Podcasts Archives

September 9, 2017 – The Challenge of Food Waste

September 9, 2017September 28, 2017 Mike Nowak Ample Harvest, compost, environment, food pantries, food waste, gardening, Gary Oppenheimer, hunger, poverty, The Mike Nowak Show

Gary Oppenheimer, founder and Executive Director of AmpleHarvest.org, explains his organization’s mission to enlist backyard gardeners to fight food waste by connecting them to local food pantries.

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September 3, 2017 – Chicago: City of Big Celery

September 2, 2017September 8, 2017 Mike Nowak celery, Chicago, Eden Place Nature Center, environment, gardening, Illinois Recycling Association, Michael Howard, Monica Eng, pickles, Revitalizing Plastics Recycling, Styrofoam, The Mike Nowak Show, WBEZ

Ken Santowski from Chicago Logistic Service explains to recover Styrofoam. WBEZ’s Monica Eng gives a history lesson on Chicago’s farming past. Michael Howard promotes the Go Fund Me campaign for Eden Place Nature Center on Chicago’s south side.

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September 2, 2017 – Hurricane Harvey: Predicting and Coping with the New Normal

September 1, 2017September 8, 2017 Mike Nowak Anthropocene Alliance, climate change, environment, FEMA, Flood Forum USA, gardening, Harriet Festing, Houston, Hurricane Harvey, Rick DiMaio, The Mike Nowak Show, urban planning

Harriet Festing from Flood Forum USA and meteorologist Rick DiMaio discuss the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey–the role of climate change in catastrophic weather events and whether we will be prepared for the next one.

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August 27, 2017 – Live from Heirloom Fest at the Chicago Botanic Garden!

August 26, 2017August 30, 2017 Mike Nowak Andrew Bunting, Chicago Botanic Garden, environment, Fred Spicer, gardening, Heirloom Fest, Lisa Hilgenberg, open pollinated vegetables, Regenstein Fruit and Vegetable Garden, The Mike Nowak Show

Mike and Peggy head to the Chicago Botanic Garden to broadcast live from Heirloom Fest: Tomatoes and More. Horticulturist Lisa Hilgenberg from the Regenstein Fruit and Vegetable Garden joins them to talk about the 50,000 plants under her care.

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August 26, 2017 – Hall of Fame Horticulturist

August 25, 2017August 30, 2017 Mike Nowak environment, gardening, GWA, Melinda Myers, Melinda's Garden Moment, Midwest Gardener's Handbook, Milwaukee, pruning, The Mike Nowak Show

Peggy and Mike welcome garden author, lecturer and media star Melinda Myers back to the show. She was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame of GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators.

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August 20, 2017 – Respect for Animals Large and Small

August 19, 2017August 29, 2017 Mike Nowak agriculture, coral reefs, Crate Free Illinois, environment, factory farms, gardening, Humane Society, Mark Schick, Michele Hoffman, Microcosm, Shedd Aquarium, The Mike Nowak Show

Jessica Chipkin from Crate Free Illinois and Scott Beckstead of the Humane Society preview the new Illinois Agriculture Advisory Council. Michele Hoffman of Microcosm and the Shedd Aquarium’s Mark Schick report on the future of the oceans’ coral populations.

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August 19, 2017 – The Dark Side of the Sun

August 18, 2017August 29, 2017 Mike Nowak astronomy, environment, gardening, Meagan Thompson, NASA, science, The Mike Nowak Show, total solar eclipse

It’s Total Solar Eclipse Central today, as Mike and Peggy welcome NASA Senior Scientist Meagan Thompson, who will explain what scientists will be doing during the big event on Monday, and what you can do to safely participate in the national experience.

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August 13, 2017 – Cultivating Resilience

August 12, 2017August 18, 2017 Mike Nowak Chicago Botanic Garden, Chris Beiser, fruits and vegetables, Lisa Hilgenberg, Peggy Malecki, permaculture, plant diseases, The Mike Nowak Show, The Resiliency Institute

Mike’s taking a couple of days off and Peggy Malecki sits in the pilot’s chair for today’s show. Lisa Hilgenberg, mega-horticulturist at the Chicago Botanic Garden, joins Peggy in-studio as they welcome Michelle Hickey of The Resiliency Institute to discuss using permaculture, growing food security projects and using community engagement to build resilient communities. Then Peggy and Lisa welcome Chicago Botanic Garden plant care specialist Chris Beiser for a lively discussion of late summer gardens, plant problems and yellow jacket wasps.

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August 12, 2017 – Moms Fight to Breathe Free

August 11, 2017August 18, 2017 Mike Nowak asthma, clean energy, environment, gardening, green house gases, Kelly Nichols, Moms Clean Air Force, Peggy Malecki, petcoke, public health, The Mike Nowak Show

Peggy Malecki takes the reins as Mike Nowak takes a couple of days off. She welcomes back Kelly Nichols from Moms Clean Air Force to discuss the connection between clean energy and clean air. Rick DiMaio returns to talk about 2016–another year that goes into the record books for extreme heat.

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August 6, 2017 – Breeding Success

August 5, 2017August 10, 2017 Mike Nowak AUA, endangered species, environment, gardening, Harry Klee, hybrid tomatoes, raptor recovery, The Field Museum, The Mike Nowak Show, The Peregrine Returns, Veggie Fest Chicago

Mary Hennen and Peggy Macnamara talk about their new book, The Peregrine Returns; Laura Calvert talks about the challenges of being the new executive director of Advocates for Urban Agriculture; Dr. Harry Klee reports on his continuing quest to breed the perfect commercial tomato; Jonathan Kruger previews the 12th Annual Veggie Fest Chicago.