The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast
The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast helps engineers prepare for and pass the FE and PE exams while advancing their careers. Host Isaac Oakeson talks with industry experts about exam strategies, career development, leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation in engineering. Episodes offer practical advice for students, early-career engineers, and professionals aiming to grow in the field. The show is aimed at anyone looking for guidance and inspiration to succeed in civil engineering.
Episodes
How Laser Scans Can Make Tank Thickness Testing Smarter With Travis Keener
Failure of tanks that store highly hazardous chemicals can be huge, like the Longview Tank Disaster this year. The problem? The current method used to keep track of the structural integrity of the tanks is from 1967! 😲There’s another way to spot thinning tank walls before they become a serious problem, and that’s exactly what Travis Keener, PE, jumps back on the show to talk about!After years work
A Career Journey in Structural Engineering With Zach Bowden
What does a career in Structural Engineering look like? 🤔Most people think it’s only the (demanding) technical side, but that’s not the case — and Structural Engineer Zach Bowden, P.E. is here to prove it. 👇In this episode, Zach jumps on the show to pull back the curtain on what a career in Structural Engineering looks by diving into his own journey into the field.From how he got into it to what h
Crushing the FE and PE Exams Just 36 Days Apart With Angello Murekye
The normal path is getting the FE first and the PE second…but who said you can’t do it the other way around? 🤔 That’s what Angello Murekye did — and he passed both exams just 36 days apart! 😳 👇Angello is a civil engineer who has practiced, taught, and conducted research in Uganda, Europe, and the United States. He came to the US for a PhD at Virginia Tech and built a career in the pavement segment
A PE in the Philippines to a PE in USA with Jonathan Espiritu
Picture this: you’re a stay-home dad taking care of three kids while preparing for your exam. Interesting? That’s exactly how today’s guest started his journey toward becoming a PE in the US! In this episode, Jonathan Espiritu dives into the steps he took to get licensed in the US as a Filipino engineer, and dives into the tips fellow Filipinos and international engineers alike can use to crush th
The Present & Future of Transportation Engineering With ENR’s Top 20 Under 40 Christy Jeon
Transportation is changing fast. From sustainability concerns to climate resiliency to EVs, the systems we use today will look very different very soon. That’s what Christy Mihyeon Jeon joins us to talk about. 👇After 24 years in transportation planning and engineering, working on everything from major highway projects to electrification of transportation systems, as well as being named one of the
The AEC Freelancing Platform Changing How Engineers Find Work With Brian Sullivan
Not finding reliable engineering talent for your projects when you need it? After 20 years running his AEC firm, Brian Sullivan knows that problem all too well — and he’s now set out to tackle it from a completely different angle. 👇In this episode, Brian talks about his journey from starting, scaling, and selling his own civil engineering firm to building an engineering tech company called GigBenc
The Top 16 Transportation PE Study Materials Worth Considering
Freaking out trying to choose the exam prep resources for the Transportation PE that are actually worth your money? 🤔 With so many options, it's easy to go down a rabbit hole…but you don’t have to. 👇In this episode, we’re sharing our hand-picked list of the top Transportation PE study materials worth considering for each one of the main aspects of an exam prep to help you cut through the nois
How Clara Feitoza Passed the FE Exam Using Only Our Free Resources
What if you could pass the FE exam on your first try…totally on your own? Clara Feitoza did exactly that — and she says CEA played a huge role in helping her get there. Here’s how. 👇After nearly three years out of college, Clara had to juggle work, graduate school, and an insanely intense 2.5-month study plan. She listened to our podcast in every way she could and used the strategies she picked up
From 4-Time Taker to Licensed PE: How Jennifer Caron Crushed the Construction Exam
Passing the PE is tough enough on its own. Now, throw being a first-time mom of a newborn with three failed past attempts into the mix, plus a job. That’s exactly where Jennifer Caron found herself. 👇After trying other review courses, she failed the exam twice. For the third time, she joined Civil Engineering Academy and, even though she had another failed try, this time was different.She reached
2027 Structural PE Exam Shake-Up: What You Need to Know to Prepare
If you're planning to take the Civil PE Structural Exam in 2027, then this episode is a must-listen for you to stay on top of all the exam changes you’ll be dealing with on exam day. 👇In this one, we wrap up our 2027 PE exam specifications review series by taking a closer look at the Structural Exam. We compare the current specs with the new ones and break down what's actually changing — a
