Growing Our Future
30 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 months ago - ★★★★★ - 4 ratingsGrowing Our Future is all about growing healthy communities through garden-based learning. Hosted by Gardopia Gardens, a 501c3 education-based non-profit, guests from the educational, health, and environmental sectors will be interviewed, as well as garden topics and upcoming events will be discussed.
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Episodes
Ep.25: Sitting Down with Skeets
January 04, 2024 19:00 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MBIn this Episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast, Stephen sits down with Skeets, a member of the Mushroom Compadres, a group of farmers building a farm in the Algarve region of Portugal. They discuss their mentality regarding climate change, the climate and challenges of growing in Portugal, and what keeps them motivated to move forward. Make sure to check out the Mushroom Compadres on YouTube and Instagram!
Ep 25: Life as a Gardopia Intern with William Abbott
September 05, 2023 22:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBIn this episode Stephen sits down with William Abbott, former intern at Gardopia Gardens and a senior at Trinity University. They discuss William's progression as an environmentalist, what work he did at Gardopia, and what his plans after graduation are. Enjoy the episode!
Ep.24: Ensuring Proper Rights for Agricultural Workers with Angeles Mendez
July 17, 2023 14:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBIn this special episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast, Stephen sits down with Angeles Mendez, a 2023 Aspen Healthy Communities Fellow, and the Regional Manager for Project Protect Food Systems. Stephen and Angeles discuss, being Aspen Fellows, the current landscape for agricultural workers, and Angeles' work to improve rights for workers. Enjoy the episode!
Ep.23: Sports and Community with Jamar Hill
June 29, 2023 20:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBIn this special episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast, Stephen sits down with Jamar Hill, 2023 Aspen Healthy Communities Fellow, former professional MLB player, and current President of Gamers Alaska, a nonprofit organization committed to connecting youth baseball and softball players to leagues, coaching, and training resources. Stephen and Jamar discuss their brief history together, how Jamar frames Gamers Alaska as more than a sports program, and the intangible benefits of sports.
Ep.22:From Ukraine to San Antonio: Gardening Tips With Inna Gamez
June 07, 2023 22:00 - 18 minutes - 12.7 MBIn this episode of Growing our Future, Stephen sits down with Inna Gamez and discusses her gardening journey and shares tips she's learned over the years. Inna is a social media influencer that posts regular content about her garden. She's a brand ambassador for Vego Garden Academy. Inna recounts her early gardening days in Ukraine and describes just how different farming in Ukraine is compared to sunny San Antonio. Listen in to hear more about Inna's story! Thanks again to Inna for joinin...
Ep.21: Scientific Methods to Ensure Food Security with Kris Hawkins
May 31, 2023 22:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MBIn this thought-provoking episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast our host and CEO Stephen Lucke engages in a candid conversation with esteemed researcher Kristopher Hawkins, shedding light on the methodologies of animal testing and their role in ensuring safe food production. As the demand for food continues to grow, the need for innovative techniques to enhance food safety has become paramount. Kristopher has extensive research in this field, and shares his knowledge about methodologies...
Ep.20: Restoring our Rivers: Michelle Garza and Melissa Bryant On Rebuilding our Rivers
May 23, 2023 20:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MBOur newest episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast is now live! 🎧🎙️ In this episode, our CEO Stephen Lucke sits down with Michelle Garza, Planning Coordinator for San Antonio River Authority, and Melissa Bryant, Director of Technical Services, to discuss the current state of San Antonio rivers, what SARA is doing to help, and what we can do as citizens to help keep our rivers clean. Michelle and Melissa discuss their recent projects, trash in the river, and reducing flooding risks from...
Ep.19: Sustainable San Antonio: Innovations for a Greener Future with Douglas Melnick and Julia Murphy
April 24, 2023 17:00 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MBExcited to announce the latest episode of our podcast is LIVE! 🎧🎙️ In this episode, we have an in-depth conversation with Douglas Melnick, Chief Sustainability Officer, and Julia Murphy, Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer, from the City of San Antonio's Office of Sustainability. 💚🌱 Learn all about the City's Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, its innovative EcoScholars Grant Program, and their efforts to create a more sustainable future for our community. 🌎🌿 Tune in now to hear Stephen...
Ep.18: Engaging Holistic Health Pathways & Lifestyles with Dr. Daniel Murray
January 12, 2023 09:00 - 22 minutes - 15.8 MBThe Growing Our Future Podcast welcomes Dr. Daniel Murray of Vanguard Chiropractic. Host Stephen Lucke sits down with Dr. Murray to discuss his story surrounding chiropractics, gardening, the plant-based diet, and even Earthships! As a former Special Education Teacher, Dr. Murray has a big heart for education and community engagement. When furthering his studies in nutrition, he was astonished by the world of chiropractics, healthy eating, positive lifestyle choices, and their overall impa...
