Operation Climate

In this episode of Operation Climate, Kendra Rentz speaks with Jim Puckett, founder of the Basel Action Network, about the dangerous and often overlooked world of electronic waste. They examine the toxic components of e-waste and the serious risks it poses to both human health and the environment. From workers exposed to hazardous chemicals in informal recycling operations to the impact on vulnerable children, the conversation delves into the far-reaching health consequences of the e-waste crisis. While the episode highlights challenges posed by electronic waste, it also explores positive solutions, including innovative efforts to reduce e-waste and the importance of continued, collective action. Kendra and Mr. Puckett discuss how, by working together, we can help prevent the e-waste crisis from spiraling further out of control and protect the future of our planet.

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https://operationclimatepo.wixsite.com/operationclimate

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Guest: Jim Puckett

Hosts: Kendra Rentz

Reporters: Lauren Coleman, Jaida Ciampi, Kendra Rentz

Audio Editor: Lauren Coleman

Music Credit: Sunshower by LATASHA

From Halloween party costumes to game day outfits, college campuses are hotspots for clothing turnover. But what’s the real environmental cost of one-time wear?

In this episode of Operation Climate, we explore the wasteful cycle of clothing consumption habits, from last-minute Amazon ordering to costume drawers, and investigate the impact on our planet. We talk to college students about their clothing habits and Halloween costume plans. We feature insights from Dr. Elena Karpova of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, with her expertise focusing on sustainable apparel consumption across cultures and markets.

Tune in to learn how small changes in your wardrobe can make a big difference!

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Guest: Dr. Elena Karpova

Host: Jordan Ross

Reporters: Jordan Ross, Charlotte Caddell 

Audio Editor: Katie Brandler

Music Credit: Upbeat Background Music by Inplusmusic

Have you ever wondered how much energy your TikTok scrolling costs? Or what the environmental impacts of ChatGPT are?

Today’s technology boom is undoubtedly reshaping our digital landscape, but the vast amount of physical infrastructure that must accompany new tech development often gets lost in the conversation. And now with the rise of AI, large, energy-intensive data centers are becoming American industry’s “next big thing.”

We unpacked the larger costs of these data centers with Steven Gonzalez Montserrate, a researcher out of MIT and the Goethe University in Germany who studies the cloud and is helping us grapple with the environmental costs of our new digital reality.

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Visit our website to keep up with the OC team!

https://operationclimatepo.wixsite.com/operationclimate

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Guest: Steven Gonzalez Montserrate

Hosts: Zoe Kolenovsky, Marie-Hélène Tomé

Reporters: Zoe Kolenovsky, Marie-Hélène Tomé

Audio Editor: Karina Huang

Music Credit: Robots and Aliens by Joel Cummins

How many water bottles do you own? Most people would answer more than one. These days, it seems like a new, trendy brand pops up every year, and many of these companies actually market their products as eco-friendly despite having a significant environmental impact.

In this episode, Charlotte speaks to Dr. Wren Montgomery, a professor at the Ivey Business School at Western University who researches sustainability-related issues. Dr. Montgomery shares insights on how this trend of consumerism emerged, how greenwashing works, and how social media plays a role in promoting overconsumption.

Listen to learn more about how to identify truly sustainable brands and be a more mindful consumer.

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Visit our website to keep up with the OC team!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://operationclimatepo.wixsite.com/operationclimate⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@operationclimate⁠⁠⁠⁠!

To contact us, DM us on Instagram or email us at [email protected]!

