Best Earth Analytics Podcasts (2026)

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Environmental Engineering in the Steel Industry: Kamille Brunwald 40:51

Play Pause

3d ago40:51

40:51

Send us a text Steel can be found everywhere in our day-to-day lives. It is in our appliances, our vehicles, our houses, work environments and more. Steel is used widely in manufacturing countless products. The production of steel is a complicated process and engineers from several disciplines work in this industry. In this episode we sit down with…

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#34: Everything Is Changing in Geospatial, Here’s What Actually Matters 25:55

14d ago25:55

25:55

If there’s one word to describe the past year in geospatial, it’s change. In this solo episode, I take you behind the scenes of what I’ve been seeing, hearing, and working on across geospatial, cloud, and AI over the past year, and how those shifts are shaping what actually matters heading into 2026 . I talk about: - Where AI is real vs overhyped i…

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GeoPandas Is Amazing (But Not for Everything) (Bonus #33) 18:13

21d ago18:13

18:13

GeoPandas is one of the most important tools in modern GIS, but many people still aren’t sure when to use it, why it matters, or where it fits alongside tools like PostGIS, DuckDB, Apache Sedona, and cloud-native data formats. In this video, I break down GeoPandas from the ground up: what it is, how it works under the hood, its strengths and limita…

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Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering: Wayne Clifton 51:01

17d ago51:01

51:01

Send us a text Did you know that there is an entire field of engineering that studies how structures interact with soil and rock? The engineering mechanics of these interactions help engineers design infrastructure including, roadways, buildings, lagoons, and much more. Prior to any construction, geotechnical and environmental engineers are often i…

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#32: Why Meta Is Betting Big on Open Maps 45:46

27d ago45:46

45:46

Meta has more than 3 billion users across Instagram, WhatsApp, and even its new AR glasses. Behind the scenes, all of them are powered by one thing: maps. But instead of relying on closed systems, Meta is betting big on open data—and building its own global map. In this episode, I talk with Said Turksever from Meta, who leads their open mapping str…

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ArcGIS Pro: Still the Best GIS? 24:30

30d ago24:30

24:30

ArcGIS Pro has been the center of GIS workflows for decades but how does it hold up in a world moving toward open, cloud-native, and AI-powered geospatial tools? In this video, I break down what ArcGIS Pro actually is, where it shines, where it struggles, and how it fits into the modern GIS ecosystem. Whether you’re doing personal GIS projects, run…

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Mechanical Systems for Buildings: Tom Atkins 44:59

1M ago44:59

44:59

Send us a text Have you ever considered that buildings are more than just a structure? In fact, buildings have complicated systems that help the building achieve its design goals. These include systems for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, fire protection, plumbing, electrical, and more! Engineers design these systems so that buildings can be…

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BONUS: Talking Engineering and Professional Football with Ryder Varga 49:37

1M ago49:37

49:37

Send us a text Engineering and athletics might not be two things that people think go together. It turns out that a lot of engineering students are involved in athletics. Being a student-athlete is a big commitment as students have to balance both their academic and athletic responsibilities. In this bonus episode we sit down Ryder Varga to hear ab…

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Beyond the Classroom: Lei Ocampo, Gianna Osuobeni, and Drake Smith 47:01

2M ago47:01

47:01

Send us a text Everyone knows that when you go to study engineering at university, you will have to take a bunch of courses and laboratories. These academic activities help students learn core engineering skills. However, there is a lot of learning that can happen in engineering student organizations. These extra-curricular activities are where stu…

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#30: A5: The Global Grid System Changing How We Map the World with Felix Palmer 54:18

2M ago54:18

54:18

In this episode, I sit down with Felix Palmer, creator of A5, a new global grid system that’s redefining how we represent and analyze the Earth. Felix shares how a 1980s math paper led him to build a pentagon-based global grid, one that fixes the distortions found in systems like H3 and S2, achieving true equal-area cells across the entire planet. …

