ECO SPEAKS CLE: Recent Episodes
Diane Bickett and Greg Rotuno
ECO SPEAKS CLE is where the eco-curious can explore the unique and thriving environmental community in Northeast Ohio. Each episode delivers inspiring stories of local sustainability leaders and provides practical tips to move from eco-curious to eco-confident. ECO SPEAKS CLE is hosted by Diane Bickett and produced by Greg Rotuno. Diane spent her 31-year career helping others to reduce waste and recycle more while working at Cuyahoga Recycles and Greg is a young, multi-media specialist. Together, Diane and Greg offer a multi-generational perspective to help sustainability newcomers and masters alike, connect, learn, and live with the planet in mind.
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Cities don’t forget—their land remembers. In this episode, we speak with Isaac Robb, Chief Urban Program Officer at Western Reserve Land Conservancy, and explore how his organization works to turn Cleveland's vacant and underutilized land into living assets, including neighborhood parks, memorial gardens, and reforestation programs that cool, calm, and reconnect neighborhoods. Hear what Isaac loves most about Cleveland and what surprised him most when first coming here in 2105.
The Western Reserve Land Conservancy is a land trust known for farmland preservation, but also built a robust urban program from the tragedy of the foreclosure crisis. Programs to reforest the city, create community parks and green spaces, and reconnect residents with the land in their own backyard are improving health and quality of life.
The Conservancy's urban projects honor community memories and experiences and offer healing and reconnection by planning guided by environmental justice, public health, and the power of place. Join us to hear about the people who founded this work and those who shepherd it today, and the many ways to be a part of this transformative work.
Learn More:
- About the Conservancy
- Conservancy Projects
- Getting Involved
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Brodie Longo is a young organizer and director of the Northeast Ohio chapter of Beyond Plastics. This grassroots organization works to combat plastic pollution and the use of single-use plastics through education and activism. In this episode, Brodie speaks about what it's been like starting a local Beyond Plastics chapter and how, at just 23 years old, he found himself leading in ways he did not expect. Together with his steering committee and volunteers, Brodie is building momentum against single-use plastic, from hosting nurdle patrols and beach cleanups to venue recycling and advocating for policy and legislative change. Hear Brodie's tips for reducing your exposure to microplastic pollution and how to join meetings, find resources, and get involved with this newly formed organization.
Our Guest:
Brodie Longo - Director, NEO Chapter of Beyond Plastics brodielongo@yahoo.com
Resources:
Beyond Plastics National Organization
The Problem with Plastic by Judith Enck
Follow Beyond Plastics on Facebook
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Anthony Iovine is the sales manager for Gateway Products Recycling, a family-owned paper recycling company, in business for over 30 years in Ohio and Pennsylvania. When asked why he loves his job, he says it's "waking up every day to save the planet - one bale of cardboard at a time."
Paper recycling has been around since about 1031 AD, and is one of recycling’s success stories. The U.S. recycles around 46 million tons of fiber annually, according to the American Forest and Paper Association. In this episode, Anthony busts a few recycling myths. He gives us an insider's look at the paper recycling industry, the role of intermediate processors like himself who collect, grade, and bale paper before shipping it to domestic mills to be made into new products. Tony also shares how the industry has changed over the years, the impact of China's National Sword policy, and the importance of paper recycling in a world of growing consumption and dwindling resources.
Gateway collects source-separated paper, cardboard, plastic, and metals from commercial customers - ranging from food manufacturers and grocery stores to stadiums and distribution centers. This sorted material yields cleaner, more valuable recyclables, enabling Gateway to move between 15,000 and 18,000 tons of materials through its plants each month, with the final stop being mills that make recycled boxes, gypsum board, cellulose insulation, and tissue products. All these efforts help keep forests standing, while protecting ecosystems, water and energy. Listen and hear how Gateway can turn your workplace waste back into resources.
Learn More:
About Gateway Recycling
American Forest and Paper Association
Plastic China Documentary
China's National Sword Policy
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Did you know that laundry is the #1 source of microplastic pollution? With every load of laundry, millions of tiny plastic particles come off our synthetic clothes, down the drain, and into our waterways. In this episode, we speak with Max Pennington, Co-Founder and CEO of CLEANR. Max and his partners may have the solution to plastic pollution we've been looking for. His Cleveland-based company recently launched a patented filter that captures up to 90% of all microplastics from your washing machine before they enter the drain. Max developed this breakthrough technology with fellow engineering students Chip Miller and David Dillman within the Sears think[box], an innovation lab at Case Western Reserve University.
Their VORTX filter design was inspired by the gills of fish, specifically by the way manta rays and basking sharks filter feed. This biomimicry-based design creates a vortex that keeps the filter from clogging while effectively capturing harmful microplastics. These young entrepreneurs recently launched their company CLEANR, with a filter that easily attaches to any washing machine.
Hear how Max and his partners plan to bring this technology to market. Their CLEANR filter is currently available as an external washing machine attachment for $299. The ultimate goal is to integrate it directly into washing machines, making microplastic filtration as standard as lint traps in dryers. The company is also exploring applications beyond laundry, including whole-home water filtration to protect against microplastics entering our bodies through drinking water.
Capturing microplastics before they enter our waterways could be a real game-changer, especially if supported by legislators and policymakers. Would they go for it? Max thinks so. Already, five U.S. states have introduced legislation requiring microplastic filters on washing machines, with similar momentum building in Europe.
With synthetic fibers from our clothing accounting for 35% of all plastic pollution in our water systems, the implications extend far beyond environmental protection. Recent studies have found alarming connections between microplastics in the human body and increased risk of heart disease and other health conditions. These plastic particles have been discovered in human blood, brains, and even the placentas of newborn babies. With an estimated 22 million pounds of microplastic particles entering the Great Lakes annually, the Cleaner team aims to make Cleveland "ground zero in the fight against microplastic pollution," tackling it one laundry load at a time.
Learn More:
About our Guest, Max Pennington, Co-Founder and CEO of CLEANR
About CLEANR
About buying a CLEANR Filter
About Sears think[box]
About microplastics and laundry
About Microplastics and the Great Lakes
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Inlet Dance Theatre is a modern dance company in Cleveland, founded in 2001 by our guest, Bill Wade, a renowned dancer and choreographer who uses the power of dance to further people and explore human, societal, and environmental issues through movement. Located within the Pivot Center for Art, Dance and Expression on West 25th Street in Cleveland, Inlet's Dance Studio is called The Estuary, reflecting the company's nature-based and sustainability themes.
Inlet's mission aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, which promote health and well-being, quality education, equality, and sustainable cities. Deeply rooted in Cleveland, Inlet is helping nurture and grow the next generation of artists by offering free dance classes in public schools and other community programs. Bill explains that talent is everywhere, but access to developing that talent is not. He started Inlet to expose urban youth to the power of the arts and provide opportunities, mentorship, and creative expression to individuals who might otherwise lack access.
The connection between dance and sustainability may seem unexpected, but the arts are universally relatable and offer a unique opportunity to promote environmental awareness. "Don't put on stage what is. Put on stage what could be," Wade says, capturing how art contributes to sustainability by envisioning possibilities rather than dwelling on problems. In a world facing climate change and social inequities, Inlet Dance Theater reminds us that sustainability isn't just technical solutions – it requires creative spaces where we can collectively imagine and embody more hopeful futures.
Enjoy this episode of Eco Speaks CLE as Bill describes his work, his creative process, some of the pieces in his repertoire, his love of Cleveland and its youth, and upcoming appearances for his company.
Guest:
Bill Wade, Founder and Executive/Artistic Director of Inlet Dance Theatre
Resources:
About Inlet Dance Theatre and Upcoming Performances
Education and Community Programs
Cain Park Annual Performance and Calendar of Events
Aim2Flourish and The Lavender Project
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In this episode, we head to the Rid-All Farm to speak with Keymah Durden, a co-founder of Rid-All Green Partnership. What was once a notorious dumping ground in Cleveland's "Forgotten Triangle", the farm is now one of the largest minority-owned urban farms and a nationally recognized model for urban agriculture, environmental stewardship, and resilience. In this episode, Keymah talks about how Rid-All is growing communities and changing Lives.
Rid-All was originally a pest control company started by farm co-founder Damien Forsche. As he worked in public housing projects, Damien observed some things, including what people were eating - unhealthy, processed food due to a lack of access to fresh food and nutrition education. This sparked a dream of bringing a farm to Cleveland's Kinsman neighborhood that would fill that void. That was in 2010. That dream is now a 26-acre campus in Cleveland's Urban Agriculture Innovation Zone.
The name Rid-All stands for Redeem, Integrity, and Determination for All Mankind. Tragically, Damien passed away in 2018, but his partners continue to expand the Rid-All mission to honor his legacy and train the next generation of farmers. Carrying on the farming traditions of their African ancestors is central to Rid-All's mission. And that is what makes it truly special. They are not just growing food; they are rebuilding community connections, honoring cultural traditions, and creating pathways to health, prosperity, and circularity.
Join us for a meaningful conversation about farming, soil, raising fish, sequestering carbon, celebration, music, learning, health, and the intersection of all these topics. Then go to the farm for Taco Tuesday or Fish Friday in the Rid-All Community Kitchen to experience this special place for yourself.
Guest:
Keymah Durden, Farmer and Co-Founder of Rid-All Green Partnership
Learn More:
Meet the Rid-All Partners
Training programs
Youth programs
Videos
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On Friday, April 11, over 300 high school students from across northeast Ohio gathered for the 2025 NEO Youth Climate Summit, hosted by Laurel School and Global Shapers Cleveland. The event brought students together to discuss and collaborate on solutions for climate change, sustainability, and environmental justice.
The summit was kicked off with a keynote address by a young climate activist, Sage Lenier. Sage was honored by TIME Magazine as a 2023 Next Generation Leader. She started teaching about climate change while still a student at UC Berkeley and has since founded her own non-profit, Sustainable and Just Future.
In this episode, we share her message to the students. Hear what one Gen Z'er has to say to young environmental leaders about meeting the future with excitement and innovative solutions. And hear from Angela Yeager, a teacher whose students in Laurel School's Environmental Justice Semester planned the event. Organizers called it a "beaming light for young people demanding change in the face of the climate crisis." And it was.
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Happy Earth Day! In this episode, we discuss the importance of connecting kids with nature and the Cleveland Outdoor Bill of Rights, with Renee Boronka, Director of Conservation Education and Outreach at the Western Reserve Land Conservancy. The Cleveland Outdoor Bill of Rights outlines twelve fundamental nature experiences every child deserves, from breathing clean air to camping under starry skies.
What began as a grant-funded project to better connect urban youth with nature evolved into a collaboration between environmental organizations, libraries, schools, and community groups. Through hundreds of survey responses, Cleveland's children revealed not only what they love about outdoor experiences but also the barriers preventing them from enjoying nature in their neighborhoods.
John Marshall High School AP Environmental Science students wrote the Bill of Rights based on community input and guidance from Renee and their teacher, Mary Kennedy Brown. Rights include breathing clean air, safe recreation on Lake Erie, hiking in nature, walking tree-lined streets, camping under the stars, and more.
With Cleveland City Council poised to adopt the resolution this month, the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights serves as a powerful statement of values and a practical framework for future environmental planning. As Boronka explains, similar initiatives in cities like Austin and Baltimore have catalyzed significant improvements in youth access to quality green spaces.
