Buried Risks: When the Ground Rewrites the Plan

A shipwreck under a city block.
A bulkhead failing in a storm.
A sensor that says “stop—now.”

In this episode of ROCK SOLID LEADERS, Damian Siebert (Haley & Aldrich) takes us inside urban geotechnical work where surprises are guaranteed and decisions can’t wait.

You’ll hear:

• The enabling work that quietly makes—or breaks—projects

• How real-time monitoring can change the course of a project

• What it takes to deliver bad news and keep trust

• Designs that fail safely when the unknown shows up

• Why denser cities and aging utilities raise the stakes

If you build in cities, this is your field manual for the ground you can’t see.

The ground never lies — but it doesn’t always tell the whole story.

On this episode of ROCK SOLID LEADERS, I sit down with Dr. Ellen Rathje (University of Texas at Austin) to uncover the seismic truth behind earthquake risk.

Ellen reveals:

• Why small details determine survival or collapse

• How new tools are reshaping seismic risk assessment

• What past earthquakes teach us about preparing for the next one

If you’ve ever wondered how we design for resilience when nature calls the shots, this is the seismic truth you need to hear.

Deep Foundations: Paul Axtell on Drilled Shafts

What really holds up our biggest bridges?

In this episode, Paul Axtell (Dan Brown and Associates) talks about drilled shafts, field challenges, and the mindset required to lead in geotechnical engineering.

A conversation about risk, resilience, and building strength from the ground down.