Sustainable Steps

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...

You've got bundles of old bills, mountains of medical documents and a hard drive you put in a drawer back in the '90s? How can you clear the clutter without someone stealing your identity? Goodwill of the Great Plains can help! In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami & Jake talk with Goodwill's very own "demolition expert," Dan Peters. As manager of GoodShred, Goodwill's secure document and har...

There are easy, small steps you can take to make your home, city and life more sustainable!   From re-usable bags to "26 on 26," Samantha Daily and Arah Montagne with the Sioux City Environmental Advisory Board talk with Tami & Jake in this episode of "Sustainable Steps." The Environmental Advisory Board is located in Sioux City's City Hall, for more information, please visit: Environmental Adviso...

Did you know sustainability could be a career? In the second episode of the Goodwill of the Great Plains Sustainability Steps podcast, Jake and Tami find out what a sustainability manager does and just how much Goodwill re-uses, repurposes and recycles donated items that can't be sold. Find out more at https://www.goodwillgreatplains.org . The Sustainable Steps podcast is made possible due to a ge...

What is Goodwill of the Great Plains and how did it get started? Join Jake and Tami as they take us into the 'wild west' of 1920s Sioux City, Iowa, as Dr. John P. Hantla, Sr. steps into the role as head of the Wall Street Mission, which would later become Goodwill Industries and Goodwill of the Great Plains. Find out more at https://www.goodwillgreatplains.org . The Sustainable Steps podcast is ma...