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Guest: Wren Montgomery

Host: Charlotte Caddell

Reporter: Zoe Kolenovsky, Charlotte Caddell

Audio Editor: Karina Huang

Music Credit: Cali by Wataboi

Over recent months, it is known All Too Well that pop star and cultural icon Taylor Swift has attracted widespread criticism for her private jet usage and corresponding surge in CO2 emissions to be one thousand times more than the average person. In this episode of Operation Climate, we delve deep into the environmental repercussions of private air travel and the moral obligations of celebrities to leverage their platforms to make meaningful Change. We feature insights from Dr. Paul Théberge of Carleton University, with his expertise focusing on the dynamics between the music industry, technology, culture, and globalization. We will discuss this Delicate matter where personal choices of celebrities challenge and affect global environmental concerns. As we continue The Great War towards a greener future, it’s clear that Taylor Swift’s Love Story with private jets must not be Long Lived. Should we Shake off Taylor’s environmental impact and simply tolerate it, or should we be Fearless agents of change to ensure our earth is Clean?

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Visit our website to keep up with the OC team!⁠ ⁠⁠https://operationclimatepo.wixsite.com/operationclimate⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram at⁠ ⁠⁠@operationclimate⁠⁠⁠!

To contact us, DM us on Instagram or email us at [email protected]!

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Guest: Paul Théberge

Host: Katie Brandler

Reporter: Erin Chen, Katie Brandler, Kendra Rentz

Audio Editor: Kendra Rentz, Erin Chen

Music Credit: Cali by Wataboi, Taylor Swift - Intro Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince (The Eras Tour Studio Version) by Prochos Studio

In this season opener, hosts Anna and Renee explore the environmental implications of the newly constructed Olympic Surfing Judging Tower in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, the host site for the surfing events of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Joined by Brian Silliman, the Rachel Carson Professor of Marine Conservation Biology at Duke University, they discuss the challenges facing coral reefs and the potential impacts of the tower on the local marine ecosystem. The episode highlights the vital role of community advocacy in conservation, showcasing how we can drive action forward for a more sustainable future.

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Follow Oci & Jeff @happymonkeyfarm and email Oci at ⁠[email protected]⁠!

Link to episode transcript:⁠ ⁠https://docs.google.com/document/d/1apVvWIO6gRTB9tOG6Li_vEu-pnc9Y21HIRkJNggzOVw/edit?usp=sharing⁠⁠

Visit our website to keep up with the OC team!⁠ ⁠⁠https://operationclimatepo.wixsite.com/operationclimate⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram at⁠ ⁠⁠@operationclimate⁠⁠⁠!

To contact us, DM us on Instagram or email us at [email protected]!

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Guest: Brian Silliman

Host: Anna Ochs, Renee Urtusastegui

Reporter(s): Anna Ochs, Renee Urtusastegui

Audio Editor: Emily Nagamoto

Music Credit: Cali by Wataboi

In this special summer episode of Operation Climate, we journey to Person County, North Carolina, where a proposed liquid natural gas facility has ignited a grassroots movement. Hear from local farmers Oci and Jeff, just a mile from the site, as they share their story. During this episode, we will uncover the environmental concerns, political maneuvering, and community activism surrounding the project. From heated town meetings to murky creek waters, this episode offers a raw look at American small farmers' fight against industrial encroachment. Tune in for a to hear the stories behind Person County's struggle, and discover how this local battle reflects broader questions of energy policy, democratic representation, and the future of rural communities across the nation.

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Follow Oci & Jeff @happymonkeyfarm and email Oci at [email protected]!

Link to episode transcript: ⁠https://docs.google.com/document/d/1apVvWIO6gRTB9tOG6Li_vEu-pnc9Y21HIRkJNggzOVw/edit?usp=sharing⁠

Visit our website to keep up with the OC team! ⁠⁠https://operationclimatepo.wixsite.com/operationclimate⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram at ⁠⁠@operationclimate⁠⁠!

To contact us, DM us on Instagram or email us at [email protected]!

