ECO SPEAKS CLE

Diane Bickett and Greg Rotuno

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. 

  1. Eco Meet CLE - Cleveland's Blue Economy

    12/10/2025

    Eco Meet CLE - Cleveland's Blue Economy

    Send us a text Our 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 show Support Eco Speaks CLE Follow us: https://www.facebook.com/ecospeakscle https://www.instagram.com/ecospeakscle Contact us: hello@ecospeakscle.com

    48 min
  2. Urban Planning and Cleveland's Great Bones with Isaac Robb

    11/18/2025

    Urban Planning and Cleveland's Great Bones with Isaac Robb

    Send us a text Cities 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 show Support Eco Speaks CLE Follow us: https://www.facebook.com/ecospeakscle https://www.instagram.com/ecospeakscle Contact us: hello@ecospeakscle.com

    34 min
  3. Beyond Plastics with Brodie Longo

    10/14/2025

    Beyond Plastics with Brodie Longo

    Send us a text Brodie 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.com Resources:   Beyond Plastics National Organization The Problem with Plastic by Judith Enck  Follow Beyond Plastics on Facebook Support the show Support Eco Speaks CLE Follow us: https://www.facebook.com/ecospeakscle https://www.instagram.com/ecospeakscle Contact us: hello@ecospeakscle.com

    29 min
  4. Starve the Landfills with Gateway Recycling

    08/26/2025

    Starve the Landfills with Gateway Recycling

    Send us a text Anthony Iovine is the sales manager for Gateway Products Recycling, a family-owned paper recycling company, in business for over 30 years in Ohio and Pennsylvania. When asked why he loves his job, he says it's "waking up every day to save the planet - one bale of cardboard at a time."  Paper recycling has been around since about 1031 AD, and is one of recycling’s success stories. The U.S. recycles around 46 million tons of fiber annually, according to the American Forest and Paper Association. In this episode, Anthony busts a few recycling myths. He gives us an insider's look at the paper recycling industry, the role of intermediate processors like himself who collect, grade, and bale paper before shipping it to domestic mills to be made into new products. Tony also shares how the industry has changed over the years, the impact of China's National Sword policy, and the importance of paper recycling in a world of growing consumption and dwindling resources.  Gateway collects source-separated paper, cardboard, plastic, and metals from commercial customers - ranging from food manufacturers and grocery stores to stadiums and distribution centers. This sorted material yields cleaner, more valuable recyclables, enabling Gateway to move between 15,000 and 18,000 tons of materials through its plants each month, with the final stop being mills that make recycled boxes, gypsum board, cellulose insulation, and tissue products. All these efforts help keep forests standing, while protecting ecosystems, water and energy. Listen and hear how Gateway can turn your workplace waste back into resources.   Learn More: About Gateway Recycling American Forest and Paper Association Plastic China Documentary China's National Sword Policy Support the show Support Eco Speaks CLE Follow us: https://www.facebook.com/ecospeakscle https://www.instagram.com/ecospeakscle Contact us: hello@ecospeakscle.com

    30 min
  5. A CLEANR Way to Wash with Max Pennington

    07/24/2025

    A CLEANR Way to Wash with Max Pennington

    Send us a text Did you know that laundry is the #1 source of microplastic pollution? With every load of laundry, millions of tiny plastic particles come off our synthetic clothes, down the drain, and into our waterways. In this episode, we speak with Max Pennington, Co-Founder and CEO of CLEANR. Max and his partners may have the solution to plastic pollution we've been looking for. His Cleveland-based company recently launched a patented filter that captures up to 90% of all microplastics from your washing machine before they enter the drain. Max developed this breakthrough technology with fellow engineering students Chip Miller and David Dillman within the Sears think[box], an innovation lab at Case Western Reserve University.  Their VORTX filter design was inspired by the gills of fish, specifically by the way manta rays and basking sharks filter feed. This biomimicry-based design creates a vortex that keeps the filter from clogging while effectively capturing harmful microplastics. These young entrepreneurs recently launched their company CLEANR, with a filter that easily attaches to any washing machine.  Hear how Max and his partners plan to bring this technology to market. Their CLEANR filter is currently available as an external washing machine attachment for $299. The ultimate goal is to integrate it directly into washing machines, making microplastic filtration as standard as lint traps in dryers. The company is also exploring applications beyond laundry, including whole-home water filtration to protect against microplastics entering our bodies through drinking water.  Capturing microplastics before they enter our waterways could be a real game-changer, especially if supported by legislators and policymakers. Would they go for it? Max thinks so. Already, five U.S. states have introduced legislation requiring microplastic filters on washing machines, with similar momentum building in Europe.  With synthetic fibers from our clothing accounting for 35% of all plastic pollution in our water systems, the implications extend far beyond environmental protection. Recent studies have found alarming connections between microplastics in the human body and increased risk of heart disease and other health conditions. These plastic particles have been discovered in human blood, brains, and even the placentas of newborn babies. With an estimated 22 million pounds of microplastic particles entering the Great Lakes annually, the Cleaner team aims to make Cleveland "ground zero in the fight against microplastic pollution," tackling it one laundry load at a time. Learn More: About our Guest, Max Pennington, Co-Founder and CEO of CLEANR About CLEANR About buying a CLEANR Filter  About Sears think[box]  About microplastics and laundry  About Microplastics and the Great Lakes   Support the show Support Eco Speaks CLE Follow us: https://www.facebook.com/ecospeakscle https://www.instagram.com/ecospeakscle Contact us: hello@ecospeakscle.com