Join us to hear the Children read the Bill of Rights they created and how the Western Reserve Land Conservancy and others are addressing the growing disconnect between children and nature, a disconnect linked to concerning trends in physical and mental health.
Today's Guest - Renee Boronka, Director of Conservation Education and Outreach at the Western Reserve Land Conservancy.
Learn More
About the Western Reserve Land Conservancy
WRLC Events
Nature Everywhere (formerly Cities Connecting Children to Nature)
Children and Nature Network
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Mera Cardenas is a historic preservationist working to connect people to place as the Executive Director of Canalway Partners. We are the people, and the place is the historic Towpath Trail, located within the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area. The 100-mile Towpath Trail from Cleveland to New Philadelphia follows what once was a significant transportation artery from the mid-1800s until the railroads came. The trail was completed in 2021 when the final section was constructed in Cleveland, ending at Canal Basin Park following 40 years of planning and $54 million. For Mera, preserving this connection between past and present is her passion and mission as she honors the legacy of her predecessors who envisioned and transformed Cleveland's industrial corridor into its recreational backbone.
Mera's background as a CNN producer and cultural historian brings a unique storytelling perspective to her role. Under her leadership, Canalway Partners has expanded its community engagement through signature events like the Lantern Parade, environmental stewardship through River Sweep, the Towpath Trilogy, and Cleveland History Days, featuring over 70 events highlighting the region's heritage.
Canalway Partners started with a meeting of like-minded people 40 years ago who never lost sight of their vision to reclaim Cleveland's industrial valley and bring us a unique, world-class recreational space. Today, Mera Cardenas is its new Executive Director, following the retirement of Tim Donovan, who led the trail's development. The work ahead will bring us new opportunities to experience the trail and the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage area through expanded public spaces like Canal Basin Park in Cleveland and the many trails linking east and west with the Towpath as the spine and the Cuyahoga River as the source.
As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the canal's construction this year, Mera reminds us that our waterways fundamentally shaped our communities: "We're here in Cleveland and Akron because of the construction of that canal. Everything that came after came from what the canal brought to this region."
Learn more at canalwaypartners.com or follow their social media for upcoming events.
Learn More:
Our Guest, Mera Cardenas, Executive Director, Canalway Partners
Canalway Events
Discover the Towpath Trail
Volunteer with Canalway
History and Legacy of the Towpath Trail
Ohio and Erie Canalway National Heritage Area
Ohio and Erie Canalway Coalition
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Aidan Meany is a young clothing entrepreneur defining a new era of apparel. His team at Found Surfaceuses 21st-century technology and traditional, natural fibers to produce eco-friendly clothing for companies looking for ethically and thoughtfully produced garments. His new factory in Cleveland's Slavic Village neighborhood is one of the first in the nation to use digital knitting machines to make clothing that is plastic-free, waste-free, and guilt-free. Aidan found his place in the design industry after educating himself about the fast fashion industry and the toll of overseas production on our fellow human beings and the environment. His mission is to bring production back to Cleveland and rebuild our long-lost apparel manufacturing industry in a way that prioritizes sustainable and regional production and sets the standard for ethical fashion. Join us to hear the origins of his company's name, his innovations, and how he works with his partners in the Rust Belt Fibershed to enable local farmers to process their fiber and take it to market. We also decipher our clothing labels to help make informed choices about our apparel.
Our Guest:
Aidan Meany, CEO and Founder of Found Surface
Learn More:
Found Surface - Products, Services
About the Stoll Digital Knitting Machines
About Rust Belt Fibershed
Weaving a Local and Sustainable Textile Economy - Eco Speaks CLE
Creating a Bioregional Textile Economy with Rust Belt Fibershed - Eco Speaks CLE
Designing a Circular fashion Brand with Faan - Eco Speaks CLE
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In our first episode of 2025, we discuss sports and sustainability with Danielle Doza, the Cleveland Cavaliers' Vice President of Sustainability and Environmental Services. As the first executive-level professional in the NBA, Danielle shares how the CAVS organization integrates award-winning eco-friendly practices in fresh and exciting new ways and the collaborative spirit driving sustainability within sports organizations.
Join us as Danielle speaks about her dream job and key initiatives at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. These initiatives, including recycling, energy efficiency, education, and various partnerships with WM, Found Surface, and the Green Sports Alliance, drive sustainability in the sports industry.
Finally, Danielle offers valuable career advice for aspiring sustainability professionals in our tip time. This episode is a must-listen for anyone eager to see sustainability thrive in sports.
Guest:
Danielle Doza, Vice President of Sustainability and Environmental Services with Cleveland Cavaliers (Rock Entertainment Group)
Learn More:CAVS sustainability initiativesPartnership with Waste Management (WM)
Green Sports Alliance
GOAL (Green Operations and Advanced Leadership)
5 Tool Sports Group (sustainability toolkit for sports)
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Join us as we wrap up 2024 with community leader and food sovereignty advocate Sara Continenza. Sara is the founder and executive director of Food Strong, a non-profit connecting kids with food since 2016. Sara and her staff work with the Cleveland Municipal School District and other inner-city schools to provide hands-on learning experiences in gardening, nutrition, and entrepreneurship. Recently, Food Strong's mission to educate, empower, and cultivate health through fresh foods just got a significant boost. Community Greenhouse Partners recently gifted them a three-acre farm site on Superior Avenue in Cleveland's east side. The property includes a historic house, church, food forest, farmland, and hoop houses that Food Strong is transforming into its Superior Farm. This neighborhood hub will support food sovereignty, climate resistance, and community connections. An estimated $5 million is needed to realize her vision for the property, along with the help of thousands of volunteers and neighbors. This extraordinary project is urban restoration at its best, feeding bodies, minds, and souls. Join us as we speak with Sara about this project, the wisdom of kids, Food Strong's work, and ways you can help.
Our Guest:
Sara Continenza, Founder and Executive Director of Food Strong
Learn More:
About Food Strong
About The Superior Farm Fix-Up Project
Donate to Food Strong's Farm Project
Become a Supporter
Volunteer Evenings
Food Strong's Programs
Follow Food Strong on Facebook and Instagram
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Eco Meet CLE is a gathering of Cleveland's environmental community, organized by the Eco Speaks CLE podcast and friends, to share a beer, have fun, and connect the people and the threads of the exciting work happening in our region. We recorded this episode during our seventh Eco Meet held recently at our favorite watering hole, Great Lakes Brewing Company. This evening featured an "open mic"wherepeople shared news of their work, sought collaborators and promoted opportunities. Ours is a vibrant community with a common denominator: we care about our planet, our community, and each other. Hear about local sustainability initiatives in the northeast Ohio region and ways you can support them and get involved.
Learn more about the speakers and their work
Jennifer McMillin: Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council
Tait Ferguson: Trust for Public Land
Lexie St. Denis: Great Lakes Brewing Company
Val Flors: Surfrider Foundation and Great Lakes Friendly Restaurants
Ditte Wolin and Mary Beth Naim: Third Act Ohio
Andrea Villalón: The Lavender Project
India Johnson: UA Vistas
Tori Agnew-Camiener: Great Lakes International Joint Commission
Renata Brown: Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Kimberly Lessman: Holden Forest & Gardens Restoration Seed Bank
Kelly Clark: Gless Bioregion Network
Lisa Hardin: The FarmSTED - St. Edwards High School
Jeff McNaught: Edgewater Surf Foam Recycling
Erika Meschkat: J.M. Smucker Company Corporate Sustainability
Angela Yaeger: NEO Climate Summit - Laurel School
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In this episode, Cleveland filmmaker Chris Langer speaks with us speak about his new documentary, Ripples of Plastic, which premiered this year at the Wild and Scenic Film Festival and locally at the Chagrin Falls Documentary Film Fest. Chris is a director, producer, and cinematographer and owns Wonderhouse Films in Cleveland. Ripples of Plastic is Chris's first documentary film, which he began during COVID to expose the vast problem of plastic pollution present in our Great Lakes and its effects on aquatic life and human health. Chris tells this story through the voices of those leading the research and working on solutions. Many of those voices have been guests on this podcast. Hear Chris speak about how he came to make this film, the impact it had on him, and the impact he can make through grassroots distribution within the Great Lakes region. Documentary films are powerful tools to transform and spur change. Ripples of Plastic is a call to join the fight against plastic pollution caused by plastic producers and to demand action from our policymakers. Learn how you can help Chris screen this important film far and wide.
Learn More:About our Guest - Filmmaker Chris LangerRipples of Plastic - Trailer
About Wonderhouse Films
The Story of Plastic
Eco Speaks CLE - The Perpetual Problem of Plastic with Jill Bartolotta
Eco Speaks CLE - Trash Fishing with Eddie Olschanski
Eco Speaks CLE - Little Spark Refill Shop with Rachel Regula Gonzalez
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If you need a reason to love Mondays, Slow Roll Cleveland is it. In this episode, Greg and I join Slow Roll Cleveland and several hundred other cyclists for a leisurely-paced bike parade through our urban streets. Slow Roll Cleveland hosts these ten-mile Monday evening rides during warmer months to highlight Cleveland neighborhoods and bring joy and community to riders and residents alike. Our slow roll took off from Shaker Square and took us through the Shaker, Buckeye, and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods. It was a blast. Hundreds of cyclists on bikes tricked out with bells, boom boxes, and lights shouted "Happy Monday" to excited onlookers waving from tree lawns, porches, and driveways. Slow Roll Cleveland has been hosting these inclusive social bike rides since 2013. Board President, Kevin Jones, spoke with us before the ride about the mission of Slow Roll, how it was founded, and why these rides are so popular. We also spoke with several participants and members of the Squad, the crack volunteers who ensure the rides run smoothly and safely. Come along with us. There is magic in our neighborhoods, in our people, and in the simple joy of riding bikes together.
Guest:
Kevin Jones, President of the Board, Slow Roll Cleveland
Resources:
About Slow Roll Cleveland
Slow Roll Schedule
Volunteer with Slow Roll Squad
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Are you curious about making smarter, greener choices for your electricity supply? In this episode, we speak with Jennifer McMillin with the Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC). Jenn is SOPEC's Regional Director for Northeast Ohio and provides tips and insights for choosing a 100% renewable energy supplier for your electricity needs. SOPEC is a leader in community choice aggregation in Ohio, providing competitive rates and substantial savings to residents in member communities, including the City of Cleveland.
In Ohio, we can choose where our electricity comes from and there are many ways to choose renewable energy for your home or business. Green energy suppliers such as SOPEC use Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to document, authenticate, and track that energy flowing into the power grid comes from a clean, renewable power source. Consumers can then select one of these renewable energy suppliers either on their own or participating in their community's contract with an aggregator like SOPEC or NOPEC. Join us as we break it all down for you so you can make and informed, sustainable energy choices. Investments in renewable energy projects are paying off but we have far to go to further green our grid. Choosing a renewable power supplier through our consumer choice is one way we can all show our support.
