the EWN Program. I've sometimes said he's my right hand, but that's quite inadequate. I could say he's my right side. I'm looking forward to watching him take EWN to the next level.” After taking what he calls a “breather month”, Todd will become a professor in the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia. “I'm very much looking forward to having the opportunity to work with people and organizations across the country and around the world that want to move forward and to make progress in this area of work. And I'm really looking forward to spending time and effort investing in the next generation.” For more information and resource links, please visit the EWN Podcast page on the EWN website at https://www.engineeringwithnature.org/ Related Links • Todd Bridges at LinkedIn • Sarah Thorne at LinkedIn • Dave Trafford at LinkedIn
"They're gonna put Ringo in the movies!" - Rush, Moving Pictures It's a Tony & T.J. Marshall Field trip to the cinema, as they bravely brave a warm, late-fall Chicago day to see Tyler Perry's Mary McCartney presents, "If These Walls Could Sing". Spoilers, the movie and Mrs. McCartney are both delightful. Five freaking fabs!!! Plus:
In this episode, Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon joins Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science and National Lead for the Engineering With Nature (EWN) Program, and host, Sarah Thorne, as their special guest. Lt. Gen. Spellmon is the 55th Chief of Engineers and the Commanding General of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). We're discussing the role of EWN, the importance of innovation, partnerships, and the General's perspective on priorities for the future. Lt. Gen. Spellmon opened the conversation by emphasizing the importance of EWN and thanking Todd for his leadership: “It's important to all of us, not just us within the Army Corps of Engineers but certainly with our many partners, our elected leaders, and, frankly, the American people who live, work, and recreate on the water. They all want to see us succeed as we continue to endeavor to engineer more with nature in everything that we do across our great country. I have committed to this in congressional testimony, and I'll just say it upfront—we've got to do more of this in our projects and in our programs. A personal thank you, Todd, for your great leadership in working to help us advance EWN across the Corps.” As the top leader of USACE, Spellmon notes the challenges USACE faces due to increased demand and explosive growth—USACE has gone from being a $20 billion program historically to now over a $90 billion program. “That massive program, that massive workload, is our number one challenge but also our number one opportunity. We really have to be innovative in taking the team that we have today that was structured for that $20 billion program and transforming it into one that can deliver on a $90-plus billion program. And innovation is key, thinking about things differently and executing them differently out in the field. There are so many opportunities with EWN that are going to help us get after this challenge.” A challenge that both Spellmon and Bridges have encountered is the perception that EWN is an alternative to traditional engineering approaches. As Spellmon notes, “One of the challenges that we have within the Corps is that too many folks have the mindset that we're advocating for EWN as a substitute for [traditional] engineering solutions, and that's not what we're saying. EWN compliments our engineered solutions. We have to find those cases where we can really get some complimentary effects—multiple benefits to our engineering designs.” Todd adds, “We need to get past the nature or engineering paradigm. It's a false choice—either this or that. It's finding the balance and the combination and for us to be more explicit about how nature contributes to the value of our overall system in terms of the benefits to engineering and economics, but also the social resilience that our communities need, as well as the environmental resilience.” As we wrap up the episode, Spellmon talks about building the US Army Corps of Engineers of the future. He focuses in on diversity of thought: “We have so many projects across this country and project delivery teams working where we don't look like the communities in which we work. Now we have the data to support our workforce demographics, so we are actively working to increase the diversity of thought within the organization because I think diversity of thought is going to bring this organization into the future.” For more information and resource links, please visit the EWN Podcast page on the EWN website at https://www.engineeringwithnature.org/ Related Links • Todd Bridges at EWN • Todd Bridges at LinkedIn • LTG Spellmon at LinkedIn • LTG Spellmon at USACE
The Network for Engineering With Nature (N-EWN), introduced in Season 1, Episode 10, is a community of researchers, practitioners, and educators who are working together to advance the practice of Engineering With Nature (EWN). In this episode we're talking with N-EWN's visionary leadership about what's been accomplished and what lies ahead. Host Sarah Thorne and Todd Bridges, National Lead of the EWN Program, welcome back Brian Bledsoe, Director of the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS) at the University of Georgia, and our guests, Ellen Herbert, Senior Scientist, Sustainability and Nature-Based Solutions with Ducks Unlimited, and Chris Mack, Principal, Coastal Engineering Lead and Regional Coastal Solutions Director with Stantec. There has been a significant amount of progress with N-EWN since it was initiated in October of 2020. N-EWN currently has 30 researchers involved in its initiatives; dozens of projects underway; and many new partners, including Ducks Unlimited and Stantec. Bringing academia, government, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector into the Network has been critical to N-EWN's success. These public-private relationships and partnerships are decreasing the lag time from R&D to practice for nature-based solutions. As Todd notes, “It's great to see the Network expanding. It's very encouraging and inspiring when you look at the organizations, their depth of experience, and what they bring to the game. When you combine all that with EWN, we can really make progress.” When N-EWN was first introduced in S1 E10, Todd suggested that the objective was nothing short of a revolution, “The revolution is going quite well. We've expanded our communications very significantly, sharing, networking across the Corps through our EWN Practice Leads and our EWN Cadre practitioners across the country. N-EWN plays an important role in this advancement.” Brian highlights the significant progress being made in the academic sector. “We've got academic partners in all the major biomes across the US. We've made some good progress setting up a long-term network of test beds. We hosted a National Academies workshop on infrastructure that was really inspiring. There's a lot of synergy among the academic partners and the private-sector partners in terms of developing training and upskilling opportunities.” Ellen adds that “Multisectoral collaboration has allowed us to have a common vocabulary across federal, state, and NGO partnerships. My grandest hope for is that we can get to a place with lots of discussion and plenty of robust science so we can really put nature-based features and natural infrastructure on the same level playing field as traditional gray infrastructure.” Chris notes how things have changed since his early career when he was working for the Corps. “What you've historically studied is brick, steel—hard, rigid structures that can resist a particular force. But with the blending of the network of biologists, ecologists, and other disciplines, we're asking, ‘Hey, did you know we can solve the same challenge using natural and nature-based solutions?'” Todd feels that there is a growing acceptance that change is needed. “Combining the collective experience of a diverse network of committed organizations is the way we accomplish that acceleration and practice—that's the value of N-EWN.” For more information and resource links, please visit the EWN Podcast page on the EWN website at https://www.engineeringwithnature.org/ Related Links Todd Bridges at LinkedIn Brian Bledsoe at LinkedIn Ellen Herbert at LinkedIn Chris Mack at LinkedIn
