Healthier, Happier, Smarter: Wisconsin Voices on the Power of Nature

Jaeden Carrasquillo + Xia Lowery

Welcome to Healthier, Happier, Smarter, a podcast about connecting with Wisconsin’s outdoors through learning, stories, and community. Co-hosts Jaeden and Xia share the voices, places, and ideas shaping environmental education across the state. From schoolyards and forests to youth-led climate action and community programs, this show explores what happens when learning moves beyond the classroom and into the natural world, and the impact that shift has on students and communities alike. Outdoor and environmental education is about more than nature. It is about health, equity, and opportunity. When students learn outside, they build confidence, strengthen their well-being, and develop a deeper connection to the world around them. On Healthier, Happier, Smarter, we amplify voices from across Wisconsin, including students, educators, and leaders who are using the outdoors as a powerful classroom. Tune in to discover how environmental learning is helping build a healthier, happier, and smarter future for everyone.

  1. Oct 21

    14. Looking Back and Getting Personal: Season 1 Wrap-up

    Jaeden and Xia wrap up season one by looking back on the people, experiences, and stories that shaped their conversations about the power of nature in Wisconsin. From inspiring student-led environmental projects to community efforts making the outdoors more accessible, they reflect on how environmental education can create meaningful change. They also share their own paths into conservation, the importance of uplifting local voices, and what they hope to explore in season two.  Links + Resources: Cool Choices online game: runs for the month of April and is available for K-12 students for free at ghswisconsin.org Wisconsin Youth Climate Conference: November 14th, 2026 Free for all students from across the state to attend Learn more here: https://www.theconnectiondane.org/ WAEE Award Nominations: https://www.waee.org/awards Follow the show online:  Facebook: @WisconsinAssociationforEnvironmentalEducation Instagram: @wisconsinassociationforee LinkedIn: wisconsin-association-for-environmental-education-inc YouTube: @wisconsinassociationforee View all book recommendations from the podcast: https://bookshop.org/lists/healthier-happier-smarter Thank you to our sponsors and funding partners. Learn more and become a sponsor at https://www.waee.org/our-supporters

  2. Oct 7

    13. Climate Change on Your Health: A Conversation with Pediatrician Dr. Andrew Lewandowski

    Climate change is a health issue, and its impacts are already affecting our families and communities. Jaeden and Xia talk with pediatrician Dr. Andrew Lewandowski about how climate change intersects with health, why healthcare professionals have an important role in educating patients, and what climate change counseling can look like in a clinical setting. They also explore how factors like exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity shape a person’s climate change vulnerability, the importance of addressing systemic inequities, and how healthcare providers can advocate for evidence-based climate solutions.  Links + Resources: Healthy Climate Wisconsin: www.healthyclimatewi.org Resources about climate change & health: World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/  Columbia University: https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/news/topics/climate-health  National Academy of Medicine: https://nam.edu/our-work/programs/climate-and-health/communicating-about-climate-change-health/  Department of Pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health: https://www.pediatrics.wisc.edu/  - You can reach out and ask to talk to Dr. Andrew Lewandowski Wisconsin Department of Health Services: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/  Kate Beardmore: Program Manager for the Climate and Health Program with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services  Phone: 608-266-9978 Email: katharine.beardmore@dhs.wisconsin.gov Follow the show online:  Facebook: @WisconsinAssociationforEnvironmentalEducation Instagram: @wisconsinassociationforee LinkedIn: wisconsin-association-for-environmental-education-inc YouTube: @wisconsinassociationforee View all book recommendations from the podcast: https://bookshop.org/lists/healthier-happier-smarter Thank you to our sponsors and funding partners. Learn more and become a sponsor at https://www.waee.org/our-supporters

