The EarthWorks Podcast

We’re back at Lancaster Country Club on a sunny winter day with Josh Saunders. In this conversation, we dive deeper into agronomic planning than ever before, covering practical insights and thoughtful strategies drawn from real-world experience. There’s a lot of strong, actionable advice here from Josh. Enjoy. Visit EarthWorks at: https://www.earthworksturf.com Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf...

Every property is different, and that reality becomes clear fast in a new role. In this episode Matthew Wolfe shares stories from his first year as superintendent at Trump National Golf Club Philadelphia after more than 15 years working alongside top agronomy teams as an assistant superintendent. From managing a 360-acre pine forest to dealing with sand-based soils and unique site conditions, Matt...

We began the EarthWorks Podcast back when Covid brought everything to a halt, and now we’re approaching our 300th episode this coming March. For the past six years, the final week of the year has been our "Best of the Year" tradition. This time around, we’ve chosen one standout episode from each of our hosts—Kevin Hicks, Jack Higgins, and Joel Simmons. Kevin, who just might have the best podcast v...

Each year at this time, we bring the EarthWorks agronomy team together to reflect on the past year and to thank everyone who has supported us over the last 37 years. This year, we were joined by our friend and chemist, Lawrence Mayhew, one of our favorite and most popular guests. As a team, we discussed the trends we are seeing across the industry, particularly in agronomic technology. By studying...

It is rare these days to see someone stay in a job for more than 26 years, and even rarer to find a person who pours themselves into their work as if it were their own company. This month, we have been celebrating someone who has done all of that and so much more. More than 26 years ago, Lisa Kiefer walked into our office for an interview as an office support person. At the end of 2025, she will b...

Bob Wren has been a friend of EarthWorks for more than 35 years, and his career has taken him on a winding and memorable path through the turf industry. A graduate of the University of Maryland’s turf program, he began his career working alongside podcast alumnus Kevin Pryseski at Pine Ridge in Baltimore, Maryland. He then joined another podcast alumnus, Glenn Smickley, for the grow-in at the Robe...

The EarthWorks Podcast is approaching its 300th episode, hosted by Kevin Hicks, Jack Higgins, and Joel Simmons—each bringing a uniquely valuable perspective to the industry. Kevin, with 25 years of experience as a golf course superintendent, can truly “talk shop” with guests. Jack brings youthful energy and a deep passion for biological soil management, while Joel, with more than three decades in...

In this special Thanksgiving Week episode, we want to express our gratitude for more than 40 years of support and for helping us advance the principles of Biological Soil Management across the industry. With over 250 episodes behind us, we’re celebrating the holiday by revisiting one of our earliest—and most beloved—conversations. This week, enjoy a classic episode with our longtime friend John Ch...

This week’s EarthWorks Podcast is a real treat as we take you behind the scenes at one of the most famous public parks in the world, New York City’s Central Park. Our guest, Zach Holm, Turf Care Manager, shares his unique approach to maintaining over 350 acres of beautifully manicured turf, all without the use of pesticides or herbicides. Zach walks us through his biological and cultural managemen...

According to Lawrence Mayhew, the EarthWorks chemist, calcium is the most important nutrient in plant production. While that may be debated, Lawrence makes a strong case for why calcium deserves top billing in any fertility program. This episode begins with a discussion about ammonium sulfate and how it can release calcium from the soil colloid, making it more available to plants. Lawrence also ex...

Discover what it takes to run a 9-hole golf course carved into the Idaho mountains and the exciting plans to expand with a second nine. During the off-season, the superintendent transitions from turf to snow, grooming slopes at the nearby Silver Mountain resort. The conversation explores a deep enthusiasm for golf course architecture, favorite and bucket-list courses, and a hopeful perspective on...

This week’s episode features James Morgan, the Director of Grounds at Russell Lands in Alexander City, Alabama, home to two world-class golf courses, Wicker Point and Willow Point Golf Clubs. James’ career has taken him from the team at Trinity Forest in Dallas, Texas to overseeing the construction and grow-in of the Core Crenshaw–designed Wicker Point Golf Club. The EarthWorks team recently visit...

