Environmental Professionals Radio (EPR)

Hosted by Nic Frederick and Laura Thorne

Careers Science Society CultureInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

267

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

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.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 2, 2026Episode 26541 min

Breaking into Environmental Consulting, NAEP Updates, and Coffee with Mike Mayer

Share your Field Stories! What are today's hiring managers actually looking for? Laura interviews Mike Mayer, Past President of NAEP and Principal Environmental Project Manager at HDR, about the skills needed to succeed in environmental consulting and how NAEP has shaped his career. Plus, Mike shares how he balances working full-time with being a published author. 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 Mike Mayer at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mstonemayer/ and michael.mayer@hdrinc.com . Guest Bio: Mike Mayer is currently a Director of the National Association of Environmental Professionals and its Immediate Past President. He is also a Senior Professional Associate and Principal Environmental Project Manager for HDR, Inc. Mike is a natural resource professional with over 30 years of experience. He has worked on complex and controversial resource management issues regionally, nationally, and internationally as both a federal employee and an environmental consultant. Trained as both a wildlife biologist and environmental lawyer, he focuses his work on power and transmission, water, and natural resource projects and their adherence to environmental laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. From endangered salmon issues in the Pacific Northwest to oil spill restoration in the Gulf of Mexico, to large river ecosystem restoration and wildlife management in National Parks, he has assisted federal agencies in navigating environmental laws to develop scientifically sound and legally defensible management plans, programs, and strategies. He also contributed to national endeavors such as the DOI initiative on adaptive management and internationally, with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection for the Republic of Georgia. On the side Mike is an author of action thrillers, writing under the fairly obvious pen name M. Stone Mayer. He recently published his second book entitled "In the Crosshairs." It's a page-turning action thriller that takes place in the wilds of Oregon and Washington and the sequel to "Ashes to Ashes." Check out his website at www.mstonemayer.com . Music Credits Intro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace Mesa Outro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs Muller Support the show Thanks 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 Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , YouTube , and all your favorite podcast players.

September 25, 2026Episode 26434 min

Mapping Biodiversity, Turning Data Into Action, and Building Boats with Christopher Tracey

Share your Field Stories! Laura and Nic interview Christopher Tracey, director of conservation science applications at NatureServe, to explore how biodiversity data, GIS, and AI can support smarter conservation and land-use decisions. From discovering rare species in the field to transforming complex data into actionable tools, this episode highlights the value of curiosity, technology, and looking a little deeper at the natural world. 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 Christopher Tracey at https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-tracey-210467a/ Guest Bio: Christopher Tracey is the Director of Conservation Science Applications at NatureServe. At NatureServe, he leads a team of spatial analysts, data scientists, and software developers to create biodiversity information products and deliver those products to conservation practitioners, researchers, industry, and decision-makers across the United States and Canada. Prior to joining NatureServe, he worked for the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (a NatureServe Network member program), starting as a field ecologist and eventually managing conservation planning activities. Music Credits Intro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace Mesa Outro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs Muller Support the show Thanks 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 Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , YouTube , and all your favorite podcast players.

September 18, 2026Episode 26342 min

Writing a Memoir, Scuba Diving, and Leading in Turbulent Times with Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, PhD, US Navy (ret)

Share your Field Stories! Laura interviews Dr. Tim Gallaudet, retired U.S. Navy rear admiral, former acting NOAA administrator, and author of "Holding Fast in Heavy Seas," to explore servant leadership, scientific integrity, and leading through turbulent times. From navigating career setbacks and empowering others to scuba diving with sharks, this episode examines how humility, empathy, and an ethic of service can help anyone become a stronger leader. 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 Tim Gallaudet at www.timgallaudet.com . Guest Bio: The Honorable Tim Gallaudet, PhD, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (ret) is a former acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Prior to NOAA, Gallaudet served for 32 years in the US Navy, completing his career in the Pentagon as the Navy’s chief oceanographer, meteorologist, and hydrographer. He has a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, and master and doctoral degrees from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, all in oceanography. His book about leading NOAA during President Trump’s first term, "Holding Fast in Heavy Seas: Leadership For Turbulent Times," is available at https://www.timgallaudet.com/ or any major bookseller. Music Credits Intro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace Mesa Outro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs Muller Support the show Thanks 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 Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , YouTube , and all your favorite podcast players.

