When the BioMass Hits the Wind Turbine

101 - Sugar Bush Foundation

In 2005, Mary Ann Flournoy inherited a great deal of money.  Her first reaction was to worry about how this sudden wealth might change her life for the worse - and nearly declined the bequest.  But her friends convinced her that she could do much good in the community with the money, and the Sugar Bush Foundation was born.

Annie and Jay Warmke are joined by Hylie Voss (Mary Ann's daughter) who is President of the Sugar Bush Foundation for a discussion of how this charitable organization came about and some of the projects they have funded.

100 - Working within the System to Change the System

Former congressman Zack Space (OH) joins Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for this milestone 100th episode of When the BioMass Hits the Wind Turbine. 

Congressman Space's experience in working within the US Congress as well as president of Sunday Creek Horizons - a strategic communications, issue advocacy and business development consulting firm - provides a unique perspective on the possibilities and challenges of trying to change the system from the inside.

099 - Die Like Your Life Depended on it

Hate to break it to you, but we are all going to die.  Yet the way we dispose of those final remains has become more and more unsustainable.

Cemeteries are full or filling up, cremation fills the skies with toxins and greenhouse gases, hundreds of thousands of cancer-causing fluids are pumped into dead bodies to make them look a bit more lifelike. 

So alternatives are increasingly the norm - from reusing graves to dissolving bodies in lye to paper coffins to home burials. 

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the problems associated with getting rid of our corpse and some possible solutions.

098 - Investing Sustainably

Increasingly, investors are asking not only how much money a project will generate, but what will be its impact on the community, the environment and the long term health and well being of those impacted by the venture.

Eli Flournoy, a director of the Sugar Bush Foundation, which was established in 2005 to improve the quality of life in Appalachian Ohio by encouraging civic engagement and by fostering sustainable environmental, socio-economic, and human development.

Eli joins Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station to discuss sustainable investing, the criteria they use in awarding funds, and the challenges faced by those trying to give away money responsibly.

097 - Resilient Community Development

In the 1950s city planners pretty much all thought that bigger was better.  More growth, more business... all good.

Then sometime in the 1970s folks started worrying about the boom bust cycle of development.  Planners began asking how development could be more sustainable.  Growing with the future in mind.

Now growth must be resilient, able to adapt and weather the certain storms of climate change, changing technologies, energy interruptions. 

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station and their guest, Myra Moss of the OSU Extension Office to discuss resilient and sustainable development within our communities.

096 - Does the Gig Economy work for you?

Over one-third of American workers are employed in what has come to be called the Gig Economy.  If you are between 18-35 years of age, more than half those working (53%) do not have a steady paycheck.

Gig workers get no sick leave, no medical, no paid vacations.  Yet the vast majority claim they would not trade the freedom this work situation provides for 'traditional' employment.

Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station and their guest, gig worker and graphic artist Ryan Evans for a discussions of the pros and cons of being a contract worker.

095 - Green New Deal

Ever since the Green New Deal was announced and introduced into Congress, it has been the subject of praise, scorn and confusion.  So just what is this legislation and how will it affect your life?

Studies show that 81% of Americans support it - and that 82% know little about it. 

Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by artist and activist Laurel Hobden for a discussion of how the Green New Deal may or may not affect your life.

094- Resiliency in Isolation

The Covid pandemic has forced many of us into isolation - separated from friends, relatives and even co-workers.  It has led to an increase in depression, substance abuse and a general feeling of discontent.  But some are actually thriving in isolation.

What tools are available to each and every one of us that will help make our "alone time" a bit more productive and, dare we say it, enjoyable?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of how to be resilient in the new normal of isolation.

093 - Internet of Things

For the past 30 years or so, the Internet has changed our lives in ways we could not have imagined.  It connected 7.5 billion people together regardless of time or distance.  But we ain't seen nothing yet.

The Internet of Things has already connected nearly 30 billion "things" together, and that number is poised to grow exponentially.  Is this amount of data bombarding us constantly sustainable?  Can our brains cope?  And have we become so technologically dependent that we are hopelessly disconnected to the world that we live in? 

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of how the Internet of Things will change our lives and our society - for better and worse.

092 - Thanks for Nothing

For the past decade or so, Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station have observed a three month period of non consumption - their Thanks for Nothing season.  It is a break from our consumer society, where they do not buy anything - and even turn off the electricity.

Find out what motivated this bizarre behavior and what lessons are learned - and how it has enriched their lives.