The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast

Isaac Oakeson

Welcome to The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast - your ultimate guide to everything related to civil engineering! Our goal is to support you at every stage of your journey to becoming a successful professional civil engineer, and to help you enhance your career and personal life. We share our expertise and provide you with valuable insights and practical tips to help you succeed. Join us for informative and engaging discussions on exam preparation strategies, career development, and cutting-edge engineering innovations. Whether you're preparing to ace the civil FE or PE exam, looking to adv

  1. The Career Architect: How to Build a Career You're Proud of with Bryce Batts

    6 DAYS AGO

    The Career Architect: How to Build a Career You're Proud of with Bryce Batts

    Ever looked around at your career and thought, “How the heck did I end up here?” Yeah — and you’re not alone. But that’s because your career was happening to you…instead of you making it happen.  In this episode, we chat with Bryce Batts, a recruiter specialized in the AEC industry who’s helped over 800 professionals land jobs that actually fit their life and align with their values.  After years of coaching and recruiting engineers, she put all her best career tips and advice into The Career Architect — a book that cracks the code of how to build a career you're proud of from the get-to…or get unstuck if you feel miserable where you’re at. The simple secret? 🤔 According to her, a fulfilling career doesn’t fall into your lap — it’s something you build! If you’re stuck in a rut, thinking about making a switch, or just tired of “going with the flow,” then this is for you. Why? It will help you rethink how you approach and achieve professional success — and  she gives you the best tips straight out of her book on how to do this as well. 😉 🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN: 3 Key Principles to Building a Career You're Proud of What Should You Do If You've Chosen the Wrong Career Path? 4 Big Factors That Companies Need to Consider Offering to Their Engineers Is Job-Hopping the Only Way to Get a Raise? The 2 Worst Aspects of a Company That Cause Engineers to Switch Jobs 4 Simple Benefits That Make Engineers Fight Over a Job...and Stay Forever! How the PE License Impacts Your Career Opportunities on the Eyes of a Recruiter The Story Behind Her Book and What Made Her Want to Write It Her Biggest Rule That Serves Both Your Career And Life 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED: The Career Architect Book, by Bryce Batts Wine After Work Podcast (Spotify) Wine After Work Podcast (Apple Podcasts) North Carolina State University 💬 CONNECT WITH BRYCE: LinkedIn Website Career Collective 🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU: The Civil FE Startup Guide The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES: Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Course CFM® Review Course 📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS: FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Bonus Theory Questions PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH CEA! Website Newsletter Free CEA Community LinkedIn YouTube Channel support@civilengineeringacademy.com

    25 min
  2. Passing the PE at 58 Years Old on the First Try With Jimmy Daughtry! | CEA 306

    1 OCT

    Passing the PE at 58 Years Old on the First Try With Jimmy Daughtry! | CEA 306

    If you’re in your 30s or more and think it’s “too late” to become PE, I’d like you to meet Jimmy Draughty. He passed the most brutal PE exam on the first try…and he did it at 58 years old! 😮 Since graduating, Jimmy’s worked on massive projects around the world, collected as many licenses as you can think of, and even worked for himself for about 10 years. At 58, that’d be enough, right? Wrong! Even with all this experience that blows all the newly licensed PEs (combined!) out of the water, he noticed the PE license still mattered big time for his career. In this episode, he dives into his journey passing the Construction PE Exam at this later stage in life. Why the PE still matters even if you’re way past your 20s, how he (re)learned topics he hadn’t used in years…all the way to the tools and resources he used to pull this off. If you’ve ever told yourself “it’s too late for me,” Jimmy’s story proves it’s a lie. Your age or how long you’ve been out of school doesn’t matter. What matters is the weight of having the PE license in the civil engineering world…at any stage of life. 🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN: Why He Wanted the PE License Even at 58 Years Old! The 2 Biggest Challenges He Faced Prepping for the PE Later in Life How Organized (and Tracked) His Exam Prep Like a Real Project Manager What Helped Him Get a Handle of the Topics He Hasn't Used in Decades Should You Prioritize Experience or Pass Rates When Choosing a PE Exam? What Caught Him Off Guard on the Construction PE That Almost Led to a Fail How to Handle All the Codes & Standards Required for the Construction PE Exam His Approach to Taking Practice Exams (And Doing It is a Must!) The Reason He Wouldn't Have Passed Without a Course (And It Applies to You, Too) His Advice at 58 Years Old to Those Who Think It's Too Late to Become a PE How He Found Civil Engineering Academy (And Why He Chose It) 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED: Certified Cost Professional (CCP) Project Management Professional (PMP) 💬 CONNECT WITH JIMMY: LinkedIn 🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU: The Civil FE Startup Guide The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES: Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Course CFM® Review Course 📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS: FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Bonus Theory Questions PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH CEA! Website Newsletter Free CEA Community LinkedIn YouTube Channel support@civilengineeringacademy.com

