Episodes

  • The Engineering Commons Podcast Episodes 
    • Episode 139 -- Estimation 

      June 5, 2018, 17:31

      Adam, Brian, Carmen, and Jeff discuss the importance of accurately estimating time and budget as a practicing engineer. Brian frequently makes estimates as

    • Episode 138 -- Still Awkward 

      December 18, 2017, 12:10

      We catch up with Sam Feller (who previously joined us in Episode 70), discussing his interests, projects, and latest entrepreneurial ventures. Having left

    • Episode 137 -- Late Summer 

      December 4, 2017, 00:07

      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 2017.

    • Episode 136 -- Circle of Competence 

      September 27, 2017, 14:07

      Adam, Brian, Carmen, and Jeff consider the boundaries of one's own competence in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Competencies seem to be driven by

    • Episode 135 -- Target Audience 

      August 14, 2017, 00:18

      In this episode of The Engineering Commons, the gang discusses tailoring a presentation to meet the needs and interests of your intended audience. Adam's fa

    • Episode 134 -- Twenty Forty 

      July 25, 2017, 20:42

      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 higher i

    • Episode 133 -- Embarrassed Engineer 

      June 27, 2017, 00:07

      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 trap stre

    • Episode 132 -- By Any Other Name 

      June 5, 2017, 13:34

      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 Adam hav

    • Episode 131 -- Five Years 

      May 22, 2017, 00:10

      Chris Gammell returns to The Engineering Commons to discuss how his views on engineering education (and the engineering profession) have evolved over the past f

    • Episode 130 -- DC Motors 

      May 8, 2017, 00:13

      In this episode of The Engineering Commons, we discuss an electromechanical component commonly used to achieve physical motion; the ubiquitous direct-current (D

    • Episode 129 -- Noticing 

      April 10, 2017, 11:57

      We are joined once more by Dave Goldberg, author of A Whole New Engineer, to discuss the critical engineering skills of noticing, listening, and questioning.

    • Episode 128 -- Industrial Academic 

      March 20, 2017, 00:07

      Dr. Dave Vandenbout offers up his insights on choosing between academic and industrial careers in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Carmen wastes n

    • Episode 127 -- Technical Writing 

      March 6, 2017, 01:15

      We talk with iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens about documenting and sharing technical procedures, especially those related to the repair of consumer devices. We start

    • Episode 126 -- Diesel Power 

      February 20, 2017, 00:15

      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 engine.

    • Episode 125 -- Cubicle Farm 

      February 6, 2017, 00:54

      We discuss how the workplace environment influences our productivity in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Jeff is currently sharing an office, so alt

    • Episode 124 -- Mad Skillz 

      January 23, 2017, 00:07

      The gang discusses how one acquires the skills most frequently used by engineering professionals. Brian knows that parliamentary procedures are described in

    • Episode 123 -- Transitions 2016 

      January 9, 2017, 00:07

      In this episode of The Engineering Commons, we discuss transitions experienced by Adam, Carmen and Jeff during the past year. Brian participates in our round-ro

    • Episode 122 -- Jared Asks 

      December 26, 2016, 16:03

      In this episode of The Engineering Commons, we answer questions from listener Jared about coping as an engineering student. Carmen informs us that making ac

    • Episode 121 -- Idle Doodling 

      November 28, 2016, 00:07

      In this episode of The Engineering Commons, our intrepid crew discusses planning, leading and attending the dreaded corporate meeting. It seems that Brian e

    • Episode 120 -- Augmented Engineer 

      November 14, 2016, 08:58

      This episode of The Engineering Commons finds Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff predicting how virtual and augmented realities might soon be incorporated into daily

    • Episode 119 -- Gears 

      October 31, 2016, 09:01

      Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss mechanical gears in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Although a mechanical engineer, Jeff isn't much for working on c

    • Episode 118 -- Practical Engineering 

      October 17, 2016, 00:07

      In this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast, we talk with civil engineer Grady Hillhouse, producer of YouTube's Practical Engineering channel. Carmen

    • Episode 117 -- Soft Skills 

      September 30, 2016, 01:26

      This episode of The Engineering Commons dives into the importance of "soft skills" to engineering professionals. A fictional giant from the 1984 Ghostbuster

    • Episode 116 -- The Grid 

      September 8, 2016, 03:13

      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 1786, a

    • Episode 115 -- Bearings 

      August 21, 2016, 19:57

      Carmen and Jeff discuss mechanical bearings in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Carmen has a pretty good sense of his navigational bearing,

    • Episode 114 -- Driven Electrons 

      August 4, 2016, 11:02

      Brian leads our discussion of electric vehicles in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Carmen notes that a single resting electron has a mass o

    • Episode 113 -- Chemical Engineering 

      July 23, 2016, 08:54

      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 seen one!

