Under Our Feet

(REPLAY) PFAS: Zooming In

This is a re-release of the first episode of Season 2! New full episodes start October 19th!   The debut of Season 2 on PFAS "forever" chemicals and groundwater! This e

PFAS: Zooming In

The debut of Season 2 on PFAS "forever" chemicals and groundwater! This episode explores the history of PFAS development, their basic chemistry, and what they do once the

Trailer: Season 2

Get ready for Season 2 of Under Our Feet! Perhaps the way we are most intimately connected to the Earth system is through the water we drink. Turning on the tap is someth

10: Leading with Stories

In this episode, Jeff Grignon takes us through stories from the Menominee Nation, showing how the rocks and geology we've learned about all season fit into the traditions

Patreon Bonus #1: Countertops

Under Our Feet is supported by listeners on Patreon (Patreon.com/RudyMolinek). With subscriptions of $15 a month or more, supporters get to choose a geology topic of thei

Bonus #4: When the Waters Rise

In this season 1 bonus episode, Rudy talks to Eric Booth (a scientist) and Caroline Gottschalk Druschke (a professor of English) about their boundary-busting collaboratio

Bonus #3: All About Our Lakes

The third bonus episode for season 1 takes us to one of Wisconsin's most beloved natural feature: Our lakes! UW-Madison limnologist Hilary Dugan takes us inside and aroun

Bonus #2: Of Icicles and Ice Sheets

Originally published in Agate Magazine (agatemag.com), Rudy reads his essay "Of Icicles and Ice Sheets." Music is the song Arizona Moon, by the Blue Dot Sessions. Suppor

Bonus #1: Erosion on the Lakeshore

The first of Season 1's bonus episodes takes us to Wisconsin's shores of Lake Michigan, to learn about how storms and lake-level changes erode and move sediment. Chelsea

9: Dreams of the Driftless

The final full episode of our first season delves into the unique "Driftless" area: the one part of Wisconsin that was never glaciated. Curt Meine and Eric Carson provide

8: An Icy Visitor

Episode 8 explores how ice shaped the landscape of Wisconsin, and how that landscape gives us clues about past and future climate. Featuring interviews with Luke Zoet and

7: Becoming Badgers

Ever wondered why Wisconsin is the "Badger" state? Or why Bucky is the University of Wisconsin mascot? Well, the answer is in the rocks. We go deep into the history and g

6: Secrets of the Underground

Episode 6 goes literally "Under Our Feet" to explore the caves of southwestern Wisconsin. Why are there caves here? And what secrets of Earth's past do these subterranean

5.5: An Interview with Frank Bibeau

This bonus episode brings you the full interview from Frank Bibeau, who was an important part of episode 5. If you haven't listened to that yet, go back and listen there

5: Manoomin and Mining

This fifth episode breaks our chronologic streak, and deals with some breaking news: A proposed moratorium on new mining near the Boundary Waters in Northern Minnesota. W

4: Slicing into the Cake

Episode 4 takes us to the age of ancient life in Wisconsin - the Paleozoic era. We find out how the sedimentary rocks deposited over 300 million years ago shape the lands

3: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Episode 3 brings us to a billion years ago, when the North American continent tried to split in two. This rift failed, but left behind a legacy of scenic beauty, strange

2: From Beaches to Bluffs

In episode two of the geology of Wisconsin, we talk to Gordon Medaris and Esther Stewart about the geology of the Baraboo area (including Devil's Lake State Park). These

1: Assembling Wisconsin

In this first episode, we talk to Marcia Bjornerud about the Penokean Orogeny - the first mountain-building event that helped put together what we now call Wisconsin. Thi

Trailer: Season 1

Wisconsin's geologic history begins more than 2.8 billion years ago, and continues today. Join us as we explore through deep time and discover the ways geologic events an