• Exploring the challenges facing pollinators
    Sep 12 2024

    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 blog.

    Resources to learn more:

    • If you’d like to hear more from Brodie, check out his wildlife sound ID podcast “Voice of the Wild”
    • Pollinator-friendly garden designs can be found at https://illinoispollinators.org/pollinator-habitat-design/ and https://illinoispollinators.org/pollinator-plant-selector/
    • Pollinator-friendly rain garden designs and plant selection tool
    • Monarch Project Rural Mowing Guidance
    • Guide to telling apart bees and flies that mimic bees
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    43 mins
  • Will invasive species be helped or hindered by climate change?
    Sep 5 2024

    This week we welcome Chris Evans to the podcast. Chris is an 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 spread. Learn more on the blog.

    Resources for learning more:
    iNaturalist - tool for identification and reporting
    EDDMapS - tool for reporting where you see invasives and looking at up to date range maps
    Invasive Species website from Illinois Extension

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    42 mins
  • Understanding soil as a system
    Aug 29 2024

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

    Helpful resources for homeowners:

    Soils website from Illinois Extension

    Web Soil Survey

    UC Davis SoilWebs App

    Helpful resources for farmers:
    Idea Farm Network
    Midwest Cover Crops Council

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    41 mins
  • 708 million tons of carbon storage: Urban Forests and climate change
    Aug 22 2024

    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 Everyday Environment Blog.

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    35 mins
  • Too Much of a Good Thing: A Plant’s Perspective on Climate Change
    Aug 14 2024

    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 discuss all things plants and climate change! Learn more on the Everyday Environment blog.

    Resources for learning more:

    Explore carbon levels across the globe

    Learn about how plants experience heat stress
    Climate ready woodlands resources from University of Minnesota

    Illinois Pollinator website from Illinois Extension
    Rainfall management website from Illinois Extension

    Sign up for our Everyday Environment newsletter - go.illinois.edu/EEsubscribe

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    40 mins
  • Shifting to a Silver Lining: Climate Expert Talks Climate Change Basics
    Aug 7 2024

    Join us as we talk with Dr. Justin Schoof about the basics of climate change and what we are already seeing happen in Illinois. Justin is the Director of the School of Earth Systems and Sustainability at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. We’ll break down climate change, discuss current trends, and talk about what it all means for the future. Learn more on the Everyday Environment blog.

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    53 mins
  • Welcome to the New Everyday Environment Podcast!
    Jul 18 2024

    Welcome to the new Everyday Environment Podcast! Your hosts Abigail, Erin, and Amy are here to talk all about the switch from Spotlight on Natural Resources to a new podcast, Everyday Environment. But wait, there's more! No longer just a podcast, we have more learning opportunities for you, including a blog, webinars, and short videos. Take a listen to hear about our plans for this podcast, and stay tuned for the launch of our first season on August 8, all about climate change. Learn more at go.illinois.edu/everydayenvironment.

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    33 mins
  • PFAS: Understanding this Contaminant of Emerging Concern
    Jun 20 2024

    Join us as we talk with Sarah Zack, Pollution Prevention Extension Specialist, about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. Commonly found in a wide variety of consumer products like non-stick cookware, cosmetics, and cleaners, PFAS are an emerging contaminant that has recently become newsworthy due to its widespread discovery in waterbodies across the country. In this podcast episode, we’ll learn what PFAS are, where they are found, and how they can affect our health, as well as what’s being done to combat this hazardous pollutant.

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    30 mins