Climate with Kiana

In this special crossover episode with Uptown Chats, the podcast of WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Kiana is joined by Jaron and Lonnie for a discussion on environmental storytelling and the state of the solar industry.  Have you ever seen or heard a reference to climate or environmental justice in movies, TV, or novels? Join Uptown Chat co-hosts Jaron and Lonnie for their first podcast collabor...

Home Swap Stories and Climate with Kiana bring you a collaborative episode about sustainable living at home. Recorded at one of Home Swap Stories’ sustainable living events that took place in a passive apartment building, the event exhibited sustainable fashion vendors, vegan bites, and panels with sustainable living experts. Home Swap Stories is a show sharing stories of how New Yorkers live sust...

In this episode, which was recorded at Expo West, we hear from several sustainable brands about how they implement sustainable practices in their products and operations. Expo West is a  natural food & products industry conference, bringing together brands and attendees from around the country. Sustainability is crucial in the production of all kinds of products from matcha to soap to non-toxic cl...

In this episode, we hear from Willis Elkins, executive director of Newtown Creek Alliance. Newtown Creek Alliance is a community-based local New York City organization dedicated to restoring, revealing, and revitalizing Newtown Creek. Newtown Creek is a 3.8 mile tributary of the East River, an estuary, a border between Brooklyn and Queens, and a federal superfund site. Historically, the creek has...

In this episode, we hear from award winning Irish investigative journalist, Philip Boucher-Hayes. We discuss his new documentary, Global Warning, a three part series, written & hosted by Philip. His documentary series unpacks the current impacts of climate change, highlights how communities are responding & adapting, and explores solutions in the transition away from fossil fuels. In our conversat...

In this episode, we hear from Rennie Meyers, Global Policy Lead at Ørsted, about her work in offshore wind, ocean policy, and biodiversity. Ørsted is a Danish energy company and the world’s leading & largest offshore wind developer. In our conversation, we discuss Rennie’s journey into working in sustainability, offshore wind infrastructure, Ørsted’s transition to clean energy, protecting ocean bi...

In this episode, which was recorded last year in Copenhagen, I speak with Magnus Højberg Mernild at State of Green Denmark. State of Green is a non-profit, public-private partnership between the Danish government and the country’s three leading business associations, encouraging cross-sector collaboration and international knowledge sharing. State of Green is connected to over 600 Danish businesse...

In this episode, we hear from ocean activist Bodhi Patil. Bodhi is a UN recognized ocean-climate solutionist and co-creator of Ocean Uprise. In our conversation, we discuss the intersection of ocean health and human health, ocean justice for coastal communities, blue carbon, deep sea mining, oceans & spirituality, and joy in activism. Bodhi is the founder of Inner Light, co-creator of One World Br...

In this episode,  we hear from marine scientist Frances Crable. Frances is a PhD candidate studying Arctic Ocean Biogeochemistry at the University of Illinois Chicago. In our conversation, we discuss her field research in the Canadian Arctic, arctic phytoplankton, biogeochemical cycling, and the impact of science communication. Frances’ research focuses on arctic ocean phytoplankton, nutrient cycl...

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Destenie Nock about energy justice and her organization Peoples Energy Analytics. We discuss her work using utility energy data to further energy equity. This is an extended cut of the video version of this interview, which is available on youtube. Dr. Nock is the founder and CEO of Peoples Energy Analytics and a Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering and...

In this episode, we hear from Savannah Whitfield. Savannah is the COO and co-founder of Okovate Sustainable Energy. Okovate develops agrivoltaics projects, dual-use solar projects on agriculture land. Savannah shares her journey working in solar and agrivoltaics. We discuss the benefits of agrivoltaics, regenerative agriculture, climate resiliency, electrifying farm operations, and the future of a...

In this episode, we hear from Xaver Kandler, Campaigns Director at NY Renews. NY Renews is a coalition of over 380 environmental, justice, faith, labor, & community groups, working to further legislation to support climate, jobs, and justice in New York State. We discuss NY state policies including the Climate Leadership and Communities Protection Act, the New York Heat Act, the Just Energy Transi...

