The Defender
Clean Wisconsin: Your environmental voice since 1970
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Top 10 The Defender Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Defender episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Defender for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Defender episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Nemadji
The Defender
02/24/20 • 17 min
Superior, Wisconsin, was once home to booming industries, which have all but disappeared. But recently, a new opportunity for economic development came knocking: a 625 megawatt gas-fired power plant on the banks of the Nemadji River, which feeds into Lake Superior.
While for some this sounds promising, for others in Superior and nearby communities, there are serious concerns: not only would the plant contribute billions of tons of carbon emissions over its lifetime, contributing to climate change, but it would also require destroying wetlands along the river, the very wetlands that help to reduce the flooding that have ravaged this community in recent years from heavy rain events.
Plus, the plant would require more water each day than the entire City of Superior uses per day, threatening to put a strain on the groundwater many people rely on.
In this episode, we go to the banks of the Nemadji River in Superior to talk with local residents and learn about what this gas plant could mean for the area if it is built.
Learn more about this proposed project and sign up for updates about ways you can help block this plant at www.cleanwisconsin.org/stop-nemadji
Background reading:
- We bust the myth that gas plants help support renewable energy, as the utilities behind this proposed plant have argued.
- We don’t get into it in the episode, but a big reason why we don’t need gas plants is because of the rise of energy storage solutions. We unpack how batteries will play a role in Wisconsin’s energy future.
- Katie Nekola mentions that the lifespan of this plant conflicts with Gov. Evers’ goal to have Wisconsin carbon-free by 2050, which he announced in August 2019. We delve into the governor’s goal and why it matters.
- You can watch our video on this issue, which features many of the people you heard in the episode.
Special thanks to Dr. Jonathan Patz of the Global Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Pastor Bridget Jones of Bethel Lutheran Church in Superior; Sandy Gokee of the Red Cliff Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa; and Katie Nekola of Clean Wisconsin.
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Subscribe to State of Change on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Be sure to rate our show and give us a review. It helps other people find us.
You can learn more about Clean Wisconsin and our work at www.cleanwisconsin.org
Sign up to get the latest news from Clean Wisconsin in your inbox at www.cleanwisconsin.org/email
Like State of Change? Help support our podcast and our work to protect Wisconsin’s environment at www.cleanwisconsin.org/donate
Communicating climate change
The Defender
02/03/22 • 30 min
We first sit down with Ph.D. student Mikhaila Calice from the Department of Life Sciences Communication at UW-Madison who is researching why some people react differently to the phrase climate change, how our political climate has influenced the way we think about it and what we all can do to bring more people into the fight to protect our future. Later in the episode, we hear from Dr. Andrew Lewandowski, a pediatrician in Madison, who has started communicating climate change to his patients and measuring its effectiveness.
Background Reading:- Learn more about climate change and the work Clean Wisconsin is doing to fight it.
- Read Dr. Andrew Lewandowski's study "Patients value climate change counseling provided by their pediatrician: The experience in one Wisconsin pediatric clinic"
- Clean Wisconsin's Climate Change Mini-Report includes different recommendations that can help move Wisconsin forward on addressing climate change while building healthy communities and a healthy economy for all.
Extreme heat in urban Milwaukee
The Defender
08/25/21 • 35 min
Climate change is making summers hotter, leaving people without air conditioning in Milwaukee and other cities vulnerable to its dangerous health impacts. Low-income communities and communities of color are often more likely to experience the harsh impacts of severe heat brought by climate change.
In this episode, we travel to the Century City Triangle Neighborhood in Milwaukee where over half of residents do not have air conditioning. We break down the dangers of Milwaukee’s urban heat island effect, why some communities feel the impacts of heat more than others, and what can be done to protect people going forward. Hear from Yvonne McCaskill from the Century City Triangle Neighborhood Association, Clean Wisconsin Milwaukee Program Director Pam Ritger, and Caitlin Rublee from Wisconsin Health Professionals for Climate Action.
Picking up the slack, a fight for clean water
The Defender
07/23/21 • 25 min
Joe and Kathy Weitekamp have lived in the same home for nearly 40 years in the Town of Campbell, but they are just now learning of PFAS contamination in their private well.
