Mike Nowak Show Podcasts

Peggy Malecki fills in for Mike and 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.

Mary Hennen and Peggy Macnamara on their new book, The Peregrine Returns; Laura Calvert is new executive director of Advocates for Urban Agriculture; Dr. Harry Klee on his quest to breed the perfect commercial tomato; Jonathan Kruger previews Veggie Fest.

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.

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.

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.

Farmers Lisa Kivirist and Alison Parker preview Soil Sisters and In Her Boots events. Michele Hoffman previews her trip to Florida to research plankton and the affects of the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe. Coorens reports on a big land use deal in Chicago

Chef Paul Virant previews the 10th Annual Peak Harvest Farm Dinner presented by Angelic Organics Learning Center. Rick DiMaio returns from and educational trip to Iceland to study climate change.

Urban Rivers has an idea for bring floating nature to the Chicago River; Carl Zimring and Kris Kaar explain the IRA event "A Couple of Professors Talkin' Trash;" plus an update on the British Columbia wildfires from Dave Scott of Spaced Out Radio.

Former Chicago Gardener of the Year and co-director of the 49th Annual Sheffield Music Festival and Garden Walk Laury Lewis stops by the studio to promote “The Summer’s Best Festival” and talk a little gardening.

Lee Buttala from the Seed Savers Exchange seeds, Allen Lawrance from the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum updates the monarch butterfly count, and Laura Barghusen from Openlands announces the launch of Paddle Illinois Water Trails for canoes and kayaks.

Mike and Peggy talk to Charlotte Adelman and Bernard L. Schwartz about their new book, Midwestern Native Shrubs and Trees and the importance of putting native plants in your landscape.

Joel Brammeier from Alliance for the Great Lakes reports on Asian carp and the All Hands on Deck initiative. Meteorologist Rick DiMaio and science educator Michele Hoffman come to the studio to talk climate change.

LaManda Joy from the Peterson Garden Project previews GnomeDependence Day. Mike and Peggy follow up on factory farm issues in Illinois with Karen Hudson from Illinois Citizens for Clean Air and Water and farmers Craig Porter and Carrie Johnson.

The Mike Nowak Show hits the road to visit the 25th Annual Midwest Pond and Koi Society Koi Show and Trade Show in McCook, Illinois.

Mike and Peggy talk mid-season veggies with Lisa Hilgenberg from the Chicago Botanic Garden, follow up on the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipe which runs under the Straits of Mackinac, and learn about a new study that focuses on the tree canopies in the Chicago region.

Mike and Peggy learn about The Elgin Hops Project, preview their broadcast from the Midwest Pond and Koi Society 25th Annual Koi and Trade Show, and examine why electric rail service to the south side is being stymied.

Juanita Irizarry, Executive Director of Friends of the Parks, returns to the show to follow up on efforts to hold Chicago accountable for transparency in developing the Obama Library and other facilities in south side parks.

Diane Blazek describes the work and programs of the National Garden Bureau, Josh Mogerman reports on environmental issues for the NRDC, and Breanne Heath from The Pie Patch talks about growing fruit in Chicago.

Mike and Peggy preview 28th annual Energy Fair, sponsored by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association in Custer, Wisconsin, then answer some gardening questions.

Mike and Peggy learn about pruning perennials with Tracy DiSabato-Aust, promote the Sugar Beet Food Co-op, talk green smack with Green Diva Meg, and discuss the work of the Illinois Farmers Market Association.