How to Find the Right Career Path (and the Right Job to Match It) With Jeff Perry
Ever wondered whether you're on the right career path for you — or if there's a better opportunity out there you just haven't found yet? 🤔 In both cases, figuring it out alone is overwhelming…and that’s when this week’s guest comes in.This week, we bring back Jeff Perry on the podcast. After years of helping engineers build intentional careers through his coaching, he’s expanded into t
Building an Engineering Career in the U.S. as a Pakistani Architect with Shahzaib Bangash
Are you an international engineer looking to build an engineering career in the US? 🤔 It may feel impossible, but our latest guest did it…and without any background in engineering whatsoever. 😲 👇This week, we sit down with Shahzaib Bangash, who left his Architecture career in Pakistan to build an Engineering career in the US. That’s when he first learned what becoming a PE in the US actually entai
2027 Geotech PE Exam Shake-Up: What You Need to Know to Prepare
If the Geotechnical PE Exam is on your radar for 2027, then this next episode in our walkthrough series on the upcoming 2027 NCEES specification updates is for you! 👇For this one, we dive into the geotechnical specifications and do what we did for the Water Resources, Transportation, and Construction exams — compare the current specs with the new one so you know exactly what's changing in 2027
2027 Construction PE Exam Shake-Up: What You Need to Know to Prepare
Taking the Construction PE Exam? 🤔 Then check out this next episode in our series breaking down the upcoming 2027 NCEES specs for all civil PE exams. This time focused on Construction. 👇In this one, just like we did for the Water Resources and Transportation exams, we compare the current 2024 specs with the new ones effective April 2027 so you know exactly what's changing — and what isn't.
America's Greatest Civil Engineering Marvels Throughout Its 250 Years
What do the Hoover Dam, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Interstate Highway System have in common? 🤔 Here it is. 👇They weren’t just projects to solve specific problems — they helped shape America into the huge, powerful country it is today! 🇺🇸And since America just turned 250 years old last Saturday, we thought it'd be fun to look back at some of these greatest civil engineering marvels that ch
2027 Transportation PE Exam Shake-Up: What You Need to Know to Prepare
After diving into the new specs for the Water Resources PE, it’s time to do the same for the Transportation PE Exam and figure out what’s actually changing in 2027 if you’re taking this one. 👇The good news? You can breathe a little easier. 😅The exam itself isn't getting turned upside down (yet), but there are some important changes you need to know. Especially when it comes to the codes and st
The Top 18 Study Resources for the Construction PE Exam
Gearing up for the Construction PE Exam and wondering which materials are actually worth your money to get this done? 🤔 If yes, then here’s something you need to keep in mind. 👇Even though the exam is closed-book, using only the PE Civil Reference Handbook and codes listed in the specs won’t cut it! ❌With Construction having the lowest pass rates among all five Civil PE disciplines, you need a sol
2027 Water Resources PE Exam Shake-Up: What You Need to Know to Prepare
Have you heard the Water Resources PE Exam is changing in 2027 and are now wondering if it’s time to panic already? 😅 Don’t worry — you can put the paper bag away because we did the work for you. 👇In this episode, we do a deep dive into the new exam specifications effective in April 2027!We break down exactly what's changing, what's staying the same, and why a lot of engineers are making t
PE Civil Structural Exam vs PE Structural Exam: Why Engineers Are Confused
Ever found yourself staring at the NCEES website wondering why there seems to be two exams for Structural Engineering folks — the PE Civil: Structural Exam and the PE Structural Exam? 🤔You're definitely not alone! This is one of the most common points of confusion for structural engineers. In fact, just some time ago, one of our own students emailed us asking if they were supposed to use the P
Motherhood, a Career Break, and Passing the PE Exam With Anellise Deters
Imagine this: you step away from civil engineering for years to raise your kids, and then come back to the profession and have to pull off one of the biggest achievements in everybody’s career right off the bat? 🤔That's exactly the road Anellise Deters traveled on her way to becoming a licensed PE. And there’s more — she did that all while being a mother of three kids!Exactly. I reacted the sa
The Top 14 Study Materials for the Water Resources PE Exam
Picking your study materials for the Water Resources PE exam is like going down a rabbit hole. 😵💫 Everybody swears by a different resource and, before you know it, you’ve got 30+ options and no clue where to even start.That’s exactly why we put this episode together!In this one, we break down our top picks for PE Water Resources study materials for each one of the three main aspects of any good e
