The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast

On this very podcast, you’ve listened to many examples of people passing the PE exam later in life. Some of them were already working in the industry, while others decided to make the leap afterwards. But there’s still one more category missing. Holly Guillaume is a civil engineer who had to step away from the industry for 17 years due to life events and then made an incredible comeback getting he...

Today‘s episode is a review of 2021 here at CEA. But wait…it’s not only that. You’ll also learn what we’re working on to help you in your journey to becoming a professional engineer in 2022 once and for all. We’ll look back at our most popular podcast episodes with previous course students for you to get inspiration and actionable tips, as well as some of our top achievements and rewards of this l...

Here’s another episode on what being a civil engineer looks like in other countries. After Canada, Egypt, and Australia, you’ll now learn how the profession plays out in the United Kingdom and how it relates to the US. Today’s guest is Danny Luu, a Chartered Civil Engineer in the UK with over 20+ years of experience. He explains the process of becoming a Chartered Engineer in the UK (equivalent to...

As many others, you probably have set different goals for this new year. But what if I told you there’s a key aspect of your goal setting process that you’re neglecting? An aspect that could make or break the “achieving” process? Well, there is. Today, you’ll learn about this major pillar from Luke Rowley. As a Professional Engineer who started his own company and later decided to go back to the o...

The PE exam is famously known as a great milestone in any engineer’s career. But remember, the FE exam is what sets it in motion in the first place. And it can be equally challenging—if not more. Today, you’ll learn not only what makes the FE exam difficult but also what you can do to overcome each of these difficulties and knock this thing out right away. What You’ll Learn: The 5 Reasons Why the...

All structural engineers know the endless codes they have to adhere to. These are all standardized values that vary depending on the material being used, building type, construction method, etc. But what if you could base your design only on the performance you want your structure to have when experiencing different events? What You’ll Learn: A Brief History of Codes and Standards in Civil Enginee...

Today, Australian Structural Engineer Brendan Hasty jumps on the show to talk about all things structural engineering. Elaborating on how he got started, Brendan talks about the civil engineering career in Australia, and the controversial topic of why engineers don’t earn as much as they should for the type of work they do—and how to change that. What You’ll Learn: How Brendan’s Grandfather Played...

You’ve seen the surprising numbers on the “Great Resignation”, with more than 4 million Americans quitting their jobs in July 2021 alone. Everyone has a different reason for considering doing the same. And today, you’ll learn what the top four reasons are, and how they play out over time. What You’ll Learn: The 4 Main Reasons Why People Quit Their Jobs How Different Management Styles Affect Employ...

Civil engineers are not taught management skills in school. Yet a lot of them end up going that route after college. If you ever find yourself in this position, or you actually want to go into management, Geoff Smith is the person to listen to. He learned the skills independently, has been doing it for a long time, and today will teach you how to effectively do the same. What You’ll Learn: How the...

Everybody knows the traditional way of building your dream home. Long story short, it’s a lot of headache. Today, however, civil engineer Khamini Fennelly will prove it doesn’t have to be that way. From location and land selection to internal and external customizations, you can now “order” your home online. What You’ll Learn: How High School Made Her Go from Architecture to Civil Engineering What...

As engineers, pretty complex problems, whether theoretical in school or real on the field, can become familiar as we go along our careers. However, the somewhat simpler mathematical equation of compounding interest can sometimes be neglected. Today’s episode will show you the crucial importance of budgeting, getting out of debt, saving, and investing for our future. Chris Cook is a licensed financ...

More often than not, civil engineers find work they love in areas that go beyond the field’s five common disciplines. But for construction “aficionados”, there’s a new university degree program in the works that will specifically focus on preparing students for the construction world. From breaking ground to project completion. What You’ll Learn: What is the New Construction Engineering Degree All...

“Failure is part of life”, they say. But when it comes to failing your PE exam, it just seems to hit harder than almost anything else, right? After all, you’ve put a significant amount of time, energy, and money into it. But make no mistake, you’re definitely not alone. Today’s episode will reveal what you can do to not only recover from an exam failure but also get back in the game as soon as pos...

This week, YouTube superstar Grady Hillhouse from Practical Engineering jumps on the show! Grady is a geography college graduate, turned professional civil engineer, turned successful content creator with way more than 1+ million views per video. Yeah…what a journey! Tune in to learn about his engineering background, how he started the channel as a hobby, and much more! What You’ll Learn: From Geo...

The pandemic completely changed how people live and work. While some things may get back to “normal” in the post-pandemic world, the “Great Resignation” shows that some new working preferences are probably here to stay. Today, you’ll learn how this phenomenon has affected the civil engineering world, and how things will play out in the field moving forward. What You’ll Learn: What the Great Resign...

The first time Cody Sims appeared on the show, he was a college student with an internship position. Now, one year later, he jumps back on to talk about how his life has significantly changed after graduating, passing the FE exam, and starting to work as a full-time civil engineer. If you’re a student about to graduate, uncertain about the road ahead, then this episode will do you a huge favor! Co...

The 2021 edition of the ASCE Infrastructure Report Card is out! It brings light to the current conditions of America’s infrastructure by assessing different individual categories, from bridges to hazardous waste. As a civil engineer working in one of these fields, you should probably check this out. Therefore, today we’ll dive into the main points of the report. This includes the many challenges t...

In the COVID era, people being unhappy with their careers is a topic that has come up a lot in the news. However, most of them don’t realize that this unhappiness is not limited to their workplace alone. If you feel like you’re not living a happy and fulfilling professional life, and even think you maybe want to switch jobs, then this episode is for you! Today, Jeff Perry jumps on the show to talk...

Long gone are the days where you would go into a conference center carrying your suitcase filled with books, references, and codes, with thousands of other people, all of you feeling nervous and anxious. Starting January 2022, the Civil PE exam is going to be a computer-based test (CBT). And today, you’ll learn EVERYTHING you need about this new format so that you can better prepare for it―and pas...

Whether you already have a career you really like or you're just getting started, engineers always want more. They want to improve themselves and their life, do greater things and achieve more. It’s no surprise most of them want to become entrepreneurs. If you do, then you’re in the right place! In today’s episode, you’ll learn 10 reasons why you already have what it takes to become a successful e...

Have you ever heard that a civil engineering degree allows you to work in many different industries―even some you don’t even know yet? Well...that’s true. But have you ever been told the average salary for each of them? Well...you’re about to. And it’s going to make you even MORE interested in civil engineering! What You’ll Learn: The Highest Paid Industry Within Civil Engineering―And How Much You...

We've hit the 100th episode of the Civil Engineering Academy Podcast! It’s been a really fun and educational journey for us, and we truly hope it’s also been great for you. Actually, we’ve had so many interesting guests and covered so many topics that we know we could help you with something. Celebrating this important milestone, today’s episode is an overview of our journey so far, with our top 1...

While big, headline-making demolition projects certainly get our attention, the small ones require just the same amount of “engineering knowledge”. Today, Mark Oakeson jumps on the show to talk about a demolition project he just did. He explains all the details regarding how this type of project takes place in real life, from start to finish. What You’ll Learn: Difference Between Big and Small Dem...

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 Well...

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 w...