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Up From Dust

KCUR Studios

Trees are swallowing prairies. Rivers are losing their fish. And stars are disappearing from view. Humans broke the environment — but we can heal some of the damage. Up From Dust is a podcast about the price of trying to shape the world around our needs, and how to live more sustainably. Host Celia Llopis-Jepsen brings you the stories of people across the Midwest and Great Plains who are working to fix our generational mistakes. From Harvest Public Media, KCUR Studios and the NPR Network.

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21 episodes
monthly
Avg 27 min
English

Episodes 21

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S1 · E26
August 10 · 26 min
Getting more comfortable with 'sneks' and creepy-crawlies
Justin was terrified of snakes – until he learned they’re scared of him, too.…
S1 · E25
July 20 · 26 min
A nature lover confronts her fear of spiders
How do you stop being so afraid? Tracy Twombly had such a strong phobia of…
S1 · E24
June 15 · 21 min
Why you should kill your lawn
All summer long, we run mowers over our lawns to keep them the perfect height –…
S1 · E23
May 4 · 28 min
Spying on box turtles
Box turtles are cute and an absolute delight to spot while walking in the…
S1 · E22
April 6 · 34 min
Between land and water: Tribal relocation and resistance
Climate change is altering the land we live on, and Indigenous communities are…
S1 · E21
March 2 · 29 min
The bat scientist and the pecan farmer
A Texas pecan farmer spent years rethinking whether he needed so many chemicals…
S1 · E20
February 2 · 20 min
Stargazers, unite for science!
Astronomers need your help! And you don’t have to be an expert, because it’s as…
S1 · E19
January 7 · 18 min
Our changing Midwest
As we embark on our third year of Up From Dust, we discuss why we started an…
S1 · E18
Dec 10, 2025 · 27 min
A river’s return from the brink of disaster
In one long-polluted Ozark river, the little fish darting through the water and…
S1 · E17
Nov 3, 2025 · 24 min
One man's quest for a rare shellfish
Trevor Starks is on a mission. He wants to help the humble but powerful…
S1 · E16
Oct 6, 2025 · 28 min
Prairie islands are popping up in a sea of corn and soybeans
The Midwest has a reputation for vast fields of corn and soybeans that stretch…
S1 · E15
Sep 5, 2025 · 29 min
Why a prairie scientist spent years photographing a single square meter of land
Have you ever wondered how much life a tiny patch of land can hold? Nebraska…
S1 · E14
Aug 4, 2025 · 19 min
A sticky solution for microplastics
Microplastics are everywhere. They’re in the air we breathe, the clothes we…
S1 · E13
Jul 2, 2025 · 27 min
Kayakers vs. river pollution
For decades, the world’s longest prairie river was treated as a convenient…
S1 · E12
Jun 3, 2025 · 28 min
Say no to skyglow: Smarter lighting can help save the stars
We have inadvertently filled our world with poorly designed outdoor lighting.…
S1 · E11
May 6, 2025 · 24 min
Less lawn, more wildlife! Here’s how to ditch turf for native plants
So you’ve been thinking about getting rid of your lawn, or at least having…
S1 · E10
Apr 1, 2025 · 26 min
Those soil health products may be a waste of money
Symbiotic fungi are all the rage right now. Farmers want them in their fields,…
S1 · E9
Mar 4, 2025 · 25 min
Can we save millions of migrating birds?
In 1978, a young scientist “brazenly trespassed” around a Chicago building in…
S1 · E8
Oct 14, 2024 · 41 min
The case of the disappearing lake
During times of drought, when the rains fail, man-made lakes come to the rescue…
S1 · E7
Sep 9, 2024 · 32 min
What's better for the environment: Tea or coffee?
Have you ever wondered about the eco-story behind your daily brew? Join us as…

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