Wild For Change

WasteNot Composting 

On this Wild For Change’s podcast, we’re speaking with Liam Donnelly, CEO of WasteNot, a zero-emissions composting collection service in the Chicagoland area.  Composting is a crucial means of reducing food waste in our landfills, yet only 4.1% of food waste in the U.S. is composted annually.  In this podcast, we will learn about WasteNot’s mission and how their service works.  We will also investigate the fate of food in landfills versus compost bins, as well as the sustainability of composting for both our own needs and the planet.

To learn more about WasteNot’s composting services, go to https://www.wastenotcompost.com.

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On a new Wild For Change podcast, we spoke with Kay McKeen, the Executive Director of SCARCE, an acronym which stands for School & Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education.  

It is an award-winning environmental education non-profit that supports teachers, children, and the community in creating a brighter future for our planet and ourselves through engaging and accessible initiatives, workshops, events, in-person classes, e-learning, and volunteer opportunities. Though SCARCE is based in the Chicagoland area, its outreach programs go beyond state lines and extends into other countries.  SCARCE’s work also includes collaborating with legislators to initiate laws that protect both people and the planet and helping businesses and organizations adopt green initiatives.  

SCARCE provides simple yet effective resources for the community to help one another and the planet. To learn more about becoming more green at home, work, or in a school system, inquire about SCARCE’s resources, or get involved, go to www.scarce.org.  

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For those of you who are wondering what you can do right now to help nature, the answer lies in your own backyard, literally.  

Our guest today is Dr. Doug Tallamy.  He is an entomologist, ecologist, conservationist, and co-founder of Homegrown National Park. We’ll be discussing his book, Nature’s Best Hope, A New Approach to Conservation That Starts In Your Yard.  I consider Nature’s Best Hope to be the way shower of how we collectively have the power to bring about a healthier planet for all.  

We don’t have to wait for our leaders and conservationists to find solutions to get cleaner air and water, sequester carbon, and restore ecosystems and wildlife populations.   We all have a part to play in reviving the planet, and we don’t have the luxury of time to wait for just a few people to take on the heavy load of fixing the problem we currently find ourselves in.  

After all, as Marshall McLuhan stated, “There are no passengers on spaceship Earth, we are all crew.”  

Dr. Tallamy explains that the key to a healthier future on Earth is restoring the long-lost ecosystems of the land we live on, and it all begins by planting native plants in our yards and gardens.

In this podcast, we dive into why native plants are crucial in restoring our ecosystems and wildlife populations, the importance of insects, and what this means for us and all life forms on Earth.  The future of our planet is our responsibility, and it begins with restoring our relationship with nature. 

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On a new Wild For Change podcast, our guests are three remarkable women from the Hinsdale Humane Society in Illinois:  

Lauren Osborne; Director of Operations 

Erin Palumbo; Director of Development 

Carla Wudi; Foster Program Manager 

Hinsdale Humane Society is a private, nonprofit organization providing care and adoption services for displaced animals.  It is a lifeline in the heart of the community for countless animals who need homes.  

In 2023, 6.5 million animals arrived at shelters across the United States.  Thankfully, we have animal shelters, like the Hinsdale Humane Society, to provide love and support for animals. However, collectively, we can play a pivotal role in reducing the number of animals entering the shelters. 

In this podcast, we will explore why animals end up at the shelter, the shelter’s unique foster program, and the importance of microchipping and spaying or neutering our pets. We'll also hear about the incredible team at the shelter and the heartwarming story of Noah, a pit bull rescue who found his forever home through the heroic efforts of the Hinsdale Humane Society.  

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The Wild For Change podcast welcomes back Nicole Schmitt, Executive Director of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance to discuss Alaska’s Wildlife Management.  

In January, the Alaska Board of Game deliberated on a proposal, named Proposal 75, given by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, suggesting aerial gunning of black and brown bears and wolves via helicopters in central and southwest Alaska.  In this podcast, we will discuss why this type of predator management is chosen, its effects on bears, wolves, and other wildlife, the role of AWA in this proposal, and the research that demonstrates this management strategy has failed previously.  

Below are two petitions to help protect bears and wolves from being hunted:

Petition 1 is specifically to stop aerial slaughter of bears and wolves in central and southwest regions of Alaska by Zac Mills, Founder of The Wildlife Collective: Stop the Aerial Slaughter of Bears and Wolves By the Alaska Department of Fish and Game 

Petition 2 was created by Nicole Rojas, Founder of Wild For Change to support a U.S. Federal bill called the ProTECT Act, H.R. 7840 that would ban trophy hunting of endangered or threatened species within the United States and ban the import of any such trophy into the United States: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife Need Our Protection More Than Ever.  

To learn more about Proposal 75, go to Alaska Wildlife Alliance.   

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Wild For Change is thrilled to announce our 50th podcast episode! It's been an incredible three-year journey, during which I've had the honor of engaging with a diverse range of inspiring individuals committed to creating a positive impact on our planet. In this special episode, I'm excited to showcase all the wonderful guests who have played a part in this amazing adventure.

As I reflect on each of our guests, I can see their profound love for animals and nature shining through. Love encompasses all life on earth and it serves as the common thread that binds us all together.  It allows us to experience life in so many rich and profound ways. This, to me, is the essence of interconnectedness. We are united by this universal force, and it's what I aim to showcase through each guest on the Wild For Change podcast.  

