It’s my distinct pleasure to have as my guest now Reverend Sara D. Smith, President/CEO and Founder Of nOURish BRIDGEPORT, a volunteer-powered, food-centered, and community-anchored not-for-profit, she founded in 2010, providing direct service programs to the people of Bridgeport. These programs include a SUPER FOOD PANTRY serving 3,000 individuals each week, a BABY CENTER providing diapers and formula to 400 babies each month, a HOT MEAL Program feeding 300 hot healthy meals each week, English as a Second Language classes for 100 immigrants weekly, and the first non-profit INDOOR HYDROPONIC FARM in the state of Ct. with the exclusive purpose of distributing fresh healthy produce to the food insecure. In its first three years of production, nOURish has distributed 17 tons of fresh produce from its Farm all over the City of BPT. In addition Reverend Sara is also Senior Minister of the United Congregational Church of Bridgeport A 330 Year Old Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ and is the Protestant Chaplain Of Sacred Heart University Office of Mission Integration, Ministry, & Community Engagement.

First up this episode is Peter Linderoth, director of science and watersheds for Save the Sound's Healthy Waters Institute. Save the Sound is doing so many good things to take care of our fragile ecosystem the Long Island sound. He joins me today to tell us about the results of the 2025 bacteria monitoring season in the western Sound.

Then I talk to Tom Anderson, who is Director of communications at CT Audubon Society and editor of the Connecticut state of the birds report

We discuss the key issues that the Connecticut Audubon Society is concerned about.

Dr. Michael E. Mann Returns to "Digging in the Dirt ", for his 5th visit, to talk about his new book called, "Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World": it is cowritten with Dr. Pete Hotez the Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and professor of virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine. Much of this book points fingers very explicitly at some of the bad actors shaping the narratives around Climate Change and Vaccinations. The authors call them the different P's, plutocrats, petro-states, propagandists, pro’s and the press.

Secondly, I’m pleased to welcome to "Digging in the Dirt" the Co-director of the film "The little things that run the world ", Doug Hawes-Davis

The film delves into the story of how insects face unprecedented decline, their fate becomes a stark warning: that without them, neither we, nor the planet can endure. Even still, there is hope! The film is a survey of what E.O. Wilson, the man behind the half earth concept called, “THE LITTLE THINGS THAT RUN THE WORLD”, Insects.

This "Digging in the Dirt" starts off with Tom Anderson, who is Director of communications at CT Audubon Society and editor of the Connecticut state of the birds report. We talk about all the threats that our birds are facing. Habitat loss, pesticides, windows and feral cats.

Then joining me is Megan Clendenan author of The book Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault A recent review said of her book, "This tale has an unusual ecological theme that makes seed preservation not only an essential task, but a sacred one. A must-have story."

My first guest is Kelpie Wilson author of The Biochar Handbook, Kelpie researches and teaches techniques for using biochar in compost and manure management and presents many biochar workshops each year to farmers, foresters, and landowners.

Then Michael Garman the Development Coordinator at the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters joins me. The CTLCV's is a nonpartisan, nonprofit environmental organization that works across the state of CT on a myriad of environmental issues.

Then I talk to Allison Rugila Associate Soundkeeper for Save the Sound. Allison covers the western half of Long Island Sound (basically the Bridgeport-Port Jefferson line west into the western narrows of the city). Allison has been deeply involved with shellfish restoration.

First up this episode is Emily Sanders the senior reporter for ExxonKnews, a project of the Center for Climate Integrity covering fossil fuel industry practices……disinformation, lobbying, and dark money spending -- as well as efforts to hold major oil and gas companies accountable. ExxonKnews is a partner of the Covering Climate Now journalism collaborative, and Emily's climate accountability reporting has been co-published with other outlets including The Lever, Grist, DeSmog, and HEATED. (Emily wants you to know that the actual fine levied against Greenpeace was $660 million dollars)

Second, Allison Rugila has joined Save the Sound as Associate Soundkeeper, to cover the western half of Long Island Sound (basically the Bridgeport-Port Jefferson line west into the western narrows of the city. Allison has been deeply involved with shellfish restoration and has a PhD. In Ecology and Evolution from Stony Brook, where she studied the resilience of shellfish, such as Long Island Sound blue mussels, Shinnecock Bay quahog clams and bay scallops. Focusing on environmental stressors like sea water acidification and warming, and low dissolved oxygen conditions.

Next up Linley Dixon serves as a Farmer representative and Co-Director of the Real Organic Project. Linley owns a vegetable farm in Durango, Colorado, with her husband and daughter. Linley works tirelessly for quality real organic standards with the Real Organic Project. She is here to tell us about the Real Organic Projects upcoming conference in NY called "Saving Real Organic: Antitrust & Food".

My guests on my next Digging the dirt start with Eric Sepenoski. Eric is a fourth-generation farmer at Seps Farm in East Marion, NY, on Long Island's North Fork. He’s also is an elementary school teacher and serves as an elected Trustee for the Town of Southold—where he focuses on stewarding wetlands and protecting coastal features.

Then regular contributor to DITD Gloria Frazee of Rewild Long Island joins me to talk composting on Long Island.

Finally, Author Melissa Stewart joins me to talk about her new children's book about the mighty carbon atom. It's called

From BAM! to BURP! .

Jeff Masters meteorologist of the Yale climate connections talks about the heartbreaking tragedy of the recent Texas floods. It's A deeper look at how this happens and what is in store in the future .

Then I rebroadcast an interview with Wilton, Connecticut fire chief and emergency management Director James Blanchfield on what to do if you encounter swift running floodwaters while in your car, amongst other useful advice for emergency situations.