The Environmentalist Nurse Podcast

In this episode of The Environmentalist Nurse, Dr. LaDonna talks with Aja Jagne, MPH, an environmental health professional with more than 12 years of experience in public health, environmental health practice, emergency response, and public health policy.

Whether you are a nurse, public health professional, student, environmental advocate, or simply interested in the connection between people and the planet, this episode offers a thoughtful look at the vital work happening behind the scenes to build healthier, more resilient communities.

CE Ready Link

Discount Code: NurseLaDonna

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About the Guest Aja Jagne, MPH, is a Health Scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where she works within the National Center for Environmental Health's Water, Food, and Environmental Health Services Branch. Her expertise includes global WASH, environmental health practice, epidemiology, biostatistics, risk assessment, project management, and public health capacity building. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health Science from Benedict College and a Master of Public Health in Environmental Health from Georgia State University.

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Resources Recommended by Aja

The Environmental ABCs

Person to know: Wangari Maathai - Author of: The Green Belt Movement: Sharing the Approach and the Experience

How to Get In Touch with Aja

LinkedIn Profile:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajajagne?trk=contact-info

Instagram page: a.friendlyenvironmentalist

Website:

https://afriendlyenvironmentalist.com

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). About Global WASH. CDC — About Global WASH

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Global drinking water. CDC — Global Drinking Water

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Global sanitation. CDC — Global Sanitation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Global hygiene. CDC — Global Hygiene

Deloitte. Gen Zs, Millennials Positive on Purpose. Deloitte — Gen Zs, Millennials Positive on Purpose

U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. About Us: Where We Work. U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps — Where We Work

Walton Family Foundation. (2024, April 10). Sense of Purpose in School and Work Drives Gen Z Happiness, New Gallup Survey Finds. Walton Family Foundation — Sense of Purpose in School and Work Drives Gen Z Happiness

World Health Organization. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). WHO — Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

World Health Organization. Boosting climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene services. WHO — Climate-Resilient WASH Services

World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa. (2017). Sanitation: Overview. WHO Regional Office for Africa — Sanitation Overview

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WJTV. (2026, May 8). Boil water notices issued in Mississippi after storm damage.

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______________________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with The Environmentalist Nurse

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a rating and review, and sharing the podcast with a friend or colleague. Every share helps expand the conversation around environmental health and empowers more people to protect both human health and the planet.

You can also connect with me through The Environmentalist Nurse Collective for environmental health education, podcast updates, and healthcare writing services.

Email: [email protected]

Website: The Environmentalist Nurse

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. If you have concerns about wildfire exposure or your health, speak with your healthcare professional.

Nurses advocate for patients every day—but advocacy doesn't have to stop at the bedside.

In this episode of The Environmentalist Nurse Podcast, we're exploring why nurses belong in climate and environmental health policy conversations and how you can get involved—even if you've never considered yourself an advocate.

We'll look at recent Climate Health Headlines, break down what advocacy and environmental health policy actually mean, and explore the many ways nurses can use their knowledge, experiences, and trusted voices to help create change.

I'll also share lessons from my own advocacy journey and experiences with the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE), along with practical ways to start small. And in this episode's Environmentalist Nurse Prescription, we'll walk through six levels of advocacy—from simply learning about an issue to stepping into leadership.

You don't have to be a policy expert, testify before Congress, or travel to Washington, D.C. to make a difference. Sometimes advocacy begins with learning, educating others, showing up, and using the voice you already have.

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Headline Links

OSHA Proposed Heat Protections for Workers. Two Years Later, They're Still Not Final. EPA Announces $11.75 Million to Help Protect Drinking Water from Cyberattacks and Extreme Weather Events

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ANHE Roadshow Links

Past

Midwest

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin

South

Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas

West

Arizona, California, and Nevada

Southeast

Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee

Upcoming

Registration Link for All

October 7th @ 8-10 PM ET (5-7 PT, 6-8 MT) – Pacific Northwest

Alaska, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming

October 21 @ 7PM ET/4 PT – South West

Colorado, Arizona, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Utah

November 5th @ 5:30 PM CT / 6:30 PM ET – New England

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont

November 18th @ 5 PM ET – Mid-Atlantic

Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C, and West Virginia

December 2nd @ 3 PM ET – Northeast

New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands

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Nurses Shift Change

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ANHE Resource Page

Includes academic resources, assessment tools, organizations, etc.

