On our final episode of Season Two, we’re talking to Naomi Oreskes, professor, climate activist, and author of the book Merchants of Doubt. Naomi began her academic career in Geology and Earth Sciences, working at Stanford and  Dartmouth, but later began teaching the History of Science at NYU and UC San Diego. Now, as a Harvard History of Science professor, Naomi is educating her students—and the world—on human-caused, or anthropogenic, climate change. Her most well-known book, Merchants of Doubt—co-authored by Erik M. Conway and later made into a documentary of the same name—parallels the misinformation campaigns led against climate change with those led against the negative effects of tobacco. We talk about the companies that led those campaigns, the universities that have divested from fossil fuels, and the scientists who have raised public awareness. Her most recent book, Science on a Mission, is available here.

Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button!

Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman

Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh

Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR

All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Today we’re in conversation with Mila Rosenthal, the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Sustainable Partners, Inc (SPI), as well as Nia Smith and Rai Saad Khan, two of SPI’s New Futures Fellows.

If you’re reading this, you may have noticed that Sustainable Partners, Inc. is the Executive Producer of this podcast. Adam Met, our lovely host, founded SPI in 2019 to turn climate research into climate action. Along with producing Planet Reimagined and other climate-focused media, SPI runs a summer fellowship that brings together undergraduate and graduate students from around the world to work on projects tackling the issues laid out by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Each fellowship group produces an academic paper that explores their topic deeply, and media that advocates for a solution.

Mila is not only the Managing Director of SPI, but also heads the fellowship program. Her work as the Head of Communications and Advocacy at the UNDP, as well as her teaching position in Columbia University’s Human Rights department, makes her perfect for the role.

Nia, an advocacy fellow on Team Waste, is an environmental designer and activist based in Los Angeles. She is currently studying architecture to develop more equitable and sustainable low-income housing.

Rai, a research fellow on Team Coastal Access, is a Geography graduate from Christ Church, the University of Oxford, where he was a recipient of the Royal Geographical Society’s DevGRG Dissertation Prize. His research interests include development geographies and local governance, particularly in South Asia. He is currently pursuing the law conversion course, and looks forward to pursuing a career in development and advocacy.

We talk about what it was like to combine research and advocacy, how their projects fit into this year’s theme of climate justice, and what they will take away from the program.

If you’d like to support the fellowship, make sure to follow Sustainable Partners on Instagram and Twitter. You can find the projects of this summer’s cohort here. And if you’re interested in becoming a fellow, we’ll be opening applications in the Spring of 2022.

Make sure to listen closely, because you might just hear Mila’s cat in the background!

Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button.

Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman

Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh

Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR

All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Today’s episode is with Dr. David Lehrer, the Director of International Development at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. In 1978, David moved from the US to Israel so he could be part of a kibbutz—the cooperative living arrangements found throughout the country. A few years later he became a member of Kibbutz Ketura, home to the Arava Institute. He was Executive Director of the Institute for 20 years, moving to Director of International Development just this year, after receiving his PhD from Ben-Gurion University. The Arava Institute brings together Israelis, Palestinians, and Jordanians to solve climate issues affecting the whole region: “The environment can’t wait for peace in the Middle East.” We talk about planting 2000-year-old Judean dates, harvesting solar power in the desert, and using animal waste to create clean energy.

Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button!

Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman

Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh

Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR

All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Today we’re talking to Kristy Drutman, also known by her social media handle, @browngirl_green. As a graduate of Berkeley’s “Society and the Environment” program, Kristy was interested in joining the climate movement, but also making it more diverse. At the time, the media was focusing only on white environmentalists, while ignoring the climate disasters affecting BIPOC around the world. This problem, along with some burnout, caused Kristy to create Brown Girl Green, a media hub that shares climate news, uplifts the voices of women and people of color, and provides self-care tips for eco-advocates. We talk about curating information for social media, how activism can affect relationships, and centering BIPOC voices.

Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button!

Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman

Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh

Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR

All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

On today's episode, we're chatting with Kathy Baughman McLeod, the Senior Vice President and Director of the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center. As someone who grew up, studied, and worked in Florida, Kathy is well-acquainted not only with the beautiful ecosystems of the state, but also with the climate-related disasters which threaten them. Throughout her work with the EPA, The Nature Conservancy, Florida's Financial Office, and other organizations, Kathy has emphasized the need to analyze climate risk and to create resiliency through education and resources. Naturally, our conversation moves into topics like community-organized aid and climate insurance. We talk about kitchen garden kits, resilience pods, and tree equity.

Speaking of: reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button!

Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman

Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh

Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR

All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Today’s episode is with Michael Regan, the Administrator of the EPA. Earlier this year, after working with North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Defense Fund, Regan was sworn in as Administrator, becoming the first black man to hold the position. Under President Biden, Regan and his team have placed environmental justice at the forefront of all of their initiatives—from cleaning legacy pollutants to rezoning urban development. We talk about the EPA’s role in the current administration, how individuals can participate in policy making, and greening the economy.

Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button!

Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman

Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh

Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR

All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Today, we’re chatting with Nikki Eslami, the founder of Wild Elements and co-founder of Bellami Hair. In 2012, Nikki co-created a hair extension company and promoted her products by reaching out to Instagram users, offering them free extensions in exchange for reviews. The biggest user only had 70,000 followers, and yet Bellami quickly grew into a business that has partnered with Kylie Jenner and Cardi B. Nikki not only grew Bellami Hair, but also established what we now know as influencers. That is why, this year, Nikki founded Wild Elements, an organization that pairs innovators with advocates to create campaigns that help humans, animals, and the earth. We talk about person-first businesses, branding the climate movement, and the interconnectivity of Animalkind, Humankind, and Plantkind. Be sure to follow Wild Elements on Instagram!  

Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button.  

Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. 

Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman 

Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh 

Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR 

All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

In this episode, we talk to Jacqueline Novogratz, the founder and CEO of Acumen. Acumen is an organization dedicated to alleviating poverty through “patient capital”—investing in entrepreneurs and giving them ample growing time, so they can disrupt unsustainable or predatory markets without worrying about profits. “Traditional markets too often overlook or exploit the poor; aid or charity too often creates dependency. Neither take the time to actually sit on the ground and listen to who low-income people are.” We talk about solar lanterns that took on the kerosene industry, a young woman who brought feminine hygiene products to her community, and what a moral revolution could look like.

Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button!

Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman

Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh

Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR

All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Today’s episode is with Isaias Hernandez, also known by their Instagram handle as @QueerBrownVegan. After graduating from Berkeley with a degree in Environmental Science, Isaias was disappointed by the state of climate education: queer and POC advocates didn't get as much recognition and most research was only accessible through academic institutions. So he started Queer Brown Vegan, a social media platform and online community where people can learn and discuss intersectional environmentalism. We talk about going vegan, creating room for everyone in the movement, and communicating climate change. Be sure to check out QueerBrownVegan on Twitter and Instagram!

Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button.

Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman

Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh

Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR

All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

On today’s episode, we talk to Steven Donziger, the environmental lawyer who went up against the fossil fuel industry and won. In 1993, Donziger sued Chevron (then Texaco) for dumping oil waste in Ecuador, polluting the land and waterways of surrounding indigenous communities. About twenty years later, Chevron lost the $9.5 billion dollar case. Instead of paying the damages to the harmed communities, they retaliated against Donziger, suing him, leading a public campaign to discredit him, and forcing him under house arrest for the past two years. We talk about the corporate takeover of the justice system, the environmental devastation left by Chevron, and the human rights violations committed against Donziger and the people of Ecuador.

On October 1st, a New York City judge will rule on the sentencing for Donziger. You can follow his story at freedonziger.com and voice your support by donating, writing, or rallying.

Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button!

Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman

Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh

Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR

All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.