The Engineering Commons Podcast
Channel Details
The Engineering Commons Podcast
Practical insights for the engineering crowd
Recent Episodes
100 episodes
Episode 139 — Estimation
Adam, Brian, Carmen, and Jeff discuss the importance of accurately estimating time and budget as a practicing engineer. Brian frequently makes estimat...
Episode 138 — Still Awkward
We catch up with Sam Feller (who previously joined us in Episode 70), discussing his interests, projects, and latest entrepreneurial ventures. Having...
Episode 137 — Late Summer
In an episode that was recorded in early October, Adam, Carmen, and Jeff reflect on their summer activities, and on plans for the remaining months of...
Episode 136 — Circle of Competence
Adam, Brian, Carmen, and Jeff consider the boundaries of one’s own competence in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Competencies seem to be driv...
Episode 135 — Target Audience
In this episode of The Engineering Commons, the gang discusses tailoring a presentation to meet the needs and interests of your intended audience. Ada...
Episode 134 — Twenty Forty
Adam, Carmen and Jeff discuss how engineering might change by the year 2040 in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Adam hopes to move a little hi...
Episode 133 — Embarrassed Engineer
This episode finds the gang discussing engineering projects that went awry, but did not result in the loss of human life. While map makers include tra...
Episode 132 — By Any Other Name
We discuss the case of an Oregon man fined for “practicing engineering without a license” in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Both Jeff and Ad...
Episode 131 — Five Years
Chris Gammell returns to The Engineering Commons to discuss how his views on engineering education (and the engineering profession) have evolved over...
Episode 130 — DC Motors
In this episode of The Engineering Commons, we discuss an electromechanical component commonly used to achieve physical motion; the ubiquitous direct-...
Episode 129 — Noticing
We are joined once more by Dave Goldberg, author of A Whole New Engineer, to discuss the critical engineering skills of noticing, listening, and quest...
Episode 128 — Industrial Academic
Dr. Dave Vandenbout offers up his insights on choosing between academic and industrial careers in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Carmen wast...
Episode 127 — Technical Writing
We talk with iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens about documenting and sharing technical procedures, especially those related to the repair of consumer devices. We...
Episode 126 — Diesel Power
Aeronautical engineer Clay Coons joins us to discuss the many applications of diesel engines. Adam’s Kubota BX tractor is powered by a 23 HP diesel en...
Episode 125 — Cubicle Farm
We discuss how the workplace environment influences our productivity in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Jeff is currently sharing an office,...
Episode 124 — Mad Skillz
The gang discusses how one acquires the skills most frequently used by engineering professionals. Brian knows that parliamentary procedures are descri...
Episode 123 — Transitions 2016
In this episode of The Engineering Commons, we discuss transitions experienced by Adam, Carmen and Jeff during the past year. Brian participates in ou...
Episode 122 — Jared Asks
In this episode of The Engineering Commons, we answer questions from listener Jared about coping as an engineering student. Carmen informs us that mak...
Episode 121 — Idle Doodling
In this episode of The Engineering Commons, our intrepid crew discusses planning, leading and attending the dreaded corporate meeting. It seems that B...
Episode 120 — Augmented Engineer
This episode of The Engineering Commons finds Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff predicting how virtual and augmented realities might soon be incorporated i...
Episode 119 — Gears
Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss mechanical gears in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Although a mechanical engineer, Jeff isn’t much for workin...
Episode 118 — Practical Engineering
In this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast, we talk with civil engineer Grady Hillhouse, producer of YouTube’s Practical Engineering channel....
Episode 117 — Soft Skills
This episode of The Engineering Commons dives into the importance of “soft skills” to engineering professionals. A fictional giant from the 1984 Ghost...
Episode 116 — The Grid
Adam, Brian and Jeff discuss the electrical grid in this episode of The Engineering Commons. The difference engine, conceived of by J. H. Müller in 17...
Episode 115 — Bearings
Carmen and Jeff discuss mechanical bearings in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Carmen has a pretty good sense of his navigational bea...
Episode 114 — Driven Electrons
Brian leads our discussion of electric vehicles in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Carmen notes that a single resting electron has a...
Episode 113 — Chemical Engineering
Chris Welch joins Adam, Brian, Carmen, and Jeff to talk about the field of chemical engineering. Jeff believes in unicorns, even though he’s never see...
Episode 112 — Boomer Exodus
The gang discusses opportunities and challenges of dealing with Baby Boomers as they depart the engineering field. Adam is aware of the “retirement cl...
Episode 111 — Environmental Engineering
Bronwyn Bell joins Adam, Brian, Carmen, and Jeff to discuss the challenges and responsibilities of an environmental engineer working in the mining sec...
Episode 110 — Engineering Vacation
Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss the activities they enjoy when escaping the workplace for a few days. Brian enjoyed reading Michael Lewis’ book “...
Episode 109 — Design Process
Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss theoretical and practical aspects of the design process, as well as the emotional states they experience when eng...
Episode 108 — Engineering Sensibilities
Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss an engineer’s sense of right and wrong, and why that worldview may conflict with organizational priorities. A rec...
Episode 107 — Steel
This episode of The Engineering Commons finds Adam, Brian and Jeff talking about steel, the most common of engineering metals. Jeff and Brian consider...
Episode 106 — Flight Test
Aerospace engineer Eric Becker explains the duties of a flight test engineer, and offers a few insights on dealing with operational risk, in this epis...
Episode 105 — Reddit Questions 3
Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff answer questions from Reddit, and discuss a few queries of their own making. Jeff is patiently waiting to be asked to con...
Episode 104 — Downturn
Civil engineer Mike O’Connor shares stories of continuously revamping his professional skills to stay afloat during turbulent economic times. Adam see...
Episode 103 — Ones and Zeros
Electrical engineer Dave Vandenbout guides us through a survey of programmable logic devices, and offers advice for young engineers wanting to succeed...
Episode 102 — Admiral Rickover
Metallurgical engineer Paul Cantonwine shares insights into the life and career of Admiral H. G. Rickover in this biographical episode of The Engineer...
Episode 101 — Effective Email
Electrical engineer Bob Schmidt joins Adam, Carmen, Brian and Jeff to talk about the importance of making a good impression, and delivering the intend...
Episode 100 — Interdisciplinary Skills
Founding co-host Chris Gammell returns to The Engineering Commons to talk about the importance of interdisciplinary skills with Adam, Carmen and Jeff....