The twins are back - and down the rabbit hole they go, talking about everything from quirky South African phrases and spy ballons, music gear and grandsons, Todd Bridges' recent visit to Myrtle Beach and much more - including a new musical snippet from Chris. SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - "Way Back Home" by Chris Yale - Snippet 2:03 - Greetings and about the song / Roland V-Drums / EZdrummer 3:15 - "UZZUT" explained / South African expressions 4:38 - Flaccid balloon / Chris saw Chinese spy balloon shot down in Myrtle Beach / Richard Branson's balloon adventures / Balloon Boy Hoax / More about Chinese balloon 7:23 - Roger's baby grandon, Anderson / The Grandfather Club 8:40 - Roger's solo gigs at LuLu's North Myrtle Beach / Recent aborted gig / Barefoot Landing 10:18 - Chris' guitar adventures / Acoustic Fly Rig / Electric Fly Rig / California Blonde amp 11:28 - Chris on a roll / Anxiety? 11:58 - More Chinese balloon / Surveillance is a two-way street 13:00 - Roger's free associations: Bela Fleck / The Smithereens / Dave Matthews' Satellite" 13:30 - Todd Bridges / HGTC Addiction and Recovery Lecture Series / Chris' memories of Todd Bridges at Hollywood Professional School / Todd's recovery story / Killing Willis book / Casey King / Read Roger's blog post HERE. 15:50 - Chris and Logic Pro / Howard Jones versus Howard Johnson's / Nostalgia / Misophonia 17:53 - More about Todd Bridges 19:47 - The slow season in Myrtle Beach 20:34 - The Master Key System by Charles F. Haanel / Steven Tyler memoir / American Colonies by Alan Taylor / Penguin Press / Burgess Meredith as The Penguin 22:22 - Mike Nichols documentary / The White Lotus / Aubrey Plaza / Emily the Criminal 24:25 - Sleep hangover 24:46 - Parting shots / Chris' gear / Fearless moral inventory / Government Mule / Lekker Eats in Myrtle Beach
How do we measure what's most important to us? And how do we translate those values into decisions about infrastructure projects so that they can deliver a diverse set of economic, environmental, and social benefits? That's the focus of our discussion in Season 5, Episode 4, of the Engineering With Nature® Podcast. Host Sarah Thorne and Todd Bridges, National Lead of the Engineering With Nature (EWN) Program, are pleased to welcome back to the podcast Justin Ehrenwerth, President and CEO of The Water Institute. In this episode, we're talking about how to measure what matters with respect to natural infrastructure. This episode is the third in a three-part series covering what Todd characterizes as the three-legged stool that supports the advancement of NBS. The first leg—identifying opportunities for making progress with NBS—was the subject of Season 5, Episode 2. The second leg—understanding the benefits and value of nature—was the subject of Season 5, Episode 3. The third leg—determining how to measure the value of NBS in infrastructure projects—is the focus of Episode 4. This episode was recorded shortly after the national summit “Measuring What Matters” hosted by the Resilient America Program at the National Academies in Washington, DC, on November 30, 2022, in collaboration with the EWN Program and The Water Institute. Participants from a broad range of organizations came together to share their perspectives on the process and benefit of valuing nature. Measuring and promoting nature-based solutions is a challenge. As Todd says, “How do we identify the full suite of benefits that nature-based solutions can bring to an infrastructure project? Getting nature up front in the process of planning and design involves elevating the benefits of nature, moving consideration of those benefits forward in the project development process. It's critical to bring this understanding into the process of project design, accepting nature as a part of the solution.” Addressing the challenge of measuring these benefits includes new policy research, including exploring the implications of policy alternatives that focus on what and how measurement of benefits is being incorporated into the planning process. Justin summarizes the desired outcome: “The bottom line is to make very clear in the evaluation process that a holistic appreciation of a series of benefits and costs—over and above economics—really has the opportunity to transform. And we've got great science to support that transformation, and momentum. If we harness all this interest and enthusiasm, we will see some big changes in the next 18–24 months.” Todd adds, “How you define what is a relevant value or benefit when you are developing a project informs very substantively what constitutes a solution within that project. So, what you recognize as a ‘benefit' basically determines the outcome. That's the reason why we're doing all this. To produce better projects that last and that produce the array of benefits that our communities need and deserve. I am excited about what we can produce together.” For more information and resource links, please visit the EWN Podcast page on the EWN website at https://www.engineeringwithnature.org/ Related Links Todd Bridges at LinkedIn Justin Ehrenwerth at LinkedIn
We often hear of the plight of the polar bear or how monarch butterflies are dwindling. These changes are important, but just a small part of what's happening with nature in America. Imagine if we had a full picture of nature in our nation—and what nature provides to our lives. And imagine if that picture was at the center of governmental decision-making. Sound utopian? Well, perhaps not. The first ever National Nature Assessment (NNA) is currently underway to better understand how nature is faring in the United States and what it means to all our lives. That's the focus of our discussion in Season 5, Episode 3, of the Engineering With Nature® Podcast. Host Sarah Thorne and Todd Bridges, National Lead of the EWN Program, are pleased to welcome back Heather Tallis, the Assistant Director for Biodiversity and Conservation Sciences in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Heather joined us in Season 5, Episode 2 to talk about her role in the development of Opportunities to Accelerate Nature Based Solutions. Heather is also the Acting Director for the National Nature Assessment with the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), the subject of this episode. President Biden's Executive Order 14072, Strengthening the Nation's Forests, Communities and Local Economies, establishes a number of objectives related to nature-based solutions and EWN. One of the many elements of that Executive Order is a commitment to conduct a National Nature Assessment. Heather's role as the Acting Director of the NNA is to work with the representatives of the 13 agencies that comprise the USGCRP to produce an assessment that gives a full picture of the state of nature in the United States and how nature matters to people's lives. The assessment of the lands, waters, and wildlife across the nation will explore questions such as: What does nature mean to our economy? How is nature interacting with our physical and mental health? And, what do changes in nature mean for our national security and for environmental justice? Todd and his colleague Kyle McKay are representing the Department of Defense on the Federal Steering Committee. As Todd notes, “The Department of Defense has about 5,000 installations or so across the country and around the world that occupy 25 million acres of land and water—that's a lot of nature. DoD has many programs and makes many investments in natural resource conservation and is now focused on how nature-based solutions can be deployed to enable comprehensive resilience at their facilities and in the surrounding communities.” Developing the NNA is a big task that will take place over several years and starts with listening. Heather stresses the importance of the process being open, inclusive, and actionable. An open public comment period is currently underway to gather input from individuals and organizations about what nature means to them. As Heather says, “We truly want to hear from everyone as much as possible. We know there are many different ways to experience nature. Everyone comes from a different way of thinking about nature, different perspectives, and we'd like to hear them all.” Heather encourages people to sign up for USGCRP's newsletter for updates and to provide input to the NNA. The current public comment period is open through March of 2023. For more information and resource links, please visit the EWN Podcast page on the EWN website at https://www.engineeringwithnature.org/ Related Links Todd Bridges at LinkedIn Heather Tallis at LinkedIn
