Terra Informa

This week on Terra Informa we bring you the first installment of our reporting and recording from the Parkland Institute's Fall 2022 Conference: Doing Democracy Better: Challenging the Politics of Fear and Resentment which took place on November 18-20, 2022 at the University of Alberta. This week's episode includes a talk given by Parkland Institute Research Manager Ian Hussey entitled "Job Creati...

This episode originally aired on May 4, 2020: This week several Terra Informers reflect on the changing seasons, and what spring means to them. Listen in for some great ambient spring sounds and grateful reflections on the warmer air around us. Download the program log . ★ Support this podcast ★

This episode originally aired on August 2, 2020: As we continue to stay home to protect ourselves and others, the natural world carries on without us. Human intervention in our environment often comes with damaging consequences, and today we're taking some time to learn about the history of the regions that are special to us and turning a critical eye on efforts to "protect" these spaces, efforts...

This episode originally aired on November 22, 2021: This week on Terra Informa we jump into the giant world of the fungi kingdom. Charlotte Thomasson sings a song, and interviews Josh Smith and Mike Schultz, members of the Alberta Mycological Society. Daniel Pietraszewski shares a fun story about Vilna, AB. You're not going to want to miss this. Download the program log here . Check out the Albert...

In this episode from March 8, 2021, Terra Informers Sonak Patel, Andrea Miller, and Elizabeth Dowdell speak with urban beekeeper David Whitaker about how he picked up this unique hobby and the benefits of bees in the City. Learn more about beekeeping from the City of Edmonton and how to avoid the hype of bee-washing . To get your hands on some sweet, sweet, local honey email davesurbanhoney@shaw.c...

This episode originally aired on August 10, 2020: This week on Terra Informa, Sonak Patel and Skylar Lipman, joined by Morrigan Simpson-Marran from the Pembina Institute and Daniel Schiffner from the University of Alberta, discuss orphan wells in Alberta. The evidence of oil and gas development on Alberta's landscape appears in various forms across the province. Much of oil and gas extraction requ...

This episode originally aired on July 20, 2020: In the film, acclaimed actor Elliot Page, inspired by a book by Ingrid Waldron that also lends its name to the documentary, travels across their home province of Nova Scotia to explore cases of environmental racism. This week, we are talking about environmental racism, which specifically refers to the environmental injustice that is based on race. We...

In this archive episode we explore: What is it like to be a plant? Do plants make choices? Do they...think? We turn to Charly Blais' interview with Megan Ljubotina, a graduate student at the University of Alberta to find out about the ways plants make decisions to improve their vitality, survival and fitness. ★ Support this podcast ★

This episode originally aired on April 12, 2021: Is plant parenthood a big part of your life? Have you acquired some recent plant purchases to spruce up your new virtual workplace or classroom? This week, our guest is Eric Gibson, co-owner of the Little Plant Shop. We're asking, how do our houseplants and all things green make us feel? We explore the connection between our houseplants and our heal...

In this archive episode, Charlotte Thomasson hosts us on a cross-country ski tour around Edmonton, Alberta. Elizbeth Dowdell joins with some facts about the Canadian Birkebeiner and the two inspire you to get outside and explore the beauty of winter. Small-town rivalries, poetry, and the origin of two classic Canadian winter past-times are shared in this episode. P. S. the second past-time is snow...

In this archive episode, Terra Informers Sonak Patel and Elizabeth Dowdell consider the role that language plays in communicating the climate crisis and how getting it wrong may contribute to continued climate inaction. To get further insight into the big picture of climate change communication, they spoke to Sean Holman , Professor of Journalism at Mount Royal University. Program Log ★ Support th...

In this week's archive episode, the Terra Informers travel to a grain terminal in the City of Edmonton to see some rare birds of prey and meet the folks who watch and photograph them there. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this week's archive episode, the Terra Informers discuss solar energy, including topics such as the definition of solar, how it works, the pros and cons to solar,  and who the solar power leaders are around the world. Program log. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this week's archive episode, Terra Informer Julianne Hayes explains how arctic plants adapt to a warming tundra. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this week's archive episode, Sofia Osborne brings you an interview with Mark Leiren-Young, who is the author of a book about "The Killer Whale Who Changed the World". This book explores the story of Moby Doll, the first orca ever captured and put on display, right on the west coast. In this show, find out how the accidental capture of Moby Doll actually changed the world. Program log.   ★ Suppo...

In this week's archive episode, we revisit a Terra Informa review of the film Metamorphosis, a climate change documentary, along with an interview with the creators of the film. Program log.   ★ Support this podcast ★

In this week's archive episode, we're revisiting our discussion on The Lorax. For the full show notes for this episode, click here . Program log.   ★ Support this podcast ★

In this week's archive episode, we go back to warmer days to visit past Terra Informer Dylan Hall for a honeybee hive inspection and to talk about the impact of high heat events on beehives and other important pollinator insects. For the full episode description, visit the original show notes here . Program log.   ★ Support this podcast ★

In this week's archive episode, we revisit being inspired to learn more about the elusive and enchanting Ghost Orchid, a rare species of orchid that grows in the swamp forests of Florida. For more information and for links from this episode, visit the original episode post here . Program log.  ★ Support this podcast ★

Where do all the extinct animals since the beginning of time go to rest? A very spooky graveyard, and this year, we're getting the grand tour from the Cryptkeeper himself. What kind of animals are buried here, and what monster lurks at the center of the graveyard? Tune in to find out! Our annual Halloween episode was produced for CJSR 88.5 FM's Fundrive, which is happening right now! Our home stat...

In this week's archive episode, we're revisiting The Line, a film by Anthony Goertz that focuses on the employees of Quality One Training and Support , a program that connects people with barriers to employment including a criminal record, newcomer status, or addictions or mental illnesses with employment opportunities at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre. For more information on the episode, v...

In this week's episode, Sofia Osborne and Olivia DeBourcier from the Beyond Blathers podcast go way back in time to talk about the dunkleostus - a crazy prehistoric fish! Check out the Beyond Blathers Etsy store for amazing stickers featuring Olivia's illustrations of the critters they talk about on the podcast! CJSR's annual Fundrive is quickly approaching! In the coming week's we'll be bringing...

Who do you think of when you think about environmentalism and music?  This week, Jasinta Rweyongeza is joined by Rasheena Fountain, a poet and essayist, to talk about the lack of mainstream recognition of Black musicians in the world of environmentalism in music, as well how specific genres of music that are underrecognized in their ability to tell stories about environmental relationships, enviro...

It's been 60 years since Rachel Carson's Silent Spring explored the dangers of pesticides and how humans are destroying our environment. This week, the Terra Informers discuss this classic book - why was this book so important? How relevant is Silent Spring to the modern ecological crises of the 20th century? Program log. ★ Support this podcast ★

It's the end of another month, and we've got another roundup of environmental news headlines for you. This week, we cover the impacts of extreme storms around the globe, Ontario youth taking the provincial government to court, and a whole bunch of animal-related headlines. Program log.  ★ Support this podcast ★