Climate Action Figures

In this episode, John Whidden introduces Hailey, a senior at U Chicago. They discuss practical air-cleaning tips, Hailey's Produce Peddlers initiative, her involvement in triathlons, and efforts in campus composting. Hailey emphasizes the self-serving benefits of sustainability and the value of community-supported agriculture programs. Lastly, she shares hopeful insights from her experience at COP 28.

00:00 Introduction and Milestones

00:51 QuickFix: Air Purifying Plants

01:27 Meet Haley: Background and Connections

03:22 Produce Peddlers: A Community Initiative

05:21 Triathlons and Environmentalism

07:03 Phoenix Sustainability Initiative

09:40 Composting Tips and Challenges

14:19 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

16:13 Hope for the Future: Reflections from COP 28

17:38 Conclusion and Farewell

https://produce-peddlers.getlandingsite.com/

https://www.psiuchicago.com/

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In the first 2026 edition of Climate Action Figures, host John Whidden interviews Free Borsey. They discuss the YUKA app for assessing health impacts of food and cosmetics, Free's podcast series on indigenous and western sciences, the Land Back movement, and the importance of inclusive climate action.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:34 QuickFix: Eco-Friendly App Recommendation

01:18 Interview with Free: YUKA App Insights

02:45 Cultural Survival Program and Indigenous Knowledge

05:12 Understanding Indigenous Terminology and Borders

11:01 Land Back Movement and Environmental Stewardship

14:45 Indigenous Wisdom in Climate Crisis

23:32 Personal Connection to Environmental Activism

25:22 Free's Climate Action and Final Thoughts

https://www.n-sea.org/   

https://library.settingsunproductions.org/digital-heritage/plant-philosopher   

https://settingsunproductions.org/young-and-indigenous-podcast?offset=1633997737865

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John and creative consultant Kayla talk about audience favourite episodes. Featuring a discussion on pee cloths, COP 29 insights, and community feedback. Ends with a call for suggestions for a potential Season Four.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:54 Kayla's QuickFix: The Pee Cloth

03:07 Audience QuickFix Contributions

03:39 Favorite Episodes and Reflections

08:17 Listener Feedback and Highlights

14:26 Kayla and John's Favorite Episodes

16:26 Hope and Future of the Podcast

21:48 Conclusion and Call to Action

https://www.avenuecalgary.com/top-20-under-20/2025/aryan-sharma/

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Join John Whidden as he introduces Julia who delves deep into the complexities of food systems, shares her work with Food Futures in Ottawa, and connects these systems to climate change. Julia also discusses youth activism, sustainable consumption, and finding hope in climate action.

00:00 Introduction to Climate Action Figures

00:29 QuickFix of the Week

00:54 Meet Julia: Youth Activist

01:54 Understanding Food Systems

04:59 Food Futures Initiative

07:19 Youth Engagement and Political Change

11:25 Food Systems and Climate Change

13:23 Can the Climate Crisis Be Solved?

15:58 Julia's Journey and Advice for Youth

19:31 Julia's Climate Action and Final Thoughts

https://justfood.ca/food-futures-youth-council/

https://blogs.dal.ca/openthink/what-is-the-food-system-anyway-and-how-does-it-impact-the-environment/

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Join John Whidden on this week's episode of Climate Action Figures as he introduces Alida, a proactive high school student from Palo Alto. Learn about her journey in environmental activism, from joining the Palo Alto Student Climate Coalition to writing legislative proposals and being involved in the Stanford Deliberate Democracy Lab. Alida shares insights into the benefits and concerns of AI, her passion for business and sustainability, and her efforts in community education and engagement.

00:00 Introduction and QuickFix Highlight

01:38 Meet Alida: Vegan Challenges and Green Team Initiatives

02:54 Palo Alto Student Climate Coalition

06:55 AI and Environmental Impact

10:33 Legislation and Policy Advocacy

14:27 Stanford Deliberate Democracy Lab and Green Needs Map

20:52 Balancing Passion and Life

22:07 Hope and Future Aspirations

25:21 Conclusion and Call to Action

https://www.globeaware.org/

https://anthromagazine.org/palo-alto-residents-rally-for-climate-change-superfund/

https://paloaltoscc.wixsite.com/my-site

https://yipinstitute.org/fellowship

https://deliberation.stanford.edu/climate-leaders-fellowship-high-school-students

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John  interviews Day and Colleen on their mentorship project with CPAWS. They discuss planting native lawns, environmental conservation, and hosting a workshop on November 16th. Also featured: Linda's QuickFix tip on bird and butterfly-friendly gardens. 