Ep.17: Advancing Urban Agriculture and Climate Education with Emily Jamieson & Nadia Kern
July 26, 2022 07:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBThe Growing Out Future Podcast welcomes Emily Jamieson & Nadia Kern from Trinity University. Hosts Stephen Lucke and Dominic Dominguez sit down with Nadia and Emily to discuss their experiences working alongside Gardopia Gardens this summer as part of the Trinity University in ALE Internship Program. From installing a wifi irrigation system, teaching environmental education to youth, maintaining multiple garden locations in San Antonio, and even harvesting honey, Nadia and Emily excelled i...
Ep. 16: Inspiring Healthcare Engagement & Community Action with Community First Health Plans
June 14, 2022 08:00 - 22 minutes - 15.8 MBThe Growing Out Future Podcast welcomes Victoria and Brennan with Community First Health Plans. Host Stephen Lucke and Special Guests discuss the importance of healthcare coverage: accessibility, education, and localized engagement of Community First Health Plans as they advocate for a healthier community. From food pantries, plant-based diets, nutrition, social determinates of health, and more, the trio takes a deep dive into the many challenges and solutions in the ongoing journey toward...
Ep.15: School Gardens Grow Change with Farmer Kim Aman of Grow Garden Grow
April 23, 2022 06:00 - 22 minutes - 15.4 MBThe Growing Out Future Podcast welcomes Kim Aman, Founder of Grow Garden Grow. The story of Grow Garden Grow resonates with the successes, challenges, and growths encountered across the world when advocating for high-impact garden-based learning programs within schools for the benefit of our young people and families. Farmer Kim Aman, Founder of Grow Garden Grow, inspires our listeners to dig deeper into the school garden movement as she reflects on the implications of starting a garden-c...
Ep.14: Rainbow Gardens with Brandon Kirby
March 21, 2022 05:00 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MBThe Growing Our Future Podcast welcomes Brandon Kirby with Rainbow Gardens, a local family-owned nursery in San Antonio, Texas. Rainbow Gardens is one of the most seasoned nurseries in San Antonio, providing an array of vegetative selections to the area public for decades. Brandon recalls the inception of Rainbow Gardens, the dedication and lineage of his father, Frank Kirby, and Business Partner, George Beere. The story of Rainbow Garden begins in 1976 and progresses well into the current...
Ep.13: Ecosystem Services with Dr. Benjamin Miele and Jonathan Molineaux
February 28, 2022 18:00 - 19 minutes - 13.5 MBThe Growing Our Future Podcast welcomes Dr. Benjamin Miele with the University of the Incarnate Word and Jonathan Molineaux with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration as we discuss Ecosystem Services. Ecosystem Services are the direct and indirect benefits that ecosystems provide humans. Agroecosystems, rangelands, and forests provide suites of ecosystem services that support and sustain human livelihoods. Dr. Miele, Jonathan, and Dominic discuss preservation, urban form, landsca...
Ep.12: Smart Technologies In Growing with Daniel Nelson of Grow Computer
January 25, 2022 06:00 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MBGardopia Gardens welcomes Daniel Nelson, CEO of Grow Computer to the Growing Our Future Podcast! In this episode, Stephen Lucke, CEO of Gardopia Gardens, and Daniel take a deep dive into the world of the present and future of smart technologies in agriculture. Plant/soil/humidity monitoring, streamlined smartphone controls, data clouds, emerging hardware, fostering global community connections, and more, if you're ready to hear the intricacies of developing technology in growing, this is a...
Ep.11: Empowering Youth With Hydroponics - Alex Aleman - Educator & Horticulture Enthusiast
November 29, 2021 07:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBGardopia Gardens welcomes Alex Aleman, Educator at Luther Burbank High School in San Antonio, Texas. Gardopia Gardens hosts, COO, Dominic Dominguez, and Board Member, Defranco Sarabia hear the incredible story of Alex Aleman and his efforts of empowering youth using hydroponics. The implications of Covid-19 and Winter Storm Uri urged Alex to research and build his very first hydroponic grow space. This was just the beginning, as Alex's calling progressed him to start a hydroponics system a...
Ep.10: Conservation with Jonathan Molineaux - Fisheries Biologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
November 09, 2021 02:00 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MBGardopia Gardens welcomes Jonathan Molineaux, Fisheries Biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the Growing Our Future Podcast! Join our host, CEO, Stephen Lucke, and co-host, COO, Dominic Dominguez, as they take a deep dive with Jonathan to explore multiple facets of conversation and sustainability. Jonathan provides supplemental information on the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, ArcGIS Metadata innovations, and Ecosystem Servi...
Ep.9: The Founders
October 13, 2021 23:00 - 39 minutes - 26.9 MBEver wonder how Gardopia Gardens got started? Well tune in with the founders! Stephen, Dom, Aj, and Leon dig back into the soil of what grew the educational based non-profit we know today. Experience the atmosphere of what it was like in the beginning times and hang come out with us! Big thanks to VodPod for allowing us to record this podcast
Ep.9: The Founders
October 13, 2021 23:00 - 39 minutes - 26.9 MBEver wonder how Gardopia Gardens got started? Well tune in with the founders! Stephen, Dom, Aj, and Leon dig back into the soil of what grew the educational based non-profit we know today. Experience the atmosphere of what it was like in the beginning times and hang come out with us! Big thanks to VodPod for allowing us to record this podcast
Ep.8: Sustainable Development with Dominic Dominguez, Chief Operating Officer of Gardopia Gardens
October 09, 2021 00:00 - 21 minutes - 15 MBCome listen in and learn about the path our COO Dominic Dominguez took that led him to Gardopia and his discovery of different food systems around the world! Interviewed by our CEO Stephen Lucke, this conversation ignites sparks as we talk about the frameworks of sustainability, food mileage, urban development, and hints to what Gardopia Garden's visions for the future entail. Dom plants the seed of change when he discusses triple net-zero and regenerative design. Deepening into those subj...
