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Are you living with too much stuff? Help is on the way! In this first episode of 2026, we help you clear the clutter with Devon Fegen-Herdman, owner of Declutter with Devon. Devon is a professional home organizer, former social worker, and a founding member of Upcycle Parts Shop, our favorite arts reuse center in Cleveland.

Most people agree they have too much stuff, and they struggle with managing it all. Choosing to live differently and more gently on the planet requires rethinking our relationship with our material things. Living with less can bring us more joy, but how to get there? Join us as Devon provides tips for getting our homes under control and buying with more intention to keep future clutter at bay.

Donation, Recycling, and Disposal Suggestions:

Upcycle Parts Shop and Boys & Girls Clubs (arts supplies); Friends of the Library CCPL and Cleveland Children's Book Bank (books); Cleveland Furniture Bank, Chair-ity, and Humble Design Cleveland (furniture); Elyria APL and other animal shelters (linens); Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District and Lorain County Solid Waste District (holiday lights); Habitat Re-Store (tools); RET3 Job Corp and Best Buy (computers and e-waste); Good Neighbor Thrift Store and Thriftique (housewares and clothes); Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District and Lorain County Solid Waste District (special wastes, paint, pesticides and other household hazardous wastes); police stations and pharmacies (RX drug drop-off)

Learn More:

Declutter with Devon

Buy Now, The Shopping Conspiracy (Netflix Documentary)

Becoming Minimalist

The Story of Stuff

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Our region's water isn’t just running through our taps; it is shaping our region and our future. Cleveland is a waterfront city, and in this episode, you will hear how technology, entrepreneurship, destination development, maritime trade, and recreation are blossoming under our culture of freshwater stewardship.

This recording is from Eco Meet CLE, a gathering of local sustainability leaders held on November 18th at Great Lakes Brewing Company. Some have called us a beer-drinking group with a sustainability problem. It works. Eco Meet events are a fun way for people to connect and learn about impactful work in a fun and casual setting.

The topic for the night was our Blue Economy, and we brought together several speakers who reflected on their role in Cleveland's water economy and how this shared asset, which must be protected, makes our waterfront such a vibrant and engaging space for residents, visitors, business, and career development. Our panelists included:

1. Emily Bacha, Director of the Cuyahoga County Fresh Water Institute
2. Samantha Martin, Director of Communications and Engagement, Cleveland Water Alliance
3. Kierra Cotton, Marketing and Communications Manager, the Port of Cleveland
4. Captain Drew Ferguson, Founder and CEO of Argonaut
5. Kate Wells, Manager of Environmental Stewardship and Quality, Interlake Steamship Company
6. Max Pennington, Co-Founder of CLEANR

If you care about clean water, good jobs, and resilient cities, this story is yours. Follow, share with a friend who loves Lake Erie, and leave a quick review to help more people discover how Northeast Ohio turns stewardship into strength.

A clarification for listeners: Cleveland's Irishtown Bend Park is expected to be completed in 2028 or 2029, following the Port of Cleveland's stabilization of the hillside in 2026.

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Cities don’t forget—their land remembers. In this episode, we speak with Isaac Robb, Chief Urban Program Officer at Western Reserve Land Conservancy, and explore how his organization works to turn Cleveland's vacant and underutilized land into living assets, including neighborhood parks, memorial gardens, and reforestation programs that cool, calm, and reconnect neighborhoods. Hear what Isaac loves most about Cleveland and what surprised him most when first coming here in 2105.

The Western Reserve Land Conservancy is a land trust known for farmland preservation, but also built a robust urban program from the tragedy of the foreclosure crisis. Programs to reforest the city, create community parks and green spaces, and reconnect residents with the land in their own backyard are improving health and quality of life.

The Conservancy's urban projects honor community memories and experiences and offer healing and reconnection by planning guided by environmental justice, public health, and the power of place. Join us to hear about the people who founded this work and those who shepherd it today, and the many ways to be a part of this transformative work.

Learn More:

• About the Conservancy
• Conservancy Projects
• Getting Involved

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Support Eco Speaks CLE

Follow us:
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