September 11, 202636 min

Building a Dynamic Career, The Art of Collaboration, and Paddleboarding with Troy Hartley

Share your Field Stories! Laura and Nic interview Dr. Troy Hartley, executive director of the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute, to explore how collaboration and science can advance renewable energy while protecting wildlife and ecosystems. From building genuine professional relationships to navigating a dynamic career across sectors, this episode highlights the power of curiosity, connection, and creative problem-solving. Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! 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 Troy Hartley at twhartley@rewi.org. Guest Bio: Troy Hartley is the Executive Director of the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (REWI), with over 25 years of experience in collaborative research, stakeholder and community engagement, science-to-management processes, and innovation on a wide range of natural resources and environmental issues. Prior to joining REWI in 2025, he was the director of Virginia Sea Grant, a national federal-state, university-based partnership program funding and conducting collaborative research, extension, and workforce development activities. He has a PhD in environmental and natural resource policy from the University of Michigan, a master’s in environmental policy from George Mason University, and a BS in zoology from the University of Vermont. Music Credits Intro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace Mesa Outro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs Muller Support the show Thanks 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 Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , YouTube , and all your favorite podcast players.

September 4, 2026Episode 26143 min

Working for the White House, Protecting Federal Grants, and Life Lessons From Mr. Rogers with Ryan Hathaway

Share your Field Stories! Laura and Nic interview Ryan Hathaway, Director of Climate and Environmental Justice at Lawyers for Good Government, to discuss his time at the White House, efforts to protect federal grants, and the power of community-driven environmental action. From recovering billions of dollars for communities to lessons inspired by Mr. Rogers, this episode explores how decency, optimism, and meaningful support can drive lasting change. Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! This episode is sponsored by Lawyers for Good Government. Learn more at https://www.lawyersforgoodgovernment.org/ . 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 Ryan Hathaway at ryan@l4gg.org . Guest Bio: Ryan serves as Director of Climate and Environmental Justice at Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), and previously served as the Director for Environmental Justice and Director of The White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council at the White House Council on Environmental Quality in the Executive Office of the President. Prior, he served as the U.S. Department of the Interior Environmental Justice Coordinator, and also led the Department's Major Infrastructure, Permitting, NEPA, and FAST-41 Programs. Ryan has served in several government leadership roles, including as Branch Chief for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Land Use Planning at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). He has over 15 years of experience in federal civil service from local fieldwork and administration to program management, policy, and leadership of multi-billion dollar national and international permitting and environmental policy programs. Ryan has his Bachelor's in Wildlife Conservation from the University of Delaware, and his Master’s in Natural Resource Management and Master’s Certificate in Sustainable Development from Virginia Tech University. Ryan serves on the advisory boards for the youth led non-profits Climate Cardinals and Future Incubators, is on the Harvard Sustainability Program Advisory Board, the board of District Coyote Project, and has served as adjunct faculty at several universities, as a board member on many organizations focused on improving the world we live in, and addresses audiences around the world as a speaker and panelist on leadership, environmental policy, and building a better future. His most important and enjoyable role is as a dad to his son Charlie, and husband to his wife, Jackie, a tremendously dedicated shelter veterinarian. If you want him to talk too much, bring up blues guitar, star wars, or smoking barbecue. Music Credits Intro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace Mesa Outro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs Muller Support the show Thanks 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 Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , YouTube , and all your favorite podcast players.

August 28, 2026Episode 26045 min

Working in Academia, Clean Cooking, and Climate Hope with Dr. Deepti Chatti

Share your Field Stories! Laura interviews Deepti Chatti, assistant professor at the University of California, San Diego, to explore energy access, clean cooking transitions, and how social, cultural, and environmental factors shape climate solutions around the world. From interdisciplinary research and teaching climate justice to finding hope in the next generation of environmental leaders, this episode examines how people navigate complex environmental challenges while working toward a more equitable and 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 Deepti Chatti at https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepti-chatti-b20b864/ Guest Bio: Dr. Deepti Chatti is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, San Diego. An engineer turned ethnographer, Deepti draws on her interdisciplinary training to critically analyze sustainable development efforts in India and the United States. Her current research is on energy access and air pollution exposures in historically marginalized communities. Deepti received her PhD at Yale University. Prior to her current work in academia, Deepti worked for several years in public policy research in India, and as an engineer in California helping cities and counties plan for and design public environmental infrastructure. Music Credits Intro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace Mesa Outro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs Muller Support the show Thanks 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 Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , YouTube , and all your favorite podcast players.

August 21, 2026Episode 25936 min

Mitigation Banking, Planning Successful Conferences, and Hidden Gem Travel Spots with Kae Hovater

Share your Field Stories! Laura interviews Kae Hovater, president of EcoCredit Marketing, to explore how mitigation banking supports responsible development while restoring and protecting wetlands, streams, and wildlife habitat. From navigating changing regulations and building a career through connection to planning successful conferences and discovering hidden travel gems, this episode highlights the value of communication, curiosity, and a passion for conservation. Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! This episode is sponsored by EcoCredit Marketing. Learn more at www.ecocreditmarketing.com 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 Kae Hovater at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaehovater/ Guest Bio: Kae Hovater is President of EcoCredit Marketing and has spent more than 17 years working in the mitigation banking industry. Her work with mitigation banks across the country puts her at the intersection of conservation, development, and the complex world of environmental markets. Kae has also served as a leader with the Florida Association of Mitigation Bankers and has helped organize its annual workshop for the past eight years. Known for making a complex industry approachable, Kae is passionate about bringing people together, building relationships, and reminding us that behind every project, permit, and policy are people with a story to tell. Music Credits Intro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace Mesa Outro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs Muller Support the show Thanks 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 Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , YouTube , and all your favorite podcast players.

