Sustainable Steps

Keeping medical equipment out of the landfill and in the hands of families who need it!

In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami & Jake head to Sioux Falls to talk with Mike Turner, founder of Owen's Outfitters, to hear how a free medical equipment library is turning a personal family journey into a community lifeline.

In this episode, we'll learn:

You want to downsize and donate, but that heavy furniture or big box won't fit in your car, or you can't haul it down three flights of stairs – ReSupply can help!

In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami & Jake talk with Paul Tocci, CEO and Founder of ReSupply, to hear how a tech-driven logistics solution is revolutionizing charitable giving and keeping usable goods out of landf...

How can a five-cent soda can help feed a family or launch someone's career?

In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami and Jake sit down with Monic Marquez-Burkett, Manager of Sioux City's...

If you've ever stared down a plastic container with a tiny number "3" on it and experienced a full-blown existential crisis - you are not alone!

In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami and Jake sit down with Sandy Brown from the City of Wayne Green Team in Nebraska.

Since 2009, this city-backed volunteer group has been helping this rural community divert nearly one-million pounds of was...

A new kid just arrived on your doorstep with nothing but a diaper, or a teenager is demanding fairy lights to properly decorate their new room - where do foster families turn?

In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami and Jake sit down with Rochelle Pfeiffer, Founder and Director of the Siouxland Foster Closet. Rochelle explains how the organization's retail-style boutique lets fos...

What do a food pantry, a summer day camp and front-line "Donut Girls" have in common?

In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami and Jake sit down with Captain Terri Ellison from the Salvation Army of Siouxland.

After nearly 140 years of service in the Sioux City community, Captain Terri explains how the organization does much more than you might think, offering a helping hand to neighbors...

What makes the Loess Hills one of the most unique landscapes in Iowa, and how can spending time outdoors benefit your health?

In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami and Jake sit down with Theresa Kruid, Education Director for Woodbury County Conservation and the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. Theresa shares how the Nature Center connects people of all ages with nature through edu...

In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami and Jake sit down with Randy Ehlers and Nate Gates from Sioux City's Gospel Mission, a faith-based nonprofit that's been offering a "hand up" to those in need for 88 years.

We'll hear how the Gospel Mission helps people rebuild a sustainable life through structured, goal-oriented shelter ...

What does it take to feed 200 people every night? On this episode of Sustainable Steps, Jacob and Tami talk with Lyn Kluender, Executive Director of the Siouxland Soup Kitchen in Sioux City.

Today, the Soup Kitchen isn't just serving the homeless, but many working families, seniors, and kids.

In this episode, we'll learn:

When you think 4-H, don't just think farm animals, livestock and county fairs - your child can build a robot, learn public speaking or dive into digital arts!

In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami and Jake return to the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Woodbury County to talk with Youth Outreach Coordinator Christine Craig, debunking the rural stereotypes and exploring how 4-H can ...

A storm snapped a massive branch off your favorite tree - do you have to cut the whole thing down? And what can you do about that stubborn rabbit eating your fresh strawberries?

In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami and Jake visit the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Woodbury County to talk with Horticulture Coordinator Lindsay Meylor to get the dirt on working with nature,...

How much "green space" does a university, or your lawn, actually need? Could that sea of green do more for the planet than just look pretty?

In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami & Jake visit Morningside University to talk with Biology Professor Anni Moore and Director of Alumni Engagement Alex Watters, both co-chairs of the newly revamped Sustainability and Community Impact C...

Ever wonder what happens to the rarest treasures that get donated to Goodwill?

Cassette tapes, point-and-shoot digital cameras and Guitar Hero guitars – what's old is cool again! In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami & Jake talk with David Hantla, E-commerce Manager at Goodwill of the Great Plains, to hear how this specialized team brings the most unique, rare and collectible...

What actually happens when you drop off your old laptop for recycling?

Is "deleting" your files enough to keep your identity safe?

In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami Koenigs and Jacob Heller hit the road to talk with Levi Hentges from SEAM (Secure Enterprise Asset Management) in Sioux Falls to look at the lifecycle of electronics.

In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami Koenigs and Jacob Heller dive into the organization that makes what you're hearing possible.

Cari Gehling, with the Gilchrist Foundation, talks about the incredible impact of Jocelyn...

Does your business need to wear a smart watch?

In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami Koenigs and Jacob Heller talk with Tanner from Praxora Energy, a new Sioux City company that's changing how commercial buildings view their utility bills.

Did you know many businesses can waste up to 30% of the energy they pay for? With monitoring technology like t...

You open the fridge. The "best buy" date on the snack you're craving is today. What do you do?

If you've ever wondered how long your food actually lasts after the date stamped on the package - this episode of Sustainable Steps is for you!

Jacob Heller and Tami Koenig sit down with Jacob Wanderscheid, Executive Director of the

Don't know if an item is recyclable? There's an app for that!

And it's all thanks to a Sioux Falls company!

Tami & Jake talk with Shannon Dwire from Millennium Recycling about how this single-stream materials recovery facility is working to put an end to "wish-cycling" and get you in the know when it comes to sustainability.

In this episode, we'll learn:

• The Peanut Butter Jar Rule: How clean does it actually have to be bef...