In Tune to Nature Podcast

Holiday Wellness Gift Giving: Green, Vegan, & Natural Gift Ideas to Support Health

Host Carrie Freeman provides ideas for green, vegan, natural, & affordable holiday gifts to support health and wellness during this pandemic. This 25 minute "In Tune to Nature" podcast was also broadcast on 89.3FM Atlanta on Radio Free Georgia, Nov. 25th 2020. 

She shares her nutrient dense smoothie seed mix, and recommends micro-green and herbal tea growing gifts, specific whole foods plant based diet cookbooks like Eat to Live, Forks Over Knives, How Not to Die, Plant Strong, Plant Pure Nation, and Oh She Glows, or magazines like Veg News, nutmilk makers, and natural and cruelty-free skincare and household cleaners (for a non-toxic home). These gifts are great ways to show your friends and family that you care about them as well as the planet and fellow animals. 

You can listen to In Tune to Nature every Wednesday from 6:30-7pm EST on wrfg.org and keep track of guests and action items at our show website at www.facebook.com/intunetonature  

Take care of yourself and others, include other species.

Recycling and Replacing Plastics: Ctr for Hard to Recycle Materials in Atlanta

Peggy Whitlow Ratcliffe, Exec Dir & Founder of Live Thrive Atlanta explains today's plastic recycling market and what can be recycled at the Atlanta CHARM facility (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials) and what happens to plastics when they leave the center (some gets recycled into carpeting and foam insulation). With "In Tune to Nature" radio host Carrie Freeman, Peggy discusses how and why manufacturers and governments should facilitate replacement materials that are biodegradable and don't end up polluting the oceans for hundreds of years, killing wildlife, or filling up landfills permanently. We consumers are overloaded with plastics (some of which are non-recyclable) and need sustainable materials instead. In the meantime we should try to avoid plastics, especially #3, #7, and styrofoam, and recycle what we do use.

Georgians can make an appointment to visit the CHARM facility (south of Grant Park in Atlanta) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays to recycle items like plastics, glass, electronics, hazardous materials, clothing, mattresses, etc. at LiveThrive.org  

This "In Tune to Nature" show on plastic recycling and replacement aired on Wed. Nov 11, 2020 on wrfg.org (Radio Free Georgia) and 89.3FM-Atlanta. Carrie Freeman hosts this eco-and-animal-friendly show twice monthly. The show's website is www.facebook.com/intunetonature  

Take care of yourself and others, including other species.

WWF Recipe for a PLANET-Based Diet to Curb Extinction: With Dr. Melissa Ho

WWF's Living Planet Report 2020 indicates agriculture and food are key drivers of continued species decline, so they developed a plan to shift humanity toward a restorative PLANET-based diet and food system. "In Tune to Nature" radio host Carrie Freeman interviews Dr. Melissa Ho, Sr. VP of Freshwater and Food at the World Wildlife Fund to discuss these environmental impacts and the WWF recipe for change at the individual level and systems level (ex: regenerative farming and government policies on ag and nutrition that also take environmental impacts into account, for a more comprehensive account of human health). (25 minute podcast)

See the WWF food report at https://planetbaseddiets.panda.org/ 

This radio show originally aired on October 28, 2020 on WRFG.org and 89.3FM-Atlanta. In Tune to Nature is broadcast every Wednesday from 6:30-7pm EST, on the indie media station Radio Free Georgia. Consider donating to non-commercial independent community media at wrfg.org.  The show's website is www.facebook.com/intunetonature 

Protecting Scientific Integrity from Federal Politics: Dr. Jacob Carter with the Union of Concerned Scientists

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and Biologist Dr. Jacob Carter recently published detailed recommendations to protect federal employees who work with scientific data to drive decision-making, to ensure that partisan politics or a culture of fear over losing jobs doesn't hinder them from independently serving the public interest in protecting the health of humans and the environment. The path to shore up scientific integrity in U.S. Federal Government Agencies is outlined in the UCS 2020 report: "Roadmap to Science in Decision-Making" and is discussed in this 25 minute podcast by UCS biologist Dr. Jacob Carter with host Carrie Freeman for Radio Free Georgia's "In Tune to Nature" radio show, to air October 14, 2020.

