Getting involved in climate work: find the solution that works for you

Getting involved in climate work: find the solution that works for you

Author: Abigail Garofalo, Amy Lefringhouse, Erin Garrett October 24, 2024 Duration: 39:46

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. Whether you're looking to make a difference in your own life or in your community, we discuss climate solutions that fit your lifestyle, share inspiring community success stories, and help you navigate conversations about climate change. We also highlight the Illinois Extension Climate Stewards course, dispel common misconceptions, and offer motivation for those ready to make a positive impact. We also invite you to read our final blog reflecting on our climate change season!

Learn more...
Illinois Climate Stewards
Chicago Living Corridors
Cross Community Climate Collaborative (C4)

Contact us...
Abigail Garofalo aeg9@illinois.edu
Erin Garrett emedvecz@illinois.edu
Amy Lefringhouse heberlei@illinois.edu

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Hosted by Abigail Garofalo, Amy Lefringhouse, and Erin Garrett, Everyday Environment Podcast is a conversation about the natural systems that shape daily life in Illinois. It’s not just about distant wilderness; it’s about the water from your tap, the trees on your street, the birds at your feeder, and the energy powering your home. Each episode pulls on a single thread-be it soil health, local wildlife, or sustainable practices-to reveal the whole intricate web we’re a part of. You’ll hear clear explanations and practical insights that make the science of our surroundings accessible and immediately relevant. The goal is to move beyond abstract concepts and foster a tangible, deeper understanding of how these environmental connections work right outside our doors. Tune in for thoughtful discussions that equip you with knowledge about the air, land, and water in your own community, making the complexities of our shared ecosystem feel a little more familiar and a lot more connected to the choices we make every day. This podcast is one part of a broader educational effort, designed to engage curious residents who want to look a bit closer at the world around them.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Everyday Environment Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Early Spring Wildlife [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:10
Early spring is a wonderful time to view wildlife in Illinois. Woodcock, one of the earliest of the migrating birds, return to the state and start displaying to attract mates and set up territories. Mole salamanders will…
Phenology as a Retirement Hobby [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:47
Ever think about what will captivate you in retirement? You don’t want to just sit around but you don’t want to over-commit now that you have your own time. Phenology could be a retirement hobby. Join Peggy Doty to talk…
The Northern Saw-Whet Owl [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:15
Hiding in the thickets of our Illinois woodland habitat, the Northern Saw-whet Owl is a small and secretive owl species that migrates through our area. During this podcast, University of Illinois Avian Lab Manager and Fi…
Providing Natural and Artificial Homes for Bats [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:19
Join us this week as we chat with Dr. Joy O'Keefe about bats of Illinois and what we can do to support them. Bats are essential to a healthy ecosystem, as they eat insects that are pests to trees, crops, and us. Most bat…
Invasive Alert: Spotted Lanternfly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:48
On this special edition of Spotlight on Natural Resources, hear from Scott Schirmer, State Plant Regulatory Official with Illinois Department of Agriculture, and Chris Evans, Forestry Extension and Research Specialist wi…
Exploring Illinois’s Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:16
With high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus entering our waterways and making their way to the Gulf of Mexico, Illinois is taking action to address nutrient loss and hold those nutrients in place. Rachel Curry and Nicole…
Drought and Extreme Weather Resiliency [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:17
With droughts and drastic weather occurring in Illinois, how do we keep our landscapes resilient? Extension Stormwater Specialist, Eliana Brown, joins the podcast to discuss how we can help build healthy landscapes in th…
Corn Sweat: a Midwest phenomenon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:01
Corn sweat - an interesting Midwest phenomenon that happens during the summer months. Find out what corn sweat really is and how it affects our weather, wildlife and other plants. Duane Friend, Illinois Master Naturalist…