    • Episode 112 -- Boomer Exodus 

      July 7, 2016, 18:03

      The gang discusses opportunities and challenges of dealing with Baby Boomers as they depart the engineering field. Adam is aware of the "retirement cliff,"

    • Episode 111 -- Environmental Engineering 

      June 23, 2016, 06:38

      Bronwyn Bell joins Adam, Brian, Carmen, and Jeff to discuss the challenges and responsibilities of an environmental engineer working in the mining sector. C

    • Episode 110 -- Engineering Vacation 

      June 9, 2016, 01:09

      Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss the activities they enjoy when escaping the workplace for a few days. Brian enjoyed reading Michael Lewis' book "The Bi

    • Episode 109 -- Design Process 

      May 26, 2016, 00:07

      Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss theoretical and practical aspects of the design process, as well as the emotional states they experience when engaged in de

    • Episode 108 -- Engineering Sensibilities 

      May 12, 2016, 00:56

      Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss an engineer's sense of right and wrong, and why that worldview may conflict with organizational priorities. A recent ar

    • Episode 107 -- Steel 

      April 28, 2016, 00:44

      This episode of The Engineering Commons finds Adam, Brian and Jeff talking about steel, the most common of engineering metals. Jeff and Brian consider wheth

    • Episode 106 -- Flight Test 

      April 14, 2016, 00:31

      Aerospace engineer Eric Becker explains the duties of a flight test engineer, and offers a few insights on dealing with operational risk, in this episode of The

    • Episode 105 -- Reddit Questions 3 

      March 31, 2016, 00:07

      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 consult f

    • Episode 104 -- Downturn 

      March 17, 2016, 01:12

      Civil engineer Mike O'Connor shares stories of continuously revamping his professional skills to stay afloat during turbulent economic times. Adam sees econ

    • Episode 103 -- Ones and Zeros 

      March 3, 2016, 00:56

      Electrical engineer Dave Vandenbout guides us through a survey of programmable logic devices, and offers advice for young engineers wanting to succeed in the wo

    • Episode 102 -- Admiral Rickover 

      February 18, 2016, 00:07

      Metallurgical engineer Paul Cantonwine shares insights into the life and career of Admiral H. G. Rickover in this biographical episode of The Engineering Common

    • Episode 101 -- Effective Email 

      February 4, 2016, 00:07

      Electrical engineer Bob Schmidt joins Adam, Carmen, Brian and Jeff to talk about the importance of making a good impression, and delivering the intended message

    • Episode 100 -- Interdisciplinary Skills 

      January 21, 2016, 00:07

      Founding co-host Chris Gammell returns to The Engineering Commons to talk about the importance of interdisciplinary skills with Adam, Carmen and Jeff. Knowl

    • Episode 99 -- Review 2015 

      January 7, 2016, 01:29

      Adam, Brian and Jeff discuss highlights and back stories from episodes of The Engineering Commons podcast released in 2015. Brian started work the Monday af

    • Episode 98 -- Relocation 

      December 24, 2015, 01:21

      Mechanical engineer Jim Heilman returns to The Engineering Commons to cover questions engineers should ask before relocating to advance their careers. Adam

    • Episode 97 -- Next Hundred 

      December 10, 2015, 01:59

      Adam, Brian, and Jeff discuss where the podcast should venture during its second hundred episodes. Adam claims to be better at long term than short-term p

    • Episode 96 -- Perceptions 

      November 26, 2015, 00:05

      This episode of The Engineering Commons finds the gang discussing how engineers are perceived by those outside the engineering field. Jeff accidentally re