If you support scientific integrity measures and the use of science in decision-making (like with climate change and pollutants and public lands), contact your Congressional legislators and mention this UCS report and the "Scientific Integrity Act." Environmental scientists at our federal agencies (like the EPA and the Dept of Energy or Dept of the Interior) need to be able to do their jobs without political interference from whomever holds power in the White House. See here examples of many attacks on science, mainly during trump's reign.

In Tune to Nature is long-running eco and animal-protection show (hosted by Carrie Freeman and Sonia Swartz) that aims to increase your environmental literacy and give you info you need to know to be a responsible environmental citizen. It airs every Wednesday at 6:30 - 7pm EST on Atlanta's 89.3FM and streams worldwide on wrfg.org. Keep up with guests and action items at www.facebook.com/intunetonature 

Voting in GA 2020 Election: Interview with Brionte McCorkle with GA Conservation Voters

In prep for the Nov 3, 2020 election (GA has 2 U.S. Senate Seats on the ballot), we review early voting options in Georgia, such as how to request a mail-in (absentee) ballot (ideally no later than October 1st); or to find early voting polling locations in your county from Oct 12 - 28th (and what counts as valid ID). This  Georgia My Voter page  helps you check your registration status (Oct 5th is registration deadline) and find early voting locations   Another good resource is GoVoteGA.org (for volunteering and for help with voting).

Brionte McCorkle, Exec Director of Georgia Conservation Voters talks with "In Tune to Nature" radio host Carrie Freeman for this 24-minute radio show that aired on 89.3FM wrfg.org in Atlanta on Sept 23rd.

To research Georgia candidates' voting record on environmental protection legislation, see this Environmental Scorecard   It's hard not to notice that most Democrats score much higher than most Republicans. 

Protecting National Wildlife Refuges from Mining & Drilling: Interview with George Nickas of Wilderness Watch

The Okefenokee Natl Wildlife Refuge wetland in Georgia is fending off a potential titanium mine and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska continues to be threatened by oil and gas drilling disrupting caribou and bird nurseries. George Nickas, Exec. Dir. of Wilderness Watch, explains the unified efforts of environmental organizations and citizen groups working to defend these precious natural wilderness areas from damaging industrial extractions that fail to provide a "refuge" for wildlife. This 25-minute interview, by host Carrie Freeman of In Tune to Nature, aired on Sept 9, 2020.

In Tune to Nature airs live Wednesdays from 6:30-7pm EST on radio station 89.3FM-Atlanta and worldwide on wrfg.org (Radio Free Georgia, non-commercial independent radio). The show's website is www.facebook.com/intunetonature 

See also https://protectokefenokee.org/ The Okefenokee Protection Alliance

Media Representation of Veganism and Farmed Animals: An Interview with Gene Baur of Farm Sanctuary

Gene Baur, author and President of Farm Sanctuary, discusses insights on journalistic coverage of farmed animals, vegans, and veganism, as well as the animal agribusiness industry's advertising and marketing tactics. Gene and interviewer Carrie Freeman (radio host, media professor, and coauthor of AnimalsandMedia.org guidelines) also discuss respectful language to use to describe fellow animals. 27 minute podcast. Recorded in November 2019. USA.
www.farmsanctuary.org    www.animalsandmedia.org

In Tune to Nature airs live Wednesdays from 6:30-7pm EST on radio station 89.3FM-Atlanta and worldwide on wrfg.org (Radio Free Georgia, non-commercial independent radio). The show's website is www.facebook.com/intunetonature 

How & Why to Respect Fish: A new campaign from In Defense of Animals

"The planet's most abused animals can't run or scream" --they are the trillions of individual fishes we hook, suffocate, farm, eat, experiment on, or breed and keep in captivity in tanks. In Defense of Animals is championing the cause of these misunderstood aquatic beings at Respectforfish.org  August 1st 2020 was the first "Respect for Fish Day" supported by a large coalition of groups. Fleur Dawes of In Defense of Animals discusses why and how to show respect for fish (especially focusing on experimentation and the pet trade), in this 26-minute podcast with host Carrie Freeman of In Tune to Nature, which originally aired Aug. 12, 2020. 

