Shows
Everyday Green HomeWicked Problems - Transportation and How It Affects Us with Tony Pratte Wicked problems are significant issues with no single, straightforward answer, and they are everywhere! Transportation is a wicked problem that touches every aspect of our lives, whether we realize it or not. It affects what we have on our dinner tables, the clothes we wear, and everything we have inside our homes. It even affects where we work, how we get there, and how we spend our vacations. Yet, we tend to take it for granted. I'm Marla, the Green Home Coach, coming to you live from Shock City Studios in St. Louis, Missouri. I...2023-10-2529 min
Everyday Green HomeESG - Building Real Value or Political Lightning Rod with Tony Pratte In a world of evolving priorities and rapidly changing investment landscapes, three letters have ignited discussions that resonate far beyond the financial realm: ESG. Environmental, Social, and Governance is a trifecta of influence shaping how businesses get scrutinized, evaluated, and ultimately endorsed. ESG has grown into a juggernaut of consideration, designed ostensibly to gauge a company's commitment to the planet, its people, and its principles. However, as the spotlight has intensified, so have the debates surrounding its genuine impact. I'm Marla, the Green Home Coach, here to guide you in navigating the labyrinth of ESG wi...2023-08-2329 min
Everyday Green HomeYour Home is Watching You - Smart Homes and AI with Tony Pratte Artificial intelligence has become the buzzword of the century, permeating news headlines, chat platforms, and even our everyday browsing experiences. Its presence in our lives is undeniable, revolutionizing the world of computing and enhancing human existence in ways we could have only dreamed of! Amidst this AI revolution, another concept has been capturing our collective imagination for years- Smart Homes. I’m Marla, the Green Home Coach! Today, I am excited to delve into the realm of smart and connected homes with a true expert in the field! I have Tony Pratt from the Sound Room...2023-07-0532 min
Everyday Green HomeWicked Problems: "People-ism" - It's Really All About People with Tony PratteThe term wicked problems describes some of today's most challenging social issues. Wicked problems require a reframing of success because they might never be fully solved. Success with wicked problems means having an impact on or making a difference toward improved outcomes and reduced risk. Today, we dive into the wicked problem of people-ism. I’m Marla, the Green Home Coach! I am recording live at Shock City Studios with my co-host, Tony Pratte, today! People-ism I recently found a book on Amazon called PEOPLEism: A Re-emergence in the Belief in Peo...2022-09-1432 min
Everyday Green HomeWicked Problems - Consumerism and Buying with Values with Tony PratteThe term “wicked problems” describes some of the most challenging social issues of this time. Those problems require a reassessment of success because being successful with wicked problems means making a difference toward them or influencing improved results and diminished risk, even though the problem may never be fully solved. Consumerism, or focusing on economic improvement based on things people buy, could be another wicked problem. I’m Marla, the Green Home Coach! My co-host Tony Pratte and I are recording live today at Shock City Studios in downtown St. Louis Missouri! Challenges M...2022-08-1031 min
Everyday Green HomeWicked Problems - Infrastructure - Quality vs. Quantity with Tony PratteWe have some tremendous wicked problems in our society right now! Wicked problems are how we describe some of today’s most challenging social issues. They call for us to reframe our notion of success because they may never get fully solved. Being successful with wicked problems means making a difference toward them, improving the outcomes, or reducing the risk. Today, we are diving into the wicked problem of infrastructure. I’m Marla, the Green Home Coach! My co-host, Tony Pratte, and I are recording live at Shock City Studios in St. Louis, Missou...2022-07-1332 min
Everyday Green HomeWicked Problems - Changing Weather and How It's Affecting Our Lives with Tony Pratte Global challenges are abounding, and working in the world of sustainability, health, and wellness has brought many wicked problems to light. We can describe some of the most challenging social issues we face today as wicked problems. With those problems, we have to re-frame our notion of success. Although they will never get entirely solved, success with wicked problems is about impacting or improving outcomes and mitigating risks. I am Marla, the Green Home Coach! I am excited to be back in the studio today with my co-host, Tony Pratte, who is joining me...2022-06-2231 min
Everyday Green HomeWicked Problems: Trade-offs of electric vehicles with Tony PratteWicked Problems: Trade-offs of electric vehicles with Tony Pratte The topic of wicked problems has been inspiring some interesting conversations lately! Driving electric vehicles rather than those powered by internal combustion engines is fascinating for Tony and me! Recently, Tony sent me an article explaining that what we need right now is an honest and comprehensive evaluation of the entire life cycle of clean energy- from raw materials through disposition. Up to now, we have only heard about the benefits of clean energy, so we need to understand the real cost of clean energy, including th...2022-05-1137 min
