We All Want Clean H2O artwork

We All Want Clean H2O

40 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 24 ratings

Everyone wants clean water, doing something about it is another story. We are here to tell it.

Places & Travel Society & Culture
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed

Episodes

Our first farmHer and rancHer guest! In conversation with Megan Brown

February 15, 2023 21:00 - 45 minutes - 31.2 MB

Megan Brown talks about the struggles of farming in California, how she is working to make her ranch sustainable, including her direct marketing to consumers and her experiences with sexism in agriculture and its relationship to many of its structural problems. 

For the people: Dave Swenson's ideas on rural development

February 02, 2023 22:00 - 44 minutes - 30.6 MB

Dave Swenson comes back for the third time to discuss his ideas about rural Iowa going forward. He talks about how we got here, the role of agriculture and the importance of centering our rural residents and thinking more holistically about regions and "micropolitan" anchor communities. 

The Holiday Special: Visions of cow pies danced in our heads

December 20, 2022 19:00 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MB

In this episode, we reflect on the most memorable events of the year and declare our new year's resolutions. Happy holidays to all (including the hate listeners).

A Total Maximum Daily Load of BS, with special guest Allen Bonini

November 18, 2022 00:00 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MB

In this episode we discuss the proposed withdrawal of the Cedar River TMDL for nitrate with Allen Bonini. Allen was the Watershed Section Supervisor at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.  We explain what is the role of Total Maximum Daily Loads in the Clean Water Act, how the TMDL process is related to the Nutrient Reduction Strategy, and the broader implications of this delisting. 

Eagles, dead hogs, and Murica’s farm system: in conversation with Tom Philpott

November 11, 2022 01:00 - 58 minutes - 40.4 MB

We talk with Tom Philpott about his book, Perilous Bounty, the future of the US farm system, its history and some book recommendations. We also plan his next trip to Iowa to enjoy some of our choicest birdwatching: eagles eating CAFO hog carcasses.  We apologize for the sound quality in a couple of spots, we recorded this literally in the middle of a storm. 

The thin green line: Don Carr's perspectives on the environment

October 17, 2022 21:00 - 37 minutes - 26.1 MB

Environmental communication expert and friend of the podcast Don Carr joins the hosts to discuss regional differences in approaches to environmental problems, the role of storytelling in engaging the public and the biggest environmental  fraud (yes you guessed right it's ethanol).

The thin green line: Don Carr's perspectives on the environment

October 17, 2022 21:00 - 37 minutes - 26.1 MB

Environmental communication expert and friend of the podcast Don Carr joins the hosts to discuss regional differences in approaches to environmental problems, the role of storytelling in engaging the public and the biggest environmental  fraud (yes you guessed right it's ethanol).

The Climate FART (Fictitious Agricultural Response to Temperature) episode

October 05, 2022 00:00 - 39 minutes - 27.2 MB

The podcast co-hosts discuss the issues associated with USDA's Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funded projects and whether they really address greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector or whether they are FARTs One can find the project summaries for the funded proposals here:  https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/partnerships-climate-smart-commodities-project-summaries.pdf 

Climate Smart or Climate Fart: Anne Schechinger perspective on USDA's conservation programs

September 28, 2022 16:00 - 38 minutes - 26.6 MB

Anne Schechinger, the Midwest program director at Environmental Working group, talks to us about her experience as a woman social scientist at an NGO, farm policy and EWG's  latest report on USDA’s conservation programs and how (in) effective they have been is supporting  ‘climate-smart’ agriculture.

Don't test don't tell: Dr. Ben Maas' episode on Storm Lake

September 08, 2022 23:00 - 38 minutes - 26.8 MB

Dr. Ben Maas, who lived in Storm Lake until recently, talks about the issues of the lake and the watershed around it. From Koi herpes to zebra mussels, and lake dredging Dr. Maas gives us a comprehensive look at a town and lake that suffer from severe water quality problems. 

Don't test don't tell: Dr. Ben Maas' episode on Storm Lake

September 08, 2022 23:00 - 38 minutes - 26.8 MB

Dr. Ben Maas, who lived in Storm Lake until recently, talks about the issues of the lake and the watershed around it. From Koi herpes to zebra mussels, and lake dredging Dr. Maas gives us a comprehensive look at a town and lake that suffer from severe water quality problems. 

Money for nothing and politics for free: The Neil Hamilton episode

August 27, 2022 21:00 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MB

Prof. Emeritus Neil Hamilton reflects on the past, present and future state of water in Iowa, the role of the courts and other institutions such as conservation districts.  He also gives us some highlights from his recent book "The Land Remains: A Midwestern Perspective on Our Past and Future".