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A Career in Municipal and Water Engineering: Tom Williams 39:05

2M ago39:05

39:05

Send us a text Over the course of their career, engineers can work on a large variety of projects, especially in the municipal engineering sector. These projects have a large, positive impact for the residents and businesses in that region. In this episode we sit down with Tom Williams to talk about his extensive career in municipal and water engin…

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Beyond the Hype: Embeddings, Foundation Models, and the Future of Earth Observation with Isaac Corley and Christopher Ren 53:43

2M ago53:43

53:43

What does it really take to teach AI to understand our planet? In this episode, Matt sits down with Isaac Corley, Senior Machine Learning Engineer at Wherobots and maintainer of TorchGeo, and Christopher Ren, Data Scientist and writer behind some of the most thought-provoking essays on Earth observation and AI. They dive deep into the state of Geos…

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How Mapbox is Quietly Powering the AI Map Revolution with Kieran McCann 40:43

3M ago40:43

40:43

AI can answer almost anything, except “where.” That gap is huge, and Kieran McCann from Mapbox is working to close it. In this episode of The Spatial Stack, Matt sits down with Kieran, who’s spent six years helping Mapbox quietly power some of the most widely used maps and location services in the world. From his early days doing grunt map edits at…

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Data and Advanced Analytics in Energy and Resources: Lisa Rong 40:43

2M ago40:43

40:43

Send us a text Engineers need data to make informed decisions. For example, data can be used to evaluate new engineering design options and business opportunities. But data can also be used in urgent situations during the operation of a facility. In fact, technology has evolved to the point where real-time data can be sent from a remote plant in th…

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Why GeoAI Changes Everything in Mapping & Analytics: Tee Barr on Geography 2050 27:36

3M ago27:36

27:36

GeoAI isn’t just another buzzword, it’s a turning point for the entire geospatial industry. In this episode of The Spatial Stack, Matt sits down with Tee Barr, Director at Verisk and Councilor for the American Geographical Society, to unpack why GeoAI could reshape the field as profoundly as GPS once did. From climate risk and supply chain resilien…

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Turning GIS into ROI, One Stock at a Time 1:08:10

3M ago1:08:10

1:08:10

By Matt Forrest

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Satellite Radio and Space Projects: Brayden Willenborg 43:39

3M ago43:39

43:39

Send us a text Software and electronics are used for countless applications in our day-to-day lives and in industrial applications. Have you ever wondered who the engineers are that lead the development of some of these technologies? In this episode we sit down with Brayden Willenborg to learn about his career in software development. Braden has a …

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The End of Expensive Space Data: NOVI’s Vision for Earth Observation 38:42

4M ago38:42

38:42

What if satellites became as smart and as accessible as your smartphone? In this episode, I sit down with Michael Bartholomeusz, CEO of NOVI to unpack how Earth observation is being transformed by edge computing in space. We explore the shift from sending terabytes of raw imagery to delivering actionable insights, and why this change could take the…

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Enhanced Oil Recovery and Rare Earth Elements: Petro Nakutnyy 41:37

3M ago41:37

41:37

Send us a text Do you ever wonder where or how technology is developed? Commercial technology requires a great deal of research, prototyping, and testing to refine it to the point where it is both effective and economically viable. Engineers from all disciplines are involved in research and development projects that help drive the development of ne…

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From Leafmap to GeoAI: Open Source, Education, and What’s Next with Dr. Qiusheng Wu 57:04

4M ago57:04

57:04

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Qiusheng Wu, associate professor, open-source advocate, and creator of some of the most widely used tools in modern geospatial, including Leafmap and GeoAI. If you’ve ever watched his YouTube tutorials or come across his projects on GitHub, you already know the impact he’s had on the community. We dive into: His…

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Why Open Data Isn’t Really Open: Navigating Licenses in Geospatial with Mina Nada 24:48