A Deep Dive into the World of Land Development With Jason Cheramie, PE
Ever wondered what civil engineers working in land development actually do? 🤔 That’s a possible career path most civil engineers never hear about…until now! 👇For this episode, land development & stormwater management specialist Jason Cherami, PE, jumps on the show to break down the career path that turns raw land into functional spaces for both residential and commercial uses.In this episode,
How Top AEC Firms Are Using AI Today With Bhragan Paramanantham
You've probably been hearing all the AI buzz in civil engineering over and over again. A new tool here. A possible new use there. But how is all the new tech being actually implemented at AEC firms? 🤔That’s why this episode with Bhragan Paramanantham is so enlightening! He started as a civil engineer out in the field doing normal, day-to-day tasks while asking himself “There’s gotta be a better wa
Passing the PE After Getting into Civil Engineering by Accident With Jared Foulk
From dreaming of the Air Force to finding his calling in civil engineering and becoming a PE, today’s guest is a testament to the twists life throws at us…and some of them can be a blessing! 👇In this episode, we have Jared Foulk on the show. He’s a civil engineer in Washington who recently passed the Water Resources PE Exam, and is here to spill the beans on everything he learned on this journey.H
How Latino Engineers are Shaping the Future of Infrastructure With Azael Garza
Civil engineering shapes the world around us, but not everyone sees themselves in it. For some, finding role models who’ve been there is tough…and that’s exactly what Azael Garza had to overcome. 👇Azael is civil engineer with a latino heritage that went from a small-town math student to launching his own firm and working for himself at Aztlan Engineering, all while keeping the memories of his anc
The Skills That Will Save Your Civil Engineering Career With Peter Nabhan
AI is making its way into civil engineering fast. Whether you like it or not, it’s changing the rules of the game already. So, the only possible question left is: are you keeping up…or getting left behind? 🤔In this episode, we chat with Peter Nabhan, a PE who pioneered the transition of a big AEC firm to adopting technology and now works at the intersection of civil engineering, business leadershi
How the PE Can Take You Way Beyond Engineering With Lorri Zella
Most people think an engineering career locks you into one path. Design, build, repeat. Endlessly. But what if it could actually open doors you never knew were there — even totally unrelated to engineering? 🤔This week, we chat with Lorri Zella. She’s a licensed PE who took her career in a totally different direction, going from engineering to full-time real estate investing with a stop in forensic
FE & PE Trends Exposed: The Key Takeaways from the 2025 NCEES Squared Report
🚨 ATTENTION 🚨 The latest stats on licensure exams are out — and some of it that’s never happened before on any point in history will make you jaw drop big time! 😯In this episode, we dive into the 2025 Squared Report by the NCEES and break down the biggest takeaways from it regarding the civil FE and PE exams.What are the latest pass rates? What’s the perfect time to take them in your career based
The State of Civil Engineering Hiring in 2026 With Brandon McGill
Does the PE equal a 6-figure salary?! 😯 This is one of the trends in the civil engineering job market today that, if you don’t pay attention, you may be leaving big opportunities on the table. 👇This week, Brandon McGill jumps back on the show to pull back the curtain on what’s really going on in the civil engineering hiring scene in 2026. As The Civil Recruiter himself, he’s in the trenches every
The Only 6 Times Changing Your Civil PE Exam Makes Sense
Having trouble passing the Civil PE Exam in your current discipline? 🤔 If yes, then switching exams can be the game-changer you’ve been looking for…if you do it right. 👇While sticking with the same exam is (and always will be) your best bet, there are a few exemptions to that rule that can really turn things around for you.In this episode, we cover the only six possible scenarios in which changing
The Legal Risks Licensed PEs Don’t Prep for (But Should) With Matthew Fornaro
Most licensed civil engineers don’t think about the legal risks in their career…until something goes wrong. But according to attorney Matthew Fornaro, when it does go sideways, it’s usually too late. 👇Matthew works right in the intersection of construction and business law. He’s seen it all in the AEC industry — from small contract disputes and ethical violations…all the way to full-blown, million
Inside the Seismic and Survey Exams to Get Licensed in California With Taylor Austin
If you want to practice in California, the journey isn’t quite over after you pass the PE Exam. 😅 There are two extra tiny little things standing between you and the PE license in the Golden State. 👇In this episode, Taylor Austin jumps back on the show, but now to talk about her experience tackling these California-specific hurdles — the Seismic and Surveying Principles exam.After passing the Wate
CEA 2025 Year in Review!