Guest:
Jennifer McMillin, Regional Director for Northeast Ohio with the Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC)
Resources:
About SOPEC
CIty of Cleveland Community Choice Aggregation Program
SOPEC Job Openings
Green-e® Certified renewable energy
SOPEC Solar Assessment Programs
PUCO Apples to Apples
EPA Green Power Communities
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In this bonus to our conversation with Maria Paparella, Maria shares a personal story of one of the young adults she deeply connected with through her organization Chair-ity. This young adult faced several challenges as she aged out of the foster care system and started life on her own. But with her perseverance, strength, intelligence, and support from Maria, she has become one of the many Chair-ity success stories. This organization truly makes a difference, one person at a time.
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It is said that "Adulting' is hard, but it's exponentially harder if you are 18 years old and aging out of foster care, alone and without a support system. Here in Cleveland, there's an organization helping to ease the transition by providing donated furniture and household goods to young people who have graduated from foster care and moved into a place of their own. That organization is called Chair-ity, andin this episode, we speak with its founder and executive director, Maria Paparella. Chair-ity is a non-profit based in Cleveland that works to address the unmet needs of young adults aging out of the foster care system. Maria was inspired to start Chair-ity when she was just 16 years old. Ten years later, her organization has been a much-needed friend to 662 young adults by providing essential household goods and furniture and making their first place into a home. Join us to hear Maria's story and how she is creating a community of support for young adults exiting the foster care system. Hear the w]many ways you can help by donating your time, talent, and treasure. The benefits go both ways. One of Maria's favorite quotes is from Ruth Bader Ginsberg: "Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you." Maria is living this quote, and she hopes you will join her.
Guest:
Maria Paparella, Executive Director of Chair-ity
Resources:Follow Chair-ity on InstagramAbout Chair-ity
How to Donate
Chair-ity Success Stories
Connect with Chair-ity
Upcoming Events
Community of Hope (mentor opportunities)
Cleveland Angels (mentor opportunities)
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Meet our fellow Cleveland podcaster, Maci Nelson. Maci is a landscape architect, the creator of The Land+Scape Nerd podcast, and a project manager for LAND Studio, a non-profit that connects communities through art and public spaces. In this episode, Maci shares what it's like to design for urban outdoor spaces and the importance of relying on residents' voices to drive the creation of vibrant, inclusive outdoor environments. Through her work at LAND Studio, Maci shares how public art and other enhancements create community-centric environments that reflect who we are as Clevelanders and how nature-based solutions help mitigate climate impacts in our inner cities. Also, hear Maci speak about her podcast, The Land+Scape Nerd, where she shares stories about people and landscapes and provides resources for anyone interested in the outdoor world. In our Tip Time, Maci gives her favorite native plant recommendations to help transform your outdoor space.
Guest:
Maci Nelson, Project Manager at LAND Studio and creator of The Land+Scape Nerd podcast
Resources mentioned in this episode:Maci's podcast - The Land+Scape Nerd
Follow Maci on Instagram@thelandscapenerd
LAND Studio projects - Small Giants sculptures at Wendy Park and The City is Our Museum
Cleveland Seed Bank workshops
Wild Ones Greater Cleveland
The Pollinator Partnership
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Jeff McNaught owns Edgewater Surf, a surf shop in Rocky River, where he sells a variety of new and used paddleboards, surfboards, and windsurfing gear. The shop also serves as an informal community hub for styrofoam™ recycling. Jeff started this program to provide a local recycling option for the bulky EPS (expanded polystyrene) found inside paddleboards and encasing appliances, TVs, computers, and other large items for customer shipment. This bulky, lightweight, and rigid foam plastic is not accepted in community recycling programs, and the closest recycler is in Dayton, Ohio.
Working to fill a community need, Jeff established an EPS drop-off location at his shop and installed a "densifier" with a Food Service Packaging Association grant. This equipment compacts the foam so it can be cost-effectively transported. With both collection and processing up and running, Jeff is now the only processor of post-consumer foam in the Cleveland area while he is still running his shop and getting out on the lake to windsurf.
Join us to hear Jeff speak about his vision for scaling this program and what he needs to make it sustainable. Jeff also speaks about what surfing is like in Cleveland and the surfing community and his partnerships with organizations like the Surfrider Foundation working to address problems of plastic pollution. Jeff has turned his passions into his business and is all in. We hope our community will support him.
Resources
Recyclingat Edgewater Surf
Shop Edgewater Surf
About Edgewater Surf
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For this episode, I hit the trails with The Cleveland Hiking Club to discover what drives this all-volunteer-run organization with over 1,200 members. The answer? Cool people who are passionate about encouraging and promoting outdoor recreation and making it accessible to anyone who wants to join in. In my interview with the club's Community Engagement Coordinator, Kara Girvin, and David Schiraldi of the Pathfinder Committee, we speak about finding adventure and friendship on the trails and how hiking and spending time outdoors benefits us mentally and physically. Club members lead hikes year-round every day for all levels of hikers. You will find them in the Metroparks, in cities, in our national park, and even in other countries. I recently joined a club excursion to the New River Gorge National Park with 50 other hikers. There were ten hikes over a three-day weekend, and towards the end of this episode, you will hear from some of the members I met on the trail. Join us, experience a hike or two, and check out this welcoming, vibrant community. Anyone 18 and older can hike with the Cleveland Hiking Club. To qualify as a member, one must complete six hikes a year and pay a small fee. Once a member, all miles are logged, and milestones are celebrated. Some members have hiked over 50,000 miles with the club, demonstrating the enduring power of walking together in nature.
Resources:
About the Cleveland Hiking Club
Jointhe Cleveland Hiking Club
Hiking Schedule
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Holden Forest & Gardens is seeding Ohio's forested future through the Holden Seed Bank at the Holden Arboretum, which will soon celebrate its first anniversary. In this episode, we speak with Seed Bank Manager Kim Lessman about how this "restoration" seed bank works, how she became its manager, and how her work forms the core of new climate-fighting reforestation efforts across the region by eliminating a bottleneck in local tree planting efforts - the need for seeds. The Holden Seed Bank collects and processes seeds from native "workhorse" tree species like hickories, oaks, and hemlocks, which local nurseries grow into seedlings to support regional restoration projects and tree planting efforts. The work of the Holden Seed Bank is helping build resilient, biodiverse forests that can face our changing climate by providing thousands and thousands of seeds of local ecotype collected in our region. A Celebration of Seeds event will be held on August 8 at the Cleveland Botanical Garden and feature panelists from Holden Seed Bank, Cleveland Metroparks, the Pollinator Project, and Wild Ones Greater Cleveland to celebrate its one-year anniversary. Join us for all the tree-loving details.
Guest:
Kimberly Lessman, Manager, Holden Restoration Seed Bank - klessman@holdenfg.org
Resources:About Holden Forest & Gardens About the Holden Seed Bank
Celebration of Seeds - August 8 at the Cleveland Botanical Garden
Visit the Cleveland Botanical Garden and the Holden Arboretum
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In this episode, we share the recording from our recent May networking event at Great Lakes Brewing Company. The focus of this event was Green Space, and we invited three local leaders to talk about how they are working on expanding and linking greenspace in our community and providing more opportunities to experience nature, especially in our historically underserved communities.
We know that access to nature supports our health and well-being, enhances our quality of life, and mitigates some effects of climate change, such as heat islands. In Northeast Ohio, we have a wealth of people working to create a greener and healthier region, including our three speakers from Cleveland Metroparks, Local nonprofit SYATT, and Trust for Public Land.
At 2:18 our first speaker is Kaela Geschke, the Ohio Parks for People Program Director for the Trust for Public Land. Kell speaks about some of the projects she is working on to create and protect nature-rich places and the importance of that work to the health of our community.
At 14:18 our second speaker is Kelly Coffman, a Principal Planner with Cleveland Metroparks. Kelly speaks about the strategic planning effort to create greenways connecting our inner city areas with our lake and other parks to increase park access. Kelly also shares the latest details on the CHEERS project, which will transform Cleveland’s east side Lake Erie waterfront.
At 27:30 our third speaker is Erika Hood, the Co-Founder and Director of Equity and Engagement for Syatt. This local organization provides opportunities for Black and Brown communities to explore nature and outdoor recreation. Erika tells stories about the camping trips, scuba diving lessons, and other outdoor experiences her organization organizes and why connecting in nature and to nature is so important and meaningful.
Speakers:
• Kelly Coffman, Principal Planner with Cleveland Metroparks.
• Kaela Geschke, Ohio Parks for People Program Director for the Trust for Public Land.
• Erika Hood, Co-Founder and Director of Equity and Engagement for Syatt
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In this episode, Sunny Simon, President of The Cleveland Vegan Society, joins us to talk about veganism and VegFest 2024, coming to Cleveland's Huntington Convention Center on Saturday, June 22. It's the largest Vegan festival in the Midwest, and it will be delicious, fun, and informative for vegans and non-vegans alike. The Cleveland Vegan Society created VegFest over 12 years ago to celebrate veganism and to encourage more plant-based eating. This year's festival features an impressive lineup of activities, speakers, cooking demos, a cruelty-free marketplace, a kids' activity area, yoga, and more.
Join us as Sunny shares about becoming a vegetarian and then a vegan thirty years ago and the environmental and humane reasons she advocates for the vegan lifestyle. She also clears up some misconceptions about vegans and offers tips for transitioning to a more plant-based diet. Everyone is welcome at VegFest, where over 13,000 people will gather to eat, have fun, and learn from speakers, including Sarina Farb, Christopher "Soul" Eubanks, Will Brooks, Dr. Keary O'Connor, and Gwenna Hunter. Cooking demos include chefs Chad Goodwin, Sonia Steele, and Anna Marie Harouvis. Whatever your dietary preferences, there will be something to satisfy everyone's tastes.
Guest :
Sunny Simon, President of the Cleveland Vegan Society and Cuyahoga County Council member
Resources:
Film - Peaceable Kingdom
The Cleveland Vegan Society
VegFest 2024
Top Vegan TV show
Bitchy Vegan Homo (vegan recipes)
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Can you build a house with mushrooms? You can if you are Chris Maurer, an architect, a mycologist, and a visionary. Chris is the Principal Architect at Redhouse Studio, an architecture firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Chris and his partners are working to revolutionize how we house ourselves, not with bricks and mortar but with bio-bricks, a carbon-sequestering fusion of fungi mycelium and plant waste. This regenerative, humanitarian-focused "mycotecture" can grow buildings on and off our planet. Mycotecture refers to the use of mushrooms and other fungi for architectural purposes. In this episode, Chris introduces us to the possibilities of the fungi kingdom in creating sustainable building materials. Chris's work is far-reaching. His MycoHAB project in Namibia uses mycotecture to convert waste bush into food and housing. His Off-Planet NIAC project with NASA would convert space radiation into buildings on Mars. Back here in Cleveland, his BioCycler technology promises to recycle dilapidated buildings while remediating our lead problem and rebuilding our city. We are captivated by the power and possibilities of fungi, and you will be too.
Guest:
Chris Maurer, Principal Architect at Redhouse Studio Architecture
Resources:
Follow Redhouse Studio on Instagram and Facebook
More on the MycoHAB project in Namibia
More on growing buildings on Mars
More on the BioCycler using fungi to remediate waste and rebuild our city.
Watch the Fantastic Fungi documentary.