4M ago24:48

24:48

Open data is supposed to unlock innovation, but what happens when “open” isn’t really open? In this episode of The Spatial Stack, I sit down with return guest Mina Nada to explore the world of open data licenses — from Creative Commons to Open Database Licenses and beyond. We break down what these licenses actually allow you to do, where the pitfal…

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How Preset Is Reinventing BI with Open Source and Geospatial Power 51:23

4M ago51:23

51:23

What happens when a hackathon project becomes one of the most influential open-source BI tools in the world? In this episode, we sit down with Max Beauchemin — creator of Apache Superset and Apache Airflow — and Evan Rusackas from Preset, the company behind Superset’s enterprise evolution. We explore: The origin story of Superset at Airbnb — and wh…

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Talking Telecom: Blair Laforge 42:56

4M ago42:56

42:56

Send us a text Who remembers rotary phones and push button phones that were connected to land lines? Now we all rely on cell phones and telecommunications companies have evolved to provide way more services than just phone calls. In addition to wired and mobile telephone services, many telecoms now provide television services, wireless internet, ho…

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Sustainability and Municipal Water Projects: Goke Rufai 44:04

4M ago44:04

44:04

Send us a text Consulting engineers provide engineering services to virtually all sectors. This can include private industry, municipal infrastructure, financial systems, health care, and more. There are consulting engineers working on projects in countries all over the world. In this episode we sit down with Goke Rufai to hear about his career in …

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An Honest Conversation About Imposter Syndrome in GIS 17:57

5M ago17:57

17:57

In this episode, I open up about something many of us in GIS rarely talk about — imposter syndrome. That nagging feeling of not being good enough, of questioning whether you really belong in this field, even when the evidence says otherwise. This isn’t a polished success story, it’s an honest conversation about doubt, comparison, and the pressure t…

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Discussing Nuclear Engineering: Esam Hussein 44:50

5M ago44:50

44:50

Send us a text With an ever-growing population, the world has seen a steady rise in the demand for energy. There is a renewed interest in nuclear power due to its lower carbon footprint when compared to other technologies. In this episode we sit down with Esam Hussein to talk about nuclear engineering. Esam is a retired nuclear engineer and profess…

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Building Smarter Pipelines for AI, Maps, and ML with Airflow 40:34

5M ago40:34

40:34

If you’re working with spatial data, AI workflows, or massive batch jobs, you’ve probably hacked together more than a few pipelines. But what if there’s a better way? In this episode, I sit down with Kenten Danas, Senior Manager of Developer Relations at @Astronomer to explore how Apache Airflow powers the modern data stack including real-world geo…

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Fixing and Building Dams: Rayna Belyk-Kaytor 39:58

5M ago39:58

39:58

Send us a text Having a safe and abundant source of water is very important for society. Engineers play a huge role in helping manage water resources for drinking, irrigation, and agriculture uses, as well as recreational and ecological needs. Managing all of this water requires the construction and maintenance of water infrastructure. In this epis…

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Esri vs Open Source GIS: The Real Debate No One’s Having 58:32

6M ago58:32

58:32

What happens when a heated LinkedIn debate turns into a real conversation? In this episode, I sit down with Kyle Satterfield, GISP, after a spirited online exchange about geospatial tools — specifically, the classic open-source versus Esri debate. What started as a back-and-forth in the comments became a deeper conversation about the choices we mak…

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Energy Systems Engineering: Sam Hong 37:05

6M ago37:05

37:05

Send us a text Have you ever noticed how much we depend on having access to safe, affordable energy systems? In the last 100 years, society has become dependent on energy for transportation, heating and cooling our homes, powering our appliances, and much more. In this episode sit down with Sam Hong to learn about the new Energy Systems Engineering…

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The Fight to Free Geospatial Data...And What Comes Next? 55:00

6M ago55:00

55:00

📩 Get every update from my newsletter ➡️ https://forrest.nyc ⬅️ 💨 Sign up for the Spatial Lab Community ➡️ https://forrest.nyc/spatial-lab ⬅️ Why is geospatial data still stuck in its own world — and what will it take to finally integrate it with the rest of the data ecosystem? In this episode, I talk with Javier de la Torre, founder of Carto and o…

