Environment & Sustainability Episodes

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the San Antonio Botanical Garden at a pivotal moment—its 45th anniversary year. Known as a living museum, the Garden has grown into a statewide leader in plant conservation and environmental education, serving hundreds of thousands of visitors annually while shaping the city’s approach to urban nature and sustainability. Cory Ames speaks with Katherine Trumble, President and CEO of the San Antonio Botanical Garden, about the Garden’s newly unveiled te...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the present and future of San Antonio’s water supply—a topic at the center of new rate increase discussions and long-term regional planning. San Antonio has quietly become a national leader in water conservation, with steady water use despite decades of rapid population growth, distinguishing itself from many fast-growing Texas cities now facing water shortages. Host Cory Ames sits down with Robert Puente, CEO of the San Antonio Water System (SAWS), t...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the role of food sustainability and local agriculture at the San Antonio Food Bank—an organization best known for feeding more than 100,000 people each week, but less recognized as one of the city’s largest farming operations. Host Cory Ames sits down with Mitch Hagney, Director of Food Sustainability at the San Antonio Food Bank, to discuss how the Food Bank is rethinking traditional emergency food services through innovative farming practices and cl...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine San Antonio’s evolving approach to urban growth and resource management through the lens of the city’s deconstruction and circular economy initiatives. San Antonio stands out as the largest city in North America to adopt a deconstruction ordinance, shifting how older buildings are taken down and how building materials are valued, reused, and kept within the community. Cory Ames sits down with Stephanie Phillips, Senior Deconstruction & Circular Econom...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the work of Gardopia Gardens, a San Antonio nonprofit at the intersection of public health, food access, and neighborhood safety. Founded by Stephen Lucke, Gardopia uses urban gardening and education as a response to longstanding challenges in San Antonio’s food system and community health landscape. Cory Ames sits down with Lucke to trace his path from local student, collegiate athlete, and aspiring medical professional to nonprofit founder and envir...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we focus on the intersection of community, identity, and the outdoors through the work of Black Outside, Inc. Founded and led by Alex Bailey, the San Antonio-based nonprofit is dedicated to reconnecting Black youth with nature—an effort rooted in generational healing, cultural history, and a reimagining of what belonging in outdoor spaces looks like. Cory Ames sits down with Bailey to discuss the evolution of Black Outside, its ties to family legacy, and the org...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine San Antonio’s historic summer of flooding and the urgent questions facing the city and region. In June and July 2025, San Antonio and surrounding areas experienced two of the deadliest flood events in Texas history—catastrophic disasters that overwhelmed infrastructure, claimed dozens of lives, and exposed vulnerabilities in both local response systems and long-term planning. Cory Ames is joined by Rick Trefzer, Deputy General Manager of the San Anton...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine how San Antonio residents are rethinking their relationship with nature—starting in their own front yards. Guest host Cory Ames interviews Monika Maeckle, author, naturalist, and founder of the Texas Butterfly Ranch and the Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival. Maeckle’s new book, Plants with Purpose, explores why traditional lawns may be a liability for San Antonio, and how reimagining our landscaping choices can have a measurable impact on wate...

In this episode, Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda shares her personal background growing up on the West Side, her legal and public service career, and her early influences—including time spent working under former mayors Ed Garza and Lila...

This week’s Last Word delves into the ominous impact of President Trump’s tariffs on San Antonio and Texas. As the trade war with Canada and Mexico intensifies, the city braces for economic repercussions. Politicians have transformed tariffs into...

This week’s Last Word commentary examines the future of FEMA and what it means for Texas as disaster relief policies face increasing political scrutiny. Bob Rivard unpacks the growing debate over federal disaster aid, how FEMA’s role could change...