Healthy Climate America

  Misinformation spreads fast, and we've all witnessed the consequences. Vaccine misinformation, climate denialism, and a host of medical conspiracy theories aren't just fringe ideas anymore; they're all over our social media platforms and in the halls of government. When information moves as quickly as it does in this digital age, how can health professionals use their trusted voice to share the...

Join us for our first ever live episode, recorded at the Consortium's Annual Convention. We'll hear from four storytellers who shared what inspired their journey in climate and health. Listen to the stories of Zayna Salveter, Anusha Govind, Burcin Ikiz, and Trisha Dalapati, and learn more about the power of storytelling to shape climate action. 

Host Lisa Patel sits down with Dr. Neil Vora for a conversation on the intersection of climate change and infectious disease. They explore how rising global temperatures and environmental disruption are fueling the emergence and spread of infectious diseases—including the increasing threat of spillover viruses jumping from animals to humans. Learn how nature-based solutions can bridge the gap betw...

In August 2023, a group of brave young Montanans took a stand for their right to a healthy environment—and they won. Join Lisa as she speaks with Drs. Lori and Rob Byron, who contributed their medical expertise to this landmark case. Together, they delve into the impacts of climate change on Montana, explore how these inspiring youth used their voices in the courtroom, and share how doctors can ap...

In the past eight weeks, we've seen cuts to the federal workforce, a rolling back of environmental protections, and a host of other threats to our democratic institutions. Host Lisa Patel sits down with Daniel Hunter, founder of Choose Democracy, to talk about what a path forward looks like. How do we resist effectively to better protect our communities? What are our next steps? And how do we move...

Climate change isn't just an environmental crisis—it's a national security threat. Today, we're diving into how climate change affects global stability and military preparedness. From extreme weather events to rising infectious diseases, the military has long recognized climate change as a "threat multiplier" with profound geopolitical consequences. Join us as we talk with Sherri Goodman, Senior F...

Host Lisa Patel talks with John Walke, senior advocate at the NRDC, about the Supreme Court's elimination of Chevron deference—a move that shifts interpretation of regulations from agency experts to judges. At a time when the Trump administration is making broad, deregulatory moves, understanding the loss of Chevron Deference is all the more crucial.    Walke delves into the history, politics, and...

How do you inspire a major medical society to take on climate action? Dr. Jerry Abraham has some powerful insights. Join him and host Lisa Patel as they explore his path into climate advocacy, his dedication to climate justice and racial equity, and the strategic moves he's using to elevate climate change within his medical society.    Referenced this episode:    AMA's declaration of climate chang...

At just 12 years old, Dr. Laalitha Surapaneni's life was forever changed by a devastating explosion at a liquefied natural gas plant in her hometown. Now, as a leading advocate against LNG production, transportation, and infrastructure, Laalitha works to protect communities like hers from the dangers of fossil fuels. Join her and host Lisa Patel as they tackle the inequitable health impacts of LNG...

In this episode of Healthy Climate America, host Lisa Patel discusses the hidden health hazard of indoor air pollution with guest Brady Seals, lead author of a groundbreaking study linking gas stoves to increased pediatric asthma cases. Together, they break down the surprising role of gas stoves in indoor pollution, the political and social waves sparked by the study, and the practical steps we ca...

In this episode of Healthy Climate America, host Lisa Patel speaks with Dr. Elizabeth Pinsky, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and pediatrician at Massachusetts General Hospital. They discuss the significant mental health toll climate change is having on children, including increased anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and depression. Dr. Pinsky shares her personal journey into climate work, strate...

In the years ahead, we can expect that climate and clean energy work on a federal level will be severely curtailed, if not entirely eliminated.    On a state level, climate change also faces political headwinds in states like Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation to erase mention of climate change from state law.   Join us as host Lisa Patel and Dr. Cheryl Holder, executive direc...

Interested in taking action on the OSHA standard? See the links below.    Join us as we dive into OSHA's groundbreaking proposal to safeguard indoor and outdoor workers from the rising dangers of extreme heat. Guest expert Juanita Constible from the Natural Resources Defense Council unpacks the history behind this rule, breaks down the key elements of the new protections, and shares powerful advoc...

  In our inaugural episode, Dr. Ed Maibach, Director of the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication, shares his journey in climate and health advocacy, his epiphany moment on climate change as the world's biggest public health challenge, and his efforts in founding the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health.    He and host Dr. Lisa Patel discuss the importance of...

Hosted by Dr. Lisa Patel, a pediatrician and Executive Director of the Consortium, this podcast focuses on how health professionals, policy makers, advocates, communicators, and activists are working to tackle the different sides of the greatest health crisis facing us today—climate change. The movement for climate and health justice is a broad one, and there are so many ways to fight for a health...