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Six years ago, ENGINEERING CH∆NGE® started with a simple idea: create the kind of conversation you might have over coffee with a colleague about the challenges—and opportunities—facing engineering and other STEM organizations.

In this season finale, my co-producer Quincy joins me behind the mic as we look back on six seasons of the podcast, the lessons learned along the way, and what might be next for ENGINEERING CH∆NGE®. We discuss why I shifted to a solo format for Season 5, how the companion ebook Engineering for Society influenced the season's content, the realities of producing a podcast while balancing a demanding professional life, and why some of this season's most difficult conversations were also the most important.

We also explore how the podcast has evolved from a focus on engineering education to broader conversations about organizational systems, leadership, culture, technology, and change—and why listeners both inside and outside STEM continue to connect with these topics.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The origins of "Grab a Latte and Listen"
• How ENGINEERING CH∆NGE® has evolved over six seasons
• Why Season 5 shifted to a solo format
• Lessons learned about balancing impact, perfectionism, and self-care
• The emotional story behind What Systems Lose When Fear Leads
• Why systemic challenges often appear in different forms but share common roots
• How the Engineering for Society ebook helped shape Season 5
• Possibilities for Season 6, including guest interviews, panel discussions, and research-to-practice conversations
• Why your feedback will help shape the future of the podcast

I'd Love to Hear From You
What topics, guests, challenges, or conversations would be most valuable to you in Season 6?

Use the fan mail link in the show notes and let me know. Your feedback will help shape the next chapter of ENGINEERING CH∆NGE®.

Resources
Request your FREE copy of the ebook, Engineering for Society at EngineeringChangePodcast.com

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ENGINEERING CHΔNGE® is a registered trademark held by Dr. Yvette E. Pearson for producing and providing podcasts.

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In this episode of ENGINEERING CH∆NGE®, I take a systems-centered look at one of the biggest conversations happening across engineering organizations and society right now: AI.

While many organizations are focused on AI models, tools, productivity, and technical readiness, this episode explores a deeper question:

What happens when AI is introduced into systems that already struggle with communication gaps, lack of trust, inequitable processes, or flawed decision-making?

Drawing on examples from industry and recent research, we'll discuss:

• The disconnects AI adoption is exposing between leaders and employees
• How AI acts as an amplifier within organizational systems
• Why “human in the loop” must involve accountability, not just oversight
• How people-centered organizational systems shape AI outcomes
• Systems-level questions leaders should be asking before scaling AI adoption

I also introduce MESA® (Measure, Evaluate, Strategize, Act), a framework we use at The PEER Group to help organizations navigate change and continuous improvement.

If you’ve been thinking about AI primarily as a technology issue, this episode invites you to consider the organizational systems shaping what AI will ultimately produce.

Grab a latte and listen.

Request your free copy of the ebook Engineering for Society at engineeringchangepodcast.com.

If this conversation resonates with you, follow ENGINEERING CH∆NGE® and leave a five-star review to help more engineers and leaders join the conversation.

Support the show

ENGINEERING CHΔNGE® is a registered trademark held by Dr. Yvette E. Pearson for producing and providing podcasts.

Send us Fan Mail

Is engineering really a meritocracy?

We’re taught that hard work, strong performance, and clear metrics determine who advances. But what if the system isn’t as objective as it seems?

In this episode of ENGINEERING CH∆NGE®, I break down how “merit” is often interpreted, or even manufactured, not measured and how the systems we trust to evaluate performance can actully distort it.

In this episode:

• Why performance without context is incomplete and often misinterpreted.
• How shifting standards and uneven scrutiny reshape who advances.
• What happens when metrics become targets and start driving behavior instead of reflecting impact.

Through real-world examples - from internship decisions to NSF review panels - this episode reveals how evaluation systems can manufacture merit instead of measure it.

If you’ve ever questioned how decisions really get made in academia, engineering, or leadership, this conversation will change how you see performance, potential, and fairness.

Ask yourself:
Are we rewarding true impact, or just what’s easiest to measure?

Grab a latte and listen.

If this conversation resonates with you, follow ENGINEERING CH∆NGE® and leave a five-star review to help more engineers and leaders join the conversation.

Visit the ENGINEERING CH∆NGE® podcast website to learn more and to request a free copy of my new brief, Engineering for Society.

Support the show

ENGINEERING CHΔNGE® is a registered trademark held by Dr. Yvette E. Pearson for producing and providing podcasts.