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What if the future of AI depends on understanding where, not just what? In this episode, I’m joined by Justus Killian, partner at Space Capital, one of the only VC firms focused entirely on geospatial and space-based tech. We dive into why geospatial data is no longer niche, how satellites became billion-dollar businesses, and why the next wave of AI breakthroughs could come from those who understand location. We also unpack the evolving venture landscape, the rise of geo-embeddings, and how spatial data is finally moving beyond the map into real-time decision-making.

Whether you're building LLMs, funding the next Planet Labs, or just curious about how Earth is being mapped in ways you’ve never seen, this one's for you.

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💨 Sign up for the Modern GIS Accelerator ➡️ https://forrest.nyc/accelerator ⬅️

In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest challenges holding back GIS professionals today: the technician trap. Sparked by a real-world job posting from one of the world’s richest tech companies—offering just $20–$22 an hour for a GIS contract role—we explore what this means for the broader industry.

Why are highly skilled spatial professionals being underpaid, and what separates a $45K contractor from a $300K geospatial data engineer? The answer lies in how you position yourself—and whether your work is seen as project-based execution or strategic value creation.

We’ll unpack:

• The pay disparity across GIS roles and what it reveals
• How entry-level positions can set the wrong trajectory
• Why spatial skills alone aren’t enough without systems thinking
• The mindset shift needed to break free from being "just a mapmaker"
• How to move from being a button-pusher to a strategic stakeholder

Whether you're just entering the GIS field or feeling stuck in your current role, this episode offers a candid look at how to grow your career by aligning technical skills with business impact—and why it's time to expect more from GIS roles.

🎧 Plus: Learn about the Modern GIS Accelerator, a program designed to help you scale your skills and reframe your career path.

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💨 Sign up for the Modern GIS Accelerator ➡️ https://forrest.nyc/accelerator ⬅️

Feeling stuck in your GIS career? You're not alone. In this episode, we dive deep into the common challenges GIS professionals face and how to break free from the "technician trap." Discover actionable strategies to transition from a support role to a strategic contributor, adding greater value to your organization.

We'll explore how to shift your mindset from focusing solely on deliverables to emphasizing outcomes. Learn how to identify your technical passions, specialize effectively, and position yourself as a leader in your field. Whether you're aiming to build a standout portfolio, land a promotion, or pivot into a new GIS role, this episode offers practical insights to help you achieve your goals.

Plus, hear real-world examples of how GIS professionals have transformed their careers by applying these principles. Tune in and start unlocking the next level in your GIS journey!

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What if you could stop wrangling geospatial data, and just get to the good part?

In this episode, I sit down with Rob Fletcher, Chief Science Officer at Seer AI, to talk about one of the biggest blockers in geospatial today: accessing and integrating the right data, at the right time, in the right format.

Rob shares his journey from doing particle physics at CERN to pioneering spatial data infrastructure, and how Seer AI is building what he calls a “CDN for geospatial data.”

We dive into:

🌍 Why the biggest challenge in GIS isn’t analysis—it's finding and formatting data
💡 The danger of agreeing to analytics projects without knowing what's possible
🛠️ Why Seer AI chose graph technology to organize spatial data across sources
⚡ How a "side project" dashboard became essential to real-time disaster response
📊 Bridging the gap between GIS teams and business analysts

Whether you're working in local government, disaster response, sustainability, or just tired of managing messy spatial data, this episode will change how you think about building modern GIS workflows.

🔗 Learn more about Seer AI: https://seer.ai
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In this episode, we sit down with David Price, GIS Project Manager for Wood County, Ohio, to explore the evolving landscape of modern GIS. David’s journey into geospatial wasn’t a traditional one—he started in data analytics before discovering GIS, a shift that completely changed his career trajectory.

We dive into:

🔹 Why GIS education is falling behind and how universities are missing the mark
🔹 The critical skills GIS professionals need today (Hint: It’s more than just mapping)
🔹 The debate: Do you really need to learn to code to stay competitive?
🔹 Open-source vs. Esri: Why a hybrid approach is the future of GIS
🔹 The power of real-time data, automation, and APIs in GIS workflows

David shares his experiences managing an enterprise GIS system, adapting to new geospatial technologies, and why he believes learning SQL and Python can future-proof your GIS career.

If you’re a GIS professional, student, or just someone interested in the future of geospatial technology, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

Is there a future in GIS? How can you break past the salary ceilings and position yourself for long-term success? In this episode, we dive into the realities of GIS careers, salaries, and strategies to help you grow.

🔹 Why GIS salaries often lag behind similar data roles
🔹 The Technician Trap—how GIS is often seen as a support role rather than a strategic function
🔹 Skills that matter—Python, SQL, and cloud-native GIS for career flexibility
🔹 How to position yourself as a problem-solver, not just an executor
🔹 Tangible steps to accelerate your career without switching jobs

GIS is an exciting field, but to truly thrive, you need to think beyond maps and spatial analysis—you need to be strategic. Tune in to learn how to showcase your skills, position yourself for growth, and maximize your career growth.

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Wildfires are getting more intense, yet many people in Los Angeles had no idea the fire was near them—until they saw the smoke. Despite all our advancements in geospatial technology, disaster response still struggles with timely alerts, real-time data access, and predictive modeling.

In this episode, I sit down with Mina Nada, a remote sensing specialist, to explore what went wrong during the recent LA wildfires and how geospatial tools like satellite imagery, fire modeling, and risk mapping can improve future disaster response. We break down why current wildfire alerts are failing, what GIS professionals can do to fix it, and how earth observation data plays a critical role in mitigating fire disasters.

If you’re in GIS, remote sensing, emergency management, or just curious about the future of fire detection, this conversation is packed with insights you don’t want to miss.

🔥 Topics Covered:
✔️ Why wildfire alerts failed during the LA fires
✔️ How satellite imagery tracks wildfires in real-time
✔️ The role of GIS in predicting and responding to fires
✔️ Challenges in making wildfire data more accessible
✔️ What we need to do to prevent future wildfire disasters

For years, geospatial professionals have been forced to download massive datasets—only to discard most of the data. It’s an outdated, inefficient process that slows down analysis and limits scalability. But a major shift is happening. Cloud-native geospatial is transforming how we store, access, and process spatial data, making it faster, more efficient, and accessible to everyone.

In this episode, I sit down with Jed Sundewald, Executive Director of Radiant Earth, to explore how the Cloud-Native Geospatial Forum is shaping the future of GIS, the evolution of cloud-optimized formats like COGs and STAC, and what this means for GIS professionals, developers, and decision-makers.

Whether you're new to cloud-native geospatial or looking to optimize your data workflows, this conversation will give you a front-row seat to the future of geospatial technology.

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🏔️ Attend the Cloud Native Geospatial Forum in April ➡️ https://2025-ut.cloudnativegeo.org/ ⬅️

🔑 Topics Covered:

✔️ Why traditional geospatial workflows are inefficient
✔️ The rise of cloud-native geospatial formats (COGs, STAC, and more)
✔️ How cloud-native GIS benefits both small and large-scale users
✔️ The role of the Cloud-Native Geospatial Forum and upcoming events
✔️ How to integrate cloud-native principles into your geospatial stack