The SustainUW Podcast

This episode features conversations recorded during Women's History Month, when we celebrated the inspiring women shaping sustainability at UW–Madison. SustainUW members Evie Skibicki and Kate Scroggins hosted conversations with Dr. Heather Swan and Dr. Mallika Nocco to uncover the experiences that shaped their careers, the importance of education and mentorship, and their hopes for the next generation of environmental leaders. Whether you're passionate about sustainability or exploring your own career path, this episode offers insight, encouragement, and inspiration from two educators making a lasting impact on campus and beyond.

Enjoy an inspiring and technical conversation about the future of sustainable construction. Hosts Kate Scroggins and Evie Skibicki are joined by Matt Paneitz of Long Way Home to discuss his two decades of experience building with recycled materials like tire construction and trash-filled bottles. Kate and Evie also talked with Valerie Rehn from the UW–Madison chapter of Engineers Without Borders to explore how student-led projects are providing sustainable infrastructure to communities around the world while bridging the gap between education and impact. If either organization interests you, feel free to learn more at lwhome.org and ewbuwmadison.weebly.co...

In the fourth episode of the SustainUW Podcast's new miniseries, Sustainability Conversations across the Big Ten, hosts Ren Nickel and Nate Dancer meet with Kate Nelson, John Gardner, Ahnika Seifert, Carley Rice, and Hannah Lauber, representing multiple areas of sustainability from the University of Minnesota, to discuss their zero-waste initiatives, composting, and more. SustainUW members John Ernst and Nate Dancer also sit down with Travis Blomberg, Campus Resource Coordinator at the UW-Madison Office of Sustainability, to discuss UW-Madison's journey through zero-waste initiatives and the collaborative effort it takes to implement composting on campus.

In the third episode of the SustainUW Podcast's new miniseries, Sustainability Conversations across the Big Ten, hosts Ren Nickel and Nate Dancer meet with Daimon Eklund and Emily Adams from the University of Washington to discuss their HuES Program (Huskies for Equitable Sustainability) and new Sustainability Action Plan. The team also sits down with Malorie Garbe and Seri Sanches, the leads of UW-Madison’s University Housing Sustainability Office, to discuss hosting sustainable events and how to keep housing green.

In the second episode of the SustainUW Podcast's new miniseries, Sustainability Conversations across the Big Ten, hosts John Ernst and Ren Nickel meet with Angela Oberg from the Rutgers University Office of Climate Action to discuss Rutgers' sustainability-related internships, ambassador programs, and other student involvement opportunities. The team also sits down with Tim Lindstrom, the Student Intern Program Manager at the UW–Madison Office of Sustainability to discuss UW–Madison's campus sustainability internship program.

In the first episode of the SustainUW Podcast's new miniseries, Sustainability Conversations across the Big Ten, the team meets with Morgan Hartman and Madeline Yeatts from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln Office of Sustainability to discuss Carnegie's Elective Classification for Sustainability that UNL is currently piloting. They also sit down with Alex Frank and Kyle Schmitz from the UW—Madison Office of Sustainability to understand UW—Madison's approach to ESG reporting.

Join Brynne, Audrey, and Clean Wisconsin Communications Director Amy Barrilleaux for a conversation about the environmental, ethical, and social considerations related to the growth of artificial intelligence and its supporting infrastructure in Wisconsin. Their discussion challenges us to think critically about AI, the ways in which has become integrated into our daily lives, and whether it's possible for this emergent and disruptive technology to mature into a just and sustainable system.

Enjoy an inspiring, illuminating, and at times emotional conversation with legendary activist and UW—Madison alumnus Dr. John Francis. SustainUW hosts Audrey, Brynne, and Jordyn sat down with Dr. Francis during his visit to Madison for Earth Fest to discuss his life, legacy, and his recent critically-acclaimed eponymous documentary entitled Planetwalker.

In this special episode, SustainUW and Edge Effects collaborate to discuss the history of Earth Day in the United States, bring a glimpse of Earth Fest celebrations on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus, and underline the importance of embracing environmental protection beyond just April 22. The episode includes an interview with Jim Feldman, director of the Environmental Studies program at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh.This episode was created and recorded in collaboration with Edge Effects digital magazine at the UW–Madison Center for Culture, History, and Environment. Special thanks to the Edge Effects team i...

What does climate change look like in Madison, and how do the impacts alter our shared experience of this place we call home? Perhaps the best venue to answer this question is on the (less frequently these days) frozen shores of Lake Mendota, which by some metrics is the most researched lake on the planet. Join Office of Sustainability interns Giann Abang, Aiden Culver, and Jordyn Czyzewski as they interview Professor Emeritus and renowned limnologist John J. Magnuson about ice records on Lake Mendota. Later, Giann and Jordyn join fellow interns Audrey Davies and Kate Scroggins to venture out...

