Alexis Broz didn’t grow up thinking she’d become a wildlife rehabilitator. But when a baby squirrel slid across a restaurant patio toward a petrified customer, Alexis scooped it up and didn’t look back. That moment set her on a path of rescuing, raising, and returning animals to the wild. From squirrels and pigeons to otters and beavers, Alexis has rehabilitated and released hundreds of animals in New York. In this episode, she shares how she became a wildlife rehabilitator, what it’s like to care for wild animals around the clock, and how a beaver named Bo became the Branch Manager of her nonprofit, Wild for Life, Inc.

(This episode was recorded in spring 2025.)

Hear Alexis talk about:

• How rescuing one baby squirrel at work changed her life
• What it takes to legally rehabilitate wildlife in New York
• How her bathtub was key to caring for an orphaned beaver
• Her day to day caring for multiple animals
• Why she believes beavers are misunderstood environmental superheroes

Mentioned in this episode:

• Wild for Life, Inc. Alexis’s wildlife rescue nonprofit
• North Country Wild Care, her local volunteer rehabber network where she is a board member
• Animal Help Now app Alexis mentions to find wildlife rehabbers near you
• The Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital at Cornell, her veterinary partner and resource
• Follow Alexis on TikTok and Instagram @WildlifeAlexis

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• Share the episode and tag @rainemediaco
• More at TellMeWhatItsLike.com

While in graduate school in the early 1980s, Dr. Morton Barlaz was offered a project studying how municipal waste decomposes. He wasn’t sure it was what he wanted to do, but it sounded interesting so he said yes. Forty-two years later, he’s a leading expert on how landfills work and why their management matters. In this episode, he explains what happens to the things we throw away, what biodegrades (and what doesn’t), and how landfills have changed over time.

Hear Dr. Barlaz talk about:

• What it’s like to study landfills for over 40 years
• Why he doesn't like calling landfills "dumps"
• How methane is created and why collecting it matters
• The myths around what does or doesn't biodegrade
• The realities of post-closure landfill maintenance

References for this episode:

• Dr. Morton Barlaz, Distinguished University Professor Emeritus, NC State University
• EPA landfill regulations on post-closure care
• How to compost at home (and help reduce methane emissions)

Support this podcast:

• Follow in your favorite podcast app
• Leave a rating and review
• Share the episode and tag @rainemediaco
• More at TellMeWhatItsLike.com

When Becca Pizzi got dozens of messages from friends about an extreme endurance race – seven marathons on seven continents in seven days – she knew she had to run it. In 2016, she became the first American woman to complete the World Marathon Challenge, winning with a total time of 27 hours, 26 minutes, and an average marathon time of just under four hours. Then in 2018, she did it again. Hear what it took to win it and what the miles have taught her in this episode.

Hear Becca talk about:

• What it’s like to run 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days
• How her 8-year-old daughter helped her train
• Becoming a race director after running the challenge twice
• Her advice to people just starting out on their running journey

Mentioned in this episode and references:

• The World Marathon Challenge
• TB12 (Tom Brady’s fitness company), where Becca was a Peak Performer
• The Becca Pizzi Foundation
• The Becca Pizzi 5K in Belmont, MA
• Becca's Feat on Feet, her children’s book published in 2020

Support this podcast:

• Follow in your favorite podcast app
• Leave a rating and review
• Share the episode and tag @rainemediaco
• More at TellMeWhatItsLike.com