Episode 46: This month is No Trash November! Nobody Trashes Tennessee is a campaign put on by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to bring awareness to litter prevention through community based programming. We are joined by Mike McClanahan, the Transportation Manager for TDOT's Beautification Office. He highlights all of the great resources and initiatives that the we have in Tennessee to combat litter and keep our beautiful state clean. Nobody Trashes Tennessee YouTube Channel ..read more

Episode 44: This month we are talking about the ever changing electric vehicle landscape in Tennessee. There are currently three separate automotive manufacturers that are producing electric vehicles in TN, with another to begin in 2025. Mark Finlay, from TDEC's Office of Energy Programs, joins us to highlight the status of electric vehicles and some eye opening metrics that you will want to hear. The Ranger Report covers Montgomery Bell State Park and we are joined by Park Ranger Destiny Adcox. Here are some helpful resources below that were mentioned:  IRS Guidance for Clean Vehicle T ..read more

Episode 43: As you all should know, we like to call April "Earth Month" since it houses our favorite holiday: Earth Day. Not only that, but it is the start of true spring weather and a busy time of our office. We set up booths at festivals and conferences to highlight the sustainability programming and resources that we offer to Tennesseans. This episode is a casual chat about the history of Earth Day and all of the events that take place throughout April. No Ranger Report ..read more

Episode 42: Sorry for the month break everyone! Ashley and Caleb both welcomed new babies during the month of March so we were unable to get an episode out. With that being said, we wanted to come back this month with some things that they have learned during pregnancy and the early newborn stage. It can sometimes be hard to be sustainable with a new baby, but this episode gives some good tips and tricks to try to be the most sustainable parents you can be. No Ranger Report this month ..read more

Episode 41: This month we get to catch up with Cash Daniels, a 13-year old river conservationist. He is better known as the Conservation Kid. Cash tells us about his passion for sustainability, where it came from, and how he is making a difference. He is one of our heroes and really embodies the fact that even though kids are a small part of the population, they are 100% of the future. Make sure to check out his book, One Small Piece. The Cleanup Kids ..read more

Episode 40: This month we are joined by Debbie Ball, a business development consultant for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. She oversees the Pick Tennessee Products Program which connects people everywhere to all of the great things that come from Tennessee farms and food businesses. Make sure to download the app to find your closest farmers market and locally grown produce. Apple Store or Google Play. This month's Ranger Report covers South Cumberland State Park. We are joined by Park Manager, George Shinn, to discuss the many activities that are available at the park ..read more

Episode 39: We are joined by a returning guest, Lincoln Young. He is the owner of Rockwood Sustainable Solutions and talks about how his business started as a shingle recycler and has grown into more of a "hard-to-recycle material handler". He also highlights the science behind gasification and how the City of Lebanon is doing it. The Ranger Report is back and we are joined by Ranger Jesse Germeraad from Cedars of Lebanon State Park. His historic knowledge and park experience make him the perfect person to tell us everything we need to know about the 1,139 acre park in Lebanon, TN ..read more

Episode 38: In the U.S., heat waves harm more people than all other meteorological hazards combined. Cities have a lot of buildings, concrete, and anthropogenic heat being produced, which can help trap heat near the city’s surface. This creates Urban Heat Island effect, where cities tend to be hotter than surrounding rural areas that have more green space and trees. The effect is intensified as cities grow and in areas with little vegetation. This month we welcome back Kendra Abkowitz, Chief Sustainability & Resilience Officer for Metro Nashville. We are also joined by Jennifer First, Prof ..read more

Episode 37: This month we get to speak with Hugh Morrow, the President and CEO of Ruby Falls. Ruby Falls is a one-of-a-kind, iconic attraction in Chattanooga, TN that includes the tallest underground waterfall open to the public. Hugh tells us about the innovations and sustainability initiatives that have been added to Ruby Falls during his tenure there. The Ranger Report this month highlights Red Clay State Historic Park. We are joined by Ranger Taylor Young to discuss the rich history of this amazing park.  ..read more

Episode 36: Summer is coming to an end so everyone is trying to get in one last family vacation. In this episode, we go over some tips and tricks to make your traveling experiences more sustainable. We cover points on hotels, public transportation and hiking. The phrase that we couldn't think of during the episode is "pack in, pack out". This is just a reminder to always bring back everything that you pack for any outdoor activity that you do. There is no ranger report for this episode but now is a great time to go visit our TN State Parks. Use this link to find your closest park and plan out ..read more