The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast

Mental burnout, depression, anxiety...you name it. Mental health issues have always been around. It was when the pandemic hit, however, that it became obvious the true damage it can cause, especially on a personal level. If you want to know how to better handle such things when life gets tough, this episode is the #1 thing you need. Today on the show, Isaac chats with Michelle E. Dickinson, a Wellbeing Strategist, mental health advocate, TEDx speaker, and author. Building on her own childhood experience taking care of her mother who suffered from bipolar disorder, Michelle is now on a mission to normalize the mental wellbeing conversation. And as civil engineers who have to work, take professional exams, be a present mother/father, a lovely wife/husband, etc., this conversation is certainly for you, too. What You’ll Learn: Michelle’s Work in the Mental Health Field Her Childhood Experience Taking Care of Her Bipolar Mother How Your Experiences Can Shape Your Path in Life---And Your Career Michelle’s Expert Point of View on the “Great Resignation” Her #1 Tip for a Less Stressful Life Why Taking Care of Your Wellbeing---Physical, Emotional, and Mental---Matters The Process of Preparing and Delivering a TED Talk What Inspired Her to Write Her Book Why the Diet for Your Body Is Just as Important as the “Diet for You Mind” How Daily Self-Audits And Routine Can Help You Fight Tough Times Why You Need a Therapist---Even Before You Think You “Actually” Need One Our Partners: Built Bar - http://civilengineeringacademy.com/built PPI - http://www.civilengineeringacademy.com/ppi Resources Mentioned: Michelle’s Program for Organizations - https://www.careforyourpeople.com Michelle’s Personal Website - https://www.michelleedickinson.com Breaking Into My Life, by Michelle E. Dickinson - https://breakingintomylife.com Psychology Today - https://www.psychologytoday.com National Alliance on Mental Illness - https://nami.org Man Therapy - https://mantherapy.org CEA Resources: The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com CEA Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeFLBZ2gk0uO5M9uE2zj0Q CEA Free Facebook Community - https://ceacommunity.com CEA FE and PE Practice Exams - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/exams CEA Newsletter - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/join-our-newsletter CEA Website - https://civilengineeringacademy.com Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

In every structural design class, students are presented with case studies of historical structural failures to learn from. And the case of the condominium collapsed in Surfside, Florida, will certainly be one of them in the future. Today, Mark Oakeson jumps back on to walk you through some of the aspects he thinks may have led the building to collapse. To do this, he combines his own career and work dealing with structural design on a daily basis with assessment reports evaluating the condo’s conditions. What You’ll Learn: ● Well-Known Structural Failures of the Past ● Difference Between The ASD and LRFD Design Methods ● Did the Condo’s Design Meet the Requirements of the Code of the Time? ● The Mistake That Possibly Started the Structural Damage to the Building ● What Spalling Concrete Is --- And Why It Was a Warning Sign ● Could We Have Avoided The Collapse? ● How Can We Avoid Other Tragedies Like This? Our Partners: Built Bar - http://civilengineeringacademy.com/built School of PE - http://www.civilengineeringacademy.com/sope Resources Mentioned: Surfside Condo Collapse - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfside_condominium_collapse Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacoma_Narrows_Bridge_(1940) Hyatt Regency Walkway Collapse - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyatt_Regency_walkway_collapse Pemberton Mill Collapse - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pemberton_Mill CEA Resources: The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com CEA Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeFLBZ2gk0uO5M9uE2zj0Q CEA Free Facebook Community - https://ceacommunity.com CEA FE and PE Practice Exams - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/exams CEA Newsletter - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/join-our-newsletter CEA Website - https://civilengineeringacademy.com Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

Effective communication in the workplace would solve most of the problems we, engineers, face every day. Yet it’s incredibly hard to achieve it. Do you feel like heated situations in the office could be avoided by simply knowing how to deal with other people’s personality traits as well as your own? Well, then this episode is for you. Salman Raza has been advising companies on their organizational culture, strategy, and infrastructure for a long time with his consultancy business Razalution Bureau. He teaches managers, leaders, and employees how to communicate and interact effectively in professional settings. Tune in to find out how you can do the same! What You’ll Learn: ● How Salman Found “What Makes Him Tick” ● Why Most Engineers are Introverts---And How to Use It as a Strength ● How to Have Effective Communication in the Office ● How People’s Different Personality Traits Influence Communication ● How to Assess Your Individual Situation in Your Workplace ● Why Managing Your Own Emotions Can Influence Other People’s Behavior ● The Power of Vulnerability---And How You can Use it to Your Advantage Our Partners: Built Bar - http://civilengineeringacademy.com/built Late Night Entrepreneur - https://latenightentrepreneur.com Resources Mentioned (some links are affiliate links): Salman Raza (LinkedIn) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/salman-raza-a6173926 Razalution Bureau - www.razalution.co Life’s Non-Conformities, by Salman Raza - https://salmanraza.net Hofstede Insights - https://www.hofstede-insights.com Myers-Briggs Type Indicator - https://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics Keirsey Temperament Sorter - https://www.keirsey.com How Will You Measure Your Life?, by Clayton M. Christensen - ibit.ly/j28i CEA Resources: The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com CEA Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeFLBZ2gk0uO5M9uE2zj0Q CEA Free Facebook Community - https://ceacommunity.com CEA FE and PE Practice Exams - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/exams CEA Newsletter - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/join-our-newsletter CEA Website - https://civilengineeringacademy.com Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

