The State of Sustainability

Episode 23: This month we are joined by Megan Gill, owner of The Good Fill . The Good Fill exists to offer more sustainable alternatives to items we all use or dispose of on a regular basis. The store is like one of those candy stores where you fill up a bag and pay for the amount that you get, but for hygiene products. The Ranger Report covers Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park , found...

Episode 22: This month we talk about tire recycling, the ins and out and logistics, and how big of a problem it can be to not dispose of tires properly. We talk about the Tire Environmental Act Program , which provides grants for projects that result in beneficial reuses of tires. We have two great guests on the episode. Lincoln Young, President of Tennessee Recycling Coalition and owner of R...

Episode 21: In this episode we sit down with our co-worker Dr. Jenn Tribble to talk about what businesses in the hospitality industry can do to be more environmentally conscious. We also discussed how you as a guest and customer can help these businesses in their sustainability efforts. This report highlights David Crockett Birthplace State Park in Limestone, TN. Park Manager Keifer Helle tells us...

Episode 20: Happy New Year! This month we decided to make some calls and ask our colleagues what their sustainable resolutions were for the upcoming year. Listen in for some great ideas on how you can be more sustainable in 2021. No Ranger Report this month.

Episode 19: Have you ever wondered what happens to trees that are required to be removed or fall down during storms? Most of the times they are cut up into firewood or chipped  into mulch. In this month's episode we get to learn about a company that gives those trees a second life. The husband and wife team, Kelsey and Kirby Davis, inform us of their sustainable woodworking processes that mak...

Episode 18: This month we are talking trash, more specifically where trash goes. Caleb called up one of his close family friends, Mac Nolan, who is also the Rutherford County Solid Waste Director. Mac talks to us about the different type of landfills, how they work, and what is to come. Also, Ashley is back from maternity leave! Our Ranger Report this month highlights Nathan Bedford Forrest S...

Episode 17: This month we get to tour a fiber recycling facility ( Greif ) and sit down with the general manager to discuss the processes and the recycling market. We are missing Ashley since she is out on maternity leave. This episode is very special because our guest is actually Caleb's father, Buford Powell. He has extensive knowledge in the solid waste industry and breaks down the current fibe...

Episode 16: This month we get to connect with the Zero Waste Trash Talk Podcast . Maris Masellis joins the conversation to discuss the sustainability podcast that covers global solutions and ideas. Our Ranger Report this month highlights Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park in Elizabethton, TN. Ranger Jason Davis explains the rich history of the park like how that section of Tennessee was crucial f...

Episode 15: It's National Park & Recreation Month and you know how much we love parks! In this episode we get to hear from Dana Soehn, the Park Spokesperson at Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM). She joins the Pod to inform us on ways to plan a sustainable trip to the national park. She is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to GRSM and teaches us about everything from wildlife to the...

Episode 14: This month we are......you guessed it, still coming to you from our home offices. We won't let the Coronavirus stop us though. This episode is packed full of great information on starting a path to self sufficiency. We learn so much from our friend "across the pond" Carl Mintern. He is the host of the Self Sufficient Hub Podcast. You can learn more about his journey here: Facebook - Yo...

Episode 13: This month we are still coming to you from our home offices. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions to all aspects of society and emphasized the importance of community and household resilience through self-reliance. During this Pod, we learn a lot about at-home gardening from the horticulture genius, Lucas Holman. He works for the UT Agriculture Extension Office...

Episode 12: This month we are coming to you from our home offices due to the current Covid-19 situation. That isn't stopping us though! In this episode, we learn about organizations that help divert food waste and feed hungry people here in Tennessee. Right after the tornadoes ripped through Middle Tennessee, the coronavirus pandemic started to shut everything down. This has created a challenge fo...

Episode 11: This month we check out the innovative platform, developed and maintained by the United States Business Council for Sustainable Development , called the Tennessee Materials Marketplace .  We are joined by Environmental Consultant, Vaughn Cassidy, who helps us better understand the "by-product dating site". One of the largest success stories from the TN Materials Marketplace c...

Episode 10: This episode covers our office's newest initiative, the Tennessee Sustainable Spirits (TNSS) program. And yes we are talking about alcohol, not ghosts! We sit down with the mastermind behind the program, Mark Valencia, to help us understand the reason for needing a program like this. He teaches us about the brewing and distilling process and how energy intensive it is. We also tak...

Episode 9: With Radon Awareness Month coming to an end, we thought it would be a good idea to sit down and talk with our colleague, Lexi Brown, about what Radon really is. She enlightens us on the importance of testing our homes and how to do so. Our office provides free Radon test kits to any Tennessee resident. You can use this link to our website to grab one. The Ranger Report this month highli...

Episode 8: This episode covers sustainability initiatives of the Music City Center , the guitar shaped convention center in the middle of downtown Nashville. We were able to tour the building and sit down with the Sustainability Coordinator, Renee Barker, to discuss the green roof, toilets that use recaptured water, and even the honey bees that reside on the top of the building. We get to listen t...

Episode 7: In this episode, we talk about sustainable transportation and clean fuels. You may be thinking, how do you make driving a car sustainable or what does it even mean for a fuel to be clean. Well, we have the answers for you in this pod! We sat down and spoke with two of our friends from TDEC's Office of Energy Programs, Alexa Voytek and Shauna Basques, to learn about the Sustainable Trans...

Episode 6: This month we highlighted Tennessee's most prestigious environmental and conservation awards, the Governor's Environmental Stewardship Awards. We sat down and chatted with our colleague, Kathy Glapa, who has been in charge of the awards for the last 15 years. We also had the opportunity to interview three of this year's winners: Turnip Green Creative Reuse , Ruby Falls , and The Co...

Episode 5: This month we talk about how to reduce your energy bill during the hot summer months. We are joined by Christian Shackelford from green|spaces in Chattanooga. He is the Program Director for Empower Chattanooga , which teaches residents low cost and no cost ways to reduce their utility bills. The Ranger Report this month highlights Fall Creek Falls State Park in Spencer, TN. Assista...

Episode 4: This episode takes a shallow dive into the vast topic of recycling. We talk about the do's and don'ts of recycling and some of the resources that you can use to be a better recycler. We are joined by Jennifer Westerholm from Metro Nashville's Department of General Services to talk about Socket, Nashville's Sustainability Outlet and to learn some tips to reduce your environmental footpri...

Episode 3: This episode highlights the Get Food Smart TN statewide initiative that promotes reducing food waste and increasing food recovery and diversion. You will also learn tips on reducing food waste in your home. We are excited to announce the first Ranger Report segment of the podcast series. The Ranger Report portion of the podcast is intended to help promote our Tennessee State Parks syste...

   Episode 2: This episode has an Earth Month (April) focus. We look into the history of Earth Day and Ashley gives an Earth Day related quiz to Caleb. We are also joined by two local, environmental non-profits to highlight their volunteer opportunities and hear about some of the interesting things that they do. Gray Perry from The Cumberland River Compact and Todd Lawrence from Urban Gr...

Episode 1: This is the first episode of the podcast series where we dive into the environmental backgrounds of the host, Caleb Powell, and co-host, Ashley Cabrera. We are also joined by our boss, Dr. Kendra Abkowitz, the Assistant Commissioner of Policy and Sustainable Practices (OPSP) at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).  LINKS: TDEC's OPSP