August 14, 2026Episode 25843 min

Restoring National Parks, Working with Bison, and the Value of Reinventing Yourself with Jeremy French

Share your Field Stories! Laura and Nic interview Jeremy French, Chief of Ecological Restoration for the Southeastern Grasslands Institute, about restoring some of America’s rarest grassland ecosystems, rebuilding habitat in national parks, and the surprising role bison play in shaping landscapes. From conservation leadership and mentorship to curiosity, reinvention, and dreaming big, Jeremy shares why it's never too late to forge a new path and make a lasting impact. 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 Jeremy French at jeremy.french@segrasslands.org . Guest Bio: Jeremy French serves as the Chief of Ecological Restoration for the Southeastern Grasslands Institute. He is based out of Clarksville, TN and serves as the SGI lead for the NPS IRA and BIL projects. Jeremy and his team spearhead grassland conservation across SGI's 24-state focal region, encompassing grassland research, restoration, and reconstruction. Previously, he led a multi-state and multimillion dollar project geared toward restoring grasslands on private lands, which impacted thousands of acres. Jeremy's love for grasslands stems from his time researching the effects of Bison grazing on herpetofauna communities in prairie remnants and community response to oak savanna restoration. Music Credits Intro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace Mesa Outro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs Muller Support the show Thanks 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 Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , YouTube , and all your favorite podcast players.

August 7, 2026Episode 25737 min

Founding a Nonprofit, Aquaculture, and Turning Research Into a Career with Wasseem Emam

Share your Field Stories! Laura and Nic interview Wasseem Emam, founder and head of research at Ethical Seafood Research, to explore fish welfare, ethical aquaculture, and what it takes to build a career around an emerging and often misunderstood cause. From shrimp sentience to sustainable seafood systems, this episode dives into how research, policy, and cultural perspectives can reshape the way we think about aquatic animals and the food on our plates. 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 Wasseem Emam at wasseem@ethicalseafoodresearch.org and https://www.linkedin.com/in/wasseem-emam/ . Guest Bio: Wasseem Emam is the founder and Executive Director of Ethical Seafood Research, a Scottish-, Spanish-, Kenyan- and Egyptian-registered nonprofit working to improve the welfare of aquatic animals across food systems of the Global South, with active programs in Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria and Spain. Originally from Egypt, but having spent most of his career in the UK, Canada and now Spain, he has built his career around a question the food and environmental sectors have long overlooked: whether the billions of aquatic animals caught up in the food system each year have lives worth living. Music Credits Intro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace Mesa Outro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs Muller Support the show Thanks 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 Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , YouTube , and all your favorite podcast players.

August 1, 2026Episode 25659 min

EPR Live from the ESRI User Conference with Sunny Fleming, Kelly Easterday, and Healy Hamilton

Share your Field Stories! Laura and Nic interview Sunny Fleming, Kelly Easterday, and Healy Hamilton live from the Esri User Conference to explore how GIS, digital twins, biodiversity data, and conservation technology are reshaping the future of environmental work. From building community to using maps as powerful tools for storytelling and action, this episode dives into the people, ideas, and innovations helping conservationists see through the noise and move faster toward impact. 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 Sunny Fleming at https://www.linkedin.com/in/littlemissesri/ Guest Bio: Sunny Fleming serves as the Director of Conservation Solutions at Esri. Her career has been shaped by a consistent theme of applying GIS to solve real‑world challenges across conservation, environmental regulation, and parks and recreation management. From monitoring species and natural resources in the field to supporting agencies in policy development, asset management, and strategy, GIS has been central to her work at every stage. She has a passion for uniting these interconnected disciplines and advancing their role in conservation efforts around the world, and she is committed to building a global community of GIS practitioners who collaborate, innovate, and support conservation through shared expertise and geospatial insight. Connect with Kelly Easterday at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-easterday-68a06837/ Guest Bio: Kelly Easterday is the Director of Conservation Technology at The Nature Conservancy's Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve. She has been with The Nature Conservancy for seven years. Previously, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Berkeley. Connect with Healy Hamilton at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/healy-hamilton-a1a20942/ Guest Bio: Healy Hamilton serves as Chief Scientist at the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and vice president of the Society for Conservation GIS. She has 25 years of experience as a biodiversity data scientist. Prior to joining SFI, she worked as Chief Scientist at NatureServe for ten years. Music Credits Intro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace Mesa Outro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs Muller Support the show Thanks 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 Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , YouTube , and all your favorite podcast players.