Civil engineering is famously known for its positive impacts on society once a project is completed and fully functioning. Today’s episode, however, will make you reflect on societal questions that play a crucial role in our communities long before the project is even approved. Today’s guest is Collin Yarbrough, a pipeline engineer, bakery owner, and the author of Paved A Way. During his graduate studies, he was required to write a paper that later turned into his groundbreaking book, which tells the stories of how infrastructure projects have been silently contributing to social issues such as racism. What You’ll Learn: ● How Collin Got into Engineering ● Collin’s Tough Life Period After the Recession of 2008 ● 3 Key Concepts to Make a Pivot in Life or Career ● What Led Him to Write His Book ● How Infrastructure Projects Can be Tied to Social Issues ● How Cities Can Avoid These Social Problems ● What Engineers Themselves Can Do About it Our Partners: School of PE - http://www.civilengineeringacademy.com/sope KiwiCo - http://civilengineeringacademy.com/kiwi Resources Mentioned (some links are affiliate links): Collin Yarbrough (LinkedIn) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/collin-yarbrough-1b3a6717 Collin Yarbrough (Email) - yarbrocr@gmail.com Collin Yarbrough (@collinwritesdesign) - https://www.instagram.com/collinwritesdesign/?hl=en Paved A Way: Infrastructure, Policy and Racism in an American City, by Collin Yarbrough - ibit.ly/9E3L The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America, by Richard Rothstein - ibit.ly/m3M4 Clarkson University- https://www.clarkson.edu Southern Methodist University - https://www.smu.edu Georgetown University - https://www.georgetown.edu Creators Institute - https://www.creator.institute Dallas Morning News - https://www.dallasnews.com Dallas Express - https://dallasexpress.com Nasher Sculpture Center - https://www.nashersculpturecenter.org Meyerson Symphony Center - https://www.dallassymphony.org CEA Resources: The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com CEA Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeFLBZ2gk0uO5M9uE2zj0Q CEA Free Facebook Community - https://ceacommunity.com CEA Website - https://civilengineeringacademy.com Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

“Your design is only going to be as good as the survey that it’s drawn on”. That’s how today’s guest emphasizes the importance of land surveying for civil engineering projects. Cory George is both a licensed Professional Engineer in NC and SC and a licensed Professional Land Surveyor in NC, SC, TN, FL, and DC. After “falling into the field” while still a major in college doing research for the engineering department, he has now started his own surveying and engineering business called Pilot Surveying and Engineering. Cory and Isaac discuss various aspects of the surveying profession, as well as how surveyors and civil engineers need to closely work together. Tune in to find out how civil engineers can become surveyors, the current tremendous need for surveyors, the differences between colonial states and public lands when it comes to surveying, as well as how Cory started his business from the ground up---and how you can get started too. Our Partners: School of PE - http://www.civilengineeringacademy.com/sope KiwiCo - http://civilengineeringacademy.com/kiwi Resources Mentioned (some links are affiliate links): Cory George (LinkedIn) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-george-pe-pls-ba4aaa21 Cory George (Email) - cory@pilotse.com Pilot Surveying and Engineering - http://www.pilotse.com North Carolina State University - https://www.ncsu.edu North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University - https://www.ncat.edu Carlson BRx7 - https://www.carlsonsw.com/product/brx7-gnss-receiver Brown's Boundary Control and Legal Principles, by Walter G. Robillard and Donald A. Wilson - ibit.ly/aqh7 CEA Resources: The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com CEA Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeFLBZ2gk0uO5M9uE2zj0Q CEA Free Facebook Community - https://ceacommunity.com CEA FE and PE Practice Exams - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/exams CEA Newsletter - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/join-our-newsletter CEA Website - https://civilengineeringacademy.com Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

