The SustainUW Podcast

In this episode of the SustainUW Podcast, host Kylie Schedler speaks with the three winners of the second annual UW–Madison Sustainability Writing Awards: Hailey Sewell, who reflected on a memorable snowfall as a child and pondered the future of our climate; Scott Hershberger, who painted the scene of a conversation between himself, an Eastern Wood-Pewee, and a honey locust tree; and Madelyn Anderson, who celebrated the discovery of a Rusty Patched Bumble Bee hive and highlighted the importance of recognizing small wins.

The ⁠UW–Madison Sustainability Writing Awards⁠ are intended to inspire conversations about how writing can bring together people with different experiences to reflect and act within the context of the global climate crisis. Thanks to the generosity of donors, the Office of Sustainability offered three scholarships in the fall of 2023 to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who submitted essays on the topic of resolution. The topic encouraged writers to ponder the past, analyze the present, and imagine the future of our planet.

The Wisconsin Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy (OSCE) was founded in 2019 by Executive Order 38. The OSCE focuses on implementing and promoting renewable energy projects in Wisconsin as well as allocating federal and state funds dedicated to solving various environmental issues. In this episode, Kylie Schedler and Thomas Hadcock are joined by Technical Coordinator and Analyst Caity Carmody, and Outreach and Engagement Specialist Katelynn Samuelson. We discuss the applicability of the Inflation Reduction Act in Wisconsin, their State Lead by Example program and Clean Energy Plan, the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants, Focus on Energy, and their outlook for the future of renewable energy in Wisconsin. Note: this episode was recorded shortly before Thanksgiving of 2023, so the dates referenced will reflect this timing.

RENEW Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering a resilient, thriving Wisconsin by championing the progress of renewable energy through impactful policy and program work. In this episode of the SustainUW Podcast, hosts Rory Tevlin and Bailey Tomsich chat with RENEW Wisconsin’s Communications Manager, Alex Beld, and Emerging Technology Director, Francisco Sayu. Join them as they discuss the EPA Clean Bus Program, an exciting initiative that allows school districts in all 50 states to replace old diesel buses with new electric buses, often at no cost. From reducing emissions to cultivating cleaner and more efficient transportation, tune in to discover how RENEW is driving change and creating a more sustainable future for all Wisconsinites!

To learn more about the application process of the EPA Clean Bus Program, click here.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, better known as PFAS, are a growing area of concern for waterways in Madison and across the nation. These chemicals, which are used to make everyday products like nonstick pans and water resistant materials, have been found in drinking water and are linked to serious health effects. In this episode of the SustainUW Podcast, host Britta Wellenstein talks to PFAS researcher Onur Apul about the impact of PFAS on the environment and what technologies might allow us to remove it from our drinking water. Dr. Apul, who is an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Maine, presented his research at UW–Madison’s Weston Roundtable this fall.

Industrial engineering, sustainable food, and social equity: these may sound like unrelated topics, but Dr. Weslynne Ashton of the Illinois Institute of Technology has brought them together through her research on sustainable systems. Dr. Ashton was in Madison to give the keynote for the second annual Sustainability Symposium on October 25, 2023, and joined hosts Kylie Schedler and Britta Wellenstein for a wide-ranging conversation. Join us as we dive into Dr. Ashton's research, food equity in rural and urban settings, and the transition to a circular economy.

This summer, the weather dominated: wildfires, hazardous air quality, and extreme heat affected people across the country. In this episode, we try to figure out what happened and what the wild weather means for Wisconsin. Listen in as Britta Wellenstein and Rory Tevlin speak to Tracey Holloway, an air quality researcher at UW-Madison and the Leader of the NASA Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team. We explore the Canadian wildfires, ozone and smoke in Madison, and steps for moving forward.

Finding one's path to a sustainability-related career can be daunting, and there are many different ways to apply sustainability to different fields and opportunities. In this episode, we learn about what one version of success looks like, as host Kylie Schedler speaks with Lorenza Zebell from Sustain Dane, a local nonprofit whose "programs connect businesses, organizations, schools, local governments, and individuals to the sustainability movement and provide the support and resources to generate change." Lorenza is the program manager, running and developing the multitude of programs Sustain Dane has to offer.

Greta Gerwig's blockbuster sensation, "Barbie," has been the talk of the town since well before its release. Having grossed over $1.3 billion as of August 2023, there is no question that audiences are enamored with the film. But "Barbie" also has its detractors, who critique its treatment of gender and its uneasy relationship with consumerism, among other things. In this episode of the SustainUW Podcast, intern Barbies Rory Tevlin, Britta Wellenstein, and Brynne Hill explore the movie in depth, from their own experiences in the theater to questions about feminism, product placement, patriarchy, and what it means to be "Kenough."

Malorie Garbe, the Sustainability Coordinator for University Housing, and assistant Anna Silverman join hosts Brynne Hill and Bailey Tomsich to delve into what move-in looks like for incoming dorm residents at UW–Madison. In addition to offering tips and tricks for how students can ensure they are moving in sustainably, this episode explores ways that students can engage in sustainability opportunities throughout the rest of the year, such as the annual Sustain-a-Bash, which is coming up in September.

Learn more here: https://www.housing.wisc.edu/about/sustainability/

The 2021 film “Don’t Look Up”, directed by Adam McKay and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, and Jonah Hill, is a dark comedy that offers an allegory of the dysfunctional conversation around climate change. In this episode of the SustainUW Podcast, hosts Rory Tevlin, Kylie Schedler, and Gigi Diekelman gathered to talk about the movie and give it their collective review. Did it make them laugh or cry? What does the movie tell us about the relationship between celebrity, society, and politics? And was it really worth the $75 million budget?