In this week's episode, Terra had the privilege of speaking with John Tunca, a representative for this year's Southeast Idaho electric car show. They discussed the event’s connection to sustainability, its impact on the Portneuf community, the relevance of today’s electric vehicles, and sustainable transportation in Idaho. They also discussed how the event gives community members a chance to talk with local electric vehicle owners and to learn more about charging and long-distance travel.

In this week’s episode, Charlie talks with Craig Hunter, the president of Tire Reclaim, a dedicated tire reclamation organization with multiple facilities across Idaho. Hunter discusses Tire Reclaim’s origins, its growth to processing more than two million tires in Idaho, and the environmental motivations behind diverting discarded tires from public lands, waterways, and landfills. Charlie and Hunter explore some of the ways discarded tires can be transformed into useful resources, including crumb rubber, molded products, tire-derived aggregate, and rubberized asphalt. As Idaho continues to confront the environmental challenges of discarded materials, the conversation examines how reclamation can turn a persistent waste problem into an opportunity for sustainable resource use and infrastructure. A secondary episode will continue to discuss sustainable recycling of discarded tires and how Tire Reclaim is tackling the problem of mass “Legacy Piles” across the state.

Systematic Review of Research on Discarded Tire Environmental Impact, conducted by the EPA:

https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_Report.cfm?dirEntryId=361070&Lab=CPHEA

Sustainability is shaped not only by the issues we discuss, but by the people who bring those conversations to our communities. In this episode, Charlie Medema speaks with new Sustainable Idaho host, Terra Gray, about her background in ecology and environmental conservation, her connection to Idaho’s natural environment, and what she hopes to bring to the program. Together, they explore Terra’s interests in Idaho’s native wildlife, opportunities, and natural resources, as well as her experiences in environmental education and community outreach.

The episode also marks a transition for the program as Charlie speaks with outgoing co-host Madison Long about her time with Sustainable Idaho, the lessons she learned through journalism and interviewing, and what she hopes to pursue next. Having served Sustainable Idaho for over a year and a half, Madison reflects on how her time with the program shaped her understanding of Idaho and her future in journalism.

To learn more about the ISU Bengal, visit:

isubengal.com

On today’s episode, Madison talks with Ali Khan, the CEO and founder of MOATIT, and Megan Ronk, the Director of Customer Experience and Economic Development at Idaho Power. Khan wrote an article in the Idaho State Journal based on his research for the recently proposed AI data center in Pocatello, with Lex Developments applying to convert the former Hoku Materials polysilicon plant into a $2.26 billion center. Ronk recently participated in an Idaho Water Users Association Board discussion about AI data centers. Together, we discuss AI data centers and their role in Idaho’s economic development, energy, and environment. While this technology is still developing, the long-term effects are not yet fully understood. Each project has different needs and impacts, leaving communities to lead the conversation.

Pollinators play an essential role in Idaho’s food production, wildlife, and biodiversity. Growing community recognition has inspired new efforts to protect their populations and habitat in the Portneuf Valley. In this episode, Charlie Medema speaks with Linda Popelka, a founding member of the Portneuf Pollinator Partnership, about how the organization grew from a single community event into a broader effort to support pollinators throughout Southeastern Idaho.

Together, they explore what motivated Linda and her fellow organizers to start their initiatives, the importance of native pollinators to Idaho’s agriculture and environment, and the enthusiasm that has helped the partnership grow through education, collaboration, and community involvement. To learn more about the Portneuf Pollinator Partnership, visit

https://www.isu.edu/portneuf-pollinator-partnership/

On today’s episode, Madison talks with Doug Finkleberg, an extension educator in cropping systems for the University of Idaho and co-team lead for the Innovative Agriculture and Marketing Partnership Grant (IAMP). We discuss the five-year program as funded by the United States Department of Agriculture. The IAMP team works alongside the Agriculture Research Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities program, the Nature Conservancy of Idaho, Desert Mountain Grass-Fed Beef, the Latah County and Nez Perce County Soil Conservation Districts, Arrowleaf Consulting, and the University of Georgia. These groups provide support through their expertise in grazing strategies, incentivizing cover crops, monitoring crop verification, expanding working areas in the state, and doing marketing analysis. For more updates on the research, visit their website at iamp.uidaho.edu.

In this episode, Madison Long interviews the new co-host for Sustainable Idaho, Charlie Medema. Charlie is a senior biology student at ISU who shared his motivations for joining Sustainable Idaho, perspectives on sustainability as an Idahoan, and hopes for the future. In the second half of the episode, Charlie speaks with Brittani Hobson and Karl Petitt; co-chairs for the new Pocatello organic community garden. The garden will serve as a community hub, offering gardening plots to residents as well as educational opportunities and produce for the Idaho Food Bank. The project is one of several undertaken by the Porneuf Valley Partners, a volunteer organization dedicated to bettering the communities of the Portneuf Valley and its residents. If you would like to learn more about the Pocatello Organic Community Garden, visit https://portneufvalleypartners.org

On today’s episode, Madison talks with Brittany Brand, the Director of the Resilience Institute.

On today’s episode, Madison talks with Nate and Wilder Jones, the father and son managers of King’s Crown Organic Farm - located in King Hill, Idaho. As a third-generation farmer, Nate began his journey as an organic farmer in order to remain profitable during the farm crises of 1970s and ‘80s. After getting involved, he saw the premium benefits in the food quality and ecosystem benefits, and has grown his farm to 700 acres stewarded by his son, honeybees, cows, chickens, and sheep. King’s Crown sells their meat and produce directly to consumers through the Ketchum and Boise farmers markets, the Boise Co-Op, Boise Fry Company, Six Creeks Mercantile in Glenn’s Ferry, and a secondary organic farmer who creates jerky and salami. To learn more about their work, check out kingscrownorganics.com.

On today’s episode, Madison talks with Belinda Breidenbach, the Director of the Environmental Solutions Program at the Idaho Small Business Development Center, to discuss the comparison between cordless electric and traditional gas lawnmowers. Millions of Americans mow their lawns each week, so the Small Business Development Center analyzed the power ability, cost, and environmental concerns of each type of mower.