Everyday Green HomeWicked Problems: Connecting Personal Health with Our Larger CommunityWe face so many challenges in our world today! That is why we need to connect the dots between our homes, and the health of our communities. Many of us don’t make the connection between our health, our homes, and the health of the world at large. Yet sometimes, without us even knowing it, the products in our homes make us sick. Or they impact our safety and comfort. It all starts with us. Even though it might feel overwhelming, we need to understand that each one of us holds the world in our hand...2022-04-1339 min
Everyday Green HomeA Better Home with Incremental GreenToday’s show topic is very exciting to me. There is not a one-size-fits-all solution for improving eco-friendly living spaces. Everything varies according to your needs, style, and budget!. Today, Tony Pratte joins us and discusses how we can “green up” our homes! He reminds us of exciting opportunities we all have to reuse or reconstruct previously discarded materials and incorporate them into useful things for our homes; while feeling good about keeping discarded items out of the landfills! Incremental green This is incremental green! As you care for, maintain and upgrade your home on...2022-02-2341 min
Everyday Green HomeThe Truth About Green Product LabelsWhat does it mean to buy green? There are no standard definitions for the words used to describe green products, so we sometimes tend to confuse products that sound green or claim to be green with those that truly are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Some companies intentionally use words like natural or eco-friendly as a marketing ploy to imply that their products are better for you and the environment than they may actually be. That is known as greenwashing. Unfortunately, many companies that greenwash their products spend a lot more time and money on marketing t...2022-02-0934 min
Everyday Green HomeHelping People: The Living Well Toolkit with Tony PratteWe all care about the health of our family and friends and want them to live in a safe and healthy environment. A few years ago, The US Green Building Council created a movement, campaign, and toolkit called the Living Well Standard, which published a message that still stands true today. It spells out how much it matters that the places we live, work, and play should not hurt us but protect us and enrich our lives in a sustainable way. That should be a standard that we can all expect and enjoy, rather than a luxury...2022-01-1234 min
Everyday Green HomeSmart Home, Connected Home with Tony PratteThere seems to be an app for everything right now! Could you imagine downloading an app for your house? Or even a whole bunch of apps? Well, that is what you need to do if you have a smart home! But how do you go about connecting everything in this time when technology is constantly moving and things keep on changing? I am Marla, the Green Home Coach! Today, I am happy to have my co-host and resident expert, Tony Pratte from The Sound Room, joining me to have an in-depth conversation about the...2021-12-1544 min
Everyday Green HomeReusing...Almost Everything - My Grandmother's Legacy with Tony PratteDid you know that reusing stuff is back in vogue again? People reuse things for many different reasons. When they do, it always reminds me of my grandmother because that is her legacy. She was one of the biggest motivators for me getting involved in the green and sustainable world. I am Marla, the Green Home Coach. Today, my occasional co-host, Tony Pratte, The Green Guy, is joining me to have a conversation about my grandmother’s legacy of reusing almost everything. In this episode, Tony and I discuss how different generations relate to t...2021-11-1735 min
Everyday Green Home10 Things to Do Better in Your Next Remodel ProjectHouses and buildings are moving like crazy, but supply chains are still nuts! Remodeling has been affected by all the craziness that is going on with homes and homebuilding. However, when we decide to do a remodel, we have the opportunity to do some amazing things to make our homes even better! I am Marla, the Green Home Coach, and today, my occasional co-host, Tony Pratte, is joining me to have a conversation about remodeling and building. We will cover the building envelope, systems, and changing fixtures and finishes. Build My Future 2021-11-0348 min
Everyday Green HomeClimate Crisis - Recycling Gone AwryRecycling has gone awry, and there is plastic everywhere! Do you sometimes forget to put recyclable items, like plastic soda bottles, pill containers, and the little plastic takeout cups and lids from takeout food, in the right place and end up throwing them out with the trash? Or have you ever had something that you would like to recycle, but you do not know what to do with it? I am Marla, the Green Home Coach! Today, I am excited to have my occasional co-host, Tony Pratte, AKA Tony, the Green Guy, joining me in m...2021-10-2033 min
