Mike Nowak Show Podcasts

The inimitable Christy Webber returns to talk horticulture, business and the Chicago Flower & Garden Show. Adam Federman from The Nation Magazine returns to report on the latest threats to what we thought were protected U.S. natural lands.

Dr. John Ikerd, Craig Watts, and activist-farmer Karen Hudson talk about how to change industrial agriculture. Dr. Michael Schuck and Dr. Nancy Tuchman from Loyola University Chicago discuss their open source online textbook called Healing Earth.

Kylee Baumlee, author of The Monarch: Saving Our Most-Loved Butterfly, visits the WCGO studios, along with Carol Niec and Kerrie Rosenthal from The Seed Keeper Company. On a snowy day, Pat Skach fills in for meteorologist Rick DiMaio.

Solar energy expert Lisa Albrecht comments on a tariff on imported solar panels to the U.S. Steve Neumann of Logic Lawn Care and Jeff Swano of Dig Right In Landscaping promote natural lawn care to Illinois park districts.

Soil scientist Mary Tiedeman explains what’s happening in your soil beneath the snow. Zhenwei Zhu talks about the new Loyola Environmental Testing Laboratory (LETL). Tony Abruscato previews the 2018 Chicago Flower & Garden Show.

Janie Maxwell of the Illinois Farmers Market Association on winter farmers markets; gardening expert Charlie Nardozzi on containers and foodscapes; former NOSB member Francis Thicke on why he thinks the organic label is at risk.

The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) wants to teach you how to install solar energy systems. Robert Nevel previews the 9th Annual MLK Food Justice and Sustainability Weekend at KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation in Hyde Park.

Jennifer Molski of HF Christmas Tree Recycling and Kay McKeen of SCARCE explain to recycle trees, lights and other holiday jetsum. Then Mike, Peggy and Rick DiMaio discuss the environmental stories of 2017.

It’s a Wonderful Slice of It’s a Wonderful Life makes its return to the airwaves featuring the Not Even Ready for Weekend Smart Talk Players, after bird conservationist Judy reports on the annual Christmas Bird Count.

Adam Federman of The Nation Magazine on his investigative series, The Plot to Loot America’s Wilderness, Beth Vercolio-Osmund on why she’s running for Congress and Whitney Richardson on the The Kitchen Community and the Logan Square Winter Farmers Market.

Doris Taylor from the Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic on why trees have been reluctant to drop their leaves this fall, Kate Green from Lurvey Garden Center on holiday plants, and meteorologist Rick DiMaio on California wildfires.

Chris VanCleave, 'The Redneck Rosarian,' talks winter rose care. Carey Gillam discusses her important new book, Whitewash, about why the weed killer glyphosate (in Roundup) is still controversial.

Michelle Byrne Walsh returns to share her annual list of The Good, The Bad and The Wha? of holiday garden and environmental gift giving. Polly McGann and Victor Zaderej present an update of their Happy Leaf LED grow lights.

Mitch McNeil from Surfrider Chicago reports on two threats to Lake Michigan water. Bird City Wisconsin’s Director Bryan Lenz talks protecting bird populations. Michele Hoffman and Dr. R. Eric Collins of the University of Alaska discuss melting permafrost.

Anna Stork, co-founder of LuminAID, explains how they are helping victims of natural disasters by supplying portable, inflatable solar lights. Chicago Alderman Scott Waguespack talks about why Chicago still can’t recycle.

Scott Stewart, Executive Director of the Millennium Park Foundation, stops in on the eve of its 20th anniversary, and environmental reporter Kari Lydersen, reports on a victory over fracking in Illinois and the future of the Future Energy Jobs Act.

Mike and Peggy celebrate their final Saturday show (they’ll still be on Sundays from 9-11am!) at the 10th Anniversary Green Living Expo at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake.

The #GiveHealthyMovement, a Green Living Expo, and bad days at Bubbly Creek are covered in the first hour. Bill Whitney from City Bee Savers talks about the search for queen bees that can survive in northern Illinois.

Mike and Peggy cover a range of topics, including an oil spill in the Chicago River, a 10 million dollar prize for cleaning up algae in Lake Erie, and a look back at October weather from meteorologist Rick DiMaio.

Lisa Hilgenberg from the Chicago Botanic Garden talks about planting spring bulbs. Molly Flanagan from Alliance for the Great Lakes and Tony Maas of Freshwater Future report on disappointing progress in the fight against algae in Lake Erie.