The SustainUW Podcast

The Wisconsin Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy (OSCE) was founded in 2019 by Executive Order 38. The OSCE focuses on implementing and promoting renewable energy projects in Wisconsin as well as allocating federal and state funds dedicated to solving various environmental issues. In this episode, Kylie Schedler and Thomas Hadcock are joined by Technical Coordinator and Analyst Caity Carmody, and Outreach and Engagement Specialist Katelynn Samuelson. We discuss the applicability of the Inflation Reduction Act in Wisconsin, their State Lead by Example program and Clean Energy Plan, the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants, Focus on Energy, and their outlook fo...

RENEW Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering a resilient, thriving Wisconsin by championing the progress of renewable energy through impactful policy and program work. In this episode of the SustainUW Podcast, hosts Rory Tevlin and Bailey Tomsich chat with RENEW Wisconsin’s Communications Manager, Alex Beld, and Emerging Technology Director, Francisco Sayu. Join them as they discuss the EPA Clean Bus Program, an exciting initiative that allows school districts in all 50 states to replace old diesel buses with new electric buses, often at no cost. From reducing emissions to cultivating cleaner and more efficient transportation, tune in...

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, better known as PFAS, are a growing area of concern for waterways in Madison and across the nation. These chemicals, which are used to make everyday products like nonstick pans and water resistant materials, have been found in drinking water and are linked to serious health effects. In this episode of the SustainUW Podcast, host Britta Wellenstein talks to PFAS researcher Onur Apul about the impact of PFAS on the environment and what technologies might allow us to remove it from our drinking water. Dr. Apul, who is an assistant professor of civil and environmental...

Industrial engineering, sustainable food, and social equity: these may sound like unrelated topics, but Dr. Weslynne Ashton of the Illinois Institute of Technology has brought them together through her research on sustainable systems. Dr. Ashton was in Madison to give the keynote for the second annual Sustainability Symposium on October 25, 2023, and joined hosts Kylie Schedler and Britta Wellenstein for a wide-ranging conversation. Join us as we dive into Dr. Ashton's research, food equity in rural and urban settings, and the transition to a circular economy.

This summer, the weather dominated: wildfires, hazardous air quality, and extreme heat affected people across the country. In this episode, we try to figure out what happened and what the wild weather means for Wisconsin. Listen in as Britta Wellenstein and Rory Tevlin speak to Tracey Holloway, an air quality researcher at UW-Madison and the Leader of the NASA Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team. We explore the Canadian wildfires, ozone and smoke in Madison, and steps for moving forward.

Finding one's path to a sustainability-related career can be daunting, and there are many different ways to apply sustainability to different fields and opportunities. In this episode, we learn about what one version of success looks like, as host Kylie Schedler speaks with Lorenza Zebell from Sustain Dane, a local nonprofit whose "programs connect businesses, organizations, schools, local governments, and individuals to the sustainability movement and provide the support and resources to generate change." Lorenza is the program manager, running and developing the multitude of programs Sustain Dane has to offer.

Greta Gerwig's blockbuster sensation, "Barbie," has been the talk of the town since well before its release. Having grossed over $1.3 billion as of August 2023, there is no question that audiences are enamored with the film. But "Barbie" also has its detractors, who critique its treatment of gender and its uneasy relationship with consumerism, among other things. In this episode of the SustainUW Podcast, intern Barbies Rory Tevlin, Britta Wellenstein, and Brynne Hill explore the movie in depth, from their own experiences in the theater to questions about feminism, product placement, patriarchy, and what it means to be "Kenough."

Malorie Garbe, the Sustainability Coordinator for University Housing, and assistant Anna Silverman join hosts Brynne Hill and Bailey Tomsich to delve into what move-in looks like for incoming dorm residents at UW–Madison. In addition to offering tips and tricks for how students can ensure they are moving in sustainably, this episode explores ways that students can engage in sustainability opportunities throughout the rest of the year, such as the annual Sustain-a-Bash, which is coming up in September. Learn more here: https://www.housing.wisc.edu/about/sustainability/

The 2021 film “Don’t Look Up”, directed by Adam McKay and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, and Jonah Hill, is a dark comedy that offers an allegory of the dysfunctional conversation around climate change. In this episode of the SustainUW Podcast, hosts Rory Tevlin, Kylie Schedler, and Gigi Diekelman gathered to talk about the movie and give it their collective review. Did it make them laugh or cry? What does the movie tell us about the relationship between celebrity, society, and politics? And was it really worth the $75 million budget?

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has a long history of producing prominent environmental figures like Aldo Leopold and wide-ranging sustainability research, but institutional, campus-focused sustainability initiatives are relatively recent. This spring, the Office of Sustainability entered its second decade, and hosts Kylie Schedler and Rose Adler-Rephan wanted to learn more about where the Office has been and where it's headed in the next ten years. Tune in as they interview two staff members—Tim Lindstrom, the student intern program manager, and Nathan Jandl, the associate director of sustainability—to discuss topics from the creation of the student intern program to dre...

