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.

______

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]!

____________

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?

______

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]!

____________

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.

______

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]!

____________

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.

______

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]!

____________

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.

______

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]!

____________

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.

______

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]!

____________

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. 

______

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]!

____________

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

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

It’s been a year since the Climate Commitment was announced, but a question still floats in the mind of much of the Duke community: “What exactly is the Climate Commitment?” In this episode, we unravel the layers of the Duke Climate Commitment. Though it might sound complex, the commitment aims to address the climate crisis through impactful, sustainable, and equitable solutions based right here at Duke. The Climate Commitment website talks about Duke's goal of community climate fluency, operations sustainability and broader community engagement beyond Duke. However, questions arise: How do instructors, administrators, and students engage with the commitment? Is the commitment a catalyst for change, or a strategic marketing scheme?

To address these questions, we are joined by a special guest, Katie Douglas, Duke’s Climate Program Manager. Katie provides invaluable insights into the commitment's significance for the Duke community. Join us as we demystify the Duke Climate Commitment and explore its real-world implications in this enlightening conversation with Katie Douglas.

______

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]!

____________

Guest: Katie Douglas

Host: Ryan Lou

Reporters: Sophia Liang and Erin Chen

Audio Editor: Karina Huang

Executive Producer: Mira Polishook

Music Credit: Cali by Wataboi, other music coming soon!

Get ready for Season 9 of Operation Climate: Green Horizons. This season we’re focusing on big institutions like universities and government… what role do they have in the climate movement? We’ll focus on Duke University and their now one year old Climate Commitment, which aims to tackle the whole spectrum of sustainability from operations to eduction. Then, we’ll zoom out to take a look at an exciting new government-sponsored program: the American Climate Corps. Modeled off of FDR’s Civilian Conservation Corps, the American Climate Corps will mobilize citizens to work in sustainable industries, green energy in particular. 

We can’t wait to share these episodes with you all, so make sure to stay tuned for Season 9: Green Horizons! And if you aren’t already, give us a follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts as well as instagram at @operationclimate. 

Audio from: 

Duke University. (2022, September 21). Duke Climate Commitment | In it for Life [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mUK3caob6w 

MSNBC News. (2023, September 21). Biden launches Climate Corps; pairs new jobs with climate, infrastructure work [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnDfCa4iHoI&t=6s

______

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]!

____________

Host: Mira Polishook, with help from Kendra Rentz

Audio Editor: Emily Nagamoto

Music Credit: Cali by Wataboi, Inspired by Kevin Macleod

Welcome to Season 8! In this miniseries, we will look at different avenues of environmental art.

Looking for alternative routes to advocate for the environment, aside from research and policy? Perhaps you should turn to art and engage in the growing phenomenon of environmental artivism. Like the saying goes, a picture (or in this case, a sculpture) can say a thousand words. Art can be an extremely powerful tool in conveying a message.

Today we will be hearing from Courtney Mattison, a ceramic artist who creates expansive ceramic coral reefs to call attention to the detrimental effects of climate change and pollution on these sea creatures. She will discuss how she discovered the intersection between her two passions, marine biology and ceramics, as well as offer advice on how others can find their own passions. 

See Courtney’s work here!: https://courtneymattison.com/ 

______

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]!

____________

Guest: Courtney Mattison

Host: Charlotte Caddell

Reporters: Charlotte Caddell, Emily Nagamoto, Kendra Rentz, Mira Polishook

Audio Editor: Mira Polishook

Music Credit: Orbiting Knowhere - The Whole Other