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Jim Ridge is the founder and executive director of Share the River, a non-profit that promotes Cleveland as a waterfront city and sharing everything that makes it a vibrant and engaging space for residents and visitors. In this episode, Jim talks about his upcoming Blazing Paddles Paddlefest on June 22,wherehundreds of recreational paddlers and racers will paddle the commercial shipping section of the Cuyahoga River from Rivergate Park up to Cleveland-Cliffs Steelyard and back. Along the way, they will experience how the river has "risen like a phoenix" from its polluted past and is now attracting economic development, tourism, and community pride. Jim is one of our biggest river advocates, even being named Champion of the River by the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern (AOC) last year. He has much to share about how our past, present, and future are inextricably tied to our waterfront and its evolving health. Join us to hear his vision, plus some tips on sharing the river with freighters, about those YAKports, registering for Blazing Paddles, and more. You will surely find new ways to appreciate our tremendous natural resource for its recreational, commercial, and revitalizing potential.
Guest:
Jim Ridge, Share the River
Resources:
About Share the River
Follow Share the River - Instagram and Facebook
About the Cuyahoga River
Know Before You Go safety tips
Register for the Dave Vasarhelyi Memorial Recreational Paddle
Map of the lower Cuyahoga River (Federal Navigation Channel)
Cuyahoga River Water Trail
Cuyahoga River and Share the River News
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In this episode, we celebrate Earth Month and the power of local environmental action with the Cleveland Heights Green Team, its co-founder Catalina Wagers, and volunteer Suzanne Zilber. The Cleveland Heights Green Team was founded in 2021 and is very active, with over 300 volunteers. They have a full calendar of events planned for Earth Month, and during the rest of the year, they are busy organizing green space clean-ups, recycling drives, plastics reduction campaigns, eco fairs, and more.
Getting involved with a green team is a great way to channel your environmental concerns into fun and impactful actions. It's also a great way to meet like-minded people in your community. Join us as we hear how this green team was founded, how to get involved with other green teams in Cuyahoga County or start one of your own, and ways to celebrate Earth Month throughout the Land. Check the links below for calendars of events and other helpful information.
Guests:
Catalina Wagers, Co-Founder, Cleveland Heights Green Team
Suzanne Zilber, Member, Cleveland Heights Green Team
Resources:CH Green Team Website
About the Cleveland Heights Green Team
Earth Month in the Heights - Calendar
Cleveland Heights Green Team Events - ways to get involved
Sustainable Cleveland Earth Month
Other green teams in Cuyahoga County - get involved with your local green team
Laurel School Youth Climate Summit (April 14th)
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In this episode, we welcome returning guests Patrick Kearns with Re:Source Cleveland (formerly Refugee Response) and Michael Bartunek with Ohio City Farm to update us on the exciting developments at Ohio City Farm and with its operator, Re:Source Cleveland. Rachel Ramos, who manages CSA sales for the farm, also joins us to tell us about the diverse array of fresh produce available in the 2024 CSA program and the new tiered pricing structure.
We first spoke with Patrick and Michael in episode 3 two years ago. Since then, The Refugee Response has relocated, rebranded, expanded, and begun a major new initiative at Ohio City Farm: the Roundstone Pavilion. Groundbreaking for the 4,000-square-foot building will take place this year. This next-level investment will bring food to the community year-round by housing a commercial kitchen, a wash and pack station, workers' facilities, a retail hall, and more.
Last year, Refugee Response rebranded to Re:Source Cleveland, honoring the organization's past 14 years of providing resources to resettled families and supporting them in becoming engaged, self-sufficient, and contributing community members. The farm is central to that mission, growing local food, community connections, and providing meaningful employement. These developments enhance other investments in the area, like the West Side market and the new Metropark taking shape just below the farm along the Cuyahoga River at Irishtown Bend.
Join us as our guests update you on what's happening on the farm, in the neighborhood, and at our community table.
Guests
Patrick Kearns: Executive Director, Re:Source Cleveland
Michael Bartunek: Senior Farm Manager, Ohio City Farm
Rachel Ramos: Farm Sales and Marketing Coordinator, Ohio City Farm
ResourcesAboutRe:Source Cleveland rebranding
Ohio City 2024 CSA
Support Ohio City Farm
Support Re:Source Cleveland
About the Roundstone Pavilion
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In this episode, we bring you the conversation from Eco Meet CLE, a Cleveland sustainability event on February 20 featuring local innovators reinventing northeast Ohio textile production. Rather than today's exploitive and resource-intensive system, we can grow a regional, circular system that fosters economic integrity, ecological stewardship, and connection to people and place. Listen and hear from those working towards this goal - Jess Boeke, the co-founder of Rust Belt Fibershed, a non-profit developing a bioregional textile community; Aidan Meany, a designer and the owner of Found Surface, a Cleveland clothing manufacturer that prioritizes sustainability and is setting a new standard for ethical fashion; Kat Novak, the Associate Director of the TechStyleLAB and the Faculty in the School of Fashion at Kent State University; and
Kelly Powers, a farmer and the owner of Powers Acres, a 50-acre certified organic farm in Medina, Ohio, and the future owner and operator of a fiber mill in northeast Ohio. Together, they are creating a fashion ecosystem that rivals the farm-to-table food revolution, only this time, it's with the garments we wear. It's a blueprint for a world where designers, farmers, and consumers all play a part in crafting an industry that respects our planet and community.
Guests:Jess Boeke - Co-Founder, Rust Belt Fibershed
Aidan Meany - Founder, Found Surface
Kat Novak- Associate Director, Kent State University School of Fashion
Kelly Powers - Farmer and Shepherd, Powers Acres
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Cleveland Metroparks has always been a preserver and protector of our valleys and the waters that run through them. In 2013, it opened the Watershed Stewardship Center in Parma's West Creek Reservation with a mission to enhance and protect our urban watersheds through scientific discovery, education, and sustainable actions. In this episode, we speak with the center's manager, Bethany Majeski, and the Director of Natural Resources for Cleveland Metroparks, Jennifer Grieser, about how protecting our urban watersheds is so vital for our region and ways we can all be stewards of our local watersheds starting at home where stormwater runoff begins.
Guests:
Jennifer Grieser: Director of Natural Resources for Cleveland Metroparks,
Bethany Majeski: Watershed Stewardship Center Manager
Resources:
Confluence: Stewarding Cleveland's Water
Central Lake Erie Basin Collaborative
World Water Day - March 22
Cleveland Metroparks Seasonal Job Fair March 11
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Northeast Ohio can be proud of its sewer district, not only for the skill with which it manages our wastewater and protects our water resources but also for the skill with which it connects with the public, especially its Twitter followers. How did the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District amass more than 60,000 die-hard Twitter followers here in Cleveland and across the globe? In this episode, we speak with Communications Director John Gonzalez about how he uses humor, humanity, sports memes, and more to help people care about the infrastructure beneath their feet and the employees working to protect our environment and health 24-7. Stay with us and hear why poop jokes never get old, about Project Clean Lake, career opportunities, what not to flush, and how a holiday voicemail had everybody crying. The NEORSD isn't just about the business of wastewater treatment; it's about building community through our shared experiences.
Guest:
John Gonzalez, Communications Director, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
Resources:
Hear the Holiday Message - (216) 361 6772NEORSD Educational Resources
Clean Water Works Podcast
Project Clean Lake
Careers at NEORSD
Twitter Account @neorsd
How Did a Sewer District Grow a National Twitter following?
What Science Communicators Can Learn from Sewer Twitter?
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Meet Victoria Avi, owner of Venture Forward Strategies. Victoria has many rich stories and insights from her 17-year sustainability career and her personal life. Victoria immigrated to Cleveland from Azerbaijan when she was just 16 and navigated language, high school, and finally college, where she found her passions for graphic design and the environment. What does it take to weave a life that interlaces a personal immigration story with a genuine commitment to sustainability? Join us for this thoughtful interview where Victoria speaks candidly about her personal and professional journey, why she does this work, what keeps her going, and how she manages "eco-anxiety." Hint: it's all about the deep connections she has made here in Cleveland, where community bonds and eco-consciousness go hand in hand. For Victoria, Life's a Venture and an Adventure.
Guest:Victoria Avi, President, Venture Forward Strategies
Resources:
Ways to Connect
Eco Meet CLE, February 20, 2024
Northeast Ohio Women in Sustainability (contact Victoria to be added)
Greyt Culture events
Northeastern Ohio chapter of Conscious Capitalism
Where to Learn More
The Ecology of Commerce, by Paul Hawkin
The Business Case for Sustainability, featuring Ray Anderson
The Center for Social Impact Strategy, University of Pennsylvania
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On December 21, 2021, Greg and I launched the first episode of Eco Speaks CLE to elevate and connect the greater Cleveland environmental community by speaking with those doing inspiring and impactful work. Forty-seven episodes later, as we celebrate two years of Eco Speaks CLE, we are grateful to each guest and each listener. You have become our friends. We hope this first episode of 2024 and its compilation of clips from the past two years will help you find new ways to stay connected, stay positive, and stay active.
Featuring:
Eddie Olshanski/Trash Fish Cleveland
Tristan Rader/Solar United Neighbors
Britta Latz/Medwish International
Tim Jasinski/Lights Out Cleveland
Steven Love/Cleveland Plogs
Chelsea Shuran/Hunger Network
Jacob VanSickel/Bike Cleveland
Semia Bray/Black Environmental Leaders
Jim Sheehan/Ohio City Bicycle Co-op
Elissa Yoder/Ohio Sierra Club
Mike Sandoval/Evergreen Recycling
Ren Brumfield/Cleveland Recycling
Nina Savastano/Brooklyn Recycling Program
Nathan Rutz/Tilth Soil
Denzil St Clair/Greater Cleveland Beekeepers Association
Emily Peck/Frayed Knot Farm
Patrick Kearns/Ohio City Farm
Jess Boeke/Rust Belt Fibershed
Dan Brown/Rust Belt Riders
Nicole MgGee/Upcycle Parts Shop
Jessica Davis/Rebuilders Exchange
Debbie Eastburn/Humble Design Cleveland
Matt Walters /Cuyahoga Recycles
Kathleen Colan
Jill Bartolatta/Ohio Sea Grant
Erin Huber Rosen/Drink Local, Drink Tap
Alex Margevicius/Cleveland Water
Max Herzog/Cleveland Water Alliance
Rachel Regula/Little Spark Refill Shop
Pat Conway/Great Lakes Brewing Company
Alec McClennan/Good Nature Organic Lawn Care
Aaron Jacobson/Faanware
Joe Rohan, Jing Lyon/BRITE Energy Innovators
Jefferson Jones/Organic Connects
Amy Roskilly/Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District
Carol Thaler/Great Lakes Biomimicry
Marci Lininger/Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative
Deb Yandala/Conservancy for CVNP
Samira Malone/Cleveland Tree Coalition.
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Medwish International in Cleveland, Ohio, has been making a world of difference since 1993 by recovering, repurposing, and redistributing surplus medical supplies around the globe. This urgently needed humanitarian aid also helps the environment by keeping life-saving resources out of landfills. In this episode, we speak with Executive Director Britta Latz about how Medwish has been bridging the gap between surplus and scarcity for 30 years with the support of an army of volunteers and the help of our northeast Ohio community.
Join us as we take you behind the scenes of MedWish International to learn how teams of volunteers sort, repackage, and distribute over 600,000 lbs. of medical supplies annually to 115 countries and those in need locally. The logistics involved with receiving and fulfilling supply requests from organizations worldwide are extensive. As Medwish marks its 30th anniversary, it celebrates the people in our community who make this life-saving work possible. Hear how individuals and healthcare facilities donate their surplus supplies instead of sending them to a landfill, the army of volunteers and aid workers who sort and redistribute the supplies, and the funders that keep this remarkable organization going. Hear how you might make a difference.