This week, the EarthWorks Podcast comes to you from the 13th hole at Shackamaxon Country Club, a classic 1916 A.W. Tillinghast design in Union County, New Jersey. Our guest, Superintendent Jack Meyer, shares the story of his four year journey improving course conditions and elevating player experience at this high traffic, historic course. Jack’s conversation is filled with practical insights, fro...

This episode dives into how Biological Soil Management can reshape turf performance and simplify management. When poor soils and turf stress were constant challenges, adopting carbon-based fertility and a soil-first approach changed everything. Over time, improved soil structure, faster recovery, and reduced inputs led to stronger turf and greater consistency. The conversation also explores how th...

In this episode, we’re joined once again by our friend and turf industry legend, Dave Wilber, to explore one of the most critical and often misunderstood aspects of turfgrass management: water. Dave shares his experiences from years of working with superintendents around the world, discussing how water management decisions can influence the course of a career. He offers thoughtful insight into tea...

In this week’s EarthWorks Podcast, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Grant McKnight, President & CEO of DuraEdge, and Eric Blanton, Western Region Manager for both DuraEdge and 4Most Sport Group. We explored the story behind DuraEdge—how Grant’s early work in mining and aggregates eventually led to the creation of specialized root zone materials for golf courses, and how that expertise...

For almost four decades, EarthWorks has championed Biological Soil Management—long before carbon-based fertility became the industry norm. By creating soil conditions where microbes thrive, turf managers unlock better nutrient cycling, stronger recovery, and sustainable turf health. This episode shares the evolution of this practice and how thousands of turf managers have put it into play through...

This week’s EarthWorks podcast is all about plant healthcare. Our go-to tree expert, Bobby Solar, joins us to share real-world results fighting bacterial leaf scorch, hemlock scale, and adelgid. He highlights innovative ways EarthWorks products can be used to strengthen and protect trees. Products discussed:  Foliars+ Sea3, BioVantage, Magvantage, Mikronite, Kick, Myco-Replenish 3-3-3, Replenish 5...

In this episode, Kevin sits down with Doug Kieffer of Spectrum Technologies to explore the tools reshaping turf management. Doug shares his unconventional journey from aerospace engineering to agronomy, including his years volunteering in Uganda, and how those experiences ultimately led him to his role as product training specialist at Spectrum. The conversation dives into the evolution of Spectru...

For 35 years, EarthWorks agronomists have asked turf managers: What’s the most important nutrient in turf management? The answer is oxygen. Without oxygen in the soil, beneficial microorganisms can’t thrive—and healthy soil biology is the foundation of strong turf. The challenge has always been delivering oxygen effectively. That’s where Rainmaker. Earth comes in. Their in-line irrigation system u...

The concept of Food as Medicine has been central to Biological Soil Management, drawing a clear connection between human health and turf health. Just as proper nutrition helps our bodies build natural immunity and resist disease, balanced fertility programs help turf recover from stress, develop stronger roots, and support healthy soil biology. In this episode, we revisit one of Jerry’s lectures g...

In this special dual podcast, Kevin Hicks and Brent Downs, CGCS MG, dive into their journeys in golf course management, career transitions, and a current course renovation project. They also explore woodworking as a creative outlet beyond the turf, sharing stories of tools, safety lessons, and the value of mentorship throughout their careers. Hear insights from two voices in the golf industry as t...

Grass can take more! This week’s guest, Gage Knudson, keeps the turf at BMO Stadium—home of LAFC—in top form all year long. Right now, he’s juggling concerts in the middle of soccer season, plus on-field video shoots, because in Hollywood the action never stops. Hear how Gage and his crew execute a precise agronomic plan to keep the field in premier condition, no matter what’s on the calendar. Vis...

This week, we welcome back Tyler Bloom of Bloom Golf Partners, an executive search and business consulting firm. Tyler began his career as a golf course superintendent, managing turf across several courses in the mid-Atlantic. Five years ago, he launched his company to help golf course managers improve recruitment strategies. Since then, Bloom Golf Partners has grown rapidly, expanding its focus b...

Back by popular demand, we welcome Mr. Lawrence Mayhew—chemist and humic substance specialist—to talk about the biology of thatch. Thatch is the result of an imbalance in the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio within the soil profile, often caused by the overuse of synthetic nitrogen. It can restrict air and water movement through the turf, fails to provide a usable carbon food source for microbes, and does...