And they are not alone.
Recently, La Crosse area residents are discovering PFAS in their drinking water, many over the state's recommended limit of 20 parts per trillion, from firefighting foam used by the city's fire department.
In this episode, we hear how residents are stepping up to advocate for clean water as local governments are slow to take action and how one piece of legislation moving through the state legislature could help not only clean-up current PFAS contamination, but help prevent more in the future.
07/08/21 • 9 min
After years of court battles, the Wisconsin Supreme Court handed environmental advocates in the state a pair of victories today. The Court ruled in two separate cases, each named Clean Wisconsin v. Department of Natural Resources (DNR), that the DNR must exercise its authority to protect Wisconsin’s water resources.
In this episode, Clean Wisconsin staff attorney Evan Feinauer breaks down the ruling in each case and what it means for water protections going forward.
06/01/21 • 34 min
In April, two cases brought by Clean Wisconsin to protect the state's water resources were heard by the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. Though these cases are centered around permits issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the implications of the rulings go far beyond the paperwork.
In this episode, Clean Wisconsin’s staff attorney Evan Feinauer briefs us on the details of these cases, breaks down our arguments and explains what the future rulings could mean for water protections in the state.
Background Reading:- Read more from our staff attorney on the two cases recently heard by the State Supreme Court.
- Sign-up for Clean Wisconsin’s Action Network. We’ll send you regular updates with opportunities to contact your legislators to protect our air, water and natural heritage.
Subscribe to State of Change on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Be sure to rate our show and give us a review. It helps other people find us.
You can learn more about Clean Wisconsin and our work at www.cleanwisconsin.org
Sign up to get the latest news from Clean Wisconsin in your inbox at www.cleanwisconsin.org/email
Like State of Change? Help support our podcast and our work to protect Wisconsin’s environment at www.cleanwisconsin.org/donate
What happens now? An update on the state budget
The Defender
05/06/21 • 11 min
On Thursday, leaders of the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee voted to scrap nearly 400 items in Governor Evers' state budget, including many important water and climate change initiatives.
In this episode, Clean Wisconsin's President & CEO Mark Redsten breaks down what environmental protections were scrapped from the $91 billion dollar proposed budget, the message sent from Republican legislators and the future of these crucial clean water and clean energy initiatives.
Background Reading:- Take action: tell the Joint Finance Committee and your elected officials to restore Governor Evers' clean water, clean energy and climate change budget items!
- Sign-up for Clean Wisconsin's Action Network. We’ll send you regular updates with opportunities to contact your legislators to protect our air, water and natural heritage.
Subscribe to State of Change on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Be sure to rate our show and give us a review. It helps other people find us.
You can learn more about Clean Wisconsin and our work at www.cleanwisconsin.org
Sign up to get the latest news from Clean Wisconsin in your inbox at www.cleanwisconsin.org/email
Like State of Change? Help support our podcast and our work to protect Wisconsin’s environment at www.cleanwisconsin.org/donate
Beer, wool socks and energy efficiency
The Defender
04/01/21 • 24 min
Energy efficiency may not be as flashy as electric vehicles or solar panels, but it is an important step that all Wisconsinites can take to save energy and save money.
In this episode, Clean Wisconsin's Climate Solutions Director Chelsea Chandler explains how residents and business owners have a great tool in their tool box when it comes to being more energy efficient, and that is the statewide program Focus on Energy. It is a program that provides Wisconsin state residents and businesses with resources, incentives and support to implement energy-efficiency and renewable energy projects.
Later in the show, we talk with Isaac Showaki, the president of Octopi Brewing in Waunakee, Wisconsin, about how using Focus on Energy has helped make his business more energy efficient and saved him money in the long run.
Background Reading:- Tell your state legislators and the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee: Support increasing our investment in Focus on Energy in the budget here.
- Learn all about the Focus on Energy program and its benefits for all Wisconsinites!
- Read how Clean Wisconsin is working toward a clean energy future here.
