On today’s Wild For Change podcast, we’re speaking with Laurent Lebreton, whose work focuses on ocean plastic research at The Ocean Cleanup. In 2013, at just 18 years old, Dutch inventor Boyan Slat founded The Ocean Cleanup with an ambitious idea to remove plastic from the world’s oceans. Today, The Ocean Cleanup is a nonprofit organization developing advanced technologies to rid our oceans and rivers of plastic — with a bold and refreshing mission: to put itself out of business. Becau...

On today’s Wild For Change podcast, we explore forest bathing with our guest, Jackie Kuang, Business Director at the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. I was recently introduced to forest bathing by a friend, and I found it to be a deeply impactful and authentic way to connect with nature and myself. Given how fast-paced our society is, we have forgotten how to slow down and reconnect with ourselves and with nature. When we slow down and reconnect with nature, we begin to remember who ...

This past summer, I finally marked off a destination from my bucket list: the California Redwoods State and National Parks. Entering the parks was one of the most magical experiences I have ever had. I felt like I was going back to prehistoric times. Some of the Redwoods have been on Earth for thousands of years and knowing this while hiking among these giants felt inconceivable, yet at the same time, I felt so honored to be in their presence. While visiting Jedidiah ...

On a new Wild For Change podcast, we will learn about the importance of outdoor nature-based learning with our guest, Teresa Weed, who is the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator from Illinois Early Childhood Outdoors. We can learn so much from spending time in nature. Being in nature encourages exploration and inspiration, sparks a sense of wonder and connection, and provides a space for reflection and a broader perspective on life. As we grow into adults, however, it seems that sense of wo...

WasteNot Composting On this Wild For Change’s podcast, we’re speaking with Liam Donnelly, CEO of WasteNot, a zero-emissions composting collection service in the Chicagoland area. Composting is a crucial means of reducing food waste in our landfills, yet only 4.1% of food waste in the U.S. is composted annually. In this podcast, we will learn about WasteNot’s mission and how their service works. We will also investigate the fate of food in landfills versus compost bins,...

On a new Wild For Change podcast, we spoke with Kay McKeen, the Executive Director of SCARCE, an acronym which stands for School & Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education. It is an award-winning environmental education non-profit that supports teachers, children, and the community in creating a brighter future for our planet and ourselves through engaging and accessible initiatives, workshops, events, in-person classes, e-learning, and volunteer opportunities. T...

For those of you who are wondering what you can do right now to help nature, the answer lies in your own backyard, literally. Our guest today is Dr. Doug Tallamy. He is an entomologist, ecologist, conservationist, and co-founder of Homegrown National Park. We’ll be discussing his book, Nature’s Best Hope, A New Approach to Conservation That Starts In Your Yard. I consider Nature’s Best Hope to be the way shower of how we collectively have the power to bring about a healthie...

On a new Wild For Change podcast, our guests are three remarkable women from the Hinsdale Humane Society in Illinois: Lauren Osborne; Director of Operations Erin Palumbo; Director of Development Carla Wudi; Foster Program Manager Hinsdale Humane Society is a private, nonprofit organization providing care and adoption services for displaced animals. It is a lifeline in the heart of the community for countless animals who need homes. In 2023, 6.5 million an...

The Wild For Change podcast welcomes back Nicole Schmitt, Executive Director of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance to discuss Alaska’s Wildlife Management. In January, the Alaska Board of Game deliberated on a proposal, named Proposal 75, given by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, suggesting aerial gunning of black and brown bears and wolves via helicopters in central and southwest Alaska. In this podcast, we will discuss why this type of predator management is chosen, its effect...

Wild For Change is thrilled to announce our 50th podcast episode! It's been an incredible three-year journey, during which I've had the honor of engaging with a diverse range of inspiring individuals committed to creating a positive impact on our planet. In this special episode, I'm excited to showcase all the wonderful guests who have played a part in this amazing adventure. As I reflect on each of our guests, I can see their profound love for animals and nature shining through. Love encompa...