    28 min
  3. Licensed in 42 States: Travis Keener’s Path from Engineer to Spill Plan Man

    24 SEPT

    Licensed in 42 States: Travis Keener’s Path from Engineer to Spill Plan Man

    We’ve interviewed engineers in many different fields that don’t even come to mind for those in civil engineering, and here’s a brand-new one you’ve never heard of — spill prevention plan! Our guest today is Travis Keener, aka the Spill Plan Man. He’s a licensed PE in 42 states who’s built his entire career around what’s called Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans. Today, he runs his own business doing it to keep oil-handling facilities compliant with the EPA, and has personally stamped more than 600 of them. Now, the best part? This is something he contracts out a lot of civil engineers to help, and that licensed civil engineers can do as well! So, this episode is a peek into one of those “hidden corners” of engineering most of us are not told about in school. Tune in to learn how he ended up in this world, what the work entails on a daily basis…plus why it could be a rewarding career path for a civil engineer just like you. 🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN: What He Does as the "Spill Plan Man" What SPCC Plans are And Why They Require Licensed PEs How SPCC Plans Grew to Become His Career Path Is Spill Control a Possible Career Path for Civil Engineers? How He Manages PDHs Being Licensed in 42 States The Biggest Misconception About the EPA's Oil Spill Rule Why the Rule of 110% for Rain is Misleading Do You Really Need to Change Your Spill Plan Every 5 Years? How He Runs His Spill Plan Business (And Hires Civil Engineers to Help!) His Tip for the PE Exam That Still Works Today His Advice for Young Engineers to Find Their Path After School 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED: Drone Pilot License DJI Drones Ashland Tank Disaster Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Oklahoma State University 💬 CONNECT WITH TRAVIS: LinkedIn Spill Plan Man Website Phone Number: 918 766-9359 🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU: The Civil FE Startup Guide The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES: Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Course CFM® Review Course 📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS: FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Bonus Theory Questions PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH CEA! Website NewsletterFree CEA Community LinkedIn YouTube Channel support@civilengineeringacademy.com

    34 min
  4. Floodplain Management Leadership in Action: Scott Pelath’s CFM Exam Journey & Insights

    17 SEPT

    Floodplain Management Leadership in Action: Scott Pelath’s CFM Exam Journey & Insights

    If you’re in the floodplain management arena and want to build a successful career in it, then this episode with Scott Pelath, CFM, is a must-listen! Here’s why. 👇 Scott started his career dealing with public affairs related to Water Resources. Then, he transitioned into one of the highest positions in floodplain management in his area — the Executive Director of the Kankakee River Basin and Yellow River Basin Development Commission. In this episode, he shares his journey to create a successful floodplain management career…plus his experience getting the certification that matters most in this field — the Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM®)! Scott’s story proves that the CFM isn’t just another set of letters after your name. Instead, it’s a tool that can move you up to executive-level jobs. So, whether you’re preparing for the CFM® exam yourself or just curious about where this certification can take you, this episode is packed with insights from a CFM himself who’s been in your shoes. Hit play and let Scott’s journey inspire your own path to becoming a CFM, too! 😉 🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN: His Career Journey from Legislation to Floodplain Management Why He Felt the Need to Get the CFM® Certification What He Loves the Most About His Job in Floodplain Management Why the CFM® Certification Matters Big Time (Especially Nowadays) Why He Chose CEA's CFM® Review Course to Help Him Prep What Future CFM Examinees Need to Be on the Lookout For His Exact Study Routine for You to Copy (+ What He Would've Done Differently) How Difficult is the CFM® Exam? What He Enjoyed the Most About the CFM Review Course & Material A Test-Taking Tip You Need to Remember on Your Exam Day The Value of the CFM Beyond Just "Passing an Exam" 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED: CFM® Review Course CFM® Practice Exam CFM Course Launch Interview With Matt Fanghella (CEA #207) Association of State Floodplain Managers FEMA 480 Publication Quizlet Flashcards for the CFM Kankakee River Basin and Yellow River Basin Development Commission Indiana University Bloomington 💬 CONNECT WITH SCOTT: LinkedIn 🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU: The Civil FE Startup Guide The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES: Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Course CFM® Review Course 📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS: FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Bonus Theory Questions PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH CEA! Website Newsletter Free CEA Community LinkedIn YouTube Channel support@civilengineeringacademy.com

