ECO SPEAKS CLE

Hosted by Diane Bickett and Greg Rotuno

Entrepreneurship Society Culture ScienceInterviews guests

Website RSS feed LinkedIn Instagram

Episodes

Latest episode

Jul 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

ECO SPEAKS CLE is the podcast for the eco-curious in Northeast Ohio. In each episode, we speak with local sustainability leaders and invite listeners to connect, learn, and live with our community and planet in mind. Hear from the people and organizations that make our region a great place to live, work, and play. ECO SPEAKS CLE is hosted by Diane Bickett and produced by Greg Rotuno.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

July 28, 2026Episode 8636 min

Aboard the Mark W Barker with Kate Wells and Captain Weber

Send us Fan MailEver wonder about those freighters on the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland's Flats? Watching them navigate our crooked river is such a unique experience. More than 600 feet long, they share the shipping channel with recreational boaters, kayakers, and paddleboarders as they transport ore upriver to our steel mills. For this episode, Greg and I sat down with Kate Wells, Manager of Environmental Stewardship and Quality for the Interlake Steamship Company, to hear about the ship, sustainability in Great Lakes shipping, and the importance of this industry to our region. Later, we climbed (literally) aboard the Mark W Barker and spoke with Captain Alex Weber about life on board, what it's like to navigate the Cuyahoga, and maritime careers. The Mark W Barker is the newest in the fleet of ten vessels owned by Interlake Steamship. This second-generation, family-run company is based in Middleburg Heights, Ohio, and has the largest privately held U.S.-flag fleet on the Lakes. Interlake has been in business for over 100 years; today, it is one of the most efficient and environmentally responsible shipping companies in the industry, moving 20 million tons of cargo annually. While we were on board, we watched loaders fill the holds with taconite pellets to be delivered up the Cuyahoga to Cleveland Cliffs. Just one load could fill 700 train cars or 2,800 trucks, making it the most efficient way to transport raw materials to industry. Whether you are a "boat nerd", a Clevelander, or curious about the Great Lakes, this episode is a must. Learn more:About The Interlake Steamship CompanyAbout the Mark W BarkerMarine Traffic appGreen Marine certificationSupport the showFollow Eco Speaks CLE on LinkedIn, Facebook and InstagramContact - hello@ecospeakscle.com

June 30, 2026Episode 8517 min

An Eco Bite with Nick Fletcher - Hawken Native Plant Society

Send us Fan MailSummer is here, and we're at the Mastery School of Hawken's Native Plant Sale in University Circle for an Eco Bite with Nick Fletcher. Nick is a high school Latin teacher who started one of the most practical environmental education projects around - the Hawken Native Plant Society. Along with his colleague Claudia Tausz and students of all grade levels, Nick oversees the cultivation of more than 230 plant species native to Northeast Ohio. The plants help improve habitat across three campuses and are also donated to nonprofit partners for restoration efforts. Plant sales are held at the Mastery School campus all summer, with proceeds benefiting this work. This experiential learning grew out of COVID, when Nick took his Latin classes outdoors and began observing nature on campus. This led him to help plant gardens at his daughter's school and then grow a few seedlings on campus. Nick never grew anything until then, and today, he oversees a registered nursery with hundreds of thriving plants, plus the challenges that come with it, like keeping a greenhouse full of seedlings alive through summer heat. Nick shares how students across grade levels get involved through classes, garden club, and hands-on field days where kids research a plant, collect and sort seeds, pot seedlings, and plant new native gardens.Nick believes in making space for other species besides our own, and he and his students see the payoff: native bees showing up, insect life returning, and host plants doing their job.Email Nick - nativeplants@hawken.eduLearn More: Hawken Native Plant Society and Sales, Hawken Native Gardens,The Nature of Oaks by Douglas TallamySubscribe for more Northeast Ohio sustainability stories, share this with a friend who cares about pollinators and habitat restoration, and leave a review so more eco-curious listeners can find us.Support the showFollow Eco Speaks CLE on LinkedIn, Facebook and InstagramContact - hello@ecospeakscle.com

April 23, 2026Episode 8432 min

Forest Stories with Annie Weight and Jessica Miller Mecaskey

Send us Fan MailThere are many ways to love a forest, and in this episode, we introduce you to a variety of forest stewards who are nurturing our region's woodlands. They are featured in a Holden Forest & Gardens project called Ways to Love a Forest: Stories of Woodland Stewardship in Northeast Ohio, a booklet that includes interviews with educators, landowners, scientists, and community leaders.Sharing these stories and ways we can all be stewards of our land are Annie Weight, former Forestry Outreach Fellow at Holden Forest and Gardens, and Jessica Miller Mecaskey, Consulting Forester with Holden Arboretum’s Working Woods Learning Forest. We also hear some of the people featured in the project: Lola Lewis, Dee Belew, Judy Semroc, and Joan Steidl. What is forest stewardship? Why should we care? Should forests be left alone or managed? How do good intentions and good management differ? What resources are there for landowners and non-landowners to become better forest stewards? And what career paths can forest lovers pursue? We cover all this and more as Annie talks about how the fellowship project came about and the people she met, and as Jessica shares how the Holden Arboretum's Working Woods Resource Hub and Learning Forest supports landowners through workshops, on-site consulting, and guidance on everything from invasive species to long-term woodland management and restoration.We should all care about sustainable forestry, urban tree canopy, and land conservation, and Ways to Love a Forest provides inspiration and practical advice from those doing the work and helping us all connect to the land. There is much to explore at the Holden Arboretum this spring. Plan a visit.Support the showFollow Eco Speaks CLE on LinkedIn, Facebook and InstagramContact - hello@ecospeakscle.com

