Changing Planet Justice

What happens when an entire city runs out of water? In this eye-opening episode, 20-year-old Mexico City native Alina Feldman shares what it’s like to live under the looming threat of “Day Zero”—the moment when the taps run dry. The crisis is so severe that desperation has led to fights and even kidnappings over water. Alina exposes the unequal burden of the crisis and the government’s failure to act. She raises a critical question: Should the government prioritize environmental issues, or are there more immediate concerns that demand attention? She also highlights a grassroots organization, founded within Mexico City's Jewish community, that is stepping in where the government has fallen short. Climate change isn’t a distant threat—it’s already at our doorstep. Alina’s story is a stark reminder that crisis can strike when we least expect it. As you listen, you’ll realize just how unprepared we all might be. Her story isn’t just a warning—it’s a call to action before it’s too late.

An unusual episode. In this episode, we sit down with Ms. Rhoda, a retired banker, farmer, and quilter with Native American and German heritage. From her quiet farm in rural Maryland, Rhoda offers a deeply personal perspective on climate change, challenging mainstream views by framing it as part of Earth’s natural cycles and reversing poles. She explains her suspicions that the government's cloud seeding is the real culprit of extreme weather changes, critiques the Biden administration's climate spending, and calls for a return to self-sufficiency through gardening and traditional farming methods. Rhoda’s perspective is both skeptical and grounded in her lived experience, emphasizing the wisdom of the past and practical steps individuals can take to reconnect with the environment. This conversation challenged both of us to look beyond our differences and explore where our goals overlap Whether you agree with her views or not, this conversation pushes us to reconsider the interplay between tradition and innovation, individual responsibility, and the broader forces shaping our planet’s future.

In this episode, Brian Newhouse, Director of Transportation at the Potomac School, delves into the school’s journey toward more sustainable transportation. From transitioning the fleet from diesel to propane-powered buses, we explore whether propane is truly a better alternative—or simply the lesser of two evils. Brian offers a candid look at the environmental and maintenance benefits of propane, while also addressing the practical challenges of moving toward electric buses, including charging infrastructure, costs, and power grid demands. The conversation also examines how these sustainability efforts are received within the community, reflecting on the polarized attitudes toward environmental change. We also discuss how Potomac is working to make clean and sustainable transportation accessible to all students, ensuring that the school’s environmental initiatives are equitable and inclusive. With a unique background in public transit, hydrogen fuel cell research, and even whitewater rafting, Brian offers a fascinating perspective on balancing environmental goals with real-world constraints. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on clean transportation, the complexities of sustainability, and the importance of collective action in tackling climate challenges.

In this episode, we're joined by composer and activist Michael Levy, to explore the intersection of music, art, and climate action. Michael discusses the inspiration behind his latest album focused on the climate crisis, and how he translates complex environmental issues into emotionally charged music. We dive into his songwriting process and how he balances the weight of environmental issues with his creative flow. Michael also shares stories from his involvement in movements like Transition Town, Extinction Rebellion, and his role in the resistance against the Line 3 pipeline, reflecting on how these experiences have shaped his music and activism. We also explore the challenges of staying resilient in the face of burnout, and the role music plays in sustaining his long-term advocacy. Join us for an in-depth conversation about how music can drive action and provide hope in the fight for a sustainable future. Opening/closing music: Blockadia by Michael Levy Check out Mr. Levy's other music here: Michael Levy Band

In this episode, we sit down with Sharon Dorsey, a conservation biologist and activist, to explore her journey as an environmentalist. Sharon shares her experiences as a Black woman navigating a predominantly white, male-dominated field, and discusses the importance of diversity and representation in conservation. We also delve into her groundbreaking research on the endangered piping plover, her advocacy for community engagement through climate storytelling and citizen science, and her vision for making outdoor education accessible to all. Join us for an engaging conversation about breaking barriers and catalyzing positive change on this changing planet. Sharon's website: https://sites.google.com/view/sharondorsey?usp=sharing Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharinnature/?hl=en Photo credit: Sharon Dorsey

