Uptown Chats

By Jaron Burke, Lonnie Portis, WE ACT for Environmental Justice

Join Jaron and Lonnie as they explore issues in their community through the eyes of everyday people, and discuss how environmental justice is showing up in the news. It’s not just for experts, it's fo... more

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Uptown Chats:

How many episodes does Uptown Chats have?

The podcast currently has 36 episodes available.

Uptown Chats episodes:

September 08, 2025Flooding
It’s raining, it’s pouring! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn how different types of flooding impact communities across New York, and what is being done to reduce those impacts with help from Tyler Taba, Director of Resilience at Waterfront Alliance.
Guest Information: Tyler Taba, Director of Resilience - Waterfront Alliance
Extra Resources:
Sign up for Notify NYC to get important updates about flooding and other climate-related hazards.
Live in Northern Manhattan? Check out WE ACT’s Climate Ready Uptown Plan
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
...more
31min
August 25, 2025 Fifty First Episodes
It is our fifty-first episode! Join Lonnie and Jaron as they reflect on highlights and lessons from their first fifty episodes of the podcast with the help of Karla Cordero, WE ACT’s Chief of Staff.
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
...more
34min
August 11, 2025 Uptown Chats Book Club: Powerless (Part 2)
The story continues! Join Jaron and Lonnie for the second part of their first Uptown Chats Book Club featuring a discussion with Dr. Diana Hernandez about her new book, Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy. No reading required!
Check out this Uptown Chats Book Club read: Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
...more
23min
July 28, 2025 Uptown Chats Book Club: Powerless (Part 1)
Energy insecurity is real! Join Jaron and Lonnie for their first Uptown Chats Book Club featuring a discussion with Dr. Diana Hernandez about her new book, Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy. No reading required!
Note: This is a two-part episode. Stay tuned for the rest of the interview in our next episode!
Check out this Uptown Chats Book Club read: Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
...more
39min
July 14, 2025 Renewable Energy of the Future
Welcome to the future! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about some emerging renewable energy technologies ranging from totally plausible to way out there with help from Jama Joseph, WE ACT's Communications Associate. Be warned - this one may get a little silly!
DISCLAIMER: This episode is for entertainment and educational purposes only. WE ACT does not endorse any of the technologies discussed in this episode. Discussion of investments in any of the aforementioned technologies is fictitious and does not reflect any investments of real monies by WE ACT or any affiliated parties.
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook

...more
36min
June 30, 2025 Right Direction Reflection
That’s a wrap! Join Jaron and Lonnie as they reflect on lessons from their Right Direction mini-series and share some of their highlights.
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
...more
26min
June 09, 2025Geothermal Energy and Thermal Energy Networks (TENs)
This episode is a TEN out of TEN! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about geothermal energy and thermal energy networks, also known as TENs, with help from Jon Furlong, Clean Buildings Campaign Manager at New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV).
Extra Resources:
Overview of Thermal Energy Networks (TENs)
Examples of Thermal Energy Networks
Geothermal Energy Basics
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
...more
32min
May 26, 2025Wind Energy
Are you a big fan of wind energy? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn more about the growing offshore wind industry in New York and the workforce development that is needed to support it with help from the City University of New York’s Offshore Wind Advisory Network. Special guests include Robert Zandi (Kingsborough Community College) and Alexander Seki (LaGuardia Community College).
Extra Resources:
Learn about the offshore wind industry in New York through CUNY’s Bridges to Offshore Wind program.
Career Skills & Workforce Training at LaGuardia Community College
Offshore Wind 101
Renewable Energy Generation in the U.S. (2023)
Wind Energy in the News:
In Reversal, Trump Officials Will Allow Huge Offshore N.Y. Wind Farm to Proceed
Governor Hochul Announces Executed Contracts for 26 Large-Scale, Land-Based Renewable Energy Projects
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
...more
32min
May 12, 2025Heat Pumps
Pump it up! In this episode, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by Jordan Bonomo from the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to talk about how they have been piloting heat pumps in their buildings to reduce their energy usage and improve the comfort of their residents.
Extra Resources:
Heat Pump 101
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
...more
36min
April 28, 2025Solar Energy
Solar energy is everywhere! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about how New York State is using the power of the sun to help meet its climate goals with help from Stephan Roundtree, Deputy Program Director for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic at Vote Solar.
Extra Resources:
Learn more about Vote Solar!
Check out the Manhattan Clean Energy Hub!
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at [email protected]
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on X
...more
34min

FAQs about Uptown Chats:

How many episodes does Uptown Chats have?

The podcast currently has 36 episodes available.