On this episode, a look at the fallout from a rapid-fire dismantling of environmental protections, and what groups like Clean Wisconsin and so many others are doing to keep people safe.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Katie Nekola, Clean Wisconsin General Counsel
Resources For You:
Economic Impacts of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" Energy Provisions on WisconsinClean Wisconsin Sues EPA Over Repeal Of Climate Protections
What makes the food you eat healthy? Turns out it's a pretty complicated question that goes way beyond the four food groups. In this episode, Amy visits Starry Nights Farm in Burlington to learn about some groundbreaking research—involving beef raised right here in Wisconsin—that's changing the way we look at food and nutrition.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guests: Paul Maggio and Marisa Wiewall, Starry Nights Farm
Resources for You:
Nutritional Comparisons Between Grass-Fed Beef and Conventional Grain-Fed Beef
Defining Nutrient Density in Beef
Defender Episode 57: Wisconsin's Forbidden Fruit
Defender Episode 45: Cows, Tall Grass and Wind Turbines
Communities across Wisconsin are starting to push back when energy utilities come to town with big plans for big gas plants. But how do you turn opposition into victory?
In this episode, Amy talks with the mayor of Superior about the city's long journey to defeat the Nemadji Trail Energy Center—the ugly gas plant with the pretty name.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Mayor Jim Paine, Superior, Wis.
Resources for You:
Under the Lens: The Truth About Natural Gas
There is a lot of new excitement around nuclear energy these days, and no coincidence, it comes as we face staggering energy demands from AI data centers. Now, the Trump Administration is relaxing environmental and safety regulations for new nuclear reactors. In this episode, a look at what would happen to our environment - and our energy bills - if utilities race to meet AI demand by building more nuclear reactors.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Katie Nekola, General Counsel, Clean Wisconsin
In the race to transition to clean, safe energy, there are lessons to be learned just about everywhere, including in Texas.
In this episode, what January's major winter storm is teaching us about our power grid—and the painful lesson we are all going to learn this month about natural gas.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Ciaran Gallagher, PhD, Energy and Air Manager, Clean Wisconsin
On this episode, some real hope that a bipartisan solution for state PFAS funding is at hand -- and the industry that is coming in at the last minute to try to kill it.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Erik Kanter, Government Relations Director, Clean Wisconsin
Resources for You:
Clean Wisconsin Action Network
In this episode, how new action from the EPA is undermining one of the most successful environmental laws in US history.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Nick Mailloux, PhD Student, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
Resources for You:
Join Clean Wisconsin's Action Network
Pollution and Our Health: The Environmental Health Initiative
In this episode, how a small Wisconsin community stood up to one of the most powerful companies in the world… and won. And what we can all learn from their fight.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Prescott Balch, Village of Caledonia resident
Resources for You:
Stop Unchecked Data Center Development (petition)
AI Data Center Energy Demand Analysis
AI Data Center Offsite Water Withdrawals
On this episode a look what could be sprayed on food and farm fields all around us - plus a bit of Wisconsin history that offers some hope as we confront a new batch of toxic chemicals.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Sara Walling, Clean Wisconsin Water & Agency Program Director
Resources for You:
Under the Lens: What we know about PFAS in Wisconsin's Water
Nitrate pollution's impact on Wisconsn's health and economy
Neonicotinoid pesticides and their impact
Episode 43: The pesticides that could be lurking in your pollinator garden
Episode 33: Wisconsin's bees are acting weird. Here's why.
Episode 29: Trump's Threat to Safe Water (and how WI can fight back!)
Meet the Wisconsin native who is foraging 100% of his food.
What was the last thing you foraged? Maybe some ramps, or morels? But what about your salt, oil, even toothpaste? On this episode, meet the Wisconsin native who is setting out to prove that he can not only survive for an entire year eating only food he has foraged, but he can also help show the true connection to nature most of us have been missing.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Robin Greenfield, Sustainability Advocate, Ashland Wis. native
Resources for You:
Food Freedom: A Year of Growing and Foraging 100% of My Food
Robin Greenfield YouTube Channel
Defender Episode 57: Wisconsin's Forbidden Fruit
Don't look at the gas plant behind the curtain! If you feel like tech companies and energy utilities are gaslighting you with their assurances that AI data centers won't hurt our environment, you're probably right.