Every year, we like to hit pause, look in the rearview mirror, and reflect on everything that happened in the past year. We just did that with our 2025 Year in Review…and that was a crazy one! 😅In this episode, we dive into the 2025 highlights that made all the late nights and weekends of work totally worth it. Both in terms of traction we’ve gotten, the number of students we’ve had…all the way to
Passing the Floodplain Manager Exam After 3 Tries as an Electrical Engineer With Chris Moe
Think Floodplain Management is only for Water Resources Engineers? Those already working in water- and flood-related fields? 🤔 Well, this interview with Chris Moe will make you rethink that. 👇Chris is an Electrical Engineer by trade who entered the public sector many years later doing building inspections and was encouraged by his boss to go for the CFM® exam to boost his career.After two failed a
How Civil Firm Owners Can Plan a Smart Exit From Day One With Laurie Barkman
Do you know the biggest mistake AEC firm owners make? 🤔They get lost in the busy work and never plan how they’ll leave the business one day. That’s why this episode with Laurie Barkman is huge!Known as the “Business Transition Sherpa,” she’s a M&A advisor who helps owners scale their firms smarter…and exit them stronger.She’s a former CEO who led a $100M company through the acquisition process
A Structural Engineering Niche Most Don't Know About With Dr. Joshua Schultz
When you think of “Structural Engineering,” you likely picture big concrete or steel structures. Right? 🤔 Exactly — and that’s the problem! 👇There’s a whole corner of that industry outside of these two materials that most Structural Engineers have never been taught or exposed to before. 😯Today, we talk to Dr. Joshua Schultz, PhD, P.E. He’s a Structural Engineering professor and consultant whose pa
A Single Mom's Journey to Pass the PE After 5 Years and 4 Tries With Bianca Wilson
Passing the PE Exam is difficult enough already. Now imagine doing it as a single mother, with 3 successive failed attempts over 5 years, and having to start from scratch after switching exams? 😮That’s exactly why this episode with Bianca Wilson hits different.She’s a Geotech Project Manager who just passed the Civil PE Exam after 4 tries over 5 years — long after most people would’ve folded alrea
The Future of Civil Engineering School With AI: Raising or Lowering the Bar?
AI is already everywhere. Students are using it. Companies are relying on it. And schools are feeling the pressure to do the same. The question is — is it raising the bar…or quietly lowering it? 🤔In this episode, Mark jumps back on the show to break down a recent ASCE article that unpacks how AI is starting to reshape civil engineering education. Probably forever.By changing how students learn an
Starting and Running Your Own Structural Engineering Practice With Daniel Bressler
Ever told yourself you’d “start your own firm one day?” 🤔 Most civil engineers have, but they kick it down the road because they don’t know what it takes.If that’s you, this interview with Daniel Bressler is a must. He’s a Structural Engineer who walked the walk you’re planning to walk. In this episode, he breaks down the big “Aha! moment” that got him to take the leap, the experience dilemma you’
The Geotech Influencer Growing Engineering Firms Worldwide With David Jasinski
Long gone were the days when engineering was only about the technical work! Today, you can take your technical skills, flip it, and use it in a way that’s never been possible before — and this episode is proof of that. 👇Today’s guest is David Jasinski, a geologist who built a career in the geotechnical industry and has done work in many, many countries that’s even hard to keep track of them all. 😅