Guest:
Britta Latz, Executive Director, Medwish International
Resources:
Follow Medwish on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube
Give Supplies
Give $$
Give Time
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We all love a good find at a vintage store and have done our fair share of donating or selling stuff we no longer want. These sustainable actions fuel a booming industry called the secondary market for consumer goods. But how much do we know about the consumer resale market? How can we make good decisions about where we donate, and how can we be savvy shoppers in the resale retail world? Joining us with the inside scoop is Kathleen Colan - a seasoned writer, author, and the founder of KC Media Partners. Kathleen has reported on the resale retail industry and sells vintage goods herself. In this episode, we unlock some of the best places in town to find those pre-loved treasures, share our favorite finds, and hear some tips for savvy shopping that we hope will inspire you to shop secondhand this holiday season.
Guest:
Kathleen Colan, Founder of KC Media Partners
C'estParfait.love (Kathleen's vintage on Ebay)
Resources:
PBS feature: Buy low, sell high: commodifying commerce in the consumer goods secondary market by Kathleen Colan
Consumer brand buy-back programs
Unboxing Shein on Hulu
Shop Vintage Cleveland and More:
Great Lakes Vintage
Goodwill Bins Outlet
Worn Wear (Patagonia)
Attenson's Antiques and Books
Eclectic Eccentric
Monarch Boutique
Flower Child
Sweet Lorain
All Things for You
Schoolhouse Salvage
ROOK Modern
Main Street Modern
Beachland Ballroom
Bainbridge Antique Center
Habitat Re-Store
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In this episode, we bring you the conversation from Eco Meet CLE, a sustainability event held this October at Great Lakes Brewing Company. The theme of the evening was local food. Over 100 people joined us for food, beer, and a conversation about our local food system with a panel of guests that helped us explore the meaning of the term food system, the various roles within that system, and ways we might make it more local, more accessible, and more inclusive.
In this recording, we first hear Lexi St. Denis, the local and responsible food coordinator for Great Lakes Brewing Company, describe her job and the farmers she works with. After that, we hear from Dr. Darcy Friedman, a renowned researcher and the Director of the Mary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health at CASE. Dr. Friedman moderated our panel of 3 speakers that included Zainab Pixler, the Local Food Systems Strategy Coordinator for the City of Cleveland Department of Public Health; Annabel Khouri, the owner of Bay Branch Farm in Cleveland and a member of the USDA Farm Service agency committee; Jennifer Lumpkin, founder of My Grow Connect, an organization that works to connect the community with agriculture and member of the Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition.
We've set the table for some intriguing topics - everything from food sovereignty to wealth building for BIPOC growers. And we examine solutions that Cleveland can adopt to improve its local food system, address disparities, and improve health in our communities. So pull up a chair. There's plenty to digest on this episode of Eco Speaks CLE.
Thank You, Sponsors!
Great Lakes Brewing Co - Brewing GoodMary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health - CWRU
Conserva Irrigation of Northern Ohio
Graziani Multimedia
1 PM One Planet Media
Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council
RET3 Job Corps
Lettuce Tree Farms
Blue CSR Strategies
Rust Belt Riders
Collaborx
Food Strong
BRITE Energy Innovators
Cleveland Neighborhood Progress
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In this episode of Eco Speaks CLE, we speak with New York Times bestselling author and climate journalist Jeff Goodell. Jeff has covered climate change for over two decades at Rolling Stone and is the author of seven books, including his latest book, The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death On A Scorched Planet. This is an engaging, thoughtful, and human book filled with stories that help us all understand how we can help address this moment.
What would you do if your casual seven-mile hike turned into a fatal encounter with extreme heat? That is one chilling tale we discuss as we dive into the dire realities of our rapidly warming world. Join us to understand the Goldilocks Zone, how heat is the driver behind many natural disasters, how our bodies react to heat, and the health risks we face even in cooler regions like Northeast Ohio. Stay with us and hear what it will take to address the drive change, the economic costs, legal actions against oil companies, the power of young voters, and how an encounter with a polar bear reminds us that we are all in this together.
Guest:
Author and Climate Journalist Jeff Goodell
The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death On A Scorched Planet
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What if there was a way to save thousands of innocent birds from lethal collisions with our urban glass structures each year? In this episode of EcoSpeak CLE, we head to Lake Erie Nature and Science Center to speak with wildlife rehabilitation specialist Tim Jasinski, one of the founders of Lights Out Cleveland. Tim shares the challenges migratory birds face in navigating the dangerous cityscape of Cleveland and how we all help make our community more feather-friendly.
Tim takes us behind the scenes of Lights Out Cleveland and The Lake Erie Nature and Science Center, revealing the dedication and commitment of the volunteers who roam downtown streets in the early morning hours during spring and fall migrations to rescue and rehabilitate injured birds. In our Tip Time, Tim shares what to do if you find an injured bird or animal and some of his favorite spots around town to bird watch.
Lights Out Cleveland needs more volunteers. You can make a difference by becoming a Bird Collision Monitoring Crew member. Monitoring and collection volunteers are responsible for monitoring specific areas throughout Downtown Cleveland, collecting/transporting both living and dead birds, and recording data. Monitoring happens between 5:00 am – 8:30 am, March 15 – ~June 1 and August 15 – mid-November. Opportunities are available seven days per week. To become a volunteer, you will need to join the Cleveland Metroparks volunteer system.
Guest:
Tim Jasinski, Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist with Lake Erie Nature and Science Center and Founder of Lights Out Cleveland
Resources:Lights out Cleveland
Lake Erie Nature and Science Center
Become a Lights Out Cleveland volunteer
Feather Friendly window film
Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative
Make your house more bird-friendly.
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Whitnye Long Jones is a nature enthusiast, community engagement specialist, and environmental justice advocate. She channels these passions and skills into the non-profit she founded in 2017 called Organic Connects. Whitnye runs Organic Connects with her husband, Jefferson Jones, a lifelong outdoor educator, and outdoorsman. Together, they provide environmental education, outdoor recreation, and nature-based opportunities primarily for urban youth and families with limited access to nature.
In this episode, we speak with Whitnye and Jefferson in Jimmy's Treehouse, the outdoor learning classroom at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. We talk about the power of nature to teach, restore, transform, heal, inspire, connect, and prepare our future environmental leaders. Whether it be kayaking, camping in Allegheny National Forest, or building a campfire, the practical skills one acquires outdoors benefit each of us throughout our lives, and as Jefferson puts it, "everybody, whether they're white or black or brown, needs more of the outdoors." Join us to hear how these two black environmental leaders provide these experiences and connect people organically to the outdoors, each other, and the community. It's a reminder of how these organic connections can create ripple effects, fostering an environment where everyone, regardless of their background, can connect with nature in a meaningful way.
Guests:
Whitnye Long-Jones, Founder and Executive Director, Organic Connects
email: wlj@organicconnects.org
Jefferson Jones, Senior Director of Operations, Organic Connects
email: jhj@organicconnects.org
Resources:Environmental education and outdoor recreation programs Organic Connects Events
Partners and Funders
Cleveland Metroparks Youth Outdoors
Conveniently Vegan restaurant
Camp Journey
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Emily Pek is a flower farmer and the owner of Frayed Knot Farm, a small flower farm in Newbury, Ohio, where she produces beautiful, diverse cut flowers and herbs that share stories, bring joy and support equitable and regenerative farming.
In this episode, we visit Emily on her farm and discover her journey to becoming a flower farmer, the family roots and community behind her farm, the flowers behind the Saison beer at Great Lakes Brewing Company, and her grandpa's punny joke that inspired the name Frayed Knot Farm.
If Emily were a flower, she says she would be Foxglove. It's delicate but tough with "tough" being the operative word behind being a farmer. Starting with just a grass field in 2018, Emily now grows over 100 varieties of annual and perennial flowers and foliage on less than an acre using hand-scale farming practices. She demonstrates how hard work and a "why not?" attitude can turn dreams into reality. Join us on this episode to discover the heart and hard work behind Frayed Knot Farm and Emily's passion for a more sustainable and healthy environment. Her journey will inspire you to pursue your dreams, no matter how big or small.
Resources:
Frayed Knot Farm
Follow Frayed Knot Farm on Instagram
Event Florals
Flower Shares through Ohio City farm
Wholesale - The Collab
Community Partners - Rustbelt Fibershed The Flax Project
The joke - a string walks into a bar....
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Evergreen Recycling, based in Clyde, Ohio, is one of North America's's largest recyclers of plastic PET bottles and its mission is to make single-use plastic a thing of the past. With four facilities across North America, Evergreen leads the industry in bottle-to-bottle recycling. In our conversation with Michael Sandoval, Evergreen's corporate purchasing manager, we talked about bottle recycling, the circular economy, and what the future holds. Join us as we explore the world of bottle-to-bottle PET recycling and hear about the complex and fascinating process of converting used plastic bottles back into food-grade quality flake and pellets used to make new plastic pop, water, and soda bottles. We tackle the economics of R-PET and the sustainability goals driving the shift towards increasing recycled content in consumer brands. From the efforts of giant corporations like Coca-Cola to legislative changes, we uncover the factors shaping the landscape of recycling.
Resources:Evergreen's Sustainability Solutions
About food grade quality RPET
Evergreen Plastics, Clyde, Ohio facility
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In this episode, we explore the world of beekeeping with Denzil and Sheila St. Clair. Sheila and Denzil have been happily married and very busy for 52 years, keeping bees, raising children, operating their bee business, and founding the Greater Cleveland Beekeepers Association (GCBA). Greg and I caught up with them on a Wednesday evening at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, where they were demonstrating how to do an "alcohol wash" on a hive to determine if it contained harmful mites. This preceded the beekeepers association's annual July picnic. The GCBA supports hundreds of backyard beekeepers from all walks of life. They come together to learn, support each other, socialize, and help spread the word about the essential need for honeybees and beekeeping. Housed at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, the GCBA educates aspiring and existing beekeepers and the public. There are several active bee hives, a bee barn, a pollinator garden, and an observation hive. Join us as we dip into this topic just enough to pique your interest in becoming a beekeeper, spark an appreciation for bees, and inspire you to take a beginner beekeeping course through GCBA.
Guests:
Denzil St. Clair and Sheila St. Clair - Greater Cleveland Beekeepers Association and owners of Queen Right Colonies, a beekeeping supply house.
Resources:
Greater Cleveland Beekeepers Association
Beekeeping classes
Beekeeping Supplies from Queen Right Colonies
Cuyahoga County Fair
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Eddie Olschanski is on a mission. Five days a week, year-round, Eddie can be seen fishing for trash in his kayak on the Cuyahoga River in the Flats. Outfitted with just a life jacket, a trash grabber, and garbage bags, Eddie and his volunteers have plucked over 50,000 lbs of trash from the shipping canal, the last place the trash can be removed before it drains into Lake Erie. Eddie founded Trash Fish CLE in 2017 to keep our lake clean, educate people about plastic pollution, and encourage people to get out and enjoy the water. For this episode, we joined Eddie on the river, along with two recruitments, Laura and Cheri. Join us as we hear what drives Eddie to do this dirty work, how he feels about "nurdles," and what Cleveland needs to do to rid our river of trash.
