Category Archives: Podcasts

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Changing Lanes with Don Corrigan

Environmental Echo’s Don Corrigan was a guest on author Michelle Oyola’s podcast that provides advice and tips for getting published. Oyola is the successful author of “The Broken” series of novels for young adults published by Owl Hollow Press.

Oyola interviews Don about his own books, “Environmental Missouri,” “Nuts About Squirrels,” and his upcoming “American Roadkill.” Corrigan is Professor Emeritus in journalism at Webster University and Oyola was his journalism student in the first decade of a new century. Corrigan has high praise for Oyola’s skill using social media to promote her books, but remains mystified by her pen name: Shelly X Leonn. Author Oyola is originally from Washington, Mo.

CLICK HERE to listen to Michelle Oyola’s podcast interview –  “Changing Lanes with Don Corrigan.” 

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Posted on July 14, 2020 in Home, Podcasts

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The Myth About African-Americans and the Outdoors

Pictured: Carolyn Finney.

America and St. Louis are having conversations about race after the tragic incidents in Minneapolis, Louisville and Atlanta. These conversations may seem tangential to environmental concerns, but we at Environmental Echo have decided to dive back into our archives and re-post an interview with Carolyn Finney, Ph.D.

Originally published in February 2016, the podcast interview (below) is an in-depth conversation about African-Americans who connect with nature and the outdoors. There are damaging “myths” and a lack of appreciation for the contributions Black Americans have made in environmental history.

(From the 2016 Environmental Echo post)
Carolyn Finney, Ph.D., is the guest on this edition of “Behind the Editor’s Curtain” with Don Corrigan. Finney is the author of “Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors.”

Speaking about the absence of African-Americans engaging in outdoor activities portrayed in popular culture, such as in movies and magazines, Dr. Finney notes:

“Just because we don’t see any (African-Americans) doesn’t mean there aren’t any. That’s myth number one,” Finney said. “Actually, Black people, like everybody else, have been around doing everything like everybody else since the beginning of the time. You have Black mariners, you have Black hikers, you have Black people camping — I mean, Black people have been doing it, too.”

The topic of discussion is the relationship between the Black community and outdoor spaces and related activities, like national parks, hiking, and mountain climbing.

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Posted on June 29, 2020 in Home, Opinion, Podcasts

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MDC Offers New Podcast Exploring Positive Impacts Of Nature

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is excited to announce the launch of its new podcast, Nature Boost, with a focus on the positive impact the outdoors has on each of us.

Research has shown that spending time outdoors is linked to an increase in overall physical health. Being outside has also proven to help decrease stress and anxiety, and help lower depression. For example, spending time in nature, conservation areas, backyards, and urban parks may ease stress levels, including increasing attention spans and creative problem-solving skills by as much as 50 percent.

“We’re very excited to share this Nature Boost experience with both our seasoned outdoor enthusiasts and those brand new to discovering nature,” said MDC Director Sara Parker Pauley. “It’s a chance to learn about the incredible natural resources we have right here in Missouri, including how those nature experiences are changing lives every day.”

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Posted on May 23, 2020 in Environment, Outdoor/Nature, Podcasts

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How Do You Feel About Squirrels? Friend or Foe?

Check out the latest squirrel debate with Don Corrigan and Rebecca Now, host of What’s Up With Business (on Radio 63119, 92.9 FM), with the Webster Groves/Shrewsbury/Rock Hill Area Chamber of Commerce.

The discussion, and a few chuckles, stem from Don Corrigan’s latest book, “Nuts about Squirrels.” Corrigan, is a longtime journalism professor at Webster University, Editor-in-Chief of the Webster-Kirkwood Times, Inc. newspaper group and the author of noted outdoor and environmental books.

https://soundcloud.com/whatsupwithbusiness/whats-up-with-business-106-01-don-corrigan

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Posted on April 24, 2020 in Home, Nuts About Squirrels, Podcasts

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Don Corrigan Discusses His New Book On KMOX

Pictured: Don Corrigan

Don Corrigan was recently on KMOX’s “Whole Nother Story” with Kevin Killeen. The short radio interview gives a glimpse into the story behind Corrigan’s new book, “Nuts About Squirrels: The Rodents That Conquered Popular Culture.”

 

Hear the radio interview from KMOX below. (The audio is 2 minutes long.)

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Posted on April 16, 2019 in Nuts About Squirrels, Outdoor/Nature, Podcasts

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Radioactive Legacy of St. Louis: The Cost, The Human Suffering, The Power of Community

EPA Estimate for West Lake Radioactive Debris Cleanup
Landfill Cap: $95 Million
Partial Removal:   $236 Million
Total Removal:  $700 Million

Only now – after years of tears, diseases and deaths – does it seem that there is an acknowledgment of the full extent of the human damage that began when uranium ore came to St. Louis for processing for the manufacture of atomic weapons. And only now does there seem to be a realization of just how costly the cleanup of much of the resulting radioactive contamination will be.

“The truth is that until the last shovel full of this waste is removed from these areas, the region remains at risk,” said Dawn Chapman of Just MomsSTL. “The landfill fire helps people realize and think about all the issues surrounding this radioactive waste — and what can go wrong. It’s also an example of how dragging your feet and passing these issues on down the road leads to damaged health and looming emergency situations that could have been avoided.”

— Excerpted from Don Corrigan’s story in the next issue of Gateway Journalism Review. The story covers the reactions of Just MomsSTL members to the Feb. 1 announcement by EPA about plans to finally address the radioactive landfill at West Lake in North St. Louis County.

Pictured above: Dawn Chapman (Left) and Karen Nickel, co-founders of Just Moms STL.

Just MomsSTL will receive the Whistleblowers Awards from Gateway Journalism Review at its yearly event celebrating journalism in April:

WHAT:  Gateway Journalism Review’s yearly event celebration
WHEN: Thursday, April 12, 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. when our speaker will be Carl Bernstein at the Edward Jones HQ, Manchester & Ballas Roads.
WHERE:  Edward Jones HQ, Manchester & Ballas Roads, Des Peres.
HIGHLIGHTS:  Carl Bernstein of the Washington Post Watergate Investigation will be interviewed live from his New York location.
AWARDS:  Three awards to be presented:  2018 Whistle Blower Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, 2018 Freedom Fighter Award.

To see past coverage and podcast interviews about the West Lake Landfill and Cold Water Creek Radioactive Contamination Issue by Environmental Echo,
please see below:

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Posted on February 23, 2018 in Environment, Podcasts

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Catching Up With Heather Navarro: The Environment, The City of St. Louis, And Working For A Better Tomorrow

Pictured: Heather Navarro, Missouri Coalition for the Environment executive director and newly elected to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen for the 28th Ward.

Heather Navarro shares information and insights into the CLEAN Missouri Initiative and the Missouri Coalition for the Environment. She was also recently elected to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen for the 28th Ward, which filled the seat formerly held by Mayor Lyda Krewson.

In this wide-ranging interview, Navarro talks about the importance of the City of St. Louis becoming sustainable and combating the effects of climate change, the idea of urban and rural areas working together, the safety of residents living near the radioactive waste in North County, and the measures that will be on the ballot for St. Louis City in 2018.

To hear the podcast interview with Navarro and Don Corrigan click on the audio below.

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Posted on August 23, 2017 in Environment, Home, Podcasts

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Forest Park: The Wild Spaces

Pictured: Jean Turney, education coordinator at Forest Park Forever. Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.

Nearly everyone in the St. Louis area knows about the great institutions in Forest Park, like the Saint Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Science Center, and The Muny. However, many may not know about the natural wild spaces in Forest Park. From old growth forests, bird watching, fishing, nature walking trails, to outdoor learning and educational opportunities – it’s all there just waiting to be discovered.

Jean Turney, the education coordinator at Forest Park Forever, shares her insights of the wild spaces available to everyone who visits the park.

Click on the podcast interview below to hear Don Corrigan and Turney discuss the abundance of opportunities to explore nature in Forest Park.

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Posted on August 15, 2017 in Outdoor/Nature, Podcasts

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Flooding In St. Louis: When will We Learn From Our Mistakes?

Photo: Great Rivers Habitat Alliance

Are you concerned the historic flooding in the Fenton, Pacific, Eureka, Valley Park, Sunset Hills, and the St. Louis area will happen again? You should be. Flood plain development and levee construction are major issues that can no longer be ignored. Great Rivers Habitat Alliance (GRHA) is an organization focused on finding long-term solutions to the issues that continue to be ignored by local officials.

Great Rivers Habitat Alliance is an organization focused on finding long-term solutions to the issues that continue to be ignored by local officials. Residents and business owners are suffering consequences that are devastating people’s lives, livelihoods, and properties.

David Stokes, the executive director of GRHA, offers insights into what lessons are not being learned from repeated mistakes, the hardships, the choices local areas face, and a few common sense solutions.

Click below to hear the informative podcast interview with David Stokes.

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Posted on August 10, 2017 in Environment, Outdoor/Nature, Podcasts

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Society of Environmental Journalism’s Peter Dykstra Talks About Love Canal, West Lake Landfill & More

Photo courtesy Peter Dykstra.

Peter Dykstra is an award-winning environmental journalist with diverse and collective knowledge of the issues confronting the environment, the industry that reports on the environment, and the policies that affect the environment.

The former board member of the Society of Environmental Journalist talks with Don Corrigan about the origins of the journalism organization, activism, the current political climate.

Dykstra also offers insight into efforts by local community members working to protect themselves and their children from environmental hazards, like the West Lake and Bridgeton landfills here in St. Louis. One example described is the story of Lois Gibbs, a house wife and mother in Love Canal, located near Niagara Falls in upstate New York. In the late 1970s, she started a movement to protect her family and local community from health issues caused from a nearby toxic waste dump.

Dykstra spent nearly two decades at CNN as an executive producer for science, environment, weather, and technology. His career history also includes being the national media director for Greenpeace where he set up their U.S. media operations and a past deputy director at The Pew Charitable Trusts. He is also currently active with environmental organizations and news outlets, such as Environmental Health News.

Continue reading below to hear the informative interview with Peter Dykstra.

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Posted on August 1, 2017 in Environment, Home, Podcasts