Everyday Green HomeClimate Crisis - Unintended ConsequencesThe topic of unintended consequences is huge! Just thinking about it is enough to make my head spin! There are so many different aspects to consider in that regard, particularly when you think of unintended consequences in terms of their impact on the environment, climate change, and the day-to-day way we live our lives. I am Marla, the Green Home Coach. Today, I am excited to have my favorite co-host, Tony Pratte, joining me live in-studio to tackle the tremendous topic of unintended consequences. In this episode, Tony and I talk about how we...2021-09-0833 min
Everyday Green HomeThe Impact of Rising Costs of Building MaterialsI have seen some crazy things happening lately in the homebuilding industry! There is turmoil with both new and existing homes as a result of shortages and supply-chain disruptions in many different areas. In this episode, we will look at the problems we are facing and discuss why they are happening. We will break everything down into the three parts of a house: the land, the materials, and the labor. They are all connected, and we are having challenges with all of them. Welcome to another episode of the Everyday Green Home Podcast! I’m Marl...2021-08-1135 min
Everyday Green HomeReinventing 3D Printing with Trent Esser of PrinteriorThe idea of 3-D printing is exploding right now in almost every sector! Today, I am happy to introduce you, the listeners, to my son, Trent Esser. Trent and his friend are starting a 3-D printing company in St Louis, called Printerior. The company is currently in the beta testing phase, and they are getting ready to have their first product launch within the next two to four weeks. Trent is joining me on the show today to talk about his exciting new venture and explain how 3-D printing works. For this episode, I get the chance...2021-07-2129 min
Everyday Green HomeClimate Crisis - How Can Our Homes Be a Part of the SolutionIs your home a part of the solution to what is going on with climate change? Or is it a part of the problem? Did you know that every choice you make for how you live in your home and everything you bring into your home impacts your health and the planet as a whole? The climate crisis has shown us that building a life for ourselves and creating modern conveniences have made a big footprint on the earth and our fellow human beings. So, a while back, my co-host and I started a series on climate...2021-07-0730 min
Everyday Green HomeHuman Made Climate Change - a climate series with TonyClimate change is a big topic! We hear a lot about it lately in the news, in newspapers, and in people’s conversations. Climate change is something that we all need to talk about, and many questions are surrounding it. People often get lectured about the things they are doing wrong in the world today. So, we would like to use this series to open people up to the idea of having conversations so that we can all work together to find solutions. I’m Marla, the Green Home Coach, and my favorite co-host, Tony Pratte...2021-05-0538 min
Everyday Green HomeFlushing Trees Down the Toilet with co-host, Tony PratteHere, in the United States, we use more toilet paper per capita than in any other country on the face of the earth. Although things are different in other parts of the world, in our society, we view toilet paper as a necessity because that is how we were trained in our culture, in our economy, and in our lives. Toilet paper was the first thing everyone stocked up on at the start of the pandemic. It is something that we know we need to use, but we think we have no replacement for it. I’m Ma...2021-04-2131 min
Everyday Green HomeClimate Change with Tony Pratte: What's All the Fuss About? The climate is changing. Yet, the term “global warming” often gets misunderstood. It all seems to be happening much more visibly and much more intensely lately, which indicates that something is actually going on. In today’s episode, Tony and I discuss how to speak to others about controversial subjects, why we need to see the bigger picture, and we also talk about the importance of coexisting in the best way possible in this beautiful world of ours. I’m Marla, the Green Home Coach! I am back today with another conversation in our series on clima...2021-04-0737 min
Everyday Green HomeClimate Change: Where to Start? with Tony PratteI’m Marla, on the Everyday Green Home Podcast. I am excited to have Tony Pratte joining me on the show today! Tony and I are good friends. We have known each other and worked together for many years. He used to be a regular co-host on this podcast back when it was called The Green Gab. Today, we will be talking about a big, hot topic. We will be discussing the climate crisis, also called climate change or global warming. Our intention for this podcast is to set up some basics around that topic and t...2021-03-1035 min
Everyday Green HomeSignposts for Better Choices - Green Labels with Tony PratteWelcome to another episode of the Everyday Green Home Podcast! This will be my last podcast for the year, and what a year it’s been! When we look back on this past year, my hope is that we are able to see the silver linings that were in amongst all the challenges that we faced in 2020. I’m pulling another great episode from the archives for today’s show. It features my regular guest and co-host, Tony Pratte from The Sound Room, and this podcast will be all about green labels. It’s easier than eve...2020-12-1940 min