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References

Cambridge University Press & Assessment. (n.d.). Advocacy. Cambridge Dictionary. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/advocacy Cambridge Dictionary

Byrnes, L. (2026). What is environmental policy? A plain-English guide. Everglades University. https://www.evergladesuniversity.edu/blog/what-is-environmental-policy-a-plain-english-guide/ Everglades University

LinkedIn. (n.d.). Environmental health policies. https://www.linkedin.com/top-content/science/science-and-public-health/environmental-health-policies/

Fitchburg State University. (2024). Why nurses should understand health policy: Gain insight with an RN to BS in nursing. https://online.fitchburgstate.edu/degrees/nursing/rn-to-bsn/nurses-understanding-health-policy/ Fitchburg State University Online

In this episode of The Environmentalist Nurse, Dr. LaDonna Gaines speaks with Mia, a registered nurse in southeast Michigan whose work and education sit at the intersection of adult oncology nursing, public health, environmental health, and sustainable food systems.

Whether you are a nurse, public health professional, student, or simply interested in the relationship between people, place, and health, this conversation offers an encouraging look at how nursing can help create healthier communities and a healthier planet.

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Organizations and Resources Recommended by Mia:

• Organizations: The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action, Health Care Without Harm, Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, Public Health Awakened

• Books: Freedom is a Constant Struggle by Angela Davis, all about love by bell hooks, Essentials of Health Justice by Elizabeth Tobin-Tyler and Joel B. Teitelbaum, Toxic Communities: Environmental Racism, Industrial Pollution, and Residential Mobility by Dr. Doreceta Taylor

• Podcasts: Living Planet, Indigenous Earth, Discarded, America Dissected, 1619, Science Friday, Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), This Podcast Will Kill You, Lost Women of Science

How to Get In Touch with Mia:

• By email: [email protected]

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Apply to the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environment's (ANHE) Fellowship

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Sources & Further Reading

Local & Regional Coverage

• Detroit Health Department Offers Updated Guidance as Air Quality Improves but Wildfire Smoke Lingers — City of Detroit — Official update on local air quality conditions and health precautions as Canadian wildfire smoke persisted in the region.

• Your Health and Wildfire Smoke — Michigan Department of Health and Human Services — State guidance on protecting yourself and your family from wildfire smoke exposure.

Health Effects & Air Quality Basics

• How Wildfires Affect Health — American Lung Association — Overview of the respiratory and cardiovascular health risks tied to wildfire smoke exposure.

• What Makes Air Unhealthy? Particle Pollution — American Lung Association — Explains particle pollution (PM2.5/PM10) and why it's harmful to breathe.

• AQI Basics — AirNow.gov (EPA) — Official breakdown of the Air Quality Index scale, categories, and color codes.

• Effects of Wildfires on Health — CDC — Federal guidance connecting climate change, wildfire risk, and public health impacts.

Preparedness & Protection

• Wildfires: Prepare, Plan, Stay Safe — Ready.gov (FEMA/DHS) — General preparedness guidance for wildfire events.

• 6 Ways to Reduce Exposure to Wildfire Smoke — Dyson — Practical tips for reducing indoor smoke exposure, including HEPA filtration and mask guidance.

Climate Connection & Mitigation

• Fighting Wildfires is Getting Harder-These Tips Could Help — DW (Deutsche Welle) — Explores the climate-wildfire link and solutions including Indigenous land management practices.

• Five Smart Ways to Reduce Wildfire Risk Before the Blaze Begins — PreventionWeb (UNDRR) — Covers fire-resilient building design, firefighter training, early-detection tech, Indigenous/prescribed burning practices, and goat grazing as prevention strategies.

____________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with The Environmentalist Nurse

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a rating and review, and sharing the podcast with a friend or colleague. Every share helps expand the conversation around environmental health and empowers more people to protect both human health and the planet.

You can also connect with me through The Environmentalist Nurse Collective for environmental health education, podcast updates, and healthcare writing services.

Email: [email protected]

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. If you have concerns about wildfire exposure or your health, speak with your healthcare professional.

Extreme heat isn't just uncomfortable—it's the deadliest weather-related hazard in the United States. As heat waves become more frequent, longer-lasting, and more intense, understanding how extreme heat affects our health has never been more important.

In this solo episode of The Environmentalist Nurse Podcast, I explore the growing public health impacts of extreme heat, why climate change is contributing to rising temperatures, and what nurses, healthcare professionals, and communities can do to reduce heat-related illness and save lives.

Whether you're a healthcare professional looking to better educate your patients or simply trying to keep yourself and your family safe this summer, this episode offers practical, evidence-based information you can use right away.

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Apply to the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environment's (ANHE) Fellowship Resource Spotlight

This week's featured resource is the 1A Podcast episode:

"Climate: Fighting Extreme Heat in 2026"

Refer Patients to This Site to Determine Heat Risk Check Today's Heat Risk

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Resources & References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Heat and Health. https://www.cdc.gov/heat-health/

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). HeatRisk Dashboard. https://ephtracking.cdc.gov/Applications/HeatRisk/

• Duke University School of Nursing. (2026). Summer Is Coming: Nursing Safety Tips for Extreme Heat. https://nursing.duke.edu/

• Greenpeace. (n.d.). Climate Change and Extreme Heat. https://www.greenpeace.org/

• Heat.gov. (n.d.). Heat Safety and Extreme Heat Information. https://www.heat.gov/

• National Weather Service. (n.d.). What Is the Heat Index? https://www.weather.gov/

• NPR 1A. (2026, July). Climate: Fighting Extreme Heat in 2026 [Audio podcast episode]. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/climate-fighting-extreme-heat-in-2026/id1188724250?i=1000778066385

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Learn About Heat Islands. https://www.epa.gov/heatislands

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Environmental Justice. https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice

________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with The Environmentalist Nurse

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a rating and review, and sharing the podcast with a friend or colleague. Every share helps expand the conversation around environmental health and empowers more people to protect both human health and the planet.

