Environmental Professionals Radio (EPR)

Hosted by Nic Frederick and Laura Thorne

Careers Science Society CultureInterviews guests

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Episodes

256

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

EPR is Connecting Environmental Professionals through Conversation! Our show is brought to you by the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) and follows environmental professionals at all levels of their career in a variety of industries to bring you a nuanced and informed discussion on what it’s like to work in the environmental arena. Hear us talk through failures, struggles, and successes of the typical environmental professional. We will also highlight news, updates, and fun facts from the scientific community. With over 80 episodes and counting, we are excited to provide this podcast as a way to reach environmental professionals, students, and educators who have one thing in common: we spend our time working to protect the environment.

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60 recent

June 12, 2026Episode 24936 min

3D Scanning, Digital Twins, and Tabletop Gaming with Dr. Kaitlyn Kingsland

Share your Field Stories!Laura and Nick sit down with Dr. Kaitlyn Kingsland, Director of 3D Digitization at Environmental Research Group, to explore how LiDAR, photogrammetry, and digital twins are transforming archaeology, environmental consulting, and the way we document and monitor change over time. From preserving historic sites in perpetuity to using repeat scans to track environmental degradation, this episode highlights how cutting-edge technology is reshaping both fieldwork and the future of the industry.Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! Help us continue to create great content! If you’d like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Kaitlyn Kingsland at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlynkingsland/Guest Bio:Kaitlyn Kingsland is a digitization expert, utilizing LiDAR and 3D scanning methods to capture environments and objects for a variety of purposes. An archaeologist by training, Dr. Kingsland’s work intersects with technology and cultural heritage. More recently this work has expanded to environmental sciences and engineering applications, including assisting in work involving the lidar analysis of ecology and environments, reverse engineering, and scan to BIM. Her work has led her to travel domestically and internationally to scan sites as old as prehistoric Italy, Roman Malta, and as new as modern buildings within North America. Currently, Dr. Kingsland works with Environmental Research Group, LLC of Baltimore, Maryland.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players. Support the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

June 5, 2026Episode 24849 min

WildTechDNA, Big Cats, and Why Connection is Key to Conservation with Natalie Schmitt

Share your Field Stories!Nic and Laura interview Dr. Natalie Schmitt, an ecologist, conservation geneticist, explorer, filmmaker, and founder of Wild Tech DNA, to explore rapid field-based DNA technology, big cat conservation, and the power of making conservation tools accessible to frontline communities. From snow leopards and blue whales to Indigenous knowledge and the need for deeper human connection with nature, this episode examines how innovation and collaboration can shape the future of biodiversity protection.Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! Help us continue to create great content! If you’d like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Natalie Schmitt at https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-schmitt-64877968/Guest Bio:Dr. Natalie Schmitt is an ecologist, conservation geneticist, and documentary filmmaker whose work is driven by a deep commitment to ethical and transformative approaches to biodiversity protection. With a background spanning Antarctic whale research to Himalayan snow leopard conservation, Natalie has spent over two decades exploring innovative ways to address the root causes of biodiversity loss — and to empower the people at the heart of its solutions.Taking inspiration from the Indigenous principle of two-eyed seeing, Natalie is passionate about trying to weave together Western science, Indigenous knowledge, and creative storytelling to foster collaboration, connection, and justice in conservation. She has worked alongside communities in Nepal to help restore harmony between people, livestock, and snow leopards (with the Pangje Foundation), and has contributed genetic insights to policy change through the International Whaling Commission via her research with the Australian Antarctic Division.As the founder and CEO of WildTechDNA, Natalie leads the development of a groundbreaking real-time DNA detection technology that makes species identification rapid, low-cost, and accessible — even in remote, non-lab settings. Her work aims to transform how customs officers, law enforcement, citizen scientists, and local communities monitor biodiversity and combat illegal wildlife trade.In 2022, Natalie was honored as one of the Explorers Club 50: Fifty People Changing the World that the World Needs to Know About. She currently serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at McMaster University. Her mission is guided by the belief that the biodiversity crisis is not simply ecological — it is deeply human, relational, and personal.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

