Gulf Streams

Botanical gardens are a feature of great cities around the world, and since 2020, Houston has a botanical garden of its own, the Houston Botanic Garden. On today's show we sit down with three of the garden's staff to talk all about the role of botanical gardens in cities, and what makes the Houston Botanic Garden so special. 

On today's show we're talking about the very materials we use to build our homes and buildings. We sit down with Jesus Vasallo (Rice University) to talk all about the future of building materials and the coming prevalence of plant-based construction approaches.

Today we sit down with Jonathan Levy (University of Chicago) to talk all about the past of Houston to understand what might be coming in its future. In particular, where Houston can serve as a leading example in the coming world of climate adaptation. Later in the hour our researcher Jadyn has a story on animal welfare during disasters. 

Dr. Cyrus Reed is the Conservation Director of the Sierra Club's Lone Star Chapter. The Lone Star Chapter is the oldest environmental organization in Texas, and today they're sharing with us some of the most important issues in front of the Texas Legislature this session regarding energy security, environmental protection, and water quality. 

Today we sit down with Geoff Winningham, an award winning photographer, to talk all about his experiences charting Buffalo Bayou and learning about Houston's ecology for his book, Along Forgotten River. Our researcher Sophia and regular host Weston Twardowski learn about adventuring along the bayou, and discuss how it continues to change as we reshape it today.

The first of two episodes focused on exploring the Bayous of "Bayou City," our researcher Sophia Soltes talk with ecologist Suzanne Simpson (Galveston Bay Foundation) and advocate Yudith Nieto (Bayou City Waterkeeper) about the history, health, and importance of the city's bayous. Later in the episode our researcher Jadyn Bray-Boyce shares the psychological benefits of spending time in nature.

On today's show we have an update on Project 11, the expansion of the Port of Houston, and the history of polluted soil in local neighborhoods as a result of port dredging. We're joined by Leticia Gutierrez (Air Alliance Houston), Cleo Sharp (Achieving Community Tasks Successfully), and Naomi Yoder (the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice) to learn more. 

Today our researcher Nomin Rentsendorj sits down with Dr. Cin-Ty Lee to talk about his cutting edge geological research. Dr. Lee is a geologist/petrologist/geochemist whose work has moved into bioacoustics to study wildlife – especially birds. In this fascinating conversation, he walks us through his work. 

Today we sit down with Alison Weaver, Founding Executive Director of the Moody Center for the Arts, to talk about what can be accomplished through collaborations between environmentalists, scientists, and artists. The Moody Center has been dedicated to producing community engaged work, much of which explores the environment, for years and has a new exhibit opening that speaks to how we can reimagine our world through art – and even solve some it's environmental challenges.

On today's show we're diving into the unexpectedly important role of laughter and comedy in addressing climate change. Our guest, Dr. Aaron Sachs (Cornell University), walks us through the importance of comedy to survival, social movements, and, he argues, fighting climate change.