Episodes

A new study by a Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientist and collaborators shows that nearly all the recent increase in California summer wildfire burned area is attributable to human-caused (anthropogenic) climate change. Anthropogenic simulations yielded burn areas an average of 172% higher than natural variation simulations. The research appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Tune in as we talk with one of the co-authors of the article, Dr. Don Lucas.

The Center for Green Schools, in partnership with the Campaign for Environmental Literacy, released a new report highlighting the need for state-level legislation that enhances and broadens climate change education in all K-12 schools. The report, State-Level Legislation Concerning K-12 Climate Change Education, along with an accompanying executive summary, provides detailed talking points with citations for making the case, essential elements of climate change education legislation, a model sta...

The Lomakatsi Restoration Project in Alturas, California recently won the $20,000 Edge Prize — a new prize celebrating exceptional projects from Alaska to California which work towards creating resilient communities in the face of climate change. The Lomakatsi Restoration Project engages youth in learning how to build fire-adapted forests and communities. The model creates meaningful, living-wage work that provides a foundation for the next generation of workers in forest product and ecological ...

In May 2023, Washington State Department of Ecology Director Laura Watson signed new rules that, for the first time ever, ban toxic chemicals—including PFAS, phthalates, flame retardants, and bisphenols—put in plastic electronic casings, vinyl flooring, and beverage liners, among other products. These new rules conclude the first cycle of regulations as part of Safer Products for Washington, the nation’s strongest law regulating toxic chemicals in products—a major source of contamination in our ...

As auto and oil industry companies bet on an EV filled future, many are now directly sourcing raw materials (such as lithium) for EV batteries themselves. And while the future of transportation is definitely going green, will gas-powered cars simply be replaced by electric ones or will the transportation industry experience other changes as well? What might drive those changes and what can we expect to see? Tune in as we talk with Bill Klehm, Chairman and CEO of eBliss, a leader in eMobility tra...

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed into law the first-ever ban in the U.S. on PFAS “forever chemicals” in cookware, dental floss, and menstrual products as part of the broadest PFAS policy package in the country. The new law bans all uses of PFAS in products by 2032—except those that are necessary for public health, requires manufacturers to report their use of PFAS in products to the state by 2026, and bans specific uses in several products starting in 2025. Our guest today is Avonna Starck, St...

California Assemblymember Laura Friedman authored a bill signed into law in 2022 that will prohibit the entire class of PFAS, a.k.a. “forever chemicals,” from cosmetic products sold in the state of CA. We will discuss the expected ramifications of that legislation, as well as the public policy she champions to combat climate change. As Chair for the Assembly Committee on Transportation and the bicameral Environmental Caucus, Assemblywoman Friedman has her finger on the pulse of the most pressing...

California State Senator Ben Allen chairs the Senate’s Environmental Quality Committee and co-chairs the Legislature’s Environmental Caucus. As the author of SB 54, Ben continues to pursue ambitious policies that address the plastics pollution crisis. He has also worked to bolster the state’s climate resiliency by proposing a measure to invest in preparation for extreme weather and other climate-related events like wildfires, floods, and mudslides. Among other things, his committee is tasked wit...

Our guest today is a candidate for Philadelphia City Council and a father of three kids (ages 5, 9 and 10), and he just might change the way you think about sanitation workers. Less than three months after accepting the position as laborer for the Philadelphia Sanitation Department, Terrill Haigler became an essential worker. To bridge the gap between residents and sanitation workers he created the Instagram page @_yafavtrashman to give residents an inside look as to what sanitation workers expe...

California’s new Plastic Pollution Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54) may be the most consequential Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation in a generation. By 2032, the law requires a 25% reduction of single-use plastic packaging and foodservice products; all single-use packaging and foodware (including non-plastic items) be recyclable or compostable; and a 65% recycling rate for plastics. Today we’ll talk with one of a handful of people “in the room where it happened” about how pla...

Hospitals and other healthcare facilities have been fighting superbugs for years, but they made a resurgence during the pandemic. Superbugs are resistant to antibiotics, and can cause fatal infections, especially among vulnerable populations like hospitalized patients already weakened by serious illness. To date, many of the “solutions” involved harsher and more dangerous chemical cleaning solutions that were harmful to both patients and custodial staff. Today we’ll speak with co-founder and CEO...

Keeping food waste out of landfills is one of the most significant ways to combat climate change, and recovering edible food for human consumption is one of the most significant ways to combat hunger. Therma is a tech startup that aims to combat food waste with an IoT solution to keep food at safe temperatures. Therma technology is currently deployed across 5,000+ restaurants, retailers and manufacturers with leading brands including Starbucks, McDonalds, Burger King, TGI Fridays, Chick-fil-A, 7...