    25 min
  5. 2022 ASCE President Dennis Truax on the Past, Present, and Future of Civil Engineering

    5 SEPT

    2022 ASCE President Dennis Truax on the Past, Present, and Future of Civil Engineering

    Outdated education with low pay, but worn out infrastructure and sustainability needs? 🤔 These are the two sides of civil engineering today — and nobody has lived and breathed the field as much as Dennis D. Truax to know the right way to look at it. 👇 Dennis is a civil engineer who has spent decades shaping the profession in leadership positions. From leading Mississippi State University’s civil department to serving as ASCE President in 2022!  In this episode, he shares the harsh truths and the hidden opportunities he sees today for civil engineers. And if that’s not enough, he also gives us a sneak peek into a new platform that challenges the old work model of one company, 40-hour workweeks. (Yep. You read that right. 😨) If you want to hear wisdom from someone who’s been in the trenches, led at the highest levels, and is still working to shape the future of civil engineering even after “retirement,”  you’ll love this conversation. 😉 🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN: The High-Level Professional Roles He's Held Over His Career Has Today's Civil Engineering Education Fallen Behind? Broad But Difficult: The Positive and Negative Side of Civil Engineering The Hesitation of Young People to Go into Civil A Groundbreaking Concept in Water Resources and Environmental for the Future The Biggest Challenge (And Opportunity) in Civil Engineering Today The Role of ASCE in the Political Battles for Investments in Infrastructure Is US Infrastructure Improving? Why the Wastewater Field Scores a D (And What Can Be Done About It) What Changed in the Past That Makes Today a Great Time to Be a Civil Engineer A New Civil Engineering Work Model (And the Platform to Leverage It) 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED: ASCE 2022 President Dennis Truax Video Engineer Match Group The Infrastructure Report Card Infrastructure Investment and Jobs (IJA) Act Urban Sequoia Concept Mississippi State University 💬 CONNECT WITH DENNIS: LinkedIn Bidcurement, Inc. 🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU: The Civil FE Startup Guide The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES: Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course 📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS: FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Bonus Theory Questions PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH CEA! Website Newsletter Free CEA Community LinkedIn YouTube Channel support@civilengineeringacademy.com

    31 min
  6. Mudasir Gulzar’s Journey to Pass the Geotech PE Exam with CEA

    3 SEPT

    Mudasir Gulzar’s Journey to Pass the Geotech PE Exam with CEA

    Most people kick the PE exam down the road when life gets busy, but Mudasir Gulzar?! He did the opposite! He pulled his exam date forward, leaving him with only one month left to study with…wait for it…a baby on the way! 😮 Crazy? Maybe. But it worked!  In this episode, he dives into his “rushed” journey to pass the tough, code-heavy Geotechnical PE Exam…while sharing the hard-earned lessons he learned on the way that can save you months of trial and error in your own prep (and get you to pass sooner!) From two study tips he lived by to the game-changer for those taking the Geotech exam to how he used practice exams to maximize his learning…all the way to the one thing you should keep in mind when studying for the PE. If you’re staring down the PE (especially the Geotech PE Exam), his story hits home. It’s not about having endless time — it’s about having the right approach and the right tools to get it done. Tune in now to learn how he pulled this off — and how you can, too. 👍 🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN: How He First Found Out About the Existence of the FE and PE Exams How He Prepped for and Passed the FE Exam on His Own Why He Picked Geotechnical Engineering for His Career A Game-Changing Piece of Advice If You Want to Pass the Geotech PE Exam How He Prepped in 1 Month After Pulling His Exam Date Forward 2 Study Tips He Lived By to Pass What He Would Do After Finishing Practice Exams That You Must Do as Well 3 Reasons Why He Chose (& Stuck With) CEA's PE Review Course Hard-Earned Lessons for Those Taking the Geotech PE Exam The ONE Thing You Should Keep in Mind When Prepping The Single Feature of The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course He Enjoyed the Most What He Thought of CEA's PE CBT Exam Simulator 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED: CEA's Civil PE Review Course CEA's PE CBT Exam Simulator NCEES Official Geotech PE Practice Exam GFT Company NIT Srinagar University of Tennessee, Knoxville 💬 CONNECT WITH MUDASIR: LinkedIn 🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU: The Civil FE Startup Guide The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES: Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Course CFM® Review Course 📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS: FE Practice Exams FE Exam Simulator PE Bonus Theory Questions PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam FEvir Envirnmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH CEA! Website Newsletter Free CEA Community LinkedIn YouTube Channel support@civilengineeringacademy.com

