Best Underground Infrastructure Podcasts (2026)

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Sage Geosystems' bet on underground energy storage 38:07

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16d ago38:07

38:07

About 90% of global energy storage is pumped storage hydropower – which requires a mountain, a lake, and a whole lot of permitting. While lithium batteries have gotten drastically cheaper over the last decade, they’re still expensive for longer durations. But Cindy Taff and her team at Sage Geosystems are developing geothermal technology that could…

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Inside Microsoft’s plan to remove 50 years of carbon emissions 35:59

13d ago35:59

35:59

In 2020, Microsoft announced a major goal: by 2050 the company aims to remove from the atmosphere all the carbon emissions it has produced since its founding in 1975. When Phil Goodman joined the company in 2022, he quickly found that the market for Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) was just getting off the ground. That meant that in order to meet its c…

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Cleveland Water and Winter Weather Tips 31:33

13d ago31:33

31:33

Send us a text Freezing temperatures can test our municipal water systems as well as the pipes inside our homes. Water Commissioner Alex Margevicius explains how the Cleveland Division of Water keeps 1.4 million people supplied with safe drinking water when temperatures plunge and aging water mains face their toughest days of the year. From Clevela…

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How Anglian’s @one Alliance has set a template for water project delivery 1:00:26

22d ago1:00:26

1:00:26

This month we welcome Anglian Water’s delivery director for water Paul Lonsdale to discuss the pioneering work of the @one Alliance. Formed of eight partner organisations – Anglian Water, Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Binnies, Mott MacDonald Bentley, MWH Treatment, Skanska and Sweco – the alliance has been running for 20 years and has set a template for…

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Excellence in project management: HardRock's relocation project under the Corpus Christi ship channel 20:06

30d ago20:06

20:06

In this episode, Underground Infrastructure speaks with Corey Baker, Chief Operations Officer, HardRock Infrastructure Services, and Chris Jones, Chief Commercial Officer, HardRock Infrastructure Services. The discussion focuses on the company's recent project that relocated a 6,180-ft. waterline pipe to deeper depths due to a deepening of the ship…

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Captura's high-stakes gamble 30:21

1M ago30:21

30:21

Back in January, Captura CEO Steve Oldham was sitting in a conference room in Hawaii, entertaining reps from the company’s first potential customer. What the customer didn’t know was that Captura’s ocean-based carbon removal pilot –the whole reason for the visit – still wasn’t working. The stakes were high. Steve’s team needed to prove they could p…

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Using digital tools to enable SMEs to grow by doing what they do best 1:08:13

2M ago1:08:13

1:08:13

In this month’s episode we welcome the CEO of Projectworks, Mark Orttung, to discuss how his company’s software is facilitating growth among the construction and engineering sector’s vital small and medium enterprises (SMEs). We start by learning from Mark about why Projectworks’ offerings are particularly suited to SMEs and how it can help to prov…

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A Smart Lake and Economy with Cleveland Water Alliance 22:30

2M ago22:30

22:30

Send us a text A lake that learns can change a region. Sam Martin, Director of Communications and Engagement at Cleveland Water Alliance (CWA), shares how Lake Erie has become the world’s largest digitally-connected freshwater test bed—and why that matters for public health, utility costs, and the next wave of water-tech jobs. Sam walks us through …

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Boston Metal’s path to carbon-free steel 37:38

2M ago37:38

37:38

This year in the U.S., steel manufacturers will produce more than 71 million tons of steel – enough to build nearly 200 Empire State buildings. It's a stunning statistic, but not surprising. The steel industry has fueled economic growth and innovation in America since the early 1800s. But for every ton of conventional steel produced, two tons of CO…

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The thermal battery transforming cold storage for India’s dairy farmers 40:37

2M ago40:37

40:37

In 2007 Sam White, co-founder of Promethean Power Systems, was traveling through India looking for a rural electrification problem to solve. He and his team had just won a $10,000 grant in an MIT competition, and they wanted to find an industry in India that needed their help. After looking at the sugar industry and the grape industry, they finally…

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Clean Water Superheroes: The Lake Erie League 28:07

3M ago28:07

28:07

Send us a text A new crew of superheroes, the Lake Erie League, is turning everyday systems into comic-book stories for kids and teachers to use in the classroom. Across eight origin tales, these northeast Ohio-inspired characters mirror very real aspects of the Sewer District's work, from massive tunneling machines whose creations tame storm overf…

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This VC wants climate tech to play hardball in Washington 48:46

3M ago48:46

48:46

Clean energy founders love to talk about technology, capital, and scale. But few are prepared for the fourth pillar of success: government. Shomik Dutta, a co-founder and managing partner at Overture VC, learned that lesson firsthand after a career that spanned Obama’s White House, private equity, and venture capital. His takeaway: “If you’re not a…

