Tough Times with Lou Young

Our Sperm Count is Down!

A new study has confirmed a previously reported trend that human sperm counts are on the decline.  "Tough Times with Lou Young" explores this canary-in-a-coal-mine development with Dr. Shanna Swan, professor of environmental epidemiology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City and author of the disturbing and essential book "Count Down."  Have we poisoned ourselves toward a path to extinction?

"Tough Times" team members George Potanovic and Will Hennessey join Lou and Dr. Swan in imagining the consequences of  the "countdown's end,"

The show also includes a reality-check breakdown of the Ukraine War from military historian Donald Wauchope and the inspiring musings of Rev. Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping.

Even when the future gets grim, hope burns bright.

Back from the Brink: What’s next?

After voters turned aside the predicted “red wave” in the national midterms Lou Young, George Potanovic, and crew wonder aloud if climate change is the issues that can unite the nation.

Here in NY State the $4.3 Billion Environmental Bond Act passed 70% to 30% and we speculate that passage of the federal Inflation Reduction Act with it’s climate initiatives helped national voters focus on the dangers facing the planet.

In Rockland County, NY voters also rejected a high-density housing development on 32 acres of former state land called the Letchworth Property, also by 70% voting no.

Guests include: Doug McKeige— Editor of The Climate Capitalist, Mamaroneck Mayor Tom Murphy, Westchester County Sustainability Director Peter McCartt, Stony Point United Chairman Greg Julian, Attorney Michael Dieterich, Resident Dave Evangelista, Stony Point United Members Anita and Walter Cintron.

We’ve got voices from COP 27 in Sharm-al-Sheik, Egypt

Inspiration from Reverand Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping,

and music from Gary Numan.

It’s not to late to save the planet……..or is it?   These are Tough Times.

Superstorm Sandy settled the climate change argument for many exactly ten years ago on the day of this broadcast.  The storm sent a surge of water through New York Harbor and far up the Hudson River devastating riverfront communities further north than many believed possible.  Tough Times with Lou Young marks the moment back then with look at what we've done in the decade since.  Haverstraw, NY Mayor Mike Kohut joins Lou Young, George Potanovic, and Will Hennessey for a look at that riverfront community's award winning climate-smart comprehensive plan.  Other guests include State Assemblyman Steve Otis (co-author of the current $4.3 Billion New York State Environmental Bond Act), Mike Donovan (Spokesman for Orange and Rockland Utilities), Gordan Wren (Former Director of Fire and Emergency Services for Rockland County, NY), Jared Rodriguez (member of Haverstraw's Planning Board), Activist Bill Talen (aka Reverend Billy from the Church of Stop Shopping), Savitri D (News From the Natural World). The show also includes the classic recording of the group Ten Years After from the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival in nearby Bethel because....you know, it's ten years after....

On today's Tough Times with Lou Young, Lou and George speak with Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, currently representing the 18th Congressional District and running for the seat in the 17th Congressional District. They talk about the Inflation Reduction Act, the bond act, Infrastructure Bill and the state of our water. They also speak with Julie Tighe, author and President of The New York League of Conservation Voters. They talk about our reliance on fossil fuels and our need for renewable energy. We also speak with Breda Beckerle, a Stony Point resident who lives on the waterfront. Breda shares her experience, especially after storms like Superstorm Sandy, which happened almost 10 years ago and is still affecting the area. We also hear excerpts from Earth Riot Radio's latest episode titled "Radical Love". In addition, we have music from Tom Chapin. We also speak with Will Hennessey, who will be taking over for Kevin Thomas on the show. Tough Times with Lou Young airs Saturdays from 1pm to 3pm Eastern on WRCR AM 1700 and WRCR.com. The show is also available in podcast form on Spotify, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts.

On today's edition of Tough Times with Lou Young, Lou and George welcome Ellie Kassner, Candidate for Stony Point Town Council. They discuss why she is running for office and what her ideas are for the future of the Town of Stony Point.  Topics include an updated master plan for Letchworth property, Hudson River waterfront, 9W Business District, economic development plan for increased business & tourism, and discussion about the $4.2 Billion Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act that will be on the November 8, 2022 ballot. We also speak with Greg Julian - founding member of Stony Point United, Jim Monaghan, Supervisor of Stony Point and NYS Senator Pete Harckham. We also have excerpts of the Earth Riot Radio podcast, episode #35 titled "Defend the Earth Like the Women of Iran". Plus, we have music from a new album from singer/songwriter Tom Chapin titled "Hold Your Ground". Tough Times with Lou Young airs Saturdays at 1pm Eastern on WRCR AM 1700 and WRCR.com. The show is also available in podcast form on Spotify, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts.