    31 min
  6. Inlet Dance Theatre- Using Dance to Further People and Sustainability

    07/08/2025

    Inlet Dance Theatre- Using Dance to Further People and Sustainability

    Send us a text Inlet Dance Theatre is a modern dance company in Cleveland, founded in 2001 by our guest, Bill Wade, a renowned dancer and choreographer who uses the power of dance to further people and explore human, societal, and environmental issues through movement. Located within the Pivot Center for Art, Dance and Expression on West 25th Street in Cleveland, Inlet's Dance Studio is called The Estuary, reflecting the company's nature-based and sustainability themes.  Inlet's mission aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, which promote health and well-being, quality education, equality, and sustainable cities. Deeply rooted in Cleveland, Inlet is helping nurture and grow the next generation of artists by offering free dance classes in public schools and other community programs. Bill explains that talent is everywhere, but access to developing that talent is not. He started Inlet to expose urban youth to the power of the arts and provide opportunities, mentorship, and creative expression to individuals who might otherwise lack access.  The connection between dance and sustainability may seem unexpected, but the arts are universally relatable and offer a unique opportunity to promote environmental awareness. "Don't put on stage what is. Put on stage what could be," Wade says, capturing how art contributes to sustainability by envisioning possibilities rather than dwelling on problems. In a world facing climate change and social inequities, Inlet Dance Theater reminds us that sustainability isn't just technical solutions – it requires creative spaces where we can collectively imagine and embody more hopeful futures. Enjoy this episode of Eco Speaks CLE as Bill describes his work, his creative process, some of the pieces in his repertoire, his love of Cleveland and its youth, and upcoming appearances for his company.  Guest:  Bill Wade, Founder and Executive/Artistic Director of Inlet Dance Theatre  Resources: About Inlet Dance Theatre and Upcoming Performances Education and Community Programs  Cain Park Annual Performance and Calendar of Events Aim2Flourish and The Lavender Project Support the show Support Eco Speaks CLE Follow us: https://www.facebook.com/ecospeakscle https://www.instagram.com/ecospeakscle Contact us: hello@ecospeakscle.com

    36 min
  7. Rid-All Green Partnership and Cleveland's Food Revolution

    06/10/2025

    Rid-All Green Partnership and Cleveland's Food Revolution

    Send us a text In this episode, we head to the Rid-All Farm to speak with Keymah Durden, a co-founder of Rid-All Green Partnership. What was once a notorious dumping ground in Cleveland's "Forgotten Triangle", the farm is now one of the largest minority-owned urban farms and a nationally recognized model for urban agriculture, environmental stewardship, and resilience. In this episode, Keymah talks about how Rid-All is growing communities and changing Lives.  Rid-All was originally a pest control company started by farm co-founder Damien Forsche. As he worked in public housing projects, Damien observed some things, including what people were eating - unhealthy, processed food due to a lack of access to fresh food and nutrition education. This sparked a dream of bringing a farm to Cleveland's Kinsman neighborhood that would fill that void. That was in 2010. That dream is now a 26-acre campus in Cleveland's Urban Agriculture Innovation Zone.  The name Rid-All stands for Redeem, Integrity, and Determination for All Mankind. Tragically, Damien passed away in 2018, but his partners continue to expand the Rid-All mission to honor his legacy and train the next generation of farmers. Carrying on the farming traditions of their African ancestors is central to Rid-All's mission. And that is what makes it truly special. They are not just growing food; they are rebuilding community connections, honoring cultural traditions, and creating pathways to health, prosperity, and circularity.  Join us for a meaningful conversation about farming, soil, raising fish, sequestering carbon, celebration, music, learning, health, and the intersection of all these topics. Then go to the farm for Taco Tuesday or Fish Friday in the Rid-All Community Kitchen to experience this special place for yourself.   Guest:  Keymah Durden, Farmer and Co-Founder of Rid-All Green Partnership Learn More: Meet the Rid-All Partners Training programs Youth programs Videos Support the show Support Eco Speaks CLE Follow us: https://www.facebook.com/ecospeakscle https://www.instagram.com/ecospeakscle Contact us: hello@ecospeakscle.com

    46 min
  8. NEO Youth Climate Summit Keynote with Sage Lenier

    05/06/2025

    NEO Youth Climate Summit Keynote with Sage Lenier

    Send us a text On Friday, April 11, over 300 high school students from across northeast Ohio gathered for the 2025 NEO Youth Climate Summit, hosted by Laurel School and Global Shapers Cleveland. The event brought students together to discuss and collaborate on solutions for climate change, sustainability, and environmental justice. The summit was kicked off with a keynote address by a young climate activist, Sage Lenier. Sage was honored by TIME Magazine as a 2023 Next Generation Leader. She started teaching about climate change while still a student at UC Berkeley and has since founded her own non-profit, Sustainable and Just Future.  In this episode, we share her message to the students. Hear what one Gen Z'er has to say to young environmental leaders about meeting the future with excitement and innovative solutions. And hear from Angela Yeager, a teacher whose students in Laurel School's Environmental Justice Semester planned the event. Organizers called it a "beaming light for young people demanding change in the face of the climate crisis." And it was.    Support the show Support Eco Speaks CLE Follow us: https://www.facebook.com/ecospeakscle https://www.instagram.com/ecospeakscle Contact us: hello@ecospeakscle.com

    37 min
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5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

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. 

Information

  • Creator
    Diane Bickett and Greg Rotuno
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    81
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 ECO SPEAKS CLE
  • Show Website
    ECO SPEAKS CLE