Everyday Environment Podcast

In the final episode of our Everyday Environment season focused on climate change, we chat with Duane Friend, Illinois Extension Climate Change Specialist to explore practical ways to get involved in climate action. Whether you're looking to make a difference in your own life or in your community, we discuss climate solutions that fit your lifestyle, share inspiring community success stories, and help you navigate conversations about climate change. We also highlight the Illinois Extension Climate Stewards course, dispel common misconceptions, and offer motivation for those ready to make a positive impact. We also invite you to read our final blog reflecting on our climate change season!

Learn more...
Illinois Climate Stewards
Chicago Living Corridors
Cross Community Climate Collaborative (C4)

Contact us...
Abigail Garofalo [email protected]
Erin Garrett [email protected]
Amy Lefringhouse [email protected]

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This week we welcome guests Sue Gasper and Gemini Bhalsod with Illinois Extension to chat about composting and how we can use this process to divert food waste from the landfill, where it often releases greenhouse gases as it decomposes, into backyard composts that reduce the greenhouse gases released. Join us to explore how to compost, its benefits, and its challenges. Learn more on the Everyday Environment blog. 

This week we’re joined by Dennis Bowman, Extension Digital Agriculture Specialist with Illinois Extension. Our team was fascinated by our discussion with Dennis about agrivoltaics and University of Illinois’ major research project within this field.  Discover what agrivoltaics is all about, why agricultural land is such an attractive target for solar development, and the challenges and opportunities that arise when combining agriculture and renewable energy. We'll also discuss how researchers are developing tools to empower landowners with the information they need to make informed decisions about these practices. Oh, and we find out more about farming games!  Learn more on the blog.

Resources to learn more:

Sustainable Co-locating Agriculture and Photovoltaic Energy Systems (SCAPES) project
SCAPES YouTube
My Agrivoltaic Farm game app

This week we’re joined by Sarah Sellars, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Sustainable Farm and Food Systems at South Dakota State University. We’re chatting with Sarah about agricultural carbon markets and their potential as one piece of the puzzle to meeting climate goals. Learn more on the blog. 

Resources to learn more:  
The Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities 
Voluntary Carbon Markets Joint Policy Statement and Principles 

Join us this week as we chat with Peggy Anesi about her career in empowering youth about climate change. By keeping it local and empowering them with realistic options for addressing climate change, we can build a citizenry that is equipped face the many challenges presented by our changing climate. 

This week we’re chatting with Elena Grossman from GTI Energy about how climate change is impacting us – our health and our communities – and what we can do about it. We’ll discuss existing health concerns that are exacerbated by climate change, leading to overall increased risk of health issues. Elena will break down how climate change affects different populations disproportionately. Then, we’ll discuss solutions that could be implemented in our communities through the built environment, social infrastructure, gray infrastructure, and systems. Learn more on the blog.

Join us as we talk with Brodie Dunn, Outreach Associate in Biodiversity and Pollinators for Illinois Extension, about how pollinators are expected to respond to climate change. Learn more on the blog. 

Resources to learn more:  

• If you’d like to hear more from Brodie, check out his wildlife sound ID podcast “Voice of the Wild”
• Pollinator-friendly garden designs can be found at https://illinoispollinators.org/pollinator-habitat-design/ and https://illinoispollinators.org/pollinator-plant-selector/ 
• Pollinator-friendly rain garden designs and plant selection tool
• Monarch Project Rural Mowing Guidance
• Guide to telling apart bees and flies that mimic bees

This week we welcome Chris Evans to the podcast. Chris is an Extension Forestry and Research Specialist with Illinois Extension based in southern Illinois. We chat about what invasive species are, how their characteristics may make them more resilient to climate change, and what we can do to help slow their spread. Learn more on the blog.

Resources for learning more:
iNaturalist - tool for identification and reporting
EDDMapS - tool for reporting where you see invasives and looking at up to date range maps
Invasive Species website from Illinois Extension

This week we chat with Michelle Wander, Emeritus Soil Scientist in the Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences department at University of Illinois. We go belowground to explore the importance of soil health, threats to that health, and practices to mitigate negative impacts on soil. Learn more on the blog. 

Helpful resources for homeowners: 

Soils website from Illinois Extension

Web Soil Survey 

UC Davis SoilWebs App 

Helpful resources for farmers:
Idea Farm Network
Midwest Cover Crops Council 

This week we welcome Justin Vozzo to the podcast. Justin is an Extension Forestry Specialist with Illinois Extension based in Urbana, and he shares with us what an urban forest is and how they play a role in mitigating climate change. Learn more on the Everyday Environment Blog.