EPISODE · May 11, 2026 · 1H 12M
Brent Everett on Environmental Cleanup, Civic Duty, and Teaching
from Roots and Branches of Lehi: The People and Stories of Our City · host Work Harding
How do everyday public servants quietly shape the health, growth, and future of a community?In this episode of Roots and Branches of Lehi, host Ryan Harding sits down with Brent Everett to explore a career built around environmental stewardship, civic responsibility, and education. From growing up in Fresno, California, to studying geology at BYU and building a lifelong career in Utah, Brent shares how curiosity about the natural world led him into decades of public service.Brent offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at his work with the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, where he served as director of the Division of Environmental Response and Remediation. He explains the realities of environmental cleanup efforts, including Superfund sites, petroleum storage tanks, emergency response, recycling challenges, and brownfield redevelopment.The episode also explores Brent’s nearly decade-long service on the Lehi Planning Commission, where he reflects on the complexities of public process, growth, zoning debates, and the importance of local civic engagement. Alongside his environmental work, Brent spent roughly 30 years teaching anatomy labs as an adjunct instructor at Utah Valley University, helping generations of students develop confidence and discipline in the classroom.📌 Interested in stories about leadership, public service, and community growth? Subscribe for more Roots and Branches of Lehi episodes celebrating the people shaping Lehi’s future.🏡 Brought to you by Work Hard Mortgage — helping families go from renting to rooted.⏱ Key Moments in This Episode• 00:00 – Podcast Welcome• 00:37 – Meet Brent Everett• 00:49 – California Roots & Moving to Utah• 03:16 – Why He Chose Geology• 04:51 – Transition Into Environmental Work• 06:55 – DEQ Career Overview• 09:31 – Superfund Sites & Cleanup Projects• 13:16 – Balancing Regulation & Growth• 18:05 – Recycling Challenges & Brownfields• 21:01 – Federal Policy Changes & Impact• 26:11 – Civic Duty & a Memorable Voting Story• 29:58 – Serving on the Lehi Planning Commission• 35:05 – How Planning Decisions Actually Work• 36:35 – Why Local Service Matters• 37:02 – Misconceptions About Planning Commissions• 37:33 – Fallout from a Gas Station Hearing• 41:04 – Mining Site Public Meeting• 44:23 – Working Through Public Disagreement• 47:18 – Lehi’s Growth & Community Tradeoffs• 50:39 – Teaching Anatomy at UVU• 55:49 – Student Motivation & Learning Mindsets• 59:59 – Staying Busy Through Service• 01:08:27 – Ordinary People Making Big Impacts• 01:11:34 – Closing Thoughts & Sponsors👣 Related Topics:Environmental Cleanup • Utah DEQ • Public Service • Lehi Planning Commission • Community Growth • Civic Engagement • Geology Careers • Environmental Protection • Anatomy Education • Roots and Branches of Lehi🎧 Listen to More Roots & Branches of LehiApple: [https://apple.co/40J53Ln](https://apple.co/40J53Ln)Spotify: [https://open.spotify.com/show/7BC8a3YpULFYMSRgtfqF7v](https://open.spotify.com/show/7BC8a3YpULFYMSRgtfqF7v)YouTube Playlist: [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlz4rzd_rsGZcR4Kscsck4ez_bWSLCuwM](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlz4rzd_rsGZcR4Kscsck4ez_bWSLCuwM)🏠Ready to go from renting to rooted?✔️ Want to know the value of your home? → [https://workharding.hifello.com/lp/6888f21970143a6397c98ea4](https://workharding.hifello.com/lp/6888f21970143a6397c98ea4)✔️ Curious how much home you can afford? → [https://workharding.com/affordability-calculator.php](https://workharding.com/affordability-calculator.php)✔️ Take the 60-second Homebuyer Readiness Quiz → [https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/survey/aAl6tzfvetiS329QNypM](https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/survey/aAl6tzfvetiS329QNypM)#RootsAndBranches #LehiUtah #PublicService #EnvironmentalProtection #CommunityGrowth #UtahDEQ #WorkHardMortgage #FromRentingToRooted #CivicEngagement #Education
