A discussion of the environmental health impacts of beauty & personal care products with Dr. Ami Zota, scientist, professor, and founder of Agents of Change in Environmental Justice at Columbia University. In this episode, we discuss toxic ingredients, colorism, hair discrimination, beauty standards, health outcomes, routes of exposure, policy solutions and more. Dr. Zota shares her framework on these challenges: the environmental injustice of beauty.

Connect with Dr. Zota:

Ami Zota - Associate Professor -  LinkedIn

Agents of Change in Environmental Justice

Podcasts - Agents Of Change

Resources:

Clearya

EWG Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

Black Beauty Project

Taking Stock Study

Black Women for Wellness

Think Dirty

Made Safe

COSMOS-standard

United Nations Convention Agrees to Phase Mercury Out of Cosmetics by 2025 

Toxic Free Products | WE ACT for Environmental Justice

Mercury in Soaps and Creams - NYC Health

CROWN Act

Washington state now has the nation’s strongest law against toxic cosmetics | Grist

Mercury in Soaps and Creams - NYC Health

12 Ingredients To Avoid In Cosmetics & Skin Care Products | mindbodygreen

You Have Fossil Fuels On Your Face - by Jessica DeFino

BLK + GRN

Sources:

Countries unite to remove mercury from hazardous skin lightening products

Skin Whitening: The global market, the risks and who makes and sells the products 

Black Women Face Disproportionate Risks From Largely Unregulated Toxic Substances in Beauty and Personal Care Products

A New Law Regulating the Cosmetics Industry Expands the FDA’s Power But Fails to Ban Toxic Chemicals in Beauty Products - Inside Climate News

Credits:

Hosted and produced by Kiana Michaan
Edited and co-produced by Lucy Little

In this episode, environmental justice educator and strategist Arielle King shares her recent experience at COP28 in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The conversation starts by exploring the importance of radical joy and imagination in climate work. Arielle was one of the organizers of the Entertainment & Culture Pavilion as well as Hope House at COP28. We discuss outcomes of the negotiations, the Loss & Damage fund, the Global Stocktake, the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, and the role of protests at COP. Arielle shares the importance and impact of storytelling, art, culture, and collaboration in creating a just climate future.

Enjoy this special end of year extended episode to recap COP28 and the show will be back after the holidays!

Connect with Arielle: 

Arielle V. King • Instagram

Arielle King - LinkedIn

Resources:

The Joy Report - Podcast - Intersectional Environmentalist

COP28 Entertainment + Culture Pavilion

Hope House COP28 | Time for Better 

COP28 Agreement Signals “Beginning of the End” of the Fossil Fuel Era 

Unpacking COP28: Key Outcomes from the Dubai Climate Talks, and What Comes Next

COP28 - Climate Justice Alliance

Environmental Justice In Palestine — Intersectional Environmentalist

All Out for Palestine - Digital Action Toolkit - Palestinian Feminist Collective

Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty

COP28 - Website

IPCC Report 2022

Credits:

Hosted and produced by Kiana Michaan

Edited and co-produced by Lucy Little

This episode explores the connection between climate change and mental health in a conversation with Maia Kiley, a therapist practicing climate aware therapy and eco-therapy. We discuss eco-anxiety, climate distress, emotional resilience, climate doomism & optimism, and the accessibility of mental health resources.

Connect with Maia:

Maia Kiley - Website

Maia Kiley, LMFT - Instagram

Resources:

Climate Psychology Alliance

Good Grief Network

The Waggle | Project Regeneration

Women and Climate

A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety by Sarah Jaquette Ray

How to Prepare for Climate Change by David Pogue

Generation Dread by Britt Wray

It's Not Just You | Book by Tori Tsui

Sources:

FAQ 3: How will climate change affect the lives of today’s children tomorrow, if no immediate action is taken?

New report shows just 100 companies are source of over 70% of emissions - CDP

CWS Data Tool: Demographics of the U.S. Psychology Workforce

Access to Care Data 2022 | Mental Health America

Key findings: How Americans' attitudes about climate change differ by generation, party and other factors

Credits:

Hosted and produced by Kiana Michaan

Edited and co-produced by Lucy Little

A discussion of solar development and policy in New York State with Noah Ginsburg, executive director of New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA). In this episode, we talk about the challenges and solutions regarding incentives, interconnection, and equitable distribution of solar deployment across the state. We also explore the impacts of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), the Climate Mobilization Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). 

