Mothering Earth Podcast

The Rio Grande river has been immortalized in movies and in songs, but sadly, the river itself has shrunk and now regularly runs dry in certain areas. The World Wildlife Fund has prioritized restoring the river and to that end is funding programs to revitalize the Rio Grande. One such program called Rio Grande Return is building beaver dams and other wood structures in the river, in an effort to improve water retention and water quality, and they are beginning to see positive results.

Many people spend hours on their lawns, running the sprinklers, pouring on the “weed and feed”, driving large riding mowers back and forth and using another noisy machine to makes the edges perfect. Why do we have an obsession with lawns? Have we thought about how lawns and manicured yards do great harm to biodiversity and to the natural ecology of the Earth, and contribute to climate change? In this program, conservation educator, photographer and author Danae Wolfe challenges us to instead value wilder natural landscapes that support all forms of life. Wolfe’s book is Grass Isn’t Greener, The Everyday Conservationist’s Guide to Bringing Nature to Your Yard.

Many of us feel uncomfortable going out into nature once the sun goes down. The natural world after dark is something of an unknown, mysterious and perhaps dangerous. In this program, we meet naturalist and author Charles Hood, who wants us to awaken to what he says is a strange but surprisingly beautiful nighttime world.

What happens when a man who grew up on a factory farm learns about environmental sustainability? In this case, he was driven to make changes on the farm that would benefit the environment, and his search for alternatives was nurtured when he found an organization called Mercy for Animals. Their goal is to end factory farming, through a program they call Transfarmation. That's our story in this edition of Mothering Earth.

When you throw something away, it’s gone as far as you are concerned. But in fact, it’s still around and will most likely end up in a landfill. Landfills are where solid waste goes to build up into unpleasant mounds and where organic waste, like food that is thrown away, goes to fester and decompose, giving off huge amounts of methane gas. Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases and a big contributor to climate change. Whether you call it trash, waste or garbage, it’s in our interest to reduce the amount we generate, so that less is sent to landfills. In this program, we are getting to zero waste with Richard McHale, Director of Austin Resource Recovery.

Bats are pretty amazing little creatures, yet for years they have been pictured as evil animals associated with witchcraft and the devil. In. this program, you’ll meet behavioral ecologist and bat biologist Alyson Brokaw who’s written a book called The Weird and Wonderful World of Bats, in which she demystifies bats and brings to light some of their remarkable characteristics and the ways in which they are vital to the ecology of our planet.

Most people use several different personal care products every day. For example, you may use a shampoo and conditioner, creams or lotions, shaving cream, fragrances, toothpaste and some makeup, including lipstick, eyeliner and eyeshadow. If you read the labels on these products you'll see a list of chemicals, and you may assume that these chemicals have been tested to make sure that they're safe. However, the Food and Drug Administration does not do any long-term testing on these chemicals. They may be tested to see whether they result in short-term problems, such as skin irritation, and the FDA may act, if they get complaints about harmful effects from a product. Several nonprofit groups are finding or conducting the necessary studies and distributing that vital information to us consumers. One organization is the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and in this program, we feature Kaley Beins a senior scientist of chemical safety and toxicology at the EWG.

What if farmers who feel trapped in an agricultural system where large corporations make all the decisions, even down to how many animals the farmer will raise, what he or she will feed them and when the animals will be slaughtered; what if those farmers had other options? An organization called Mercy For Animals has created an innovative model of alternative farming opportunities, and helps farmers make the transition from animal-based agriculture to growing fruits and vegetables, or mushrooms, or hemp. The model is a project aptly entitled Transfarmation. In this edition of Mothering Earth, we’ll hear from Katherine Jernigan, Farmer Outreach Manager for the Transfarmation project.

There are quintillions of insects in our world. Some are harmful to humans, but most are not. In fact, most insects provide vital ecosystem “services”, such as pollination of food crops and decomposition of animal and other wastes. They provide food for other insects and for birds and even humans. They give us silk, wax, and other products and they have inspired us to come up with practical and important inventions. This is just some of what entomologist and author Barrett Klein details in his beautifully written and illustrated book, The Insect Epiphany.

Photographs showing environmental devastation caused by humans can have a powerful impact, and can change minds and drive people to take action. In this program, you’ll meet an acclaimed National Geographic photographer who has spent much of his life illustrating environmental issues that affect us all. His name is Jim Richardson and as he puts it, he believes that “photographs have a job to do” and not just hang on a wall and look pretty.

Most of the animal food products you buy come from what are called factory farms. That includes beef, chicken, turkey, and pork, as well as eggs and dairy products. The animals in these “farms” live miserable lives in horrible conditions and have a one-way ticket to the slaughterhouse. Compassion in World Farming is an organization dedicated to ending factory farming and to educating people about animal welfare, air, water and land pollution, human health and social justice, issues which are inextricably intertwined in factory farming. My guest in this program is Allie Molinaro, who was campaigns coordinator for Compassion in World Farming when we recorded this show. She is now Campaigns Manager.

Perhaps later today, you will head to the grocery store to get some fresh fruits and vegetables, which are important for a healthy diet. In this program, we’re looking at the issue of pesticide use on our produce, with Dr. Alexa Friedman of the Environmental Working Group or EWG. The EWG has shopper’s guides to help people evaluate what they say are the healthier choices in the produce aisle; items that generally contain less pesticide residue.

Do you have a favorite tree? Whether you do or not, almost all of us have enjoyed the shade of a tree or eaten fruit or nuts that came from a tree. Trees provide us with numerous “services” while just standing there, looking stately, for the most part. The Arbor Day Foundation is all about trees and the pretty amazing things they do. The foundation is also a great resource for anyone who’s trying to decide what kind of tree to plant.

Are milk, cheese and other dairy products really the best source of calcium in our food? You may be surprised to learn that plants are a better source of calcium and the many other nutrients we need for bone health. In this program, we take a hard look at the dairy industry with Mark Rifkin, a registered dietitian and sustainability specialist.

A recent survey commissioned by the Arbor Day Foundation found that ninety percent of Americans say time spent in green spaces makes them happier and less stressed. Practitioners of ecopsychology wouldn’t be surprised. Ecopsychology has long supported the notion that humans need to spend time communing with nature, and that both physical and mental health are improved as a result. That’s why Mothering Earth is featuring Dr. Moira Martin, a university professor who teaches a course on ecopsychology. Martin has found students receptive to the main tenets of ecopsychology, especially as they face a future where the natural world appears to be fighting back, after years of ill-treatment at the hands of us humans.

The extreme weather we've been experiencing lately has it roots in climate change according to most scientists. Intense heat, extreme storms that bring damaging winds and hail and that result in flooding, or raging wildfires all have human costs, but they also have powerful economic costs. Property losses have ripple effects. Who will bear the costs? More and more, insurance companies are reluctant to offer homeowner's insurance in vulnerable areas. What does that mean for the average homeowner? In this program, we delve into this complicated issue with Alice Hill, Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment at the Council on Foreign Relations.Hill's work focuses on the risks and consequences of climate change.

Humans have created millions of miles of roads all over the planet. Roads are useful to move goods and people, but they are also intrusions into what were once wild places, where animals roamed free. The millions of vehicles that drive on roads spew polluting gases and assault our ears with noise. To animals big and small, who try to cross roads, cars and trucks bring death and destruction. In this edition of Mothering Earth, we hear why this matters with Ben Goldfarb, environmental journalist and author of the book Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet.

Insects have superpowers and unique ways of communicating with each other, without the use of cell phones. They have ways of settling disputes, no United Nations required. If you don’t believe this, listen as Dr. Scott Solomon, provides the details in this edition of Mothering Earth. Dr. Solomon is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Rice University, and author of one The Great Courses offerings, on insects.

Insects, bugs, pests, whatever you may call them, and whether you love or hate them, they are vital to our planet and by extension to us humans. They provide important ecosystem services by recycling dead things, by pollinating our food crops, by planting seeds, and even just by being food for other creatures, like birds. In this program, we take a deep dive into the remarkable world of insects, to learn about their history, what they do and the pretty amazing ways in which they do it. Our guest is Dr. Scott Solomon, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Rice University.

In our second show with Amy Ziff of MADE SAFE®, a nonprofit organization that provides certification for nontoxic products, we examine the process companies must go through in order to have their products certified as safe. Ziff also provides practical advice on eliminating as many toxins as possible from your everyday life. We find out what might be hiding behind the term fragrance, why microfiber isn’t good for you or the environment and ways of avoiding preservatives. Amy Ziff is the founder and Executive Director of MADE SAFE®.