In Tune to Nature airs live Wednesdays from 6:30-7pm EST on radio station 89.3FM-Atlanta and worldwide on wrfg.org (Radio Free Georgia, non-commercial independent radio). The show's website is www.facebook.com/intunetonature 

Animal Activism in the time of Covid and Black Lives Matter

In this unique time, Atlanta animal activists Christopher Eubanks (Atlanta Save Movement) (shown in photo), and Melody Paris (Georgia Animal Rights & Protection) and Carrie Freeman (PEACE Club at GSU) discuss animal rights and vegan activism strategies for this pandemic era, related to what messages we should use to connect zoonotic diseases like Covid-19 to the meat trade and animal exploitation, and how we can still be effective activists in the shadow of Covid while "social distancing." The latter half of the show covers how animal activists can sincerely support the Black Lives Matter movement to continue its momentum toward social justice in this special moment.  

We conducted this 45 minute interview In July 2020 for a double radio show combining Second Opinion Radio (which Melody hosts) and In Tune to Nature (which Carrie hosts) on WRFG (Radio Free Georgia); the show originally aired on July 29, 2020 on wrfg.org 89.3FM radio.  

Consider supporting this progressive, independent radio station: Radio Free Georgia. Thank you.

Racism & Injustice in Agribusiness: Interview with Food Empowerment Project Founder lauren Ornelas

Food justice activist lauren Ornelas explains how to combat environmental racism and other human rights violations in factory farms, slaughterhouses, and plant-crop farm systems that often mistreat and exploit farm workers, many of them immigrants and people of color. Ornelas founded and runs the Food Empowerment Project. Their website www.foodispower.org outlines so many food injustice issues facing humans as well as farmed animals and how consumers can help agricultural workers (including advocating for a living wage and fighting slave labor conditions) and eat ethically (including vegan foods, fair trade, organic, and local). This 22 minute interview was conducted in July 2020 by host Carrie Freeman of In Tune to Nature.

Carrie and co-host Sonia Swartz have been hosting the In Tune to Nature program weekly for 10 years to advocate for eco and animal friendly values and practices. https://www.facebook.com/InTunetoNature/

This radio show airs on July 22, 2020 on 89.3FM-Atlanta and on wrfg.org. Consider supporting this progressive, independent radio station: Radio Free Georgia. Thank you.

End U.S. Trophy Hunting: Why & How. An Interview with Born Free USA's Angela Grimes

Angela Grimes of Born Free USA dispels the myths that American trophy hunters use to justify so much unnecessary killing of wild animals (even endangered species). She explains how trophy hunting is not only cruel but harmful to the ecosystems and the family/community of that individual animal killed. And most of the money earned does not go to local communities, who would benefit more economically from ecotourism that values the long lives (not the deaths) of these charismatic larger species like bears, lions, tigers, crocodiles, elephants, buffalo, rhino, hippos, zebra, giraffes, and others who are slaughtered for sport and egotistical taxidermy displays. In this 22-minute interview with host Carrie Freeman for Radio Free Georgia's "In Tune to Nature" program in early July of 2020, Angela discusses what Born Free USA is doing (with the help of us as activists) to promote federal policies (like the CECIL Act in Congress) to remove loopholes that trophy hunters use to import body parts from endangered species into the USA. Their website with action items is here https://www.bornfreeusa.org/trophyhunting/

Carrie and co-host Sonia Swartz have been hosting the In Tune to Nature program weekly for 10 years to advocate for eco and animal friendly values and practices. https://www.facebook.com/InTunetoNature/

This radio show airs on July 8, 2020 on 89.3FM-Atlanta and on wrfg.org. Consider supporting this progressive, independent radio station: Radio Free Georgia. Thank you.

