Changing Planet Justice

What happens when an entire city runs out of water? In this eye-opening episode, 20-year-old Mexico City native Alina Feldman shares what it’s like to live under the looming threat of “Day Zero”—the moment when the taps run dry. The crisis is so severe that desperation has led to fights and even kidnappings over water. Alina exposes the unequal burden of the crisis and the government’s failure to...

In this special episode, I trade my hosting chair for the hot seat: Rebecca Riley of the Free Minds Book Club interviews me about the Changing Planet Justice Foundation , the nonprofit I founded to empower youth to lead community-based climate action. We kick things off with my origin story, tracing how my passion for national parks and environmental justice blossomed into a global initiative. Cha...

An unusual episode. In this episode, we sit down with Ms. Rhoda, a retired banker, farmer, and quilter with Native American and German heritage. From her quiet farm in rural Maryland, Rhoda offers a deeply personal perspective on climate change, challenging mainstream views by framing it as part of Earth’s natural cycles and reversing poles. She explains her suspicions that the government's cloud...

How can we use humor to tackle one of the most serious issues of our time, without undermining its urgency? In this episode, we’re joined by Pete Dominick: renowned comedian, climate activist, and political commentator. A regular on Comedy Central's The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, and host of the acclaimed podcast Stand Up! With Pete Dominick, Pete has built a career out of making people la...

In this episode, Brian Newhouse, Director of Transportation at the Potomac School, delves into the school’s journey toward more sustainable transportation. From transitioning the fleet from diesel to propane-powered buses, we explore whether propane is truly a better alternative—or simply the lesser of two evils. Brian offers a candid look at the environmental and maintenance benefits of propane,...

In this episode, we sit down with 17-year-old Isa Alvidrez, a tenacious climate activist dedicated to advancing sustainability in her conservative Alabama hometown. Despite a lack of support—and often outright opposition—from her community and school administration, Isa continues her efforts, undeterred. She shares what it's like to be a climate activist surrounded by skeptics, and reflects on the...

In this episode, we're joined by composer and activist Michael Levy, to explore the intersection of music, art, and climate action. Michael discusses the inspiration behind his latest album focused on the climate crisis, and how he translates complex environmental issues into emotionally charged music. We dive into his songwriting process and how he balances the weight of environmental issues with...

In this episode of Changing Planet Justice, we sit down with Dr. Libby Jewett, a trailblazing marine scientist and the founder of NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program. Dr. Jewett shares her journey from a background in public policy to becoming a leading figure in marine science, where she has spent over a decade addressing the impacts of climate change on our oceans. We explore her groundbreaking w...

In this episode, we sit down with Sharon Dorsey, a conservation biologist and activist, to explore her journey as an environmentalist. Sharon shares her experiences as a Black woman navigating a predominantly white, male-dominated field, and discusses the importance of diversity and representation in conservation. We also delve into her groundbreaking research on the endangered piping plover, her...

Solastalgia: a form of emotional or existential distress caused by environmental change. The rate of mental health issues in young people is rising with the sea levels. Though we've known for years that social media has drastic impacts on the mental health of young people, the research on climate-related mental health issues is comparatively scarce. Only recently have scientists created terms like...

Tune into this captivating episode with Tod Cossairt, a leading educator and sustainable agriculture expert. We delve into the shortcomings of conventional farming methods and explore the transformative benefits of regenerative agriculture. You'll learn how our current agricultural practices contribute to the climate crisis, and uncover the vibrant ecosystem thriving in the soil beneath our feet....

Riddle me this: what alleviates food insecurity, enhances climate resilience, supports local businesses, and tastes delicious all at the same time? Listen in to my eye-opening conversation with Helaine Harris, the woman who figured out how to harness the magic of the Historic Lewes Farmers Market to combat hunger in this Delaware beach town. 

Maybe you can figure out how two out of these three issues impact each other, but understanding how they're all related is a little less intuitive. In less than 10 minutes, you'll learn how redlining compounds climate vulnerability and food insecurity in historically marginalized communities. Whoa, that's a mouthful. But I promise it'll make sense! Plus, at the nexus of this multidirectional tangl...

