The Mike Nowak Show Archives

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.

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August 5, 2017 – Plastic Behavior

August 4, 2017August 10, 2017 Mike Nowak Bring Your Bag Chicago, changing behavior, environment, film plastic, gardening, Jordan Parker, recycling, taxes, The Mike Nowak Show

Jordan Park of Bring Your Bag Chicago returns to the show to talk about the success of the 7 cent fee on single-use plastic bags in Chicago.

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July 30, 2017 – Snipping and Spraying

July 30, 2017August 10, 2017 Mike Nowak adulticides, Clarke, Dan Kosta, environment, gardening, Japanese beetles, larvicides, Midwest Pesticide Action Center, mosquito abatement, Prairie State Bonsai Society, The Mike Nowak Show

Dan Kosta answers gardening questions and promotes the Prairie State Bonsai Society annual event. Ruth Kerzee from the Midwest Pesticide Action Center and Laura McGowan from Clarke talk about the complexities of controlling mosquitoes in the Chicago area.

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July 29, 2017 – Fun with Foliage

July 28, 2017August 10, 2017 Mike Nowak Christina Salwitz, environment, Fine Foliage, garden design, gardening, Gardening with Foliage, invasive exotics, Karen Chapman, native plants, The Mike Nowak Show, USDA Hardiness Zones

Karen Chapman and Christina Salwitz, authors of Gardening with Foliage First, explain to Mike and Peggy how to design a beautiful garden while almost making blooms an afterthought. As always, meteorologist Rick DiMaio reports on climate and weather.

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July 23, 2017 – Soil Sisters, Ocean’s Daughter

July 22, 2017July 25, 2017 Mike Nowak Chicago North Branch Corridor, Deepwater Horizon, Elaine Coorens, environment, gardening, In Her Boots, Linda Kivirist, Michele Hoffman, Microcosm, plankton, Soil Sisters, The Mike Nowak Show, women farmers

Farmers Lisa Kivirist and Alison Parker preview coming Soil Sisters and In Her Boots events. Scientist, educator and filmmaker Michele Hoffman previews her trip to Florida to research plankton and the affects of the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe. Elaine Coorens explains a coming deal for new land use in the North Branch Industrial Corridor in Chicago.

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July 22, 2017 – The Chef and the Meteorologist

July 21, 2017July 25, 2017 Mike Nowak Angelic Organics Learning Center, Chef Paul Virant, climate change, environment, gardening, geothermal energy, glaciers, Iceland, local food, Loyola University Chicago, Rick DiMaio, The Mike Nowak Show

Renowned Chef Paul Virant previews the 10th Annual Peak Harvest Farm Dinner presented by Angelic Organics Learning Center this Thursday, featuring Mike Nowak as auctioneer for the evening. Rick DiMaio returns from and educational trip to Iceland to study climate change.