Resources:
Get Involved with Trash Fish CLE
Trash Fish and the Today Show
Support Eddie
Follow Eddie on Instagram
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Curious about how the water you use every day gets to your tap? If you live in Northeast Ohio, chances are you get some or all of your water from the Cleveland Division of Water and the process of getting it from Lake Erie to you is fascinating. Today is water appreciation day on Eco Speaks CLE and speaking with us is Alex Margevicius, the Commissioner of Water for Cleveland Water. Alex oversees the 10th largest water system in the US and the largest in Ohio. Join us as he explains how Cleveland Water treats and delivers over 200 million gallons of water to customers in 80 communities daily! Hear about the infrastructure involved, the water treatment process that ensures our water is safe, and how we can protect our greatest natural asset and water source, Lake Erie. What do you think about when you turn on the tap this morning?
Resources:
Cleveland's Water Treatment Process
History of Cleveland Water - Interactive Timeline
Education and Outreach Services
2023 Water Quality Report
Lead Awareness
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In this episode, we hear from a number of Cleveland's sustainability community in this recording during May's Eco Meet CLE event at Great Lakes Brewing Company. The evening featured a community stage where we heard from local environmental organizations about their work and the many ways we can connect and get involved. A lot is happening around town, and we are proud of all the people doing this important work. Listen to their stories here and find what speaks to you. Eco Meet CLE events are presented by Eco Speaks CLE and Venture Forward Strategies and hosted by Great Lakes Brewing Company.
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The Ohio City Bicycle Co-Op has been helping people use bikes for over 20 years by imparting skills that encourage riding for fun, fitness, and transportation. Guided by the principles of respect, resourcefulness, and reciprocity, the OCBC's small professional staff and its many skilled volunteers refurbish donated bicycles, teach bike maintenance and repair classes, operate a bicycle thrift store, and lead community programs such as fixathons all out of their 12,000 sq ft shop in the Flats. Our guest, Jim Sheehan, is one of the founders and the director of OCBC. Join us as Jim speaks about how the spirit of cooperative work keeps wheels on the road. Hear about the Earn A Bike and Pay What You Can programs, the Idaho Stop, how to recycle a water bottle into a fender, essential bike maintenance tips, upcoming events, and much more. May is National Bike Month, and OCBC has you covered.
Guest:
Jim Sheehan, Director, Ohio City Bicycle Co-Op
Resources:About Ohio City Bicycle Co-OpOCBC Learn to Ride and Bike Maintenance classes
OCBC Community Programs
Donate a Bike
Become a Volunteer
Bike Collectives Network
Slow Roll Cleveland
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In honor of Arbor Day, we discuss local efforts to reforest the Forest City with the Cleveland Tree Coalition and the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission. Cleveland was once known as the Forest City, but it's not so forested anymore, with less than 18% of tree canopy remaining in the urban core. This tree canopy loss negatively impacts the city and its residents. Two women working to understand those impacts and rebuild our urban forest are Samira alone with the Cleveland Tree Coalition and Alison Ball with the County Planning Commission. Join us for a conversation about the power of trees for community quality of life and how strategic urban planning, planting, and tree stewardship are restoring our taking root in our region for this and future generations.
Guests:
Samira Malone: Inaugural Director, Cleveland Tree Coalition
Alison Ball, Planning Initiatives Specialist, Cuyahoga County Planning Commission
Resources:Healthy Urban Tree Canopy Grant Program and Cleveland Tree Coalition Grant Program
Cuyahoga County Tree Canopy Viewer
Cuyahoga County Tree Canopy Assessment
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April is a busy month in the CLE, so we bring you this short Earth Day episode where Diane goes solo and speaks about the first Earth Fest at the Zoo in 1990, what having a sustainability community means, ways to get involved, and what's in store for Eco Speaks CLE.
Ways to Connect:
Join the Eco Meet CLE 4 Miles 4 Water team
Register for Eco Meet CLE on May 16
Eco Meet CLE on Linked in
Low Power Happy Hour by Conservancy for CVNP
Trash Fish with Eddie Olshanski
NEO Sustainability Ladies (connect through hello@ecospeakscle.com)
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Spring has arrived, and here at Eco Speaks CLE, we are thinking about SOIL. It is fundamental to all life on earth, so it deserves our attention. In this episode, we speak with Nathan Rutz, the Director of Soil for Tilth Soil. Tilth is an outgrowth of Rust Belt Rider, transforming food waste into a family of soil products that nourish plants, people, and the planet. Join us as we ponder the importance of healthy soil, which Wendel Berry, the American poet, essayist, and environmentalist, calls the "great connector of lives."
Guest:
Nathan Rutz, Director of Soil, Tilth Soil
Resources:
Tilth Soil
About Tilth
Community Compost Coalition
One Straw Revolution Cleveland Public Library
The gift of Good Land by Wendell Berry
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In this episode, we learn how BRITE Energy Innovators is helping power the future of energy across Ohio by speaking with Jing Lyon, BRITE's Entrepreneur Programs Director, and Joe Rohan, BRITE's Accelerator Program Manager. BRITE Energy Innovators empowers founders to launch energy technology solutions and operates Ohio's only energy technology incubator in Warren, located in Ohio's "Voltage Valley." Over the past decade, BRITE has helped nearly 600 new energy tech startups and created more than 1,100 jobs. Join us to get to know Joe and Jing as we talk about rock n roll, entrepreneurship, advanced energy solutions for EVs, energy storage, and mobility. In Ohio, our future is BRITE!
Guests: Jing Lyon, Entrepreneur Programs Director, BRITE Energy Innovators
Joe Rohan, Accelerator Program Manager, BRITE Energy Innovators
Resources:About BRITE Energy Innovators
About BRITE's Founder, Rick Stockbridge
About BRITE's Startups
About BRITE's Energy Tech Incubator
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Meet members of our local sustainability community and hear from local climate leaders in this episode recorded during our second Eco Meet CLE event in February at Great Lakes Brewing Company. First, meet some of the people in the room and then hear from our climate panelists, featuring County Executive Chris Ronayne, Stephen Love with theCleveland Foundation, and city and county sustainability directors Sarah O'Keefe, and Mike Foley, respectively. Chris and Stephen were part of a prominent Cleveland delegation that attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt last fall - COP 27. Hear them relate their experience and critical takeaways, and then hear Sarah and Mike tell us how the City and the County are working to address climate change and create an equitable, clean energy future. So what does the future look like in our region? Executive Ronayne's vision is for us to be the "Freshwater Capital of the Future." Listen and learn about all the work underway to help get us there.
Panelists:
Chris Ronayne: Cuyahoga County Executive
Stephen Love: Manager of Environmental Initiatives at the Cleveland Foundation
Sarah O'Keefe: City of Cleveland Director of Sustainability and Climate Justice
Mike Foley: Cuyahoga County Director of Sustainability
Resources:The Climate Registry recording from COP27 featuring the Cleveland leadership delegation:
Cleveland Climate Action Plan
Cuyahoga County Climate Change Action Plan
Power a Clean Future Ohio
Go Green Energy Fund
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In this episode, we celebrate the national park in our backyard by speaking with Deb Yandala, President and CEO of the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and Donté Gibbs, VP of Community Partnerships. The Conservancy is the non-profit partner of Cuyahoga Valley National Park and its biggest supporter. Its 85 staff work to protect and promote the Park while managing its three stores, volunteers, cultural events, educational programs, and the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center. Deb and Donté talk about the park's origins and what it means to be one of the few cities in the country with a national park in its backyard. How can we not only enjoy the park but also support it, grow it and help make it accessible to everyone in the region? With its 32, 570 acres, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers countless opportunities for residents of Cleveland and Akron to enjoy and learn from nature. Come with us and explore.
Guests:
Deb Yandala is thePresident and CEO of the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. In her role, Deb oversees the many ways the Conservancy helps connect the community with the park, including managing the park’s education, volunteer, and cultural arts programs; operating three stores; managing events in the park, and raising money for park projects. Deb is also involved with the National Park Foundation and is a violist with the Cleveland Philharmonic and other local orchestras. Previously, Deb was the director of the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center.
Donté Gibbs is the VP of Community Partnerships for the Conservancy. He works across departments, implementing community initiatives, building partnerships, and developing internal and external engagement strategies. Through this role, Donté helped create Skylight Park at Tower City and launch the Rhythm on the River summer concert series in Howe Meadow. Donté brings deep community connections to his work and has been instrumental in leading Conservancy to be more deeply embedded in the community and a national leader in park equity.
Resources:Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Meet Lisa Petit, CVNP Park Superintendent Become a member of the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Volunteer for CVNP
Upcoming Events at CVNP
Skylight Park at Tower City
Teddy Roosevelt and other Presidents that shaped our public lands
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Elena Stachew and Moses Ngong are two young professionals demonstrating the power of youth in action. They lead the Cleveland Hub of Global Shapers. Global Shapers is a diverse community of young people working together to address local, regional, and global challenges through 522 city-based hubs located in 154 countries. In this episode, we get to know Moses and Elena and hear about the Cleveland Hub's work on climate change, youth empowerment and activism, and racial and environmental justice. There are 40+ Cleveland Shapers and alumni working to shape a healthy, diverse and inclusive future in Cleveland through projects like Culture CLE, the Youth Climate Action Fund, and the Shaping the Future series. While Global Shapers range in age from 18-30, alumni and other partners like the Black Environmental Leaders make this an intergenerational model for change using youth-led solutions.
Guests:
Elena Stachew: Curator, Global Shapers - Cleveland Hub
Moses Ngong: Impact Officer, Global Shapers - Cleveland Hub
Resources:Global Shapers - Cleveland Hub
Meet the Cleveland Global Shapers
Apply to become a Global Shaper
Freshwater Cleveland Series on Shaping the Future
An open source, free, downloadable research paper on Elena's work in biomimicry
Global Shapers Linktree
Shaping the Future Series
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In our first episode of 2023, we help you with all your recycling questions and give you options for cleaning out the clutter so you can start your new year off right. Joining us are Beth Biggins-Ramer, the Executive Director of Cuyahoga Recycles, and Matt Walters, the Recycling Programs Coordinator with Cuyahoga Recycles. Hear Beth tell us what’s new with recycling, what happens to your recyclables once they leave the curb, and how to find the recycling rules in your city. Also, they have a fourth "R" for you - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and REPAIR. Matt tells us about the Fix-It Clinics offered at Cuyahoga Recycles to help you repair instead of replace your broken items, plus the growing list of things you can recycle at the District. Stay with us to have all your "What Do I Do With...?" questions answered.
Guests:
Beth Biggins-Ramer, Executive Director, Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District (aka Cuyahoga Recycles)
Matthew Walters, Recycling Programs Coordinator, Cuyahoga Recycles
Resources:
Second Saturdays- special waste collections
Fix-It Repair Workshops
Think Box makers space at CASE
What Do I Do With search engine
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In this episode, we speak with Jess Boeke. Jess and her twin sister Sarah Pottle, are the co-founders of Rust Belt Fibershed and are growing a bioregional textile community within a 250-mile radius of Cleveland. Imagine sourcing your clothing from a regional fibershed where local fiber farmers, workers, and artisans produce natural clothing that originates from the soil and can return to the soil. This is the vision of Rust Belt Fibershed. Jess and Sarah are helping connect us with our clothing the way farmers' markets connect us with our food. It starts with systems thinking and education, then the community magic follows. Listen and hear about alpacas, hemp, flax, natural dyes, microplastics, and what's needed to bring natural textile production into our fibershed and the many ways to engage with this regenerative community.