What happens when a nation focuses on addressing the critical challenges posed by climate change by investing in nature? That's what we're talking about in Season 5, Episode 2, of the Engineering With Nature® Podcast. Host Sarah Thorne and Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Lead of the Engineering With Nature Program, are talking with two guests from the White House. Heather Tallis is the Assistant Director for Biodiversity and Conservation Sciences in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Lydia Olander is the Director of Nature-Based Resilience for the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Heather and Lydia are two of the three co-chairs of Opportunities to Accelerate Nature Based Solutions, a report to the National Climate Task Force, which was released by the White House November 8, 2022. Heather and Lydia faced a big challenge and a very tight timeline. On Earth Day, April 22, 2022, President Biden issued Executive Order 14072, Strengthening the Nation's Forests, Communities and Local Economies. Section 4, “Deploying Nature-Based Solutions to Tackle Climate Change and Enhance Resilience,” called for developing an interagency report. Heather, Lydia, and their fellow co-chair, Krystal Laymon (from the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy), were charged with leading the process of engaging key Federal agencies, including the US Army Corps of Engineers, to identify opportunities for greater deployment of nature-based solutions (NBS) across the Federal Government, including through potential policy guidance and program change. Through consultation with agency partners, public roundtables, and Tribal Consultations, Heather, Lydia, and Krystal found that despite a lot of interest, there are real barriers to using nature-based solutions. The breadth of different applications of nature-based solutions underway by Federal agencies can be seen in the Nature-Based Solutions Resource Guide, a companion report that includes 30 examples. Lydia notes that, despite the wide range of Federal agency perspectives and stakeholders included in the consultations, the team identified a set of common themes and challenges, which became the focus of the report. The Report identifies five strategic areas for action: “Policy,” including permitting, reviews, and cost-benefit analyses; “Funding”; application in “Federal Assets,” including facilities, lands, and waters; building the nature-based solutions “Workforce”; and producing “Evidence” to support effectiveness of NBS based on continuous innovation, learning, and research priorities. As Todd notes, the timing and the opportunity for this report's recommendations are unpreceded: “We're in a time of important change or evolution in people's thinking about nature. There's a growing awareness that nature and its ecosystems are a foundation, the source and supply, the economy if you will, to address these social and environmental challenges. An increasing number of people from diverse walks of life and professions and communities are committed to making progress on nature-based solutions. In fact, I'd say they're hungry for it. So there's a motivation now that maybe just a few years ago wasn't as well developed.” For more information and resource links, please visit the EWN Podcast page on the EWN website at https://www.engineeringwithnature.org/ Related Links (links may not be active on all platforms) Todd Bridges at LinkedIn Lydia Olander at LinkedIn Heather Tallis at LinkedIn
The gang has found another undiscovered gem of a vanity project. It's got wig and glue-on beards from the dollar store, an allstar cast, uncomfortable sex, awkward montages and a soundtrack that'll make you cry. It's absurdity nearing the heights of Champagne and Bullets and good times for all. Starring:L.P. Brown III, Corey Feldman, Martin Kove, Scott Valentine, Tane McClure, Timothy Bottoms, Robert Z'Dar, Todd Bridges, Rena Riffel, Roxana Zal, and a very chubby Joe Estevez Plus Battle of the Bands and more! Links : Please support our Patreon, if you can! Give Cory some sequel suggestions here Scott's Strange Tape Zine Instagram here and buy his stuff here Hey, why not call us on our hotline? (724) 246-4669! Check out the other Compañeros Radio Network shows: Movie Melt Songs on Trial Get Soft with Dr Snuggles Ballbusters Movies About Girls Classic In Search of the Perfect Podcast Join the Companeros Cuties Club on Facebook
Season 5 of the Engineering With Nature® Podcast launches on November 30. Host Sarah Thorne recently talked about highlights from Season 4 and what's ahead for Season 5 with Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Lead of the Engineering With Nature Program, and Jeff King, Deputy National Lead of the Engineering With Nature Program. The EWN Podcast launched in July of 2020 and, as shown by the nearly 25,000 total downloads that it has received since, there is a lot of interest in the topic. As Todd notes, “People came up to me that I'd never met before, telling me that they're fans and they listen to the podcast. There is clearly a desire and appetite for information about nature-based solutions and what we're doing in Engineering With Nature.” Season 4 podcast episodes averaged about 218 downloads in the first 7 days of availability (a standard podcast industry statistic) which puts the podcast in about the top 14% of ALL podcasts worldwide. As Todd notes, “The podcast is illustrating and seeding very important conversations across the Corps of Engineers; among leaders; among practitioners; and importantly, with our stakeholders and partners. These conversations are important for moving us forward conceptually, intellectually, and in terms of how we are implementing projects across the country and all around the world.” Season 5 will expand these conversations under the theme of Realizing the Value of Nature. Season 5 will feature some big-name guests, cool science, and lots of innovation. President Biden's recent Executive Order 14072, Strengthening the Nation's Forests, Communities and Local Economies, is accelerating implementation of nature-based solutions. We'll focus on commitments that are being made with respect to the Executive Order and how they will be rolled out in the months and years to come. According to Jeff, “We continue to see a lot of growth within the Network for Engineering With Nature (NEWN). All the wonderful new relationships that are now starting to coalesce within the Network are really exciting. We'll spend some time doing a deep dive into more of the technical work that's happening out there.” You can join the conversation by going to the EWN Website or wherever you get your podcasts. And we'd love to hear from you. Drop us a note! Measuring What Matters: Towards a more comprehensive and equitable evaluation of benefits Listeners are invited to attend an important national summit “Measuring What Matters” being hosted by the EWN Program at the National Academies in Washington, DC, on November 30. Participants from USACE plus other federal, state, and local agencies, as well as private and nonprofit organizations, will explore nature's role and value, and how best to formulate, evaluate, and deliver integrated water resources projects. Follow the link to register to attend in person or virtually. Related Links EWN Website ERDC Website Todd Bridges at EWN Todd Bridges at LinkedIn Jeff King at LinkedIn Jeff King at EWN Network of Engineering With Nature EWN Atlas Series Sarah Thorne at LinkedIn Sarah Thorne at Decision Partners Podcast Industry Report: Market Growth and Advertising Statistics in 2022 Buzzsprout Platform Statistics EWN Podcast S4E6: A Conversation about Leadership and EWN with Colonel Gant EWN Podcast S4E7: A Conversation about Leadership and EWN with Brigadier General Kelly Executive Order No. 14072, Strengthening the Nation's Forests, Communities and Local Economies EWN Supports White House in Accounting for Nature Measuring What Matters: Towards a More Comprehensive and Equitable Evaluation of Benefits – EWN Page Measuring What Matters: Towards a More Comprehensive and Equitable Evaluation of Benefits – National Academies Page
What's in a name…that makes it popular to one generation, and downright ugly to the next? From "Bertha" and "Layla" to "Reagan" and "Katrina," history shows us that politics, pop songs and news events all play roles in sending baby names skyrocketing or plunging in the rankings. Mo (short for "Maurice"!) returns to his elementary school to speak with his fifth grade teacher about his own name then talks to Columbia University linguist John McWhorter and actor Todd Bridges about other names that have seen better days.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
At least one in six people in England are at risk from flooding from rivers and the sea. Climate change means that sea levels will continue to rise, and the frequency and severity of floods and storm surges will only get worse. In Episode 9, hosts Sarah Thorne and Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Lead of the Engineering With Nature® Program, are talking with two guests from England's Environment Agency (EA) in the United Kingdom (UK). Julie Foley is Director of Food Risk Strategy and National Adaptation; and her colleague, Jon Hollis, is the Nature-Based Solutions Senior Advisor. They are leading a comprehensive effort to create a nation that's ready for and resilient to flooding and coastal change now and in the future. Julie has a 20-year career living and working with flooding and has seen firsthand the impacts of coastal flooding on communities. She has managed the operational teams responsible for the Thames' flood barrier and other associated flood defenses along the Thames estuary. About 3 years ago, she became the director of flood risk strategy where she has applied to the national scene her personal experience working with communities. Jon, who grew up in the Fens, a low-lying part of the UK protected by sea defenses, studied remote sensing and cartography to better understand the natural environment. When he joined the Environment Agency, he worked on flood risk maps and programs to reduce flood risk. He led the £15 million natural flood management program and is mainstreaming natural flood management by acting on the learning of that program. Julie and Jon's focus is on improving the environment through flood and coastal risk management and strengthening resilience to climate extremes by using nature-based solutions (NBS). Todd recently visited Julie and Jon and their EA colleagues