Ep.8: Dominic Dominguez Chief Operating Officer with Gardopia
October 09, 2021 00:00 - 21 minutes - 15 MBCome listen in and learn about the path our COO Dominic Dominguez took that led him to Gardopia and his discovery of different food systems around the world! Interviewed by our CEO Stephen Lucke, this conversation ignites sparks as we talk about the frameworks of sustainability, food mileage, urban development, and hints to what Gardopia Garden's visions for the future entail. Dom plants the seed of change when he discusses triple net-zero and regenerative design. Deepening into those subj...
Ep.7: Garden Awards Gala - Gardopia Gardens' Inaugural Gala
June 07, 2021 15:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MBIn today's Podcast, Shirley Parodi, Garden-Based Learning Advocate and Sustainable Design Educator sits down with Gardopia Gardens Staff and Board Chair. Leveraging its 5 years of garden-based learning impact in the Greater Bexar County Area, the group discusses the Gardopia Gardens’ first-ever Garden Awards Gala, a signature fundraising event, honoring the extraordinary urban agriculture individuals and organizations that make San Antonio a greener and healthier place to work, live, and pl...
Ep.6: Chris Luna with H.O.P.E - Supporting & Growing "Eco-Groups"
April 26, 2021 13:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBEducation Program Assistant Defranco Sarabia, interviews Chris Luna about his ground breaking nonprofit Helping Our Planet Evolve(HOPE) in Eagle Pass. We talk about how to support individuals who want to start their own ecological restoration-minded organization and some of the issues Chris faced in his journey creating his own. Our conversation turns meta when we conclude that the most important thing we can do as nonprofit leaders is to ensure that we are living a personal health life and...
Ep.6: Chris Luna with H.O.P.E - Supporting & Growing "Eco-Groups"
April 26, 2021 13:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBEducation Program Assistant Defranco Sarabia, interviews Chris Luna about his ground breaking nonprofit Helping Our Planet Evolve(HOPE) in Eagle Pass. We talk about how to support individuals who want to start their own ecological restoration-minded organization and some of the issues Chris faced in his journey creating his own. Our conversation turns meta when we conclude that the most important thing we can do as nonprofit leaders is to ensure that we are living a personal health life and...
Ep.5: Jade Luu with Ellume Life - Educator, Grower, Naturalist, Alchemist (Special Guest)
April 12, 2021 13:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBOn today's Podcast, the garden sensei himself, Stephen Lucke, is joined by Jade Luu, an educator, grower, naturalist, and herbal alchemist. They discuss her journey from Vietnam to the United States to founded Ellume Life. As a grower and earth steward, Jade has lived a garden-centered life for over 20 years and now teaches natural/organic & regenerative gardening, cold/hot/vermicomposting, and seed-to-table cooking. Her passions include practicing the art of preserving, dyeing, and natur...
Ep.4: Medical Anthropology: Care and Recovery
January 29, 2021 05:00 - 13 minutes - 9.46 MBAmanda Micek interviews Jess Reid, a fourth-year Ph.D. student at the University of Texas at San Antonio about her research in the field of medical anthropology and the possibility of thinking of gardens as places of care, rehabilitation, and self-growth.
Ep.3: 2020 Food & Nature Education Conference by Gardopia Gardens
December 11, 2020 05:00 - 23 minutes - 16 MBStephen Lucke - CEO, Dominic Dominguez - COO, and former Board Member - Erin Chase discuss the Food & Nature Education Conference happening on December 12 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.
Ep.2: October Programming / Monarch Butterflies / Social Justice / Processed Foods by Gardopia Gardens
October 16, 2020 01:00 - 28 minutes - 19.3 MBEpisode 2 of the Growing Our Future Podcast talks about our October Events, Social Justice, and the Monarch Butterfly. The podcast features Amos Lozano of The ReUp Station and Famous Juice Co. Music is the track Green Juice, provided by Plant-based Mello.
Ep.1: Intro to the Growing Our Future Podcast by Gardopia Gardens
October 14, 2020 20:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBEpisode 1 of Growing Our Future focuses on Gardopia's history and where we are headed as an organization. The podcast features Amos Lozano of Emjayze, The Reup Station, and Famous Juice! Music is provided by Plant-based Mello's Green Juice single.
Ep.1: Pilot Episode - Growing Our Future Podcast by Gardopia Gardens
October 14, 2020 20:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBEpisode 1 of Growing Our Future focuses on Gardopia's history and where we are headed as an organization. The podcast features Amos Lozano of Emjayze, The Reup Station, and Famous Juice! Music is provided by Plant-based Mello's Green Juice single.