Waste: it's one of the most visible, even popular, issues in sustainability. After all, everyone can reduce, reuse, and recycle, right? Achieving "zero waste," however, is a complicated proposition. In this episode, host Bennett Artman explores what zero waste means and how we might get there with two members of the UW–Madison Office of Sustainability, Travis Blomberg and Rachel Schumacher. Tune in to learn about the university's efforts to achieve zero waste, which involves managing materials on campus along the entire chain, from procurement to reuse. Learn more about zero waste efforts at UW–Madi...

Care for some crickets on your pizza? 80 percent of the world’s countries regularly consume insects, so maybe it’s time to find out what you’re missing! In this episode, hosts Gigi Diekelman and Eliza Lindley explore edible insects from their many angles — sustainable protein, nutrient powerhouses, culinary delicacies, and more — guided by Chef Joseph Yoon and researcher Colleen Henegan. Then, they journey to Swarm to Table 2023 for a taste of the action, right here on the UW–Madison campus. You’ll be an ento-enthusiast in no time — trust us! Learn more here: Joseph’s websi...

What does the future of agriculture hold for us? From the increasing interest in organic farming versus conventional practices, to hydroponics and urban agriculture, there are many opportunities in the growing world of food production. In this episode, hosts Gigi Diekleman and Kylie Schedler talk with Jacob Breit from The Associated Students of Madison (ASM) about his summer internship on an organic farm in Kenya, where he will be working after graduation. They also discuss urban agriculture in the Madison area and how students can get involved.

We all use energy, but many of us don't think about where it comes from or how to ensure it's not only clean, but reliable and plentiful. Changing Energy, a new book by Dr. John Perkins, brings energy systems out from the shadows. Hosts Gigi Diekelman and Claire Naughton speak with Dr. Perkins about his book, the advantages and risks of different energy sources from solar to nuclear, and how we might take steps forward as a society to address the shared challenge of climate change. John H. Perkins is Professor Emeritus at The Evergreen State College, w...

What is eco-anxiety? How do our various lived experiences influence how eco-anxiety presents itself? Can we harness eco-anxiety to make a positive difference? Join host Rose Adler-Rephan as she discusses these issues with special guest Dekila Chungyalpa, Director of the Loka Initiative, Center for Healthy Minds and Healthy Minds Innovations. Dekila has worked with faith leaders and culture keepers of indigenous traditions on environmental and climate issues since 2008. She also has a background in conservation and working on environmental and climate issues in the field. To access some of the resources mentioned in this...

The UW–Madison Sustainability Writing Awards are intended to inspire conversations about how writing can bring together people with different experiences to reflect and act within the context of the global climate crisis. Thanks to the generosity of donors, in the fall of 2022 the Office of Sustainability offered three $200 scholarships to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who submitted essays on the topic of resilience. The topic drew a range of writing about resilience from ecological, personal, political, educational, and technological perspectives. In this episode of the SustainUW Podcast, host Kylie Schedler speaks with the three winners of th...

When you shop for clothing, do you consider the sustainability of your choices or the brands you wear? Do you love thrifting or do you buy the newest trends? Have you ever considered how clothing donations are handled by thrift stores? Join hosts Rose Adler-Rephan and Gigi Diekelman as they address all these questions and more with John Cobb, the associate director of retail operations at the St. Vincent de Paul's store here in Madison, Wisconsin. 

What is it like to be an indigenous student on the UW–Madison campus? How do the histories and practices of the Native Nations of Wisconsin inform our understanding of environmental stewardship? And how are longstanding conversations between indigenous students and campus administrators evolving today? Join hosts Bennett Artman and Rose Adler-Rephan as they discuss these issues with special guest Sagen Lily, who is a senior at UW–Madison double majoring in Community and Environmental Sociology and Environmental Studies with a Certificate in Food Systems. Sagen is a member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, loca...

2022 was characterized by momentous climate change news in the United States: in the early summer, the Supreme Court dealt a blow to the EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Not long after, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which is widely considered the most meaningful climate legislation this country's history. In the first episode of Season 3, host Hannah Schilling explores the implications of these contrasting events with two UW–Madison faculty members: Corbett Grainger, Associate Professor of Agricultural & Applied Economics, and Howard Schweber, Professor of Political Science.  You can also read our recent article on this sam...

Dr. Barbara Hendrie is the Regional Director for the UN Environment Programme's North America Office and has built over two decades of experience in sustainable development and humanitarian affairs, working for both the United Kingdom and United States governments. In this episode, hosts Rose Adler-Rephan and Kylie Thomasen speak with Dr. Hendrie about her remarkable career path, her crucial environmental work with the UN, and her thoughts on how individuals can make a difference at a global scale.