and had the opportunity to visit several of their projects featuring Engineering With Nature or nature-based solutions: “Seeing the natural flood management projects across the islands is very impressive—the substance of the work that they're doing and how they are integrating nature with flood risk management engineering.” Climate change is affecting sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and flood risk. England's Environment Agency is taking action, and as Julie notes, the focus on nature-based solutions is shaping policy: “Our Chief Executive has this wonderful saying, ‘Our thinking needs to change faster than the climate.' That means we need to think really fast and really differently. That has meant a significant transformation in some of our thinking around what flood and coastal risk management means in this country—putting climate adaptation right at the heart of that.” Julie describes how this has shifted the Environment Agency's thinking from flood protection to flood resilience and embracing a much broader set of solutions: “We are looking at nature-based solutions and not just thinking, ‘How do we build higher and higher walls,' and things that our communities don't largely want to see anymore. They're actually asking us to think differently and offer solutions that are better for their local places and the kind of things that their communities actually want to see.” Jon adds, “One of the great things about natural flood management, nature-based solutions, working with natural processes, or Engineering With Nature, is that a lot of people can have a role in this now, whether it's in their local community or within the boundary of their own property. They can understand it and can make a real difference. And it's not just a theory; it's practice.” He describes one project undertaken in primary schools in London, where planters were built into the playgrounds next to the school buildings to capture water from the roofs: “They've got plants in them, they look beautiful and hold water. The planters save the water going into the river network. But the real benefit isn't just the flood risk side of things and the environmental outcomes, it's the fact that young students and teachers got involved. I'm passionate about this because it is bringing people together with what's going on in their environment, which is so important now.” Having visited more than a dozen projects in England, Todd comments, “Using an American phrase, what I see happening in England is they're just ‘getting after it.' The level of substance of the work that's underway in terms of nature-based solutions is impressive. The deliberate way the Environment Agency is undertaking these projects and the level of engagement with communities and partner organizations really exemplifies how a government organization undertakes innovation and solutions that are different than maybe what have been used in the past.” Julie and Todd talk about the importance of using the right language to mobilize people, giving them a vision that feels bold. The vision Ensuring progress towards a nation ready for, and resilient to, flooding and coastal changes—today, tomorrow and to the year 2100 does just that. Julies adds that it is critical to follow through with action noting that NBS projects need to be “mainstreamed” and not just second-best solutions. Todd notes how being intentional and clear in a strategy about the desire to innovate isn't always easy for organizations, particularly for government, but he has seen many examples in England, including the Ellis Meadows project, which is a great example of innovation that is very meaningful to the community. The primary objective of the project was providing flood water storage for the city of Leicester but also included a hard path used as a walkway and cycleway that connects different parts of the city. As Jon notes, “This project starts from a natural perspective of wanting to reduce flood risk but then delivers these other wider benefits too. Bringing all the different people together, engaging with the community to find out how they would use the space, giving them a voice in helping to shape design, has made a ‘good' project, an ‘excellent' project.” Julie agrees, emphasizing that people and communities need to be given a license to be more innovative and fund projects that perhaps wouldn't conform to traditional cost benefit rules: “We've also been able to try and better estimate the wider multifunctional benefits that come with projects like this. The environmental movement calls it ‘stacking.' It's just a bit of a jargon, but the more benefits you can stack, the more funding you can get from lots of different sources.” One of Julie's motivations for taking on her current role was the opportunity to produce a national strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management. It was a 2-year collaborative process involving local authorities, infrastructure providers responsible for the road and rail networks, water companies, farmers, land managers, the insurance sector responsible for flood insurance, professional organizations, and environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs). “We had them all involved in having a role in shaping what we wanted to do with our future flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy. They all called for us to think differently because we have this climate emergency that needs to be central to that strategy.” She describes the challenge as “really scary,” noting that the UK has a huge coastline and some of the fastest eroding shorelines across Europe. The intention was to do things differently on politically difficult coastal challenges, with a strategy that involves planning, adapting, and potentially transitioning people away from places in which they'd been living for a very long time. As Julie says, “It's so important when you do these kinds of things to have a really high level of political support, particularly for something that is very bold and transformational. You need the political support, and you also need a huge number of partners, friends, and allies.” [Editor's note: In the episode, Julie mentions George Eustice as the current Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Since the recording, the UK has selected a new Prime Minister, leading to a new Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ranil Jayawardena.] The strategy focuses on 3 ambitions: climate resilient places, growth and infrastructure, and a nation ready to respond and adapt to flooding and coastal change. “When you look at the three ambitions,” Julie notes, “the word ‘flood' isn't there. That was super intentional because, yes, it's a flood and coast erosion risk management strategy, of course, but we wanted ambitions that were all about climate, multiple outcomes, and putting the context of our work within a much wider setting.” The Environment Agency, Todd adds, has responsibilities that in the US are handled by USACE, FEMA, the EPA, and other agencies: “The Agency's efforts are quite impressive. They are ‘calling their shots' at a level of specificity and detail that's admirable. They're moving in a particular direction and being bold and saying specifically what they wish to achieve by what year. That's real strategy work at its best from what I have observed.” As we wrap up the episode, Jon comments that “it's been inspirational working with Todd and his team on the NNBF Guidelines and the EWN Atlases—both are beautiful publications. I think we get a lot out of the relationship both ways and realize how many of the barriers, challenges, and issues are very similar in quite different places. Determining how we can help people overcome the challenges they have—some of our solutions have come from the example set by the US Army Corps of Engineers.” “It's been so enriching to what we're doing in Engineering With Nature to have the Environment Agency and Julie and Jon and their colleagues engaged with us,” Todd says. “I'm looking forward—as they call out in their Roadmap—to the Agency's further engagement with the Army Corps of Engineers in the future. I just think we can do fabulous things together that are beneficial to our communities.” Related Links EWN Website ERDC Website Todd Bridges at EWN Todd Bridges at LinkedIn Julie Foley at LinkedIn Jon Hollis at LinkedIn Environment Agency Twitter EWN Podcast S4E6: A Conversation about Leadership and EWN with Colonel Gant, Commander of the USACE South Pacific Division EWN Atlas International Guidelines on Natural and Nature-Based Features for Flood Risk Management South East Rivers Trust SuDS Design and Delivery Connecting Nature: SuDS in Sutton's Schools Ellis Meadows becomes haven for local wildlife National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England EA Flood Map: Get flood risk information for planning in England Press release: Environment Agency sets out roadmap for more flood and climate-resilient nation Policy paper: Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy Roadmap to 2026
Live from Woodbridge, NJ with J&J Authentics, Darby Allin, Lexi Rabi, Nicole Eggert, Rachel True, Kristen Minter, Todd Bridges, Matt Doherty, and Justing Wong!