  3. Sep 23

    12. Rooted in Wisdom: Indigenous Teachings with Dr. Kathleen Ratteree and Gabrielle Metoxen

    What does it mean to truly embrace well becoming? Xia talks with Dr. Kathleen Ratteree of Sweet Willow Herbals and Cafe and Gabrielle Metoxen, Oneida Nation Arts Program Supervisor, about the idea of “well becoming” and what it can teach us about health, healing, and connection. Together, they explore how Indigenous knowledge, relationships with plants and the land, art, culture, and community can help us embrace the full spectrum of being human and find meaningful ways to care for ourselves and one another. Links + Resources: Sweet Willow Herbals and Cafe: https://www.sweetwillowwellness.com/ Oneida Nation Arts Program: https://oneida-nsn.gov/divisions/human-services/our-culture/arts-program-2/ State Environmental Education Conference: https://www.waee.org/annual-conference Lip scrub and sunscreen products made by Gabrielle Mextoxen: https://www.facebook.com/gobeautyglow Follow the show online:  Facebook: @WisconsinAssociationforEnvironmentalEducation Instagram: @wisconsinassociationforee LinkedIn: wisconsin-association-for-environmental-education-inc YouTube: @wisconsinassociationforee View all book recommendations from the podcast: https://bookshop.org/lists/healthier-happier-smarter Thank you to our sponsors and funding partners. Learn more and become a sponsor at https://www.waee.org/our-supporters

  4. Sep 9

    11. Place-based Learning; Connecting Community, Advocacy, and Youth at Oshkosh North High School

    What happens when students move beyond learning about environmental problems and start becoming part of the solution? Jaeden and Xia talk with Rick Leib, a social studies teacher at Oshkosh North High School, and senior Ella about the school’s Communities program and its student-led environmental projects. From stormwater pollution and plastic waste to outdoor classrooms, biking, and community service, they explore how authentic, place-based learning can help students connect their education to real-world issues, build confidence, discover new career possibilities, and see themselves as change makers in their own communities. Links + Resources: Communities at Oshkosh North: https://www.communitiesonhs.org/ Wisconsin Stormwater Week: https://www.wistormwater.com/ Recycling Excellence Awards: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Recycling/Awards.html  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/communitiesonhs/  Bike Osh Event: https://www.facebook.com/bikeosh/ Follow the show online:  Facebook: @WisconsinAssociationforEnvironmentalEducation Instagram: @wisconsinassociationforee LinkedIn: wisconsin-association-for-environmental-education-inc YouTube: @wisconsinassociationforee View all book recommendations from the podcast: https://bookshop.org/lists/healthier-happier-smarter Thank you to our sponsors and funding partners. Learn more and become a sponsor at https://www.waee.org/our-supporters

  5. Aug 26

    10. Wi Gather Outside: Centering Equity, Joy, and Cultural Relevance in Outdoor Spaces

    What does it look like to create meaningful connections between communities and the outdoors? Jaeden and Xia talk with Zaynab Balbeki, founder of Wi Gather Outside (WIGO), about making outdoor experiences more accessible, culturally relevant, and rooted in community. Zaynab shares how her experiences as an educator inspired her to create opportunities for Black, Brown, and Latino communities to explore Wisconsin’s parks and natural spaces, and how those experiences can foster connection, joy, and environmental stewardship. Links + Resources: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wigatheroutside/ Read more about Wi Gather Outside’s Eco Justice award and other honorees at: https://www.waee.org/2026-waee-awardees Follow the show online:  Facebook: @WisconsinAssociationforEnvironmentalEducation Instagram: @wisconsinassociationforee LinkedIn: wisconsin-association-for-environmental-education-inc YouTube: @wisconsinassociationforee View all book recommendations from the podcast: https://bookshop.org/lists/healthier-happier-smarter Thank you to our sponsors and funding partners. Learn more and become a sponsor at https://www.waee.org/our-supporters

