The Mike Nowak Show Podcasts

For almost four years, a plan to site an open pit frac sand mine outside the eastern entrance to Starved Rock State Park was put on hold as environmental groups fought the matter in court. Recently, that court case was decided in favor of the mining company. In an exclusive report, Mike talks to environmental attorney Alberrt Ettinger, who was involved in the lawsuit, about how and why the case was lost and how the deck is stacked against average citizens who try to protect natural areas in Illinois. Cindy Skrukrud from the Illinois Sierra Club and LaSalle County citizens Merlin and Susan Dodd Calhoun join the conversation.

Garden communicator Kate Copsey's new book is The Downsized Veggie Garden, How to Garden Small Wherever You Live, Whatever Your Space. In it, she shows how people can grow food in almost any kind of space, indoors and out. Mike talks to environmental lawyer Albert Ettinger about why environmental groups lost the recent lawsuit  to stop a frac sand mine from being dug just outside of Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Illinois. He is joined by Cindy Skrukrud of the Illinois Sierra Club and by LaSalle county residents Merlin and Susan Dodd Calhoun.

For almost four years, a plan to site an open pit frac sand mine outside the eastern entrance to Starved Rock State Park was put on hold as environmental groups fought the matter in court. Recently, that court case was decided in favor of the mining company. In an exclusive report, Mike talks to environmental attorney Albert Ettinger, who was involved in the lawsuit, about how and why the case was lost and how the deck is stacked against average citizens who try to protect natural areas in Illinois. Cindy Skrukrud from the Illinois Sierra Club and LaSalle County citizens Merlin and Susan Dodd Calhoun join the conversation.

Garden communicator Kate Copsey's new book is The Downsized Veggie Garden, How to Garden Small Wherever You Live, Whatever Your Space. In it, she shows how people can grow food in almost any kind of space, indoors and out. Mike talks to environmental lawyer Albert Ettinger about why environmental groups lost the recent lawsuit  to stop a frac sand mine from being dug just outside of Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Illinois. He is joined by Cindy Skrukrud of the Illinois Sierra Club and by LaSalle county residents Merlin and Susan Dodd Calhoun.

Kate Copsey is host of The Master Gardener Hour on America's Web Radio.com. She and Mike have known each other for more than a decade, and she even hired him for his very first garden talk. They discuss gardening in different parts of America--including hardiness zones, soils and other conditions. They even talk about Kate's celiac disease and how she has adapted to it.

After a week off due to surgery, Mike is back, along with co-host Peggy Malecki of Natural Awakenings Chicago Magazine. Patrick Barry has a Chicago Farm Report, featuring a story about something that called the Whole Foods Effect. Jessica Fujan from Food and Water Watch warns of creeping privatization of public water systems. Author and landscape designer Keith Nowakowski and Nick Fuller of Natural Communities Native Plants attempt to take some of the mystery out of using natives in backyard planting. Meteorologist Rick DiMaio reflects on challenges to fighting climate change and the role of local weather reports in education the public to the same.

After a week off due to surgery, Mike is back, along with co-host Peggy Malecki of Natural Awakenings Chicago Magazine. Patrick Barry has a Chicago Farm Report, featuring a story about something that called the Whole Foods Effect. Jessica Fujan from Food and Water Watch warns of creeping privatization of public water systems. Author and landscape designer Keith Nowakowski and Nick Fuller of Natural Communities Native Plants attempt to take some of the mystery out of using natives in backyard planting. Meteorologist Rick DiMaio reflects on challenges to fighting climate change and the role of local weather reports in education the public to the same.

Peggy Malecki of Natural Awakenings Chicago Magazine fills in as host. She welcomes team members Chicago Master Gardener Coordinator Sarah Batka from Illinois Extension and alternative energy expert Lisa Albrecht from the Illnois Solar Energy Association, who reports on the issue for long suffering fans of rewable energy in the state. Stephany Price, executive director of I Grow Chicago, explains how her organization serves children and at-risk community members through sustainabale farming, art and educational programs in nutrition. Alexandra DeSorbo-Quinn, executive director of Pilot Light and Kathleen Bolin from Angelic Organics Learning Center, preview the AOLC Come to the Table Dinner Series.

Peggy Malecki of Natural Awakenings Chicago Magazine fills in as host. She welcomes team members Chicago Master Gardener Coordinator Sarah Batka from Illinois Extension and alternative energy expert Lisa Albrecht from the Illnois Solar Energy Association, who reports on the issue for long suffering fans of rewable energy in the state. Stephany Price, executive director of I Grow Chicago, explains how her organization serves children and at-risk community members through sustainabale farming, art and educational programs in nutrition. Alexandra DeSorbo-Quinn, executive director of Pilot Light and Kathleen Bolin from Angelic Organics Learning Center, preview the AOLC Come to the Table Dinner Series.

Illinois State Representative Elaine Nekrtiz and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Debra Shore talk about HB 4659, which would enable the MWRD to establish residential cost share programs in partnership with local units of govarnment. Shore also talks toMike about the issue of pharmaceuticals in our water supplies and a proposed Cook County ordinance to help people disposed of them properly.

Environmental activist Ashley Williams returns to the program and introduces Mike to film director Jon Bowermaster, whose documentary Dear President Obama, The Clean Energy Revolution Is Now is having screenings in the Chicago area. Author and nutritionist Carol D'Anca and organizer Joan Levin preview the 1st Annual North Shore VegFest. Illinois State Representative Elaine Nekritz and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Debra Shore discuss HB 4659, which would enable the MWRD to establish residential cost-share programs to help mitigate urban flooding damage. Shore then sticks around to talk to Mike about the issue of pharmaceuticals in our water supplies.

Illinois State Representative Elaine Nekrtiz and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Debra Shore talk about HB 4659, which would enable the MWRD to establish residential cost share programs in partnership with local units of govarnment. Shore also talks toMike about the issue of pharmaceuticals in our water supplies and a proposed Cook County ordinance to help people disposed of them properly.

Environmental activist Ashley Williams returns to the program and introduces Mike to film director Jon Bowermaster, whose documentary Dear President Obama, The Clean Energy Revolution Is Now is having screenings in the Chicago area. Author and nutritionist Carol D'Anca and organizer Joan Levin preview the 1st Annual North Shore VegFest. Illinois State Representative Elaine Nekritz and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Debra Shore discuss HB 4659, which would enable the MWRD to establish residential cost-share programs to help mitigate urban flooding damage. Shore then sticks around to talk to Mike about the issue of pharmaceuticals in our water supplies.  

Peggy Malecki from Natural Awakenings Chicago sits in a co-host. Patrick Barry presents the first Chicago Farm Report segment on The Mike Nowak Show. Members of the Band of Farmers--Marcy Prchal from Troggs Hollow, Jody Lee Osmund from Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm and Stephanie Douglass from Growing Home, Inc. promote the 4th Annual Farmer Talent show and talk about why supporting CSAs is important. Kane County recycling program coordinator Jennifer Jarland and Walter Willis, executive director of the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, IL (SWALCO), talk about how the Illinois electronics recycling law has sputtered and what can be done to fix the problem.

Podcast Episode