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Underground Poetry with Literary Cleveland 52:13

3M ago52:13

52:13

Send us a text Art meets infrastructure! The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District partnered with the nonprofit creative-writing center Literary Cleveland to host a reading of "Odes to Infrastructure," a newly-published zine, right in the heart of our Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant. It was a celebration of our essential-yet-often-unseen wate…

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Shortening the nuclear development cycle from decades to years 47:51

3M ago47:51

47:51

For decades, nuclear has struggled with cost overruns and delays — Georgia’s Vogtle plant being the latest example. Kairos Power co-founder and CEO Mike Laufer thinks the solution is to flip the script: focus first on non-nuclear demonstrations and then iterate quickly. It’s a counterintuitive and potentially risky strategy . Rapid iteration isn’t …

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The sunk cost dilemma 32:35

4M ago32:35

32:35

Deep into engineering studies for Project Cormorant, 8 Rivers' massive low-carbon ammonia facility, the team discovered new efficiencies that would create a safer, more advanced version of their hydrogen technology. But there was one problem: they'd already invested heavily in the current design. CEO Damian Beauchamp faced a classic dilemma. Should…

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Tech Roundup: Drones, Automation, and Clean Water 27:44

4M ago27:44

27:44

Send us a text Technology continues to transform how the Sewer District manages wastewater and stormwater. Process Analyst Ron Maichle explains how the District's drone program evolved from emergency-response support to an essential tool for project planning and monitoring. Engineer Joe Reese demystifies the elaborate control systems that allow ope…

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The 30-year journey to an underground facility for long-term nuclear waste storage 54:07

4M ago54:07

54:07

The latest episode of the Engineers Collective is out now: listen in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, your usual platform or the player below. In this month’s episode we discuss the UK’s long-term plan for a vast underground storage facility for nuclear waste – known as a geological disposal facility (GDF) – with Nuclear Waste Services (NWS). NWS chief …

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John Hickenlooper’s optimism in the face of opposition 34:22

4M ago34:22

34:22

Three years ago this month, the Inflation Reduction Act passed, marking the largest investment in climate policy in U.S. history. It included over $300 billion to address global warming and was expected to unlock nearly $3 trillion in private investment by 2032. But then came Donald Trump. Over the last eight months, the Trump administration has wo…

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The rogue idea that saved a hydrogen startup 38:07

5M ago38:07

38:07

In 2022, Zach Jones learned that his technical team at Graphitic Energy was secretly working nights and weekends on an unsanctioned approach to producing clean hydrogen from natural gas. It was an approach that abandoned the technology Zach and the company had spent years developing. And Zach wasn’t happy. With investors to answer to and a pilot pl…

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Ohio's Infrastructure Report Card 28:32

5M ago28:32

28:32

Send us a text The newly released 2025 Ohio Infrastructure Report Card delivers a sobering assessment of the systems we rely on daily but rarely think about. Ohio has made modest improvements since the last American Society of Civil Engineers' report in 2021, yet vulnerabilities persist. Sewer District employees (and ASCE members) Derek Vogel and L…

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Integrating artificial intelligence into structural maintenance and management 1:01:43

5M ago1:01:43

1:01:43

Joining host Rob Hakimian this month is Mind Foundry director of civil infrastructure Tom Bartley to discuss how the business is working on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into our infrastructure maintenance and management processes. Tom discusses the issues with current structural maintenance regimes and how AI can help to empower …

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Sustainability at the Sewer District 14:12

6M ago14:12

14:12

Send us a text What does sustainability mean for a wastewater utility? Sustainability Manager Marie Fechik-Kirk shares her thoughts on environmental stewardship at the Sewer District. Under Marie's guidance, the NEORSD has integrated sustainability into its everyday operations and engineering projects. Listeners will also discover sustainability ti…

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Wastewater Surveillance and Community Health 32:39

6M ago32:39

32:39

Send us a text A recent innovation, the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) has transformed from an emergency response to COVID-19 into a comprehensive early warning system for disease outbreaks. The NWSS monitors approximately 45% of the US population through over 1,400 sampling sites. Public health laboratories can analyze genetic mate…

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Breaking down infrastructure commitments from the Spending Review with the ICE 48:35

6M ago48:35

48:35

The latest episode of the Engineers Collective is out now: listen in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, your usual platform or the player below. After a busy month of infrastructure commitments from the UK government, host Rob Hakimian welcomes Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) director of policy and external affairs Sam Gould to the podcast to discuss…

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The tape that led to a fusion breakthrough 50:41

6M ago50:41

50:41

In 2021, Commonwealth Fusion Systems proved it had built the most powerful magnet in the world. The breakthrough was based on a specific material - a tape - that conducts massive amounts of current with very little loss. Rick Needham, Chief Commercial Officer for CFS, says the breakthrough led to a $1.8 billion Series B fundraising round. Since the…

