The EarthWorks Podcast

Amino acids are becoming a major talking point in the turf industry, but what do they actually do for plant health, soil biology, and overall turf performance? Joel Simmons welcomes back popular guest and EarthWorks formulator Lawrence Mayhew for an in-depth conversation about the science of amino acids and their role in Biological Soil Management. They explore how amino acids support plants and s...

Kevin Hicks welcomes Tyler Bloom of Bloom Golf Partners back to The EarthWorks Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, communication, and the changing expectations of golf course superintendents. What started as a discussion about club governance and the relationship between superintendents and greens committees quickly expands into the challenges of managing expectations, naviga...

Joel Simmons sits down with PJ Ringenberger, Competitions Agronomist for the PGA TOUR, at Lehigh Country Club during the Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic for a fascinating look behind the scenes of professional tournament golf. What does it take to prepare a golf course for a PGA TOUR Champions event? PJ explains how months of planning, agronomic expertise, staffing coordination, and daily course p...

The EarthWorks story and Lehigh Country Club have been connected for more than 35 years. During the inaugural Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic, Joel Simmons and Jack Higgins sat down with the team responsible for preparing this historic William Flynn golf course for its first PGA TOUR Champions event. Joel talks with longtime Director of Grounds John Chassard about their decades of friendship, the...

There was plenty left to discuss after John Reilly’s last visit, so Joel Simmons brought him back to continue the conversation. This time, they shift from paspalum to sand and amendment injection and the work John is doing with his company, Fundamental Inputs Right Management, or F.I.R.M. John explains how his experience with DryJect as a superintendent turned him into a believer in sand injection...

Dave Wilber has been one of the most popular guests on the EarthWorks Podcast since its beginning, and this conversation shows why. Dave joins Joel Simmons for a deep dive into irrigation water quality and the impact water chemistry can have on turf, soil structure, and biology. They start with how to properly interpret a water report, including why pH readings can change depending on how a water...

Jack Higgins sits down with Michael Clifton, owner of Chesapeake Grounds, to talk about how EarthWorks principles have helped shape a growing nursery operation built around biology, carbon-based fertility, and healthier plants. Michael shares how he moved from managing roughly 200 acres of turf into growing annuals and perennials, developing a system that combines Myco-Replenish 3-3-3, Replenish 3...

For the first time, Kevin Hicks and Jack Higgins sit down for an EarthWorks Podcast of their own, and the conversation covers a lot of ground. They compare East Coast and West Coast turf challenges, from drought and water restrictions to changing turfgrass selections, mixed-species stands, bunker construction, irrigation investment, and the growing importance of managing the entire property rather...

John Reilly is an old friend of The EarthWorks Podcast who always brings great turf conversations and plenty of laughs. Recently, John found himself facing a transition many longtime superintendents eventually encounter: moving on after losing a position he held for many years. Rather than slowing down, John has built a diversified business that includes sand injection work, autonomous mowing tech...

Jack Higgins visits Tim Falvey at historic Inwood Country Club on Long Island for a tour of the property and a conversation about golf, turf management, course architecture, and restoration. Tim shares how he and his team are working to bring Inwood back toward its original links-style character, using historic aerials, removing trees, expanding short grass areas, incorporating fescue, and complet...

Kevin Hicks reconnects with John Szklinski, his first boss out of college, for a conversation covering nearly four decades in golf course management. John’s career began at age 16 on a golf course near State College, Pennsylvania, before taking him to Penn State, Arizona, Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, and ultimately Charlotte Country Club. Along the way, he helped prepare Southern Hills fo...

Jack Higgins visits Churchill Downs for an on-site conversation with Track Superintendent Jamie Richardson about the unique challenges of managing one of horse racing’s most demanding turf surfaces. Jamie explains how the track transitions from cool-season grasses to Ironcutter Bermudagrass during the summer, using the strength of the Bermuda root system to build a more stable, resilient racing su...

Jerry Brunetti was a founding partner of EarthWorks alongside Joel Simmons in 1988. At the time, Jerry owned an animal health care business in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, where Joel served as the County Extension Agent. Their friendship quickly grew, and Jerry became instrumental in helping Joel understand the value of Biological Soil Management. After EarthWorks was established, Jerry formu...

