How do you get to know the newest leader of the premier right of way trade association? An interview with Infrastructure Junkies, of course! In this episode, Dave and Kristen interview Denise Skinner, the incoming International Right of Way Association (IRWA) president. They discuss Denise's motivation for assuming such a significant leadership rol…

In this episode of Infrastructure Junkies, your hosts are joined by guests Matt Harris and Ray Mehler to discuss various topics related to right-of-way professionals and pop culture. The first theme discussed is relocation, with the hosts and guests sharing their experiences and insights on becoming relocation experts. The second theme revolves aro…

The best way to understand why we have our standard eminent domain laws and procedures may be to learn through a good story. Houston attorney Bobby Debelak of the law firm McDowell Hetherington joins Infrastructure Junkies to tell the story of Robert Moses, who amassed incredible power despite never being elected to a public office. Morris utilized…

A right of way professional cannot overlook the importance of a good title search. Keri Dupey from HDR, Inc. joins Infrastructure Junkies to explain and review the significance of title searches, title reports and title examinations of property subject to condemnation or eminent domain. This episode was generously sponsored by Pendulum Land Service…

The popular Eminent Domain Podcast signed off after a successful six year run. The Eminent Domain Podcast's host, Texas attorney Clint Schumacher, joins the Infrastructure Junkies to reflect upon his show, his experiences, and all that he learned from being the pioneer podcast for the eminent domain industry. Listen in while Clint is on the busines…

Christina Thoreson, Anthony Alderman and Ross Greene return to Infrastructure Junkies for more! Will eminent domain and right of way appraisers be replaced by artificial intelligence ( "AI" )? Can AI supplement or improve appraisal methodology? Wouldn't the use of AI remove inherent human bias in testimony? The group also discusses the sales compar…

Infrastructure Junkies invited two of their favorite real estate appraisers, Christina Thoreson and Anthony Alderman, to discuss a variety of hot appraisal topics encountered in right of way acquisitions and eminent domain cases. Attorney Ross Greene (Mr. "chicken sacrificing voodoo" himself) infuses the conversation with more than his fair share o…

Shant Boyajian of Nossaman, LLP joins the Infrastructure Junkies to update listeners on the progress of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Has this funding caused the dramatic boom in the right of way industry as predicted? What projects are being funded and how? Have there been any surprises? Is this just the beginning or is the money run…

Eminent domain can seem oppressive and unfair. The American system of compulsory acquisition features constitutional restrictions and obligations, as well as numerous duties imposed on condemning authorities and rights conferred upon impacted landowners. Our right of way acquisition process has come a long way, yet imperfections persist. Do we have…

Renowned Author Howard Mansfield returns to Infrastructure Junkies to discuss two more chapters of his book, The Habit of Turning the World Upside Down. In this Season 4 finale, Howard tackles "The Last Medieval Claim" by recounting some of the earliest battles for American soil which occurred in the courts across the ocean, and involved people who…

Dominion Energy Senior Counsel Karla Carter joins Infrastructure Junkies to discuss the complicated history of heirs property issues. What exactly is "heirs property"? What are the effects--both intended and unintended--on certain segments of the American population? What are our obligations to heirs property in the right of way context? When conde…

Southeastern Virginia is comprised of seven cities, each of which is waterfront, and many of which are separated by large bodies of water. The Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel was constructed in the mid 1950's to connect Norfolk and Virginia Beach with Newport News and Hampton without obstructing marine traffic. The Virginia Department of Transportation…

A controversial and sometimes shady right of way project may be single-handedly responsible for the City of Los Angeles as we know it, and all that it represents. The Los Angeles Aqueduct, the brain child of William Mulholland and Fred Eaton, miraculously transformed a sleepy oil town into a world famous metropolis. Armchair Engineer Adam Ratliff (…

Waterfront property lawyer Bryan Peeples joins the Infrastructure Junkies to discuss exclusive rights enjoyed by waterfront property owners -- better known as "riparian property rights". Bryan explains that riparian rights are valuable real property rights which, in most cases, cannot be taken without just compensation. Bryan defines each of the fi…

Incoming International Right of Way Association President Fred Easton joins the Infrastructure Junkies to discuss his vision for the upcoming term. Fred brings his philosophies and grand plans to the discussion table, as well as his passion for education within the organization. Listen in to get to know Fred Easton better, and don't miss the specia…

In anticipation of our mid-season finale with incoming International Right of Way Association President Fred Easton, we are re-releasing an entertaining and controversial interview with Jake Farrell, who took the reigns of the IRWA at the San Antonio conference in 2021.By Dave Arnold, Kristen Short Bennett

Renowned author Howard Mansfield returns to Infrastructure Junkies to discuss two more chapters of his fabulous book, The Habit of Turning the World Upside Down. Listeners met Howard in the kickoff episode of Season 4 when he brought us tales of attempts to drain the Great Dismal Swamp and the Ballad of Romaine Tenney. This time Howard discusses "T…