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Frontier Forum: Fixing distributed energy's finance gap 41:55

7M ago41:55

41:55

Clean energy attracts nearly $3 trillion in investment annually, but most of that capital flows to massive utility-scale projects through the world's biggest banks and large-scale asset managers. Meanwhile, smaller distributed projects — rooftop solar, batteries, microgrids — face a structural financing challenge that Amanda Li calls "death by a th…

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2025 Ohio Stormwater Conference 22:30

7M ago22:30

22:30

Send us a text Mike is at the 18th annual Ohio Stormwater Conference, where nearly 1,000 environmental professionals gather to discuss flooding, erosion, and water quality advances—and new challenges. The conversation begins with sobering news about watershed organizations facing an uncertain future as they scramble to fill funding gaps in their pr…

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FOAK tales 52:55

7M ago52:55

52:55

This week, we're bringing you a special episode of Catalyst with Shayle Kann, a show about how to decarbonize the planet. In this episode: what it takes to secure investments for first-of-a-kind infrastructure projects. First-of-a-kind projects need infrastructure investment, the kind of money that costs less than venture capital and usually comes …

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Implementing steel reuse in construction with WSP 58:35

7M ago58:35

58:35

The latest episode of the Engineers Collective is out now: listen in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, your usual platform or the player below. This month’s guest is WSP associate structural engineer Sally Walsh, who joins the podcast to discuss steel reuse in construction, specifically on the Elephant & Castle Town Centre scheme. The Elephant & Castle T…

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Successful project execution: Tunneling under a mountain to lay a wastewater line, a discussion with HardRock Infrastructure 15:38

7M ago15:38

15:38

Underground Infrastructure sat down with Cory Baker, Chief Operating Officer, HardRock Infrastructure, for an in-depth discussion on the company's 1,740-ft tunneling project for El Paso Water, which involved running a wastewater line underneath a mountain. The discussion includes challenges and the solutions that were used to successful complete th…

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Bridging the Gap: Downtown Cleveland and Waterfront Access 31:47

8M ago31:47

31:47

Send us a text Imagine standing in downtown Cleveland and gazing at Lake Erie just blocks away, yet feeling disconnected by an intimidating landscape of highways and parking lots. This frustrating paradox has defined Cleveland's relationship with its waterfront for decades. The Shore to Core to Shore Initiative is an ambitious and promising effort …

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Building Fervo's geothermal giant 42:38

7M ago42:38

42:38

In 2023, Sarah Jewett was on her honeymoon in France when she received a life-changing text: steam was flowing from Fervo Energy's first commercial geothermal project in Nevada. That moment confirmed their revolutionary approach—applying horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing from the oil and gas industry to tap heat resources previously cons…

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Terawatt Infrastructure’s billion-dollar strategy 33:43

8M ago33:43

33:43

In 2021, Neha Palmer co-founced Terawatt Infrastructure with a bold mission: create the backbone for America's electric trucking revolution. Within its first year, Terawatt secured a billion-dollar investment. But as the company developed plans for a nationwide charging network, it confronted the daunting challenge of building infrastructure for an…

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Surveying the changing landscape of civil engineering with ICE President Jim Hall 1:03:13

8M ago1:03:13

1:03:13

The latest episode of the Engineers Collective is out now: listen in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, your usual platform or the player below. This month’s guest is Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) President Jim Hall, who joins host Rob Hakimian to discuss the work of the ICE in representing and supporting civil engineers in the modern construction …

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Live at UIC: Advanced coatings for enhanced safety and reliability, a discussion with OBIC 4:27

8M ago4:27

4:27

Underground Infrastructure speaks with Mike Hoffmaster, Vice President of Business Development, OBIC, regarding his organization's advanced coating technologies for holding systems, treatment facilities, manholes, vaults and other structures susceptible to damage from infiltration or corrosive chemicals.…

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Restoring Doan Brook in Cleveland's Cultural Gardens 25:02

8M ago25:02

25:02

Send us a text The Doan Brook Watershed Partnership (DBWP) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are collaborating on a stream-restoration project to address wall deterioration, improve fish habitat, and restore natural stream function through Cleveland's Cultural Gardens along MLK Boulevard. Sections of the channel's stone walls, built during t…

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The scrappy beginning of Tesla’s energy business 35:40

8M ago35:40

35:40

In 2014, Drew Baglino was helping build Tesla's energy division with a passionate, scrappy team. Using parts from Tesla's vehicles, they created the first Powerwall home battery. But as demand grew, they hit a critical bottleneck: cell shortages. Customers across multiple markets were already excited about the new product, but Drew’s team struggled…

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Live at UIC: The evolution of microtunneling, a discussion with Troy Stokes of Akkerman 18:09

9M ago18:09

18:09

On this episode, Troy Stokes, Sales Manager, Akkerman, discusses his time in the underground infrastructure industry, focusing on the evolution of operations and technologies in microtunneling activities.

