Share your Field Stories!

Laura and Nic interview Natalie Hendricks, a leaking underground storage tank case manager with Washington D.C.’s Department of Energy and Environment, to explore how a geology background can lead to a career in environmental remediation and public service. From underground storage tank cleanups and vapor intrusion to career pivots, government work, and fostering rescue dogs, this episode offers an inside look at the diverse paths and people that make up the environmental profession.

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 Hendricks at [email protected]. 

Guest Bio:
Natalie Hendricks is an Environmental Protection Specialist for Washington D.C.'s Department of Energy and Environment, where she manages Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (LUST) cases and Voluntary Cleanups of LUSTs throughout the District. She has been at this position for 12 years since joining DOEE in 2014. Prior to joining DOEE, Natalie was in private sector consulting with her start in LUST and project management at a small but successful startup in Florida and moved to Maryland in 2007 where she joined a larger international consultancy. She took a 2.5 year break to have her now 14 year old twins before moving to the public sector at DOEE where a number of her former colleagues were already happily transitioned! Natalie has a B.S. in Geology from the University of Florida and maintains her PG license also from the state of Florida (no PG licensing in Maryland or DC!). She was born in the Panama Canal Zone to military family life (11 schools before graduating HS in Orlando, FL). She is the mom of fraternal twins and one rescue chihuahua named Miss Pearl!

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 Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players. 

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Laura and Nic interview Dr. Gabrielle Patterson, historian at the Southeastern Grasslands Institute, to explore the forgotten history of America’s grasslands, the role of Indigenous fire stewardship, and how historical research can support modern conservation efforts. From uncovering centuries-old journals and maps to finding a career fueled by passion, this episode reveals how the landscapes of the past continue to shape the future of restoration and environmental stewardship.

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 Gabrielle Patterson at [email protected]

Guest Bio:
Dr. Gabrielle Patterson serves as SGI’s Historian, specializing in environmental, natural, and Indigenous history. Her research focuses on the historical distribution of grasslands across the Southeastern United States and how landscapes have shaped human activities over time. She conducts historical and archival research, compiles historical maps, and develops GIS-based analyses to support SGI’s mission of saving the forgotten grasslands of the Southeast. Gabrielle holds an M.A. in History with a concentration in Native American History, an M.Ed. in Community College Leadership, and an Ed.D. in Adult and Lifelong Learning from the University of Arkansas. She enjoys golfing, hiking, hunting, traveling, and spending time with her two dogs.

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 Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players. 

Share your Field Stories!

Laura and Nic interview Alex Ghenis, CEO and Principal Consultant at Accessible Climate Strategies, to explore the intersection of disability and climate justice, accessible climate planning, and the importance of ensuring everyone has a seat at the table. From disaster preparedness and climate resilience to advocacy, burnout, and building more inclusive communities, Alex shares how thoughtful engagement can create meaningful change for people with disabilities in a changing climate.

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 Alex Ghenis at https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-g-5b242421/

Guest Bio:
Alex Ghenis is the founder and Principal Consultant at Accessible Climate Strategies, the nation’s only consulting firm focused entirely on the intersection of disability and climate change. He began addressing disability climate justice in 2014 at the World Institute on Disability and has held other positions at Sustain Our Abilities and Climate Hive. Alex founded Accessible Climate Strategies in 2020 to better analyze disproportionate impacts and support disability-forward climate action. More info is available at www.accessibleclimate.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 Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players. 

Share your Field Stories!

Laura and Nic celebrate the Fourth of July with a lighthearted EPR Summer Camp minisode. Along the way, they connect summer camp nostalgia with environmental fieldwork, teamwork, patience, and the unpredictable fun of being outdoors.

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.

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 Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players. 

Share your Field Stories!

Laura and Nic interview Shannon Oelkers, owner and principal consultant at Integrity Environmental, about growing a business, using AI thoughtfully in environmental work, and how hiring is changing in an AI-driven world. They also dive into the complex energy and infrastructure challenges facing western Alaska, along with the memorable field experiences that come with working in some of the country’s most remote landscapes.

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 Shannon Oelkers at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-oelkers/

Guest Bio:
Shannon Oelkers is the owner and principal consultant for Integrity Environmental. Shannon previously worked at the State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation in the Contaminated Sites and Terminal / Tank Farms division, focusing on industrial environmental compliance. Shannon holds a bachelor's degree in Biological Science and a master's degree in Community Development from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and has more than a decade of experience inspecting and auditing bulk fuel tank farm operations. Shannon is also an MBA Instructor at Alaska Pacific University. Shannon is well-versed in the unique challenges of completing oil and gas related projects in Alaska.

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 Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players. 

Share your Field Stories!

Laura and Nic sit down with Alice Madden, Senior Director of Climate Strategies at the National Audubon Society, to talk about Colorado’s clean energy transformation, what it takes to lead progressive policy change, and how strong teams help turn big environmental goals into action. Along the way, Alice shares candid career advice on mentorship, fundraising, public service, and building a meaningful path in climate and conservation work.

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 Alice Madden at https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-madden-3868112b/

Guest Bio:
Alice Madden is the Senior Director of Climate Strategies for the National Audubon Society where she oversees efforts to achieve the organization’s strategic goal of influencing the responsible clean energy transition to abate climate change. An innovative changemaker, Alice brings several decades of success in developing and implementing groundbreaking policies in myriad areas, including clean energy, sustainability, environmental justice, land/water conservation, and climate action. 

Alice practiced law for a decade before serving in the Colorado House of Representatives. She is considered the architect of the 2004 progressive resurgence and as Majority Leader, Alice led the passage of an historic agenda – including implementing the means to grow a sweeping clean energy economy. She went on to become Gov. Bill Ritter’s Climate Change Advisor and was a Climate Fellow at the Center for American Progress in DC. She then held the Timothy E. Wirth Chair in Sustainable Development at the University of Colorado’s School of Public Affairs. In 2013, she accepted a high-level appointment in the Obama administration at the U.S. Department of Energy, serving as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Intergovernmental and External Affairs. Alice led the prestigious Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy & the Environment at University of Colorado School of Law. Just prior to joining Audubon, Alice served as Greenpeace USA’s first Policy & Political Director. 

Alice has always believed in giving back to her community and has served on multiple non-profit boards. In everything she does, Alice incorporates efforts to create broad collaborations, and to ensure equitable and inclusive support of women and historically under-represented populations.

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 Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players. 

Share your Field Stories!

Laura and Nic 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 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 Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players. 

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 Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players. 

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 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 Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players. 

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-59043019

Guest 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 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 Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players. 

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 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 Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players.