Surviving Hard Times

In this conversation, we explore the world of plant science with Kim Shearer, MS, the Director of Collections and Curator at The Morton Arboretum. With the central goal of creating a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world, Kim and her team are making strides in plant breeding and genetics by cultivating plants with broad adaptability, disease resistance, and pest resistance…

Join us now to learn about: 

• What it’s like working with plants in a scientific setting. 
• How horticulturists keep track of the various plants in their care.
• The most surprising thing about plants in controlled environments. 
• How new plants are imported into Arboretums.

Whether you are a gardening junkie or a curious novice, this episode is sure to inspire and educate you about the fascinating work happening at The Morton Arboretum!

Click here to learn more about Kim and her work with The Morton Arboretum.

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

Nitrogen fertilizers are widely used in crop production around the world, but how does soil react to this treatment? Expert soil scientist Richard L. Mulvaney joins the podcast today to discuss his research looking into this question, and others like it…

As a Professor of Soil Fertility at the University of Illinois, Richard is deeply involved in Illinois’s agricultural field. With three degrees in soil science, he has focused his investigations on the fate and behavior of soil and fertilizer nitrogen – specifically seeking to increase profits while also reducing the negative environmental impacts of excessive nitrogen inputs.

In this episode, we explore:

• What makes nitrogen useful for crop growth and plant nutrition.
• The most common nitrogen fertilizer, and which crops it benefits most.
• Why over-fertilization is detrimental to soil health.
• Where corn crops derive the majority of their nitrogen from.

Do the benefits of nitrogen fertilizer outweigh the negative effects on soil health? Join the conversation now to find out!

To connect with Richard’s work for yourself, click here now!

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

How do plant specialists help enhance vegetable production? Are there alternative irrigation systems that can increase the yield of certain crops? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Ted McAvoy, an expert in crop production, to unpack this fascinating subject…

Dr. McAvoy is an Assistant Professor of Horticulture at the University of Georgia. Here, his research focuses on all aspects of vegetable production in Georgia – including variety performance, disease resistance, fertilizer, irrigation and alternative crops. Using practical and data-driven recommendations, he is committed to increasing the productivity, sustainability, and profitability of crops for farmers across the state. 

Join us now to learn about:

• What the major crops in Georgia are, and how extension specialists help them perform better. 
• Alternatives to conventional fertilizers that can save money and increase yields.
• How crop variation plays a role in overall yields. 

To find out more about Dr. McAvoy and his work, click here now

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

Can cold exposure really zap unwanted fat and increase exercise performance? Timmy Håman, the founder of Prime Science, thinks so – and he joins us to explain why…

Timmy is a Swedish engineer based in London who has a passion for health and wellness. Through his own fitness journey, he discovered the advantages of cold therapies. He has achieved significant results with an array of treatments, and now, he’s on a mission to share the benefits with the world. 

Are you ready to find out how you can use cold as a tool in your life? Click play now!

In this conversation, we discuss:

• How Timmy’s fitness journey informed his current pursuit in the fitness industry.
• What brown fat is, and how it differs from other types of fat.
• Different things you can eat to increase your brown fat.
• Different approaches to cold therapy, and how to optimize it to your specific goals.

You can find out more about Timmy and his work with Prime Science here! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

Ramani Narayan joins the podcast today to discuss a fascinating subject: How fungus and bacteria can consume and alter plastic waste. Ramani is a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at Michigan State University. As an internationally acclaimed thought leader and expert in bioplastics, his research focuses on manufacturing biobased and compostable plastics.

Not only does Ramani have over 200 refereed publications and 30 issued patents, but he is also a successful entrepreneur – having commercialized several biobased and biodegradable product technologies, including PLA and starch products.

What are the benefits of biodegradable polymer molecules? Could Ramani be on the precipice of finding a sustainable solution to the world’s plastic crisis? Tune in now to find out…

In this episode, we talk about:

• What carbon-carbon backbone polymers are, and how they are used in modern products.
• The role that enzymes play in the degradation of plastics. 
• How and why microbes consume carbon molecules. 
• How chemicals can alter the makeup of plastics. 

Click here to learn more about Ramani and his research!