In this 5th installment of the Infrastructure Junkies Roundtable series, your hosts invite some young(er) right of way professionals to share what's on their mind in this popular format. You know the routine...everyone brings one topic in right of way, and one in pop culture and the group discusses. Listen in to some outstanding insight about the w…

Infrastructure Junkies host TikTok sensation and co-influencer, the Armchair Engineer to lead them through an examination of what is perhaps America's greatest infrastructure marvel of all time, the Hoover Dam. Listen in to learn about the taming of the wild and wonderous Colorado River and political jockeying for water allocation among the seven s…

It's difficult to imagine that just a century ago, airplane contrails were never seen in the sky. There was no airline industry to speak of. In 1900, airplanes did not even exist. Now we live in a world that relies on safe and reliable air travel. What was the genesis of our massive airline infrastructure? Professor Greg Jackson from the "History T…

Environmental attorney Jim Lang joins the Infrastructure Junkies to educate us on wetlands and their effects on a right of way project, infrastructure development or property acquired by eminent domain. How do you define wetlands, and what the heck are they? How are wetlands identified? Why are wetlands important? How are wetlands regulated? And wh…

One year after last season's blockbuster episode about the challenges of the oil & gas and pipeline industries, renowned energy lawyer Tom Forestier returns to Infrastructure Junkies to update us on the current prospects of that industry. Just as it wasn't over "when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor", rumors of the demise of the oil and gas industry…

New Jersey's Owner's Counsel of America representative, Tony DellaPelle, re-joins Infrastructure Junkies! to discuss his front line experience on a serious issue that is not going away for coastal communities and residents--storm damage. Tony describes the unexpected devastation of Hurricane Sandy to the Jersey Shore back in 2012, and the reactions…

The Infrastructure Junkies team up with Clint Schumacher of the Eminent Domain Podcast to bring you a very special joint episode with a superstar guest. Two term Mayor of Austin, Texas, Steve Adler, joins your three hosts to discuss his time as Mayor of one of America's most vibrant and progressive cities. What was it like to lead the charge on hug…

Renowned author Howard Mansfield joins Infrastructure Junkies! to explain his fascinating book on property rights, The Habit of Turning the World Upside Down. Mansfield details the odd and sometimes disturbing relationship Americans have with land and real property, and brings forth two compelling stories from his book. He details the tragic demise…

This is a leaked episode of our other podcast, Infrastructure Junkies Unfiltered! which can be found at the Infrastructure Junkies Website under "Exclusive Content". Fred Easton joined IJ Unfiltered to discuss his experiences as an expert witness in eminent domain cases. Believe it or not, Fred was once fired as an expert witness on a legal case fo…

The most interesting man in right of way, Donnie Sherwood, presents some of his more colorful personal experiences in appraisal assignments. Learn how he handled timber cruises to value trees on a tract of property which was being acquired by a state agency, and the snakes, hogs, spiders, rats and other terrifying creatures that he encountered alon…

In this fascinating discussion about various issues encountered in right of way or eminent domain appraisal assignments with our good friends Brian O'Neill and David Burgoyne, Infrastructure Junkies! takes a deep dive on what's hot in the industry. Our guests educate us on the purpose and mechanics of review appraisals, which is an opinion on the q…

Welcome to the fourth installment of Infrastructure Junkies Roundtable with Wade Brown of American Acquisition Group and Ross Greene with Pender & Coward's Eminent Domain Practice Group. You know the routine...everyone brings one right of way issue and one pop culture topic that is on their mind, and magic ensues! This time, we delve into the bread…

In this special bonus episode, Dave and Kristen leak an episode of their brand new subscription only podcast "Infrastructure Junkies Unfiltered!" Unfiltered is a weekly show that consists largely of discussion and analysis of hot topics in right of way and eminent domain, pop culture, and everyday life and well being. In this leaked episode, Dave a…

Despite the best of intentions (and in spite of careful planning), agencies must sometime cancel a right of way project. When a project is cancelled, what lies in the aftermath? Does it matter how far along the project had progressed? What if eminent domain had already been used? Does acquisition by quick take vs. slow take make a difference? And w…

We know that IIJA will pump TRILLIONS of dollars into the American infrastructure industry, but aside from the dollars being invested, what effects can we expect? Infrastructure Junkies! invited Philip Sanchez, a New York attorney with the law firm of Herrick, Feinstein, LLP, to the show to give us the lowdown on what to expect...and you better buc…

Do you want to talk relocation assistance under the Uniform Relocation Act? You have come to the right place! Join Infrastructure Junkies! as Kristen Bennett takes us on a deep dive into the differences between moving, reestablishment, and ineligible relocation expenses. This episode was inspired by a recent encounter with a move planner, and Krist…

