The Big Blue Rock Pod

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Ep. 58: From the Archive – Remembering Dr. Bill Haneberg, Kentucky State Geologist and KGS Director Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

It is with heavy hearts that we share the sad news of the sudden passing of Dr. William (Bill) Haneberg, former Kentucky state geologist and director of the 13th Kentucky Geological Survey (2016–2023).

Bill brought together experts from multiple academic disciplines to address complex geological problems. He placed a strong emphasis on engaging societal stakeholders and translating scientific information about hazards and risks into knowledge that could be understood and used by the people and communities who needed it.

We are deeply grateful for the time Bill spent at KGS serving the Commonwealth of Kentucky and advancing our mission-driven science. In his honor, we are re-releasing the August 2022 episode, which featured Bill as our guest. In this episode, Matt, Sarah, Doug, and Bill discuss the future of the KGS and geological surveys.

Ep. 57: Museum of Natural History and Artificial Curiosities Aug 31, 2026

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Matt, Sarah, and Doug talk with UK Art Museum Curator Rachel Hooper and KGS Public Resources Coordinator Cheyenne Hohman. They discuss a brand-new exhibit at the UK Art Museum called the “Museum of Natural History and Artificial Curiosities.” They get into the origin of the exhibit, UK president John Bowman, scientific collections, The Henry Clay Estate, items on display, hair balls, shark jaws, and much more!

Ep. 56: Digging the Lake Core Life Jul 30, 2026

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Matt, Sarah, and Doug talk with KGS geologist Bailee Hodlka. They discuss Quaternary limnology, lakes in the Sierra Nevada, aquatic ecology, ostrocodes, environmental geology, tools for investigating stratigraphy of lakes, Lake Metropolis, and much more!

Ep. 55: Water, water everywhere, And every problem unique Jun 30, 2026

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Matt, Sarah, and Doug talk with KGS geologist Chuck Tayor. They discuss karst hydrogeology, karst vs. other aquifer types, tools for groundwater monitoring, the KGS groundwater monitoring network, Burgin, KY., protecting groundwater resources, our favorite karst terrains, and much more!

Ep. 54: The Enviropod Pod: Teaching Earth Science in a Changing World May 27, 2026

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Matt, Sarah, and Doug talk with Earth and Environmental Sciences Department Senior Lecturer Summer Brown. They discuss earth science education, teaching, how scientists connect to stakeholders, natural hazard anxiety, the NSF EPSCoR-funded project CLIMBS and the Enviropods Program, the future of earth science education, and much more!

Ep. 53: From Seam to Ash: A Career in Coal Apr 29, 2026

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Matt, Sarah, and Doug talk with world-renowned applied energy researcher Jim Hower. They discuss the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research, coal petrology, coal research, the Fire Clay coal, sampling coal, sampling coal-fired power plants, fly ash, rare earth elements, and the future of applied energy research.

Ep. 52: New Harmonizing with Dr. Cobb Mar 31, 2026

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Matt, Sarah, and Doug speak with former KGS Director and State Geologist Jim Cobb. They talk about James Hutton, New Harmony, Indiana, the job of a State Geologist, the 12th Geological Survey at KGS, digital data dissemination, the legend of Dr. Paul Potter, loving our jobs, and much more!

Ep. 51: Friction and Fjords: Curling Stones and The Wave Feb 27, 2026

Show notes

Jam packed show! Fresh of the Winter Olympics, Matt, Sarah, and Doug discuss the geology of curling stones. Next, back by popular demand (not really), they break down another Norwegian geology disaster film and discuss the 2015 film The Wave. They discuss rockslide-induced tsunamis, challenges of modeling unstable slopes and potential tsunamis, fjords, rockslope monitoring, geologists who are hoarders, and much more!
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Ep. 50: Lakes, Diatoms, and DNA: Will You Be My Valentine? Feb 06, 2026

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50th Episode! Matt, Doug, and Sarah talk to UK Earth & Environmental Sciences Professor Trisha Spanbauer. The discuss lakes, paleolimnology, lake sediment as proxies for global environmental change, ancient environmental DNA, biodiversity, ecological and molecular evolution, Lake Titicaca, promise of a.e.DNA sequencing, algae and art, and much more!

Ep. 49: Seeing what you can't see with geophysics Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

Matt, Doug, and Sarah talk with UK Earth & Environmental Sciences Professor Ed Woolery. The discuss near surface geophysics, shear wave propagation, imaging technique limitations, blind faults, applied geophysics, department chair duties, Ed’s geophysics heroes and much more!

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