In this episode we talk with Laureanna Raymond-Duvernell, our first ever guest on GreenCast. Laureanna has written an amazing book for kids called "Under in the Mud" that we discuss a bit here as well as her involvement with the Sustainability Fair this year. Link to her book: https://www.amazon.com/Under-Mud-Laureanna-Raymond-Duvernell/dp/16453819…

In this episode we talk with one of the sponsors for our Sustainability Fair. Joe Nolan owns Good Harvest Market and tells us a bit about the history of the store and what they are all about. We talk about the sustainability goals of an organic grocery store and how they are working to help their customers find local organic food. Support the show…

In this next installment of our Sustainability Fair mini series we chat with WasteCap, a waste reduction service that helps companies save money and resources. At the end we get some useful tips on how to make the fair and our lives a little more zero-waste! Support the showBy Waukesha County Green Team

In our next episode before our Sustainability Fair in August, Laura sits down with Jessica from Prairie Hill Waldorf School to understand how the Waldorf curriculum integrates sustainability differently. Support the showBy Waukesha County Green Team

In this short episode we chat with one of our exhibitors and sponsors of the Waukesha County Green Team Sustainability Fair on August 28, 2021. Eco Evie Apparel is a mom-and-daughter retail company that uses their shirts to spread the news of sustainability and donate money to save endangered species. Support the show…

In this episode Laura sits down with Tim O'Brian of Tim O'Brian homes and they talk about what makes sustainable construction of residential buildings, and how sustainability can be integrated into the design of homes. Support the showBy Waukesha County Green Team

It's another bilingual episode coming your way! In this installment, the students of Oconomowoc High School's Global Sustainability Class teach us about gardening - how to start a garden and the benefits of gardening from the perspective of sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals. Like all of our Spanish collaborations, the first half …

In this episode Laura sits down with Steve to talk about how he was able to make his home zero carbon, and how he was able to do it for free! In previous episodes we've talked about carbon on a larger scale with businesses (see "Can Carbon be Neutral?"), but this episode offers a game-plan on how individuals can use this information in their own ho…

In this episode the students of the Global Sustainability Class at Oconomowoc High School teach us about GMO foods. This is a bi-lingual episode where the first half is in Spanish, and the second half is the English translation, so listen in Spanish and see how you do! Support the showBy Waukesha County Green Team

What is soil? In this episode we discuss soil and its importance with Shea Zastrow from Everything Grows LLC. Learn the difference between "soil" and "dirt" as well as how we can interact with the deeper side of sustainability by changing the way we treat our soil. Support the show

In this episode Laura talks with Melissa Vernon from Natural Capital Partners, about carbon, where it is, and carbon neutrality. They discuss what a carbon credit means, the projects involved, and how businesses (and individuals) are using them. Support the showBy Melissa Vernon

In this episode we welcome Dr. Israel Del Toro an assistant professor of Biology at Lawrence University. We jump right in to spring time fun with a discussion on bees, wasps, No Mow May, and how we are all connected in our local ecosystems to the bigger picture of our joined environment. See more of Dr. Del Toro's work at www.byobeez.org and join t…

Today Laura sits down with Amanda Goetsch, Program Manager for the Sustainable Management Certificates & Programs at the University of Wisconsin Extended Campus. They talk about how sustainability can fit into higher education at both the undergraduate and graduate degrees, the benefits of online programs, and the direction of business hiring for s…

Welcome back our mini-series! This is a collaboration with a local high school which has a Global Sustainability Class that combines environmental studies with Spanish for an interdisciplinary class. The students are learning about the Sustainable Development Goals, so this episode is about goal #14: Live Below Water. As usual, the first half of th…

Trees are one of our most precious resources in our community. In this episode we look at a local organization and how they close the loop from arborists to artists. Wisconsin Urban Wood has made some great contributions to area by helping to bring felled trees to other business to be made into usable lumber and locally made furniture. Enjoy the di…

Have you ever stopped to think about where your hair goes after you get it cut? Or what happens to the coloring dyes that get washed down the drain? In this episode of GreenCast Laura sits down with the owner of a small salon in Wales, Wisconsin to talk about the current state of the salon industry and what he is doing to make his salon more enviro…

In this episode we discuss natural options for treating your lawn and protecting your pets and plants with more environmentally friendly processes. We dig into what makes Be Green Pro different from the conventional options out there and the importance of looking at what you are putting down on your property. Support the show…

Join us in this bonus episode of GreenCast were the high school students at Oconomowoc high school tell us about sustainable products and practices they currently use, and what they have changed since joining the Global Sustainability class! The first half of the episode is in Spanish, and then they translate for us in the second half. Support the …

Plant-based diets can be super scary and boring right? Wrong! Laura sits down with the owner and chef at Celesta in Milwaukee Wisconsin, a plant-based restaurant that makes all of their food exceptionally delicious and interesting. They talk about Melanie's background and what got her into plant-based cooking, the philosophy of her restaurant, and …

We reached out to our audience to find out what you all are focusing on in 2021! Alec, Laura, and third team member Stacey talk about their eco-resolutions, share the resolutions we received from you all, and reflect on our first year of podcasting! Support the showBy Waukesha County Green Team

