Talk Earthy To Me

COP31 is here, and it’s giving global climate Met Gala — big drama, high stakes, and absolutely zero feathers. This year’s UN Climate Week is messier than a Bravo reunion special, with Australia and Turkey co-hosting the world’s most chaotic group project: saving the planet.

In this episode, we unpack the political theatre, roast the headlines, sip a little climate tea, and break down what actually matters for our future — in plain English, no policy degree required. If you’ve ever wondered why climate negotiations move more slowly than a Utah policy meeting about compost, this one’s for you.

Dear [Representative / Commissioner] [Last Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I am a resident of [City/Town] in [District/County]. I’m reaching out as a constituent to express my support for thoughtful action on [specific issue or policy area].

I care deeply about this issue because [brief personal reason or local relevance — one sentence]. Policies that address [issue] have meaningful impacts on public health, environmental resilience, and long-term economic stability in our community.

I respectfully ask that you consider [specific request: supporting, sponsoring, funding, or advancing a policy, program, or discussion]. This action would help [1–2 outcomes: reduce risk, improve access, protect resources, save costs, strengthen communities].

I appreciate the work you do on behalf of our community and would welcome the opportunity to learn more about your perspective on this issue. Thank you for your time and service, and for considering the voices of residents like me.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]

[City, State]

[ZIP Code]

Works Cited:

“Adaptation Gap Report 2022.” UNEP, United Nations Environment Programme, 2022.

“Climate Change Reports.” United Nations, 2024.

“Climate Reality Project.” The Climate Reality Project, 2024.

“Current Global Warming Trend vs. Previous Warming Periods.” Climate.gov, NOAA, 2023.

“Current National Climate Pledges Fall Far Short of What Is Needed to Limit Warming to 1.5°C.” Earth.org, 2024.

“Emissions Gap Report.” UNEP, United Nations Environment Programme, 2024.

“Explaining the Global Stocktake Under the Paris Agreement.” World Resources Institute, 2023.

“Find Your Representative.” U.S. House of Representatives, 2024.

“Global Emissions Set to Fall 2.6% by 2030 — 40% Short of Paris Agreement Target.” Health Policy Watch, 2024.

“How the Current Warming Trend Differs from Previous Periods.” Climate.gov, NOAA, 2022.

“Local Government Steps Up: Salt Lake City Responds to a Changing Climate with a Forward-Thinking Strategy.” Salt Lake City Government, 15 Sept. 2025.

“Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).” UNFCCC, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 2024.

“OECD Climate Finance: The USD 100 Billion Goal.” OECD, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2024.

“Paris Agreement – Key Aspects.” UNFCCC, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 2024.

“Paying for Paris.” World Resources Institute, 2024.

“Sixth Assessment Report.” IPCC, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2023.

“The Conference of the Parties (COP).” Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Government of Australia, 2024.

“The G20 Summit Must Avoid Retreating on Climate.” E3G, Third Generation Environmentalism, 2024.

“The World Is Likely to Exceed Key Global Warming Target Soon — Now What?” UNEP, United Nations Environment Programme, 2024.

“Turkey to Host COP; Australia to Lead Negotiations.” Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Government of Australia, 2024.

“UNFCCC.” UNFCCC, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 2024.

“WMO Annual Climate Statement.” WMO, World Meteorological Organization, 2024.

“World Set to Miss Paris Climate Goals, New Reports Warn.” New York Times, 29 Oct. 2025.

IPCC AR6 Working Group II Report. IPCC, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2022.

NASA Climate Indicators. NASA Climate, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2024.

Climate Action Tracker: Global Emissions Gaps. Climate Action Tracker, 2024.

Welcome back to Talk Earthy to Me — the show that flirts with the facts and gets a little dirty about saving the planet.

Today we’re stacking the deck — vertically. Farming is going indoors, up walls, and into cities. “Stacked greens” promise lettuce without land, food without seasons, and sustainability without soil. But is it salvation… or just salad science fiction?

We’ll dig into what vertical farming really is, why it’s booming, the power bills behind the pink glow, and how it could reshape your dinner plate — for better or for worse.

Dear [Representative / Commissioner] [Last Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I am a resident of [City/Town] in [District/County]. I’m reaching out as a constituent to express my support for thoughtful action on [specific issue or policy area].

I care deeply about this issue because [brief personal reason or local relevance — one sentence]. Policies that address [issue] have meaningful impacts on public health, environmental resilience, and long-term economic stability in our community.

I respectfully ask that you consider [specific request: supporting, sponsoring, funding, or advancing a policy, program, or discussion]. This action would help [1–2 outcomes: reduce risk, improve access, protect resources, save costs, strengthen communities].

