Growing Our Future

 In this episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast , host Stephen is joined by Patty Ward, co-owner of Sow Right Seeds. Patty shares the inspiring story behind how she and her husband launched their family-owned seed company in Greenwood, Missouri, just before the pandemic hit. They discuss the challenges and triumphs of growing their business during uncertain times, the importance of starting you...

In this Episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast, Stephen sits down with Tanner Freeman, the creator of our Gardopia Logo! 

In this episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast, Stephen is joined by Nadia Gaona and J'Shcarla Adkins to explore the incredible initiatives and impactful work being led by SA Metro Health across San Antonio. Tune in to learn about their innovative projects and the positive changes they’re driving in the community.

In this two-part Episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast, Stephen sits down with Sylvain & Sarah Clavieres of Talking Tree Farms. As they discuss soil health, homesteading, and urban agriculture. Make sure to check out Talking Tree Farms on Instagram!

In this two-part Episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast, Stephen sits down with Sylvain & Sarah Clavieres of Talking Tree Farms. As they discuss soil health, homesteading, and urban agriculture. Make sure to check out Talking Tree Farms on Instagram!

In this Episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast, Stephen sits down with Skeets, a member of the Mushroom Compadres, a group of farmers building a farm in the Algarve region of Portugal. They discuss their mentality regarding climate change, the climate and challenges of growing in Portugal, and what keeps them motivated to move forward.  Make sure to check out the Mushroom Compadres on YouTube a...

In this episode Stephen sits down with William Abbott, former intern at Gardopia Gardens and a senior at Trinity University.  They discuss William's progression as an environmentalist, what work he did at Gardopia, and what his plans after graduation are.  Enjoy the episode!

In this special episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast, Stephen sits down with Angeles Mendez, a 2023 Aspen Healthy Communities Fellow, and the Regional Manager for Project Protect Food Systems.  Stephen and Angeles discuss, being Aspen Fellows,  the current landscape for agricultural workers, and Angeles' work to improve rights for workers.  Enjoy the episode!

In this special episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast, Stephen sits down with Jamar Hill, 2023 Aspen Healthy Communities Fellow, former professional MLB player, and current President of Gamers Alaska, a nonprofit organization committed to connecting youth baseball and softball players to leagues, coaching, and training resources.  Stephen and Jamar discuss their brief history together, how Jam...

In this episode of Growing our Future, Stephen sits down with Inna Gamez and discusses her gardening journey and shares tips she's learned over the years. Inna is a social media influencer that posts regular content about her garden. She's a brand ambassador for Vego Garden Academy. Inna recounts her early gardening days in Ukraine and describes just how different farming in Ukraine is c...

In this thought-provoking episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast our host and CEO Stephen Lucke engages in a candid conversation with esteemed researcher Kristopher Hawkins, shedding light on the methodologies of animal testing and their role in ensuring safe food production. As the demand for food continues to grow, the need for innovative techniques to enhance food safety has become paramount...

Our newest episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast is now live! 🎧🎙️  In this episode, our CEO Stephen Lucke sits down with Michelle Garza, Planning Coordinator for San Antonio River Authority, and Melissa Bryant, Director of Technical Services, to discuss the current state of San Antonio rivers, what SARA is doing to help, and what we can do as citizens to help keep our rivers clean.  Michelle...

Excited to announce the latest episode of our podcast is LIVE! 🎧🎙️  In this episode, we have an in-depth conversation with Douglas Melnick, Chief Sustainability Officer, and Julia Murphy, Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer, from the City of San Antonio's Office of Sustainability. 💚🌱 Learn all about the City's Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, its innovative EcoScholars Grant Progra...

The Growing Our Future Podcast welcomes Dr. Daniel Murray of Vanguard Chiropractic. Host Stephen Lucke sits down with Dr. Murray to discuss his story surrounding chiropractics, gardening, the plant-based diet, and even Earthships! As a former Special Education Teacher, Dr. Murray has a big heart for education and community engagement. When furthering his studies in nutrition, he was astonished by...

