Teach Me About the Great Lakes
Stuart Carlton | Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
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A monthly podcast in which Stuart Carlton (a native New Orleanian) asks smart people to teach him about the Great Lakes. Co-hosted by the awesome staff at Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant.
Available episodes
Newest first
Oldest first
Feb 15, 2021
26: We position kids to think about, "Who are you asking?"
Megan, Hope, and Carolyn speak with Dr. Monica Miles about Freedom Seekers: The Underground Railroad, Great Lakes, and Science Literacy Activities. Dr. Miles shares how this cross-curricular set of activities for K-12 students was developed, underlines the importance of intentionally integrating different perspectives into educational materials, and reminds everyone to find the people that want to work with them.
Feb 1, 2021
25: Don’t Alienate People Who Need Your Help
Stuart and Megan talk with Dr. Ashley Bieniek-Tobasco about her research on risk communication. What is the role of risk perceptions in climate communication? Who can and should be talking about COVID in different communities? Dr. Bieniek-Tobasco also talks about her recent commentary in the Harvard Public Health Review on COVID misinformation, entitled “Pandemic of Racism: Public Health Implications of Political Misinformation “.
Jan 19, 2021
24: It Was Way Too Liquidy and Weird
For our FIRST ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL!, we're having a plastic alternative draft! There are so many potential plastic alternatives, ranging from metal straws to plastic-free toothpastes and beyond. In this episode, the TMATGL team drafts plastic alternative products…which are their favorites? Where can people get started if they want to explore plastic alternatives? Tune in to find out!
Dec 7, 2020
23: What Allyship Looks Like in Action
In this episode, Stuart and Carolyn talk with Dr. Catherine Febria and Katrina Keeshig of the Healthy Headwaters Lab at U Windsor about their ecological work in stream headwaters and the value of incorporating indigenous allyship in their science work. Will things get tense when the talk turns to sandwiches? Tune in to find out!
Nov 16, 2020
22: It Tends to Get Louder During a Recession
Stuart talks with Dr. Camden Burd about the environmental political history of the Great Lakes region, screws up Gifford Pinchot's name, and finds out the secret history of Rochester, NY's best breakfast sandwich.
Oct 28, 2020
21: Fly-to States
Election Special! We discuss the Midwest as a political battleground and both the electoral importance and changing role of the Vice President with Dr. Chris Devine of the University of Dayton. Plus: the return of the euphemistic spit, Stuart gets maudlin, etc.
Oct 22, 2020
20: Humans Control Inches
Stuart and Carolyn talk with Dr. Adam Bechle of Wisconsin Sea Grant about lake levels: why are they so high? Will they stay that way? And what is a meteotsunami? If you get overwhelmed, don't forget you can keep on the bright side of life by rating, reviewing, and subscribing. Or not!
Oct 5, 2020
19: Secretive Marsh Birds
In this episode, Stuart speaks with spatial ecologist Dr. Joanna Grand from the Audubon Society about prioritizing Great Lakes wetlands for conservation and finds out what is, objectively, the best bird.
Sep 21, 2020
18: They Are Really Important
We speak with Dr. Maria Dittrich of the University of Toronto about the threats facing large lakes on a global scale.
Sep 7, 2020
17: Flip, Float, and Follow
We speak with Meg Dodson of the National Weather Service about derechos, water safety, and plants. Lots and lots of plants.
Aug 17, 2020
16: It’s Really Hard to Monitor for All of the Gross Stuff
Statistical models seem to rule our life...but what are they? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Madeline Magee of the Wisconsin DNR to understand how she uses models to predict water quality at hundreds of beaches. Things get fecal.
Aug 3, 2020
15: We’re Doing Everything in Plastic
We speak with Dr. Lorena Rios Mendoza about chemistry, microplastics, and lots of garbage.
Jul 20, 2020
14: Take the Plunge
A deep dive with Stephanie Gandulla and Megan Gass about SCUBA in the Great Lakes, the Big Five Dive, and where to go to see lots of shipwrecks. Plus, vomiting.
Jul 6, 2020
13: It Smells Like Science
In this episode, Stuart speaks with Dr. Brian Roth about the development of the Great Lakes salmon fishery, the interaction between native and invasive fish species, and the spread of invasivecraw/crayfish throughout the region. Also, goby dogs.
Jun 15, 2020
12: You Never Lose Track of Your Old Friends
Live from the International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) Virtual Conference 2020. We interview IAGLR Lifetime Achievement Award Winner (and Carolyn Foley's old mentor) Dr. Jan Ciborowski.
May 11, 2020
11: An Empty Chunk of Fiberglass
Buoys, Part 2! In this episode, we speak with IISG's Jay Beugly about our Two Yellow buoys, discuss the relative merits of West Lafayette's donuts, and more.
May 4, 2020
10: A Lot of Different Kinds of Data
Buoys, Part 1! We speak with Kelli Paige of the Great Lakes Observing System about all of their data monitoring efforts and how our data needs have changed as our technology has changed. Plus: some really great life advice.
Apr 15, 2020
9: The Hamster Wheel of Rumination
More COVID! In past episodes, we've spoken about how to go outside in a way that's safe and responsible. But we haven't spoken about *why* to do it. In this episode, Dr. Ming Kuo discusses the many psychological challenges of social isolation and how nature can help to overcome them.
Apr 8, 2020
8: The Really Delicious Carbon
Microbes…they’re everywhere! Today, we chat with Dr. Rachel Poretsky about microbes in the Great Lakes and the important functions they serve in the food web. Plus, bad grocery analogies and worse metric conversions.
Mar 27, 2020
6: A Lot of This Is in Our Own Hands
We get another perspective on COVID-19 and outdoor recreation, this time from ER resident Dr. Frank Zadravecz.
Mar 21, 2020
5: We're All in This Together
COVID-19 and outdoor recreation, with Dr. Ron Hershow, Director of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics with the University of Illinois - Chicago School of Public Health.
If you are looking for information about coronavirus and COVID-19, we encourage you to turn to reputable sources such as your state’s health department. Or, as our guest says, when Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks, perk your ears up.
Mar 11, 2020
4.5: The Role of Information Was Quite Limited
BONUS EPISODE!!! In this Researcher Feature, we speak with Zhao Ma, Associate Professor in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue, about her recent research into why people choose to adopt or not adopt water conservation best management practices.
Mar 2, 2020
4: That Long Fetch Setup
In which we discuss the polar vortex, lake effect, and drinking yellow snow with Tom Coomes of ABC57 in South Bend, Indiana.
Feb 3, 2020
3: It Would Have to Be the Perfect Rock
In this month's episode, we talk with author and adventurer Loreen Niewenhuis about walking around the Great Lakes. How do you do it? One step at a time. Why do you do it? Well, that’s more complicated.
Jan 6, 2020
2: Limnologists Make up Lots of Words
We discuss the origin story of the Great Lakes and, because the show is 2/3 Canadian this month, hockey.
Nov 26, 2019
1: They're Also Called Nurdles
We learn all about microplastics and discuss an interesting business plan for the Chicago area.