In this episode, we hear from Ramón Cruz, professor at Princeton University, environmental advocate, and former president of Sierra Club. We discuss his journey into environmental policy work, hear an excerpt from an article he wrote about confronting the complex past of the environmental movement and discuss climate change & Puerto Rico.  Credits Hosted and produced by Kiana Michaan Edited and co...

In this episode, we hear from Matthias Muehlbauer, founding partner of OnePointFive. We discuss Matthias’ professional journey to working at the intersection of climate and business and explore discuss topics including as ESG, corporate sustainability,  scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions, net zero, carbon markets, and more. OnePointFive helps organizations and individuals implement & integrate sustainabilit...

In this episode, we hear from Aiko Schaefer, founding executive director of Just Solutions, which is a BIPOC led climate organization working to uplift equitable community-driven policy solutions. We discuss everything from policy implementation, green hydrogen, the limitations of clean technology, environmental justice, and more. Credits Hosted and produced by Kiana Michaan Edited and co-produced...

The podcast is back for season 2! This season, we're exploring more joyful and just solutions to the climate crisis through conversations with climate experts. Topics on this upcoming season include equitable environmental policy, offshore wind, transmission, ocean solutions, and more. Stay tuned for weekly episodes about climate solutions shaping a more sustainable future and vision new possibili...

This episode is a live recording of a panel discussion that took place during New York City Climate Week 2024 hosted in collaboration with Diana from the Palma Podcast.  The panel brought together climate podcast hosts to discuss the power of audio & multimedia storytelling to increase awareness of climate solutions. The conversation explores nuances of crafting impactful climate storytelling thro...

We’re back with an insightful conversation on climate and Black liberation with environmental justice leaders Tamara Toles O'Laughlin, Mustafa Santiago Ali, Kerene Tayloe, and Amirio Freeman. This episode was originally produced by Our Climate Voices and is co-hosted by Kia Johnson. Thank you to Our Climate Voices and to the amazing guests in this conversation. In this episode, we discuss historic...

This episode is a crossover with Climify, an award-winning podcast connecting climate scientists and design educators together to bring climate-related projects into classrooms. Climify is hosted by Eric Benson, Associate Professor of Graphic Design and Responsible Innovation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. How do you best create positive impact in communities? What does environ...

In the season one finale, Wawa Gatheru, founder and executive director of Black Girl Environmentalist, shares her journey into environmental justice work and activism. We discuss ecowomanist theory and the role of black women in the climate movement. We also explore the importance of intergenerational knowledge sharing in climate justice movement building and how we can learn from the wisdom of ou...

In this episode, Kristy Drutman, founder of Browngirl Green and Green Jobs Board, shares her journey into environmental media work and entrepreneurship. We talk about her new show, Love and Climate, which explores the connections between dating, finding love, and climate change. We discuss how climate change impacts dating, relationships, family planning, and reproductive health. We also explore t...

A discussion of the environmental health impacts of beauty & personal care products with Dr. Ami Zota, scientist, professor, and founder of Agents of Change in Environmental Justice at Columbia University. In this episode, we discuss toxic ingredients, colorism, hair discrimination, beauty standards, health outcomes, routes of exposure , policy solutions and more. Dr. Zota shares her framework on...

In this episode, environmental justice educator and strategist Arielle King shares her recent experience at COP28 in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The conversation starts by exploring the importance of radical joy and imagination in climate work. Arielle was one of the organizers of the Entertainment & Culture Pavilion as well as Hope House at COP28. We discuss outcomes of the negotiations, t...

This episode explores the connection between climate change and mental health in a conversation with Maia Kiley, a therapist practicing climate aware therapy and eco-therapy. We discuss eco-anxiety, climate distress, emotional resilience, climate doomism & optimism, and the accessibility of mental health resources. Connect with Maia: Maia Kiley - Website Maia Kiley, LMFT - Instagram Resources: Cli...

A discussion of solar development and policy in New York State with Noah Ginsburg, executive director of New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA). In this episode, we talk about the challenges and solutions regarding incentives, interconnection, and equitable distribution of solar deployment across the state. We also explore the impacts of the Climate Leadership and Community Protecti...