As students head back to class, Episode 8 of the EWN Podcast focuses on foundation of EWN—the disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM/STEM). In several episodes of the podcast, we've touched on the importance of encouraging students—the next generation of scientists, engineers, and EWN practitioners. Here we feature some additional discussion from guests from two episodes this season talking about STEAM/STEM and their advice to students. In Episode 1, host Sarah Thorne and Jeff King, Deputy Lead of the Engineering With Nature® Program at the US Army Corps of Engineers, spoke with Amanda Tritinger, Assistant Program Manager for the EWN Program and a Research Hydraulics Engineer at the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and Matt Bilskie, Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia. Matt is the Lead of the Coastal Ocean Analysis and Simulation Team (COAST), a research team that develops computational hydrodynamic models to simulate astronomic tides, wind waves, storm surge, and rainfall runoff in coastal and oceanic environments. Matt focuses on two important points. First, that one doesn't have to be “good at math” to pursue a STEM-related career. Admitting that he was not particularly good in math, Matt noted that “math is just a tool. There are many tools that you can have in your tool belt and still follow your passion in a STEM-related field.” He also stressed the importance of listening and learning from others who have had experience in the areas and issues that you're working on, adding “one day you will be that person providing expertise, and other people will listen to you.” Amanda builds on Matt's advice, noting that if someone is struggling to understand a topic, “don't get frustrated when you don't get a topic right away”—there are numerous resources available to help, from books, to YouTube, to podcasts. She also underscores the value of the “A” in STEAM, encouraging students to keep up with the Arts: “There can be so much innovation brought to the science if you're investing in the ‘art' part of your brain.” Jeff agrees: “It takes many different backgrounds and skill sets to solve very complex problems like the ones the EWN Program is working on. Matt and Amanda are two excellent computer modelers; but we also need biologists, ecologists, landscape architects, social scientists, and economists, all working collaboratively, to be able to deliver very meaningful solutions. So, there's going to be a home for every student today in one of these disciplines. And you'll have the opportunity to work with many other talented people to solve the different challenges that we're facing.” The conversation wraps up with encouragement to students to be curious, keep an open mind, and be holistic in their approach to challenges. Always look for opportunities to make a difference. In Episode 6, Sarah Thorne and Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Lead of the Engineering With Nature Program, had the opportunity to talk with Colonel (P) Antoinette Gant, Commander and Division Engineer of the South Pacific Division (SPD), who is a strong advocate for STEAM/STEM, especially for unrepresented populations. She shares her personal journey with students whenever she has the opportunity: “I learned that less than 3% of African American women were engineers. So, the road less traveled was something that I liked. I like math and science. Anytime I can get in front of a group, I talk about the importance of STEAM/STEM.” COL Gant's advice to students: “Take every opportunity that is afforded to you. Don't sell yourself short, even if it's something that you're not as comfortable with. You don't want to know how many times I've been in situations where I haven't been comfortable with something and just been thrown into the fire. And I figured out how to actually make it happen, and not by myself but with my teammates right by my side. Do not be afraid of what could be, and just give yourself the opportunity to be able to be the change that you want to see. Do the things that you one time thought were truly impossible, because if you don't dream big, then why do we dream even at all?” Todd adds, “Science and technology and engineering and mathematics are so important for us to understand how to pursue new approaches, distributed engineering approaches across the landscape to complement more conventional engineering and Engineering With Nature. I'm so glad that Colonel Gant also mentioned how important the humanities are, art and history and literature, because if you don't know how you got where you are, you're likely to maybe not understand where you need to go and maybe what to avoid in the future. It's important that we find opportunities to draw from multiple fields and practices and disciplines as we Engineer With Nature.” Episode 8 closes with Todd's advice to students: “Develop and follow your passion. It's so important that you understand what motivates you personally, what you are passionate about, and then you pursue and develop a career that supports that.” Related Links EWN Website ERDC Website Jeff King at LinkedIn Jeff King at EWN Amanda Tritinger at LinkedIn Amanda Tritinger at EWN Matthew Bilskie at UGA Matthew Bilskie at LinkedIn Coastal Ocean Analysis and Simulation Team (COAST) Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS) EWN Podcast S4E1: Scaling Up, Up, Up with CSTORM and EWN EWN Podcast S3E3: The Next Generation Makes the Future of EWN Even Brighter Todd Bridges at EWN Todd Bridges at LinkedIn COL Gant at USACE South Pacific Division COL Gant at LinkedIn USACE South Pacific Division EWN Podcast S4E6: A Conversation about Leadership and EWN with Colonel Gant, Commander of the USACE South Pacific Division
The thing about the '80s is that there was a lot of money and a lot of drugs, and they were both gonna last forever! Until they didn't. This week Erin tells us about the collapse of the Penn Square Bank, which knocked the oil business on its ass far beyond the greater Oklahoma City area, and was toooootally different than the financial collapse of 2008 you guys, OK? OK. Then Amanda takes us back to a time when the shitty actress wife of a shitty actor president told kids across America how all we had to do to avoid a life of drug-fueled desperation was Just Say No, OK? OK! It's her fault Gary Coleman is dead. Don't believe any of that horse shit kidney failure cover story.
Welcome to the summer feature podcast miniseries—EWN On The Road. As we teased in Episode 5, in this special series, Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Lead of the Engineering With Nature® Program, is sharing some highlights of his travels across the country over the past 2 years visiting people, places, and projects relevant to EWN. The miniseries includes 4 episodes and will post August 3, 10, 17 and 24: Episode 1—The San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge: A Natural Landscape Revived Episode 2—The San Joaquin Valley: Past, Present, Future and from the Air Episode 3—The Heartland Tour: Five Rivers in One Day Episode 4—Rivers as Resources to be Valued We hope you'll find these special podcast episodes enlightening and easy listening for your summer travels. You can read more about Todd's travels and see additional pictures in the EWN On The Road blog on the EWN Website. In Episode 4, host Sarah Thorne and Todd Bridges continue their discussion on rivers—their role and value. In the winter of 2022, Todd and his wife (and trusty driver), Anita, traveled nearly 8,000 miles through eight states on the “Southwest Swing” of the EWN On The Road tour. They visited the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead on the Nevada and Arizona border, which is at its lowest level in its history, an alarming indication of the megadrought that has gripped the Southwest. As part of the trip, Todd spent some time exploring the Los Angeles River in California, what he calls, “an important case example of river engineering in the twentieth century.” The Los Angeles River travels 51 miles through the greater Los Angeles area, with nearly a million people living within 1 mile of it. Because of challenges related to flooding and the natural movement of the course of the river, it was “locked down,” engineered into an unchanging, unnatural, concrete channel. This unusual situation caused Todd to ponder whether rivers are “problems to be solved” or “resources to be valued.” To help answer this question, Todd spent time talking to people living and working nearby about what they want the river to be. “I met more than 20 people from a whole variety of organizations that have been working for many years to reintroduce the ‘natural' into the Los Angeles River. And I think what people are looking for is to reconnect to the river. One group was focused on restoration at the Sepulveda Basin, a large 2000+ plus acre area next to the river with huge potential to become basically the Central Park of Los Angeles, or like the Golden Gate Park of San Francisco. . . . There's just a tremendous amount of interest and growing momentum to create value by reintroducing the ‘natural' into the Los Angeles River.” There is a significant opportunity for EWN to be part of this transformation: “I'm quite hopeful that we're going to be able to collaborate in this space so the Los Angeles River can become a model for how we can reengineer to harmonize the natural with human communities. Related Links EWN Website ERDC Website Todd Bridges at EWN Todd Bridges at LinkedIn EWN On The Road LA County Department of Public Works – LA River Master Plan LA River Master Plan EWN Podcast S3E4: Engineering With Nature for Safe and Livable Cities