April 3, 2026Episode 8314 min

An Eco Bite on The Great Ohio Climate March

Send us Fan MailThe Great Ohio Climate March is happening May 16-28, 2026. The purpose of this march is to draw attention to the impacts of fracking on Ohio’s public lands, the climate crisis, and the benefits of renewable energy. The southern Ohio route passes through areas impacted by fracking and begins in Athens, Ohio, travels through Salt Fork State Park, and ends at the Statehouse. The march is organized by Third Act Ohio, in partnership with 20 environmental organizations, including the Ohio Sierra Club and the Buckeye Environmental Network. In this episode, Jess Grim, one of the organizers, tells us all about the march, what to expect, and how to join. Anyone can participate either for the entire event or just for the day. There will be opportunities to learn about the impacts of fracking on Ohio's public land, see fracking operations firsthand, hike along Ohio's Buckeye Trail, and share meals and conversation. You can join the march by registering by April 16th. Support the showFollow Eco Speaks CLE on LinkedIn, Facebook and InstagramContact - hello@ecospeakscle.com

March 12, 2026Episode 8214 min

An Eco Bite with Rust Belt Riders

Send us Fan MailAn Eco Bite is a "mini” episode of Eco Speaks CLE. In this shorter format, we reconnect with a past guest or showcase someone new, all in under 15 minutes. In this quick episode, we catch up with Rust Belt Riders and founder Michael Robinson to find out what's new with our favorite worker-owned food waste composting company in Cleveland, Ohio.We first interviewed Rust Belt Riders back in 2022. It was our 4th episode, and we had Dan Brown and Zoe Apisdorf on the show. Since then, Rust Belt Riders has developed new city-supported drop-offs, new commercial infrastructure, and expanded its production of soil and Tilth Soil brand. This cooperative model could scale community composting nationwide through alliances with members of the Community Composting Coalition. We hope you will enjoy this episode and be part of the story by purchasing Tilth Soil at local retailers and signing up for one of Rust Belt Riders' residential or commercial composting services. Support the showFollow Eco Speaks CLE on LinkedIn, Facebook and InstagramContact - hello@ecospeakscle.com

February 26, 2026Episode 8133 min

Shaping Sustainable Economies with Elizabeth Schuster

Send us Fan MailAs an environmental economist, Elizabeth Schuster helps conservation organizations solve complex challenges at the intersection of nature and communities. In this episode, Elizabeth describes how her firm, Sustainable Economies, applies systems-level thinking to messy, long-horizon environmental problems to turn them into clear, shared action. Her clients include watershed districts, non-profits, park districts, and various local and national environmental organizations. Hear how her strategies apply to any organization seeking to incorporate a sustainability and a community mindset into their work with examples from projects with The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, and Summit County Metroparks. Elizabeth's advice? Set a clear North Star, listen across sectors, code what you hear, and write goals in language anyone can repeat. This process, which starts with stakeholder engagement, helps align conservation goals with community needs, often with surprising results. Clarity of purpose and effective internal and external communication are at the heart of any successful organization and are vitally important for organizations with social and environmental missions. Whatever your purpose, this episode provides tips on how to surface blind spots early and how to align staff so everyone rows in the same direction.Learn More:Elizabeth Schuster, Partner and Environmental Economist, Sustainable EconomiesProjects and ClientsSupport the showFollow Eco Speaks CLE on LinkedIn, Facebook and InstagramContact - hello@ecospeakscle.com