Connect with Noah:

Noah Ginsburg | LinkedIn

Resources:

New York Solar Energy Industries Association

Climate Mobilization Act

Expanding Local Clean Energy Could Save New York $28 Billion by 2050 - Vote Solar

Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act

NY State Senate Bill 2019-S6599

Inflation Reduction Act Guidebook | Clean Energy | The White House

Clean Energy Training Resources - NYSERDA

NY-Sun Solar Program - NYSERDA

Sources:

New York Solar | SEIA

Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act — NY Renews

Governor Hochul Announces Approval of New Framework to Achieve at Least Ten Gigawatts of Distributed Solar by 2030 - NYSERDA

PRESS RELEASE | NYISO Announces New Solar Generation Record

Inflation Reduction Act: Solar Energy and Energy Storage Provisions Summary | SEIA

Credits:

Hosted and produced by Kiana Michaan

Edited and co-produced by Lucy Little

In this episode, Melina Acevedo, Carolina Ramos, and Cristina Garcia, from Latinxs in Sustainability, share their professional journeys working in clean energy. We discuss overcoming professional challenges, the importance of Latinx representation in environmental fields, and the role of mentorship in cultivating diversity. Latinxs in Sustainability is a non-profit building community and offering programs that support Latinx climate professionals and further diversity, representation, and environmental justice in the sustainability and energy workforce.

Connect with LiS:

Melina Acevedo | LinkedIn

Carolina Ramos | LinkedIn

Cristina Garcia, CEM | LinkedIn

Resources:

Latinxs in Sustainability

Latino Climate Justice Framework

Young Professionals in Energy

WRISE

References:

Why climate change matters to Latinos

Inequity in consumption of goods and services adds to racial–ethnic disparities in air pollution exposure | PNAS

Latinos and Global Warming's Six Americas - Yale Program on Climate Change Communication

Climate Change in the Latino Mind

Which racial/ethnic groups care most about climate change?

Credits

Hosted and produced by Kiana Michaan
Edited and co-produced by Lucy Little

In this episode, Maya Whalen-Kipp shares her experiences working on workforce development at the US Department of Energy and her work as a marine scientist. We explore how to make jobs in clean energy more accessible for students, climate activists, and climate enthusiasts. We discuss the challenges & opportunities of workforce development in clean energy and clean tech. Maya shares what brings her hope about the future of clean energy workforce development. 

Connect with Maya:

Decoding Climate Jobs - Resources

Decoding Climate Jobs - Podcast

LinkedIn

Instagram

Resources:

New York Bight | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

NREL

Fact Sheet | Climate Jobs (2021) | White Papers | EESI

Job Function Action Guides | Project Drawdown

Global Green Skills Report 2023 | LinkedIn

OurEnergyPolicy

Green Jobs Board

Terra.do

Climatebase

Work on Climate

Climate People

Credits:

Hosted and produced by Kiana Michaan

Edited and co-produced by Lucy Little

In this episode, Jasmine Graham, the executive director of Mid-Hudson Energy Transition, shares their perspective on energy justice, energy democracy, and just transition. We talked about the historical role of policy on energy systems and the importance of equitable energy solutions. Jasmine shared experiences and insights from their career journey working on clean energy in New York State and what brings them inspiration, hope, and joy. 

Connect with Jasmine : 

LinkedIn

Mid-Hudson Energy Transition

Resources mentioned in the episode: 

"Regulatory Theater: How Investor-Owned Utilities and Captured Oversight" by Ruhan Nagra, Jeanne Bergman et al.

Initiative for Energy Justice

Just Solutions Collective

The Chisholm Legacy Project

Emerald Cities Collaborative

Earthjustice

WE ACT for Environmental Justice

Energy Democracy

Revolutionary Power by Shalanda Baker

Diana Hernández

Dr. Tony G. Reames

Myles Lennon

Alliance for a Green Economy

NY Renews

NY Energy Democracy Alliance

Credits

Hosted and produced by Kiana Michaan
Edited and co-produced by Lucy Little

Welcome to Climate with Kiana! A new podcast about climate solutions through a framework of joy and justice. Listen now for an introduction to the show and a look at the episodes ahead.

Credits

Hosted, created, and produced by Kiana Michaan

Edited, sound design, and co-produced by Lucy Little

Music by Colette Michaan

Song: Ni Contigo Ni Sin Ti, Album: Earth Rebirth

Graphic Design by Khari Slaughter

Recorded and produced in New York City on unceded Munsee Lenape land.