00:00 Introduction to Climate Action Figures

00:28 QuickFix from Linda: Bird and Butterfly Friendly Gardens

01:10 Meet Day and Colleen

01:41 Youth Conservation Collective: An Overview

02:41 Day's Journey into Environmentalism

04:21 The Native Lawn Project

05:02 The Social and Environmental Impact of Lawns

07:13 Promoting Native Lawns and Gardens

09:42 Personal Climate Actions and Inspirations

13:46 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Events

CPAWS’ Youth Conservation Collective: https://cpaws-southernalberta.org/education/youth-experiences/youth-conservation-collective/

Back to Our Roots Event: November 16, 2025: 3:00-4:30pm, Giuffre Family Library, Calgary

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In this episode of Climate Action Figures, host John Whidden introduces Emma, a representative from Re.Climate, an organization dedicated to climate change communications and research based at Carleton University in Ottawa. The discussion covers innovative recycling tips, effective communication strategies on climate change, and the importance of incorporating indigenous perspectives into climate action strategies. Emma shares her insights on a key project, Climate Ready Prairies, focused on helping communities adapt to extreme weather. She also delves into her PhD research on people's emotional connections with urban trees and their importance beyond environmental benefits. Emma emphasizes the role of human relationships in climate action and shares personal stories that inspire hope and community engagement.

00:00 Welcome to Climate Action Figures

00:27 QuickFix: Mike's Recycling Story

00:52 Meet Emma from Re.Climate

01:47 Re.Climate's Mission and Projects

03:15 Climate Ready Prairies and Indigenous Collaboration

06:00 Tips for Talking About Climate Change

13:25 Emma's PhD Research on Trees

20:15 Emma's Personal Climate Actions

21:24 Closing Thoughts and Hope for the Future

https://climatewest.ca/ Building Prairie Resilience: helping communities to prepare for a changed and changing climate.

https://sevgen.ca/

https://www.sandralamouche.com/

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In this final part of the Climate Action Figures series, John Whidden introduces Brett Weighill, a school administrator at Piikani Nation Secondary School. The episode highlights First Nations wisdom in sustainable practices, specifically focusing on a student-led greenhouse project involving traditional plants like sweetgrass. Brett shares his journey from aspiring ethnobotanist to facilitating this initiative, emphasizing the importance of cultural context in environmental research. The episode also features the involvement of Piikani students such as Gracie and MJ, highlighting the significance of integrating cultural education within scientific pursuits.

00:00 Introduction to Climate Action Figures
00:37 QuickFix: Be Food Smart
01:11 Meet Brett Weighill
02:14 Brett's Journey to Piikani Nation
05:35 Developing the Sweetgrass Program
10:39 Challenges and Successes
15:00 First Nations Perspectives on Environmentalism
26:52 The Role of Youth in Climate Action
29:49 Conclusion and Call to Action

https://thenarwhal.ca/piikani-nation-sweetgrass/
https://www.goodplanetproject.com/profiles/resilienceinstitute, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCw7XOesKDM
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1384204/full https://www.facebook.com/people/PBOES/61565067209886/?_rdr, https://piikani.ca/ https://clean50.com/media-release-canadas-top-sustainability-award-releases-list-of-top-25-sustainability-projects-completed-across-canada-over-the-past-2-years/

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Join host John Whidden in this episode of Climate Action Figures as he interviews MJ, a junior high student from Piikani Nation, about his deep connection with his family, land, and Blackfoot culture. MJ shares insights on buffalo harvesting, the school greenhouse project, and his hopes for preserving the environment and his culture.

00:00 Introduction to Climate Action Figures

00:29 QuickFix of the Week

01:19 Meet MJ: A Name with History

02:08 Living Off the Land: Hunting and Harvesting

03:11 Buffalo Harvesting Traditions

04:56 School Greenhouse and Sweet Grass Program

06:24 Cultural Significance and Future Hopes

11:26 MJ's Climate Action and Hopes for the Future

12:34 Conclusion and Farewell

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In this episode, John  interviews Gracie Eagle Bear, a Blackfoot high school senior with a mission to preserve her culture's traditions. Gracie discusses her spiritual journey, the significance of sweetgrass, and her aspirations to become a medicine woman.

00:00 Introduction to Climate Action Figures

00:36 QuickFix: Reusable Coffee Pods

01:04 Meet Gracie Eagle Bear

01:24 Gracie's Cultural Heritage and Music Interests

02:22 Honouring Pete Provost in Europe

06:07 Sweetgrass Knowledge Transfer Ceremony

08:21 Gracie's Aspirations as a Medicine Woman

12:54 Inspiration and Family Influence

13:35 Gracie's Role in the School Program

15:50 Future Hopes and Climate Action

19:55 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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