I appreciate the work you do on behalf of our community and would welcome the opportunity to learn more about your perspective on this issue. Thank you for your time and service, and for considering the voices of residents like me.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]

[City, State]

[ZIP Code]

Works Cited:

“A Healthier America: Food Equity.” Partnership for a Healthier America, 2024.

AeroFarms. AeroFarms, 2024.

“Attention Food Lovers: Eco-Conscious Eating Isn’t All About Distance.” Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), 2023.

“How to Sustainably Feed 10 Billion People by 2050—21 Charts.” World Resources Institute (WRI), 2023.

“How Vertical Farming Can Save Water and Support Food Security.” World Economic Forum, June 2023.

Plenty. Plenty Unlimited Inc., 2024.

Plant Chicago. 2024.

“Vertical Farming: No Longer a Futuristic Concept.” U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS), 2023.

“Vertical Farming: No Longer a Futuristic Concept.” U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS), 2023.

Stacked Farm. 2024.

TED. “The Case for Vertical Farming.” YouTube, 2023.

TED. “Inside the World of Vertical Farming.” YouTube, 2024.

AeroFarms. AeroFarms, 2024.

“AeroFarms: World’s Largest Vertical Farm.” AeroFarms, 2024.

“Best Inventions 2019: AeroFarms.” Time Magazine, 2019.

“Inside Vertical Farming’s Next Chapter.” World Economic Forum, Apr. 2024.

“United States Department of Agriculture.” USDA Agricultural Research Service, 2024.

“Vertical Farming: No Longer a Futuristic Concept.” USDA Agricultural Research Service, 2023.

Turns out, the future of survival isn’t solo — it’s shared. Across the world, people are swapping burnout culture for something bolder: community. From solar-powered co-housing to regenerative eco-villages, everyday neighbors are proving that “off-grid” doesn’t mean “off people.” In this episode, we dig into how climate-ready communities are rewriting the blueprint for modern living — one meal, one microgrid, and one shared garden at a time.

Dear [Representative / Commissioner] [Last Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I am a resident of [City/Town] in [District/County]. I’m reaching out as a constituent to express my support for thoughtful action on [specific issue or policy area].

I care deeply about this issue because [brief personal reason or local relevance — one sentence]. Policies that address [issue] have meaningful impacts on public health, environmental resilience, and long-term economic stability in our community.

I respectfully ask that you consider [specific request: supporting, sponsoring, funding, or advancing a policy, program, or discussion]. This action would help [1–2 outcomes: reduce risk, improve access, protect resources, save costs, strengthen communities].

I appreciate the work you do on behalf of our community and would welcome the opportunity to learn more about your perspective on this issue. Thank you for your time and service, and for considering the voices of residents like me.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]

[City, State]

[ZIP Code]

Works Cited:

“100x30 Strategic Plan.” Holy Cross Energy, 2023.

“Auntie Grav. ‘The Opposite of Consumption Is Not Frugality—It Is Generosity.’” Medium, 2020.

“Buy Nothing Project.” BuyNothingProject.org, 2024.

“Community Solar.” U.S. Department of Energy, 2023.

“Community Solar.” Energy Outreach Colorado, 2023.

Conservation Fund. “Urban Food Forest at Browns Mill.” The Conservation Fund, 2023.

De Gregori, Thomas R. “Food Miles.” University of Houston, 2002.

Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE USA). North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center, 2024.

EnergySage. “Home Solar Marketplace and Education Center.” EnergySage.com, 2024.

“Environment America. Learning from the Texas Freeze: How Clean, Local Energy Can Build Resilience.” Environment America Research & Policy Center, 2021.

“Ecovillage Impact Assessment.” Third Horizon Earth, 2023.

“Food Miles: Background and Marketing.” ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture Program, National Center for Appropriate Technology, 2022.

“Global Ecovillage Network.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2025.

“Global Ecovillage Network: A New Way of Living with Low Environmental Impact and High Quality of Life.” Global Ecovillage Network, 2021.

“Global Ecovillage Network Annual Report 2021.” Global Ecovillage Network, 2022.

“IC – The Intentional Communities Directory.” Foundation for Intentional Community, 2024.

“Microgrid Project.” Orcas Center, 2022.

National Academy of Sciences, Agronomy Society of America, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America. “2021 Climate Solutions Statement.” 2021.

“Nature Communications Earth & Environment.” “Ecovillages as Models for Low-Carbon Living.” Nature Portfolio, 2022.

“New Economy Coalition: Transition U.S.” New Economy Coalition, 2024.

