Cleaning Up Dirty

As America’s 250th birthday approaches, Liz & Sean wade into what’s going well, our tortured history, and how We the People can help move toward a more perfect union. We discuss how power and money are still being concentrated in the hands of a few, how well American government is designed, and how much politics interferes, including via political think tanks designed to divide us. We talk abo...

Joanne Kilgour, environmental lawyer and Executive Director of the Ohio River Valley Institute (ORVI), joins hosts Liz and Sean to unpack myths of dirty industry. Joanne discusses ORVI’s research and data about the health and environmental harms caused by fossil fuel and petrochemical facilities, as well as how they fail to deliver investments they promise communities. She also breaks down how com...

Alex Bomstein, Executive Director of Clean Air Council, joins Liz and Sean to talk economic and environmental impacts of data centers and the fossil fuel industry. We discuss public policy, quality of life––and what “progress” looks like. Alex leaves listeners with a hopeful message about #PeoplePower and small impactful actions we can all take now. And of course, there are snacks! Learn more abou...

Liz and Sean discuss this cycle's election results and whether this was a "blue wave" as some are saying. We highlight where Pennsylvania voters stood up and said no to federal agendas and other attempted interference in our state and local matters, and what this may mean for the 2026 midterms. We also give a "smidge" of a recap of other notable outcomes across the country. --...

Liz & Sean discuss what environmentalism is and who is an environmentalist. They talk about trends in Republican and Democratic party politics, such as the manipulation of messaging to frame environmentalism as exclusively for liberals. Can’t environmentalism be for everyone who wants to breathe clean air and pay less? An over reliance on dirty energy costs more, significantly pollutes our air...

Liz, Sean, and Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton are happy warriors with hope during tough times. We talk local, state, and federal politics while eating an astonishing variety of snacks. The Speaker reveals her secret to solving problems and creating change — spoiler alert: it's working together — and explains why she focuses more on progress and less on what divides us. Liz admits the podcas...

In this episode of Cleaning Up Dirty, Reid Scott—star of Veep, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Law & Order—tells Liz & Sean about his unlikely rise to fame, and his first stint as a campaign manager in high school where he learned how people power disruption and authenticity are effective tools against unjust authority. Reid puts his dad hat on and compares governance styles to helicopter p...

In this episode of Cleaning Up Dirty, Senator Nikil Saval tells Liz & Sean about his journey from a journalist with no plan to run for office to unseating a 10+ year incumbent, then passing bipartisan legislation in a purple state. We discuss whether Bernie Sanders would have beaten Trump in 2016, the Harrisburg Shrug and partisan politics—especially given the influence of the fossil fuel indu...

Attorney General candidate Eugene DePasquale tells us about the heat he got by pushing for financial accountability in government when he was Auditor General, and why he's running for AG -- spoiler alert: He's "not just here to clean your air." (But that's one reason!) In his audit of the state agency responsible for protecting our constitutional right to breathe clean air, he found they...

In an episode that turned into a political therapy session, Sean gives an overview of American history that led to mass distrust of government and disappointment with presidential candidates. As Sean puts Liz on the spot to unpack her skepticism, we talk bias and human nature. Are our systems inherently flawed? Is this just “politics, baby!”? Are there bad people? Since nothing changes if nothing...

Liz & Sean talk about trends like Americans’ growing desire for authenticity and relatability in politics, give a little DNC recap, and assess the VP candidates’ environmental records in a state and national context. We also discuss tensions between corporations and regulations, and where people power comes into play. Plus we get hype about the hopeful energy of your favorite teacher and coach...

In the wake of the political earthquake of Kamala becoming a presidential candidate, Liz and Sean discuss trends in politics over the last 20 years, like the evolution of expectations for women in politics and disillusionment leading to a craving for fun and authenticity from candidates. We break down what finally got us excited about Kamala and the relief of having better energy in politics again...

Executive Director of Critical Investments & Chair of PENNVEST Brian Regli tells us about his switch from Republican to Democrat, why socialism is not the answer, and what government does well. We discuss the importance of stepping away from echo chambers like the national media so we can hold nuance, prioritize practical over performative, and work with the other side on common local action....

In this final episode in our two-part series with Heather McTeer Toney, we continue discussing the movement of love focusing on environmental and racial justice. ~Spoiler alert~ we need EVERYBODY, including government officials, to reach across party lines to respond to the needs of the People. 39% of Americans live within 3 miles of a petrochemical facility, and hazardous incidents occur every 4...

"Recovering Politician" Heather McTeer Toney joined us to talk about her experiences as an Obama administration official, Executive Director of Beyond Petrochemicals, and the youngest Mayor of Greenville, MI -- and the 1st Black Mayor, and the 1st female Mayor! She discusses the importance of moving from talk to action and how environmentalism intersects with criminal justice reform, edu...

PA House of Representatives Candidate Eleanor Breslin explains threats against public education, reproductive rights, and PA public officials' legal duty to protect the environment. We talk Moms For Liberty, extremism, why we're seeing more 1776 bumper stickers around these days, and Eleanor's work as Tinicum Township Supervisor trying to protect her taxpayers from increasingly extreme weather con...

Our guests Danny Ceisler & Lauren Otero discuss “democrazy,” voters’ shrug, and they answer: Is America one of the best in the world for civil rights and civil liberties, in our “heterogeneous as hell” country? 3 public interest lawyers tell us we get the government we deserve and discuss building a government that works for 327 million Americans, the role of the military in protecting our civ...

In this two-parter, we sit down with badass public interest lawyers Danny Ceisler & Lauren Otero to talk about their military deployments abroad and to DC, including after January 6. Things heat up, shots get fired, and a warhead gets launched. Don't miss Part 2! -- Clean air is a basic human right, not a privilege. When it comes to your right to breathe healthy air, Clean Air Action fights di...

Joe Khan's decades-long commitment to holding dirty politicians and corporations accountable makes him the best choice for PA's next Attorney General. Plus he's a cool dad who watches The Bear and listens to the Foo Fighters. -- Clean air is a basic human right, not a privilege. When it comes to your right to breathe healthy air, Clean Air Action fights dirty with clean, advocating for policies th...