A lot has been happening to sustainability initiatives in the U.S. these past few months, and you probably have plenty of questions, concerns, and ideas. Join Office of Sustainability interns Aiden, Audrey, Brynne, and Giann as they parse through some of the current events happening in sustainability at the national level and provide a student's perspective.References discussed and related resources:Trump rescinded a half-century of environmental rules. Here’s what that could mean. -- VoxTrump’s Return Gives China a Second Chance at Climate Leadership -- Bloomberg...

Office of Sustainability interns Aiden Culver, Audrey Davies, and Giann Abang are excited to bring you an episode in which they learn about the growing interest in agrivoltaics at UW–Madison. Aiden and Giann leave the podcast studio to visit the new solar installation site at the UW–Madison Kegonsa Research Campus. After that, Aiden and Audrey have conversations with two local experts: Will Fulwider, a UW Extension employee, and Victoria Salerno, a graduate student and Office of Sustainability employee.

Join us as we sit down with the EPA Chief of Staff, Dan Utech, to discuss climate optimism as it relates to the past, present, and future of environmental policy in the United States. Hosted by Brynne Hill, Audrey Davies, and Aiden Culver, this Q&A conversation will leave you with a deeper understanding of the Environmental Protection Agency as well as recent climate action by the federal government.

Dive into conservation stewardship in Wisconsin with hosts Kylie Schedler and Rory Tevlin, as they sit down with John Sinclair, a dedicated Conservation Warden for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. In this episode, we explore the profound connection between humans and wildlife through John's experiences of protection and preservation. Tune in for an inspiring discussion that celebrates the beauty of nature and the tireless efforts of those who defend it. For more information about the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, please click here.

Join host Kylie Schedler as she talks with UW–Madison professor and Grassland 2.0 member Randy Jackson, and graduate student Jessica Mehre, to break down the intricacies of grassland ecology and Wisconsin’s history of raising cattle. Grassland 2.0 is “a collaborative group of producers, researchers, and public and private sector folks working to develop pathways for producers to achieve increased profitability, production stability, and nutrient and water efficiency, while improving water quality, soil health, biodiversity, and climate resiliency through grassland-based agriculture.” Students, if this episode piqued your interest, consider taking Dr. Jackson’s class, Agronomy 370: Grassland Ecology.

In the face of climate change, the future for our planet can look bleak. But Project Drawdown Executive Director Jon Foley stays hopeful by focusing on tangible, science-backed solutions that will actually work. Join hosts Britta Wellenstein and Brynne Hill as they talk to Foley about Project Drawdown, the climate solutions roadmap, and the bright future that might just be within reach. Foley visited Madison as a part of Earth Fest. You can learn more about Project Drawdown here.

The 2008 film Wall-E explores the connection between technology, artificial intelligence, and sustainability. With the continued rise of AI, we wanted to understand the intersections between sustainability and technology--and whether we are heading to a Wall-E future. Hosts Britta Wellenstein and Rory Tevlin talk to Data Science Institute Director Kyle Cramner about how AI can be used to enhance the UW–Madison sustainability goals. We then turn to Kaiping Chen, assistant professor in the department of Life Sciences Communications, to discuss humans' relationship with technology and her recent research into chat bots. Learn more about the RI...

Curious about what defines organic food and how it impacts our planet, nutrition, and well-being? In this episode of the SustainUW Podcast, host Rory Tevlin and her classmates, Tess Wadsworth and Maya Herzog, explore the intricacies of organic agriculture. From health benefits and access to equity and sustainability, tune in to discover compelling reasons why organic produce should grace your plate and how to get involved with organic agriculture on the UW–Madison campus! To learn more about the organizations mentioned in this episode, click the links below:  SlowFood UW The People’s Farm<...

Today, sandhill cranes are a common sight–and sound!–in Madison and throughout the state of Wisconsin. This wasn’t always the case: by the 1930s, they had nearly disappeared from the state, and their return since is a famous conservation success story. In November 2023, hosts Britta Wellenstein and Brynne Hill headed to the Great Midwest Crane Festival to learn about cranes’ journey–both their migration and how their populations have rebounded so spectacularly. The Great Midwest Crane Festival is hosted by the Aldo Leopold Foundation and the International Crane Foundation. Listen in as we explore the festival, talk to experts...

In this episode of the SustainUW Podcast, host Kylie Schedler speaks with the three winners of the second annual UW–Madison Sustainability Writing Awards: Hailey Sewell, who reflected on a memorable snowfall as a child and pondered the future of our climate; Scott Hershberger, who painted the scene of a conversation between himself, an Eastern Wood-Pewee, and a honey locust tree; and Madelyn Anderson, who celebrated the discovery of a Rusty Patched Bumble Bee hive and highlighted the importance of recognizing small wins. The ⁠UW–Madison Sustainability Writing Awards⁠ are intended to inspire conversations about how writing can brin...