In this season premiere of The Mappiest Hour, Tee and Silas return after a 19-month hiatus to unpack the wild ride that was 2020. The duo catches up on major life changes, including cross-country moves, new jobs at Verisk and Kinetic Eye, and navigating the new normal of remote work with kids and cats in tow. They discuss the profound impact of the pandemic on the geospatial industry, from the rise of dashboards and real-time data to the sudden ubiquity of "flattening the curve." With candid reflections on surviving lockdown, the evolution of their careers, and why "leveling up" is the theme for 2021, this episode sets the stage for a new season of exploring the ever-changing world of maps, tech, and the people who make them.

It all begins with an idea.

In this episode of The Mappiest Hour, Tee and Silas are joined by Vanessa Knoppke-Wetzel to explore the shifting landscape of modern mapmaking. Vanessa traces her fascinating career pivot from digging in the dirt as an archaeologist to designing digital worlds at Mapbox, illustrating how the definition of a "cartographer" has expanded in the age of neogeography. The trio discusses the democratization of design through tools like Mapbox Studio, arguing that making maps "look cool" isn't just about aesthetics—it's a critical component of effective communication. Tune in for a passionate conversation about overcoming imposter syndrome, the value of community mentorship, and why, with the right tools, we are indeed all cartographers now.

Linda Stevens (Hecht) discusses her career at ESRI, the future of GIS, and the role of Open Source Spatial in that future.