On today's Tough Times with Lou Young, Lou is back in the chair again and starts the show by speaking with Diane Osgood of Osgood Consulting and Contributing Author and Editor of the book The Carbon Almanac. Lou and Diane talk about the effect of excess carbon on our environment. Then, we invite Sir Alex Halliday into the discussion. Sir Halliday is the Dean of Columbia University's Climate School. His Geochemistry lab is located in the Comer Building at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, NY. Today, the observatory had an open house and Sir Halliday was on with us to discuss the different exhibits and functions of the observatory.  George Potanovic from SPACE calls in from the observatory and speaks with State Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick. Savitri D gives us News From the Natural World, while Reverend Billy gives us episode 33 of his Earth Riot Radio podcast titled "We Is A Community, They Is A Crowd". We also have music from Julian Lennon and two songs from Jake Shimabukaro (one with Billy Strings, one with Jimmy Buffett). Tough Times with Lou Young airs Saturdays at 1pm Eastern on WRCR AM 1700 and WRCR.com. The show is also available in podcast form on Spotify, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts.

On today's show, George is sitting in for Lou, who is on a Covid journey. But, we do hear from Lou to start off the show. Then, we hear from Don Hammond, Mayor of Nyack, who talks about policies and projects that Nyack is working on to stabilize their shoreline and mitigate the effects of climate change in the village, including a ban on gas powered leaf blowers. We also discuss the environmental bond act coming up in the next election on November 8th. Bruce Tucker, Mayor of Piermont, talks about the unique challenges his village faced from previous storms, including Superstorm Sandy. We especially talk about the effect of methane pollution on the local environment.

In the last half hour, George's daughter, Allison, talks to us about veganism, misconceptions about it, the reduction of her carbon footprint and her love for singer/songwriter Hozier. We also have music from Tom Chapin, Will.i.am, Ani DiFranco and Hozier. Tough Times with Lou Young airs Saturdays from 1pm to 3pm on WRCR AM 1700 and WRCR.com. Past episodes are available for your listening pleasure on Spotify, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts.

On today's show, Lou and George talk about recent effects of climate change that we've seen, including two storms - one that is striking Eastern Canada and the Canadian Maritimes and another that is on the way to Florida.  In addition, we take a deeper dive into the book The Carbon Almanac: It's Not Too Late. Lou and George also speak to Ellen Silver, Chairperson of the Village of Mamaroneck Committee for the Environment and the village's Climate Smart Communities Task Force Coordinator. She is also Larchmont/Mamaroneck Area Board Member of the United Jewish Federation. Ellen is on to talk about today's Mamaroneck Monarch Butterfly Festival and gives us some interesting facts about these beautiful butterflies. Plus we have tunes from Marvin Gaye, Gary Numan, Miley Cyrus and John Prine. Tough Times with Lou Young airs Saturdays at 1pm on WRCR AM 1700 and WRCR.com

On today's edition of Tough Times with Lou Young, Lou welcomes George Potanovic into the studio. He's the President of the Stony Point Action Committee for the Environment.  We talk about the things we may not realize are affected by climate change and you'll be surprised what it has a hand in.  Then, after a powerful tune from Pacific Gas & Electric, we listen to the latest episode of Reverend Billy's Earth Riot Radio titled "Can't Translate The Wildness".  After the podcast, we speak once again with Columbia University professors Shahid Naeem and Sara Tjossem. Sara is a Environmental Policy expert and Senior Lecturer at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). Shahid is an ecologist, conservation biologist, Lenfest Distinguished professor and chair in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology. In addition, we speak to Diane Osgood, founder of Osgood Consulting - Climate Change Risk and Opportunities and ESG Services, Partner at NOW Partners, and Contributing Editor for the book, The Carbon Almanac: It's Not Too Late, a best-seller about the facts about climate change. We also have Westchester County Executive George Latimer, a third generation Westchester native that has been in this position since 2018. We also have two classic songs from Creedence Clearwater Revival. Tough Time with Lou Young airs Saturdays at 1pm Eastern on WRCR AM 1700 and WRCR.com. 

On today's episode of Tough Times with Lou Young, Lou reports from the road. He and his band are headlining the 2nd Annual Catskills Conductors Clambake in Livingston Manor. In the meantime, Kevin Thomas keeps the seat warm and brings you a showcase of the past three episodes of Rev. Billy Talen's podcast, Earth Riot Radio. The Reverend and the Church of Stop Shopping appear in Earth Riot Radio #29 - Lie So Big, Truth So Real, Earth Riot Radio #30 - Labor Works for the Earth, and Earth Riot Radio #28 - Gift of the Fabulous Unknown. We also have tunes from Pacific Gas & Electric and the great Billy Strings. Tough Times with Lou Young airs Saturdays from 1pm to 3pm on WRCR AM 1700 and WRCR.com. The show is also available on Spotify, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts.