Adam Federman of The Nation Magaine reports on his investigative series, The Plot to Loot America’s Wilderness about how our natural areas are in danger of being turned over to mining and oil interests. Friend of the show, farmer and activist Beth Vercolio-Osmund talks about her decision to run for the Illinois 16th Congressional District seat. She is joined in studio by Whitney Richardson, co-director of the Logan Square Farmers Market, regional development manager for The Kitchen Community Chicago.

Doris Taylor, manager of the Plant Clinic at the Morton Arboretum explains why trees in the Midwest have been reluctant to drop their leaves this fall, and whether that will harm them going into winter. Kate Green from Lurvey Garden Center in Des Plaines, has advice on keeping your indoor holiday plants healthy. Meteorologist Rick DiMaio makes a special studio visit to talk about devastating wildfires in California and their relationship to climate change.

'Redneck Rosarian' Chris VanCleave has advice for winter rose care and promotes his upcoming Rose Kings Sustainability Tour with fellow rosarian Brian Puckett. Carey Gillam, author of Whitewash: The Story of Weed Killer, Cancer, and the Corruption of Science explains that there are still unanswered questions about the world's most popular weed-killer.

Michelle Byrne Walsh, editor at State-by-State Gardening, Inc., returns to the show to join with Mike and Peggy in presenting the Good, the Bad and the Wha? of horticultural and environmental holiday gifts. Polly McGann and Victor Zaderej from Happy Leaf LED talk about growing plants indoors with their sophisticated grow lights.

Mitch McNeil reports on how the Surfrider Foundation is suing U.S. Steel for “repeated Clean Water Act violations at their Portage, Indiana facility.” Bird City Wisconsin Director Bryan Lenz talks about how this program is making a difference in local bird conservation efforts across his state. Michele Hoffman is back at the Science Desk and introduces us to Dr. R. Eric Collins of the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, who explains why the loss of permafrost is so consequential.