    • Episode 95 -- Details 

      November 12, 2015, 00:09

      Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss the role of details in engineering projects, and how one goes about evaluating, managing, sharing, and documenting critical minut

    • Episode 94 -- Relevance 

      October 29, 2015, 00:07

      This epiosde of The Engineering Commons finds Adam, Brian, and Jeff discussing what it means to be relevant, and how engineers can increase their relevance on t

    • Episode 93 -- Capacitors 

      October 15, 2015, 00:24

      Electrical engineer James Lewis stops by to share his insights on the surprisingly complex world of capacitors. Carmen introduces the show as covering "pa

    • Episode 92 -- Garage Gear 

      October 1, 2015, 00:44

      Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss tools they use for utility and enjoyment at home, where the cost-to-quality evaluation is slightly different than in the wo

    • Episode 91 -- Home Automation 

      September 17, 2015, 01:34

      This episode of The Engineering Commons finds the guys discussing the technologies, toys, and tribulations associated with wiring one's home to the internet.

    • Episode 90 -- Traffic Engineering 

      September 3, 2015, 00:39

      Adam leads us through some key concepts related to traffic engineering in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Brian has some practical reason

    • Episode 89 -- Early Lessons 

      August 20, 2015, 17:27

      In this episode of The Engineering Commons, we discuss the lessons we learned during our first two or three years of working as engineering professionals.

    • Episode 88 -- Reddit Questions 2 

      August 6, 2015, 10:20

      With Brian away on vacation, Adam, Carmen, and Jeff address issues and questions found on the "Engineering," "Ask Engineers," and "Ask Electronics" sub-Reddits.

    • Episode 87 -- Existential Engineer 

      July 23, 2015, 00:07

      Mechanical engineer Jack Reid joins Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff to discuss the philosophical aspects of engineering, and to review Samuel Florman's book, "The

    • Episode 86 -- Idiot Box 

      July 9, 2015, 00:07

      Brian, Carmen, and Jeff discuss movies and TV shows they find inspiring or entertaining (or maybe just awful) from an engineer's perspective in this episode of

    • Episode 85 -- Unwritten Rules 

      June 25, 2015, 00:35

      Adam, Brian, Carmen, and Jeff discuss the values and ideals that often guide engineering decision making, even if these policies are rarely written down or ment

    • Episode 84 -- Workflow Balance 

      June 11, 2015, 00:16

      Chemical engineer Aaron Spearin chats with Jeff and Adam, sharing insights on workflow balance, value stream mapping, and the importance of interdepartmental co

    • Episode 83 -- Career Planning 

      May 28, 2015, 01:12

      We talk with aeronautical engineer Patrick Riordan about the challenges of developing and navigating a career road map, Archimedes' lever, and the Star Trek met

    • Episode 82 -- Photonics 

      May 14, 2015, 00:07

      We talk with mechanical engineer Tim Quinn about advances being made in the world of photonics, wave–particle duality, and optical computing in this episode o

    • Episode 81 -- Plastics 

      April 30, 2015, 01:40

      Our conversation with mechanical engineer Jim Heilman delves into exciting advances being made with plastic materials, the types of molding equipment used to ma

    • Episode 80 -- Spatial Reasoning 

      April 16, 2015, 02:02

      During this episode, we chat with researcher Jonathan Wai about the strong spatial skills exhibited by many engineers. We also discuss why standardized tests do

    • Episode 79 -- Tools of the Trade 

      April 2, 2015, 00:07

      This episode centers on tools that we enjoy using, whether engineering-related or not. Jeff is of the opinion that many engineering professors dislike teach

    • Episode 78 -- Grad School 

      March 19, 2015, 00:01

      We discuss the pros and cons of returning to school for an advanced engineering degree in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. After knocking ov

    • Episode 77 -- Remote Host Toast 

      March 5, 2015, 00:19

      We chat with software engineer Elecia White about embedded programming, self-driving cars, and why internet appliances must connect to the web more quickly and

    • Episode 76 -- Creative Diversity 

      February 19, 2015, 00:18

      What is your creative style, and when might it be most effective? We talk about creative diversity with electrical engineer Kathryn Jablokow in this episode of

    • Episode 75 -- Vectored Thrust 

      February 5, 2015, 00:09

      Mechanical engineer Herb Roberts shares his stories of developing an advanced jet engine for the US military in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast.