What this episode covers
How do everyday public servants quietly shape the health, growth, and future of a community?In this episode of Roots and Branches of Lehi, host Ryan Harding sits down with Brent Everett to explore a career built around environmental stewardship, civic responsibility, and education. From growing up in Fresno, California, to studying geology at BYU and building a lifelong career in Utah, Brent shares how curiosity about the natural world led him into decades of public service.Brent offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at his work with the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, where he served as director of the Division of Environmental Response and Remediation. He explains the realities of environmental cleanup efforts, including Superfund sites, petroleum storage tanks, emergency response, recycling challenges, and brownfield redevelopment.The episode also explores Brent’s nearly decade-long service on the Lehi Planning Commission, where he reflects on the complexities of public process, growth, zoning debates, and the importance of local civic engagement. Alongside his environmental work, Brent spent roughly 30 years teaching anatomy labs as an adjunct instructor at Utah Valley University, helping generations of students develop confidence and discipline in the classroom.📌 Interested in stories about leadership, public service, and community growth? Subscribe for more Roots and Branches of Lehi episodes celebrating the people shaping Lehi’s future.🏡 Brought to you by Work Hard Mortgage — helping families go from renting to rooted.⏱ Key Moments in This Episode• 00:00 – Podcast Welcome• 00:37 – Meet Brent Everett• 00:49 – California Roots & Moving to Utah• 03:16 – Why He Chose Geology• 04:51 – Transition Into Environmental Work• 06:55 – DEQ Career Overview• 09:31 – Superfund Sites & Cleanup Projects• 13:16 – Balancing Regulation & Growth• 18:05 – Recycling Challenges & Brownfields• 21:01 – Federal Policy Changes & Impact• 26:11 – Civic Duty & a Memorable Voting Story• 29:58 – Serving on the Lehi Planning Commission• 35:05 – How Planning Decisions Actually Work• 36:35 – Why Local Service Matters• 37:02 – Misconceptions About Planning Commissions• 37:33 – Fallout from a Gas Station Hearing• 41:04 – Mining Site Public Meeting• 44:23 – Working Through Public Disagreement• 47:18 – Lehi’s Growth & Community Tradeoffs• 50:39 – Teaching Anatomy at UVU• 55:49 – Student Motivation & Learning Mindsets• 59:59 – Staying Busy Through Service• 01:08:27 – Ordinary People Making Big Impacts• 01:11:34 – Closing Thoughts & Sponsors👣 Related Topics:Environmental Cleanup • Utah DEQ • Public Service • Lehi Planning Commission • Community Growth • Civic Engagement • Geology Careers • Environmental Protection • Anatomy Education • Roots and Branches of Lehi🎧 Listen to More Roots & Branches of LehiApple: [https://apple.co/40J53Ln](https://apple.co/40J53Ln)Spotify: [https://open.spotify.com/show/7BC8a3YpULFYMSRgtfqF7v](https://open.spotify.com/show/7BC8a3YpULFYMSRgtfqF7v)YouTube Playlist: [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlz4rzd_rsGZcR4Kscsck4ez_bWSLCuwM](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlz4rzd_rsGZcR4Kscsck4ez_bWSLCuwM)🏠Ready to go from renting to rooted?✔️ Want to know the value of your home? → [https://workharding.hifello.com/lp/6888f21970143a6397c98ea4](https://workharding.hifello.com/lp/6888f21970143a6397c98ea4)✔️ Curious how much home you can afford? → [https://workharding.com/affordability-calculator.php](https://workharding.com/affordability-calculator.php)✔️ Take the 60-second Homebuyer Readiness Quiz → [https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/survey/aAl6tzfvetiS329QNypM](https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/survey/aAl6tzfvetiS329QNypM)#RootsAndBranches #LehiUtah #PublicService #EnvironmentalProtection #CommunityGrowth #UtahDEQ #WorkHardMortgage #FromRentingToRooted #CivicEngagement #Education
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Brent Everett on Environmental Cleanup, Civic Duty, and Teaching
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