January 13, 2026Episode 8038 min

Clear the Clutter and Your Mind with Devon Fegen-Herdman

Send us Fan MailAre you living with too much stuff? Help is on the way! In this first episode of 2026, we help you clear the clutter with Devon Fegen-Herdman, owner of Declutter with Devon. Devon is a professional home organizer, former social worker, and a founding member of Upcycle Parts Shop, our favorite arts reuse center in Cleveland. Most people agree they have too much stuff, and they struggle with managing it all. Choosing to live differently and more gently on the planet requires rethinking our relationship with our material things. Living with less can bring us more joy, but how to get there? Join us as Devon provides tips for getting our homes under control and buying with more intention to keep future clutter at bay. Donation, Recycling, and Disposal Suggestions: Upcycle Parts Shop and Boys & Girls Clubs (arts supplies); Friends of the Library CCPL and Cleveland Children's Book Bank (books); Cleveland Furniture Bank, Chair-ity, and Humble Design Cleveland (furniture); Elyria APL and other animal shelters (linens); Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District and Lorain County Solid Waste District (holiday lights); Habitat Re-Store (tools); RET3 Job Corp and Best Buy (computers and e-waste); Good Neighbor Thrift Store and Thriftique (housewares and clothes); Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District and Lorain County Solid Waste District (special wastes, paint, pesticides and other household hazardous wastes); police stations and pharmacies (RX drug drop-off)Learn More: Declutter with DevonBuy Now, The Shopping Conspiracy (Netflix Documentary)Becoming MinimalistThe Story of Stuff Support the showFollow Eco Speaks CLE on LinkedIn, Facebook and InstagramContact - hello@ecospeakscle.com

December 10, 2025Episode 7948 min

Eco Meet CLE - Cleveland's Blue Economy

Send us Fan MailOur region's water isn’t just running through our taps; it is shaping our region and our future. Cleveland is a waterfront city, and in this episode, you will hear how technology, entrepreneurship, destination development, maritime trade, and recreation are blossoming under our culture of freshwater stewardship. This recording is from Eco Meet CLE, a gathering of local sustainability leaders held on November 18th at Great Lakes Brewing Company. Some have called us a beer-drinking group with a sustainability problem. It works. Eco Meet events are a fun way for people to connect and learn about impactful work in a fun and casual setting. The topic for the night was our Blue Economy, and we brought together several speakers who reflected on their role in Cleveland's water economy and how this shared asset, which must be protected, makes our waterfront such a vibrant and engaging space for residents, visitors, business, and career development. Our panelists included:Emily Bacha, Director of the Cuyahoga County Fresh Water InstituteSamantha Martin, Director of Communications and Engagement, Cleveland Water AllianceKierra Cotton, Marketing and Communications Manager, the Port of ClevelandCaptain Drew Ferguson, Founder and CEO of ArgonautKate Wells, Manager of Environmental Stewardship and Quality, Interlake Steamship CompanyMax Pennington, Co-Founder of CLEANR If you care about clean water, good jobs, and resilient cities, this story is yours. Follow, share with a friend who loves Lake Erie, and leave a quick review to help more people discover how Northeast Ohio turns stewardship into strength.A clarification for listeners: Cleveland's Irishtown Bend Park is expected to be completed in 2028 or 2029, following the Port of Cleveland's stabilization of the hillside in 2026. Support the showFollow Eco Speaks CLE on LinkedIn, Facebook and InstagramContact - hello@ecospeakscle.com

November 18, 2025Episode 7833 min

Urban Planning and Cleveland's Great Bones with Isaac Robb

Send us Fan MailCities don’t forget—their land remembers. In this episode, we speak with Isaac Robb, Chief Urban Program Officer at Western Reserve Land Conservancy, and explore how his organization works to turn Cleveland's vacant and underutilized land into living assets, including neighborhood parks, memorial gardens, and reforestation programs that cool, calm, and reconnect neighborhoods. Hear what Isaac loves most about Cleveland and what surprised him most when first coming here in 2105. The Western Reserve Land Conservancy is a land trust known for farmland preservation, but also built a robust urban program from the tragedy of the foreclosure crisis. Programs to reforest the city, create community parks and green spaces, and reconnect residents with the land in their own backyard are improving health and quality of life. The Conservancy's urban projects honor community memories and experiences and offer healing and reconnection by planning guided by environmental justice, public health, and the power of place. Join us to hear about the people who founded this work and those who shepherd it today, and the many ways to be a part of this transformative work. Learn More:About the ConservancyConservancy ProjectsGetting InvolvedSupport the showFollow Eco Speaks CLE on LinkedIn, Facebook and InstagramContact - hello@ecospeakscle.com

October 14, 2025Episode 7728 min

Beyond Plastics with Brodie Longo

Send us Fan MailBrodie Longo is a young organizer and director of the Northeast Ohio chapter of Beyond Plastics. This grassroots organization works to combat plastic pollution and the use of single-use plastics through education and activism. In this episode, Brodie speaks about what it's been like starting a local Beyond Plastics chapter and how, at just 23 years old, he found himself leading in ways he did not expect. Together with his steering committee and volunteers, Brodie is building momentum against single-use plastic, from hosting nurdle patrols and beach cleanups to venue recycling and advocating for policy and legislative change. Hear Brodie's tips for reducing your exposure to microplastic pollution and how to join meetings, find resources, and get involved with this newly formed organization. Our Guest:Brodie Longo - Director, NEO Chapter of Beyond Plastics brodielongo@yahoo.comResources: Beyond Plastics National OrganizationThe Problem with Plastic by Judith Enck Follow Beyond Plastics on FacebookSupport the showFollow Eco Speaks CLE on LinkedIn, Facebook and InstagramContact - hello@ecospeakscle.com