10 Years of Civil Engineering Academy (+ New Year Gift for You!)
Civil Engineering Academy is turning 10 years old! 🎉 To celebrate it, we’re looking back at how it went from an idea after a huge frustration with the PE to helping thousands of civil engineers get licensed.Today, Mark Oakeson jumps on the show again and shoots questions at Isaac to dig into the real story and current operations behind CEA.From the early struggles and building prep materials on la
How to Build a Profitable Civil Engineering Business with The Profit Doctor
A lot of civil engineers dream of having their own firm one day and all the good things they think come with it…until they do and they’re working crazy hours to barely even make ends meet. 😟 Why? “Profititis.”In this episode, we sit down with Ben Hansen — aka The Profit Doctor. He went from Microsoft to building an eight-figure consulting business, and now works with firms doing $5–50M to help the
The Super Simple Hack to Find Time to Study Even With a Busy Life
Licensure exams are hard, but here’s what you didn’t know — the technical content isn't the biggest challenge civil engineers say they face when they go up against them! 😧 Here’s what it is…👇According to 64% of them, the real challenge they face to pass the FE, PE, or CFM exam is finding the time to actually sit down and study.After all, among work responsibilities, family obligations, househo
How to Deal With Failures on Your Exam Even After Giving It Your All
You studied after work every day. You sacrificed your weekends to stay home studying. You even took vacation time to study even more. You literally walked into the exam knowing you gave it your all…but guess? 🤔It wasn’t enough to pass — and that’s not the first time it happened. 😞If you’re in that repeat taker position, this one is for you. Whether you failed only once or multiple times.In this ep
The Single Skill You're Missing to Pass Your Exam That Nobody Teaches
Ever walked into an exam feeling completely ready…and then suddenly your heart is pounding, your mind goes blank, and even the easy stuff looks like it’s written in a foreign language? 🤔 If that sounds familiar, you’re gonna want to listen to this!In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the other side of taking those professional exams — the part that’s not in specs but can tank your pe
CAD Tech Without a Civil Degree Turned Licensed PE After 30 Years With Bill Bollman
Don’t think you can become a PE years after school and without having followed the traditional path of getting a degree in civil? 🤔 Then this episode with Bill Bollman, PE will blow your mind!Bill started out as a CAD Technician who worked his way up to Roadway Production Manager over 30 years without a civil engineering degree…and has now just become a licensed PE! (Yep, you read that right. 😯)In
The Exam Prep Routine That Made Hunter McCabe Crush the Construction PE Exam
Most people say they want to pass the PE Exam, but saying ≠ doing. This episode with Hunter McCabe gives you a perspective on what it really takes to pass — and why it’s worth it. 👇Hunter is a past CEA student who recently crushed the Construction PE Exam while juggling unpredictable work hours and a pretty tight deadline with a wedding on the way. No pressure, right? 😅How did he do it? By followi
Scott Williams's FE Comeback Story After Failures and Missed Job Opportunities
Have you found yourself working in engineering without an engineering degree…and getting passed over for jobs to someone who “is” just because of the diploma? 🤔 If yes, this interview with Scott Williams is for you. 👇Scott is a past CEA Student with an Environmental background who came back from two failed attempts and losing a role he was perfect for because he didn’t have the degree…all the way
The New SE CBT Exam: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly With Brandon Dashwood
If you thought the PE was tough, wait until you hear everything Brandon Dashwood has to say about the SE exam after taking it himself. (Hint: it’s not good news. 😬)Brandon is a Structural Engineer at PARADIGM Structural Engineers who’s deep in the grind of passing the most brutal exam in the civil engineering world — the SE Exam. The catch?The exam has now gone from pencil-and-paper to computer-ba
A Real Case of Professional Misconduct That Sparked an Ethics Firestorm
Picture this — you spend months working on the design and construction of a project, and next thing you know, another engineer is on the news poking holes in it for everybody to see. How'd you feel? 🤔In this episode, we dive into a situation like this that happened in real life in a state highway project. What started as a difference in technical opinion only became a full-blown ethics investi
Knocking Out the FE and PE Exams in One Try With Sierra Patrick
Ever imagined passing the FE on the first try 7 years after school, doing the same with the PE just 2 years later…and all of this without having started out in engineering in the first place?!That’s exactly what today’s guest did! 😮Sierra Patrick was on a pre-med track before realizing engineering suited her better. Two years ago, she joined our Civil FE Review Course to finally tackle the FE exam
The Secret 4-Step Study Strategy Our Students Use to Pass
Here’s a fact in the professional civil engineering exams world — most test-takers don’t fail because they're not smart enough. They fail because they study for their exams the wrong way!Over our 10+ years helping 1,000+ civil engineers crush their FE and PE exams (some after multiple failed attempts!), we’ve spotted 4 BIG exam prep mistakes most of them make…and it kills their chances of pass
Career Lessons from Europe’s Best Young Woman Engineer with Najwa Jawahar
What does it take to become a successful woman civil engineer? 🤔 For multi-award winning Structural Engineer Najwa Jawahar, it all comes down to the “civil engineer” part only.Najwa is a Chartered Structural Engineer in the UK with nearly 13 years of experience. She’s worked on multiple types of projects and become one of the top voices and role models in Structural Engineering for women who want
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
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 w
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 run
Floodplain Management Leadership in Action: Scott Pelath’s Floodplain Manager 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
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 dep
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 learn
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 Transportat
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 he
Engineer vs. Manager: Which Hat Do You Really Want to Wear?
Here’s one of the biggest decisions in a civil engineer’s career — do you keep the hard hat on and stay technical…or swap it for a suit jacket and go full-on manager? 💼👷♂️In this episode, we’re diving deep into the details of the “Engineer vs. Manager” post we did on LinkedIn that racked up almost half a million views and hundreds of shares. 😲The main point of the post? Most engineers think they
The Unity Blueprint: How to Build a Winning Work Culture With W. Jeff Williams
No engineering project is a success without one crucial aspect. What is it? 🤔 According to our guest, a powerful leadership tool most people neglect. 👇Today, we chat with W. Jeff Williams, a civil engineer turned mayor of Arlington, Texas. If you think of some of the biggest projects in the state, he’s the guy behind them. Either working on them as a civil engineer or bringing them to the state as
Billion-Dollar Blunders: The True Cost of China’s Global Buildout
Double-digit, billion-dollar investments into infrastructure projects going down the drain with them? 😨In this episode, Mark Oakeson joins us again to dive into the wave of mega infrastructure projects built by China across the globe that are already cracking, leaking, and flat-out shutting down. These are massive, government-funded projects that were supposed to last 50+ years…but instead, they’r
Know Yourself First, Then Study: How Kenny Winston Found the Right Fit with CEA
We said it before — prepping for the PE usually takes 3-6 months. But today’s guest? He missed that memo and managed to pass this thing with less than 2 months of studying! 🤯Kenneth (Kenny) Winston is a drainage engineer at Consor Engineers who joined us to share his unbelievable 1.5-month journey to pass the Civil PE Water Resources Exam. (Yes, you read that right!)How, you ask? 🤔Here’s the secre
The CEA Test Strategy™ Our Students Use to Crush Their Exams
No matter how hard you study, on exam day, nerves kick in, you worry about time, and one tough question can throw you off. But what if you had a test-taking plan to avoid all of that? 🤔In this episode, I break down our CEA Test Strategy™, a 3-phase test-taking hack that allows you to do what really matters to pass your FE, PE, or CFM® exam — get as many questions right as possible. ✅How? By tackli
The Bearing Capacity Question That Stumps Everyone on the FE & PE Exams
🚨 Here’s by far the most asked question inside our FE and PE courses: “Should I use the Ultimate or Net Bearing Capacity to find the Allowable Bearing Capacity?” 🤔That question comes up in our student-only community every single year, multiple times, and rightfully so.Reference manuals tell you to find the Net value and then use it to find the Allowable Bearing Capacity. But then, in the solutions
The Little-Known Career Path of Forensic Engineering with Peter Marxhausen
"The CSI of Civil Engineering." That’s the best way to describe the little-known career path of Forensic Engineering for civil engineers — and in this episode, we’re diving headfirst into it. 🕵️♂️💥Our guest for this one is Peter Marxhausen, a civil engineer with over 25 years of experience and 10,000+ building investigations under his belt. Peter has now seen it all — cracks, collapses,
Stop Waiting, Start Passing: Why Civil Engineers Procrastinate
Every one of us is guilty of procrastinating on our exam prep. Whether it’s just “a little bit” or “a lot” is not the problem — the cost of it to our career is. But the good news? It’s beatable! 💪 👇In this episode, Mark Oakeson jumps back on the show to help us unpack the real reasons we drag our feet when it comes to studying for our exam.We’re not here to beat you up about it – we’ve been there
Raymond’s Journey to Pass the Civil FE with CEA After 3 Years of Struggle
Three years and six attempts. That’s how long it took Raymond Muñoz-Tabares to pass the Civil FE — but he did it! ✅ If you’ve ever felt like giving up after a few failures, this is the pep talk you need. 👇Raymond is a civil engineer in Rhode Island who came to the US at the age of 10. He took (and failed) the Civil FE while still in school, and that’s when his 3-year, 6-attempt struggle began. ☹️I
The Latest FE & PE Stats You Must Know If You're Prepping for Your Exam
🚨 Attention! 🚨 The NCEES dropped their latest annual reports earlier this year — and these ones reveal some trends for both the profession and the licensure exam world we’re in. 📈 👇In this episode, we walk you through their annual report on all the things they did in the past year for the profession. This one comes with awesome news for both US and international engineers wanting to work abroad wi