Infrastructure Junkies! returns for the second half of Season 3, highlighting the International Right of Way Association International Conference in Cleveland, a trip to Podcast Movement in Dallas, and plans for the future and upcoming events for our listeners! Find out what happened over the summer and what is in store going forward.…

The Infrastructure Junkies! invited President Judy Jones to center stage to explain how and why she assumed the helm a year earlier than originally planned. Is she ready? Did she need another year to prepare? Learn more about her unlikely path to this position, her philosophies, leadership style and her goals for the International Right of Way Asso…

Infrastructure Junkies! welcome back Professor Greg Jackson from the History that Doesn't Suck Podcast to tell you a story about one of the greatest infrastructure marvels in American History: the transcontinental railroad. Learn about the reasons why our young country so desperately needed this new infrastructure development, how it was set up as …

Appraiser Bob Grace joins Infrastructure Junkies! to discuss the wild and wonderful world of fixtures in the right of way field. The appraiser's first encounter with items in the acquisition inspection will set the stage for how certain "things" are handled throughout the eminent domain process. Are they realty or are they personal property? And wh…

For the first time ever, The Eminent Domain Podcast and Infrastructure Junkies! team up for a JOINT EPISODE which examines the nuts and bolts of IIJA. We focus on how and when it will affect our industry, where the funding is going--and where it's not. Attorney Jeremy Young has studied the landmark legislation and provides your hosts a wonderful an…

Indian property rights scholar Bethany Berger, a professor at the University of Connecticut School of Law, joins Infrastructure Junkies! to explain the intersection between Indian rights and right of way projects and infrastructure development in the United States. She discusses the derivation of Indian property interests, how Indian reservations w…

Tom Forestier, a partner with Winstead, PC, has represented some of the largest companies in the oil and gas industry for his entire career. Tom joins Infrastructure Junkies! to discuss how the oil and gas industry has lost public support, the disfavor of fossil fuels, and the difficulty of building pipelines in this new era. And did someone mentio…

Your hosts explore application of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended, to businesses impacted by a right of way or eminent domain project. Martyn Daniel, an eminent domain and business relocation consultant and Brandee Caswell, an attorney who assists large companies with complex relocati…

Two of the best and most successful property rights (landowner) eminent domain attorneys in the United States, Andrew Prince Brigham (Jacksonville) and Christian Torgrimson (Atlanta), join Infrastructure Junkies! to share their perspectives from the other side. Along the way, they discuss what attracted them to defending landowners, their perspecti…

Infrastructure Junkies! kicks off Season 3 with a blockbuster roundtable with special guests Lisa Harrison and Marcus Boyd. Tune in to consider hardline negotiations in right of way, silver linings in relocation benefits, the need for diversity in the right of way industry and whether the infrastructure industry is really ready to "go green". Along…

Patrick McCallister joins the IJs to discuss his education outreach to recruit the next generation of Infrastructure Junkies as well as his new Eminent Domain and Right of Way Clubhouse. "Tish" from Boots, Bibles and Scrapbookin'! Podcast breaks into the studio and takes the interview into her own hands. Hilarity ensues.…

Professor Tanya D. Marsh from Wake Forest University School of Law teaches the only law school course on cemetery and funeral law in the United States. She joins the Infrastructure Junkies to educate us all on what to do if human remains lie in the path of a right of way project. How can graves be condemned through eminent domain? Does a corpse hav…

Professor Greg Jackson returns to finish the gripping story of how the Brooklyn Bridge was designed and constructed. This American infrastructure marvel represented the greatest right of way feat of its time and set the standard for bridge engineering going forward.By Dave Arnold, Kristen Bennett

Check out the wondrous story of the greatest American infrastructure achievement of the 19th Century: the Brooklyn Bridge. Professor Greg Jackson of the wildly popular History That Doesn't Suck podcast joins the Infrastructure Junkies! to bring the story of our nation's greatest infrastructure marvel to life. Listen to how the brilliant John Roebli…

Do you have a "hot" infrastructure project with heavy media scrutiny? Has the use of eminent domain become controversial...or has the landowner utilized the media or politicians to weaponize its case? Are some impacted property owners a hotter potato than others? Join Infrastructure Junkies' fascinating interview of PR expert Brian Daskam, who guid…

Yes, you heard it right. Almost 20 years ago, Jeff Meader suffered a very unfortunate and stressful experience involving eminent domain. But this savvy entrepreneur took the proceeds from that painful process and turned his nightmare into a dream come true for himself and his family...and the Eminent Domaine Winery was born. If you are interested i…

Cyndi "Julie" Whelpley and Koby "Seth" Godwin join your hosts, Kristen "Courtney" Bennett and Dave "Chad Harwicke" Arnold for the next exciting right of way / eminent domain roundtable! (Why exactly do they all have "bar names"?) Topics in this exciting episode include property rights on Indian reservations, the importance of title reports, muli-ge…