That’s a fact: The PE Exam can be tricky. Whether it’s a calculation-based or a theoretical question, we have to watch out for everything during the exam to make sure our answer is correct. Our guest today will tell you how to prepare for the exam and handle those subtle questions that can trick you into choosing the wrong alternative. Daniel Reyes is a structural engineer currently working at a consulting firm in Columbus, Ohio. He’s just beaten the exam’s low pass rates for repeat takers after enrolling in the Ultimate Civil PE Review Course, taking the PE Exam for the third time in April, and passing it. For all those who have failed the exam before, you can do this! In today’s episode, Daniel and Isaac explain the importance of crushing the morning portion of the exam (and how it can help you in the afternoon portion), teaches you how to handle those questions you may not know how to solve, as well as the best resources and study habits you can have to set yourself up for success. And there’s more…Tune in to find out! Our Partners: PPI is our partner to help you ace your FE and PE exams. Use our discount code of CIVAC and our link to get 15% off - http://www.civilengineeringacademy.com/ppi KiwiCo - http://civilengineeringacademy.com/kiwi Resources Mentioned (some links are affiliate links) Daniel Reyes, PE (LinkedIn) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-reyes-p-e-9a3014152 The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com CEA Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeFLBZ2gk0uO5M9uE2zj0Q CEA Free Facebook Community - https://ceacommunity.com CEA Practice Exams - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/exams CEA Newsletter - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/join-our-newsletter CEA Website - https://civilengineeringacademy.com Civil Engineering Reference Manual - Click here PPI Civil PE Structural Depth Practice Exams - Click here PPI Six-Minute Solutions for the Civil PE Structural Problems - Click here ASCE-7 - https://www.asce.org/asce-7 ACI 318 - https://www.concrete.org/tools/318buildingcodeportal.aspx.aspx XactAnalysis - https://www.xactware.com Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

Work-life balance is a topic that keeps coming up in our everyday lives. At the end of the day, we all have not only career goals but also personal goals and family responsibilities. Even though it can sound daunting, today’s guest will show you it’s possible. Bahaar Taylor is a structural project engineer at Erickson Structural Consulting Engineers in Washington, a 2021 ASCE New Face of Civil Engineering, wife, and mother of two. After getting her degree from Brigham Young University, she got elected as the president of the Oregon Chapter, and that’s exactly when she had her first child! In this episode, Bahaar explains how she manages to succeed at work without forgetting her family responsibilities, how role models can encourage young people to go for the career they want no matter what (especially young women), how she deals with the negative criticism that eventually comes up on job sites for being a woman, and much more! Resources (some links are affiliate links) Bahaar Taylor (LinkedIn) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bahaarkalra Bahaar Taylor (email) - bahaar.taylor@gmail.com Brigham Young University - https://www.byu.edu ASCE Oregon Section - https://www.asceor.org ASCE’s New Faces of Civil Engineering - https://www.asce.org/new_faces_of_civil_engineering School of PE - http://www.civilengineeringacademy.com/sope Purple Mattress - http://civilengineeringacademy.com/purple Haven’t joined up in our free community? What’s wrong with you? J/K. Ok, just go there and join a group of like-minded civil engineers! - https://ceacommunity.com Join over 4000 engineers like you and learn the tips and tricks to passing the FE and PE. We even have a free resource for you! - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/join-our-newsletter Check out our Youtube Channel for more content, live sessions, and much more - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeFLBZ2gk0uO5M9uE2zj0Q If you need exams, solved problems, or courses, make sure to check out our home base. We can definitely help you on your journey to become a professional engineer - https://civilengineeringacademy.com Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

Calling all international students and professionals out there! Today’s episode features Luis Felipe Duque, an engineer in the US from Colombia, who has recently become a Professional Engineer after passing his PE exam. Luis is currently a bridge engineer working on the erection, retrofitting, and dismantling of bridges at Foothills Bridge Co. in Boulder, Colorado. His passion for construction started out while watching his father’s work as an architect, but he soon realized he wasn’t that interested in this side of the job to follow in his footsteps. However, since he’s always liked the hands-on approach of the industry, he then decided to go for civil engineering. Being born in Colombia, Luis discusses the process of being accepted in an American university, how playing tennis has helped in and outside the court, his decision to pursue a career in structural engineering while still a freshman, as well as how those interested in bridge engineering can prepare for a career in the field. As an advocate of integrating innovation to help us with our work, Luis goes on to discuss how AI and other technology may change the future of the industry---and how we can benefit from that. Resources (some links are affiliate links) Luis Duque (LinkedIn) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisduqueeit Luis Duque’s Twitter (@LuisDuqueEIT) - https://twitter.com/LuisDuqueEIT Engineering Our Future Contact Form - https://www.luisfelipeduque.com/home/contact Engineering Our Future Website - https://www.luisfelipeduque.com Engineering Our Future Podcast - https://www.luisfelipeduque.com/home/engineering-our-future-podcast Luis Duque’s Reading List - https://www.luisfelipeduque.com/books South Dakota State University - https://www.sdstate.edu University of Utah - https://www.utah.edu American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) - https://www.asce.org Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) - https://www.asce.org/structural-engineering/structural-engineering-institute America’s Infrastructure Report Card - https://infrastructurereportcard.org The Miracle Morning, by Hal Elrod - Click here I Will Teach You to Be Rich, by Ramit Sethi - Click here Think And Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill - Click here Check out our Youtube Channel for more content, live sessions, and much more - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeFLBZ2gk0uO5M9uE2zj0Q If you need exams, solved problems, or courses, make sure to check out our home base. We can definitely help you on your journey to become a professional engineer - https://civilengineeringacademy.com Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

