Everyday Environment Podcast
Science & Ideas
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, 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
- 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 kin…
- 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 basi…
- 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 sp…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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 regulat…
- 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. S…
- 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 speci…
- 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 sh…
- 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…
- 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-bas…
- 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 Spe…
- 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 volunt…
- 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 br…
- 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 Natura…
- 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 exposu…
- 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 manage…
- 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 su…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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 wate…
- 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 preservatio…
- 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 suc…
- 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. Chec…
- 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…
- 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 engag…
- 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 infr…
- 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 provi…
- 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 infra…
- 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 th…
- 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 s…
- 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 Ra…
- 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 transportati…
- 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 podc…
- 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, clo…
- 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 macroinvertebrat…
- From raindrop to river: State Hydrologist explains watershed basics
Watersheds are everywhere, adjusting and reforming all the time - they are not static. Watersheds are a reflection of natural and human activities: as activities change so do watersheds as well as the waterways within them. Whatever happen…
- Water connects us all: a season 2 preview
Preview what to expect from season two of Everyday Environment. Abigail, Erin, and Amy give listeners a peak behind the scenes of how the podcast is produced and what to expect in our upcoming season on water. Subscribe to our Newsletter C…
- Getting involved in climate work: find the solution that works for you
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…
- 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, i…
- 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 t…
- 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…
- 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 equippe…
- 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 ch…
- 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 blog . Resources to learn more: If you’d lik…
- Will invasive species be helped or hindered by climate change?
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 mo…
- Understanding soil as a system
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, a…
- 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. Lear…
- 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 plan…