Park Wakeup Call

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. 

Some of the most impactful climate heroes are the ones you've never heard of. For four days, Hussain of the Ourigane Ecolodge guided my family and me through the craggy High Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Hussain is an outspoken environmentalist in his rural village; climate change threatens his livelihood and the land his ancestors have treasured for millennia. Learn about how many Berber communities in the High Atlas Mountains are returning to the sustainable ancient farming methods of their nomadic ancestors, and abandoning modern irrigation systems that deplete Morocco’s precious groundwater reserves. Plus, hear how climate change is impacting Morocco from someone who spends thousands of hours each year trekking through the wilderness. 

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.

How does climate change disproportionately affect women? Morocco is a global role-model in the fight against climate change, but the nation's girls and women bear the brunt of the environmental impacts. Hear from Ms. Amina El Hajjami, the program director at the Moroccan non-profit High Atlas Foundation. Her cooperative empowers women to take the fight against climate change into their own hands. Plus, explore how Morocco is adapting to the novelty of climate change by returning to ancient agricultural practices; and learn about how Moroccan women navigate a patriarchal society, climate change, and a deep connection to the environment.

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.

How do we battle climate change in a corporate world? How do we prepare our youth to shoulder this blessing and this curse of an earth?  Listen into this captivating conversation with a very special guest, Mr. Sol Salinas, an expert at navigating sustainability in the world of business. Plus, my perspective as young person confronting climate change in a changing world. 

What happens to the cafeteria food that never touches students' plates? Hear my conversation with Mr. Stephen Champion, a shelter monitor at Path Forward who helps manage food distribution, as we discuss minimizing waste and maximizing human dignity in the distribution of food. Plus, my personal experience with food distribution and my thoughts on how we can bridge the gap between our privileged bubble (one that can afford to squander food without thought) and those in our community who struggle to access consistent, healthy meals.

Join me on a disturbing, fascinating, and ultimately hopeful journey through Iceland--the land of fire and ice. You'll hear about climate impacts in Iceland from two experts, and take a peek into a 99% renewable utopia. Plus, discover how glaciers are formed, and learn about the terminal illness plaguing these colossal formations. 

Learn about Ms. Joleen Hyde's experience growing up under Apartheid. She reflects on the interplay between her gender and ethnic identities in the context of this racist and patriarchal regime. Touching on the nuances between the demoralizing nature of segregation, vs the empowering potential of affinity groups, Ms. Hyde brings her experiences into a current-day context. She also shares suspenseful, captivating anecdotes from her youth.   

Part 2 of the in-depth series on Andre Peterson, who formerly attended a competitive private school in Northern, VA. He is currently a musician and activist. We dove into Andre's perspective about his experiences with homelessness during his time at Potomac School. But one piece was missing from the story--what about Potomac's perspective on how the school supported Andre?  Hear from Mr. Grant, who grew close with Andre, and offers some captivating insights on the school's progress since Andre's attendance years ago.

From age 7 to 17, Andre Peterson's bus whisked him from his southeast DC neighborhood to a competitive private school in one of Virginia's wealthiest regions. Teetering between two vastly different worlds, Andre's cosmos unraveled at age 17, when he lost his way and became homeless. Then, he discovered his calling: music helped Andre find his rhythm, rebuild his life, and change his world.

Earth Sangha is a more than two decade old non-profit organization based in the Washington DC region. The core values that guide its efforts in ecological restoration and social justice are rooted in the Buddhist philosophy. Listen in to a captivating interview with Earth Sangha's conservation manager, Mr. Matt Bright, as he helps us navigate the intersections between income inequality and climate change, as well as how Buddhist mindfulness practices can help combat climate change and fight social inequity. 

La Gomera, a remote island in the Canary archipelago, rises from the sea, a shining example of hope in a changing world. We often speak of the unavoidable devastation of climate change and the disappearance of tradition in the modern age. La Gomera offers a tale hope against all odds: reflecting its volcanic origins, this tiny island is a powerhouse for change. Throughout history, the people of La Gomera summoned cultural pride to renew a community trampled by colonialism, revive their unique whistled language, and reinvigorate an ecosystem devastated by overuse. From whales that sequester carbon, to mandatory whistling-lessons in schools, to pole-vaulting down cliffs, this island anomaly offers boundless hope for a culturally and ecologically rich future, despite our changing planet. Designated a U.N. climate Hope Spot, La Gomera offers lessons for the larger world in building community to overcome global perils.   

Learn about climate change's impacts on the Costa Rican rainforest from Abel Bustamente, a native wildlife guide. How do we balance profit and sustainability? Is there such a thing as eco friendly tourism, or is that an oxymoron? With his wry humor, youthful energy, and captivating expertise, Mr. Bustamente's insights will stick with you long after this audio-journey through the Gandoca Manzanillo rainforest ends. Meet bullet ants and poison dart frogs, tarantulas and sea-turtles; catch the perspective of a local, non-indigenous Costa Rican on the government's relationship with the native BriBri community (a stark contrast to that of Haniel, the indigenous citizen profiled in the previous episode! )----more----

Listen in for a captivating interview with an indigenous Costa Rican wildlife guide! Take an audio and story-telling journey with me through the native Bribri community. Learn about climate change's impact on one of the world's few matrilineal society. Discover a radical farming method that fuses the jungle with crops to fight climate change and colonization. Lastly, cocoa is central to the Bribri--this episode is chockfull of chocolate.

Delve into the controversy over Bears Ears National Monument, in Southeastern Utah. At its crux, the debate centers around the right to tribal sovereignty, complicated by some Indigenous peoples' precedented mistrust in the federal government. Here is an opportunity for Native Americans to reclaim and protect this sacred region--but the question is, how does the government factor into that equation? Plus, hear from a Potomac student with Native Heritage. 

Climate change and colonization are inextricably linked, especially in the landscape of national parks. Voyage to Acadia National Park, Maine: the Wabanaki homeland. This environmental justice centered episode focuses climate change's impact on the park and the Wabanaki people who are tied to it. Learn about the special form of indigenous wisdom rising to the forefront of the climate change action plan--an all in one key to saving the planet and decolonizing it. Plus, a ranger interview!

The 2nd episode in a three part series examining climate change’s impact on our national parks. Every episode features an unsettling, surprising, and hopeful interview with an expert, each with a unique perspective on what climate change means for our parks and how we can best adapt. This episode: Interview with Patty Glick, Senior Scientist for Climate Adaptation for the National Wildlife Federation. 

The 1st episode in a three part series examining climate change’s impact on our national parks. Every episode features an unsettling, surprising, and hopeful interview with an expert, each with a unique perspective on what climate change means for our parks and how we can best adapt. This episode: Interview with Larry Perez, Communications Coordinator for NPS Climate Change Response Program.  

EXTRA! An interview with a professional Grand Teton Ranger! Learn about climate change's impacts on the park from an expert! Delve into the misunderstandings lacing this park's untold history. Learn about the rage-filled rock clashes that sculpted the Tetons we see today, and discover Shoshone history.