We all want clean air: the Jason Hill episode

August 12, 2022 20:00 - 47 minutes - 32.6 MB

Prof.  Jason Hill from the University of Minnesota discusses his work on food and biofuel production and their health and environmental effects,  with a focus on air quality. This is a true systems approach tour de force.  

Water recreation in Iowa: a right or a pipe (!) dream? AKA the poopy water episode

July 22, 2022 20:00 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MB

In this episode, we talk about the challenges of recreational waters in Iowa, and how the problems are related to structural causes and how those can be addressed 

The Church of Larry Weber

July 07, 2022 22:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MB

Professor Larry Weber, co-founder of the Iowa Flood Center and Nutrient Reduction Center  and Edwin B. Green Chair in Hydraulics, graces the podcast with his presence to talk about floodplain management and water quality, and gives a lesson in science communication as it is his wont. 

The Church of Larry Weber

July 07, 2022 22:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MB

Professor Larry Weber, co-founder of the Iowa Flood Center and Nutrient Reduction Center  and Edwin B. Green Chair in Hydraulics, graces the podcast with his presence to talk about floodplain management and water quality, and gives a lesson in science communication as it is his wont. 

Jon Remo makes potomology great again

June 06, 2022 16:00 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MB

Prof. Remo, our guest for this episode, is a fluvial geomorphologist. We talk about levees and floodplains in the Mississippi river basin, the policies that support them , and how problematic they are - particularly in a world where stationarity is dead. 

The solution episode

May 23, 2022 16:00 - 33 minutes - 22.9 MB

In these episode we each discuss a potential solution to the environmental problems caused by agriculture. 

The solution episode

May 23, 2022 16:00 - 33 minutes - 22.9 MB

In these episode we each discuss a potential solution to the environmental problems caused by agriculture. 

N-othing to See Here - Big Ag Denial of the Big N Dilemma*

May 11, 2022 20:00 - 52 minutes - 36.2 MB

The Beatles had the White Album, we have the supersized N episode! We talk about the mass balance problem we face, the links between climate change and water quality and the emerging science on health impacts of nitrogen in drinking water.  *Credit for the title goes to Travis Schlenger.

Iowa's E15 law: a fart in a hurricane

April 28, 2022 20:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MB

Dave Swenson is back to discuss the economic, energy, political and environmental implications of the just-passed bill mandating the sale of E15 in Iowa. 

The Iowa outdoors: Past present and future

April 26, 2022 23:00 - 40 minutes - 28.1 MB

With guests Larry Stone and Orlan Love, we talk about changes in the landscape, farming and recreation in Iowa in the last 60 years (you read that right, yes!).  Alas, they did not share with us their secret fishing spots, but they did give us a real sense of the changes the land between the rivers has seen during their lives.   With some final considerations on the role of local newspapers.

On CO2 pipelines, a pipe dream benefiting powerful interests

April 18, 2022 16:00 - 35 minutes - 24.6 MB

With guests Jess Mazour of the Sierra Club and Emma Schmit of Food and Water Watch, we  talk about their work to ensure local voices are heard on the construction of CO2 pipelines to allegedly mitigate climate change. We discuss how the pipelines mimic other ineffective technological fixes and how they fit (or don't) in the future of Iowa's agriculture in a changing climate.

Kevin Mason and Iowa's environmental history

April 05, 2022 17:00 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MB

Dr. Kevin Mason, an Iowa State University graduate and a Professor of history at Waldorf University, talks to us about his innovative approaches engaging students and the public and his work on Iowa's environmental history, which ranges from videos to hands on activities to books and journal articles. This episode is in solidarity with Iowa State University's History department.     

Win win gamechangers

April 01, 2022 03:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MB

Some amazing ideas to fix the problems of intensive agricultural systems.

Matt Liebman's vision for the future of Iowa agriculture

March 15, 2022 20:00 - 40 minutes - 27.6 MB

In this episode, Professor Emeritus Matt Liebman talks with us about realistic and transformative changes that we could make in Iowa to improve environmental performance, enhance social resilience and promote a robust vibrant rural economy. So much wisdom packed in a little over 30 minutes! 

Our first AMA, hosted by Lisa Petri

March 02, 2022 00:00 - 42 minutes - 29.5 MB

This episode is in solidarity with Iowa's teachers and librarians under attack by the Iowa legislature. It is our first Ask Me Anything, graciously and awesomely hosted by Lisa Petri, who is a school librarian in Iowa City. Lisa collated and curated questions from twitter and Iowa residents for us to answer. 

