The Defender

What makes the food you eat healthy? Turns out it's a pretty complicated question that goes way beyond the four food groups. In this episode, Amy visits Starry Nights Farm in Burlington to learn about some groundbreaking research—involving beef raised right here in Wisconsin—that's changing the way we look at food and nutrition.

Host: Amy Barrilleaux

Guests: Paul Maggio and Marisa Wiewall, Starry Nights Farm

Resources for You:

Nutritional Comparisons Between Grass-Fed Beef and Conventional Grain-Fed Beef

Defining Nutrient Density in Beef

Starry Nights Farm

Defender Episode 57: Wisconsin's Forbidden Fruit

Defender Episode 45: Cows, Tall Grass and Wind Turbines

Communities across Wisconsin are starting to push back when energy utilities come to town with big plans for big gas plants. But how do you turn opposition into victory?

In this episode, Amy talks with the mayor of Superior about the city's long journey to defeat the Nemadji Trail Energy Center—the ugly gas plant with the pretty name.

Host: Amy Barrilleaux

Guest: Mayor Jim Paine, Superior, Wis.

Resources for You:

Under the Lens: The Truth About Natural Gas

There is a lot of new excitement around nuclear energy these days, and no coincidence, it comes as we face staggering energy demands from AI data centers. Now, the Trump Administration is relaxing environmental and safety regulations for new nuclear reactors. In this episode, a look at what would happen to our environment - and our energy bills - if utilities race to meet AI demand by building more nuclear reactors.

Host: Amy Barrilleaux

Guest: Katie Nekola, General Counsel, Clean Wisconsin

In the race to transition to clean, safe energy, there are lessons to be learned just about everywhere, including in Texas.

In this episode, what January's major winter storm is teaching us about our power grid—and the painful lesson we are all going to learn this month about natural gas.

Host: Amy Barrilleaux

Guest: Ciaran Gallagher, PhD, Energy and Air Manager, Clean Wisconsin

On this episode, some real hope that a bipartisan solution for state PFAS funding is at hand -- and the industry that is coming in at the last minute to try to kill it.

Host: Amy Barrilleaux

Guest: Erik Kanter, Government Relations Director, Clean Wisconsin

Resources for You:

Clean Wisconsin Action Network

In this episode, how new action from the EPA is undermining one of the most successful environmental laws in US history.

Host: Amy Barrilleaux

Guest: Nick Mailloux, PhD Student, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies

Resources for You:

Join Clean Wisconsin's Action Network

Pollution and Our Health: The Environmental Health Initiative

In this episode, how a small Wisconsin community stood up to one of the most powerful companies in the world… and won. And what we can all learn from their fight.

Host: Amy Barrilleaux

Guest: Prescott Balch, Village of Caledonia resident

Resources for You:

Stop Unchecked Data Center Development (petition)

AI Data Center Energy Demand Analysis

AI Data Center Offsite Water Withdrawals

On this episode a look what could be sprayed on food and farm fields all around us - plus a bit of Wisconsin history that offers some hope as we confront a new batch of toxic chemicals.

Host: Amy Barrilleaux

Guest: Sara Walling, Clean Wisconsin Water & Agency Program Director

Resources for You:

Under the Lens: What we know about PFAS in Wisconsin's Water

Nitrate pollution's impact on Wisconsn's health and economy

Neonicotinoid pesticides and their impact

Episode 43: The pesticides that could be lurking in your pollinator garden

Episode 33: Wisconsin's bees are acting weird. Here's why.

Episode 29: Trump's Threat to Safe Water (and how WI can fight back!)

Meet the Wisconsin native who is foraging 100% of his food.

What was the last thing you foraged? Maybe some ramps, or morels? But what about your salt, oil, even toothpaste? On this episode, meet the Wisconsin native who is setting out to prove that he can not only survive for an entire year eating only food he has foraged, but he can also help show the true connection to nature most of us have been missing.

Host: Amy Barrilleaux

Guest: Robin Greenfield, Sustainability Advocate, Ashland Wis. native

Resources for You:

robingreenfield.org

Food Freedom: A Year of Growing and Foraging 100% of My Food

Robin Greenfield YouTube Channel

Defender Episode 57: Wisconsin's Forbidden Fruit

Don't look at the gas plant behind the curtain! If you feel like tech companies and energy utilities are gaslighting you with their assurances that AI data centers won't hurt our environment, you're probably right.

In this episode, how AI is causing a fossil fuel boom in Wisconsin and the lawsuit just filed to try and stop it.

Host: Amy Barrilleaux

Guests:

Katie Nekola, General Counsel, Clean Wisconsin

Ciaran Gallagher, Climate & Air Manager, Clean Wisconsin

Resources for You:

Petition: Take A Stand Against Unchecked Data Center Development

New Analysis: Data Center Water Consumption Will Be Far Higher Than Tech Companies Claim

Analysis: Two approved AI data centers in Wisconsin will use more energy than all homes in state combined

PSC approves plan to power AI data center with gas plants