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We recorded this episode from the Montgomery County Recycling Center to answer a resident’s question people ask all the time: does recycling get separated after you toss it together? Along the way, we learn why Montgomery County, Maryland runs a dual stream recycling program, keeping mixed paper and cardboard separate from commingled containers like glass, metal, and plastic to reduce contamination and improve material value.

We also take a guided tour of what residents can actually drop off at the transfer station and recycling center beyond standard curbside recycling. That includes the “Don’t Dump, Donate” reuse area for doors, windows, sinks, and other usable building materials, plus donation options for textiles and books. We cover electronics recycling from TVs and computers to holiday lights, tire drop offs for county residents, and a household hazardous waste program for items like paint, solvents, cleaners, and many batteries. 

Then we get into the behind-the-scenes sorting system inside the material recovery facility (MRF): tipping floors, manual pre-sort lines, safety gear, balers that turn paper and plastics into dense blocks, magnets that pull ferrous metals, and eddy currents that separate aluminum. We even talk about how glass is sorted and sold, and why the simplest rule for better recycling is to stop guessing. If you’re unsure, use the county’s online search tool so you recycle right and keep the system safe and efficient.

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This Woman's History Month, learn about one of the most powerful women in Maryland. 

She was an undocumented, 16-year-old that could not speak English when she and her mother came to the U.S. from Venezuela. Today, Council President Natali Fani-Gonzalez joins us to talk about how that experience shaped her into a leader who treats public office like a responsibility to use power for the benefit of residents. We trace her path from a student with a love of math and dreams of becoming a doctor to advocacy with CASA, the Maryland Dream Act, and ultimately the top seat on the Montgomery County Council.

If you like this episode, please like, subscribe, and share. And if you don't like it share it with someone else to see if they like it, then subscribe anyway. Your support means the world to us!

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We talk with Mitsi Herrera about Montgomery Connects, Montgomery County Maryland’s digital opportunity program built around three essentials: affordable broadband, access to a device, and the skills to use it safely and confidently. From COVID era device distribution to the everyday reality of paying bills, applying for benefits, and scheduling health care online, we dig into why digital equity is no longer optional for a modern County residents. 

Older adults are a huge part of the story. With Senior Planet Montgomery, we highlight free tech classes offered in person and online, covering computer basics, smartphone help, online storage, privacy protection, scam awareness, and fast rising curiosity around AI. Finally, we explore XR Montgomery and the Oakley Cabin African American Museum and Park experience, where augmented reality and a curated AI “virtual interpreter” help visitors engage with local history in a new way. 

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The transcript of this episode can be found here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/220748/18880309-what-s-happening-with-digital-equity-mitsuko-herrera-of-tebs/transcript

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In this episode, we sit down with Frederick Hawkins—Montgomery County’s African American community liaison and podcast host for a candid discussion that follows his journey of service to the African American community and reviews his first year and a half in his position.  Along the way we give advice to youth, talk about the Black Coffee podcast, and Black History Month.

If you care about community building, leadership, local government, and grassroots impact, this conversation is rich with takeaways you can use this week. Subscribe, share with a neighbor, and leave a review telling us which moment inspired you to take up space and get involved.

Transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/220748/18757684-what-s-happening-with-frederick-hawkins-county-african-american-community-liason/transcript

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We sit down with MoCo Pride Center’s leadership to unpack what a physical location means for health, safety, and belonging: Testing Tuesdays with full-spectrum STI screenings, a lending library of inclusive books, growing support groups, and rotating health services. Everything is free, open to all county residents, and designed to lift up those most underserved.

Then the magic continues with the return of Black Girl Magic Stories to Montgomery County’s airwaves and streams. Hosts Nia, Oju, and Makeda trace the show’s roots from intimate storytelling to a wider circle of voices across the DMV, pushing past one-note portrayals to reveal the full range of Black women’s lives. This season centers resistance in unexpected, resonant ways—self-care as resistance, education as resistance, art as resistance—showing how daily choices become acts of power.