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Oil and Gas, Wind Turbines, and Buildings: Adam Fehler 38:34

6M ago38:34

38:34

Send us a text A career in engineering can be difficult to explain or define because engineers can end up doing so many different things during their career. At the time of graduation, it is really hard to predict what your career path might look like. In this episode sit down with Adam Fehler to learn about his experience as an Industrial Systems …

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Rethinking Geospatial for a Sustainable World with Nadine Alameh 48:25

7M ago48:25

48:25

📩 Get every update from my newsletter ➡️ https://forrest.nyc ⬅️ 💨 Sign up for the Spatial Lab Community ➡️ https://forrest.nyc/spatial-lab ⬅️ What if the way we map the Earth is reinforcing the very inequalities we aim to solve? In this episode of The Spatial Stack, I sit down with Dr. Nadine Alameh, one of the most influential voices in geospatial…

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Geoscience 101: Jason Cosford 47:20

7M ago47:20

47:20

Send us a text Many industries need both engineers and geoscientists to make their operations successful. In Canada, most of the provincial and territorial regulators that oversee the engineering profession also oversee the geoscience profession. In this episode we take a break from engineering and sit down with Jason Cosford to learn about geoscie…

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Control Systems, Power, and Safety: Cory Dumalski 40:06

7M ago40:06

40:06

Send us a text Many things in our world run on power and contain electronics. As a result, there is a demand for electronic and electrical engineers in almost all sectors. In this episode we sit down with Cory Dumalski to talk about his career as an Electronic Systems engineer. Cory has over 17 years of experience working in a variety of industries…

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Investing in Earth: The VC Strategy Behind the Geospatial Boom 51:30

7M ago51:30

51:30

📩 Get every update from my newsletter ➡️ https://forrest.nyc ⬅️ 💨 Sign up for the Spatial Lab Community ➡️ https://forrest.nyc/spatial-lab ⬅️ What if the future of AI depends on understanding where, not just what? In this episode, I’m joined by Justus Killian, partner at Space Capital, one of the only VC firms focused entirely on geospatial and spa…

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The Potash Industry – Talking with a Cavern Engineer: Caitlin Knaus 39:20

8M ago39:20

39:20

Send us a text Did you know that roughly 30% of the world’s potash is produced in Saskatchewan? That is significant! Potash companies need large teams of operators, technicians, geoscientists, and engineers to have successful potash mines that are safe, economical, and environmentally viable. In this episode we sit down with Caitlin Knaus to talk a…

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I Survived 1st Year… and 2nd Year: Holden Rogers 44:01

8M ago44:01

44:01

Send us a text Going to university to study engineering is not easy. Many students report seeing a drop in grades, difficult courses, and a high work load with labs and lectures. In many ways, students have to learn time management skills, develop good study habits, and ask for help when they need it. In this episode we sit down with Holden Rogers …

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BONUS: Behind the Scenes - Celebrating Our 1st Anniversary 32:52

9M ago32:52

32:52

Send us a text It is hard to believe that Engineering Conversations is already celebrating its first anniversary! To recognize the occasion, I thought it would be fun to do a “behind the scenes” episode. Justin Gwilliam is back on the show with a list of questions that dive into this podcasting journey. Thank you to all of the guests who have been …

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A Career in Structural Engineering: Mohsen Rassem 36:51

9M ago36:51

36:51

Send us a text Structural engineers are involved in the design and construction of buildings, bridges, tunnels, dams, and other infrastructure that we find throughout the world. People often do not think about whether a building or bridge is safe when we use it, but structural engineers have worked hard to design and build safe projects that get us…

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Is this the worst job in GIS? 17:20