Creating Environmental Justice: An Interview with Georgia Conservation Voters director Brionte McCorkle

Brionte McCorkle discusses the connection between racial injustice (disproportionately harming people of color from the pandemic and from police violence) and environmental degradation --- where the many issues overlap in a call for environmental justice. At Georgia Conservation Voters, a chapter of the League of Conservation Voters, they are working toward creating a more diverse and inclusive environmental movement and electorate to elect and hold accountable political leaders who will be responsive to the needs and interests of all Georgia voters in having clean energy, clean air, clean water, mass transit, a stable climate, and an overall healthier living environment for humans and wildlife. Brionte shares some examples pertinent to Metro Atlanta and Albany, Georgia. The group's website is GCVoters.org   This 24-minute interview was conducted by host Carrie Freeman (former professor of Brionte at GSU back in the day) for the "In Tune to Nature" radio show on Radio Free Georgia, in June of 2020.

In Tune to Nature airs live Wednesdays from 6:30-7pm EST on radio station 89.3FM (metro-Atlanta) and worldwide on wrfg.org (Radio Free Georgia, non-commercial independent radio). The show's website is www.facebook.com/intunetonature 

Protecting People from Pandemics by Protecting Animals: Interview with Dr. Aysha Akhtar

Aysha Akhtar, MD, MPH, is the author of “Animals & Public Health” and “Our Symphony with Animals.” And in this 23-minute interview she explains why by saving other animals, we save ourselves (the human animal), specifically in the context of how pandemics like Covid-19 are caused by our mistreatment of wild and domesticated animals in live animal markets and factory farms.

Interviewed by host Carrie Freeman for “In Tune to Nature” radio show on WRFG.org (Radio Free Georgia) on 89.3FM-Atlanta (airs Wednesday nights 6:30-7pm EST).

Websites: facebook.com/intunetonature  and  ayshaakhtar.com

Taking Extinction Off Our Plates: How Animal Agriculture Harms Wild Animals too

Host Carrie Freeman conducts a 23-minute interview with Dr. Jennifer Molidor, Sr. Food Campaigner, at The Center for Biological Diversity who runs their Take Extinction Off Your Plate campaign. She explains how the promotion of plant-based eating (an Earth Friendly Diet) is necessary to help wild animals, through reduction of: habitat loss and deforestation, pollution, climate change, and the killing/hunting of millions of America's wild animals by the federal 'Wildlife Services' agency at the behest of ranchers. Farmed animals are not the only animals harmed and killed by the unsustainable meat, milk, and egg industries. 

Find out ways to get involved at TakeExtinctionOffYourPlate.com or BiologicalDiversity.org to help save life on Earth.

Tune in to the "In Tune to Nature" radio show Wednesdays from 6:30-7pm EST on wrfg.org (Radio Free Georgia) and in Atlanta on 89.FM. Hosted by Carrie Freeman or Sonia Swartz.  www.facebook.com/intunetonature 

Ending the US Role in the Wildlife Trade and Pandemic Risks: An interview with Alice Stroud of Born Free USA

As the recognition increases for how trading wild animals is the cause of pandemics and many other harms, there is a political moment during this Covid-19 crisis to get legislation passed to end the USA's role in the destructive global wildlife trade. In this 23-minute podcast, "In Tune to Nature" host Carrie Freeman interviews attorney Alice Stroud, Director of Africa Policy & Capacity Building at Born Free USA, who explains what the wildlife trade looks like, who is involved (pangolins, sharks, turtles, tigers, etc), and how the United States can ban this trade and become integral to protecting wildlife and their habitats and, in turn, protecting humans from the spread of infectious diseases. Also see this presentation on what Born Free USA is doing in response to this pandemic crisis.

Find out ways to help #keepwildlifeinthewild at www.bornfreeusa.org to support compassionate conservation of wild animals.

Tune in to "In Tune to Nature" radio show Wednesdays from 6:30-7pm EST on wrfg.org (Radio Free Georgia) and in Atlanta on 89.FM. www.facebook.com/intunetonature