The Biofriendly Podcast

Can it be that ghosts occur naturally in the environment? From trapped angry energy stored in stones to vibrating eyeballs that tell a different story, we bust these ghostly tales wide open in this special Halloween episode of The Biofriendly Podcast.

Did you know that zombies are real?! This week on our 'fun-sized' Halloween episode of The Biofriendly Podcast, we ravenously devour into the scientific facts of zombie ants, infected snails and mindless mice. Find out the horrifying truth about what makes a zombified ant shake it's gaster in the air like it just don't care. 

Did you know that seaweed absorbs way more CO2 than rainforests, but unfortunately billions of tonnes are washing up on beaches in the Gulf of Mexico because of our changing climate. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we take the plunge into a bizarre 'Roomba meets Pac-man' device designed to collect seaweed and sink it to the bottom of the ocean, and we are pleasantly surprised when a cast of f...

Although a tiny slip of paper might not seem like a big deal when it comes to the environment, a new bill in California aims to permanently switch to digital receipts. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we look into why these proofs of purchase are getting into landfills and under your skin, what we can do to prevent them, and what is the official verdict on pumpkin spice?

It's easy to get overwhelmed with what we can and cannot eat when it comes to a healthy diet, and factoring in how it affects our environment makes it even more complicated. But hey, if we are going to heal the planet together, we've got to be fed, right? This week we share a few delicious foods that you can enjoy without feeling guilty as they can be good for you, we review our recent trip to Orl...

Once the autumn leaves begin to fall we all reach for the rake and start to clean them all up, but this year... don't bother! Unless of course your plan is to rake them into a perfect jumping pile, then by all means go for it. But there are plenty of good nutrients in those fallen leaves to help your soil, and letting them lie is the best way they can get into the ground. So join us for this week'...

The wine industry is going through a lot of changes now that we have to re-think our farming strategies in certain regions, but not all of it is bad news. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we choose a bottle of red and a bottle of white to sip on new scientific data, see how people are rethinking wine bottles, and how are you supposed to find the right sustainable brand when you go shopping?

We were inspired by a recent story about one young man's creative use for discarded vape batteries, so we decided to plug in to exactly where we are with electronic waste and what is being done to prevent it from growing. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we talk about Apple and the right to repair, how being a gear-head is making a comeback with gadgets, and who exactly is Woobly McSquibs? 

On our debut episode of the Biofriendly Podcast we talked about plastic straws and how avoiding them could be helpful for the environment, but now a team of scientists have been hard at work in creating the perfect paper straw that won't get soggy. Tune in as we take a sip out of the subject 200 years later, discuss why some research takes priority over others, and what happened in Los Angeles dur...

What are we supposed to do with glue? We've all heard the stories that your stick of glue is part Seabiscuit, but how much of the sticky stuff is made of natural or synthetic ingredients? This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we talk about where glue first firmed up, some adhesive advancements and how Elmer's is married to milk. 

It's summertime and the heat is on, so go ahead and fire up that grill too for some delicious backyard BBQ. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we discuss the environmental differences between charcoal, gas and electric grills, and what you can do to make sure your food and the air around you stays clean. So grab some tongs and click them twice before letting this episode sizzle, make sure you ke...

It's been reported that July 2023 was the hottest month in our recorded history, so where do we go from here? On this week's episode of The Biofriendly Podcast we talk about some of the science behind measuring our weather from thousands of years ago, what we can do about this heat, and did Sammy Hagar create the perfect metaphor for our Earth's climate? Subscribe to The Biofriendly Podcast: https...

Shark populations off US coasts are slowly rebounding and that's great news! Before you cue the Jaws theme and swim back to shore, this week's episode of The Biofriendly Podcast is all about embracing sharks and learning why you shouldn't be afraid of them. Join us as we explore why sharks are crucial for our ocean's ecosystem, what to do if you come face-to-face with one, and are Noel and Jacob o...

It's time to bid farewell to the incandescent bulb once and for all as we usher in an era of LED lights that strive to last the longest. But what will be the next creative invention to light our way into the future? This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we talk about the brilliant minds crafting efficient bulbs, how bacteria could one day illuminate a room, and are Noel and Jacob the last two kind...

When you look up at the night sky full of stars, you might not be able to see all the space junk... but Houston, we definitely have a problem! As we continue to put more satellites into our low-Earth orbit, we increase the amount of decomissioned clutter floating around which is adding up fast. This week we blast off into some space age solutions for galactic garbage, discuss the pros and cons of...

Can a lotus flower help create a self-cleaning house? Are termite dens the new hip office spaces? And what does a beaver have to do with furry wetsuits? This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we discuss several innovative examples of biomimicry, why engineers deserve more credit, and finally why is Gilbert Nets banned from the Great Barrier Reef? 

Bizarre weather events are causing gigantic hail stones that have earned an intimidating nickname, and those urban street trees might want the rest of your caramel macchiato! This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we continue our summer nugget series with a double whammy of environmental stories as we talk about what's causing this 'gorilla hail,' why your neighborhood trees are not getting the wate...

Hang ten with a reduced carbon footprint, brah! Everyone knows that surfers are in tune with nature, but the wetsuit and surfboard industry has room for improvement. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we ride the wave of companies leading the way with green alternatives, why neoprene is the villain, and were we plagued by accessories in the 1980s?? Subscribe to The Biofriendly Podcast: https://w...

Certain types of fungi can make up a vast network of carbon storage for our planet, which is why researchers are pleading that these little Mycorrhizal miracles be spared. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we talk about the importance of symbiotic relationships in nature, how the fungal network is important in more ways than one, and why Noel and Jacob would happily give up their bodies to sent...

We continually discover new things about the world around us, and that even goes for simple creatures like the worm-- which might not be as simple as we thought! Turns out that worms are making complex decisions which could change the way we understand how behaviors are relevant to an animal's natural life. Join us this week for our first 'Summer Nugget' series of The Biofriendly Podcast where we...

A deep-sea mining hotspot in the ocean known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone has uncovered 5,000 new species from a recent expedition, which raises concerns about disturbing this unique ecosystem. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we learn about some of these new discoveries, teach about the dangers of mining with an Irish jig, and celebrate the triumphant return of Veronica to the podcast! Subs...

Airships are making a comeback! With the increased pressure to reduce our CO2 emissions from air travel and the complications of electrifying a plane, companies are emerging with new ideas for these floating giants. This week we weigh the benefits of helium versus hydrogen, more ways to get our shipped goods into the skies, and will a soulful R&B jam convince Veronica to return to the podcast? Sub...

A scientific study recently revealed that our plants are making audible sounds when distressed, which changes the way we perceive how organic material is communicating to the living world around them. On this week's Biofriendly Podcast we explore how these sounds are caused, why lab testing can be like a horror movie, and are Noel and Jacob moving into an apartment together? Subscribe to The Biofr...

After centuries of overfishing and bottom trawling, oyster populations in Scotland have dwindled in the Dornoch Firth. Thanks to a partnership between Glenmorangie distillery and a group of marine scientists and conservationists, they will restore oysters to the area which will not only improve water quality and biodiversity, but also help us pronounce Glenmorangie the correct way, and protect all...

By now you've seen countless articles about AI (artificial intelligence) getting out of hand as things like ChatGPT are driving this so-called 'robot revolution.' But before you climb into your underground bunker fearful of the rise of machines, check out this week's Biofriendly Podcast where we discuss some of the ways AI can be good for humanity, why it's more important to keep your eyes on the...