Why conserving pollinators helps preserve not just our agricultural lands, but our National Parks as well. An interview with Dr. Sarah Whipple.

In this episode, I chat with my friend and colleague, Dr. Sarah Whipple to discuss her pollinator passions! We discuss her plethora of adventures and studies in National Parks across the country and take a deep dive into her approach to assessing pollinator health in the wake of climate change.

We cover some pollinator 101, by discussing what is a pollinator and their ecosystem services? What are the differences between indicator and keystone species? We chat about bees, butterflies, beetles, oh my! (also birds, bats, and even bison as pollinators!)

Dr. Whipple and I weigh the pros and cons of managed bees, colony collapse disorder and the growing threat towards other native pollinators. We'll meander through the distinction of managed vs. protected lands and conclude with her PhD research in Yellowstone assessing the pros and cons of climate change on protected areas in respect to pollinators.

You can find and connect with her here:
Twitter: @sarahwhipple15
Tiktok: @NPSbuggirl

How promoting sustainable nutrition can mitigate health, environmental and social issues. An interview with Taylor Mayeda.

In this episode of Environmentality. I sit down with foodie and food security advocate, Taylor Mayeda, to talk about nutrition, food security and plant-based "meats." Taylor was at Impossible Foods cooking burgers for Bill Gates, working in their marketing division, when the company was first starting out. Since then she has worked for several plant based companies, as well as a stint with AmeriCorps, where she served as a nutrition educator.

Taylor is passionate about sustainable nutrition, a positive relationship with your body/diet and improving the access to and education about healthy eating. We chat about farming, plant based alternatives and food security. We address some of the issues surrounding "soy" based vegan foods, as well as the idea of nutrition being a luxury and a privilege.

We also talk about lab grown meats, food banks and the legacy of passing down recipes throughout generations. Taylor likes to keep cooking simple and shares some tips for doing so, while eating a plant based diet.

To connect with Taylor, click here.

How flowers can be grown and curated in an eco-friendly way. An interview with Piper Essick, owner of Petals by Piper, a sustainable floristry company.

In this episode, Brendon interviews flower artist and sustainable florist, Piper Essick, to talk about her generational green thumb and how Piper got into floristry. As an environmentalist, Piper approaches floristry from a unique perspective, combining nature and art, sourcing flowers locally for her clients. Piper discusses her desire to source flowers seasonally and locally, as we discuss the vast carbon footprint the flower industry has.

Piper and I also talk about some of the controversial topics in floristry, such as: pampas grass, dehydrated flowers, use of noxious chemicals and the rampant use of plastic all throughout the floral supply chain. Lastly, we address the need for brides to be open-minded in their selection of flowers for their big day, as this allows florists to be able to source local, more sustainable materials.

To learn more about Petals by Piper, click here. Instagram: @petalsbypiper