GMD: “Waterways to Airwaves” environmental podcast
DELMARVA – Recently 47 ABC met multimedia artists, activists, and husband and wife duo, James Harrell and Ilyana Kadushin who created a podcast called “No I know.” The podcast creates engaging conversations about art, science, society, and culture.
A recent grant from the City of Salisbury and the Chesapeake Bay Trust is being used to develop programming that will help podcast listeners understand more about the environment around them. So back in September, they kicked off a series called “Waterways to Airwaves.”
Harrell and Kadushin now travel around Maryland, working with different organizations, groups, and individuals who are helping to protect and restore the environment including the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. “What changes somebody’s mind is when they value something beyond just taking it for granted, like oh we drive around the eastern shore it’s so beautiful, but do you know all the people and all the organizations that are protecting it,” says Kadushin. Harrell adds, “We came down here four years ago from New York City, and we’ve thrown ourselves into the community, we’re just trying to figure out where we can help out, where we can support other non-profits. But at this point, we want to see this community thrive.”
Of the many people and organizations they’ve spoken with, we’re told they’ve gained a better understanding of the history of Delmarva. Such as the Strawberry Express, a train carrying strawberries from Fruitland to Philadelphia and New York.
Each episode focuses on what communities have done in the past and what they are doing now to become more connected both to each other and their local environments, in hopes of the next generation doing the same, and better. Kadushin tells us, “Green jobs, why volunteering for environmental organizations makes a difference, learning about things you never know about like aquaculture. Just really understand why we need to value these environmental organizations that are working so hard on our behalf and not take it for granted.” Harrell goes on to say, “We’re very interested in helping usher in the next generation and helping them out and navigate their way, not doing everything for them.”
Harrell and Kadushin also tell us, that beyond this series, they’re also looking to help the community find ways to engage the youth in community-related activities.
To learn more about the story or their podcast, visit their website. To listen to their podcasts, tune in on Saturdays at 11 a.m. on Delmarva Public Media WSDL 90.7, or download anywhere you get your podcasts.
