The Mike Nowak Show Podcasts

Dr. Barbara Mahler of the U.S. Geological Survey comes to the Chicago area to explain why coal-tar-sealants are a potential danger. Mike joins his fellow workers from the Green on McLean community garden to celebrate and say good-bye to the plot of land that changed their neighborhood. Green Divas Meg and Lynn drop by to chat about GDGD Radio.

Dr. Barbara Mahler of the U.S. Geological Survey comes to the Chicago area to explain why coal-tar-sealants are a potential danger. Mike joins his fellow workers from the Green on McLean community garden to celebrate and say good-bye to the plot of land that changed their neighborhood. Green Divas Meg and Lynn drop by to chat about GDGD Radio.

Gene McMullen, a factory worker in Streator, Illinois who recently grew the heaviest pumpkin ever recorded in North America, at 2145.5 pounds, talks to Mike about the unpredictability of growing giant pumpkins. The Reverand Linda Wygant of Grace Seeds Ministry talks about her award-winning Share the Harvest Project, and Marina Post of INUAg, explains why her organization is distributing grants to Wygant's and worthy groups worldwide.

Gene McMullen, a factory worker in Streator, Illinois who recently grew the heaviest pumpkin ever recorded in North America, at 2145.5 pounds, talks to Mike about the unpredictability of growing giant pumpkins. The Reverand Linda Wygant of Grace Seeds Ministry talks about her award-winning Share the Harvest Project, and Marina Post of INUAg, explains why her organization is distributing grants to Wygant's and worthy groups worldwide.

New York Times bestselling author Amy Stewart appears at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville, where Kathleen Thompson interviews her about her first novel, Girl Waits with Gun, based on a true story. Mike heads to North Shore Country Club in Glenview, where General Superintendent Dan Dinelli talks to him about strategies for making a golf course more environmentally friendly.

New York Times bestselling author Amy Stewart appears at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville, where Kathleen Thompson interviews her about her first novel, Girl Waits with Gun, based on a true story. Mike heads to North Shore Country Club in Glenview, where General Superintendent Dan Dinelli talks to him about strategies for making a golf course more environmentally friendly.

The legendary Willie Nelson and his friends come to Chicago to present Farm Aid 30, where thousands of people gather not only to listen to some of the biggest stars in the musical world, but to talk strategy about how to help family farmers all over the country. Mike and Green Diva Lynn talk to many of these folks and, among others, you'll hear artists John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Neil Young talk about the need to change the way we think about food production in the U.S.

The legendary Willie Nelson and his friends come to Chicago to present Farm Aid 30, where thousands of people gather not only to listen to some of the biggest stars in the musical world, but to talk strategy about how to help family farmers all over the country. Mike and Green Diva Lynn talk to many of these folks and, among others, you'll hear artists John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Neil Young talk about the need to change the way we think about food production in the U.S.

Mayo Underwood has gone from selling heirloom seeds in Chicago to working to preserve historic Amherst Island in Lake Ontario from a wind farm that could pose a threat to local bird and bat populations. Pam Tallon also lives in Ontario, but on the shores of Lake Superior, and she talks about growing vegetables in winter. Mike heads to the Chicago Botanic Garden to find out why Spike the Titum Arum failed to bloom, and what happens next to the plant.

Mayo Underwood has gone from selling heirloom seeds in Chicago to working to preserve historic Amherst Island in Lake Ontario from a wind farm that could pose a threat to local bird and bat populations. Pam Tallon also lives in Ontario, but on the shores of Lake Superior, and she talks about growing vegetables in winter. Mike heads to the Chicago Botanic Garden to find out why Spike the Titum Arum failed to bloom, and what happens next to the plant.

Dave Marciniak has a landscape design company called Revolutionary Gardens in Culpeper, Virginia. After seeing a popular homemade weed killer recipe on the Internet, he decided to test it against Roundup, and made a video about his results. Meteorologist Rick DiMaio reports on the development of an El Nino in the Pacific Oceans and the effect it will have on local and global weather.

Dave Marciniak has a landscape design company called Revolutionary Gardens in Culpeper, Virginia. After seeing a popular homemade weed killer recipe on the Internet, he decided to test it against Roundup, and made a video about his results. Meteorologist Rick DiMaio reports on the development of an El Nino in the Pacific Oceans and the effect it will have on local and global weather.

Mike visits the Giving Garden in Maywood, Illinois, a project of the Proviso Partners for Health. The garden is just one of the ways that the group is working to promote health equity there and in neighboring suburbs where residents face food insecurity issues. A number of the folks involved in the project talk to Mike about the garden and their mission to make it a launching pad for healthy eating, entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency.

Mike visits the Giving Garden in Maywood, Illinois, a project of the Proviso Partners for Health. The garden is just one of the ways that the group is working to promote health equity there and in neighboring suburbs where residents face food insecurity issues. A number of the folks involved in the project talk to Mike about the garden and their mission to make it a launching pad for healthy eating, entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency.

Tim Pollak is an outdoor floriculturist for the Chicago Botanic Garden. He is also the caretaker for nine Titan Arums, one of which, named Spike, is about to bloom for this first time in its twelve year old existence. Mike talks to Pollak and to CBG public relations director Gloria Ciaccio about the science and the spectacle currently surrounding this plant, which produces a foul odor to attract pollinators. Then, Mike and Kathleen Thompson attempt to figure out why the Ginkgo biloba in their backyard suddenly died this year.