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Live at UIC: Growing a technology/service portfolio, a discussion with PURIS' CCO Rylan Ardoin 4:05

9M ago4:05

4:05

Underground Infrastructure takes a deep dive with Rylan Ardoin, Chief Commercial Officer, PURIS, on his company's growth over the past several years, including the innovations and technologies under the PURIS umbrella of companies, including end-to-end water infrastructure renewal solutions and specializing in environmentally sustainable trenchless…

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LineVision's quest to win over utilities 29:16

9M ago29:16

29:16

In 2018, LineVision was a young company with revolutionary technology for electric transmission lines. Its dynamic line rating sensors and software could increase the capacity of existing power lines by up to 40% without building new infrastructure — a critical solution for integrating renewables and meeting growing electricity demand. But to prove…

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Live at UIC: Utilizing software to mitigate risks in underground operations 4:06

9M ago4:06

4:06

On this showcase episode, Underground Infrastructure speaks with Karen Gunderson and Lydia Passolt of KorTerra to learn how their organization helps mitigate risk and ensure the safety of field personnel by providing secure software cloud and mobile platforms for processing 811 locate tickets, tracking and reporting asset damages, meeting regulator…

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Lakeview Dam and Rethinking Urban Stormwater Management 25:18

9M ago25:18

25:18

Send us a text Clevelanders might not know about a massive concrete structure hidden within Lakeview Cemetery. Standing 89 feet tall, Lakeview Dam represents both a marvel of 1970s engineering and a relic of outdated water-management approaches. Stormwater Program Manager Kim Colich gives some background on this imposing structure and explains how …

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Live at UIC: The evolution of confined space training operations 5:34

9M ago5:34

5:34

Underground Infrastructure speaks with Dennis Pivin, Director Health, Safety and Environmental, NASSCO, on the showroom floor at the Underground Infrastructure Conference. Dennis speaks about new confined space training techniques available for underground infrastructure professionals.

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Hydro excavation: Uses, challenges and value in the underground infrastructure market 20:21

10M ago20:21

20:21

Underground Infrastructure sat down with Dustin Rhodes, Product Manager, TRUVAC, to discuss the latest advancements in hydro excavation, including how it is used and what value it brings to the underground infrastructure market.

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Nextracker's blueprint for 100 gigawatts of solar trackers 32:14

10M ago32:14

32:14

Dan Shugar has been trying to move solar panels around since the 1980s. What started with a few experiments as a young engineer has turned into one of the biggest solar tracker companies in the world. In 2012 he founded Nextracker with a single product. Since then, Nextracker has revolutionized tracking technology through an array of innovative pro…

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How the Building Safety Act is changing UK construction and engineering, with Civic Engineers 1:02:38

10M ago1:02:38

1:02:38

This month’s guest is Civic Engineers associate director Sam Harland who talks to host Rob Hakimian about the Building Safety Act 2022 and how it is changing the way that engineers are working. They talk about how it has introduced new processes, particularly for structural engineers like Harland, with the tightening of design competency requiremen…

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Evolution of the trenchless market: A discussion with Brian Kenkel of Hammerhead Trenchless 16:54

10M ago16:54

16:54

On this episode, Underground Infrastructure speaks with Brian Kenkel, Director of Market Development, Hammerhead Trenchless, on his company's recent acquisition of ProKASRO Services, lining technologies, the current and future state of the trenchless marketplace and much more.

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Rooted in Knowledge: Horticulture at the NEORSD 37:13

10M ago37:13

37:13

Send us a text Horticulturalist Joe Dwyer is part of the Sewer District's Stormwater Inspection & Maintenance (SWIM) team. "A large shade tree can take up to 4,000 gallons of stormwater throughout a year," Dwyer says, but problems with improper tree planting can reveal themselves often just as trees are reaching their prime environmental benefits. …

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Electric Hydrogen’s bet on supersized electrolyzers 35:53

10M ago35:53

35:53

When Raffi Garabedian co-founded Electric Hydrogen in 2020, he saw existing electrolyzers as too small and expensive to make green hydrogen economically viable. Instead of building standard sub-megawatt units, his team aimed for 100-megawatt systems at half the industry cost. Initial market enthusiasm brought millions in capacity reservations, fuel…

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How supply chain chaos sank Sunfolding 42:41

10M ago42:41

42:41

Leila Madrone founded Sunfolding in 2012 with an innovative idea – build a solar tracker using pneumatic "airbags" instead of motors and torque tubes. By 2015, the company was deploying the technology in a field test in Davis, California. Over the next six years, Sunfolding iterated on the technology’s design, built out the supply chain, and tried …