    • Episode 74 -- Ideas Without Words 

      January 22, 2015, 00:04

      Electrical engineer Bob Schmidt joins the discussion of how engineers convey important concepts without using words. Beyond writing down a few words to remi

    • Episode 73 -- Review 2014 

      January 8, 2015, 02:26

      Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss highlights and back stories from episodes of The Engineering Commons podcast that were released in 2014. Carmen and Ada

    • Episode 72 -- Getting Stuff Done 

      December 25, 2014, 00:11

      Carmen, Adam, and Jeff address a few methods by which engineers can track, organize, and prioritize the tasks for which they are responsible. Jeff admits th

    • Episode 71 -- Design Avenues 

      December 11, 2014, 00:38

      We talk with electrical engineer Chris Gammell in this episode, discussing design tradeoffs, parametric part searches, and the manner in which design work is be

    • Episode 70 -- Awkward Engineer 

      November 26, 2014, 23:08

      In this episode we chat with mechanical engineer Sam Feller about product design, power optimization, and drawing skills. Oh, and we talk about dunking cookies

    • Episode 69 -- Credentials 

      November 13, 2014, 00:55

      We talk with Gary Bertoline about graphics communication, computer-aided design, credentials, and competency-based degree programs in this episode of The Engine

    • Episode 68 -- Engineering Expert 

      October 30, 2014, 02:10

      James Trevelyan speaks with us about the skills and talents of expert engineers, and how those of us who have not yet achieved "expert" status can improve our a

    • Episode 67 -- Pragmatic 

      October 23, 2014, 23:26

      Electrical engineer John Chidgey joins us in this episode of The Engineering Commons to talk about ladder logic, podcasting, and an engineer's role in making th

    • Episode 66 -- Nuts and Bolts 

      October 16, 2014, 00:16

      We discuss some of the considerations that go into choosing a threaded fastener in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. It can be more complicated t

    • Episode 65 -- A Whole New Engineer 

      October 2, 2014, 01:49

      In a lively discussion of how to best prepare today's engineering students for tomorrow's engineering challenges, we talk with Dave Goldberg and Catherine Whitn

    • Episode 64 -- Reddit Questions 

      September 18, 2014, 16:03

      We answer nine questions about the engineering profession, gathered from a quaint little website called Reddit, in this episode of The Engineering Commons. You

    • Episode 63 -- Engineering MBA 

      September 4, 2014, 15:57

      Michael Lachman, who started his career as an aerospace engineer, leads us through the pros and cons of following up an engineering degree with an MBA. Adam

    • Episode 62 -- Role Model 

      August 21, 2014, 14:53

      Electrical engineer Meagan Pollock explains how engineers can be more effective role models. We also learn about promoting equity in the workplace, discover how

    • Episode 61 -- Renaissance Engineer 

      August 7, 2014, 14:14

      Our conversation with Dr. Janusz Kozinski, Founding Dean of the Lassonde School of Engineering, covers the trials and tribulations of starting a new engineering

    • Episode 60 -- Social License 

      July 24, 2014, 13:33

      Geological engineer Pamela Rogalski shares her insights about using social license to enact change in organizations and communities during this episode of The E

    • Episode 59 -- Engineering Technology 

      July 10, 2014, 14:34

      We talk with aeronautical engineer Mark French about degrees and careers in Engineering Technology, as well as delving into wind tunnels, guitars, and how to la

    • Episode 58 -- Miscellany 

      June 26, 2014, 14:21

      In a completely off-the-cuff discussion, Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff wander through subjects including finite state machines, power circuit wiring, and the eco

    • Episode 57 -- What Engineers Do 

      June 12, 2014, 14:39

      In this episode of The Engineering Commons, we discuss engineering skills and duties learned in the workplace, rather than from a textbook. Brian tells youn

    • Episode 56 -- Analog Footsteps 

      May 29, 2014, 14:18

      We discuss the legendary engineers of analog electronics with Linear Technology's Todd Nelson. Jeff and Brian discuss how analog computers have been replace

    • Episode 55 -- Engines 

      May 15, 2014, 10:29

      Aeronautical engineer Clay Coons explains the most common types of engines, and why each type is optimal in certain applications. Antidisestablishmentariani