    29 min
  7. From FE to PE: How Ryan Turley Crushed Both Exams With CEA

    28 AUG

    From FE to PE: How Ryan Turley Crushed Both Exams With CEA

    After passing the FE after 5 tries, Ryan Turley circled back to CEA for the PE exam…and knocked that one out too! 🥊 In this episode, Ryan shares his tips and experience to pull this off. 👇 If you’re taking the FE or have just got it done, he shares what happens in between the two exams. He organized himself to start studying for the PE. Why (and how) he chose the Water Resources PE over Transportation. And a lot more. For those taking the PE, Ryan drops some gold nuggets on everything he learned by going through this twice himself. The biggest exam surprise that caught him off guard. The test-taking strategy he used. A simple hack to make studying feel way less like pulling teeth. And more. Whether you’re stuck on the FE or staring at the PE as your next milestone, this one’s packed with tips you can swipe and use right away. 😉 Hit play and let Ryan show you how he went from five FE fails to a PE pass on the second try — and how you can, too! ✅ 👷 🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN: How He Organized His Study Schedule for the PE Exam Is the PE Easier Than the FE? Why He Picked the Water Resources Over the Transportation PE Exam His Biggest Surprise on the Exam You Need to Be Aware of! The 2 Water Resources Topics Examinees Fear (and How to Prep for Them) How Deep Do You Need to Go on the Codes & Standards for the Water Exam? How Our PE Water Resources Review Course Helped Him Study for the PE The Biggest Thing About Passing the PE That We Bake into Our Course How He Prepped for Theory Questions on the PE What Score Should You Be Getting on Practice Exams to Be Ready for the Real Deal? His Test-Taking Strategy to Finish Each Session 20 Minutes Early and Review It His Simple Trick to Boost How Much You Retain of What You Study The Real Commitment Needed to Pass the PE (And It's Easier Than You Think!) The Secret to Make Studying for the PE a Habit You Actually Enjoy Why He Recommends Civil Engineering Academy's PE Courses What to Do If You've Been Failing the PE Multiple Times 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED: First Interview With Ryan (CEA # 239) The Ultimate Civil PE Water Resources Review Course PE Bonus Theory Questions PE CBT Exam Simulator 💬 CONNECT WITH RYAN: LinkedIn 🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU: The Civil FE Startup Guide The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES: Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course 📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS: FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Bonus Theory Questions PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH CEA! Website Newsletter Free CEA Community LinkedIn YouTube Channel support@civilengineeringacademy.com

    28 min
  8. Should You Switch to Another Civil PE Exam After a Fail?

    20 AUG

    Should You Switch to Another Civil PE Exam After a Fail?

    We know. Failing the PE Exam stings. 😬 Especially after hours of studying and no-fun weekends. When this happened, you wanted to jump ship and switch to another discipline, right? 🤔 That’s everybody’s knee-jerk reaction, but here’s the kicker — that move might actually set you back instead of moving you forward! 😨 In this episode, I dive into my hot take on one of the most common questions we get here at CEA from PE test-takers like you: Should I switch exams after failing?  My answer will not surprise you. Instead, it goes against everything you used to believe about this…but it comes straight from my own experience as a repeat taker who’s been exactly where you are right now. If you’ve failed once, twice, or even a few times already and feel like running to another Civil PE Exam discipline, this one’s for you. 🎧 Give it a listen before you make a decision that could delay your license even longer! 🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN: My Hot Take on Switching PE Exams After a Fail (and Why) 4 Advantages You Earned Prepping for Your Failed Attempts 7 Advantages You Now Have for Having Taken the Exam Before My Personal Story as a Repeater Taker at This Crossroads Myself 5 Downsides of Switching Exams You Don't Even Consider 3 Things to Fix That Works Better Than Switching Exams 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED: Tucker Stafford Interview (CEA #255) Makenzie Allen Interview (CEA #192) ASCE 37-14 TSS 2018 🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU: The Civil FE Startup Guide The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES: Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course 📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS: FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Bonus Theory Questions PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH CEA! Website Newsletter Free CEA Community LinkedIn YouTube Channel support@civilengineeringacademy.com

    21 min
See All (307)

Trailer

About

Welcome to The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast - your ultimate guide to everything related to civil engineering! Our goal is to support you at every stage of your journey to becoming a successful professional civil engineer, and to help you enhance your career and personal life. We share our expertise and provide you with valuable insights and practical tips to help you succeed. Join us for informative and engaging discussions on exam preparation strategies, career development, and cutting-edge engineering innovations. Whether you're preparing to ace the civil FE or PE exam, looking to adv

Information

You Might Also Like