Speaking for the Trees
16 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratingsSpeaking for the Trees is about environmental issues from two environmental engineers’ perspectives, in laymen’s terms. If you always wanted to learn more about environmental issues and don’t know where to start, why not give us a listen (or read)?Ellie and Lauren both worked in environmental consulting after their grad program in environmental engineering. They were looking for ways to continue their education in environmental justice topics they care about when they realized: hey wait a sec. We both like explaining things, we both want to take on a creative project and keep up on environmental topics, and we like to hang out. Thus, Speaking for the Trees was born! The podcast (and its accompanying transcripts) takes seriously the full weight of the important environmental issues that face humanity while also being fun, and (hopefully) instill some hope in the listener. There are swears.
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Episodes
Mini 3: Volcanoes were my gateway drug, what's yours?
October 08, 2021 01:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MBWelcome to Ellie's infodump on their special interest, volcanology! Come for the volcano facts, stay for...more volcano facts. Hey you like volcanoes, right? Where are you going?
Episode 13: The Trivia One
August 26, 2021 04:00 - 53 minutes - 37.1 MBWe invited friend of the show Morgan DiCarlo to go up against Lauren in a trivia game all about environmental science! Who knows more random, useless bull crap about the environment? Listen to find out!
Mini 2: Slime is Coming Soon To A Pond Near You
August 12, 2021 23:00 - 39 minutes - 26.8 MBYou know how some people have special interests? Apparently, one of ours is algae. Did you know some of this crap is poisonous?? We sure didn't. Come listen to us have a surprising amount to say about these little photosynthetic guys. We have SOME transcripts up on our website, speakingforthetrees.com. If you need/want more transcripts, please email us or tweet at us to light a fire under our butts!
Episode 12: Rivers Just Shouldn't Be On Fire
July 29, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 41.8 MBBefore we had environmental legislation, we had environmental disasters at every turn. Whether the river is on fire or dyed with car paint, the true enemy is probably greedy corporations. Join us this week with special guest, PhD candidate Morgan DiCarlo, as we talk about how environmental policy has changed our water and air for the better, with case studies on the Hudson River and the Cuyahoga River.
Episode 11: This One's Stinky
May 06, 2021 04:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBWe spent so much time laughing about Asian carp that we split the invasive episode up! For the second part, we talk about Stinkbugs and Octopus Stinkhorn fungus. Pee-yew! Have you drank water today? You should do that, we care about you. Also, terrific news! Our podcast was featured in a list of top environmental engineering podcasts! See it here in all its glory: Top 10 Environmental Engineering Podcasts.
Episode 10: Asian Carp and the War Crimes We Do To Curb Their Populations
April 21, 2021 00:00 - 40 minutes - 27.6 MBThis episode is a trip. Despite audio being a little unprofesh, you WILL laugh at this one. Asian carp are an invasive species in the United States and the lengths conservationists are going to get rid of them are....well, they're a lot. So sit back, relax, grab your favorite beverage, and enjoy this week's episode all about the Asian carp!
Episode 9: Step Into A Local Forest Puddle and You May End Up In the Fairy Dimension
April 01, 2021 04:00 - 47 minutes - 31.7 MBIn this HIGHLY anticipated conclusion to our 2 part wetlands spectacular, Lauren tells Ellie all about vernal pools and the many fae beings that lie within.
Episode 8: Everything You Never Needed to Know About Mangrove Swamps
March 18, 2021 04:00 - 44 minutes - 30.5 MBIn which Ellie cannot be normal about mangrove swamps, and also has a sinus infection.
Episode 7: Well, This Entire Forest is on Fire, But At Least Everyone Knows My Baby is a Boy
March 04, 2021 05:00 - 46 minutes - 31.6 MBSeason 2 is here! We're kicking it off with a bang with an episode about wildfires. Why do they happen? Why does it seem like they're on the news all the time? Are they getting worse? Listen to find out! Transcripts will be available at SOME POINT. We're sorry we're so slow on those, it's just that it sucks to do them and we don't make any money so we can't pay someone else to do them.
Minisode 1: Marjory Stoneman Douglas was a Cool Lady
January 19, 2021 02:00 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MBLauren and Ellie feel bad for dragging their feet on episode 2, so here's a minisode about a cool lady that advocated for the wetlands! Listen or don't, we're not your dad.
Episode 6: Earth Isn't Racist But Governments Sure Are (Environmental Racism)
November 05, 2020 22:00 - 51 minutes - 35.6 MB"Environmental Racism? The SJW's are taking over!" I sure hope so. Let's make sure something like Flint, MI never happens again! Join us to learn how the government has f*cked over the black and indigenous communities in the US by placing toxic facilities and mining activities near and in these communities when white communities had the power to turn these activities away. Ellie rants ad naseaum about the Church Rock uranium mining spill on Navajo Nation land. As a bit of a mood lifter and r...
Episode 5: Let's Talk about Grass, Baby, Let's End Lawns, Maybe!
November 03, 2020 19:00 - 38 minutes - 26.3 MBYou've heard lawns are evil, but where did they come from? Why are they evil? How can you get rid of your lawn? We answer these questions and more! So sit back, take a swig of your favorite beverage, and enjoy learning about why turf grass is stupid! Transcripts and sources will be available when we bother to get our act together and put up a ding dang website. Also apologies for the audio quality, Ellie had just moved when we recorded this one. <3
Episode 4: Put That Thing Back Where It Came From Or So Help Me! (Invasive Species)
October 15, 2020 12:00 - 57 minutes - 39.4 MBThe vine that ate the south. The beatle that terrorized Michigan. An ecosystem destroyer that may surprise you. An eldrich being leftover by several extinctions. We're talking about plants and animals that migrated and took over an area - AKA invasive species. So sit back, take a swig of your favorite beverage (Ellie sure did), and enjoy learning about some species that have wreaked some havoc!
Episode 3: Speaking for the Bees! This One's About Pollinators
October 08, 2020 13:00 - 41 minutes - 28.3 MBWhat's up with the bees? What else pollinates things besides bees? Can I buy honey? What the heck is a neonictinoid? We'll answer those questions for ya this week. Bzz bzz! So sit back, take a swig of your favorite beverage, and enjoy learning about our friends that make it possible for us to guzzle unconsionable amounts of coffee, pollinators!
Episode 2: The Carbon Cycle and Climate Change - What You Need To Know
October 01, 2020 13:00 - 40 minutes - 28.1 MB"I never learned what I needed to about climate change and at this point I'm too afraid to ask" -you. And that's ok, we got you fam! This week we talk about the carbon cycle, how that relates to climate change, and how scared we should all be for our futures. Yikes. So sit back, take a swig of your favorite beverage, and enjoy learning about humanity's imminent collapse!
Episode 1: We <3 Wetlands!
September 25, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 43.6 MBWhat the heck is a wetland and why should I care what happens to them? Well friend, why don't you listen (or read) and find out! In this episode we explain what scientists consider a wetland, how wetlands clean our water, and why you should care more about that stinky marsh down by the highway. You will also meet the Blanding's turtle, an adorable endangered species. So sit back, take a swig of your favorite beverage, and enjoy learning about nature's lungs, wetlands!