PODCAST · education
Everyday Environment Podcast
by Abigail Garofalo, Amy Lefringhouse, Erin Garrett
Everyday Environment delves into the intricate web of connections that bind us to the natural world. From water, air, energy, plants, and animals to the complex interactions within these elements, we aim to unravel the ties that link us to our environment. Through a variety of educational formats, including podcasts, blogs, and videos, we strive to foster a deeper understanding of these connections among the residents of Illinois. Explore more at go.illinois.edu/everydayenvironment.Hosted by: Abigail Garofalo, Amy Lefringhouse, and Erin Garrett
Episodes
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Community parks as nature-based solutions with Katie Dudley
During this week's episode we take a step back from our home landscapes and look at our rural communities through the lens of tourism. We explore how parks can be nature-based solutions to not only attracting outsiders to visit our communities, but at the same time to support and engage local...
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Preventing erosion in streambanks and waterways with Ryan Pankau
Stabilization of streambanks is an important aspect of watershed management in Illinois. Across the state, we are experiencing increased rainfall and increasing storm intensity as the effects of climate change continue to ramp up. These changes create additional strain on Illinois streambanks,...
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Floating wetlands: nature at work on the water with Susan McIntyre
New uses for old docks? Tiny, microscopic biofilm on the roots of wetland plant communities? Susan McIntyre, a plant ecologist with the Illinois Natural History Survey, joins us to talk about how dock frames were used to construct floating wetlands in a lake ecosystem. We talk about water quality...
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Navigating native plants and municipal codes with Brodie Dunn
Is your yard compliant? Don't be fooled by the title - we have a fun time chatting about municipal codes and our native plant gardens during this episode with Brodie Dunn, Illinois Extension Wildlife & Pollinator Outreach Associate. Find out where to find the rules that may cover your native...
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Before the birds nest: Getting your yard ready for spring
Many of us invite birds to our landscapes - sometimes there is joy and sometimes there is frustration when birds begin to nest near our homes in the spring. Join us during this episode as we talk to Illinois Extension horticulture educator, Kim Rohling, about what to do in the fall to prepare our...
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Energy efficiency is trending on our landscapes
Before central heating and cooling became a standard feature of many homes, there was a greater emphasis on designing homes and their yards to provide natural climate control. This was accomplished by taking advantage of the heating effects of solar radiation during the winter along with the...
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Friend or foe? Insects in your landscape with Dr. Ken Johnson
EO Wilson famously called insects the "little things that run the world." Dr. Ken Johnson, Illinois Extension horticulture educator, joins us this week to solve our insect challenges. Insects perform numerous services within our ecosystems, but how do we respond when insects start to "bug" us?...
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Managing lawns with ecology in mind with Chris Enroth
Today we chat with Chris Enroth, horticulture educator for Illinois Extension, about how we can approach our lawn care with fewer inputs. We chat about why we even have lawns, top tips for a healthy lawn with fewer inputs, demystifying seed mixes, and how to shrink your lawn to support…
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What's wrong with my tree? with Sarah Vogel
When we talk nature-based solutions, trees can be the answer to many problems! Trees planted in our landscapes can deal with a lot of problems though. This week we chat with Horticulture Educator Sarah Vogel about the complexities of the question "what's wrong with my tree?" and what we can do to...
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Working hand in hand with nature in your garden with Amy Powers
We're kicking off our nature-based solution season with guest Amy Powers, who is a garden coach and social media influencer in the Chicago region. We had a blast chatting with Amy about how we can work with nature rather than against in our home gardens. We talk about native plants, fall garden...
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Practicing Curiosity: the Season 5 Preview
Join the Everyday Environment team for our fifth season chatting with experts, researchers, and professionals in the environmental field. Erin, Amy, and Abigail go over the theme for season five and the very exciting guests they have in store. Share your own Everyday Observation Was there…
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Answering your invasive species questions: a Q&A with Chris Evans
For our final episode of our invasive species season we have something a little different: we're sharing the recording of an invasive species livestream we hosted on Facebook with Chris Evans, answering your invasive species questions! Get the answers to your questions about managing different...