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of my guests for their exceptional contributions to life on earth. Their actions have created a lasting impact and they truly embody selflessness, compassion, and genuine care for the animals, people, communities, and nature on our incredible planet.  

And I want to express my sincere gratitude to the listeners who have shared this journey with Wild For Change, because if these episodes have piqued your interest, then you my friend are a gamechanger as well. I look forward to meeting the next 50 gamechangers on the Wild For Change podcast with you.  

With much love and gratitude, Nicole 

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Wild For Change is excited to celebrate its 50th podcast! Over the past three years, I've had the privilege of speaking with numerous inspiring individuals who are dedicated to making a positive impact on life on earth. In this special podcast, I'll be highlighting all of the amazing guests who have contributed to this incredible journey.

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In a recent episode of the Wild For Change podcast, I had a conversation with Ellie Laks, the founder of the Gentle Barn, about her new book, "Cow Hug Therapy." The book is a touching account of how the animals at the Gentle Barn have taught her valuable lessons about life and death and everything in between. 

I have always found solace in the company of animals. Being around them brings me a deep sense of peace and a feeling of unconditional love. I also believe that animals possess great wisdom and insight that they can share with us. 

Reading Ellie's book "Cow Hug Therapy" is a wonderful way to deepen our connection with animals. It can expand our awareness of the remarkable capabilities of animals, revealing them as sharp observers of life, guiding figures, and fur-clad angels who can impart valuable wisdom on how to live and love, if only we take the time to quietly listen and open our hearts. 

Ellie's stories about the lessons she's learned from her rescued animals go beyond the surface. These creatures bring profound soul lessons and messages that are meant to help us grow, evolve, and shine. 

Regrettably, the podcast ends abruptly. We recorded it in person, and unfortunately, the recording stopped about 10 minutes before our interview concluded.

You can find Ellie’s new book “Cow Hug Therapy” on the Gentle Barn’s website, as well as on Amazon and Target.  

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On a new Wild For Change podcast, we speak with Brooks Bonner, Program Director of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation.  E.O. Wilson, was an American biologist, naturalist, ecologist, entomologist, and the author of many books, including Half-Earth. The premise of Half-Earth proposes that to save the planet, half of the Earth’s lands and seas need to be preserved and protected.  

In this podcast, Brooks discusses the significance of preserving half of the Earth's lands and seas, the essential role that other species play in our lives, and why safeguarding diverse ecosystems is crucial for the survival of every form of life on our planet. Brooks will also shed light on the Half-Earth Project and Interactive Map, which acts as a guiding tool for identifying and protecting areas rich in biodiversity. Additionally, he will share some valuable insights on how we can support our local native species and contribute to protecting our planet's biodiversity.

To learn more about the Half-Earth Project and view the Interactive Map, go to https://eowilsonfoundation.org/which-half/national-report-cards/half-earth-project-map/

“Unless humanity learns a great deal more about global biodiversity and moves quickly to protect it, we will soon lose most of the species composing life on Earth.  The Half-Earth proposal offers a first, emergency solution commensurate with the magnitude of the problem: I am convinced that only setting aside half the planet in reserve, or more, can we save the living part of the environment and achieve the stabilization required for our own survival.”  E.O. Wilson 

“Every species on Earth depends on other species for its survival.  But we continue to yank at these threads of incredible ecosystems, unraveling our own support systems.”  Brooks Bonner 

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On a new Wild For Change podcast, we welcome back Damien Mander, environmentalist and founder of Akashinga, the first all-women, anti-poaching organization formerly known as the International Anti-Poaching Foundation.  

We also welcome Nyaradzo Hoto, a Biodiversity Officer of Akashinga who focuses on research and data analysis collected by the Akashinga rangers.   

The Akashinga rangers are not only working to protect precious wildlife from poachers, but they are also supporting countless other animal lives through their completely plant-based diet.

We’ll discuss the uniqueness of Akashinga’s plant-based diet and how this also parallels helping to save the Earth as American biologist E.O. Wilson proposed in his book, Half-Earth.  Damien and Nyaradzo will share with us how eating a plant-based diet supports our health, the countless lives of animals that are not only part of animal agriculture but the wildlife and the health and stability of our home planet Earth.  

Damien has been featured in the documentary Game Changers about

eating a plant-based diet and TedX, BBC, and National Geographic.

Both Damien and Nyaradzo are two exemplary individuals who embody the spirit of a game-changer.

I wanted to include in the show notes three quotes from the podcast that provide insight into how our collective actions affect the planet and all life on Earth:

“I already know I’m not responsible for the death of animals.  I’m not carrying that weight on my shoulders, on my conscience and that is a powerful thing to be rid of.” 

Damien Mander on eating a plant-based diet.

“For us as humans, we are in a unique position.  For the first time in history we are the only species that has the power to determine what level of suffering is acceptable for all other species on the planet.  But in having that power as well, we’ve been trying to play God in a negative way.  We’ve been trying to control everything without realizing what we’re doing to our own species.  If we really don’t start to respect the planet, or treating it like a bloody garbage dump, it’s gonna chew us up and spit us out.”  Damien Mander

“We don’t need much space to grow vegetables.  As we grow vegetables, we are also supporting the climate exchange.  Like taking exchange for fighting for the climate change, because the more we grow plants in the environment, the more we are fighting on the climate change.” 

Nyaradzo Hoto, on how eating plant-based supports the planet

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