The Biofriendly Podcast

We wanted to extend a huge heartfelt thank you to all of you out there that have listened, supported and shared The Biofriendly Podcast over the past 5 years. We've spent this year writing, filming and developing our new uplifting series called "Upward Spiral" which has finally ARRIVED! You can watch it on YouTube, but we've also made a podcast version if that's still your jam. As you know, The Biofriendly Podcast focused on how we could work together to help clean our planet, but we wanted to shift our focus to the listener's experience of the world and try to elevate human nature and launch everyone into the UPWARD SPIRAL! You'll hear the same silly banter as before, but the show has grown immensely and we are incredibly proud. Thank you for a wonderful 5 years!  The Biofriendly Podcast (2019-2024)

Won't you be my sustainable neighbor? In a world full of smartphones, Zoom calls, and digital workspaces, the opportunity to build a community in the world around us has become increasingly difficult. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we list off 10 steps for creating a sustainable neighborhood, discuss the art of candle shopping, and has Jacob been a spy this entire time?

It's Mother's Day weekend and some of you are out there scrambling to find a last minute gift for your amazing mom... shame on you! But have no fear, we've got your back with some environmentally friendly ideas that will show her how much you care without breaking the bank. This week we list off some creative gift ideas from our very own Biofriendly Planet, find out why Jacob was traumatized by alarm sheets, and will this episode get us a free XBOX?!

Do you know what a healthy coral reef sounds like? Well fish and underwater life sure do, and scientists have discovered that harnessing this sweet sound could be the key to saving damaged reefs. Join us this week as we ponder the generational philosophy of The Goonies, follow Noel's vitamin regimen, and talk about underwater neighborhood gentrification. 

The cicadas are coming! What ever do we do?! In a rare occurrence, a trillion cicadas from two different broods will fly in the skies over the Midwest and Southeast regions of the U.S. in the end of April, but have no fear! Cicadas are harmless and actually very good for our environment. Join us for a famously tangential Biofriendly Podcast full of Shakespearean quips and portable office cuisine as we eventually find our way to this historic swarm of cicada broods. 

You won't believe the amount of toilet paper we use every year, especially in the United States. In an effort to reduce the amount of Canadian forest we rely upon to wipe our sweet patooties, startups are springing up all over the place with treeless toilet paper-- but what does that mean? Toilet humor takes center stage in this week's Biofriendly Podcast where we give a crap about everything from wiping our behinds to winning a game of darts for chocolate. 

As Gen Z begins to enter the workforce, you may be surprised to hear that trades like plumbing and electrical are on the rise. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we talk about how everything from skyrocketing college tuition to job longevity are influencing the younger generation, and did Tom DeLonge from Blink-182 stop by the show to sing a few songs? 

In the city of Cleveland, thousands of homes are abandoned and a growing concern has risen amongst residents.... waste! Yet, one solution that might also rise to the occasion are house hungry mushrooms ready to devour these dilapidated domiciles. However on this week's Biofriendly Podcast, we ponder if there isn't a better way to handle the empty houses, we circle back on the size of nuclear waste, and we continue the fight to save America! 

"Build Your Dreams," is embossed on a small EV called the Seagull being made in China-- and the most extraordinary feature is that it costs just under 10 grand! The only problem? We cannot get them imported here in the United States... BUT, this new design by BYD in China is forcing all the major car manufacturers around the world to dream up something better and cheaper and fast! This week, we discuss the pros and cons of a 'cheapy EV' and how this could transform the auto industry for good. 

Is the Anthropocene an epoch or just a blip on the map of geological time? There are two sides to every story and a group of timekeeper scientists are quarreling over how we label this era of human intervention. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we dig into this scientific debate only to discover that the molten lava at it's core might just be a... meat pie?!

This week we're talking about SMRs- no, not ASMR, but in fact Small Modular Reactors which could provide no-emission energy in a big way. Currently most SMRs are used underwater in submarines or floating around on boats, but can we take this nuclear tech to more people on land in a safe, reliable way. Tune in to find out why the U.S. is racing to stay on top of SMR's, how we can unite the world with funk, and did we get the ghost of George Gaynes on the show?

