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.

The biggest risk on any project isn’t underground—it’s in the decisions we make.
In this episode, Aaron Mann reveals how optimism bias, loss aversion, and overconfidence can quietly unravel even themost skilled teams. We talk about why smart people are more vulnerable than they think, and how leaders can build cultures that resist bias and protect judgment under pressure.
If you’ve ever led through uncertainty, this episode will hit home. Because no matter how strong your design, a single blind spot can bring it all down.

Nature’s Armor: Where biology meets geotechnical innovation
What if soil could protect itself?
In this episode of ROCK SOLID LEADERS, I talk with Dr. Brina Montoya of NC State to explore how microbes can turn sand into stone through a process called bio-cementation. From wave tank studies showing bio-cemented dunes resistinghurricane waves to field trials that balance plant growth and soil stability, Dr. Montoya’s research is reshaping the way we defend coastlines, slopes, and infrastructure.
This is more than science—it’s a new vision of resilience, built not with concrete and steel, but with biology itself.

Innovation in geotechnical engineering doesn’t come easy—Mary Nodine shares the wins, the pushback, and the promise of Measurement While Drilling (MWD).A discussion with Mary Nodine in advance of her presentation at GeoCarolinas.