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A case study in invasive species management: Emiquon Preserve with Dr. Maria Lemke
After decades of draining the land for agriculture, restoring water to The Nature Conservancy’s Emiquon Preserve helped recreate high quality wetland, lake, and marsh habitats that were once common along the Illinois River. Maintaining these high-quality habitats requires monitoring and…
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Mushroom minute: a look at the invasive golden oyster mushroom with Aishwarya Veerabahu
Abigail and Amy chat with Aishwarya Veerabahu, a mycologist and PhD candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She enlightens us with the issues surrounding the golden oyster mushroom, a representative of the fungi kingdom , one kingdom we haven't discussed. We explore the rapid spread of...
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Carrying a shield against invasive carp with Steven Butler
Join Steve Butler, Biologist at the Kaskaskia Biological Field Station, as he discusses invasive carp (silver carp, bighead carp, grass carp, and black carp) and their reproducing populations throughout much of the Mississippi River basin. This set of fish have altered the structure and function…
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Ornamental plants on the move: who is escaping from your garden with Theresa Culley
Join us as we chat with Dr. Theresa Culley, a genetic researcher from the University of Cincinnati. We discuss the genetics of invasives and how genetics helps solve the puzzle of how different invasive species have escaped from managed spaces. Discover the stories of buckthorn, wintercreeper,...
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Protecting ag commodities, ecosystems and urban environments from invasive pests: the CAPS program with Kelly Estes
During this episode of Everyday Environment, hosts Amy and Erin chat with Kelly Estes from the Illinois Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey. We learn about how the CAPS program works and surveys for invasive pests in our state. Resources IL CAPS program Pest Tracker Share your own Everyday...
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Tree check! Spotting invasive pests early with Tricia Bethke
Everyday Environment talks with Tricia Bethke, Illinois’ Forest Pest Outreach Coordinator, about the growing threat of invasive pests. We explore how these pests are impacting our forests, what a “tree check” looks like, and which warning signs to watch for in your own yard and community. Learn...
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When good plants go bad: invasives in the home landscape with Chris Enroth
Listen in on our chat with Chris Enroth, fellow Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator and also co-host of the Good Growing podcast, about invasives in the home landscape. We discuss the challenge of plants that are not listed on regulation lists, how to tackle invasives without getting...
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Looking back to move forward: using historical data to understand invasions with TJ Benson
This week we welcome TJ Benson from the Illinois Natural History Survey to talk about the Critical Trends Assessment Program (CTAP), and how data collected can teach us how invasions have changed plant and animal communities in Illinois. Share your own Everyday Observation Was there something…
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Wading through the data: understanding EDDMapS, a leader in invasive species mapping with Rebekah Wallace
This week on Everyday Environment we chat with Rebekah Wallace out of the University of Georgia. Rebekah is the coordinator for EDDMapS, a platform used by the general public and professionals alike for invasive, pest, and biocontrol species reporting and distribution monitoring. For 20 years…
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Early detection in public gardens with Michelle Beloskur
Join us as we chat with Michelle about the invasive plant early detection efforts of the Midwest Invasive Plant Network. We take a special focus on the Public Gardens as Sentinels against Invasive Plants initiative, a program focused on sharing information and creating a network to detect…
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Breaking down invasive species rules & regulations with Chris Evans
In this episode of Everyday Environment, hosts Erin and Amy sit down with Chris Evans to break down how invasive species are regulated in Illinois—and why it matters to you. Illinois recently added nine species to the Illinois Exotic Weed Act, making it illegal to buy, sell, or transport them.…
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Words matter: how we engage others to care about invasive species with Emily Steele and Phil Anderson
This week we're joined by our marketing and communications manager Emily Steele! We chat with Emily about how our words matter when we talk about invasive species and how we can encourage people to manage invasive species through value-based communication and engagement approaches. We also hear...
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Season 4 Preview and Invasives 101
The Everyday Environment team is back for a new season this spring to discuss Invasive species. Get a preview of what is in store as well as a primer on Invasive Species from everyone's favorite Extension person: Chris Evans. Invasives Species 101 starts at 20:30 Original Episode from the…
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Taking action for wildlife: The power of community science
In this episode of the Everyday Environment Podcast, hosts Amy Lefringhouse and Karla Griesbaum talk with Allen Lawrance, Curator of Entomology at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, to discuss the power of community science and how volunteers contribute valuable data to wildlife monitoring…
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Get to know your neighbors: listening to Illinois wildlife with Brodie Dunn
If you learn to listen for wildlife, you’ll start finding it everywhere. Learning a bird’s song or an insect’s call means you can sense them even when they are out of sight or pick out their call from a chaotic audio background that the brain normally filters out. There are side benefits too;...
