Technoptimist Radio 12/1/21: What ill happen to all the spent batteries in EVs?

Join Teresa Carey as she breaks down the latest news on the technology that is solving the world’s biggest problems. In today’s show, Teresa covers a deep earth mineral discovery, metal-eating bacteria, and what will happen to the batteries in electric vehicles.

To learn more about the topics in this episode:

Metal-eating bacteria could clean up dirty mining sites
Will battery recycling be ready when all these new EV batteries die?
Scientists discover a new mineral from the depths of the Earth

About the host:
Teresa Carey is a senior staff writer at Freethink.com, where she covers genetics and the environment. She is also a US Coast Guard licensed captain and a NatGeo Explorer. In addition to Freethink her work can be found in BuzzFeed, Scientific American, PBS NewsHour, NPR Weekend Edition, Smithsonian and more. Find her on twitter @teresa_carey

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Community Wellness Watch 11/30/21: Food insecurity in our community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic

Producer/Host: Emma Weiss, WERU intern

Each month, WERU intern Emma Weiss sits down with local healthcare providers and other professionals to talk about how they have adjusted their practices throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and how they continue to keep our communities healthy and safe.

-Learning about food insecurity throughout the pandemic
-Discussion of changes and adjustments made to practices providing food security services and related support during the pandemic
-Challenges and triumphs from patrons, volunteers, and staff throughout the pandemic
-Learning how listeners can access these services, donate, or become volunteers

Guests:

Anna Wind, Healthy Eating and Magic Food Bus Coordinator
Healthy Peninsula in Blue Hill [email protected]
(207)-374-3257

OJ Logue, Interim Executive Director
Bar Harbor Food Pantry in Bar Harbor [email protected]
(207)-288-3375

Joe Ryan, Executive Director
Area Interfaith Outreach Food & Energy Assistance in Rockland[email protected]
(207)-596-1043

About the host:
Originally from Hamden, CT, Emma Weiss has always called Maine her second home. After earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology and education at Oberlin College, she moved to MDI full time and began hosting “Moose Juice, Jellies & Jams; Tales and Tunes for Kids of All Ages” twice monthly on Saturdays at 11am during WERU’s Family Radio Hour. Emma joined the WERU team in April and has been working on our NextWave Radio initiative as well as the Community Wellness Watch programs. She now resides in Philadelphia and will work for WERU remotely for the next few months.

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Outside the Box 11/30/21: “Happiness Index”

Producer/Host: Larry Dansinger

About the host:
Larry Dansinger (no pronouns) of Bangor came to Maine in 1974 and has been here ever since. Some of Larry’s activities since then: Done community organizing on numerous issues through INVERT and then Resources for Organizing and Social Change (ROSC), committed civil disobedience several times, grown a garden yearly since 1977, joined various food cooperatives and two men’s groups, refused to pay federal income taxes for war, lived on a community land trust for 23 years, and met a wonderful partner whom Larry has loved for over 40 years. Larry has produced Outside the Box features on WERU since 2007 and continues to look for unique ways of seeing almost any problem or situation.

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The Essential Rhythm 11/28/21: Bryozoans

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley

This episode describes bryozoans, colonial marine invertebrates commonly seen growing on kelp (among other places). Key characteristics of bryozoans are their calcareous modular exoskeletal features and the lophophore, a tentacular feeding structure that rings the mouth of each individual zooid.

About the host:
Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine.

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Pet Sounds 11/28/21: How You Can Have a Friendlier Cat

Producer/Host: Dr. John Hunt

About the host:

My Sunday morning short has been running for about 11 years. I’ve cover a wide range of animal related topics from COVID to porcupines.

After graduating from Michigan State University Veterinary School in 1982 I practiced at three different veterinary hospitals in the Hartford, Conn area for 5 years. Then I bought a small part time clinic in Bucksport and turned it into a full time small animal surgery and medicine hospital. From 1987 to 2014 I enjoyed serving the Bucksport-Orland area pet owners. My kids grew up in Bucksport. I was a Boy Scoutmaster for a few years, and coached cross country and track in the Bucksport school system for 20 years. I’ve written three books working on a fourth.

I sold my practice and retired from practicing medicine in 2014. Since “retiring” I’ve continued Pet Sounds and my monthly Lets Talk Animals show on WERU. I’ve been teaching at local community colleges, officiating at high school track meets, writing and started a blog on line.

I enjoy hiking, reading, writing and anticipate spending more time with my first grandchild.

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The Nature of Phenology 11/27/21: First Snowfall

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn
Host: Hazel Stark

When I say first snowfall, I’m not talking about the first time we get a quick, fluttering flurry of snowflakes or a gray day with the occasional snowflake lazily descending towards the green grass. No, I am talking about the get-out-the-ruler, stoke-up-the-woodstove, pull-out-the-sled, first snow of the year. But how does that snow form?

Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

About the host/writers:

Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing [email protected]

Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing [email protected]

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