    • Episode 54 -- Brain on a Stick 

      May 1, 2014, 10:07

      Biochemical engineer Kai Zhuang walks us through the evolving relationships between technology and humanity, especially as it relates to engineering education,

    • Episode 53 -- Storytelling 

      April 17, 2014, 10:48

      We talk with mechanical engineer, product designer, educator, and executive consultant Craig Sampson about the importance of storytelling in this episode of The

    • Episode 52 -- Engineering Pranks 

      April 1, 2014, 02:08

      In this episode we talk about engineering pranks through the years. We seem to have a new focus for this podcast; as we will apparently be talking about "Ta

    • Episode 51 -- Product Development 

      March 20, 2014, 20:37

      In this episode we talk about product development with electrical engineer Dave Young, who is an author, educator, and small business owner. Brian has been

    • Episode 50 -- Art of Engineering 

      March 6, 2014, 21:41

      We talk with systems engineer Mike Parks about the intersection of art and engineering in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Adam finds that h

    • Episode 49 -- Women in Engineering 

      February 20, 2014, 18:48

      In a conversation with electrical engineer Cherish Bauer-Reich, we consider factors that encourage or dissuade women from entering the engineering profession.

    • Episode 48 -- Troubleshooting 

      February 6, 2014, 09:45

      We talk with electrical engineer Bob Schmidt about troubleshooting in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Please help us improve the podcas

    • Episode 47 -- Project Management 

      January 23, 2014, 00:22

      Adam leads the group on a discussion of project management in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Please help us improve the podcast by filling out our

    • Episode 46 -- Review 2013 

      January 9, 2014, 22:35

      Jeff, Adam, and Carmen discuss the highlights and back stories from last year's episodes of The Engineering Commons podcast. Please help us improve the podc

    • Please take our 2014 Listener Survey! 

      January 9, 2014, 21:08

      After nearly two years of turning out bi-weekly podcasts, we'd really like to know more about our listening audience. Please take a few minutes to fill out the

    • Episode 45 -- Success 

      December 26, 2013, 09:38

      We talk with civil engineer, author, and coach Anthony Fasano about steps one can take to ensure a successful engineering career. Although Jeff's engineerin

    • Episode 44 -- Ambiguity 

      December 12, 2013, 14:24

      In this episode, we consider how engineers deal with ambiguity, uncertainty, and risk. Carmen would be willing to take a 50/50 shot at 01 tomorrow over a

    • Episode 43 -- Context 

      November 28, 2013, 10:39

      We talk about context and learning with Chris Gammell, founder of the Contextual Electronics series of instructional videos. Adam's favorite lab course in s

    • Episode 42 -- Six Sigma 

      November 13, 2013, 19:54

      Guest Erica Lee Garcia explains the role of process improvement tools such as Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, and Statistical Process Control in this episode of

    • Episode 41 -- Going Solo 

      October 31, 2013, 08:38

      Guest Sophi Kravitz helps us understand some of the issues involved with starting a one-person consulting firm. Jeff started out on his own in 1994, but had

    • Episode 40 -- Engineering Fiction 

      October 17, 2013, 00:41

      Guest Stefan Jaeger joins us to discuss the portrayal of engineers in literature and mass media. If his work life were a procedural crime drama, Brian's not

    • Episode 39 -- Nuclear Energy 

      October 3, 2013, 00:48

      We enjoy a wide-ranging conversation about nuclear power with guest Akira Tokuhiro in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Out at the road const

    • Episode 38 -- Underwater 

      September 19, 2013, 22:24

      We talk with engineer Bill Porter about his work with underwater robots, electronics, and science education. Our guest, Bill Porter, works for the Naval Sur

    • Episode 37 -- Emergent Expectations 

      September 5, 2013, 18:41

      Guest David E. Goldberg talks with us about shifting expectations for engineers, and reveals the crucial skills needed by tomorrow's engineering professionals.

