A Little Greener

The state of rhinos around the world is precarious. At worst, rhino species are critically endangered, and even the species with the largest population, the white rhino is still classified as near threatened by IUCN, and their population is declining. Despite protection and education efforts, the threat of poaching for their horn looms large over all species of rhinos. So, where do we go from here...

Rhinos are iconic animals that most of us can recognize from the time that we're little. However, there's more to rhinos that most people realize! For example, did you know that there are more species of rhinos outside of Africa than inside? Have you ever heard of the hairy rhinoceros? If not, this episode's for you. Sara and Casey discuss the five species of rhinos and what's being done to keep t...

The Willow Project is an oil drilling project set to begin in the National Petroleum Reserve in northern Alaska--albeit in a scaled down version of the original plan. Casey and Sara explore the history of the project, look at the environmental impacts, and discuss the challenges of breaking free from fossil fuels. Resources for this episode: Q&A: Willow oil project and Arctic drilling limits Alask...

Chances are you've heard about the environmental impacts of plastics and how air travel contributes to climate change, but did you know that there's a man-made substance that contributes more than double the emissions of the aviation industry? It's estimated that up to 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions is from the concrete industry--and this is mainly due to the production of cement, an essent...

Expecting your first child can be an overwhelming time, with so much to acquire, learn, and do before baby arrives. The thought of trying to do all that and be environmentally friendly at the same time might feel like too much, but never fear! Casey and Sara are here to discuss being a little greener with a few aspects of baby care: how to prepare for your baby, how to feed your baby, and, oh yes,...

The Dolphin Company, owner of the Miami Seaquarium, recently announce plans to release an orca from the Sequarium back into the wild. Many headlines suggest this is a positive story, and indeed, a whale returning to the wild and rejoining their family would be amazing to see. But, is it reality? Sara and Casey discuss the issues surrounding this particular whale, Tokitae, often called Toki, as wel...

You may have seen or heard the acronym PFAS floating around, or perhaps heard of "forever chemicals." Or maybe you've heard that there are some potential concerns with using non-stick cookware, but weren't sure what it was all about. Around since the 1940s, PFAS are used in a variety of ways including in non-stick cookware, stain, grease, and water-resistant clothing, some firefighting foam, and s...

Chocolate is a much beloved treat around the world, but chocolate can have some high environmental costs. By some calculations, chocolate can have a higher environmental impact that some types of meat. Sara and Casey discuss why that is, and what small steps we can take to make our chocolate a little greener.  Resources for this episode: Our World in Data Food Graph Mongabay: Delectable but Destru...

Growing food at home has so many upsides, from a lower environmental impact to saving you some money at the grocery store to benefiting your physical and mental health. It's also something you can do even if you don't have a yard! In this episode, Casey and Sara talk through some tips to help you plan your very own veggie garden. Resources for this episode: Gardening: Invest in guaranteed growth i...

If you look at a picture of an elephant shrew, you might assume that it's perfectly named. It certainly looks similar to shrews found in many parts of the world and has an elongated nose, reminiscent of an elephant's trunk. While the elephant shrew was initially grouped in with shrews, we now know that it is actually NOT a true shrew. Elephant shrews (now also called sengis) are, in fact, most clo...

On February 3rd, a train owned by Norfolk Southern Railroad was traveling from Madison, Illinois to Conway, PA, when it derailed near the town of East Palestine, Ohio. Some cars on the train were carrying hazardous materials, and ultimately this resulted in the temporary evacuation of residents near the derailment site, and continued monitoring of air and water quality. Casey and Sara discuss some...

Articles on climate change will often talk about carbon dioxide levels being higher than they've been in thousands, or even millions, of years. You may also hear things about temperature moving in cycles, or about how different the climate of a certain area used to be. But how do scientists know all of this information before we started taking measurements? That's where proxy data comes in. On thi...

Have you ever heard that climate change is a result of solar cycles or volcanoes? Or maybe you've found yourself thinking that it's too late to do anything about climate change anyway, so why bother? Casey and Sara talk through those myths and more, as well as share some tips for having conversations around climate change on this week's episode. Resources for this week's episode: National Grid: Si...