Choosing Between Water & Transportation and Becoming a PE With Josiah Ferguson
Pulling your hair deciding between the Water Resources or Transportation PE exam? 😵💫 This week, we sit down with Josiah Ferguson, a civil engineer who was in the same boat…and made a call that worked really well. 😄Josiah works for the City of Shakopee on both water resources and transportation projects. But when it came time to take the Civil PE Exam, he had to pick one. The question is…which one
An Immigrant Engineer’s Path to Passing the PE Against All Odds with Hadi Azzawi
Passing the PE Exam is one thing, but doing it as an immigrant, with language barriers, and after hitting a wall multiple times before already?! That’s a whole nother story — and it’s real! 😲In this episode, Hadi Al Azzawi jumps on the show to share his journey climbing a crazy steep hill to pass the Civil PE Water Resources Exam as an immigrant civil engineer in the US.From understanding the Engl
Find Your WHY: The True “Secret” to Passing the FE or PE Exam
Prepping for your exam isn’t a walk in the park. It’s hard. It takes discipline. And you’ll want to quit more than once. (Been there. 😞) So, how can those who pass possibly keep going?! 😟It’s not a fancy study schedule, more study material, or some natural-born talent you weren’t blessed with.The real secret? 🤔Your “Why!”In this episode, I talk about why passing isn't just about studying. Ins
Colin Tinsley's Journey from 5 Attempts at the Construction PE Exam to Firm Owner
From frustrated PE examinee after 4 failed tries to…wait for it…future firm owner?! 😲 That’s exactly what you read!Our guest today is Colin Tinsley, who took the Construction PE exam not once, not twice...but five times before finally seeing the big, green “PASS” on the screen. 😅 Two paper-based attempts. Two more tries after the switch to CBT. Then, finally, with the help of our Ultimate Civil PE
Port of Corpus Christi's Use of Digital Twin Tech With Darrell Keach and Rex Hansen
The concept of “Smart Cities” is here! 🚨 Immersive digital twins to replicate and augment reality with real-time data is not the future — it's happening right now at the Port of Corpus Christi! 😱In this episode, I’m joined by Darrell Keach, Business Systems Manager for the Port of Corpus Christi, and Rex Hansen, Principal Project Manager at Esri, to show a live demo of their cutting-edge digit
America’s Infrastructure Just Got Its Grades (And They're Not All Bad!)
🚨 Attention! 🚨 The ASCE just dropped their latest Infrastructure Report Card…and in this episode, we break it down for you so you know where the work (and money!) is headed! 😉The ASCE Infrastructure Report Card is an in-depth analysis of the conditions of 18 major infrastructure categories across the US. The current overall grade? 🤔A solid C — which, believe it or not, is actually a step in the ri
How Aggie Li Crushed the Civil FE on the First Try While Still in School
What’s it like to crush the Civil FE Exam on the first try, with less than two months of exam prep…all while still juggling a full course load in grad school?! 😮Just ask Aggie Li. 👇Aggie is a civil engineering master’s student at UMass Amherst who became an EIT using The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course, and is now headed for an internship position at Burns & McDonnell.In this episode, Aggie br
The Engineering of Communication Towers With Sudarshan Kasera, PE, PMP
Here’s a career path that doesn’t even come to mind when you hear “Structural Engineering,” but uses the same basic knowledge and it’s just as lucrative — Telecommunications. 📡 👇This week, we sit down with Sudarshan Kasera, P.E., PMP, a Structural Engineer by education who now applies all that knowledge of the design of buildings and bridges to designing communication towers across the US at Crown
Building, Running, and Growing a Civil Engineering Firm with Kevin Franson
If you’re the entrepreneurial type of civil engineer with (big) plans to open your own “shop” some day and scale it, this episode pulls the curtain on everything you need to know for that journey.For this one, we sit down with Kevin Franson, one of the owners and the General Manager at Franson Civil Engineers — a water resources engineering firm based in Utah.Kevin gets into the real stuff that he
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