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Gopher it: Uncovering the unique ecology of the plains pocket gopher
Beneath Illinois’ soil lives a little-known but ecologically important animal — the plains pocket gopher. In this episode, hosts Amy Lefringhouse and Darci Webber talk with Nathan Alexander, postdoctoral researcher at the Illinois Natural History Survey, about what makes this gopher unique to...
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Movement of Armadillos in Illinois with Agustin Jimenez
The Mexican long-nosed armadillo (Dasypus mexicanus) has become a recent addition to the local fauna of Illinois as a response to habitat alteration and climate change. With these new species and many others comes new diseases and exposure of pathogens. Join Southern Illinois University associate...
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City dwellers: the Urban Coyote Research Project with Chris Anchor
The Urban Coyote Research Project is an ongoing 25-year project studying coyotes in the Chicagoland area. Join Chris Anchor, wildlife biologist for the Forest Preserves of Cook County, as he discusses his 40-year career in wildlife management and the insights we’ve gained from this long-term...
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An alien experience they just keep coming back for: fish hatcheries in Illinois with Kayleigh Smith
Fish hatcheries are an important tool for the heritage and recreation of Illinois wildlife. Join Kayleigh Smith, Outreach specialist for the IDNR Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery as she discusses the work at the fish hatchery and how it support conservation of Illinois wildlife. Share your own...
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What role do bison play in restoring Illinois prairies?
Find out the difference between bison and buffalo...Amy and Darci talk with Dr. Elizabeth Bach from The Nature Conservancy about prairie restoration at Nachusa Grasslands. From reintroducing bison to boosting biodiversity, the conversation explores how science, history, and community come…
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Wildlife in trouble: when to step in and when to step back
Hosts Amy Lefringhouse and Darci Webber chat with Sydney Oliveira from the University of Illinois Wildlife Medical Clinic about what to do if you find injured wildlife, how to prevent common injuries, and the vital role rehabilitation and education play in conservation. Resources to learn more...
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It's all edges: road ecology with Kevin Rohling
There are nearly 4 million miles of roadway in the U.S., allowing people to access almost anywhere, at any time, which has its benefits for people but also numerous ecological drawbacks. Learn from Kevin Rohling how roads alter the ecology of an area and affect our wildlife. Check out the…
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Environmental DNA basics: how we detect hidden life with Dr. Mark Davis
In this amazing episode, conservation biologist Dr. Mark Davis joins hosts Amy and Karla to explain environmental DNA (eDNA)—genetic material shed by organisms into their surroundings. This tool allows researchers to detect species in water, soil, and air without disturbing them. A fascinating…
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A poster child for wildlife conservation: quail in Illinois
Join Quail Forever biologist Brodie Eddington as he shares his expertise and experience with quail and the restoration of their habitat. Quail are culturally significant to Illinois , and their conservation is important for the preservation of this heritage and our Illinois ecosystems. Learn…
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Funding the wild: the role of outdoor recreation in conservation
In this episode of the Everyday Environment Podcast, hosts Amy Lefringhouse and Karla Griesbaum dive into outdoor recreation trends and their connection to conservation. Curt Sinclair from Illinois 4-H discusses how outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing contribute to conservation funding...
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There's a snake in my basement!: wildlife encounters with Joy O'Keefe
Animal Encounters are everywhere, but what do I do if encounter one? What should I expect to see at this moment? Join Joy O’Keefe, Extension Wildlife Specialist as she answers your burning questions about the wildlife we see everyday. Check out the Illinois Extension Wildlife Website to learn…
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New season, new puns: the season 3 preview
Join Everyday Environment for Season 3 as we explore a brand new aspect of the natural world with new hosts and new guests! Join Amy and Abigail as they welcome new hosts, Karla and Darci, and give you a preview of what to expect for the Wildlife season of Everyday Environment. From the episode:...