Welcome to the summer feature podcast miniseries—EWN On The Road. As we teased in Episode 5, in this special series, Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Lead of the Engineering With Nature® Program, is sharing some highlights of his travels across the country over the past 2 years visiting people, places, and projects relevant to EWN. The miniseries includes 4 episodes and will post August 3, 10, 17 and 24: Episode 1—The San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge: A Natural Landscape Revived Episode 2—The San Joaquin Valley: Past, Present, Future and from the Air Episode 3—The Heartland Tour: Five Rivers in One Day Episode 4—Rivers as Resources to be Valued We hope you'll find these special podcast episodes enlightening and easy listening for your summer travels. You can read more about Todd's travels and see additional pictures in the EWN On The Road blog on the EWN Website. In Episode 3, Todd Bridges talks with host Sarah Thorne about part of the trip that he and his wife Anita—the unofficial EWN driver—took in the summer of 2021, traveling across 14 states from Mississippi to Montana and back in what Todd calls the Heartland Tour. On one day of the tour, August 7, they visited five rivers in one day—Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers near Missoula, Montana, and the Jefferson, Madison, and Missouri Rivers near Bozeman, Montana—experiencing a wide range of history between people and rivers, as Todd says, “damming, contaminating, undamming, restoring, exploring, experiencing.” He adds: “That day made a strong impression upon me, to see so many different contexts and to link together a whole range of human activity. We've seen that whole progression over the last 150 years, and it was revealed in that day when we visited five rivers. . . . I was thinking a lot about what the rivers had been before people began to, if you will, ‘mess with them,' engineer them for a variety of purposes. I was also thinking about what the future of our relationship will be with rivers and how we can apply the principles and practices of Engineering With Nature to recover some of the services and some of the values that rivers can provide to us, while at the same time reduce some of the challenges that climate change and other pressures are bringing to our rivers.” Related Links EWN Website ERDC Website Todd Bridges at EWN Todd Bridges at LinkedIn EWN On The Road EWN On The Road: The Heartland Tour Stops 14–17 Clark Fork River Mega Site Clark Fork Coalition NPS: Three Forks of the Missouri – Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Montana FWP: Anaconda Smoke Stack State Park
Welcome to the summer feature podcast miniseries—EWN On The Road. As we teased in Episode 5, in this special series, Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Lead of the Engineering With Nature® Program, is sharing some highlights of his travels across the country over the past 2 years visiting people, places, and projects relevant to EWN. The miniseries includes 4 episodes and will post August 3, 10, 17 and 24: Episode 1—The San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge: A Natural Landscape Revived Episode 2—The San Joaquin Valley: Past, Present, Future and from the Air Episode 3—The Heartland Tour: Five Rivers in One Day Episode 4—Rivers as Resources to be Valued We hope you'll find these special podcast episodes enlightening and easy listening for your summer travels. You can read more about Todd's travels and see additional pictures in the EWN On The Road blog on the EWN Website. In Episode 2, Todd Bridges shares his perspective on the transformation of the wider San Joaquin Valley where he grew up. In December 2021, he took a helicopter tour of the Valley with an eye toward the landscape transformations that are evident. In 1772, Pedro Fages and his company—the first Europeans to visit the San Joaquin Valley—described the valley as filled with a diversity of wildlife and immense lakes and wetlands. The arrival of the Spanish, other Europeans, and eventually the Americans transformed California's landscape. Dams, reservoirs, levees, canals, pumps, tunnels, and pipelines associated with the major rivers were the tools used to transform the San Joaquin Valley, draining the wetlands and lakes, resulting in a system that is unsustainable. As Todd describes it, “It's clear to me that today's and tomorrow's climate cannot be reconciled with current practices in the valley and its landscape. It's also clear to me that nature provides a source of hope for the valley's future. A new balance could be achieved by resurrecting natural features and processes that were ‘engineered out' of the Valley in the 20th century. Applying the principles and practices of Engineering With Nature could provide the means to realign the social-ecological system for enduring sustainability, water, and social resilience, and to produce the diversity of benefits and values that nature can provide.” Related Links EWN Website ERDC Website Todd Bridges at EWN Todd Bridges at LinkedIn EWN On The Road EWN On The Road: The California Swing EWN On the Road Blog: The California Swing: The San Joaquin Valley: Past, Present and Future from the Air EWN On the Road Blog: The California Swing: Engineering Water in California and the Case of the San Joaquin River Garden of the Sun: A History of the San Joaquin Valley Pedro Fages expeditions to the San Joaquin Valley EWN Podcast S3E8: The Dreamt Land – California Water, Sustainability, and EWN EWN Podcast S3E9: The Dreamt Land – Rebalancing the System
Welcome to the summer feature podcast miniseries—EWN On The Road. As we teased in Episode 5, in this special series, Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Lead of the Engineering With Nature® Program, is sharing some highlights of his travels across the country over the past 2 years visiting people, places, and projects relevant to EWN. The miniseries includes 4 episodes and will post August 3, 10, 17 and 24: Episode 1—The San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge: A Natural Landscape Revived Episode 2—The San Joaquin Valley: Past, Present, Future and from the Air Episode 3—The Heartland Tour: Five Rivers in One Day Episode 4—Rivers as Resources to be Valued We hope you'll find these special podcast episodes enlightening and easy listening for your summer travels. You can read more about Todd's travels and see additional pictures in the EWN On The Road blog on the EWN Website. In this epsiode, Todd Bridges talks about his visit to the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge where he observed the effects of restoration efforts and ongoing management of the area by the US Fish and Wildlife Service; the California Department of Water Resources; the US Army Corps of Engineers; and River Partners, a nonprofit engaged in river and riparian restoration in the region. Over the last 15 years, 600,000 native trees have been planted as a part of the restorations. As Todd describes it, “The landscape that is emerging from these efforts is getting close to what I imagine Pedro Fages and his companions saw as they became the first Europeans to venture into the San Joaquin Valley in 1772.” Aligning natural and engineering processes produces a host of environmental, social, and economic benefits for flood risk management. “My visit to the Refuge has inspired me to think about how Engineering With Nature could support scaling-up restoration and nature-based solutions across the San Joaquin Valley and the nation to achieve a balance between humans and nature on our shared landscapes.” Related Links EWN Website ERDC Website Todd Bridges at EWN Todd Bridges at LinkedIn EWN On The Road EWN On The Road: The California Swing San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge San Joaquin River Restoration Program USFWS San Joaquin River Restoration Program River Partners San Joaquin River NWR CA DFW San Joaquin River Restoration Program EWN Podcast S2E7: EWN Collaboration with the California Department of Water Resources USACE Lower San Joaquin River Project
Leadership and vision are essential to implementing Engineering With Nature to create landscape-scale climate resilience. We're focusing on leadership and EWN in conversations with two inspirational USACE Division leaders – Colonel (P) Antoinette Gant, Commander, and Division Engineer of the South Pacific Division (SPD), and Brigadier General Jason Kelly, Commander of the South Atlantic Division (SAD). In Episode 6, Host Sarah Thorne, and Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Lead of the Engineering With Nature® Program are talking with COL Gant about the challenges and opportunities facing the South Pacific Division, and how EWN and leadership are being applied to meet those needs. COL Gant grew up as the child of two teachers with the dream of being a chemist, until she met Patricia Sullivan, one of her mother's students and a USACE employee, who introduced her to civil engineering. “It was just mind blowing to me what you could do as a civil engineer, the impacts that you could actually have on your community, and how you could change things. My mother always told me, ‘be the change you want to see.' So, I decided that I would try my hand at civil engineering.” COL Gant joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) as a way to pay for college and has served in the Army for 28 years. She has risen through the ranks and is slated to be promoted to Brigadier General soon. One of the ways she pays it forward is by being a strong advocate for STEM/STEAM—Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics—and speaking to young people about her journey whenever she has the opportunity. COL Gant leads the South Pacific Division, which covers a lot of territory—Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Albuquerque Districts—and has a diverse and complex set of missions and projects. As Todd notes: “The challenges—and opportunities—that we face today with respect to climate change are unprecedented and there are few places where this is more evident than in the West, where people have brought significant changes to the landscape (for example see EWN Podcast S3E8 about changes in agriculture and water use in California). COL Gant agrees: “I always say climate change is real. The rate of change is really accelerating. Where we used to see a hurricane every once in a while, we're seeing them almost every year. Wildfires are the same. How do you prepare differently for the same wildfire, the rising tides? These are all things that we are looking to design and implement, adaptive and equitable solutions that will work over time, and work for everyone.” As we learn in our conversation, environmental justice plays a prominent role in COL Gant's thinking about these challenges and in her decision making about solutions. We discuss how EWN provides solutions that can produce a broader array of benefits than traditional engineering approaches, while supporting opportunities for substantive engagement with communities, including vulnerable populations