Most major cities have a pothole problem. With everything from fluctuating temperatures to flooding and drought, it's tough to keep our modern day roads patched up. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we share some creative innovation out of the UK with self-healing roads, graphene asphalt and why in the world did we bring Maroon 5 into this mess? You'll have to listen and find out! 

Nearly a decade ago, California decided that they had to do something about the ever-growing plastic bag problem. The solution? Well, let's just say it wasn't the best idea and the disastrous end result was predicted by our very own Noel-stradamus! Join us this week as we dream up new ways to fix the big bag backlash. 

Archeologists have discovered a submerged great plain in the North Sea region that could unlock the secrets of a prehistoric civilization that existed nearly 8,200 years ago! But they better hurry up and swim since this same region has been selected as a future wind farm to expand green energy infrastructure. Now it's a race against time to see if we can salvage an ancient civilization as we try to save our own planet. 

As most auto manufacturers have been quick to switch to Electric Vehicles, Toyota has been keeping themselves busy as they wait patiently in the EV wings. But what have they been up to? This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we explore why everything from range anxiety to price is keeping EV at bay, what Toyota plans to do about it, and do we have the berries it takes to wait for the right EV solution?

I know what you're thinking...  We told you that this podcast was coming to an end, but oh boy do we have a surprise for you! Listen this week to find out why we're back to our old shenanigans, why the environmental doom and gloom websites might be changing their tune, and what does it all mean for the future of our planet!

A time honored tradition, we welcome Shawn Kohne back to share his list of Upward Spiral worthy media from 2023.

If we are trying to rebuild coral reefs in our ocean, what would make the best starter kit? This week on the last episode of The Biofriendly Podcast, we try to figure out why pear trees are the best candidate, why we should not be using decommissioned ships, and why it just wouldn't be the show without Noel interrupting Jacob in song. Thanks for the past 241 episodes! 

Volcanoes are erupting all over the news some are causing earthquakes and evacuations in Iceland, and another in Japan is forming a new island. This week on the Biofriendly Podcast we explore how this hot magma is changing our planet, ponder if we can name the short-lived new island, and we consider releasing all 240 episodes on Laserdisc. 

If you missed last week's episode, then you missed our announcement that The Biofriendly Podcast (as it is) is making an exciting transformation into a new show! We won't give away all the details yet, but make sure to listen and learn more about where things are headed, hear some of the surprises, and get ready for us to elevate human nature. Don't change that dial!

After nearly five years on the air, The Biofriendly Podcast presents a surprising twist that will unravel everything you know about this podcast. You don't want to miss this week's episode with an ending that will SHOCK YOU!

While electric vehicles take over the roads and legislation aims to ban fossil fuels, one must wonder if all this mining of minerals comes at a high price for our planet? This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we uncover a treasure trove of lithium on our very own U.S. soil, but the whereabouts of this valuable resource might be off-limits.

Can it be that ghosts occur naturally in the environment? From trapped angry energy stored in stones to vibrating eyeballs that tell a different story, we bust these ghostly tales wide open in this special Halloween episode of The Biofriendly Podcast.

Did you know that zombies are real?! This week on our 'fun-sized' Halloween episode of The Biofriendly Podcast, we ravenously devour into the scientific facts of zombie ants, infected snails and mindless mice. Find out the horrifying truth about what makes a zombified ant shake it's gaster in the air like it just don't care. 

Did you know that seaweed absorbs way more CO2 than rainforests, but unfortunately billions of tonnes are washing up on beaches in the Gulf of Mexico because of our changing climate. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we take the plunge into a bizarre 'Roomba meets Pac-man' device designed to collect seaweed and sink it to the bottom of the ocean, and we are pleasantly surprised when a cast of famous characters turn up on this episode.

Although a tiny slip of paper might not seem like a big deal when it comes to the environment, a new bill in California aims to permanently switch to digital receipts. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we look into why these proofs of purchase are getting into landfills and under your skin, what we can do to prevent them, and what is the official verdict on pumpkin spice?

It's easy to get overwhelmed with what we can and cannot eat when it comes to a healthy diet, and factoring in how it affects our environment makes it even more complicated. But hey, if we are going to heal the planet together, we've got to be fed, right? This week we share a few delicious foods that you can enjoy without feeling guilty as they can be good for you, we review our recent trip to Orlando, and why are some of us thinking about the Roman Empire?