With the TV show The Last of Us currently all the rage, Sara and Casey talk the real-life zombie fungus. They discuss how zombie fungus works, what the show gets right and wrong, and whether we should be afraid of a zombie fungus pandemic. They also discuss the amazing diversity of fungi and some of the benefits we get from these often overlooked organisms. Resources for this episode: Discovery: T...

Many people may have a passing familiarity with the slow-moving sloth, especially with their recent explosion in pop culture, but there is so much more to the sloth than most people realize. Casey and Sara discuss some of the incredibly unique features of sloths, and also take a look at the pros and cons of their popularity for wild sloth populations. Resources for this episode: The Sloth Conserva...

Wondering how to be a little greener in your own life this year? Join Sara and Casey for a discussion on making environmental resolutions that you can stick to, their personal eco-resolutions, and podcast goals for 2023...plus, a VERY special announcement!

Tuna is a popular seafood choice, but the tuna fishing industry has a number of potential environmental impacts. Casey and Sara talk through how you can determine which tuna is a more sustainable choice simply by the information provided right on the can. Resources for this episode: Statista: U.S. Consumption of Tuna National Geographic: How to Pick the Most 'dolphin-safe' Tuna Seafood Watch: Tips...

Towards the end of 2022, headlines declared a new breakthrough in nuclear fusion experiments: for the first time ever, scientists were able to get more energy from a fusion reaction than they put in. Like nuclear fission, nuclear fusion does not produce any carbon emissions during the energy production process, so it has potential as a player in clean energy down the road. But, how far down the ro...

There is a lot to consider before choosing to bring a new pet into your home. Do you have the appropriate space? Can you find and afford veterinary care? Is it even legal for you to own the animal (did you know it's illegal to own a hedgehog in Pennsylvania)? Casey and Sara walk though five big questions to ask yourself before taking on a new pet. Resources for this episode: USA Captive Constricto...

Sara and Casey discuss some of the laws governing ownership and care of exotic cats in the United States, including the new Big Cat Public Safety Act. They explore what this new law means for the welfare of big cats currently in human care, as well as the future of exotic cat ownership. Resources for this episode: Congress.gov: Big Cat Public Safety Act Bill Text WWF: In a Win for Wild Tigers, the...

If we asked you to think of a cute, furry, bamboo-eating animal, we suspect a certain black and white bear might come to mind. But, this week, we're talking about another panda. The red panda shares a name and some other characteristics with the more famous giant panda, but is actually a very unique species. Casey and Sara discuss why the red panda is actually the OG panda, the pros and cons of be...

Our series on energy continues as Sara and Casey discuss wind energy. They focus on a couple of specific concerns, especially the impact that wind farms have on birds on bats, and how or if this should impact our use of wind energy moving forward. Resources for this episode:  Onshore vs Offshore Wind Energy University of Michigan: Wind Energy Factsheet DOE Wind Vision Report American Bird Conserva...

You may have seen recent headlines about the loss of 69% of wildlife from 1970. This data comes from a World Wildlife Fund project called The Living Planet Index, which comes out every two year. Casey and Sara take a look at the report, highlighting what it shows, what it doesn't, what the major areas of concern are, and where we go from here. Resources for this episode: A Deep Dive into the Livin...

Turkey for Thanksgiving dinner is a big tradition in the United States, but how much do you know about the bird itself? Sara and Casey discuss some of the features of the wild turkey and take a look at their conservation success story.   Resources for this episode: PBS: Wild Turkey Fact Sheet The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Wild Turkey Audubon New York: How Wild Turkeys Made a 49-state Comeback NC...

The moon is a constant in our lives. Most of us have marveled at a full moon, some of us remember when man first walked  on the moon, but what we probably don't think about much is how the moon impacts life on Earth. In this episode, Casey and Sara discuss the ways, both large and small, that the moon affects our world. Resources for this episode: Natural History Museum: How Does the Moon Affect L...