and under-represented communities. As Todd explains, infrastructure must be a source of service and benefit to our communities: “What we're seeking to do with EWN is to diversify that benefit. So, when we make an investment in infrastructure—say a flood risk management project in a river that runs through a community like the Guadalupe River in San Jose—we are intentional, purposeful, about looking for opportunities to diversify the value that can be created for that community in that project.” He adds, “there's so much evidence emerging in the scientific literature showing how important access to nature is, in particular for marginalized or disadvantaged communities.” COL Gant agrees. Under her command, the South Pacific Division is taking a strong leadership role: “We're making a commitment to be the first Division that is a Proving Ground for Engineering With Nature. We're working with our Districts to be on the forefront of incorporating EWN and environmental justice principles in everything that we do. It's not just an afterthought. It's something that is incorporated from the beginning.” She explains that this means changing the way SPD does business and changing the way SPD staff work with partners, like the California Department of Water Resources (see S2E7 on working with the CA DWR), and other states and communities to build the relationships needed to produce dynamic teams that solve problems in new and innovative ways. These efforts are being recognized by top USACE leaders and COL Gant says she is getting a lot of support from other leaderships in USACE: “That's one of the positives today. USACE—in support of the Administration's initiatives—understands that projects can't just be about a benefit ratio number. We have to look at the other items of benefit that a project brings to a community, then say ‘yes, these are the type of projects that we need to do.'” She notes that recently, the USACE's Chief of Engineers, Lieutenant General Spellmon, toured projects in the San Francisco District. District staff were able to show him the benefits of EWN, for example, how flood risk management projects can provide opportunities for recreation, biking and walking in nature. COL Gant relayed LTG Spellmon's enthusiasm for EWN after seeing the benefits of the approach first-hand, “He said: ‘You guys already are out here doing these things. We've got to figure out how to get everybody else to see how this is actually working—creating environments where people are willing to lean on each other, where they're willing to learn, where they're willing to think outside the box.'” Todd agrees, underscoring the importance of COL Gant and the Division's leadership on EWN: “I'm so grateful and excited about the leadership that COL Gant and her team are taking on, owning EWN. As you listen to COL Gant talk about it—and her team members too—there's such a maturity in SPD in terms of what is involved in leading this kind of transformation and innovation and practice. It's clear to us that when you're doing something important and fundamental and substantive like this, you don't do it by yourself. You do it with others and partnership is the key to being able to fully realize the power and benefit that can be achieved from EWN. I look so forward to engaging and supporting the South Pacific Division in any way that we can. It's such an important opportunity and, under COL Gant's command, they're poised to do great things.” Related Links EWN Website ERDC Website Todd Bridges at EWN Todd Bridges at LinkedIn COL Gant at USACE South Pacific Division COL Gant at LinkedIn USACE South Pacific Division Patricia Sullivan – Associate Director ERDC Ginkgo Bioworks Cultivate Fellowship: Growing the Black STEM Community Upper Guadalupe River Flood Risk Management Project South San Francisco Bay Project California Department of Water Resources EWN Podcast S2E7: EWN Collaboration with the California Department of Water Resources EWN Podcast S3E8: The Dreamt Land – California Water, Sustainability, and EWN
Leadership and vision are essential to implementing Engineering With Nature to create landscape-scale climate resilience. We're focusing on leadership and EWN in conversations with two inspirational USACE Division leaders – Colonel (P) Antoinette Gant, Commander, and Division Engineer of the South Pacific Division (SPD), and Brigadier General Jason Kelly, Commander of the South Atlantic Division (SAD). In Episode 7, Host Sarah Thorne and Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Lead of the Engineering With Nature® Program are talking with BG Kelly about the challenges facing the South Atlantic Division. From restoration in the Everglades, to deepening the Charleston Harbor, to ongoing flood control initiatives, to disaster preparedness, we're talking about the leadership needed to address landscape-scale challenges in innovative ways and how Engineering With Nature is an important part of infrastructure solutions. With an education in mathematics and statistics from Georgia Tech, BG Kelly spent the first 20 years of his career as “time in a formation with a rifle and a pistol” leading men and women as soldiers. When he took command of the Norfolk District in 2015, he was unsure if he would be as excited about navigation, recreation, aquatic ecosystem restoration, and regulatory permitting as he had been about preparing soldiers for combat, but he found that he was: “I'm curious by nature, so, this job certainly fits the bill. I come into work every day and have the opportunity to engage subject matter experts, folks that know more—have forgotten more—than I'll learn during my tenure as the Division Commander in SAD. We're all committed. We're all trying to deliver for the nation.” He is driven by curiosity, a desire to collaborate, and a personal quest to become a better communicator: “I strive to better communicate as an ambassador for the great work that's happening in my organization. I'm excited about what we're doing.” The South Atlantic Division faces many challenges—and opportunities—from hurricanes and impacts from climate change, to moving populations, and a range of issues related to aging infrastructure. The USACE is leading innovation to deliver 21st century engineering and infrastructure solutions that leverage EWN to solve problems and create value. From BG Kelly's perspective, leadership is critical: “I think it's important that the senior most members of our organization lean in. As the senior leader in the South Atlantic Division, I am afforded the opportunity to know the EWN solutions that are available, but that's not always the case for some of the practitioners in the districts. I think it's important that the senior-most leaders get active, specifically with my position as a Major Subordinate Commander, sitting at the nexus of execution in the districts and policy in Washington, DC – rules and tools – trying to make all of that come together so we can do some collateral good. I don't think it happens without that nudge from leaders. Leadership matters.” Todd agrees: “Hearing leaders talk about, communicate, and message about EWN and innovative approaches, is so important for the vertical team within the Corps, but also to our sponsors and stakeholders and those that we're building things for. They need to hear us talk about what we're trying to do and how we're going to achieve it.” BG Kelly notes that strengthening communication is being strongly promoted by the Honorable Michael Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works as one of his ‘lines of effort', along with other factors that directly relate to EWN: “His insistence that we strengthen communications and relationships to solve water resource challenges, is front and center. I try to do that from my perch in Atlanta. His insistence that we modernize our Civil Works programs to better serve the needs of disadvantaged communities means ‘full contact.' We've got to get out and be talking and be active to understand people's needs. His ask that we build innovative climate resilient infrastructure to protect communities and ecosystems brings us right into this space of EWN and incorporating natural and nature-based features. Figuring out how to make these priorities part of all that we're doing is something I'm excited about. Those lines of effort are from our most senior leaders. And they are essential to solving the water resource challenges faced by the USACE.” SAD's Civil Works program is diverse. It includes commercial navigation, flood and storm damage risk reduction, and ecosystem restoration for ports, navigation channels, and waterways in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. As BG Kelly notes, “These are places that are critical to our economy, places that are consistently and persistently in the news. Everything we do matters.” He relates a string of challenges, from disaster response in Puerto Rico to Everglades Restoration, to the rebuilding of Tyndall Air Force Base (see EWN Podcast S1E3), to projects in the ports of Savannah, Mobile, Charleston, and Miami, in response to climate change and resilience. “It's an exciting time. We have some complex challenges, and we've got talented folks. Each day, I say thank you for our success—we're winning. But when I say thank you, I'm asking for more. I've got another problem that I need my team to take on. For me, the reality is that we've got more work than time, and time is absolutely not on our side. But I'll tell you, SAD is game.” As Todd notes, “The Division is waging a different kind of battle that is relevant to our discussion of EWN—from the 20th century engineering approach of trying to conquer nature, to now trying to embrace nature—essentially partnering with nature—by applying EWN principles and natural and nature-based solutions to create infrastructure solutions that enhance community resilience and diversify value. BG Kelly agrees: “I think we've got to reframe our thinking to solve these complex challenges—think about how we can, and quite frankly, should be partnering with nature. One of the things I struggle with is our plan formulation. Our processes don't always lend themselves to that solution set. I think what Mr. Connor has asked us to do in modernizing our Civil Works program is to figure out how to make sure we're valuing these solutions. We have to think through cost sharing requirements for non-structural