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Guest: Oci Canadas & Jeff Canadas

Host: Kendra Rentz

Reporter: Kendra Rentz

Audio Editor: Kendra Rentz

Music Credit: Cali by Wataboi, Movement by HoliznaCC0

Welcome back to Season 9: Green Horizons! In the season finale, we are moving out of the classroom and into the realm of government to continue our exploration of what a climate-conscious future looks like. The Biden administration announced the creation of the American Climate Corps back in September, which aims to train a new generation of workers for jobs in the clean energy economy. The initiative draws heavily on AmeriCorps, an existing national service organization that was created in 1993 to teach youth professional skills through community service projects. We were lucky enough to sit down with Jonathan Wiener, a current Duke Law professor who was an environmental advisor to the Clinton administration and helped organize AmeriCorps's environmental efforts. Join us as we learn from Wiener about AmeriCorps's early days and what lessons the decades-old program has to offer the nascent American Climate Corps.

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Visit our website to keep up with the OC team! ⁠⁠https://operationclimatepo.wixsite.com/operationclimate⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram at ⁠⁠@operationclimate⁠⁠!

Follow us on Twitter at ⁠⁠@opclimate!⁠⁠

Subscribe to us on ⁠⁠Youtube!⁠⁠

To contact us, DM us on Instagram or email us at [email protected]!

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Guest: Jonathan Wiener

Hosts: Zoe Kolenovsky and Marie-Hélène Tome

Reporter: Charlotte Caddell

Audio Editor: Zoe Kolenovsky

Music Credit: Cali by Wataboi, Positive Fuse by French Fuse

Welcome to Season 9: Green Horizons! In this series, we are talking about the positive role of big institutions, universities and governments, in the climate movement.

As we continue our conversation of climate education and action at Duke University, in this episode, we are sitting down with two esteemed Duke University professors, Dr. Valerie Sabol, a clinical professor in the Duke School of Nursing, and Robin Kirk, a professor in the practice of cultural anthropology at Duke. Join us as we delve into a discussion about their involvement in the brand new Climate and Sustainability Teaching Fellows program at Duke, uniquely designed to infuse climate change and sustainability education into classes’ curriculum that are not centrally focused on the issue. From exploring the intersection of human rights and environmental issues to integrating sustainable healthcare practices, Kirk and Sabol share the innovative approaches they developed through the program and the profound impact on students' perspectives and engagement. Don't miss this conversation on reshaping education for a sustainable future.

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Visit our website to keep up with the OC team! ⁠⁠https://operationclimatepo.wixsite.com/operationclimate⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram at ⁠⁠@operationclimate⁠⁠!

Follow us on Twitter at ⁠⁠@opclimate!⁠⁠

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Guest: Dr. Valerie Sabol and Robin Kirk

Host: Zoe Kolenovsky

Reporters: Marie-Hélène Tome and Maya Slack

Audio Editor: Charlotte Caddell

Music Credit: Cali by Wataboi, Positive Fuse by French Fuse

Welcome to Season 9: Green Horizons! In this series, we are talking about the positive role of big institutions, universities and governments, in the climate movement.

In today's episode, we shift gears from the overarching view to the nitty-gritty details. We're joined by Dr. Emily Bernhardt, a biogeochemist and a professor at Duke as well as Lindsay Batchelor, and Jason Elliott from the Sustainable Duke team. We explore how Duke is translating its commitment into action, focusing on course offerings and campus facilities. Dr. Bernhardt shares insights into University 102, a unique cross-disciplinary course that empowers students not just to learn about climate change but actively contribute their perspectives. Join us as we uncover the concrete steps Duke has taken and get a glimpse of the sustainable future it envisions. 

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Visit our website to keep up with the OC team! ⁠⁠https://operationclimatepo.wixsite.com/operationclimate⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram at ⁠⁠@operationclimate⁠⁠!

Follow us on Twitter at ⁠⁠@opclimate!⁠⁠

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To contact us, DM us on Instagram or email us at [email protected]!

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Guest: Dr. Emily Bernhardt, Lindsay Batchelor, and Jason Elliott

Host: Ryan Lou

Reporters: Sophia Liang and Erin Chen

Audio Editor: Kendra Rentz

Executive Producer: Mira Polishook

Music Credit: Cali by Wataboi, Positive Fuse by French Fuse