You can also connect with me through The Environmentalist Nurse Collective for environmental health education, podcast updates, and healthcare writing services.

Email: [email protected]

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. If you have concerns about heat exposure or your health, speak with your healthcare professional.

In this episode of The Environmentalist Nurse, Dr. LaDonna and Nurse Kayla explore what it takes to build healthier, more resilient communities through collaboration, stewardship, and relationship-centered leadership. We also discuss her environmental health journey and how her past work connects with her current work.

Our guest is a registered nurse, environmental health advocate, and project manager whose work brings together healthcare professionals, public health agencies, academic institutions, community organizations, and grassroots leaders around shared goals. With experience in community engagement, partnership development, grant-funded programs, and stakeholder coordination, she shares how meaningful relationships can turn environmental health ideas into action.

Whether you are a nurse, public health professional, community organizer, student, or someone interested in creating healthier communities, this episode offers practical inspiration for turning shared values into meaningful action.

Resources:

Book: Red Alert! Saving the Planet with Indigenous Knowledge, Dr. Daniel R. Wildcat Video: The Promise of Planetary Health, The Planetary Health Alliance

How to Get in Touch with Kayla:

LinkedIn

References:

WWF

NPR

Website: theenvironmentalistnurse.com

Email: [email protected]

PFAS are often called "forever chemicals," but what does that really mean for our health, our water, and the communities where we live and work?

In this solo episode of The Environmentalist Nurse, I break down the basics of PFAS, including PFOA and PFOS, where these chemicals are found, and that exposure can happen through drinking water, food, household products, workplace settings, firefighting foam, and more.

I also discuss what current research tells us about potential health effects, why PFAS blood testing can be complicated, and what people can—and cannot—learn from their results. We'll talk about practical next steps, including checking local water-quality information, following fish-consumption advisories, and talking with a healthcare professional if you have a known or likely elevated exposure.

Plus, I spotlight The PFAS Chronicles podcast and share an evidence-based Environmentalist Nurse Prescription you can use to better understand your own potential exposure.

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. If you have concerns about PFAS exposure or your health, speak with your healthcare professional.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• PFAS Blood Level Estimation Tool from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry • PFAS Exposure Assessment Questionnaire (can be found on page 24 of the ANHE Toolkit) • Your local water utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report • Local and state fish-consumption advisories • The PFAS Chronicles Podcast

CME: Non-Stick Nuisance: Medical Monitoring for PFAS

ANHE Toolkit

ANHE Regional Forum: South

All ANHE Regional Forums

Information References:

https://pfas-exchange.org/resource-hub/non-stick-nuisance-medical-monitoring-for-pfas-available-for-cme-credit/

https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pfc

https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas

https://www.fda.gov/food/process-contaminants-food/authorized-uses-pfas-food-contact-applications

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/25/climate/trump-pfas-forever-chemical-settlement-chemours.html

https://envirn.org/resources/water-quality/pfas-toolkit/

Website: theenvironmentalistnurse.com

Email: [email protected]

Season 2 Teaser

Dr. LaDonna discusses what's to come in the next season.

Website: theenvironmentalistnurse.com

Email: [email protected]

In this epidsode, LaDonna speaks with Alina Moeller on her path to climate/environmental health and her passion for healthy/safe clothing.

Find Alina on: Linkedin

Email: [email protected]

B Corp

B Lab

Email me at [email protected]

Social Media and Website: Instagram - @the_environmentalist_nurse, TheEnvironmentalistNurse.com

In this episode, LaDonna speaks with Crystal Trent Paultre on her history with climate/enviornmental health, her work with maternal health, and ways to get involved.

The book Crystal mentioned:

Harriet Washington - A Terribe Thing to Waste

Crystal's LinkedIn

In this epidsode, LaDonna speaks with Dr. Shawna Hebert on her history with climate/enviornmental health, her work with her chidrens' school, and advocacy efforts.

Find Shawna on: Linkedin

The Climate Advocacy Lab has opened applications for Climate + Health Peer Learning Circle cohorts in the Western and Southern US states. The application is open for another week. Click here for more information and to apply.

Email me at [email protected]

Social Media and Website: Instagram - @the_environmentalist_nurse, TheEnvironmentalistNurse.com