Tune into this captivating episode with Tod Cossairt, a leading educator and sustainable agriculture expert. We delve into the shortcomings of conventional farming methods and explore the transformative benefits of regenerative agriculture. You'll learn how our current agricultural practices contribute to the climate crisis, and uncover the vibrant ecosystem thriving in the soil beneath our feet. Discover how regenerative agriculture leverages traditional ecological knowledge to restore our planet and build a sustainable future. Photo Credit: Tod Cossairt

Maybe you can figure out how two out of these three issues impact each other, but understanding how they're all related is a little less intuitive. In less than 10 minutes, you'll learn how redlining compounds climate vulnerability and food insecurity in historically marginalized communities. Whoa, that's a mouthful. But I promise it'll make sense! Plus, at the nexus of this multidirectional tangle of impacts, we explore a solution that almost seems too good to be true: urban food forestry. Photo: Redlining Map (Creative Commons)

Learn about agroforestry, a 2000-year-old indigenous farming technique that can simultaneously mitigate the impacts of climate change on low-income urban communities, and remedy food insecurity. Plus, learn about how racist policies in our nation's capital are not a relic of the past--their impacts manifest today as climate change applies disproportionate pressure to historically exploited communities. Image generated by A.I. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwi4hfzVu9uDAxWzLFkFHXUiDAYQFnoECA4QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mwcog.org%2Ffile.aspx%3F%26A%3DH75dpB3S5vx5Jv0iTc5V58y1O4PCWYFTreUGwX2LfNU%253D&usg=AOvVaw2TydNLK5Bnc4JYX-Zlq3Lu&opi=89978449 https://www.usaid.gov/agriculture-and-food-security#:~:text=What%20is%20Food%20Security%3F,hunger%20or%20fear%20of%20hunger. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-permaculture-food-forests https://phys.org/news/2023-05-food-forests-urban-farms-numerous.html https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/TNC_FoodscapesReport.pdf https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7239489/ https://foodsystemsjournal.org/index.php/fsj/article/view/830/811

Listen in for a fascinating conversation with Ms. Arbora Johnson, the Executive Director of the Girls Gotta Run Foundation, based in Ethiopia. You'll learn about how the organization uses running to empower Ethiopian girls to pursue education, become stronger athletes, and follow their dreams--all while building climate resilience. Image Credit: Girls Gotta Run Foundation

Warning: This episode will make you question the very nature of reality...or at least, the reality of nature. Everything you knew about the "honey bee crisis" is false. According to Dr. Nick Dorian, honey bees don't need saving--and they aren't the heroes we make them out to be. Flying under the radar are 4,000 other bee species that desperately need our help. In return, they can help us mitigate climate change and food insecurity. Listen in for a revelatory and utterly captivating conversation with pollinator expert, Dr. Nick Dorian. Prepare to BEE amazed! Dr. Dorian is a Ph.D. candidate at Tufts University where he studies the population ecology of cellophane bees. He also delivered a recent TEDx Talk, and co-developed watchingbees.com, a wild bee identification site.

Running is the universal sport (all you need is a pair of shoes and a good heart!)--or is it? Listen in to learn to hear a personal anecdote about a sport near and dear to me, and how it's less egalitarian than one might think. If you dig a little deeper, you'll find how climate change and food insecurity turn running into a less-than-equitable privilege. Plus, learn about my new non-profit, the Changing Planet Justice Organization.

Wandering is a way of life for the nomadic tribes of Morocco. But where do they go when droughts and food shortages are always one step ahead? Their identity is changing quickly as the climate. Learn about how Morocco’s Amazigh people are fighting a terrifying and unexpected axis of evil: climate change, the ripple effects of colonialism, and food insecurity.

To convince or not to convince...how do we confront climate change skeptics (and flat-out deniers?) Should we even bother? The solution is found in climate communication and education. In this episode, I interview Mr. Josh De Vincenzo, Assistant Director for Education and Training and Adjunct Lecturer at the National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Columbia University. He'll explain how to reach the non-believers and discuss strategies for climate communication. We also touch on the importance of equity in disaster justice. Listen to the end to hear my personal conclusion about dealing with deniers, and some brief thoughts as a young person wavering between fatalism and hope for the future of our planet.