Sustainable Steps

Plymouth County is connecting communities with the great outdoors and making nature accessible to all! In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami Koenigs and Jake Heller head to Hillview Recreation Area near Hinton, Iowa, to talk with naturalists Victoria DeVos and Morgan Sauer about conservation, community programs and the unique ways you can experience the local landscape. In this episode: Hillv...

RMHC doesn't just stand for Ronald McDonald House Charities – for thousands of families in Siouxland beyond, it stands for a place that keeps families together through medical journeys! In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami Koenigs and Jacob Heller are on location at the Ronald McDonald House Siouxland in Sioux City, Iowa, where they sit down with Director Christy Clark to learn how a simple...

In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami and Jake talk with Samantha Roth, Treasurer of the Junior League of Sioux City, to hear how the group's projects, ranging from a free 'School Period Pantry' to a boutique-style thrift shop, empower women and build connections. In this episode, we'll learn: Discover the Discovery Shop: How the Junior League's W. 7th Street thrift shop helps pay for project...

Keeping medical equipment out of the landfill and in the hands of families who need it! In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami & Jake head to Sioux Falls to talk with Mike Turner, founder of Owen's Outfitters, to hear how a free medical equipment library is turning a personal family journey into a community lifeline. In this episode, we'll learn: Owen's Legacy: How the memory of Mike's son, Ow...

You want to downsize and donate, but that heavy furniture or big box won't fit in your car, or you can't haul it down three flights of stairs – ReSupply can help! In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami & Jake talk with Paul Tocci, CEO and Founder of ReSupply, to hear how a tech-driven logistics solution is revolutionizing charitable giving and keeping usable goods out of landfills. In this epi...

How can a five-cent soda can help feed a family or launch someone's career? In this episode of  Sustainable Steps , Tami and Jake sit down with Monic Marquez-Burkett , Manager of Sioux City's Hope Redemption Center, to hear how recycling isn't just about keeping trash out of landfills - it also provides life-changing work experience for local people trying to find a new career path. In this episod...

If you've ever stared down a plastic container with a tiny number "3" on it and experienced a full-blown existential crisis - you are not alone! In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami and Jake sit down with Sandy Brown from the City of Wayne Green Team in Nebraska. Since 2009, this city-backed volunteer group has been helping this rural community divert nearly one-million pounds of waste from...

A new kid just arrived on your doorstep with nothing but a diaper, or a teenager is demanding fairy lights to properly decorate their new room - where do foster families turn? In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami and Jake sit down with Rochelle Pfeiffer, Founder and Director of the Siouxland Foster Closet. Rochelle explains how the organization's retail-style boutique lets foster kids shop f...

What do a food pantry, a summer day camp and front-line "Donut Girls" have in common? In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami and Jake sit down with Captain Terri Ellison from the Salvation Army of Siouxland. After nearly 140 years of service in the Sioux City community, Captain Terri explains how the organization does much more than you might think, offering a helping hand to neighbors navigat...

What makes the Loess Hills one of the most unique landscapes in Iowa, and how can spending time outdoors benefit your health? In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami and Jake sit down with Theresa Kruid, Education Director for Woodbury County Conservation and the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. Theresa shares how the Nature Center connects people of all ages with nature through educational progra...

In this episode of Sustainable Steps , Tami and Jake sit down with Randy Ehlers and Nate Gates from Sioux City's Gospel Mission, a faith-based nonprofit that's been offering a "hand up" to those in need for 88 years. We'll hear how the Gospel Mission helps people rebuild a sustainable life through structured, goal-oriented shelter programs, while keeping waste out of landfills through retail recyc...

What does it take to feed 200 people every night? On this episode of Sustainable Steps, Jacob and Tami talk with Lyn Kluender, Executive Director of the Siouxland Soup Kitchen in Sioux City. Today, the Soup Kitchen isn't just serving the homeless, but many working families, seniors, and kids. In this episode, we'll learn: How Hunger Has Changed:  Homeless individuals now make up less than half of...

When you think 4-H, don't just think farm animals, livestock and county fairs - your child can build a robot, learn public speaking or dive into digital arts! In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami and Jake return to the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Woodbury County to talk with Youth Outreach Coordinator Christine Craig, debunking the rural stereotypes and exploring how 4-H can shape t...

