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Everyday Environment Podcast

Explore the intricate web of connections that bind us to the natural world with a deep dive into a variety of environmental topics with your hosts Abigail, Erin, and Amy.
Everyday Environment

Latest Episode

In the final episode of our Everyday Environment season focused on climate change, we chat with Duane Friend, Illinois Extension Climate Change Specialist to explore practical ways to get involved in climate action.

Coffee grounds are green: composting reduces methane and builds up soil

This week we welcome guests Sue Gasper and Gemini Bhalsod with Illinois Extension to chat about composting and how we can use this process to divert food waste from the landfill, where it often releases greenhouse gases as it decomposes, into backyard composts that reduce the greenhouse gases...

Investigating solar energy and agriculture: agrivoltaics and climate change

This week we’re joined by Dennis Bowman, Extension Digital Agriculture Specialist with Illinois Extension. Our team was fascinated by our discussion with Dennis about agrivoltaics and University of Illinois’ major research project within this field.  Discover what agrivoltaics is all...

Exploring carbon markets as part of emissions reduction goals

This week we’re joined by Sarah Sellars, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Sustainable Farm and Food Systems at South Dakota State University. We’re chatting with Sarah about agricultural carbon markets and their potential as one piece of the puzzle to meeting climate goals....

Cover Crops not Mudslides: empowering youth on climate change.

Join us this week as we chat with Peggy Anesi about her career in empowering youth about climate change. By keeping it local and empowering them with realistic options for addressing climate change, we can build a citizenry that is equipped face the many challenges presented by our changing...

It’s all about risk: how climate change increases our risk of health concerns and how we can adapt

This week we’re chatting with Elena Grossman from GTI Energy about how climate change is impacting us – our health and our communities – and what we can do about it. We’ll discuss existing health concerns that are exacerbated by climate change, leading to overall increased risk of health...

Exploring the challenges facing pollinators

Join us as we talk with Brodie Dunn, Outreach Associate in Biodiversity and Pollinators for Illinois Extension, about how pollinators are expected to respond to climate change. Learn more on the...

Will invasive species be helped or hindered by climate change?

Chris Evans is an invasive species expert and Extension Forestry and Research Specialist with Illinois Extension based in southern Illinois. We chat about what invasive species are, how their characteristics may make them more resilient to climate change, and what we can do to help slow their...

Understanding soil as a system

This week, we chatted with Michelle Wander, Emeritus Soil Scientist in the Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences department at University of Illinois. We go below ground to explore the importance of soil health, threats to that health, and practices to mitigate negative impacts on soil...

708 million tons of carbon storage: Urban Forests and climate change

This week we welcome Justin Vozzo to the podcast. Justin is an Extension Forestry Specialist with Illinois Extension based in Urbana, and he shares with us what an urban forest is and how they play a role in mitigating climate change. Learn more on the...

Too Much of a Good Thing: A Plant’s Perspective on Climate Change

Join us as we chat with Karla Griesbaum, NREE Educator with Illinois Extension, about how plants are expected to respond to climate change. While plants may experience some short-term benefits, overall increased stress is expected for plants with our changing climate. Take a listen as we...

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