A Little Greener

In April of 2018, a news story broke about the discovery of 10,000 tortoises being held in terrible conditions in a house in Madagascar. The tortoises, which were primarily radiated tortoises, a critically endangered species, had been collected for likely sale into the pet trade. Thanks to the hard work of conservationists, led by the Turtle Survival Alliance, the tortoises were able to be relocated and cared for with the hope of eventually returning them to the wild. This week, Casey and Sara welcome ALG's first guest: reptile animal care professional, Andrew Ahl. Andrew shares his firsthand account of what it was like to travel to Madagascar to help care for these tortoises.

Have you ever heard about a technological solution to an environmental issue that just seemed too good to be true--and then it turns out it was (carbon sucking machines, anyone)? While new innovations in technology might not be enough to stop climate change and protect habitats alone, there are lots of ways that technology is helping us in our fight. This week, Sara and Casey take a look at some new advances, from a paint so white it can make surfaces cooler to 3-D printed calcium carbonate, and discuss the pros and cons of technology in conservation.

For many of us, cars are essential transportation. Personal vehicles give us the freedom to go where we want when we want. We might have our favorite makes, models, and colors. Our cars might also have lots of fond memories attached. However, cars are also a big source of individual carbon emissions. This week, Casey and Sara discuss the future of cars--and it is looking electric! They also give us a joint review of the Toyota Prius and share their experiences making the switch to a hybrid vehicle.

From transportation to waste to the impact of tourist activities, there are lots of ways that our vacations impact the environment. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take them! Start planning your next getaway as you listen to Casey and Sara discuss some of the things that we can do to make our trips just a little greener.

Assigning human traits to animals (anthropomorphism) can be a hotly debated subject in the scientific and conservation education communities. Casey and Sara discuss the risks and benefits of using anthropomorphism, and how this technique is utilized in nature documentaries like Netflix's recent release, Penguin Town.

What if you could recycle your plastic, metal, and glass waste without ever leaving your home? One company is looking to make this a reality through an in-home recycling appliance. Casey and Sara discuss this, as well as some new Extended Producer Responsibility laws in the United States, in this week's episode.

With Sara on the road this week, this episode is a quick one. But, take a listen for a couple of updates and additional thoughts on combating food waste, as well as some introductory tips on staying green while on vacation.

Continuing on from last week's episode, hosts Casey and Sara discuss how we as consumers can help to reduce food waste. It isn't just about making sure you clean your plate at every meal. Learn how to prep better for shopping trips and avoid unnecessary food purchases, as well as what food expiration dates really mean, and why the way we dispose of our food has an impact on the environment.

Food waste is a complicated problem with lots of environmental impacts. In addition to the fact that food products in landfills produce methane, they also represent wasted water, resources, and land used in the production of the food. In the first of a two-part episode, Casey and Sara discuss food waste that occurs in the farm and retail portions of the food supply chain. Stay tuned next week for Part Two, focusing on consumer food waste!

With the Olympics in full swing, Sara and Casey take a look at some of the sustainability efforts made for the 2020(one) Tokyo Games. They also discuss a recent study on the sustainability of the Olympic games since 1992 and explore what steps might be taken to make this major global event a little greener moving forward. Resources used in this episode can be found here: tinyurl.com/algep119

One way to make your lifestyle a little greener is to focus on one area at a time to see what changes make sense for you. This week, Casey and Sara zero in on the bathroom. From showers to shaving and toothpaste to toilet paper, they discuss ways to reduce water and electricity and suggest some sustainable swaps that might work for your routine.

Has your week been as hectic as ours? This week, Casey and Sara take a break from full-length episodes to bring you some life updates and share some recent news related to past episodes. Take a few minutes to relax and enjoy our first "minisode" and don't forget to get some time in nature this week!