We’ve all heard the old adage, “You are what you eat.” Today we’ll take that a step further… “you are what your food ate.” Pesticides and herbicides can impact the plants on which we rely for nutrients, and those same plants coupled with antibiotics fed to livestock can impact the meat in our diet. The plants and animals in our diet imbibe what is in the soil and food that nourishes them, and is passed on to us. How does that impact our health, and what are our alternatives? Tune in today as we ...

Sustainability in schools includes school meals! Tune in today as we speak with the Senior Director of School Nutrition for the Camden City School District (CCSD) in NJ, Arlethia Brown, MBA, CPFM. She will discuss the many ways she has incorporated sustainability principles into the healthy, appetizing food she and her staff serve the children in Camden, NJ. We will also discuss CCSD’s sustainability work beyond school nutrition in areas like energy conservation and facilities management.

Today we’ll talk to Rodney Williams, Director of Energy and Sustainability for the Newark public school district, a.k.a. Newark Board of Education (NBOE). In recent years, Rodney has led the largest school district in New Jersey to achieve prestigious and rigorous awards in school sustainability. Tune in and listen to his pro tips that can be replicated in school districts across the U.S.!

In November 2022, voters in the Golden State will have a chance to enact legislation to address plastic pollution. Not surprisingly, the ballot measure faces fierce opposition. Today’s guest is the Director of Policy & External Affairs, The Nature Conservancy, CA, Jay Ziegler. Tune in as we discuss the provisions of the ballot measure, why CA state lawmakers have failed to take action previously, and what voters need to know before heading to the polls.

Some of the ingredients found in personal care products in the U.S. are banned in other countries because they are considered unsafe. Today we’ll talk about Beautycounter, a company that is transparent about the ingredients they will and will not use, while educating consumers on why these ingredients are harmful. Beautycounter further embraces sustainability through responsible sourcing, sustainable packaging, and by measuring progress toward their climate goals. Additionally, the company is ad...

Tune in as we speak with Dr. Asli Samanci, the CEO of Bee & You, a company that produces 100% natural propolis, royal jelly, raw honey, pollen, healthy spreads, supplements and cosmetics. Dr. Samanci is a renowned food scientist committed to creating natural and healthy products for consumers and is a pioneering advocate for combining science and nature to create safe and effective natural bee products.

Solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, and biomass are all renewable energy technologies with residential applications. Today we’ll be joined by Anna DeSimone, author of “Live in a Home that Pays You Back,” about what you need to know about these various technologies if you want to power your home in a sustainable way.

The toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS could be contaminating nearly 20 million acres of U.S. cropland, according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) estimate. Using state data, EWG estimates 5 percent of all crop fields could be using sewage sludge, or biosolids, as a fertilizer, even though it’s often contaminated with PFAS. Once PFAS-contaminated sludge is applied as a fertilizer, the chemicals can build up in food crops, feed crops such as corn and hay, and the animals that eat thes...

Panda Express has announced a global cage-free animal welfare policy, committing to source 100 percent cage-free eggs and egg products for all of its restaurant locations. In addition to Panda Express, more than 2,000 cage-free policies—including 100 global commitments—to end the use of battery cages have been made by some of the largest companies in the world, including Burger King, Dunkin’, Krispy Kreme, Unilever, Nestlé, Aldi, InterContinental Hotels, Sodexo, Kraft Heinz, Compass Group, Shake...

With social and economic benefits that are plentiful, more efficient homes mean the quality of citizens' lives are improved, reducing costs and bettering both public health and the environment. Today’s homeowners want sustainability—not just for home construction features, but to maintain long-term affordability as well. With an energy-efficient home, the true cost of homeownership is lower due to reduced utility costs, longer-lasting appliances and construction materials, and less maintenance a...

Borobabi was founded by Carolyn Butler, a chemical engineer, who recognized an opportunity to save money and protect the planet through supply chain utilization. According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, the main source of American textile waste is discarded clothing. On average, parents spend more than $700 each year on kids’ clothes, only to see them grow out of them within months, resulting in 63 million pounds of clothing going into landfill daily. And while donating is important...

Today we’ll be joined by Joe Sanberg, co-founder of Aspiration Bank, to talk about a new way of personal and commercial banking that allows users to invest in climate-friendly financial transactions. There's a good chance your bank is using your money to fund oil projects that destroy the climate. Aspiration Bank allows you to put your money where your values are. Tune in and learn about all the benefits of transitioning to a bank with a purpose to make the world a better place. We will also tal...