  6. Aug 12

    9. Teaching for Tomorrow: Climate Education in Milwaukee Public Schools

    Preparing students for tomorrow means helping them understand the world they're shaping. Jaeden and Xia sit down with Chelsea Malacara, Sustainability Project Specialist, and Kim Talarico, Climate Education Coach from Milwaukee Public Schools, to discuss how the state's largest school district is weaving climate education and sustainability into everyday learning. They share how community partnerships, outdoor learning, and a district-wide sustainability plan are helping students build a stronger connection to their environment while creating healthier schools, more engaged learners, and a more sustainable future for the next generation. Links + Resources: Find district resolutions and learn more about the Green Schoolyards Project at https://www.milwaukeepublicschools.org/about/strategic-plan/healthy-sustainable-schools Find teaching resources on the Wisconsin Climate Education Hub: https://teachwisconsinclimate.org/ Follow the show online:  Facebook: @WisconsinAssociationforEnvironmentalEducation Instagram: @wisconsinassociationforee LinkedIn: wisconsin-association-for-environmental-education-inc YouTube: @wisconsinassociationforee View all book recommendations from the podcast: https://bookshop.org/lists/healthier-happier-smarter Thank you to our sponsors and funding partners. Learn more and become a sponsor at https://www.waee.org/our-supporters

  7. Jul 29

    8. Learning Without Walls: The Magic of FIELD Edventures and Maple Grove Charter School

    Some of the most meaningful learning happens when students step outside the classroom. Jaeden and Xia are joined by Robin Hanson, teaching principal at Maple Grove Charter School, and Sandy Benton, co-founder of FIELD Edventures, to explore how outdoor, place-based learning helps students build curiosity, confidence, and a stronger connection to the world around them. From turning school grounds into living classrooms to sharing practical strategies that educators can implement anywhere, this conversation highlights how learning without walls can inspire students, strengthen communities, and make education more engaging for everyone. Links + Resources: FIELD Edventures Website: https://www.fieldedventures.org/  Maple Grove Charter School Website: https://www.athens1.org/o/mgcs  WISELearn Resources: https://wlresources.dpi.wi.gov/  Environmental Education for Kids (EEK):  https://www.eekwi.org/  Follow the show online:  Facebook: @WisconsinAssociationforEnvironmentalEducation Instagram: @wisconsinassociationforee LinkedIn: wisconsin-association-for-environmental-education-inc YouTube: @wisconsinassociationforee View all book recommendations from the podcast: https://bookshop.org/lists/healthier-happier-smarter Thank you to our sponsors and funding partners. Learn more and become a sponsor at https://www.waee.org/our-supporters

  8. Jul 15

    7. Empowering Youth to Lead Climate Action with the Dane County Youth Environmental Committee

    Young people are proving that meaningful climate action starts with community. Jaeden and Xia are joined by Nina, Brooke, and Ayelet of the Dane County Youth Environmental Committee (DCYEC) to explore how the student-led organization is empowering youth across Wisconsin to advocate for environmental change through leadership, education, and collaboration. From organizing the annual Dane County Youth Climate Conference and bringing sustainability initiatives back to their schools to connecting peers who may be experiencing climate anxiety, the conversation highlights how giving students opportunities to lead helps build confidence, hope, and lasting impact. Links + Resources: Dane County Youth Environmental Committee: https://www.dcyec.org/ Citizens’ Climate Lobby: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/  Follow the show online:  Facebook: @WisconsinAssociationforEnvironmentalEducation Instagram: @wisconsinassociationforee LinkedIn: wisconsin-association-for-environmental-education-inc YouTube: @wisconsinassociationforee View all book recommendations from the podcast: https://bookshop.org/lists/healthier-happier-smarter Thank you to our sponsors and funding partners. Learn more and become a sponsor at https://www.waee.org/our-supporters

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Welcome to Healthier, Happier, Smarter, a podcast about connecting with Wisconsin’s outdoors through learning, stories, and community. Co-hosts Jaeden and Xia share the voices, places, and ideas shaping environmental education across the state. From schoolyards and forests to youth-led climate action and community programs, this show explores what happens when learning moves beyond the classroom and into the natural world, and the impact that shift has on students and communities alike. Outdoor and environmental education is about more than nature. It is about health, equity, and opportunity. When students learn outside, they build confidence, strengthen their well-being, and develop a deeper connection to the world around them. On Healthier, Happier, Smarter, we amplify voices from across Wisconsin, including students, educators, and leaders who are using the outdoors as a powerful classroom. Tune in to discover how environmental learning is helping build a healthier, happier, and smarter future for everyone.

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