Once the autumn leaves begin to fall we all reach for the rake and start to clean them all up, but this year... don't bother! Unless of course your plan is to rake them into a perfect jumping pile, then by all means go for it. But there are plenty of good nutrients in those fallen leaves to help your soil, and letting them lie is the best way they can get into the ground. So join us for this week's Biofriendly Podcast where we sing a little song about leaving them be, share the best ways to embrace the fall foliage, and is Honey I Shrunk the Kids a documentary?

The wine industry is going through a lot of changes now that we have to re-think our farming strategies in certain regions, but not all of it is bad news. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we choose a bottle of red and a bottle of white to sip on new scientific data, see how people are rethinking wine bottles, and how are you supposed to find the right sustainable brand when you go shopping?

We were inspired by a recent story about one young man's creative use for discarded vape batteries, so we decided to plug in to exactly where we are with electronic waste and what is being done to prevent it from growing. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we talk about Apple and the right to repair, how being a gear-head is making a comeback with gadgets, and who exactly is Woobly McSquibs? 

On our debut episode of the Biofriendly Podcast we talked about plastic straws and how avoiding them could be helpful for the environment, but now a team of scientists have been hard at work in creating the perfect paper straw that won't get soggy. Tune in as we take a sip out of the subject 200 years later, discuss why some research takes priority over others, and what happened in Los Angeles during Hurricane Hilary?

What are we supposed to do with glue? We've all heard the stories that your stick of glue is part Seabiscuit, but how much of the sticky stuff is made of natural or synthetic ingredients? This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we talk about where glue first firmed up, some adhesive advancements and how Elmer's is married to milk. 

It's summertime and the heat is on, so go ahead and fire up that grill too for some delicious backyard BBQ. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we discuss the environmental differences between charcoal, gas and electric grills, and what you can do to make sure your food and the air around you stays clean. So grab some tongs and click them twice before letting this episode sizzle, make sure you keep your grills as long as possible, and don't miss our classic story about breakfast in Germany.

It's been reported that July 2023 was the hottest month in our recorded history, so where do we go from here? On this week's episode of The Biofriendly Podcast we talk about some of the science behind measuring our weather from thousands of years ago, what we can do about this heat, and did Sammy Hagar create the perfect metaphor for our Earth's climate? Subscribe to The Biofriendly Podcast: https://www.biofriendlyplanet.com

Shark populations off US coasts are slowly rebounding and that's great news! Before you cue the Jaws theme and swim back to shore, this week's episode of The Biofriendly Podcast is all about embracing sharks and learning why you shouldn't be afraid of them. Join us as we explore why sharks are crucial for our ocean's ecosystem, what to do if you come face-to-face with one, and are Noel and Jacob opening up a new place called Disco Sushi? Subscribe to The Biofriendly Podcast: https://www.biofriendlyplanet.com

It's time to bid farewell to the incandescent bulb once and for all as we usher in an era of LED lights that strive to last the longest. But what will be the next creative invention to light our way into the future? This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we talk about the brilliant minds crafting efficient bulbs, how bacteria could one day illuminate a room, and are Noel and Jacob the last two kind Highlanders?

When you look up at the night sky full of stars, you might not be able to see all the space junk... but Houston, we definitely have a problem! As we continue to put more satellites into our low-Earth orbit, we increase the amount of decomissioned clutter floating around which is adding up fast. This week we blast off into some space age solutions for galactic garbage, discuss the pros and cons of space tugs, and do our best Roy Orbison impression. 

Can a lotus flower help create a self-cleaning house? Are termite dens the new hip office spaces? And what does a beaver have to do with furry wetsuits? This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we discuss several innovative examples of biomimicry, why engineers deserve more credit, and finally why is Gilbert Nets banned from the Great Barrier Reef? 