A storm snapped a massive branch off your favorite tree - do you have to cut the whole thing down? And what can you do about that stubborn rabbit eating your fresh strawberries? In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami and Jake visit the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Woodbury County to talk with Horticulture Coordinator Lindsay Meylor to get the dirt on working with nature, instead of bat...

How much "green space" does a university, or your lawn, actually need ? Could that sea of green do more for the planet than just look pretty? In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami & Jake visit Morningside University to talk with Biology Professor Anni Moore and Director of Alumni Engagement Alex Watters, both co-chairs of the newly revamped Sustainability and Community Impact Committee on cam...

Ever wonder what happens to the rarest treasures that get donated to Goodwill? Cassette tapes, point-and-shoot digital cameras and Guitar Hero guitars – what's old is cool again! In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami & Jake talk with David Hantla , E-commerce Manager at Goodwill of the Great Plains , to hear how this specialized team brings the most unique, rare and collectible donations to y...

What actually happens when you drop off your old laptop for recycling? Is "deleting" your files enough to keep your identity safe? In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami Koenigs and Jacob Heller hit the road to talk with Levi Hentges from SEAM (Secure Enterprise Asset Management) in Sioux Falls to look at the lifecycle of electronics. In this episode, we'll learn: The 3/70 Rule: Why electronic...

In this episode of Sustainable Steps , Tami Koenigs and Jacob Heller dive into the organization that makes what you're hearing possible. Cari Gehling , with the Gilchrist Foundation , talks about the incredible impact of Jocelyn Gilchrist's legacy on Sioux City and beyond. Hear the fascinating history of the foundation - born out of the Sioux City livestock industry. In this episode, we discuss: T...

Does your business need to wear a smart watch? In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami Koenigs and Jacob Heller talk with Tanner from Praxora Energy, a new Sioux City company that's changing how commercial buildings view their utility bills. Did you know many businesses can waste up to 30% of the energy they pay for? With monitoring technology like the 'ENEscope,' Praxora can help businesses id...

You open the fridge. The "best buy" date on the snack you're craving is  today . What do you do? If you've ever wondered how long your food actually lasts after the date stamped on the package - this episode of Sustainable Steps is for you! Jacob Heller and Tami Koenig sit down with Jacob Wanderscheid , Executive Director of the Food Bank of Siouxland , to get an inside look at this logistical pow...

Don't know if an item is recyclable? There's an app for that! And it's all thanks to a Sioux Falls company! Tami & Jake talk with Shannon Dwire from Millennium Recycling about how this single-stream materials recovery facility is working to put an end to "wish-cycling" and get you in the know when it comes to sustainability. In this episode, we'll learn: The Peanut Butter Jar Rule: How clean does...

Can thrifted finds spark a lifelong love for sustainability? Jill Risdal thinks so. This week on the Sustainable Steps podcast, Tami & Jake explore how this Sioux City Family and Consumer Sciences teacher works sustainability into her lesson plans by combining sewing, thrifting and creativity. The Sustainable Steps podcast is made possible thanks to a generous grant from the Gilchrist Foundation.

Millions of pounds, thousands of trees and hundreds of jobs - at Goodwill the numbers add up! In this episode of the Sustainable Steps podcast, Tami & Jake dive into the data to break down Goodwill's community impact, from "concert crowd-sized" success stories to "school buses" full of donations. In this episode you'll discover - Preserving Paper : How many trees worth of paper Goodwill's GoodShre...

Sustainability is about more than just the environment - it's about the people living on it, too! Tami & Jake talk with Mitch Kulawik, Work Services Director at Goodwill of the Great Plains, to find out how job training and community supported employment help people grow confidence and sustain their lives. In this episode of Sustainable Steps, we'll find out:  Career Paths: What careers Goodwill c...

Your HDMI cable is frayed and your blender has seen better days - but before you throw your old electronics in the trash, did you know you can recycle them? In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami & Jake talk with Ben Esquivel of ERS Electronic Recycling Services, LLC in South Sioux City. Ben's team specializes in breaking down unwanted tech so components can be reused, repurposed and kept out...