Becca Tetzlaff joins us this month for a conversation about green and clean beauty products. She walks us through some of the problems in the industry today and gives a couple of alternative products to check out. Becca co-hosts the "Positively Green Podcast", and runs her blog, https://organicallybecca.com/. Support the show…

Today we discuss sustainable practices for our holiday gatherings with Joanna Salinas. Learn some methods to cut back on waste during those gatherings with friends and family. Support the showBy Waukesha County Green Team

In this episode Heather Deaton talks with Laura about the different kinds of sustainable gifting options we have available for the holidays. They talk about local, reusable, financial, experiential, and organizational gifts and many others. This episode is based just outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin so many companies referenced are location-specific, b…

Kelsey Jorissen Olesen joins us to talk all things chickens. She owns a small farm in Northwest WI and is passionate about her backyard flock. We hear the health benefits of raising your own food and some tips for starting out. Support the showBy Kelsey Jorisson

Welcome to our mini-series! This series is produced with help from the Global Sustainability class at Oconomowoc High school. In this episode you'll hear an introduction to the students, what they are learning about in their class, and a little bit about the Sustainable Development Goals. Support the show…

Public transportation is vital in connecting people with opportunity. In this episode Alec speaks with Gregg May, from1000 Friends of Wisconsin, about the benefits of sustainable transportation for the environment and the communities in our area. This topic has much more to it than getting from point A to point B, join us and learn about the far re…

63% of Americans drink coffee in the average amount of 2 cups per day. But have you ever considered where that coffee comes from? In this episode Laura sits down with the Director of Coffee at Stone Creek Coffee, and they talk about how sustainability factors into the coffee world, not only environmentally, but also socially and financially. Stone …

Have you ever seen a little bunny on your product's packaging? Or a little blue and green person waving? Or a capital letter "B"? Lisa Geason-Bauer joins us this week to explain all of the different Sustainable Certifications you might find on your products. From food, to clothing, to beauty products, the little symbol you see is just the end resul…

In this episode Laura sits down with two teachers at Oconomowoc High School to talk about the new Global Sustainability class they created during the 2019-2020 school year. The class combines Spanish and Advanced Placement Environmental Science, all through the lens of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This episode was recorded in May 2020 afte…

Alec sits down with Dave Steele, the executive director of the Regional Transit Leadership Council. The Council is a non-profit organization based in southeast Wisconsin advocating for fast, reliable, multi-modal transportation in the area. They talk about how transportation is connected to sustainability by reducing a city or individual's carbon f…

Ariana Hones joins us from Wisconsin Conservation Voters to talk about the impact of local elections, how environmental issues are addressed in Wisconsin, and how their organization rates our state representatives on their environmental voting performance. This organization is focused in Wisconsin, but it is a chapter of the nation-wide League of C…

Caroline Priebe joins us to talk about how sustainability intersects with the fashion world. In her work in the fashion industry in addition to her sustainability consulting with fashion companies, we learn about all of the areas of sustainability that fashion touches, and the possible future for the industry. Join the conversation on our Facebook …

Do you have questions about solar energy? If you are looking to install PV panels and have been looking for the right time, no nothing about renewable energy, or just want a bit more information about how the whole process looks, we have you covered! Alec sits down with Alfred and Dustin from Sun Badger Solar to discuss all things solar energy. The…

Alec talks to Melinda Myers about gardening and the natural integration of sustainability into the topic. Nationally known gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has over 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books. She hosts the nationally-syndicated “Melinda’s Garden Moment” TV & radio pr…

In this episode we will talk to Amelia Coffaro who is a meditation and mindfulness professional who tells us about the benefits of a routine meditation practice, and some ways we can incorporate it into our busy lives, both at home, and at work. She also leads us through a short meditation exercise to practice, and provide a little pause in your da…

In this episode Alec sits down with Debra Schneider, current president of the Waukesha County Green Team to chat about the group and the work that we do. The Green Team has helped Waukesha County write it's sustainability plan, organized two sustainability fairs, and serves as a resource for the residents and municipalities of Waukesha County and b…

In celebration of the 50th Earth Day, the producers of GreenCast decided to record a bonus episode! This episode is a little more free-form as the three producers talk about what Earth Day means to them and little things we can each to do celebrate Earth Day in Isolation to comply with Wisconsin's Stay At Home orders. With the beauty of technology …

In this episode, Laura talks with Analiese Smith, the Solid Waste and Recycling Supervisor for Waukesha County. We discuss everything recycling: what is accepted, what happens at the materials recovery facility, and where the material goes after it's been sorted. We also receive a couple tips and tricks to help remember what can go in the recycling…

In this episode Laura talks with Liz Watson about networking and the importance of it in the sustainability industry. They specifically cover the Women in Sustainability group they are both a part of, but extend the conversation outwards as well. Join the conversation on our Facebook page! Let us know your thoughts on this, and future episodes.You'…

In this episode, Alec sits down with Laureanna, who is an environmental educator in Waukesha County. Join us to learn about how middle schoolers are being exposed to environmental issues first-hand. You will also learn how to apply these ideas to your own life and take actionable change towards a sustainable lifestyle. Follow our Facebook page for …