natural and nature-based features that would encourage communities to do some things differently. It will also encourage our engineers to think about those solutions in a different way.” Project decision making in USACE is changing. As BG Kelly notes, “I've engaged key stakeholders to alert them that the Army Corps of Engineers is not wedded to only concrete and steel. As a leader I'm trying to telegraph my thinking that we're going to make the decisions that consider natural and nature-based features—ways that we partner with nature. Everything is on the table to solve the challenge.” Todd adds that the USACE Chief of Engineers, Lieutenant General Spellmon, uses an image of the USACE logo as a Castle where the drawbridge is down and the windows are open: “I think that imagery is so good because we need to open up as an organization so that we can co-develop solutions with our partners and with our communities. Some of us are going to be interested in the numbers and the math, and some of us are going to be interested in the bugs and the bunnies. But we can come together in an open process of co-developing solutions.” BG Kelly agrees, noting the diverse group of stakeholders who are impacted by Corps' decisions: “Collaboration is a very key ingredient. We're talking about America's water resources, rivers, wetlands, inland and coastal waterways and billions of dollars in recreation and commerce. I think you have to let everyone under the tent and when we are making decisions, when we're trying to think about these competing alternatives. I'm an advocate for all things being considered and letting that be our point of origin as we move forward. With this approach, I think we'll get some good outcomes.” Todd agrees: “It's a positive time within the Corps, with LTG Spellmon and Mr. Connor's leadership, and yours, BG Kelly. With the organization, the potential, and the strong program the Corps has, we must embrace the idea of delivering projects and innovating at the same time to be the organization that we need to be today, as well as in the future.” A great example is the South Atlantic Coastal Study. It is the largest coastal risk assessment ever conducted by the Corps. According to BG Kelly, it covers more than 60,000 miles of shoreline, six states, and two territories: “It's just a mammoth undertaking and a great example of our goal to maximize the use of research and development, while promoting community resilience through partnering. It's a great illustration of our effort to overcome those institutional barriers that I mentioned and adapt to climate change and sea level rise in our quest to better partner with nature.” Leadership is critical, and it is evolving. As Todd concludes, “BG Kelly, you're bringing people with you, you're not directing them. As you know, you don't really get effective change through exceptional force. You're describing a kind of social leadership. That's what we need to make progress as the Corps of Engineers, and progress with our partners, for the benefit of our communities. I think the future of Engineering With Nature in the South Atlantic Division is bright, bright, bright.” Related Links EWN Website ERDC Website Todd Bridges at EWN Todd Bridges at LinkedIn General Kelly at USACE South Atlantic Division General Kelly at LinkedIn USACE South Atlantic Division Michael Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works EWN Podcast S1E3: Using Natural Infrastructure to Increase Resilience for Military Installations Everglades Restoration Projects Restoring America's Everglades Charleston Harbor Navigation Projects Tyndall AFB Reconstruction South Atlantic Coastal Study
We're really excited about our upcoming episodes 6 and 7. Tune in July 20th as we discuss leadership and Engineering With Nature with two inspirational USACE Division leaders – Colonel (P) Antoinette Gant, Commander, and Division Engineer of the South Pacific Division (SPD), and Brigadier General Jason Kelly, Commander of the South Atlantic Division (SAD). Leadership and vision are essential to successfully incorporating Engineering With Nature and nature-based approaches into climate preparedness and resilience solutions to address landscape-scale challenges. In Episodes 6 & 7, Host Sarah Thorne and Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Lead of the Engineering With Nature® Program talk with COL Gant and BG Kelly about the some of the challenges facing their Divisions, how Engineering With Nature approaches are a key part of the solutions, and about the leadership needed to address landscape-scale challenges in innovative ways. Stimulating, thought-provoking and truly inspiring!! The future of EWN is bright.
Welcome to Episode 5! Today we're kicking off the summer season with a road trip! Host Sarah Thorne is joined by Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Lead of the Engineering With Nature® Program to talk about a new podcast mini-series. Over the past 2 years, Todd has been traveling across the country to visit people, places, and projects and he's been reflecting on his experiences by writing a travel blog. We're bringing highlights from the EWN On The Road blog to a podcast format—easy listening for summer travelers! In the summer of 2021, Todd and his wife and the unofficial EWN driver, Anita, traveled across 14 states from Mississippi to Montana and back in what Todd calls the Heartland Tour. “It was mind-altering for me,” Todd says. “It's so important to me, and I think to most of us, to put ourselves in places and in contexts to stimulate our minds, our creativity, and our thinking. Over the course of a month and 5,547 miles, it just changed the way I thought about the land, the landscape, nature, the relationship of people to nature, what we've done in the past collectively to nature, and what we need to do to remedy our relationship with nature.” During the trip, Todd was posting his thoughts and observations to the EWN On The Road page on the EWN website. “I've had the opportunity, really the blessing, professionally to have traveled extensively, not only across the United States, but in other countries around the world, to see projects incorporating nature-based solutions and natural infrastructure—what we talk about as Engineering With Nature—in a whole variety of places and to talk with the people who made those projects happen. I became increasingly convinced that I needed to share those experiences with others so, in a sense, they can also participate in those experiences and that learning that I was able to engage in by being there and having my feet on the ground or in the water and seeing those projects.” Todd describes how he was struck by the vast agricultural landscapes and the relationships between the land, the communities, and the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. And he appreciated the opportunity to visit with USACE colleagues, including Eddie Brauer (St. Louis District, Heartland Tour Stop #3) and David Crane (Omaha District, Heartland Tour Stop #6) the two USACE Riverine EWN Practice Leads, whose work and projects represent the future of sustainable infrastructure development. In the winter of 2022, Todd and Anita headed out on the Southwest Swing, traveling nearly 8,000 miles through 8 states to visit more people, places, and projects, including Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, which is at its lowest level in its history, an alarming indication of the megadrought that has gripped the Southwest. Its current water level is at 35% capacity, for a reservoir that supports 40 million people. Lake Powell upstream on the Colorado River is also at a historic low. A paper recently published in the journal Nature Climate Change highlights that this is the most intense drought in the region in 1200 years. Todd notes, “The need is intense to make use of new ways—natural infrastructure—to address the cycles of drought and flooding that occur in the Southwest.” The California Swing in 2021 and continuing in 2022 makes a personal connection for Todd who was born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley of California. As discussed on previous EWN Podcast episodes S3E8 and S3E9 with author Mark Arax, the water infrastructure story of California, as Todd notes, “is complex and impressive on any scale. It is the most complex water engineering of any place in the world and has created the $50 billion California agricultural powerhouse.” With that comes unprecedented challenges—social, environmental, and economic. Todd delves into these challenges and associated opportunities in upcoming EWN On The Road podcasts. During this summer's EWN On The Road podcast mini-series Todd reflects on his 13,000 miles of travel across the country: “Maybe during this holiday time over the summer, listeners will be stimulated to think beyond the interstate—get off road and think about what they see and their relationship personally, or collectively with their community, with nature and how improving that can serve the greater good.” Related Links EWN Website ERDC Website Todd Bridges at EWN Todd Bridges at LinkedIn EWN On The Road EWN On The Road: The Heartland Tour EWN On The Road: The California Swing EWN Implementation Cadre Rapid intensification of the emerging southwestern North American megadrought in 2020–2021 – Nature Climate Change Journal EWN Podcast S2E7: EWN Collaboration with the California Department of Water Resources EWN Podcast S3E8: The Dreamt Land – California Water, Sustainability, and EWN EWN Podcast S3E9: The Dreamt Land – Rebalancing the System EWN Podcast S4E2: High Energy Roundtable with the EWN Practice Leads
Derrick and Cody talk to third place finisher, Todd Bridges. They talk about his opinions on Todrick and Meisha and what he would do different if he could play again.
Hellooo Peanuts!Welcome to yet another recap of Reality Roundup! While Lance and Michael are hanging in bed, they discuss the second episode of Celebrity Big Brother and their thoughts on what's been happening.From Lamar Odom making sex noises, Todd Bridges and his potential sleep apnea + rumors of someone leaving the house, they cover a LOT. One of our favorite people, Kari Sellards, also makes an appearance! Not from bed, of course. We can't wait to find out what happens tomorrow, so tune in with us and sound off in the comments!
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