Everyday Green HomeGift of a No-Touch Home with Tony PratteWelcome to another episode of the Everyday Green Home Podcast! It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost upon us again! With all that has happened this year, I feel that it is vital for us to focus on all the things for which we can feel grateful. I have been keeping a list of all the things I’m thankful for, like my family, friends, and my precious husband! I’m also grateful for resources, my skills and experience, and for the plentiful abundance that I am so fortunate to have in my life. Today...2020-11-2535 min
Everyday Green HomeThe Toilet Talk Podcast with Angie MendicaWelcome to the Everyday Green Home Podcast! Today, I’m happy to be sharing a very humorous podcast that I pulled out of the archives. My frequent co-host, Tony Pratte, and I recorded it in St. Louis, back in the spring of 2017. In this show, Tony and I interview Angie Mendica, who works with Crescent Plumbing Supply in St. Louis. We met Angie through the Homebuilders Association in St. Louis, and Angie and I were also together in the Professional Women in Building Council. Angie is very funny, and she is a delightful person to have...2020-09-0953 min
Everyday Green Home"Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" Has a New Sibling...Refuse! with Tony PratteReduce, Reuse, and Recycle. A couple of years ago, my regular co-host, Tony Pratte, and I did a podcast about these three Rs. The idea behind this trio of actions is to extend the life of an item so that we don’t keep on having to manufacture new ones. Well, there’s a fourth ‘R’ now, and that’s REFUSE, which gives us the power to refuse to act in any way that will add to the current global crisis. This global pandemic has changed so much about our day-to-day living and almost everything that we use...2020-08-0535 min
Everyday Green HomeLiving Well with the USGBC Living Standard with Tony PratteToday, Tony Pratte, our regular co-host from The Sound Room, joins us once again on the show. In the Everyday Green Home Podcast, we talk about green homes, green living, and green communities. And we discuss how to make all of it work for you in your life, and why it all matters. We offer solutions, and we love to talk about the kind of choices that all of us can make, to make our homes, and ultimately the whole world, a better place. The Living Standard The Living Standard, which was recently released by...2020-07-1532 min
Everyday Green HomeIncremental Green: Greening As You Maintain, Replace and Upgrade with Tony PratteOver the last couple of months, due to the global pandemic, the entire structure is being re-analyzed, and people are starting to make changes based on what they’re finding. Today, Tony Pratte, our regular co-host, joins us to talk about what we can do, incrementally, to green up our homes. This is an exciting topic because now that we are all spending more time at home, we’re beginning to notice the things in and around our homes that we would like to change, repair, or upgrade. Incremental green The concept of incre...2020-06-1036 min
Everyday Green HomeNo-Touch Home Control with Tony PratteTony Pratte, our once-a-month guest co-host from The Sound Room, joins us today to talk about no-touch smart homes. Tony has an extensive background in smart homes and automation. With the Coronavirus pandemic, it’s very helpful to have automated, no-touch systems in place in your home. A wireless world Currently, we are going further and further along the route of wireless internet inside the house. A couple of years ago, Tony saw some interesting statistics that showed that 65% of people under a certain age will never plug into a hard-line internet connection. 2020-05-1330 min
Everyday Green HomeLandscaping for Beauty, Energy Efficiency, and Home Comfort with Tony PratteWe are very excited to have Tony Pratte, our regularly-scheduled guest host, joining us again for today’s podcast. In this episode, Tony will be talking to us about landscaping for energy efficiency. Tony likes to keep his mind active, so he is currently one class away from finishing up a project management program at St. Louis University. And his business is still moving, even with the current situation with economies shutting down because of new construction in St. Louis being construed as an essential business. Protecting yourself, and others coming into your home To...2020-05-0635 min
Everyday Green HomeEveryday Green Home: Online Shopping For Your Home with Tony PratteToday, Tony Pratte, our regular monthly co-host from The Soundroom, joins us on the podcast. Because the world has been turned upside down right now, and things are a little crazy for everyone, we’re going to be doing things a bit differently. For today’s podcast, Marla and Tony will be reversing roles, so Tony will be driving the show, and Marla will be the co-host. Things are changing– some things a lot and others not so much Tony’s regular daily routine, from 7 am to about 5 pm, has not changed all that much...2020-04-2234 min