What happens when a heated LinkedIn debate turns into a real conversation?

In this episode, I sit down with Kyle Satterfield, GISP, after a spirited online exchange about geospatial tools — specifically, the classic open-source versus Esri debate.

What started as a back-and-forth in the comments became a deeper conversation about the choices we make in GIS: buy versus build, custom versus out-of-the-box, IT-driven versus GIS-led approaches, and how the right answer isn’t always as simple as we make it seem online.

Kyle shares candid stories from his work launching GIS programs at the county level, navigating the tug-of-war between IT departments, administrators, and GIS teams. We talk about the value of fast wins, the realities of budgets and buy-in, and why sometimes being "boxed in" by a platform can be a good thing.

This episode isn’t about who’s right — it’s about getting past the hot takes and hearing real perspectives from both sides of the geospatial world.

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Why is geospatial data still stuck in its own world — and what will it take to finally integrate it with the rest of the data ecosystem?

In this episode, I talk with Javier de la Torre, founder of Carto and one of the original architects of modern spatial analytics. We explore the history of GIS as a siloed discipline, the cost that isolation has had on the industry (and professionals), and how open formats like GeoParquet are finally changing the game.

Javier shares his journey from biodiversity research to building Carto, insights from working with major cloud platforms, and the behind-the-scenes story of how geospatial data became a first-class citizen in the analytics world.

If you've ever wrestled with incompatible file formats, siloed teams, or the slow pace of innovation in GIS — this conversation will feel like a breath of fresh air.

We cover:

Why GIS has been isolated for decades
The hidden costs of geospatial silos
How GeoParquet was born — and what it changes
What it means to make spatial data “just a join away”
The future of cloud-native geospatial

Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of spatial, data, and innovation.

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What if the way we map the Earth is reinforcing the very inequalities we aim to solve?

In this episode of The Spatial Stack, I sit down with Dr. Nadine Alameh, one of the most influential voices in geospatial and AI for Earth. With a background spanning NASA, the United Nations, and the Open Geospatial Consortium, Nadine brings a unique systems-level perspective to the urgent question: Who gets to define the map?

We dive into:

How AI models can fail without local context and community input
The tensions between global institutions and grassroots data efforts
The importance of open tools, inclusive standards, and rethinking what “ground truth” really means
What it will take to make Earth intelligence equitable, actionable, and trustworthy

Whether you’re building geospatial systems, training machine learning models, or working on climate and land use policy, this conversation will reshape how you think about data, power, and place.

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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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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
🎧 Subscribe for more episodes on the future of geospatial

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!