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

In this episode, we sit down with Nancy Gift, an Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Chair of the Sustainability and Environmental Studies Department at Berea College. She joins us to discuss an intriguing facet of environmental studies: aquaponics.

Aquaponics is a combination of plant and fish production that uses both aquaculture and hydroponic systems. This method of production is highly sustainable – as it uses the fish waste to fertilize the plants in a human-controlled ecosystem.

By listening in, you will learn about:

• How aquaponics can benefit our environment.
• Why aquaponics systems are able to yield more than traditional farming methods.
• Examples of how aquaponics can be done correctly.

Aquaponics is moving from experimental to commercial as more and more farmers are utilizing it to maximize food yield. Could this be the future of food production?

You can find out more about Nancy Gift and her work by visiting www.berea.edu now!

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

Are you looking for ways to be prepared for the future but don’t know where to start? Charles from Survival Preparedness For Beginners is here to help!

Using his platform, Charles has focused his efforts on providing guidance for those who want to survive in any situation. How does this concern you? Well, our society is becoming more unstable by the day, and this is threatening the comforts that we take advantage of regularly.

From food shortages to natural disasters, it has never been more important to be prepared…

Join us now to hear Charles discuss:

• What got him interested in prepping.
• His personal advice on how to establish sustainable prepping practices.
• Circumstances on the horizon that could drastically change our way of living as we know it.
• A practical amount of resources to have on hand in case of emergencies.

So what are you waiting for? Listen now to get the proactive advice you need to be prepared for anything!

You can learn more about Charles and his work with Survival Preparedness for Beginners by visiting his Youtube channel here, and his website here!

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

What does it mean to be truly self-sufficient? As technology advances and the world continues to evolve, our society is losing sight of what it takes to be in touch with our planet.

There are, however, still individuals out there who are working with nature rather than against it…

In this episode, we chat with gardening expert Mark Valencia. Mark has a YouTube channel and website entitled Self Sufficient Me. With this platform, Mark shows his viewers how to engage with self-sufficient living – from organic gardening to wildlife cultivation.

Mark is providing information that is both engaging and practical. These self-sustainable living practices are inspiring people around the world!

Click play now to uncover:

• How Mark got started with his dedication to self-sufficiency.
• What it takes to get a garden off the ground.
• Animal pests that Mark regularly deals with in his garden.
• How being outside and remaining active positively affects mental health.

Want to learn more about Mark and his work with Self Sufficient Me? You can find his Youtube channel here, and website here!

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

Joining us today is Dr. Richard M. Cruse, a professor in the Agronomy Department at Iowa State University and Director of the Iowa Water Center. Dr. Cruse is an expert in water quality and soil erosion, which impacts more than you may think…

Dr. Cruse grew up on a farm in Iowa, which led him to develop a profound love for natural resources. Presently, he researches the ways that erosion is affected by rainfall, soil type, soil slope, and management.

In this episode, you will discover:

• The importance of soil as a resource.
• The properties that make up healthy soil.
• Why controlling water-driven erosion is critical to agricultural stability.

So why is it so important to support healthy soil? Dr. Cruse addresses this question and others like it in this informative podcast!

You can find out more about Dr. Cruse by visiting faculty.sites.iastate.edu.

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q

In this episode, Kelsey Nightingale returns to the podcast to discuss her unique approach to homesteading and organic farming. As a licensed veterinary technician, Kelsey recently relocated with her family to a small homestead in Scottsburg, OR, where they focus on sustainability and living off the land.

Kelsey became interested in homesteading in 2019. After taking the plunge in 2021, she and her husband Sean became committed to one mission: to become self-sufficient and unreliant upon society to live…

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why Kelsey and Sean decided to shift their lifestyles.
• The resources that Nightingale Homestead currently provides. 
• How long it typically takes to become successful in homesteading and small farming. 
• The easy and hard parts of self-sufficiency.

Tune in now to discover the inspiring journey of Kelsey and Sean as they embrace a lifestyle deeply rooted in sustainability, self-sufficiency, and a profound connection to the land! Follow along with Kelsey and Nightingale Homestead here. Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3bO8R6q