    • Episode 36 -- Ham Nation 

      August 22, 2013, 22:18

      We talk about amateur radio with Alan Wolke, W2AEW, in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Jeff got interested in amateur radio around the age

    • Episode 35 -- Knowledge Network 

      August 8, 2013, 10:28

      We consider engineering as a knowledge network in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Adam relies on his colleagues to help him coordinate his

    • Episode 34 -- Accounting for Engineers 

      July 25, 2013, 17:07

      This episode discusses similarities between engineers and accountants, and provides a brief overview of accounting terminology. Like most engineers, Brian h

    • Episode 33 -- Civil in Sweden 

      July 11, 2013, 18:49

      We consider engineering education from a European perspective in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Our guest for this episode is Sebastian Ahlström,

    • Episode 32 -- Fitting In 

      June 27, 2013, 13:17

      In this episode, we discuss working with those from other technical disciplines, and also touch upon the software skills that engineers should possess. Our

    • Episode 31 -- Crowdfunding 

      June 13, 2013, 22:52

      We discuss how crowdfunding might influence the future of scientific research in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Adam is willing to fork over a few

    • Episode 30 -- Travel 

      May 30, 2013, 16:53

      In this episode we discuss some lessons that our guest, aeronautical engineer Clay Coons, has learned while traveling abroad. Our guest is Clay Coons, an ae

    • Episode 29 -- Intuition 

      May 16, 2013, 23:23

      We discuss how engineers use and develop their intuitive senses. “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have

    • Episode 28 -- Sanity 

      May 2, 2013, 10:42

      We discuss how to stay sane while dealing with the day-to-day stresses of being an engineer. Besides whatever form of music happens to pass through his head

    • Episode 27 -- Skills 

      April 18, 2013, 21:32

      In this episode, Adam, Carmen and Jeff talk about engineering skills, and where they are obtained. Adam has used "soft" skills more than "hard" skills thus

    • Episode 26 -- Elementary Engineering 

      April 5, 2013, 10:28

      Brian and Jeff talk with Ann McMahon about sharing one's passion for engineering with pre-college students. Brian has experienced the glassy-eyed look of ot

    • Episode 25 -- Spark 

      March 21, 2013, 07:58

      Jeff talks with his three new co-hosts about what sparked their interests in engineering. Co-host #1 is Adam, a civil engineer who works for a Departm

    • Episode 24 -- Leadership 

      March 8, 2013, 00:23

      Chris and Jeff discuss leadership issues with Jim Stroup, author and management consultant, in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Jeff a

    • Episode 23 -- Priorities 

      February 14, 2013, 23:25

      Chris and Jeff discuss priorities and burnout, and we learn a thing or two about Chris' future plans. Chris isn't sure what he'll be doing in a month,

    • Episode 22 -- Empathy 

      January 31, 2013, 22:19

      Chris and Jeff discuss why engineers are sometimes seen as cold, heartless bastards who refuse to be team players. Oh yeah, and how that might be linked to

    • Episode 21 -- Time 

      January 18, 2013, 16:21

      This episode covers a few of the various ways in which time influences the work of engineers. Chris has been busy refactoring electronic schematics; Jef

    • Episode 20 -- A Year in Review 

      January 3, 2013, 23:00

      Chris and Jeff review the episodes of 2012, and share some of the background stories that didn't make it to the original podcasts. Chris enjoys the lack

    • Episode 19 -- Value 

      December 13, 2012, 21:12

      Engineers bring economic benefit to their employers. In this episode, we talk with Professor James Trevelyan about the value of engineers in the workplace.

    • Episode 18 -- Failure 

      November 29, 2012, 11:54

      In this episode, Chris and Jeff discuss the role of failure in advancing engineering knowledge. All things fail at some point. Engineers advance their

    • Episode 17 -- DIY 

      November 15, 2012, 08:03

      How are the DIY and engineering communities meshing as prototyping and anlysis tools become more widely available? Chris and Jeff discuss the issue with a w

    • Episode 16 -- Critical Thinking 

      November 1, 2012, 12:09

      Is it possible to accurately perceive the world around us? Are engineers any more or less rational than the general public? Chris and Jeff discuss these iss

    • Episode 15 -- Talent 

      October 18, 2012, 10:18

      Are engineers born or made? In this episode, Chris and Jeff discuss how engineers acquire their talents. A top-notch engineer is skilled in both the t