Bizarre weather events are causing gigantic hail stones that have earned an intimidating nickname, and those urban street trees might want the rest of your caramel macchiato! This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we continue our summer nugget series with a double whammy of environmental stories as we talk about what's causing this 'gorilla hail,' why your neighborhood trees are not getting the water they need, and why you should never create a non-dairy dairy farm. Subscribe to The Biofriendly Podcast: https://www.biofriendlyplanet.com

Hang ten with a reduced carbon footprint, brah! Everyone knows that surfers are in tune with nature, but the wetsuit and surfboard industry has room for improvement. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we ride the wave of companies leading the way with green alternatives, why neoprene is the villain, and were we plagued by accessories in the 1980s?? Subscribe to The Biofriendly Podcast: https://www.biofriendlyplanet.com

Certain types of fungi can make up a vast network of carbon storage for our planet, which is why researchers are pleading that these little Mycorrhizal miracles be spared. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we talk about the importance of symbiotic relationships in nature, how the fungal network is important in more ways than one, and why Noel and Jacob would happily give up their bodies to sentient fungus so they can finally take a break and relax. 

We continually discover new things about the world around us, and that even goes for simple creatures like the worm-- which might not be as simple as we thought! Turns out that worms are making complex decisions which could change the way we understand how behaviors are relevant to an animal's natural life. Join us this week for our first 'Summer Nugget' series of The Biofriendly Podcast where we talk about the science of worms and how they might be better at making decisions than people!  

A deep-sea mining hotspot in the ocean known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone has uncovered 5,000 new species from a recent expedition, which raises concerns about disturbing this unique ecosystem. This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we learn about some of these new discoveries, teach about the dangers of mining with an Irish jig, and celebrate the triumphant return of Veronica to the podcast! Subscribe to The Biofriendly Podcast: https://www.biofriendlyplanet.com

Airships are making a comeback! With the increased pressure to reduce our CO2 emissions from air travel and the complications of electrifying a plane, companies are emerging with new ideas for these floating giants. This week we weigh the benefits of helium versus hydrogen, more ways to get our shipped goods into the skies, and will a soulful R&B jam convince Veronica to return to the podcast?

A scientific study recently revealed that our plants are making audible sounds when distressed, which changes the way we perceive how organic material is communicating to the living world around them. On this week's Biofriendly Podcast we explore how these sounds are caused, why lab testing can be like a horror movie, and are Noel and Jacob moving into an apartment together? Subscribe to The Biofriendly Podcast: https://www.biofriendlyplanet.com

After centuries of overfishing and bottom trawling, oyster populations in Scotland have dwindled in the Dornoch Firth. Thanks to a partnership between Glenmorangie distillery and a group of marine scientists and conservationists, they will restore oysters to the area which will not only improve water quality and biodiversity, but also help us pronounce Glenmorangie the correct way, and protect all the cute oysters from harm! Subscribe to The Biofriendly Podcast: https://www.biofriendlyplanet.com

By now you've seen countless articles about AI (artificial intelligence) getting out of hand as things like ChatGPT are driving this so-called 'robot revolution.' But before you climb into your underground bunker fearful of the rise of machines, check out this week's Biofriendly Podcast where we discuss some of the ways AI can be good for humanity, why it's more important to keep your eyes on the humans utilizing these tools, and did Jacob lose all of his mustache super powers? Subscribe to The Biofriendly Podcast: https://www.biofriendlyplanet.com

Originating in the UK, 'No Mow May' aims to pause mowing during the month of May, allowing flowers to bloom in your lawn to help early season pollinators. Since the viral trend is now gaining traction in North America, we decided to discuss some of the pros and cons, explore alternative lawn care methods, and do we need to build a Motel 6 for bees? Subscribe to The Biofriendly Podcast: https://www.biofriendlyplanet.com

Happy Earth Day! To celebrate the 53rd year of Earth Day on April 22nd, Jacob decided to bring in a pop quiz about this year's theme, "Invest in our Planet." Things take a wild turn as Noel gets worked into a frenzy by corporate jargon and the floodgates break open about some of the frustrating aspects of the green business. As we work together to change our world, we hope to be a beacon of light in a gloomy environment and have a good laugh about the things that drive us crazy.

We all know that glitter can add pizzazz to your party, but these tiny shimmering sparkles may be more of a problem for our planet than you thought! This week on The Biofriendly Podcast we talk about just how much waste this nano-plastic leaves behind, share some unusual glitter alternatives, and are the boys bad at Dungeons & Dragons?