Guest
Jess Boeke, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Rust Belt Fibershed
Resources
Rust Belt Fibershed website
Community Forum - get plugged into the Rust Belt Fibershed community
Drift Lab Dye Studio - natural and botanical dyeing project
Regenerative Ed - regenerative thinking for our educational system
Reading: Fibershed: Growing a Movement of Farmers, Fashion Activists, and Makers for a New Textile Economy
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In this episode, we pull back the curtain on fast fashion with Aaron Jacobson, the creator of faan, a Cleveland-based clothing company. Aaron designs and creates low-waste, locally-made, unisex clothing that supports the philosophy of true circular fashion. Circular fashion is the opposite of fast fashion, which accounts for 10% of global CO2 emissions and exploits workers and the environment worldwide. Hear how fast fashion works as we travel around the world in Diane and Greg's closets and talk about becoming more conscientious consumers. This is the first of several episodes we devote to this topic as we hear from people in our community that help us rethink how we clothe ourselves.
Guest:
Aaron Jacobson, Designer | Director FAAN Clothing
Resources:Ellen MacArthur Foundation -Fashion andthe Circular EconomyA History of Cleveland's Garment Industry - Belt Magazine
Good on You - Sustainable and Ethical Fashion Ratings
Reading Recommendation: Consumed by Aja Barber
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Chelsea Csuhran is the Food Rescue Program Director with the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland. In this episode, we speak with Chelsea about food rescue and how her organization keeps usable food out of landfills while reducing hunger in our community. This happens with hundreds of volunteers she calls food rescue heroes. Hear how you can become a food rescue hero using the Hunger Network's Food Rescue app. This nifty app navigates volunteers as they pick up surplus food from places like grocery stores and bakeries and then deliver it to the nonprofit partners that get the food directly to those who need it most. While an estimated 1 in 5 people living in Cleveland faces hunger, the Hunger Network is working to reduce that by ensuring that surplus food goes to people in need instead of landfills.
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Debbie Eastman is the director of Humble Design Cleveland, and her motto is "togetherness to end homelessness." She and her team of designers and volunteers create spaces that families, veterans, and kids aging out of foster care can call home. And they do this primarily with second-hand items that people in our community have donated. Keeping it out of the landfill has never felt so good, knowing your items are creating warm and inviting homes for people emerging from homelessness. Debbie calls this "intentional design" one reason Humble Design is highly successful. Another is the support of Progressive Insurance and the involvement of its employees who volunteer at the Humble Design warehouse in Solon. In this episode, hear how Humble Design Cleveland grew out of the pandemic and became an integral part of the continuum of care for people needing a fresh start and how you can help.
Guest:
Debbie Eastburn, Director, Humble Design Cleveland
Resources:Humble Design Cleveland Team
About Humble Design
Welcome Home TV
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Cleveland Water Alliance is making Lake Erie the first SMART Great Lake by harnessing technology to monitor water quality, fuel research, drive innovation, and elevate Cleveland's role in the Blue Economy. Max Herzog is a program manager with Cleveland Water Alliance. In this episode, Max invites us to imagine what it would mean to have sensors and other technology collecting data throughout Lake Erie to warn about harmful algal blooms near our water crib or what it would mean for boaters and swimmers to access real-time water quality data or what would it mean for conservation efforts to identify pollution sources and better measure the health of our lake. This is Smart Lake Erie and the work of Cleveland Water Alliance, a visionary non-profit that is deploying creative, new solutions to manage, conserve and optimize our precious water resources.
Guest:
Max Herzog, Program Manager at Cleveland Water Alliance
Resources:Cleveland Water Alliance
About the Lake Erie Volunteer Science Network
Recommended reading - The Deat and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan
Recommended viewing - The Erie Situation documentary
In this episode, we recap Eco Meet CLE with Victoria Avi and Danielle Doza with Venture Forward Strategies. Danielle and Victoria helped Greg and me organize this meetup for Cleveland's sustainability community on September 20th at Great Lakes Brewing Company. Dan and Pat Conway sponsored the event, along with several other partners. It was an energizing evening of beer, stories, and connecting with the 89 like-minded people who attended. This gathering was inspired by the meetings of Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (E4S), which were held in the early days of sustainability and paved the way for the work that is being done today. So how did it go? Join us as we talk about the power of connection and hear the recording of our speakers that evening in case you missed it.
Guests:
Victoria Avi, Partner and Co-Founder of Venture Forward Strategies
Danielle Doza, Partner and Co-Founder of Venture Forward Strategies
Marci Lininger calls monarch butterflies the guardian angels of the pollinator world. By doing good things for monarchs, we also help a myriad of other species that also need our help. This past summer, the monarch was officially designated as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Curious to know more about what that means and what can be done to help, we speak with Marci Lininger, with the Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative, and a returning guest, Amy Roskilly with the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District. In this episode, hear about these fascinating creatures and find out how to help them by collecting milkweed pods and growing the things that monarchs need on their long journey south to Mexico.
Guests:
Marci Lininger - The Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative
Amy Roskilly - Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District
Resources:Film - The Flight of the Butterflies
The sound of butterflies
Common Milkweed Pod Collection with the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District
Reading for kids: The Mystery of the Monarchs
How does nature move liquids? How does nature manage structural forces? How does nature sense motion and temperature? These are some of the questions that the practice of Biomimicry asks when faced with a design challenge. Our guests, Trisha Brown and Carol Thaler are two Biomimicry practitioners that are helping accelerate innovation based on solutions already tried and tested through nature. They are the Co-Directors of Great Lakes Biomimicry. Since 2010, this organization has worked alongside academia, corporations, and business leaders to solve complex design and engineering challenges by asking "how would nature design it"? As Biomimicry 3.8 certified specialists, Thaler and Brown help us understand that in nature, there are 3.8 billion years of R&D and 30 million species to learn from. Recently, Great Lakes Biomimicry became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Ohio Aerospace Institute and is working to make the great lakes region a leader in biomimicry innovation in aerospace and beyond. Join us as speak about how nature can inspire and guide all of us as we work to live more gently on this planet.
Guests:
Trisha Brown Co-Director, Great Lakes Biomimicry
Carol Thaler Co-Director, Great Lakes Biomimicry
Resources:
About Great Lakes Biomimicry
What is Biomimicry?
Janine Benyus TED Talk
The Biomimicry Institute
University of Akron Biomimicry Research and Innovation Center
ECO MEET CLE event on September 20, 2022
Upcycle Parts Shop is a creative reuse center in Cleveland’s St. Clair Superior neighborhood and in this episode, we speak with Nicole McGee, the center's scrappy founder, and executive director. Since 2014, the shop has diverted over 47 tons of material from landfills while providing the materials for creative inspiration to local artists and makers. Located in the historic National Slovenian Home on St Clair Avenue, Upcycle Parts Shop is one of several social enterprises in the neighborhood working to do good for people the planet, and the economy. Join us as we take a trip through this eclectic neighborhood and hear Nicole speak about how she became a reuse artist and entrepreneur and how her shop is provoking creativity and promoting community through reuse, resourcefulness, and relationships. She is someone you want to know.
Guest:
Nicole McGee, Founder and Executive Director of Upcycle Parts Shop
Resources:
Visit Upcycle Parts Shop
Material Donations
Resources for students and teachers
Other cool places in the St Clair Neighborhood - Kafela, Lucky's Charms, Diner on 55th, Goldhorn Brewery, Rebuilder's Exchange
In this episode, we met up with Stephen Love, founder of Cleveland Plogs for an evening of "plogging", a fitness and litter cleanup craze from Sweden that is quickly spreading throughout the world and right here in CLE. Cleveland Plogs seeks to inspire a city to discover the joy of plogging by hosting monthly cleanups in the Collinwood neighborhood. We recorded some ploggers talking about why they plog and the issues they care about. We also picked up a lot of trash while doing it. Listen and be inspired to become a plogger or plawker too.
Guest:
Stephen Love, director of environmental initiatives at the Cleveland Foundation
Resources:
Cleveland Plogs
What is Plogging?
In this episode, we wrap up our Plastic-Free July series by speaking with local entrepreneur, Rachel Regula, the founder and CEO of Little Spark Refill Shop. Little Spark is Cleveland’s first retail store devoted to sustainable living and zero waste. Her stores in Rocky River and Chagrin Falls offer customers a convenient way to refill household essentials, and personal care products, and purchase products that are safe for people and the planet. Hear Rachel share all the ways we can go plastic free and describe how her own health journey led her to open her shop and help others ignite their passion for sustainability.
Guest:
Rachel Regula - Founder and CEO of Little Spark Refill Shop
Resources:About Rachel
Some Rachel Picks: Marley's Monsters, Detergent Sheets, Dryer Balls
Recycling at Little Spark Refill Shop
Plastic Film Recycling
In this episode, we kick off Plastic Free July with Elissa Yoder Mann, Conservation Program Manager with Sierra Club Ohio. According to Elissa, "plastic-free" is more a journey than a destination, given all the ways that plastic packaging has invaded our lives, but there are ways to have a "plastic-less" life.
Sierra Club Ohio is participating in the global Plastic-Free July campaign by asking people to join the movement and refuse single-use plastic this month . Take the Plastic Free Pledge and receive weekly email tips, info on events and webinars, a monthly calendar to stay motivated, and more.
Elissa has been with Sierra Club Ohio for 8 years. She works on a statewide plastics campaign that focuses on the downstream impacts of plastic, calling out false solutions, and moving away from our take-make-waste system to a sustainable, circular economy.
Guest:
Elissa Yoder Mann , Conservation Program Manager, Sierra Club Ohio
Resources:
Global Plastic Free July Campaign
Ohio Plastic Free July campaign - Sierra Club Ohio
Take the Pledge
This is the first of an Eco Speaks CLE series on plastic. In this episode, we tackle the subject of plastic pollution with Jill Bartolotta, OSU Extension Educator with Ohio Sea Grant. Jill is a researcher focusing on plastic pollution in the Great Lakes. Her work informs plastics policy, international research, and education projects. Listen and hear Greg take a pop quiz about plastic pollution and hear Jill speak about how microplastics and the overuse of disposable plastics threaten our Great Lakes. There are many ways that each of us can be part of the solutions to protect our lakes, and many resources are available to help us learn more. Our discussion gears us up to participate in Plastic Free July, a global movement that helps people be part of the solution to plastic pollution. More on that in our next episode!
Guest:
Jill Bartolotta, Ohio Sea Grant College Program Extension Educator
Resources:About Jill
Pop Quiz - Plastic in the Great Lakes
Plastic Free July - Take the Challenge
The Story of Plastic documentary
The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan
Countdown by Dr. Shanna Swan
Life Without Plastic by Chantal Plamondon
In this episode, we talk about recycling and circularity in the City of Cleveland. After a long hiatus, curbside recycling returns to Cleveland on June 13th, and here to tell us about the reinstated program and how to participate, is Cleveland’s Recycling Coordinator, Orensel Brumfield. Also joining us to talk about the Circular Cleveland initiative is Cathi Lehn, the Manager for Sustainable Cleveland. Circular Cleveland is a 30-month initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that is identifying ways to develop and implement circular economic strategies that provide community-wide benefits by designing waste and pollution out of our economic system, keeping products and materials in use as long as possible, protecting and regenerating natural systems, and creating new jobs. The Circular Cleveland initiative is a partnership between the City of Cleveland, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and Neighborhood Connections. Join us to hear the ideas and programs taking shape for using "waste as a resource" and creating a more circular and sustainable Cleveland and region.