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From youth to adults: engaging our communities to learn about their water
This week we chat with Peggy Anesi, Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy Educator for Illinois Extension in northern Illinois. Peggy brings a wealth of experience in environmental education and shares her experiences working to engage different audiences all about water. From Watershed...
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Water Economics: The Pricing Puzzle
In this episode of Everyday Environment, hosts Amy and Abigail explore the puzzle of water pricing with guest Margaret Schneemann, Water Resource Economics Specialist with Illinois Extension and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. From aging infrastructure and economic planning to affordability and…
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Protecting our water supply with helicopters? How communities are tackling water challenges
While the City of Chicago and many of its surrounding communities have access to water from Lake Michigan, the rest of Northeast Illinois relies primarily on groundwater aquifers for all its drinking water. These groundwater aquifers provide a wide range of opportunities for drinking water…as…
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Taking a systems-based approach to community water management
This week we chat with Kara Salazar from Purdue Extension and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant about how communities approach sustainable development around their water resources. Kara discusses the challenges of managing stormwater, green infrastructure solutions like bioswales and permeable…
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Taking into consideration the next 100 years: the reversal of the Chicago River
The history books often referred to the reversal of the Chicago River as an engineering marvel, but how did they do it? Why did they do it? and Why is it important to learn about it? Join Phil Nicodemus from Urban Rivers as he discusses the history of the Chicago River and the historical and...
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Rain gardens and nerding out over native plants
Join the Everyday Environment team as we chat with Layne Knoche, Stormwater Outreach Associate, to explore the importance of rain gardens and how they help manage stormwater, support biodiversity, and improve water quality. We chat about some good design tips and ideas, the basic make-up of a…
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Nutrient loss in our waterways: the role of agriculture
Everybody has a part to play in protecting the valuable resource that is water. So what is the part of farmers? As producers of our food, fiber, and fuel, farmers are essential to our economy, our plates, and our way of life. Learn from Rachel Curry about the options farmers have to protect water...
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A gauntlet for Carp: invasives species in our waterways
From the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan, Illinois’ waters are incredible environmental and economic resources, supporting a diversity of plants and animals, providing drinking water for millions of people, and allowing for transportation and recreation. However, aquatic invasive species can...
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Rain Check: Creative ways to use stormwater to your advantage
In this episode, we talk with Eliana Brown, Water Quality and Stormwater Specialist with University of Illinois Extension. Eliana explains how we can do simple things that improve lakes and rivers and why it's important to do so. This podcast complements Extension's Stormwater@Home video series....
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What you should know about contaminants of emerging concern
When people think about ‘contaminants of emerging concern’ in our waters, it sounds like a scary, complicated thing. But in truth, it’s not. There are a number of things in our everyday lives that can pollute our water – even medicine, clothing, and what we use to keep our homes safe and…
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Science is not just for the professionals: RiverWatch and community science
Illinois RiverWatch is a statewide community science (i.e. citizen science) program that trains volunteers to monitor water quality in their local streams. Learn how volunteers across the state use small water bugs, called macroinvertebrates, to look at stream health. Check out the blog post on...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Everyday Environment delves into the intricate web of connections that bind us to the natural world. From water, air, energy, plants, and animals to the complex interactions within these elements, we aim to unravel the ties that link us to our environment. Through a variety of educational formats, including podcasts, blogs, and videos, we strive to foster a deeper understanding of these connections among the residents of Illinois. Explore more at go.illinois.edu/everydayenvironment.Hosted by: Abigail Garofalo, Amy Lefringhouse, and Erin Garrett
HOSTED BY
Abigail Garofalo, Amy Lefringhouse, Erin Garrett
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Everyday Environment Podcast have?
Everyday Environment Podcast currently has 197 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Everyday Environment Podcast about?
Everyday Environment delves into the intricate web of connections that bind us to the natural world. From water, air, energy, plants, and animals to the complex interactions within these elements, we aim to unravel the ties that link us to our environment. Through a variety of educational formats,...
How often does Everyday Environment Podcast release new episodes?
Everyday Environment Podcast publishes regularly with 197 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Everyday Environment Podcast?
You can listen to Everyday Environment Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Everyday Environment Podcast?
Everyday Environment Podcast is created and hosted by Abigail Garofalo, Amy Lefringhouse, Erin Garrett.
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