Lawrence Mayhew, “The Chemist of EarthWorks,” joins Joel Simmons for a wide-ranging conversation about humic substances, soil biology, nutrient efficiency, and the evolving science behind Biological Soil Management. Lawrence explains how humic substances moved from being poorly understood and difficult to label to becoming widely used for improving nutrient bioavailability and fertilizer performan...

Jack Higgins travels to Hurstbourne Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky for the ISCO Championship and interviews the entire agronomy team responsible for preparing the course for PGA Tour competition. The discussion explores how the team managed more than six inches of tournament rain while still delivering firm, consistent playing conditions, along with the planning, moisture management, course...

In this episode, Joel Simmons joins Tyler Bloom on the Leadership on the Links podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the evolution of Biological Soil Management, leadership, mentorship, and the future of the golf course industry. Joel shares the story of how EarthWorks was founded, his transition from Penn State Extension to recruiting and eventually launching EarthWorks with Jerry Brunett...

Peter McCormick, founder of TurfNet, joins Joel Simmons for a candid conversation about retirement after more than three decades serving the golf course industry. Rather than focusing solely on finances, Peter shares the emotional transition of stepping away from a career that defined much of his life, the importance of completely disconnecting from work, and the unexpected relief that comes from...

Jack Higgins sits down with EarthWorks’ Kirk Castner for a behind-the-scenes look at how the company has evolved over the past decade and where it's headed next. Rather than focusing on agronomy alone, this episode explores the people, manufacturing, logistics, and philosophy that allow EarthWorks to continue meeting growing demand while maintaining product quality. Jack and Kirk reflect on their...

Dr. James White of Rutgers University joins the EarthWorks Podcast to discuss the fascinating world of rhizophagy, a process in which plants actively farm, consume, and extract nutrients from soil bacteria and fungi. His groundbreaking research has helped identify and explain this remarkable relationship between plants and soil microbes, changing the way we think about plant nutrition and Biologic...

Former golf course superintendent and self-proclaimed "Turf Head" Moe Robinson brings her passion for turf management and technology to this conversation. Now serving as Customer Success & Agronomy Advisor with turfRad, Moe shares how this innovative moisture mapping system is helping superintendents make smarter irrigation decisions through data instead of guesswork. Mounted on a utility vehi...

On this episode of the EarthWorks Podcast, we sit down with Ryan Severidt, Superintendent at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland. Ryan's career has taken him from the Midwest to some of the most challenging turf environments in the country, managing both cool-season and warm-season grasses across a variety of climates and conditions. Ryan began his career at Kinloch Golf Club in Richmond,...

EarthWorks began extensive soil testing nearly 40 years ago with one goal in mind: creating healthier soils that support stronger biological activity. By understanding soil chemistry through detailed testing, turf managers can improve soil structure, increase air and water movement, and build an environment where microbes thrive. It’s the foundation of the EarthWorks philosophy: Balance the Chemis...

On this week’s EarthWorks Podcast, Joel Simmons talks with Scott McLean, Plant Healthcare Business Developer for Northeast Operations at The Davey Tree Expert Company. Like many turf professionals, Scott didn’t begin his career with a clear roadmap. After taking a job at a local golf course, he quickly fell in love with the turf industry. He spent twelve years in golf course management, earned his...

On this week’s EarthWorks Podcast, Jack Higgins catches up with longtime friend and superintendent Josh Saunders for a ride around Lancaster Country Club as they discuss spring conditions, tournament preparation, and the 64th Compher Cup. Josh shares insights into managing the historic William Flynn-designed golf course following an unusually cold winter with extended snow cover, late frosts, and...

On this week’s EarthWorks Podcast, Joel Simmons sits down with Marissa McDowell, a third-generation seed producer whose family played an important role in the growth of Pickseed, one of the most recognized names in turfgrass seed production. Based in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, the center of grass seed production in the United States, Marissa grew up immersed in the seed business before eventually...