Mike Nowak Show Podcasts

Jody Osmund of Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm and CSA returns to The Mike Nowak Show to talk about the practical and political achievements of the Slow Food Movement.

Nicole Virgil and Ron Cress each explain why they are fighting their town's laws to grow, respectively, food and native plants. Michele Hoffman talks about a new growing technique that might give the world’s declining coral reefs a fighting chance.

Paul Coffey from the Art Institute of Chicago and Jeff Levrant of Homan Grown explain how the Oaks of North Lawndale project will bring trees and art to that west side Chicago community.

Author and native plant landscaper Benjamin Vogt talks about his new book, A New Garden Ethic. Gale Community Academy Principal Augustine 'Augie' Emuwa and A Just Harvest’s Rev. Marilyn Pagan-Banks and Tonia Andreina a teaching students about growing food

Landscape architect Carol Yetlen talks about managing the gardens surrounding the Baha’i Temple in Wilmette. Tom Klitzkie from Nature’s Perspective Landscaping has advice on keeping your plants well-watered in a dry spell.

Sharon Bladholm talks about her latest nature-focused art exhibit. Mike and Peggy interview a man who grew a 1,852 pound pumpkin this year. Erik Carlberg and Doug Snower from Windfree Solar explain why this is a good time for clean energy in Illinois.

Peggy and Mike broadcast live from the SCARCE Green Fair at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, where reduce, reuse and recycle are the words of the day.

Toxicologist David J. Zaber comments on the efficacy of spraying mosquitoes. Kay McKeen from SCARCE promotes their Green Fair. Mike Mikulka from EPA Region 5 visits the Science Desk with Michele Hoffman and reports on efforts to gut the federal agency.

Some of our iconic ash and oak species are on the brink of extinction. Dr. Murphy Westwood from The Morton Arboretum and Dr. Rex Bastian from Davey Tree Experts talk about why that has happened and what we do to save them.

Lisa M. Rose talks about her book Midwest Medicinal Plants and how you can forage for those plants in your own yard. Doug Taron from the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum reports on Midwest monarch populations as they begin their migration to Mexico.

Friends of the Parks Executive Director Juanita Irizarry returns to the show to discuss the latest developments surrounding the proposed Obama Presidential Center in Chicago’s Jackson Park.

BK Sharma from ISTC explains how scientists are using pyrolysis to convert plastic back back into petroleum products. Two recycling experts explore the possibilities of reclaiming household storm debris.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Shedd Aquarium’s Mark Schick report on the future of coral populations.

Mike and Peggy welcome NASA Senior Scientist Meagan Thompson, who answers questions about the coming total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017.

Peggy Malecki and Lisa Hilgenberg from the Chicago Botanic Garden co-host the show. They talk to Michelle Hickey of The Resiliency Institute about permaculture, then get summer growing advice from plant care specialist Chris Beiser.