From plastic pollution to climate change to animal extinctions, environmental issues can sometimes leave us feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. This week, Sara and Casey discuss how we can hold on to hope and stay positive in spite of the challenges, as we all keep working to be a little greener. Casey also gives a review of Drilled, a true-crime podcast about climate change. Resources for this episode can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/algep116

Whether it's the "cute factor," their intelligence, or the mysterious nature of their lives under the sea, marine mammals capture our attention. Unfortunately, these amazing animals (this group includes everything from sea otters to manatees to whales) also face a wide variety of threats. But there's good news here! This week, Casey and Sara discuss the Marine Mammal Protection Act here in the United States, as well as other international regulations and agreements that are protecting marine mammals worldwide. Show notes for this episode can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/algep115

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past several years, you've likely heard a thing or two about plastic pollution. This week, Sara and Casey discuss why plastics receive so much attention from conservation and environmental groups and look ahead to what the future of plastic production might be like. Casey also gives us a review of the OXO .75 gallon compost bin, and your hosts discuss some of their favorite sustainable lifestyle changes. Show notes for the episode can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/algep114

When you put together an outfit, you're probably thinking about things like the fit, the feel, and the functionality, and not so much the environmental impact. But, the production and disposal of our clothing contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and human rights issues, among other things. This week, Casey and Sara talk about the impacts of "fast fashion" and how to reduce, reuse, rethink, and recycle our way to a more sustainable (but still fashionable) wardrobe. Sara also shares a review of the Seek app. Some of the resources used for this episode can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/algep113

While insects might not be high on the list of favorite animals for many people, these small but mighty creatures are vital pollinators and decomposers, not to mention an essential part of the food web as both predators and prey. However, you may have seen recent articles warning of a looming “insect apocalypse.” No, we’re not talking about swarms of insects rising up to destroy humanity. In fact, just the opposite. The articles suggest we are seeing drastic declines in insect populations that could have catastrophic results for our planet. But, is this what the data is truly showing? This week, Sara and Casey discuss what we know about insect populations, the inherent challenges of insect conservation, and what we can all do to help our six-legged friends. They also share their favorite and least favorite animals, and Casey gives us an overview of the Bird Names for Birds movement. Show notes can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/algep112

Why did the turtle cross the road? Well, probably to find a mate, nesting site, or to get back home. Unfortunately, crossing roads is no joke for wildlife and can have a big impact on a wide variety of species. This week, Casey and Sara discuss how roads affect wildlife and some ways that we can try to reduce the impact. Sara also shares a review of the Netflix documentary Chasing Coral.

On the 10th episode of ALG, Sara and Casey discuss why they love bats--and why you should, too! Learn about some of the unique traits of bats, discover how these furry fliers benefit the environment, and get introduced to "the happy bat." Casey also gives a review of the book Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery. You can find some of the resources for this episode here: https://tinyurl.com/algep110

At some point in the past few years, you've probably heard something on the news about the impact of beef on the environment. Why is that? Why do we hear so much about beef compared to other types of meat? How does beef production tie into climate change? Casey and Sara break some of this down in this week's episode, as well as what we can do to lessen our impact (and no, you don't have to give up your holiday weekend barbecue). Casey and Sara also share some of their nature adventures from the week, and Sara gives us a review of the television show Wild Kratts. Resources for this episode can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/algep109

From stressed-out birds to angry clownfish to whales with the bends, noise pollution can have a variety of impacts across a range of species. Casey and Sara discuss the effects of the noise we make and what we can do about it on this week's episode. Plus, Casey shares her review of the book Visions of Caliban: On Chimpanzees and People by Dale Peterson and Jane Goodall. See the show notes for this episode here: https://tinyurl.com/algep108

Casey and Sara talk about how the photos and videos that we post, like, and share on social media can impact primate welfare and conservation. They also discuss their favorite primates, how much they love the Kratt brothers, and Sara gives a review of Vacation Races. Resources for this website can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/algep107

Where does our drinking water come from? Where does it go? Can water really be wasted? How can we protect the water supply for us and for nature? Casey and Sara discuss all this, and more, on this week's episode.

Learn about the importance of forests and how forests are managed in this week's episode. Casey and Sara discuss sustainable forestry certification systems, the idea of greenwashing, and how we can make more sustainable choices with our paper products.

This week, Casey and Sara chat about the history and importance of Earth Day, and discuss a few ways to live a little greener while saving yourself some work at the same time! Plus, Casey shares her thoughts on the documentary Seaspiracy.