Guests:
Orensel (Ren) Brumfield - Recycling Coordinator, City of Cleveland
Cathi Lehn - Sustainable Cleveland Manager, Mayor's Office of Sustainability
Resources:Recycle Cleveland Program InformationThe Circular Cleveland Initiative
Circular Cleveland Partners and Grants- Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and Neighborhood Connections
Donation Guide - Pass it On: A Resource-Full Guide to Donating Usable Stuff
Cuyahoga Recycles (city by city) recycling information
Bike Cleveland is creating a region that is sustainable, connected, healthy, and vibrant by promoting bicycling and advocating for safe and equitable transportation for all. In this episode, our guests Jacob VanSickle and Diana Hildebrand with Bike Cleveland speak about National Bike Month and all the ways to get out and have fun on two wheels. Are you curious about the rules of the road for cyclists and drivers, the future of carbon-free transportation in Cleveland, and the cool new bike routes coming our way? Bike Cleveland has this covered and wants you to become part of the cycling community, no experience needed!
Guests:
Jacob VanSickle, Executive Director of Bike Cleveland
Diana Hildebrand, Education and Outreach Manager of Bike Cleveland
Resources:About our Guests
About Bike Cleveland
CLE Bike Month Events and Bike Month Bingo
How We Roll Cycling Classes
Donate a Bike - Ohio City Bicycle Co-op
Cycle the City
In Episode #10, Greg and I have a beer and talk about our podcasting adventure thus far while recapping our favorite parts of episodes 1-9. Join us as we shoot the breeze and talk about what's in store for ECO SPEAKS CLE down the road. And if you haven't yet had a chance to hear every episode, we will catch you up and help you find topics that "speak" to you. As always, thanks for listening!
April 22 is Earth Day. On this day in 1970, 20 million Americans marched for clean air, clean water, and environmental justice. In this episode, we honor Earth Day with a conversation about environmental activism with a focus on health, diversity, inclusion and equity with SeMia Bray and David Wilson, Co-Directors of the Black Environmental Leaders Association (BEL). BEL has a three-fold mission: Advocate for environmental justice, Incubate environmental leaders and Inform through community environmental education. In this thought-provoking and important conversation we talk about Cleveland's environmental legacy and how our environmental future is being shaped by increased representation by people of color. David and SeMia spark conversations that speak to our shared humanity and bring the voice, the agency, and the lived experience of people of color into the hard work of environmental protection and decision making. They call this the BEL Effect and it is powerful.
Guests:
SeMia Bray - Co-Director Black Environmental Leaders Association and Cray Consulting Group
David Wilson - Co-Director Black Environmental Leaders Association and Project Manager at Land Studio
Resources:
About BEL
Earth Day 1970
Carl Stokes and the 1969 River Fire
Celebrate Earth Day 2022 Cleveland
Jessica Davis knows salvage - where to get it, how to move it, and how to help others buy and sell architectural salvage and used building materials. Jessica is the founder and owner of Rebuilders Xchange (RBX) and she is on a mission to build a salvage economy here in Cleveland. In this episode, Jessica gives us a quick tour then we sit down to talk about how she turned 70,000 sq. ft. of the old Osborn Manufacturing plant into a vibrant retail hub filled with unique items rescued from homes, factories, and warehouses in the region. A trip to RBX in Cleveland's St. Clair-Superior neighborhood is a treasure hunt. You may have an idea of what you are looking for, but you will likely come home with something totally different, and that’s the fun of it. Visit RBX to experience architectural salvage, Cleveland history, and connect with Jessica, Kris and Ron who are at the heart of Cleveland’s reuse economy. They are as unique as the times they sell.
Guest(s):
Jessica Davis, Founder, and Owner of Rebuilders Xchange (RBX)
with a quick appearance by Ron Copfer, Creator of the RBX FabLab
Resources:
About our Guests
Join Eco Speaks CLE at the 4 Miles 4 Water fundraiser on June 11th
Contact us at hello@ecospeakscle.com
Meet Erin Huber Rosen, the Founder and Executive Director of Drink Local. Drink Tap., Inc.™ Since 2010, Erin has been inspiring people to "Be the Drop" to recognize and solve our local and global water issues. What started as a campaign to encourage people to ditch bottled water and conduct beach cleanups to protect Lake Erie, grew into a global campaign to increase access to clean water and sanitation in rural Uganda. Imagine being a kid and walking 4 miles every day just to get water. Erin is changing that by digging wells in remote villages. She just returned to Cleveland after completing her 100th Drink Local. Drink Tap project and joined Eco Speaks CLE to talk about her work as a filmmaker, writer, educator, organizer, fundraiser, hydrologist, and above all, humanitarian. You will never take water for granted after hearing her speak. Erin inspired Greg and me to create the Eco Speaks CLE team to raise money for Drink Local. Drink Tap through its annual fundraiser - 4 miles 4 water. The event will be in Cleveland on June 11th. We invite all Eco Speaks listeners to participate on our team. Our goal is to raise $6,000. That is enough to fund the drilling of one well in Uganda. Find a link below.
Guest:
Erin Huber Rosen, Founder and Executive Director of Drink Local. Drink Tap
Resources:About ErinJoin the Eco Speaks CLE team at the 4 Miles 4 Water fundraiser on June 11.
Learn about World Water Day - March 22
DLDT Wavemaker Curriculum
Buy the book Make Waves 4 Change
Spring is right around the corner and Eco Speaks CLE is here to help you get ready. In this episode, we speak with Alec Mclennan, the founder and president of Good Nature Organic Lawn Care and Amy Roskilly, the manager of conservation education for the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District. This episode is jam-packed with eco-friendly spring cleanup and planting tips for lawn, landscape and garden. Our experts share ways to maintain a healthy, safe and beautiful yard without harmful chemicals and ways to create pollinator-friendly habitats using native plant species. Order your native plants, seeds and garden kits now through the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District and learn how easy it is to incorporate them into your outdoor space.
Guests:
Alec McClennan, Good Nature Organic Lawn Care
Amy Roskilly, Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District
Resources:
CSWCD Native Plant Sale
Benefits of Micro Clover
Benesafe Solutions Chemical-Free Pest Control
Home Grown National Park
Cuyahoga County and Solar United Neighbors are working to expand solar in northeast Ohio by making it more affordable and accessible. In this episode, we demystify solar power and the process of going solar by speaking with Cuyahoga County Sustainability Director, Mike Foley, and Ohio Program Director for Solar United Neighbors, Tristan Rader. Join us for our conversation as we hear the latest about the Cuyahoga County Solar Coop, local solar projects, and what the future holds, including the County's forward-thinking plan to create micro-grids that will foster local economic development using clean and reliable power.
Guests:
Mike Foley, Director, Cuyahoga County Department of Sustainability
Tristan Rader, Ohio Program Director for Solar United Neighbors
Links:
Join the Cuyahoga County Solar Coop
Solar United Neighbors of Ohio
Choose a Renewable Energy Supplier - Ohio Energy Choice
Modern power grids
Energy Savings Tips
In this episode, Dan Brown and Zoe Apisdorf with Rust Belt Riders speak about how they are feeding people and not landfills by collecting food waste from residential and commercial customers and turning it back into resource-rich compost and soil products to support our local food system. Listen and hear about the importance of composting for our planet, ways to participate, and the opportunities for increasing composting access and infrastructure in the region.
Guests:
Dan Brown , Founder and Co-Owner Rust Belt Riders
Zoe Apisdorf, Director of Residential Experience, Rust Belt Riders
Photo credit - Gary Yasaki
Resources:
Rust Belt Riders
Tilth Soil
Cuyahoga County Composting Seminars and Bins
In our first interview of 2022, we spoke with Patrick Kearns and Michael Bartunek about The Ohio City Farm, one of the largest urban farms in the United States. This six-acre gem cultivates fresh organic produce, along with opportunities for refugees that have resettled here in Cleveland. Our cover photo shows the farm on a winter day while winter vegetables grow in the hoop houses and planning for the 2022 growing season is underway. In this episode, we talk about the history of the farm, its unique mission, and ways we can support the farm and the refugee community through produce purchases and volunteering.
Guests:
Patrick Kearns, Executive Director, The Refugee Response
Michael Bartunek, Senior Farm Manager, The Ohio City Farm
Resources:
The Refugee Response
The Ohio City Farm and CSA sales
More about our guests
Grow at Home
In this episode, we "talk trash" and hear how the City of Brooklyn implemented a city-wideCart Tagging project to reduce contamination in its curbside recycling. In this feet-on-the-street approach to recycling education, teams of students were sent through the city to inspect recycling carts. Households that were not recycling correctly got an OOPS Tag attached to their cart that identified what they did wrong and how to recycle properly. Cart tagging can be a time-consuming and labor-intensive way to educate residents about recycling, but the direct feedback it provides can measurably reduce contamination and save communities money. Brooklyn was the first community in Cuyahoga County to put cart tagging to the test. In our interview, we find out if this very personal way of educating residents worked, how they reacted, and the recycling "oops" being made.
Guests:
Kathleen Pucci, Councilwoman, City of Brooklyn
Nina Savastano, Cart Tagger and John Carroll University Student
Carin Miller, Education Specialist, Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District
Resources:Cuyahoga County Recycling Information
Recycling Ambassador Program
The Recycling Partnership
In this bonus episode to Brewing for Good, we continue our conversation with Pat and Dan Conway of Great Lakes Brewing Company to hear how they got their start in the craft beer industry and opened the first micro-brewery in Ohio in 1988. Sustainability takes on new meaning in this story because the story of Great Lakes Brewing is also the story of the rebirth of a neighborhood. Tune in for some interesting insights about these two entrepreneurs and their Ohio City neighborhood.
Guests:
Patrick Conway
Daniel Conway
Links:
Great Lakes Brewing Company
Great Lakes Brewing Company History
The Conway brothers are two of the most trailblazing, generous, and fun people you could ever meet. Together, they brought us craft beer, the first Christmas ale, a revitalized Ohio City, and a model company that incorporates a Triple Bottom Line approach in all they do. Since 1988, Great Lakes Brewing Company founders and co-owners, Pat and Dan Conway have been brewing award-winning beer while also brewing good for the environment, the community, and their workers. In this podcast, I was able to reconnect with Dan and Pat whom I first met in 2000 when they first began hosting meetings of a local networking group called E4S - Entrepreneurs for Sustainability. An instrumental beginning to Cleveland's environmental renaissance. In this episode, Pat and Dan talk about how this renaissance got its start and the pioneering things they did as a business to lead the way.
Guests:
Patrick Conway
Daniel Conway
Links:
Great Lakes Brewing Company
Great Lakes Brewing Sustainability
Local Farming
Diane and Greg introduce themselves and talk about why they started ECO SPEAKS CLE and what they want to share with their listeners.