Realistic Sustainability

Mike and Nick take some time to look at the cost of energy in the home. Where do we spend the most money? Where do we waste the most energy? Join us as we work through the electrical bill discovering ways to save. We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and family or leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The more people that we can expose...

When it comes to subjects governed by politics we sometimes hear some really weird questions. This question is no exception. In this short, Mike talks about the cost of fixing climate and what it really would take. We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and family or leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The more people that we can expose...

In all of the different ways humans use the scientific method, biomimicry is by far the most sustainable. In many cases, nature has already solved a large chunk of our problems if we are humble enough to learn from it. Join Mike and Nick as they discuss the joys of Biomimicry.  We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and family or leave a review...

This week I stumbled over something pretty cool and wanted to tell everyone about it. We all know that we like free fresh food since we designed and implemented the edible landscape project in Durand Michigan and clean and free water, well a company named FreeWater is helping! Listen in as I cover some of the pretty amazing details.  We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider s...

Nick and Mike take a few moments to explore how landfills work, different kinds of landfills, and is it really the best way to handle all of our waste. Spoiler alert, no... No it's not. Join us as we discuss, how landfills work.  We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and family or leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The more peopl...

Well, it has been a while since Sir David Attenborough's recent documentary A Life on Our Planet (see the trailer here ) I've wanted to eat lower on the food chain. It is proving to be more challenging than I once thought. This short is an update on how I am doing and the mindset that follows the results.  We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends...

Mike and Nick take some time to talk about the issues with urban sprawl. 52% of US homes are in neighborhoods considered to be suburban and not within walkable distance to their work, stores, or other amenities. When working on climate change, you have to address how we live.  We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and family or leave a review o...

I love to brag about my collection of rechargeable batteries but are they a green solution or just better than throwing every used-up battery away?  We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and family or leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The more people that we can expose to sustainability, the better.  Thank you! Please consi...

What could our future electrical grid look like and why? Join Mike and Nick as they try to figure out what a robust and reliable grid with the correct feedstocks looks like.  We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and family or leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The more people that we can expose to sustainability, the better. &nb...

The weather is changing and it seems like it's not for the better. Floods, record-breaking summer heat, fires, and other extreme weather events. What is there to do when we seemed to be slipping down the slippery slope of no return? We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and family or leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The more people...

Human death practices have gotten more and more elaborate over the year leading to a larger and larger carbon footprint. Is it sustainable for every human to have their own little plot of land that cannot be used for anything other than a memorial? Could we do better? Join Mike and Nick as they wade through the difficulties of dealing with human death and sustainability.  We hope you enjoy th...

What!?! Bill Gates is trying to block the Sun!? Google it, news outlets and people are tweeting away over fears if Bill Gates and his next way to RULE THE WORLD! Okay, all jokes aside, SCoPEx is a program building computer models with the possibility of predicting the ability to geoengineer planets by releasing different materials in the atmosphere.  We hope you enjoy the show and if you do,...

Plant-based foods are becoming all the rage in fast food retailers but are they healthy? What does the image of fast food plant-based foods do to the rest of the industry? Join Mike and a very perturbed Nike as they discuss the idea of plant-based meats vs plant-based diets.  We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and family or leave a review on...

What's a microgrid and why do we care. Mike takes a second in this short to help clear up the concept of microgrids and their role in our future energy needs.  We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and family or leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The more people that we can expose to sustainability, the better.  Thank you! P...

Is solar farming the way to go? Are there better options and why the heck are so many against solar power? Nick and Mike explore the idea of solar farming and ponder if it is the future. We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and family or leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The more people that we can expose to sustainability, the bett...

In today's short Mike covers why we prefer buying used and why? Does it really matter or is it just a fad and if it's important then why? We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and family or leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The more people that we can expose to sustainability, the better.  Thank you! Please consider supporting t...

Nick and Mike discuss a very hot topic here in the state of Michigan. Line 5 is a 60+-year-old oil pipeline that runs under the straights of Mackinac between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. This aging pipeline has been hit by anchors and is showing signs of its age. What would happen if a 21" pipeline ruptured in the Great Lakes?  2016 University of Michigan Ann Arbor Study We hope you enjoy th...

We just wanted to take a second to update everyone on the progress made on Durand Edible Landscape Project . We have seen the good, bad, great and experiences some surprises. So, we wanted to take a moment and talk about them. We hope that you or your city will take on this kind of project in the future! We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and fam...

Is there a change slowly happening in the corporate world when it comes to societal responsibility? A growing number of new start-ups along with a chunk of large companies seem to know that they have a responsibility to more than just the shareholders. Join brothers Mike and Nick as they explore changing world of corporate responsibility. We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider s...

Mike just wanted to check in to see how everyone's positive footprint is going. Now that Realistic Sustainability has been out for 6 months it was time to give a few updates and ask for yours.  We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and family or leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The more people that we can expose to sustainabili...

How do we get more people interested in the sustainability movement? Mike and Nick discuss the wins and losses in how sustainability enthusiasts position what they love to those in opposition. How do we get others' buy-in on such an important topic?  We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and family or leave a review on your favorite podcast pla...

As the weather was breaking in Michigan, it struck Mike, he needs to take a hike and you should too. From weight loss to a reconnection to nature take sort hikes can really help your physical and mental health.  We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and family or leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The more people that we can expo...

Nick and Mike take a look at how using crops as fuel have worked in the past. From biofuels to E85, how did work for society? Is this the route humans should take to build their future?  We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and family or leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The more people that we can expose to sustainability, the...

Why in the heck do we put so much effort into growing and maintaining our lawn? Mike spends some time on the craziness that is yard maintenance. We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and family or leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The more people that we can expose to sustainability, the better.  Thank you! Please consider suppo...

Nick shows a little emotion as he and Mike talk about the amount of plastic being found in the ocean and the level of overfishing being done by humans.  We hope you enjoy the show and if you do, please consider sharing it with your friends and family or leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The more people that we can expose to sustainability, the better.  Thank you! Please c...