“NPR News.” “Northwest Heat Wave: Volunteers Mobilize to Protect the Homeless.” NPR, 13 Aug. 2021.

Planning Association of America. Planning.org, 2024.

“Science Societies Joint Statement on Climate Solutions.” American Society of Agronomy, 2021.

Solar United Neighbors. “Community and Residential Solar Resources.” SolarUnitedNeighbors.org, 2024.

Superstorm Research Lab. “Data Activism: Occupy Sandy’s Canvassing Practices after Hurricane Sandy.” 2014.

The New York Times. “Brooklyn’s Solar Grid Lets Neighbors Trade Energy.” 13 Mar. 2017.

———. “Helene Hurricane Cuts Power Across the Carolinas.” 1 Oct. 2024.

Toward Freedom. “Detroit’s Urban Farms: Food among the Ruins.” 2010.

Transit Social Innovation Project. “Global Ecovillage Network Narrative Report.” 2017.

U.S. Department of Agriculture. Urban Agriculture Toolkit. Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2022.

Mother Nature already wrote the best design manual — we just forgot to read it.

In this episode of Talk Earthy to Me, we’re breaking down permaculture: the ultimate remix of science, systems thinking, and slow-living rebellion. Forget the Pinterest garden aesthetic — this is about designing your life, home, and community to work like nature does: effortlessly efficient, wildly abundant, and low on waste.

We’ll dig into how ecosystems solve problems we’ve overcomplicated, why sustainability isn’t a checklist but a lens, and how you can turn your own chaos into something regenerative — whether you’ve got a farm, a balcony, or just a few houseplants hanging on for dear life.

So grab your metaphorical shovel — we’re about to get earthy AF.

Works Cited

“Valuing Nature.” WWF – World Wide Fund for Nature, WWF-UK, 2024.

Cortois, Rémi, et al. “Permaculture Management of Arable Soil Increases Soil Microbial Abundance, Nutrients, and Carbon Stocks Compared to Conventional Agriculture.” Science of the Total Environment, vol. 937, 2024, article 173909.

“Permaculture: You Take Care of the Earth, the Earth Takes Care of You.” The Seattle Times, Pacific NW Magazine, 16 July 2022.

Bryant, Lara. “Organic Matter Can Improve Your Soil’s Water Holding Capacity.” Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), 2018.

“Permaculture Management of Arable Soil Increases Soil Microbial Abundance, Nutrients, and Carbon Stocks Compared to Conventional Agriculture.” ResearchGate, 2024.

“Permaculture Design Principles: A Comprehensive Guide to David Holmgren’s 12 Principles.” Deep Green Permaculture, 2023.

“Permaculture Design Certificate: Intermountain West.” The Permaculture Institute, 2025.

“Home.” Permaculture Institute of North America (PINA), 2025.

“Transition US.” New Economy Coalition, 2025.

“Arlington Garden Pasadena.” Arlington Garden in Pasadena, 2025.

“Beacon Food Forest.” Beacon Food Forest Seattle, 2025.

Compost Club, 2025.

Charles Dowding Gardening and No Dig, 2025.

Soil Food Web School, 2025.

True Leaf Market, 2025.

Johnny’s Selected Seeds, 2025.

GrowOrganic: Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, 2025.

Botanical Interests Seed Company, 2025.

Terra Sophia Regenerative Design, 2025.

Community Rebuilds, 2025.

“WaterSense: Outdoor Water Use.” United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2017.

“Burying Wood Vaults Could Help Fight Global Warming.” Science Magazine, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2024.

Today, we’re dusting off an old-school idea that’s having a major glow-up: homesteading.

The world’s on fire (literally), grocery prices are feral, and suddenly the people growing kale and keeping backyard chickens look like absolute geniuses. In this episode, we sift through the myths, roast the prepper stereotypes, and explore how modern homesteading has become the sexiest climate solution disguised as a lifestyle.

From rooftop beekeepers in Brooklyn to backyard farms in the suburbs, homesteading isn’t about escaping society — it’s about rebuilding it from the soil up. It’s creative, regenerative, and deeply human: the art of taking control in a world that keeps spinning out of it.

So grab your mason jar (or your iced matcha in one), and let’s talk about why growing your own food might just be the new rebellion.

Works Cited

Best Bees. “Modern Homesteading: The Growing Movement for More Self-Sufficiency.” Best Bees Blog, 21 Aug. 2024.

Sultan, Tarek. “5 Ways the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Changed the Supply Chain.” World Economic Forum, 14 Jan. 2022.

Lanng, Christian. “How to Stop Supply Chain Issues Disrupting the Economic Recovery.” World Economic Forum, 11 Nov. 2021.