I interviewed dozens of teens at my high school about their opinions and emotions surrounding the climate crisis. The audio clips you’re about to hear are diverse and polarizing–I featured many students whose perspectives align with mine, and others whom I fundamentally disagree with. However, the most common response I recieved was unexpected--and its frequency tells an important story in and of...

Learn about agroforestry, a 2000-year-old indigenous farming technique that can simultaneously mitigate the impacts of climate change on low-income urban communities, and remedy food insecurity. Plus, learn about how racist policies in our nation's capital are not a relic of the past--their impacts manifest today as climate change applies disproportionate pressure to historically exploited communi...

In this episode, we travel to a tiny indigenous village in Oaxaca, Mexico. What we find there seems too good to be true--it could be the solution to a worldwide agricultural crisis. But who does this treasure truly belong to? We're not just going to loot it...right?  Image Credit: Creative Commons

Listen in for a fascinating conversation with Ms. Arbora Johnson, the Executive Director of the Girls Gotta Run Foundation , based in Ethiopia. You'll learn about how the organization uses running to empower Ethiopian girls to pursue education, become stronger athletes, and follow their dreams--all while building climate resilience.    Image Credit: Girls Gotta Run Foundation

Join us on an audio journey to the Climate Museum in NYC, to experience the End of Fossil Fuel Exhibit. In one of our most engaging episodes so far, you'll hear my conversation with the Museum's Founder and Director, Ms. Miranda Massie ; and award-winning artist and author, Mr. Gregory Christie . Mr. Christie speaks about the 40-foot mural he created for the End of Fossil Fuel exhibit, and how art...

Warning: This episode will make you question the very nature of reality...or at least, the reality of nature. Everything you knew about the "honey bee crisis" is false. According to Dr. Nick Dorian, honey bees don't need saving--and they aren't the heroes we make them out to be. Flying under the radar are 4,000 other bee species that desperately need our help. In return, they can help us mitigate...

I recently read a New York Times article titled, Inside The White Hot Center of A.I. Doomerism . It struck me, because the literal "white hot center" of doom isn't some future sci-fi dystopia. It's right next door, burning Canada to a crisp. The irony burns me up. Listen in to learn more--plus a special opportunity to publish YOUR climate story! Image Generated by A.I.

Running is the universal sport (all you need is a pair of shoes and a good heart!)--or is it?  Listen in to learn to hear a personal anecdote about a sport near and dear to me, and how it's less egalitarian than one might think. If you dig a little deeper, you'll find how climate change and food insecurity turn running into a less-than-equitable privilege. Plus, learn about my new non-profit, the...

Some of the most impactful climate heroes are the ones you've never heard of. For four days, Hussain of the Ourigane Ecolodge guided my family and me through the craggy High Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Hussain is an outspoken environmentalist in his rural village; climate change threatens his livelihood and the land his ancestors have treasured for millennia. Learn about how many Berber communitie...

Wandering is a way of life for the nomadic tribes of Morocco. But where do they go when droughts and food shortages are always one step ahead? Their identity is changing quickly as the climate. Learn about how Morocco’s Amazigh people are fighting a terrifying and unexpected axis of evil: climate change, the ripple effects of colonialism, and food insecurity.

How does climate change disproportionately affect women? Morocco is a global role-model in the fight against climate change, but the nation's girls and women bear the brunt of the environmental impacts. Hear from Ms. Amina El Hajjami, the program director at the Moroccan non-profit High Atlas Foundation. Her cooperative empowers women to take the fight against climate change into their own hands....

To convince or not to convince...how do we confront climate change skeptics (and flat-out deniers?) Should we even bother? The solution is found in climate communication and education. In this episode, I interview Mr. Josh De Vincenzo, Assistant Director for Education and Training and Adjunct Lecturer at the National Center for Disaster Preparedness , Columbia University. He'll explain how to reac...