The EarthWorks Podcast

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...

On this week’s EarthWorks Podcast, Kevin reconnects with longtime friend Jeff Gullikson, CGCS, to explore how the First Green program first took root in the late 1990s. As the golf course superintendent at Kalispel Golf & Country Club in Spokane, Washington, Jeff balances running a 128-year-old course with family life and coaching high school golf. Along the way, he’s helped grow First Green i...

For over 30 years, EarthWorks has helped turf managers successfully establish golf courses and sports fields during construction and grow-in. Our soil-first approach has consistently delivered stronger rooting, more efficient fertility programs, and long-term performance. Sand-based root zones, however, present a unique set of challenges. They are naturally low in mineral content, have limited nut...

In this episode, Jack Higgins sits down with horticulturalist Tim Hollowell to explore the deeper connection between soil health, plant performance, and practical horticulture. Tim shares his perspective from years of hands-on experience, breaking down how soil biology, structure, and nutrient balance all work together to influence plant success. The conversation moves beyond surface-level plant c...

Construction is booming across Florida, and for Director of Agronomy Nate Maurer, the clock is ticking toward a major course reconstruction set to begin next year. After years of planning and finalizing a partnership with golf course architect Andy Staples, the project will kick off with a full turf removal in late spring. When asked what advice he’d offer superintendents considering a renovation,...

In this episode, Jack Higgins sits down with Zach Holm of the Central Park Conservancy to explore what it takes to manage one of the most iconic landscapes in the world. From high-traffic turf challenges to long-term soil health strategies, Zach shares how his team balances performance, sustainability, and aesthetics in a demanding urban environment. The conversation dives into practical approache...

This week, Jack Higgins sits down with Kevin and Wes Morrison, owners of Nature’s Own, to talk about what it really means to take a Soil First approach to lawn care. For more than three decades, Kevin has stayed committed to building from the ground up. It’s a philosophy he developed while studying at Rutgers in the 1980s, and one he’s never wavered from—even as industry trends and sales pressure...

Back on the EarthWorks Podcast, we’re joined by our friend John Reilly from Longboat Key Club in Sarasota, Florida. John is one of the most innovative golf course superintendents in the industry, using technology to enhance what he calls the “art of greenskeeping.” We dive into how data collection strengthens his natural intuition on the golf course, helping him make more confident decisions. John...

Life as an EarthWorks Agronomist means living on the road. The early season is packed with trade shows and Soil First Academies across the country, connecting with turf managers from golf, sports turf, lawn care, and hydro-seeding. So far, we’ve delivered over 30 Soil First Academies this season alone. In this episode, Jack Higgins and Joel Simmons hit the road to Buffalo for a talk with our distr...

The Lehigh Country Club grounds crew is a vibe. We always say great turf starts with the soil, but great teams start with the right attitude. A positive, friendly, and welcoming culture goes a long way, and that’s something the new Golf Course Superintendent at Lehigh, Jim Lanza, clearly understands. In this episode, two Lehigh guys talk shop, covering the club’s new irrigation system, aerificatio...

We’re proud to share our 300th podcast episode. Nearly six years in, we’re grateful for every listener and guest who has made this podcast a meaningful part of the turf community. To mark the occasion, this milestone episode brings together three hosts and three special guests, each offering a unique story from across the game. First, our friend John Reilly, the Turf Monkey at Longboat Key Resort...

This week we welcome Dr. Mike Fidanza from Penn State University, a globally recognized authority on fairy ring in turf. Our conversation digs into how this fungus establishes itself in the soil and why the traditional explanations only tell part of the story. For years, fairy ring was blamed solely on decomposing organic matter. While that plays a role, Dr. Fidanza explains why the issue runs dee...

This time of year never fails to inspire. The sun starts climbing higher, soil temperatures begin to wake up, and the first hints of green remind us why we love this work. This week we’re joined by our friend Olee Poole, known by many as the Fescue Freak, to walk through the fertilizer program behind his exceptional three-acre fescue lawn outside of Charlotte. Olee relies exclusively on EarthWorks...

EarthWorks has returned from a fantastic week in Orlando at the GCSAA Trade Show and Conference, and by every measure, it was a tremendous success. On Wednesday afternoon, we welcomed friends from across the industry to our booth for cocktails. The space was packed from start to finish, and venue staff told us the EarthWorks gathering was the largest event on the show floor. Throughout the week, w...

Lawrence returns for a wide-ranging conversation that blends chemistry, physics, and biology with a few surprises along the way. Beyond being a world-class chemist and humate specialist, he shares stories from his past as a motorcycle racer and glass artist, proving great science often comes from creative minds. This episode takes a deep dive into amino acids: how they are produced, how they funct...

Podcasting in the turf industry continues to gain momentum, and one of the standout successes is Turf Talk, hosted by Florida golf course superintendents Rob Uzar and Ty Robb. The show is broadcast live, which brings a unique set of challenges, from managing technology to handling unexpected guests or off-the-cuff moments. Rob and Ty embrace those challenges with quick thinking and humor, creating...

In this episode, Kevin Hicks sits down with Jared Doerfler, founder of Hanna Golf Company, to explore his path from college golfer to launching a boutique, U.S.-based CNC-milled putter brand in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Jared shares how a background in manufacturing and a turning point in his personal life pushed him to leave a corporate VP role and bet on building something of his own within the game of...