Valentine, Syris. “Can We Bury Enough Wood to Slow Climate Change?” Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2025.

Zeng, Ning. “Wood Vault: Remove Atmospheric CO₂ with Trees, Store Wood for Carbon Sequestration.” Carbon Balance and Management, vol. 17, 2022.

Homesteaders of America. Homesteaders of America. Accessed 2025.

Your phone, your laptop, that drawer full of “someday I’ll fix it” gadgets—they’re all part of the fastest-growing trash problem on Earth: e-waste. In 2022, we dumped 62 million tons of it, and less than a quarter was properly recycled. In this episode, we spill the toxic tea on what’s inside our discarded tech, where it really ends up, who’s paying the price, and how we can flip the script before the planet drowns in dead electronics.

Works Cited:

Alabi, O. A. “Environmental Contamination and Public Health Effects of Electronic Waste.” PMC, 2021. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8172693.

“Boeing 747.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, last edited [date not listed]

International Telecommunication Union, United Nations Institute for Training and Research, et al. The Global E-Waste Monitor 2024: Quantities, Flows and Resources. Geneva: ITU & UNITAR, 2024.

Kuehr, Ruediger, et al. “Global E-Waste Monitor 2024: Electronic Waste Rising Five Times Faster Than Documented E-Waste Recycling.” UNITAR, 20 Mar. 2024,

“Electronic Waste (E-Waste).” World Health Organization, WHO,

Saha, Ankit, Kumar Tiwari, Sweta Rawat Singh, and Bauddh Singh. “Electronic Waste and Their Leachates’ Impact on Human Health and Environment: Global Ecological Threat and Management.” ResearchGate / BibBase, 19 Oct. 2021

“America’s E-Waste: GPS Tracker Tells All | Earthfix.” PBS NewsHour, PBS,

“Environmental Impact of E-Waste.” Earth.org, Earth.org,

“Thailand Illegal Import of Electronic Waste at Bangkok Port.” AP News, Associated Press,

“Electronics, Public Health, Waste — Ghana Phones, Computers.” NPR: Goats & Soda, NPR, 5 Oct. 2024,

Fair Trade Recycling. FairTradeRecycling

Solar Scorecard. SolarScorecard

BAN (Basel Action Network). BAN

United States Environmental Protection Agency. “Recycling Economic Information (REI) Report.” EPA

“Electronic Waste: Gold Mine Waiting.” Chemical & Engineering News, American Chemical Society

The tide is coming in—and it’s not backing down. From Miami streets flooding on sunny days to island nations fighting for survival, sea level rise is reshaping our world faster than we think. In this episode, we spill the salty tea on why oceans are swelling, who’s at risk, and what we can actually do to keep our coastlines—and our communities—above water.

Works Cited:

“Climate Change: Global Sea Level.” NOAA Climate.gov, 2024.

“Fast Facts on Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2024.

“Flooding Costs the U.S. Between $179.8 and $496.0 Billion Each Year.” U.S. Joint Economic Committee (Democrats), 2024.

“Food Security and the Oceans.” Stanford University News, 2019.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). “Greenland and Antarctica Melting Six Times Faster than in the 1990s.” NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 2020.

“NASA Analysis Shows Irreversible Sea Level Rise for Pacific Islands.” NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), 2023.

“NOAA and Esri Team Up to Make Ocean Data More Accessible and Actionable.” United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2024.

“U.S. Coastline to See up to a Foot of Sea Level Rise by 2050.” United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2022.

United States Sea Level Rise Technical Report 2022. Earth.gov / U.S. Federal Interagency Sea Level Task Force, 2022.

I used to think coral reefs were just pretty underwater rocks. Turns out, they’re alive, sensitive, and right now they’re being ghosted by climate change.

We’re in the middle of the largest global coral bleaching event in recorded history — 84% of reefs worldwide are under heat stress. When reefs lose their color, they lose their superpowers: food, storm protection, and homes for a quarter of all marine life. That means fewer fish on our plates, fragile coastlines, and entire communities facing crisis.

Works Cited:

All About the Ocean.” National Geographic Education, 2024.

“Basic Information About Coral Reefs.” United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2024.

“Coral Reefs Are Critical for Risk Reduction and Adaptation.” United States Geological Survey (USGS), 2024.

“Coral Reefs: Ecosystems of the Ocean.” NOAA Education Resource Collections, 2024.

Coral Restoration Foundation. “Mission and Vision.” Coral Restoration Foundation, 2024.

“Degradation Report: Coral Reef Crisis.” World Wildlife Fund Japan (WWF Japan), 2010.