In this episode, how AI is causing a fossil fuel boom in Wisconsin and the lawsuit just filed to try and stop it.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guests:
Katie Nekola, General Cousnel, Clean Wisconsin
Ciaran Gallagher, Climate & Air Manager, Clean Wisconsin
Resources for You:
Petition: Take A Stand Against Unchecked Data Center Development
New Analysis: Data Center Water Consumption Will Be Far Higher Than Tech Companies Claim
PSC approves plan to power AI data center with gas plants
You may have heard, Wisconsin needs more power and we need it fast. In the next few years, AI data centers will cause an unprecedented surge in energy demand across our state. There are already large expensive new powerplants being built to help meet that demand with more to come. But the big question is, will Wisconsinites be left shouldering the cost?
In this episode, the shocking energy needs of AI, why our power companies are rolling out the red carpet, and the lasting environmental and economic harms that could be left in the wake.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Tom Content, Citizens Utility Board (CUB)
Resources for You:
Citizens Utility Board Data Centers Page
Petition: Take A Stand Against Unchecked Data Center Development
New Analysis: Data Center Water Consumption Will Be Far Higher Than Tech Companies Claim
PSC approves plan to power AI data center with gas plants
What if you could make a difference in the fight to protect our environment by doing nothing at all? In this episode, why fall is the perfect time to be lazy - for the planet.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Elizabeth Braat, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Resources for You:
Episode 43: The hidden pesticides that could be lurking in your pollinator garden
Neonic Pesticides and their Impact
The amazing story of one Wisconsin food that was banned, burned, disappeared from our plates - and the comeback that's being helped along by solar farms.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Lily Hislop, Savanna Institute
Resources for You:
Black Currants: A once-forbidden fruit
Farming for the Future: Charting a course for a new food system
A Clean Wisconsin analysis shows just two approved data centers in Wisconsin will use more power than all the homes in our state combined. More than the generation capacity of the Point Beach nuclear plant, the single-largest source of power in Wisconsin. And that leaves a lot of people are wondering, where is all this leading us? What will it mean for Wisconsin's precious water resources, our land, our energy bills? And why is it so hard to find out? In this episode, an in-depth conversation on the secrets of data centers.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Michael Greif, Midwest Environmental Advocates
Resources for You:
AI data centers in Wisconsin will use more energy than all homes in state combined
Large Wisconsin data center tax breaks make benefits unclear
MEA Takes Legal Action to Compel City of Racine to Disclose Data Center's Projected Water Use
There is no question we are living through a stressful, often overhwelming time. So if you're feeling hopeless, especially in the face of the climate crisis, no one could blame you. But there is no better place to find hope – than in other people. How you can joing people from all walks of life in Sunday, Sept 28 to take a stand for our climate right here in Wisconsin.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Heather Allen, Policy Director, Elevate
Resources for You:
Wisconsin Climate March Sunday Sept. 28, Madison, Wisconsin
Yes, there are 150-million reasons to listen to this episode. Because Wisconsin has $150 million dollars in federal funding to help make our homes warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, healthier, more efficient. All the things.
A look at two little-known programs that survived the big Federal cuts and are ready to be used by you.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guests: Dylan Crye, Home Energy Rebates Program Manager, Focus on Energy
Joe Pater, Dir. Office of Energy Innovation, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
Resources for You:
Watts Up Wisconsin - Focus on Energy podcast
Home Energy Rebates Help Wisconsinites Save Big
How much would you pay to swim in a clean lake? How much to take a breath of fresh, clean air? To fish in a pristine stream? You may not ever think about that, but there is somebody who does -- a lot.
On this episode, meet the professor who's working to understand the economic value of a clean environment.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Dan Phaneuf, Professor, Agricultural and Applied Economics, Unversity of Wisconsin
Resources for You:
Clean Wisconsin: Fighting for Clean Water
The Environmental Protection Agency is quickly getting out of the protection business. And no where is that more clear than its new plan to get rid of the Endangerment Finding, the landmark legal and science determination that climate change hurts people and that the EPA has the responsibility to do something about it.
On this episode a look at why the EPA is now insisting climate pollution won't hurt you, and what walking back the endangerment finding could mean for Wisconsin.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Clean Wisconsin General Counsel Katie Nekola
Resources for You:
Take Action: Tell the EPA not to rescind the Endangerment Finding
Livestock farmers in Wisconsin are getting excited about solar! MG&E's Tyto solar project is home to about 13,000 solar panels, 30 acres of thriving plants, and a flock of happy sheep.
Amy takes a behind-the-scenes look at the solar energy project where 145 hungry sheep are hard at work this summer.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guests: John Armstrong, manager of renewable engineering, Madison Gas and Electric
Beau Stafford, Wiscovery Farms
Resources for You:
Episode 40: Surprising Environmental Impacts of Solar in Wisconsin
Analysis: Solar produces 100 times more energy per acre than corn grown for ethanol
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