May 29, 2026Episode 24743 min

EPR Live from Anchorage with Anna Kohl, Carolyn Nelson, and Fred Wagner

Share your Field Stories!We’re LIVE from NAEP 2026 in Anchorage! Nic leads a special on-stage episode featuring Anna Kohl, Carolyn Nelson, and Fred Wagner as they dive into Alaska’s unique environmental landscape, NEPA challenges, and the realities of project delivery. With candid insights, legal perspectives, and memorable field stories, this live recording captures the humor, complexity, and energy of environmental work in action.Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! Help us continue to create great content! If you’d like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Anna Kohl at https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-kohl-cep-8184159/Guest Bio:Anna Kohl was born and raised in Anchorage and left for college before realizing there was much to explore back home. She obtained a BA in Geology from Mount Holyoke College and worked in coffee shops and remediation before landing at HDR Engineering in 2004, where she has been ever since. Anna’s technical background is in the NEPA and impact analysis/environmental science fields, though she currently is the Operations Manager for 150 engineers, planners, scientists, GIS professionals, and other smart folks who make up HDR in Alaska. An active member of NAEP and a Trustee of ABCEP, she obtained a certificate in NEPA from the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment in 2012 and her CEP in 2017.Connect with Carolyn Nelson at https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-nelson-p-e-02768977/Guest Bio:Carolyn Nelson is responsible for providing technical assistance for NEPA compliance and other related environmental laws and Executive Orders as Director of Environmental Analysis & Compliance Division of PHMSA. Carolyn has over 30 years’ experience as a geometric design engineer and NEPA practitioner. She was Co-Chair of the White House Interagency Council (IAC), NEPA Committee and is recognized as a national expert for NEPA compliance. Carolyn has worked at Headquarters of the FHWA and also in the FHWA Michigan Division Office. Prior to FHWA, she worked for the Michigan DOT and CH2M Hill (now Jacobs).Connect with Fred Wagner at https://linkedin.com/in/fred-wagner-59043019Guest Bio:Fred Wagner focuses on environmental and natural resources issues concerning major infrastructure, including surface transportation, energy, mining, and commercial project development. Fred advises clients on environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act or equivalent state statutes. He also helps secure permits and approvals from regulators under a variety of federal programs, including Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act. Fred provides strategic counseling regarding implementation of the full spectrum of federal environmental programs, as well as U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) surface transportation grant management and safety regulations. Prior to joining Jacobs, Fred represented a wide variety of developers, public entities, and businesses in environmental, land use, and natural resources litigation in federal trial and appellate courts across the country, from citizen suits to government enforcement actions and Administration Procedure Act (APA) challenges. Most recently, Fred was counsel of record in the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition NEPA case before the U.S. Supreme Court.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

May 22, 2026Episode 24641 min

Geothermal Energy, Volcanoes, and Staying Curious as a Scientist with Angela Seligman

Share your Field Stories!Laura interviews Dr. Angela Seligman, senior geoscientist from Clean Air Task Force, to explore the cutting edge of geothermal energy, the science behind volcanoes, and what it takes to turn curiosity into a meaningful career. From next-generation clean energy to the importance of science communication, this episode dives into how understanding what’s beneath our feet can shape a more sustainable future.Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! Help us continue to create great content! If you’d like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Angela Seligman at https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-seligman-4717b476/ Guest Bio:Angela Seligman is CATF’s Senior Geoscientist on the Geothermal team, where she acts as the team’s subsurface technical expert. In this role, she works to further the technology innovation needed to deploy geothermal at a scale necessary to provide low-carbon energy globally at a competitive cost. Angela held a postdoctoral research position with the EPA where she researched remediation methods for water contaminated by uranium mining. She received her Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Oregon and her master’s degree in Geology from the University of Utah, where she studied geochemistry and volcanology.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

May 15, 2026Episode 24544 min

Meteorology, Climate Cancer, and Life after NBC News with Chase Cain

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today’s episode, we talk with Chase Cain, meteorologist and the former climate correspondent for NBC News, now the creator of a new YouTube series "Chase What Matters" about Meteorology, Climate Cancer, and Life after NBC News. Read his full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you’d like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Chase Cain at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasecain/Guest Bio:Chase Cain is a meteorologist and three-time Emmy Award winner. As the first climate reporter for NBC, he also earned a national Edward R. Murrow Award for his reporting on how climate change is threatening the beloved Joshua tree. Now, Chase has traded the legacy news desk for the global reach of YouTube to lead an honest, hopeful conversation about our relationship with our environment. In his series “Chase What Matters,” he’s exploring how reconnecting with nature can heal us and the planet!Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

May 8, 2026Episode 24423 min

EPR Live: Anchored in Purpose and Driven by Vision with Kelley Samuels

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today’s episode, we’re LIVE from Hutchinson Island at the FAEP Conference! In this episode, we’re joined by Kelley Samuels, Senior Ecologist and Certified Project Manager at AECOM. Kelley shares her insights from over 25 years of experience in environmental permitting, impact assessment, and ecological work across the Southeast. We dive into the complexities of wetland work, the challenges of managing large, interdisciplinary teams, and discuss this year's conference theme: "Anchored in Purpose, Driven by Vision." Plus, we swap some #FieldNotes from our time in the field.Help us continue to create great content! If you’d like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Kelley Samuels at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelley-samuels-pws-635b98b/Guest Bio:Kelley Samuels is a Senior Ecologist and an AECOM Certified Project Manager based in Orlando, Florida. Kelley has 25 years of experience as an environmental impact assessment and permitting specialist. Her expertise includes ecological assessments of flora and fauna, primarily in the southeast, with a specific focus on wetlands and wildlife as they relate to linear corridor analyses, environmental permitting, due diligence evaluation, and environmental monitoring. Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