Regardless of our profession, we all know the importance of properly handling the money we worked hard for and putting it to work in our favor. While there may be several well-known investment options, from 401ks to index funds, today’s guest is a strong advocate of the power of passive cash flow investing. Lane Kawaoka was a licensed professional (PE) civil and industrial engineer turned accredited real estate investor. After renting his first home in Seattle because his engineering job would not allow him to stay home that much, he realized that he could keep buying and renting more and more properties to the point where he could replace his monthly salary. After purchasing about 35 assets since 2009, he now helps other people do the same at Simple Passive Cashflow. Tune in to learn why civil engineers are particularly well suited for real estate investing, what the One Percent Rule is and why it’s important, the markets and areas you should go for, as well as why you should be interested in buying rental properties as a working civil engineer. Resources (some links are affiliate links) Lane Kawaoka - Lane@simplepassivecashflow.com Simple Passive Cashflow Website - https://simplepassivecashflow.com Simple Passive Cashflow Rental Property Analyzer - https://simplepassivecashflow.com/returns Simple Passive Cashflow Guide to Turnkey Rentals and Remote Investing - https://simplepassivecashflow.com/turnkey Simple Passive Cashflow Guide to Syndications - https://simplepassivecashflow.com/syndication Simple Passive Cashflow Youtube Channel (Rich Uncle) - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3cIIsGKx3osVU5rt2P0HfQ/featured Republic - https://republic.co PPI is our partner to help you ace your FE and PE exams. Use our discount code of CIVAC and our link to get 15% off of any book you order - http://www.civilengineeringacademy.com/ppi Join over 4000 engineers like you and learn the tips and tricks to pass the FE and PE. We even have a free resource for you! - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/join-our-newsletter Haven’t joined up in our free community? What’s wrong with you? J/K. Ok, just go there and join a group of like-minded civil engineers! - https://ceacommunity.com Check out our Youtube Channel for more content, live sessions, and much more - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeFLBZ2gk0uO5M9uE2zj0Q If you need exams, solved problems, or courses, make sure to check out our home base. We can definitely help you on your journey to become a professional engineer - https://civilengineeringacademy.com Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

Six. That’s how many attempts it took today’s guest to pass the PE exam and get his license. For those out there who may be feeling disappointed for having failed the exam before, this episode will prove that it’s all part of the process. James Johnson is a construction engineer at the Indiana Department of Transportation, where he’s had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects from roads to bridges, and even the first project in the entire state of Indiana to use galvanized steel beams. His PE license will really bolster his professional career, but it didn’t come easily. By elaborating on his learnings from his five failed attempts, James shares how CEA’s Ultimate Civil PE Review Course, Facebook community, and practice exams helped him during his sixth attempt with his studies, mindset, and motivation. In addition, he shares how doing well in the morning portion really sets you up for success in the afternoon portion of the exam, as well as the importance of truly knowing your references and working out hundreds of practice problems---he did 600+! Resources Mentioned Built Bar - http://civilengineeringacademy.com/built Haven’t joined up in our free community?  What’s wrong with you?  J/K.  Ok, just go there and join a group of like-minded civil engineers! - https://ceacommunity.com The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com CEA’s Civil PE Breadth Exams - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/breadth CEA’s Civil PE Depth Exams - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/depth-exam Civil Engineering PE Practice Exams: Breadth and Depth, by Indranil Goswami - Click here PPI’s PE Civil Reference Manual - http://www.civilengineeringacademy.com/ppi Civil Engineering Academy Podcast Ep. 70: How to Crush the Transportation PE Exam with Shannon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgGV4KQDJio NCEES’s Exam Preparation Resources - https://account.ncees.org/exam-prep Indiana Department of Transportation - https://www.in.gov/indot Join over 4000 engineers like you and learn the tips and tricks to passing the FE and PE.  We even have a free resource for you! - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/join-our-newsletter Check out our Youtube Channel for more content, live sessions, and much more - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeFLBZ2gk0uO5M9uE2zj0Q If you need exams, solved problems, or courses, make sure to check out our home base. We can definitely help you on your journey to become a professional engineer - https://civilengineeringacademy.com Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com