Writer Boyce Upholt finds adventure—and a new sense of self—during a harrowing paddling trip on the Mississippi River. We also talk with Bernie Krause about his decades-long work to audio record the natural world, and we hear from a Virginia couple fighting a fracked gas compressor station. Plus: our advice columnist, Mr. Green, explains what a "fat-berg" is.

Ep. 4: The Mighty Mississippi

The Overstory, a podcast from Sierra Club, brings listeners some of the most surprising, heartfelt, and provocative stories from across the American landscape. With each episode our reporters go beyond the latest news headlines as they profile the people and places on the front lines of environmental activism.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

The terrible, horrible, mostly bad year of 2020 marks a decisive break with the past. But what will come next? What will the future look like? In this episode of The Overstory we imagine a brighter, better future with an all-star roster of activists and authors. Melissa Nelson of The Cultural Conservancy discusses what it will take to Indigenize the conservation movement, Black urbanist Kristen Jeffers envisions a new kind of city, Varshini Prakash of the Sunrise Movement offers her take on youth activism, and the Sierra Club's director of campaigns, Mary Anne Hitt, tells us what a clean energy future can be like.

The Future is Bright: S2, Ep. 6

After a late-summer break, The Overstory is back with a new episode. We talk with energy reporter Antonia Juhasz, who explains why the COVID pandemic may be the nail in the coffin for the global oil and gas industry. Juliet Grable, a frequent Sierra magazine contributor, talks about what it was like working as a volunteer fire fighter battling the recent wildfires in Oregon. And our advice columnist, Ms. Green, has tips for how to recycle old underwear and socks.

The End of Oil Is Near: S2, Ep. 5

On this episode of The Overstory, we explore the connections between systemic racism and environmental destruction. Hop Hopkins, director of the Sierra Club's strategic partnerships, discusses how the ideology of white supremacy fuels environmental degradation and social injustice. Corina Newsome talks about how she co-organized the online happening, #BlackBirdersWeek. Plus: NASA climate scientist Dr. Kate Marvel explains why the pandemic doesn't have an environmental silver lining and Christy Goldfuss, a former Obama White House official, breaks down the Trump administration's assaults on bedrock environmental laws.

The Movement for Black Lives Saves the Planet: S2, Ep. 4

On the latest installment of "The Overstory," we talk with some of the people who are coping with the pandemic by getting closer -- much closer -- to the earth. The co-CEO of Johnny's Selected Seeds discusses the skyrocketing demand for vegetable seeds sparked by "pandemic planting," while urban farmers Kanchan Dawn Hunter and Novella Carpenter answer listeners' gardening questions. Our advice columnist, Ms. Green, talks with her mom about how to grow "zombie" crops on the kitchen counter. Plus: A radio diary from Nicole Hill, a woman in Detroit who is organizing against water shut-offs.

Resistance is Fertile: S2, Ep. 3

In this episode of The Overstory, we're getting out into nature--slowly, safely--and exploring what that looks like in the age of pandemic. We talk with journalist and urban farmer Novella Carpenter about how to grow your own vegetables, while our advice columnist, Ms. Green, talks about how to reduce food waste and shop smart while you're sheltering in place. Reporter Jackie Bryant offers tips for how to recreate outdoors while still maintaining physical distance from others. And investigative journalist Adam Federman discusses how the National Park Service is navigating the pandemic. Plus: Dr. Scott Sampson, executive director of the California Academy of Sciences, shares a personal remembrance about how he fell in love with wild nature.

Ep. 4: The Mighty Mississippi

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