Community Build-up

The Community Build-up documents how people are building sustainable, creative, and equitable communities from the ground up. These conversational interviews spotlight community leaders, environmental innovators, and creative people working at the intersection of climate, culture, and community resilience. It’s centered on people actively building and defining what real sustainability and community-building look like. At a time when climate progress is stalling, we amplify voices making a difference. These conversational interviews share stories rooted in local communities and connected to larger conversations on climate and culture. Each episode offers practical ways to engage and meaningful takeaways for creating change in your own neighborhoods, towns, and cities. 

This show is hosted and created by Cody Sanford.

The Community Build-up Podcast is in production now. Be ready for our launch by hitting subscribe on your favorite podcast platform! 

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This episode of Climate Fairplay examines how the loss of gathering places or "third places" negatively impacts a community's overall health and our ability to create meaningful climate progress locally. The Sharable Facts and Stats segment focuses on why access to green spaces is critical in supporting public health and environmental resilience. It also includes a call to action for support in creating a sustainable pop-up market in Denver, designed to unite local businesses, nonprofits, and residents around practical solutions.

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The global water cycle is facing unprecedented threats. Recently, UN leaders described water as “the canary in the coal mine of climate change,” highlighting how climate change and mismanagement are driving unprecedented changes in our water systems. In this episode, Daniel Dominguez, a water scientist at Colorado State University and a project coordinator for the Water Fellows programs, explains the impacts of climate change on our water systems. This conversation unpacks how the water cycle is changing and ends with a discussion on the ways we can connect water conservation to our everyday lives.

Everyone has the power to impact the environment in their own community. As our natural world faces a growing list of challenges, the need for environmental leaders engaged with local initiatives has never been more critical. Tune into Climate Fairplay and listen to Daniel Dominguez share how a genuine commitment to action has led to a cohort of water leaders across Colorado. 

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The Wildland Restoration Volunteers is a local nonprofit working to restore and protect our state's wild lands through community-driven projects. Your donation helps fund essential conservation efforts, from trail maintenance to habitat restoration. Every contribution makes a difference. You can support Colorado's Wildland Restoration Volunteers by making a donation today at Colorado Gives - Wildland Restoration Volunteers.

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Host Cody Sanford examines the grim prospects for U.S. climate and environmental policy under the second Trump administration. Sanford expresses his intense disappointment with the recent election results, highlights the perils of climate change denial within leadership roles, and reviews Trump's previous actions on environmental regulations. The discussion also explores the ramifications of the U.S. withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and underscores the crucial role of community-driven solutions in the fight against climate change.

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Additionally, Sanford announced his initiative to develop a pop-up sustainable market or 'climate fair' in Denver, Colorado, which will create a community access point to sustainable solutions. This episode offers insightful analysis and inspires listeners to contribute to meaningful environmental change.

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Episode Takeaways

• The U.S. is facing a significant setback in climate policy.

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Wildfires are becoming more severe and uncontrollable, even overwhelming ecosystems that evolved with fire. Climate change is intensifying these fires, and as more communities expand into naturally wild-prone areas, they become increasingly vulnerable to devastation. This episode explores the current state of wildfires that have become more destructive and uncontrollable than ever before. Despite the growing peril, underpaid wildland firefighters risk everything with minimal support, earning as little as $15 an hour. This episode ends with a blunt call for fair wages and urgent policy reforms to protect those who stand between us and an ever-growing threat of fire.

Our food system is broken; learn how we can begin to fix it. In this episode of the Climate Fairplay Podcast, we explain the failures of global agriculture production. We break down climate-smart agriculture—why it’s essential, how it benefits farmers, food production, and climate progress—and then address some of the reasons behind the global pushback against sustainable farming policies. The episode's Sharable Stats & Facts segment covers agrivoltaics, a growing science combining solar energy and agriculture. To wrap up, we focus on actionable local solutions, exploring how permitting commercial urban farming can make locally grown food more accessible.

As climate tension rises, the US faces a repetitive choice: elect leaders who act on climate change or those who deny it exists. This episode explores US climate policy, why climate goals are sidelined, and highlights the cities setting ambitious net-zero targets.

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The Climate Fairplay is an independent podcast and digital publication dedicated to addressing the urgency of climate change and connecting it to community and individual actions. The podcast aims to make climate and environmental issues relevant and actionable for listeners. It’s designed for those who recognize the critical need to act on climate change and want to drive progress further. This podcast informs you on climate and environmental news, science, and politics, offering a straightforward approach and actionable advice backed by peer-reviewed scientific evidence.

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This is an exciting time for people who care about climate progress. There is the most funding for climate adaptations and building a sustainable society to date. Yet, regular people lack access to sustainable solutions, and it's exhausted further by systematic greenwashing of climate action. The introductory episode explores how local community efforts can break these barriers and drive real climate progress.

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The Climate Fairplay is an independent podcast and digital publication dedicated to addressing the urgency of climate change and connecting it to community and individual actions. The podcast aims to make climate and environmental issues relevant and actionable for listeners. It’s designed for those who recognize the critical need to act on climate change and want to drive progress further. This podcast informs you on climate and environmental news, science, and politics, offering a straightforward approach and actionable advice backed by peer-reviewed scientific evidence.

Stop Greenwashing Climate Action - Climate Fairplay Podcast

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Livable Future Podcast