“NOAA Confirms 4th Global Coral Bleaching Event.” United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2024.

“Small Island Developing States (SIDS).” United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), 2024.

“The Sea People: Threats to Coral Reefs.” The Sea People Organization, 2024.

YouTube. “Coral Reefs: Vital and Vulnerable.” Uploaded by National Geographic, 2023.

YouTube. “How Coral Bleaching Happens.” Uploaded by NOAA Ocean Today, 2023.

Ever cracked open a soda and felt that fizzy sting in your nose? Now imagine the entire ocean turning into a giant, flat soda—except instead of bubbles, it’s stress chemistry dissolving coral, shells, and food webs. That’s ocean acidification, babe, and it’s not cute.

In this episode, we dive beneath the waves to uncover how burning fossil fuels is literally rewriting the ocean’s chemistry. From corals that can’t build homes to shellfish losing their armor, we’re breaking down how our carbon habit is making the sea more sour—and what that means for the planet’s biggest life support system.

Grab your snorkel and your sass—it’s time to flirt with the facts.

Works Cited:

"6 Ways to Remove Carbon Pollution from the Sky.” World Resources Institute (WRI), 2023.

“Coral Reef Ecosystems: A Vibrant Underwater World to Cherish and Protect.” Marine Biodiversity Canada, 2024.

“How Fish Biomass Supports Thriving Coral Reefs and Sustainable Fisheries.” Coral Restoration Foundation, 2024.

“Ocean Acidification.” Smithsonian Ocean Portal, Smithsonian Institution, 2024.

“Ocean Acidification.” The Ocean Cleanup, 2024.

“Ocean Acidification.” United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2024.

“Ocean Acidification.” United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2024.

“Ocean Acidification: Understanding the Science of Ocean and Coastal Acidification.” United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2024.

“Ocean as a Lab: Ocean Acidification.” NOAA Ocean Today, 2024.

“Study Finds Ocean Acidification Is More Pervasive Than Previously Thought.” United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2024.

“The Ocean and Climate Change: Ocean Acidification Facts.” NOAA National Ocean Service, 2024.

“The Ocean Cleanup.” The Ocean Cleanup Project, 2024.

“Understanding Ocean Acidification.” NOAA Education Resource Collections, 2024.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). “Ocean Acidification and Marine Ecosystem Impacts.” National Academy of Sciences, 2021.

Sea Watch Foundation. Sea Watch Foundation, 2024.

Imagine opening your closet and instead of shoes and sweaters, a tidal wave of slimy plastic sludge pours out—straws, bottle caps, fishing nets, all crashing into your lap. That’s what’s happening to our oceans right now, except marine life can’t just shut the door and walk away.

In this episode, we’re diving deep into the state of our seas. Oceans cover 70% of the planet and produce more than half the oxygen we breathe, yet they’re buckling under the weight of climate change, plastic pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction. From rising temperatures to disappearing fish populations, our blue planet is sounding the alarm.

Join me as we sift through the mess, spill the tea on what’s really happening beneath the waves, and explore why ocean health is critical not just for marine life, but for every one of us on land.

Works Cited:

National Geographic. “Ocean.” National Geographic Education Resources, 2023.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Climate Change: Ocean Heat Content.” Climate.gov, 2023.

United Nations. “Climate Issues: The Ocean.” United Nations Climate Change, 2023.

Pacific Environment. “Ending Plastic Pollution.” Pacific Environment, 2023.

World Wildlife Fund. “Will There Be More Plastic than Fish in the Sea?” WWF UK, 2022.

Ritchie, Hannah, and Max Roser. “One-Third of the World’s Assessed Fish Stocks Are Overexploited.” Our World in Data, 2021.

Greenpeace Aotearoa. “What Is Bottom Trawling and Why Is It Bad for the Environment?” Greenpeace Aotearoa, 2023.

Monterey Bay Aquarium. Seafood Watch. 2023.

Bamboo Sushi. Bamboo Sushi: Sustainable Seafood. 2023.

United Nations Ghana. “UN Ghana Leads Coastal Clean-Up to Combat Plastic Pollution.” United Nations Ghana, 2023.

Sustainable Packaging Coalition. “Packaging Policy News.” Sustainable Packaging Coalition, 23 Sept. 2025.

The Ocean Cleanup. The Ocean Cleanup. 2023.

The Ocean Cleanup. Rivers: Interceptor Original. 2023.

The Ocean Cleanup. Great Pacific Garbage Patch. 2023.

Ocean Conservancy. “Trash Free Seas.” Ocean Conservancy, 2023.