The Growing Out Future Podcast welcomes Emily Jamieson & Nadia Kern from Trinity University. Hosts Stephen Lucke and Dominic Dominguez sit down with Nadia and Emily to discuss their experiences working alongside Gardopia Gardens this summer as part of the Trinity University in ALE Internship Program. From installing a wifi irrigation system, teaching environmental education to youth, maintaini...

The Growing Out Future Podcast welcomes Victoria and Brennan with Community First Health Plans. Host Stephen Lucke and Special Guests discuss the importance of healthcare coverage: accessibility, education, and localized engagement of Community First Health Plans as they advocate for a healthier community. From food pantries, plant-based diets, nutrition, social determinates of health, and more, t...

The Growing Out Future Podcast welcomes Kim Aman, Founder of Grow Garden Grow. The story of Grow Garden Grow resonates with the successes, challenges, and growths encountered across the world when advocating for high-impact garden-based learning programs within schools for the benefit of our young people and families.  Farmer Kim Aman, Founder of Grow Garden Grow, inspires our listeners to dig dee...

The Growing Our Future Podcast welcomes Brandon Kirby with Rainbow Gardens, a local family-owned nursery in San Antonio, Texas. Rainbow Gardens is one of the most seasoned nurseries in San Antonio, providing an array of vegetative selections to the area public for decades.  Brandon recalls the inception of Rainbow Gardens, the dedication and lineage of his father, Frank Kirby, and Business Partner...

The Growing Our Future Podcast welcomes Dr. Benjamin Miele with the University of the Incarnate Word and Jonathan Molineaux with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration as we discuss Ecosystem Services. Ecosystem Services are the direct and indirect benefits that ecosystems provide humans. Agroecosystems, rangelands, and forests provide suites of ecosystem services that support and sustain...

Gardopia Gardens welcomes Daniel Nelson,  CEO of Grow Computer to the Growing Our Future Podcast! In this episode, Stephen Lucke, CEO of Gardopia Gardens, and Daniel take a deep dive into the world of the present and future of smart technologies in agriculture. Plant/soil/humidity monitoring, streamlined smartphone controls, data clouds, emerging hardware, fostering global community connections, a...

Gardopia Gardens welcomes Alex Aleman, Educator at Luther Burbank High School in San Antonio, Texas. Gardopia Gardens hosts, COO, Dominic Dominguez, and Board Member, Defranco Sarabia hear the incredible story of Alex Aleman and his efforts of empowering youth using hydroponics. The implications of Covid-19 and Winter Storm Uri urged Alex to research and build his very first hydroponic grow space....

Gardopia Gardens welcomes Jonathan Molineaux, Fisheries Biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the Growing Our Future Podcast! Join our host, CEO, Stephen Lucke, and co-host, COO, Dominic Dominguez, as they take a deep dive with Jonathan to explore multiple facets of conversation and sustainability.  Jonathan provides supplemental information on the Endangered Specie...

Ever wonder how Gardopia Gardens got started?  Well tune in with the founders! Stephen, Dom, Aj, and Leon dig back into the soil of what grew the educational based non-profit we know today.  Experience the atmosphere of what it was like in the beginning times and hang come out with us!  Big thanks to VodPod for allowing us to record this podcast 

Come listen in and learn about the path our COO Dominic Dominguez took that led him to Gardopia and his discovery of different food systems around the world!   Interviewed by our CEO Stephen Lucke, this conversation ignites sparks as we talk about the frameworks of sustainability, food mileage, urban development, and hints to what Gardopia Garden's visions for the future entail. Dom plants th...

In today's Podcast, Shirley Parodi, Garden-Based Learning Advocate and Sustainable Design Educator sits down with Gardopia Gardens Staff and Board Chair. Leveraging its 5 years of garden-based learning impact in the Greater Bexar County Area, the group discusses the Gardopia Gardens’ first-ever Garden Awards Gala, a signature fundraising event, honoring the extraordinary urban agriculture ind...