Our first AMA, hosted by Lisa Petri

March 02, 2022 00:00 - 42 minutes - 29.5 MB

This episode is in solidarity with Iowa's teachers and librarians under attack by the Iowa legislature. It is our first Ask Me Anything, graciously and awesomely hosted by Lisa Petri, who is a school librarian in Iowa City. Lisa collated and curated questions from twitter and Iowa residents for us to answer. 

Drain Brain redux

February 15, 2022 18:00 - 35 minutes - 24.6 MB

In this episode, we talk about the past and future drainage in Iowa, and how it connects to our production system. We also discuss some recent developments regarding ethanol and its demise. 

Carbon offsets - the three carb Monte game

February 03, 2022 23:00 - 38 minutes - 26.7 MB

In this episode we spell out why the current carbon offset schemes in the US, through voluntary markets and USDA taxpayer funded programs, likely do not reduce carbon emissions from agriculture and, more broadly, why they do not improve the provision of other ecosystem services such as clean water. 

Dave Swenson's master class on ethanol

January 17, 2022 16:00 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MB

Dave Swenson from Iowa State University talked to us about the rationales of our current ethanol policy, the sector's political economy and his thoughts on the future of the industry. Alas, this episode has no mentions of any instapot recipe, but breakfast pizza does make an appearance. 

Dave Swenson's master class on ethanol

January 17, 2022 16:00 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MB

Dave Swenson from Iowa State University talked to us about the rationales of our current ethanol policy, the sector's political economy and his thoughts on the future of the industry. Alas, this episode has no mentions of any instapot recipe, but breakfast pizza does make an appearance. 

On biodigesters - are they a real win-win technology?

December 14, 2021 20:00 - 33 minutes - 22.9 MB

In this episode, we talk about biodigesters, their potential unintended consequences in areas of high Confined Animal Feeding Operations' densities, and why there are so many laws at the state and federal levels being proposed or passed to support them (hint: it's got to do with climate change mitigation policies).   

We all want soil health

November 30, 2021 22:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MB

In which Dr. Secchi and Dr. Jones opine that we are not going to soil health our way out of bad water (™ Chris Jones), and in fact focusing the conversation on soil health may be counterproductive in addressing the environmental, economic and social problems of contemporary Corn Belt agriculture.

We all want soil health

November 30, 2021 22:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MB

In which Dr. Secchi and Dr. Jones opine that we are not going to soil health our way out of bad water (™ Chris Jones), and in fact focusing the conversation on soil health may be counterproductive in addressing the environmental, economic and social problems of contemporary Corn Belt agriculture.

On Manure Management Plans

November 18, 2021 19:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MB

In our crappiest episode yet, we talk about how ineffective Manure Management Plans are, and the problems associated with livestock waste in Iowa's agriculture.  (Sorry we did not make it to biodigesters!)  

The Fake Drama of WOTUS

November 02, 2021 20:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MB

In this episode, we discuss the (lack of) relevance of WOTUS for agriculture, disagree on something besides when to use an instapot (specifically, the bond referendum for water quality initiatives in Polk county), and answer some listener questions.  

On PFAS and beyond

October 20, 2021 21:00 - 33 minutes - 22.9 MB

Featuring Prof. Cwiertny, the director of the Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination and the podcast's third musketeer. We talk about emerging contaminants such as PFAS and mycrocystins, and what it means for drinking water supplies in the current regulatory environment.  This is the story we refer to in the podcast:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/energy/iowas-water-crisis-offers-a-glimpse-of-the-future/2021/10/17/f5db3df2-2f4a-11ec-8036-7db255bff176_story.html 

What is lost and what isn't

October 13, 2021 00:00 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MB

In our first episode, we talk about the changes to Iowa's landscape, and which areas of the state and land uses show more promise for restoration and protection. We answer some questions from our twitter feed and suggest a paper that describes the Ioway (Baxoye) landscape, Tanji na Che: Recovering the Landscape of the Ioway, by Lance Foster.  

What is lost and what isn't

October 13, 2021 00:00 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MB

In our first episode, we talk about the changes to Iowa's landscape, and which areas of the state and land uses show more promise for restoration and protection. We answer some questions from our twitter feed and suggest a paper that describes the Ioway (Baxoye) landscape, Tanji na Che: Recovering the Landscape of the Ioway, by Lance Foster.