April 24, 2026Episode 24337 min

Cultural Resources Management, Transitioning from PhD to Field Archeology, and Working in Saudi Arabia with Dr. Angela Perri

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today’s episode, we talk with Angela Perri, Vice President of International at Chronicle Heritage about Cultural Resources Management, Transitioning from PhD to Field Archeology, and Working in Saudi Arabia. Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you’d like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Angela Perri at linkedin.com/in/angela-perri-ph-d-605855222Guest Bio:As Vice President of International at Chronicle Heritage, Dr. Angela Perri directs a broad portfolio of heritage projects across the international space, including in the GCC, UK, and Europe. Since joining the firm in 2021, she has expanded the division’s international capabilities and built a diverse team of heritage professionals from around the world. Her leadership has supported the successful delivery of dozens of major initiatives for clients operating in complex cultural and regulatory environments. Dr. Perri holds a Ph.D. in Archaeology from Durham University and is an expert in prehistoric archaeology, domestication, and archaeological science.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs Muller Support the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

April 17, 2026Episode 24237 min

Oil and Gas industry, Investigative Journalism, and the Permian Basin with Melissa Troutman

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today’s episode, we talk with Melissa Troutman, award-winning journalist and filmmaker about Oil and Gas industry, Investigative Journalism, and the Permian Basin. Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you’d like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 0:58 - Laura on navigating career growth6:10 - Interview with Melissa Troutman Starts11:14 - Journalist confronting oil and gas15:08- Fighting for policy change in an oil field30:58 - Career advice and personal passionsPlease be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Melissa Troutman at https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-troutman-28234056/Guest Bio:Melissa Troutman is an award-winning journalist, filmmaker, and environmental policy advocate. In 2011, Melissa co-founded the investigative newsroom Public Herald and in 2019 received a Community Sentinel Award honoring her dedication and support for communities and ecosystems in oil and gas regions. After more than a decade investigating corruption and collusion in the oilfields of Pennsylvania, Melissa turned to policymaking in the highest yielding oil and gas extraction zones across the United States. Since 2022, she has served as Climate and Health Advocate for WildEarth Guardians with a focus on energy development in New Mexico and Colorado.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

April 10, 2026Episode 24119 min

EPR Minisode 20: Environmental Professionals Day

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! We have a new minisode for you today! This is taking place instead of our regularly scheduled episode this week. Thank you so much for listening!Help us continue to create great content! If you’d like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.

April 3, 2026Episode 24043 min

Environmental Psychology, Climate Anxiety, and Behavior Change with Dr. Renée Lertzman

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today’s episode, we talk with Dr. Renee Lertzman, environmental psychologist and founder of Project InsideOut about Environmental Psychology, Climate Anxiety, and Behavior Change. Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you’d like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: 1:35 - Green guilt9:34 - Interview with Renee starts!13:14 - Reframing environmental Action29:43 - Listening to stakeholders38:31- Five guiding principalsPlease be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Dr. Renee Lertzman at reneelertzman.comGuest Bio: Dr. Renée Lertzman is a founder, psychologist, researcher, and strategist who has spent three decades investigating one of the most pressing questions of our time: why do people struggle to act on what they care most deeply about—and what does it actually take to change that? Her answer challenges everything we think we know about motivation, resistance, and human behavior. The problem, she has found, is never lack of care. It's that care gets buried under anxiety, unprocessed grief, and the weight of impossible-feeling choices, and the strategies we use to overcome that tend to make it worse. Her work, spanning corporations, governments, nonprofits, and communities across the globe—is built on a simple but radical premise: the capacity for change already exists in people. Our job is to unlock it. Renée has advised senior leaders and leadership teams at Google, IKEA, Johnson & Johnson, WWF, Live Nation, and the White House, and her TED Talk, How to Turn Climate Anxiety into Action, has been viewed over two million times. She is the author of Environmental Melancholia and the founder of the acclaimed Project InsideOut, seed funded by the 11th Hour Project and KR Foundation. Her forthcoming book, So You Want to Change the World? Creating the Future You Want from the Inside Out (Viking 2027), is the culmination of thirty years of practice and research at the intersection of psychology and planetary change.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.