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Episode Transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/220748/18683666-what-s-happening-with-black-girl-magic-stories-moco-pride-center/transcript

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Eight hours changed everything. Coach Joseph Hooks took 480 minutes of winter training and turned it into a movement that helps Montgomery County youth grow through sport, mentorship, and mental wellness. We sit with Coach Hooks to unpack how a grassroots idea became a reliable network that reaches kids where they are—schools, apartment communities, rec centers, and the fields they love.

We talk about the decision to keep programs free to families by funding through partnerships and contracts, not fees. That shift lowers barriers for underserved youth and raises the bar for consistency. Coach breaks down four core offerings: a student ambassador program that pays teen athletes to mentor younger players, out-of-school-time clinics on half days and weekends, apartment-based soccer that brings play and safety close to home, and Kids Fit sessions that teach movement and nutrition. The result is a ladder of opportunities that starts with a ball and leads to life skills, jobs, and leadership.

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Episode Transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/220748/18640050-what-s-happening-with-coach-hooks-and-the-480-club/transcript

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A major winter storm doesn’t have to become a household emergency. We sat down with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue’s Pete Piringer to unpack clear, no-nonsense steps for staying safe when the snow and ice arrive—starting with what to do today. From smoke alarms and escape plans to smart heating, our conversation focuses on the real risks people face when they hunker down: unattended cooking, overloaded outlets, and space heaters too close to things that burn.

If you find this helpful, subscribe, leave a quick review, and send this episode to someone who needs a calm, clear winter plan.

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A winter storm is closing in, and we’re pulling back the curtain on how Montgomery County keeps people moving when snow stacks up and temperatures plunge. With Storm Operations Center manager Tim Serano, we walk through the real plan: early weather briefings, staffing and contractor call-ups, and why brining primaries and feeders changes the game before the first flake lands.

You’ll hear how a 23 percent salt brine creates a thin barrier that prevents snow from bonding to pavement, making plowing faster and cleaner. We talk through the order of operations during an active storm, why crews may cycle on arterials before shifting into neighborhoods, and how jurisdiction lines matter—state-numbered routes and city streets like Rockville and Gaithersburg have their own teams. Safety stays front and center: giving plows room, avoiding abrupt moves around spreaders, and planning trips with updated timelines.

We also spotlight the county’s snow portal at montgomerycountymd.gov/snow, If this was useful, follow the show, share it with a neighbor, and leave a quick review so more residents can stay storm-ready.

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On January 19th, at 9:30 am we’re inviting you to join the Montgomery County Volunteer Center in a celebration of the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr at the Silver Spring Civic Building, where volunteers, students, families, and neighbors roll up their sleeves alongside 50+ nonprofits to turn care into action. 

Faith McNeil from the Montgomery County Volunteer Center walks us through the essentials: how to register via montgomeryserves.org, where to book a blood donation appointment, and what to expect the moment you check in at 9:30 a.m. 

And when the morning wraps, the work keeps going: the Volunteer Center connects residents to 1,900+ organizations and hosts the Montgomery Service Awards each June to honor sustained commitment. Come for the energy, stay for the connection, and leave with a plan to serve beyond a single day.

Ready to make January 19 count? Register at montgomeryserves.org, bring a friend, and share this episode to spread the word. If this conversation resonates, follow the show, leave a review, and tell us how you plan to serve. Your action might inspire someone else to start.

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Ready for a fitness reset that’s real, local, and doable? Kayla Kavoukas with Montgomery County's Department of Recreation dives into how Montgomery County residents can use free Rec Fit Pass access for gyms, open courts, and family-friendly spaces across 21+ recreation centers—plus rotating free offerings like indoor cycling and urban line dancing. 

We explore movement that matters with Bando chief instructor Lon Walls, a sixth-degree black belt who translates a centuries-old Burmese martial art into modern fitness and self-defense. 

Then we map a sustainable path with Soldier Fit founder and Army veteran Danny Farrar. His Core Four—workout, meal plan, accountability, and education—cuts through the noise and gives you a simple formula to win long term. 

Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and tell us the one small habit you’ll commit to this week.