Fostering Our Earth 🌍

Have you ever wondered what it would take to turn an office building into housing? In this episode of Fostering Our Earth 🌍 , we explore the exciting world of modular construction to address the pressing housing crisis with Candice Delamarre , co-founder of Kit Switch . Joined by co-host Shikha Srinivas , we discuss how Kit Switch’s modular design significantly speeds up the construction process,...

Imagine you've built the perfect carbon-free home: zero-emission appliances, solar panels on the roof, and even the most sustainable materials you could find—beautiful reclaimed wood sourced from Oregon and granite countertops from Vermont. But here's the catch: even if your home runs on clean energy, it's not truly carbon-free. Why? Because of embodied carbon—the hidden emissions tied to the ener...

Future ancestors, welcome to season two! In this episode, Awoe introduces Shikha Srinivas , who will join Fostering Our Earth🌍 this season as a co-host for a few episodes. As young professionals working in the climate and sustainability sector, they share some of their favorite books and podcasts that motivates their work. Kick back and get to know us a bit, the jokes we like to make, and add the...

Fostering Our Earth is back for season two! This year, we’ll continue exploring key concepts that will be necessary for our transition into a more sustainable and climate resilient future. Each month, join me and our various experts to discuss topics such as embodied carbon, modular design, food and land justice, resilience planning and so much more! Be sure to subscribe to Fostering Our Earth on...

In this episode of Fostering Our Earth, Awoe is joined by Natalie Hernandez to reflect on Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 Presidential Election. They compare the emotional and political climate to 2016, discuss the Democratic Party's disconnect from its traditional base, and highlight the election's impact on environmental regulations, immigration, and the economy. Using their personal identiti...

In this episode, Awoe and Natalie Hernandez explore what climate resilience is, how we can assess and design for resilience and explains what resilience hubs are. In an increasingly climate-prone world, our need to develop resilience (both in our infrastructure and our communities) is higher than ever. Natalie Hernandez is a specialist in environmental policy and community planning. She currently...

In this episode, Awoe is joined by Lana Weidgenant, who works at the intersection of food systems, agriculture, and climate action, to discuss food systems, their impact on climate change, and potential solutions. We talk about food systems through the farm-to-plate-to-waste framework and some major issues including food/agriculture’s contribution to the climate crisis and food insecurity. Finally...

Happy End of 2023! This episode features Veronica O. Davis, author of "Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities." Veronica is currently the Director of Transportation and Drainage Operations in Houston, TX. In Inclusive Transportation, Veronica shares her experience in creating this active and reflective guide for readers to rethink how we design mobility s...

In this episode, Awoe interviews Chris Asmar, co-lead of the Urban Environmentalists ' Illinois chapter. We delve into the topic of housing, discussing why it is challenging to build affordable housing and the characteristics of NIMBYism and YIMBYism. Cities face numerous challenges regarding housing and mobility, and organizations such as the Urban Environmentalists are working to address the...

In this episode, I am joined by Jerome Horne, Manager of Communications for the Baltimore Red Line Project at MDOT MTA. Together, we explore what a sustainable mobility system for the future could look like. Our discussion covers a wide range of topics, from the technical aspects of mobility, such as the importance of running continuously and reliably, to the social components of mobility, with se...

In this episode, Fostering Our Earth host, Awoe features as a guest on SpaceshipOne to discuss climate resilient infrastructure, sustainability, and equity. You can find SpaceshipOne’s podcast here and their Instagram here . ~~ Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter here:  Subscribe | Fostering Our Earth 🌍 (beehiiv.com) And follow the Instagram here: Fostering Our Earth 🌍 (@fostering.ou...

This episode explores how to transform and empower communities sustainably and equitably through public government in the face of the climate crisis with guest Saharnaz Mirzazad. Together, we embark on a thought-provoking conversation about governments' role in combatting climate change and building sustainable communities. Using "Transformative Climate Communities" as a model for in...

This episode explores how visible individual action can make a difference in our fight for a more sustainable future. Joined by climate-media relations expert, Andrea Learned, we unpack what climate influence is, how we can demonstrate it, and the role it plays in mobilizing toward climate action. Whether you're talking climate with your friends and family, or especially if you're a leader...

Energy is crucial to our daily lives, powering everything from our phones to our homes. In this episode, Chris Rhie, an expert on urban sustainability and environmental management, joins me in discussing what sustainability means for our energy system. Chris shares his insights on how we can approach this complex issue from environmental, economic, and equitable perspectives while providing practi...

Fostering Our Earth 🌍 is a podcast and newsletter that focuses on imagining and detailing a sustainable future that is equitable and just for all. Here, we explore the infrastructure, policies, lifestyles, and cultures necessary to achieve this sustainable future. The podcast host, Awoe, is an urban systems engineer from Ghana and Baltimore passionate about unpacking systemic injustice, facilitat...