- Clean Wisconsin's Climate Change Mini-Report includes different recommendations that can help move Wisconsin forward on addressing climate change while building healthy communities and a healthy economy for all.
Subscribe to State of Change on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Be sure to rate our show and give us a review. It helps other people find us.
You can learn more about Clean Wisconsin and our work at www.cleanwisconsin.org
Sign up to get the latest news from Clean Wisconsin in your inbox at www.cleanwisconsin.org/email
Like State of Change? Help support our podcast and our work to protect Wisconsin’s environment at www.cleanwisconsin.org/donate
The toxic reality of PAH
The Defender
03/22/21 • 35 min
It's that time of the year when the days get warmer and Wisconsinites start their spring cleaning. For some, that means re-sealing their driveways, but certain pavement sealants can be harmful to both the environment and public health due to having high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAH.
In this episode, we sit down with Clean Wisconsin's water resource specialist Ezra Meyer and staff scientist Paul Mathewson to explain what PAHs are and how certain pavement sealants are toxic to the landscape and the health of Wisconsinites. We also talk with the former mayor of Port Washington to discuss what the town did to help curb PAH exposure and what the state government can do, as well.
Background Reading- Clean Wisconsin is a leading voice to end the use of high-PAH pavement sealants around the state. Read more on how they impact residents and the environment here.
- Read more from Paul Mathewson how high-PAH pavement sealants affect public health.
- Tip when looking for alternatives to high-PAH pavement sealants: Tar can have a lot of different names, and some other byproducts can have very high levels of PAHs. To be safe, check the “Material Safety Data Sheet” of the product (try searching online) and avoid anything including CAS #’s 64742-90-1, 65996-92-1, 65996-93-2, 65996-89-6, 69013-21-4, or 8007-45-2.
Subscribe to State of Change on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Be sure to rate our show and give us a review. It helps other people find us.
You can learn more about Clean Wisconsin and our work at www.cleanwisconsin.org
Sign up to get the latest news from Clean Wisconsin in your inbox at www.cleanwisconsin.org/email
Like State of Change? Help support our podcast and our work to protect Wisconsin’s environment at www.cleanwisconsin.org/donate
When the waters came
The Defender
08/20/20 • 39 min
Two years ago, the small village of Mazomanie, in Dane County's northwestern corner, saw the small creek that runs through the center of their town grow into a raging river as record rains fell in an unprecedented storm.
After it was all over, the region saw more rain in a 24 hour period than has ever fallen in Wisconsin before, costing small communities like Mazomanie homes, businesses, and millions of dollars in damage.
The science community has long pointed to climate change as a major reason for an increased heavy rain events leading to more flooding. But local communities like Dane County--and now state officials--are taking action to limit the impacts of climate change, as well as tackle the root cause: carbon emissions.
In this episode of State of Change, we talk with the Mazomanie Village Administrator about his experience with the 2018 flooding that rocked his community. We also talk with Dane County Executive Joe Parisi about Dane County's leadership in local action on climate change, and we chat with Chelsea Chandler, our new Climate Solutions Director, about efforts at the state level through the Governor's Task Force on Climate Change.
Background reading:
--A post on our blog on Dane County's Climate Action Plan that was released earlier this year. --Our science team created this local climate action map. --They also looked at whether we're seeing more heavy rain events in Wisconsin. --A post on our blog in the aftermath of Dane County's record rainfall and devastating flooding --Great collection of photos from the Wisconsin State Journal documenting the aftermath of flooding in Dane County
A special thanks to Peter Huebner of Mazomanie, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, and Chelsea Chandler of Clean Wisconsin.
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FAQ
How many episodes does The Defender have?
The Defender currently has 56 episodes available.
What topics does The Defender cover?
The podcast is about News, Society & Culture, Wisconsin, Environment, News Commentary and Podcasts.
What is the most popular episode on The Defender?
The episode title 'Suppressing Solar? Alliant Energy, MG&E target home solar in rate plans' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Defender?
The average episode length on The Defender is 24 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Defender released?
Episodes of The Defender are typically released every 27 days, 16 hours.
When was the first episode of The Defender?
The first episode of The Defender was released on Jan 27, 2020.
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