9M ago17:20

17:20

📩 Get every update from my newsletter ➡️ https://forrest.nyc ⬅️ 💨 Sign up for the Modern GIS Accelerator ➡️ https://forrest.nyc/accelerator ⬅️ In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest challenges holding back GIS professionals today: the technician trap. Sparked by a real-world job posting from one of the world’s richest tech companies—offer…

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Engineering Services Within a First Nation: Darlynn Lavallee 32:56

9M ago32:56

32:56

Send us a text Environmental engineers play an important role in helping communities and industry function in sustainable and responsible frameworks that protect the public and the environment. First Nations communities in Canada have many engineering challenges that need to be addressed with both sound engineering and cultural considerations. In t…

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Why Your GIS Career Feels Stuck (And What to Do About It) 13:39

9M ago13:39

13:39

📩 Get every update from my newsletter ➡️ https://forrest.nyc ⬅️ 💨 Sign up for the Modern GIS Accelerator ➡️ https://forrest.nyc/accelerator ⬅️ Feeling stuck in your GIS career? You're not alone. In this episode, we dive deep into the common challenges GIS professionals face and how to break free from the "technician trap." Discover actionable strat…

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The Hidden Data Crisis in GIS (And How to Solve It) 48:02

9M ago48:02

48:02

📩 Get every update from my newsletter ➡️ https://forrest.nyc ⬅️ What if you could stop wrangling geospatial data, and just get to the good part? In this episode, I sit down with Rob Fletcher, Chief Science Officer at Seer AI, to talk about one of the biggest blockers in geospatial today: accessing and integrating the right data, at the right time, …

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How a Data Analyst Became a GIS Expert (And What You Can Learn) 46:25

10M ago46:25

46:25

In this episode, we sit down with David Price, GIS Project Manager for Wood County, Ohio, to explore the evolving landscape of modern GIS. David’s journey into geospatial wasn’t a traditional one—he started in data analytics before discovering GIS, a shift that completely changed his career trajectory. We dive into: 🔹 Why GIS education is falling b…

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Metallurgy - Grind It, Sink It, Float It: Jared Orynik 37:03

10M ago37:03

37:03

Send us a text Have you ever thought about where all of the metals we use come from? Mines around the world help produce all of the metals that we rely on for use in our infrastructure and day-to-day devices. In this episode we sit down with Jared Orynik to talk about his career as a metallurgist. Jared has a background in materials engineering fro…

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BONUS: Engineers In Offices Eating Pi 41:02

10M ago41:02

41:02

Send us a text To celebrate Pi Day, I invited a bunch of engineers to my office to eat some pie and talk about random “engineery” things! A big thank you to Tom Atkins, Kim Korchinski, and Bailey Armstrong for coming to chat about about engineering, childhood toys, sitcoms, sci-fi, energy, water, food, what makes a great engineer, and more! Also, I…

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Is There Any Hope for the GIS Career Path? 16:45

10M ago16:45

16:45

Is there a future in GIS? How can you break past the salary ceilings and position yourself for long-term success? In this episode, we dive into the realities of GIS careers, salaries, and strategies to help you grow. 🔹 Why GIS salaries often lag behind similar data roles 🔹 The Technician Trap—how GIS is often seen as a support role rather than a st…

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Regulating Engineering and Geoscience in Saskatchewan: APEGS 38:11

10M ago38:11

38:11

Send us a text Did you know that engineers and geoscientists have to be licensed to practice in Canada? Licensure helps provide greater protection to the public and environment as members have to be competent, accountable for their work, and adhere to a code of ethics. In this episode we sit down with Chris Wimmer and Kate MacLachlan from the Assoc…

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Why We’re Still Bad at Predicting Wildfires 25:13

10M ago25:13

25:13

📩 Get every update from my newsletter ➡️ https://forrest.nyc ⬅️ Wildfires are getting more intense, yet many people in Los Angeles had no idea the fire was near them—until they saw the smoke. Despite all our advancements in geospatial technology, disaster response still struggles with timely alerts, real-time data access, and predictive modeling. I…