    • Second Bi-Weekly eChat 

      October 14, 2012, 21:43

      Last week we had our first eChat, where we discussed engineering with some of our viewers. It was a casual discussion, all held on the Google Hangout platform,

    • Episode 14 -- Superstars 

      October 4, 2012, 11:55

      Chris and Jeff talk about how one might go about becoming an engineering "superstar." Neither Jeff or Chris have been particularly successful at figur

    • Engineering Hangout -- Thursday 10/5, 9:30 pm EST 

      October 3, 2012, 00:49

      We'll be doing a live Hangout on Google Plus this Thursday evening (10/5/12) at 9:30 pm. Got a question about engineering? Want to ask us about previous episode

    • Episode 13 -- Free Agency 

      September 20, 2012, 08:16

      In this episode, Chris and Jeff discuss engineers who find employment on a project-to-project basis, rather than signing on for a full time job. Our g

    • Episode 12 -- Ethics 

      September 6, 2012, 08:00

      What obligations do engineers have to others? Where do the lines of legality, morality, and ethics intersect? Chris and Jeff discuss engineering ethics in t

    • Episode 11 -- Patents 

      August 23, 2012, 22:51

      It sometimes makes sense to protect one's creative ideas. Chris and Jeff discuss the pros and cons of getting a patent with engineer Dave Gevers. We

    • Episode 10 -- Software Carpentry 

      August 9, 2012, 16:00

      Software is an important component in the toolkit of nearly every engineer. Chris and Jeff talk with Greg Wilson about how engineers and scientists can impr

    • Seeking Engineering Stories 

      August 8, 2012, 22:04

      We're now 10 episodes in The Engineering Commons. We've talked to many great guests and had some really interesting discussions from a high level. Our hope is t

    • Episode 9 -- STEM Education 

      July 26, 2012, 21:32

      In this episode, Chris and Jeff discuss STEM education with two educators/engineers in the field who are working to help kids learn more about engineering a

    • Episode 8 -- Influence 

      July 12, 2012, 21:53

      In this episode, Chris and Jeff discuss the manner in which social influence affects engineers, how engineers can detect those who seek to exert influence,

    • Episode 7 -- In the Zone 

      June 28, 2012, 21:02

      What is it like for an engineer to be "in the zone?" Are there any good techniques for finding such a "flow" in your engineering work? We discuss these issu

    • Episode 6 -- Longevity 

      June 14, 2012, 22:56

      This week we talk to Ian Dees, software engineer at Tektronix focused on mid level software and ways to improve the longevity of electronics that use softwa

    • Episode 5 -- Recruitment 

      May 31, 2012, 20:44

      In a discussion with Jim Heilman of Discovery Personnel, a mechanical engineer who left industry after two decades to recruit technical talent in the plasti

    • Episode 4 -- Design Thinking 

      May 18, 2012, 23:46

      In this episode, we discuss "design thinking," a problem-solving approach that is now applied in business and education, as well as in the creation of new p

    • Episode 3 -- Compromise 

      May 2, 2012, 23:29

      This week on the show, we had some unfortunate audio issues, as Jeff says in the introduction. If you can get past the sound this week, the content is

    • Episode 2 -- Feedback 

      April 19, 2012, 03:59

      This episode we talk about the feedback that engineers receive about their work. How do you deal with feedback and how should it be interpreted? Steve W

    • Episode 1 -- Jumping Off 

      April 5, 2012, 02:12

      In this episode we discuss jumping off into a new design effort. What do you do when you don't know where to start? We discuss the need for engineers

3 thoughts on “Episode 1 — Jumping Off”

  1. I had an old ’73 Opel GT, back in the eighties and I refuse to believe that the hump in the hood wasn’t an intentional design. 😉 Of course that doesn’t explain why the carb was so high. It did look cool though.

  2. I’ve just found these pod casts, so still working through them. Seems good so far. A segment on Infuences on why one became interested in engineering might be of interest . Few seem to have heard of it but perhaps lookup a TV program called Bertha that was made in 80s for pre-schoolers, (and their mothers of course!) . if forced to isolate a single thing that inspired me to want to design/make products to assist others it will have been that program, more so than teachers, books or anything else. and I wouldn’t have understood the term engineering back then, doubt many would had a clue about rapid protying either .

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