State of Water

In the aftermath of last Friday’s devastating ruling from the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to grant the permits for a Line 5 tunnel, we’re happy to present this interview with Bill Latka, co-founder of the Oil and Water Don't Mix campaign. Bill is an amazing storyteller, filmmaker, and climate change activist who has been on the front lines of the effort to shut down Line 5 for years....

On this summer solstice 2023, we are happy to bring you a conversation with water protector, Jannan Cornstalk, founder of the Water is Life Festival. Jannan shares poignantly of her spiritual connection with the water and her hope that the Water is Life Festival can continue to be a space of connection, education, and inspiration for people of all ages to find a space of meaningful cultural exchan...

Our guest for episode 34 of State of Water is botanist and musician, Susan Fawcett. Susan sat down with longtime friend and collaborator, State of Water host Seth Bernard, for a wonderful conversation fresh off of their annual ritual of creativity, collaboration, songwriting and recording that is the band, Hy-Lo. Susan and Seth dive into all sorts of topics including Susan’s unique perspective as...

In our final episode of 2022, we bring you a compelling conversation with Denise Keele, Executive Director of the Michigan Climate Action Network (MiCAN). Denise discusses her fascinating vocational path, her passion for music and the arts, and MiCAN’s recently re-envisioned strategic plan and mission which states: “Michigan Climate Action Network connects and amplifies individuals, communities, a...

In Episode 32 of State of Water, we’re thrilled to bring you an inspiring conversation with Annalise Povolo, Director of Administration and Programs for the Lake Leelanau Lake Association (LLLA). Annalise is an aquatic ecologist who grew up in the area deeply connected to the same Lake Leelanau waters that she now cares for and works to protect. After spending some time away from Michigan with stu...

Earlier this year, State of Water host, Seth Bernard, visited the Kingsley Farmer’s Market during their Water Week festivities. Seth led a workshop, performed a concert, and talked with some vendors and market goers about their personal relationships with water. Featured in this episode of State of Water are conversations with JC Bailey, Co-owner of Bailey’s Farms; Allison Cooley-Brakeman, Seth’s...

Episode 30 of State of Water features a power-packed conversation with Carl Lindquist, founder and Executive Director of the Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP). Carl was the sole employee when the Great Lakes non-profit formed in 1999. Working together with a creative board they have been able to grow the organization to 18 full-time staff and over 30 seasonal employees in their Great Lakes Clim...

We’re so happy to bring you this wonderful conversation between scientists, teachers, musicians, activists, and brewers around the theme of “What Water Wants to Be.” Listen in as these experts from a diversity of fields discuss their own unique relationship with water, the power of collaboration, how to seek local solutions for global challenges, the healing and connecting possibilities of art, an...

Earlier this year, State of Water host Seth Bernard sat down with Jill Ryan, Executive Director of the wonderful organization Freshwater Future. Jill shares compelling stories and insights from working both at the policy and community levels, thoughts on the essential role of arts and culture in this work, and so much more about her philosophy and Freshwater Future’s commitment to ensuring the hea...

On today’s episode, we feature a musical collaboration, rooted in friendship, that honors the deep history of the Great Lakes while sharing a love of water that drives a conviction to act boldly in the present. Ben Traverse is a guitarist, singer and multi-instrumentalist who has a passion for American traditional folk music. He is also a core member of the Earthwork Music Collective, and a behind...

The Michigan Climate Action Network, or MiCAN, connects and amplifies individuals, communities, and organizations confronting the climate crisis in Michigan. Uniting a ​​network of over 70 organizations and 30,000 individuals, MiCAN partners with coalitions and campaigns working for climate solutions and justice. They host the annual Michigan Climate Action Summit, the first and largest statewide...

Amber Hasan is a brilliant artistic force of nature. Her work with poetry, music, herbalism and activism focuses on bringing light to dark places and situations, while also helping others to find and use their voices as a tool of empowerment. Amber is a hip hop artist, a member of the Earthwork Music Collective, owner of a natural product line called Mama’s Healing Hands, co-founder of the Sister...

Michigan musician, songwriter and water protector Samantha Cooper became one of over 900 defendants in the struggle to stop line 3 this past summer. She was invited to stand with Indigenous leaders, upholding their treaty rights and protecting the natural resources guaranteed to them under federal law. After spending a month in Minnesota, Sam created an interpolation of a song called "Tomorrow" by...

Peggy Case comes from a long history of environmental and social justice activism. She’s a community organizer, editor, writer, former grade school teacher, a lifelong gardener, a singer, a beekeeper and permaculture enthusiast. As President of Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation, she has worked tirelessly to end the privatization of our water by a multinational corporation. For over a decade...

In this episode, we get a window into the world of Melissa DeSimone, the executive director of the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association. MLSA is a non-profit, state-wide organization dedicated to the preservation, protection and wise management of Michigan’s vast treasure of inland lakes and streams. They achieve their mission by supporting riparian associations as well as the collective and ind...

We're back with a new season! On our first new episode of 2021, episode 21, we are highlighting the theme of youth empowerment. We the People of Detroit is a community-based, grassroots organization that aims to inform, educate, and empower Detroit residents on imperative issues surrounding civil rights, land, water, education, and the democratic process. The organization created a Youth Internshi...

On this, our 20th episode, we feature a dear friend who has brought so much to our community. Rachel Marco-Havens is a multi-disciplinary “solutionary” artist. Rachel is an advocate, activist, radio-show host, musician and an adept communicator who ignites action. Be it facilitating workshops, sharing stories, creating art, delivering a keynote, moderating or participating in a panel discussion or...

On this special episode, we feature a Michigan music legend. Peter Madcat Ruth is a Grammy Award-winning virtuoso harmonica player based out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. But Madcat doesn't just play blues harp: he also sings and plays ukulele, guitar, high-hat, jaw-harp, penny-whistle, kalimba, banjo and other folk instruments from around the world. After studying harmonica and Chicago Blues with Big W...

Today’s episode features an interview that’s not only empowering and good for the mind, but grounding and good for the heart. Seth Bernard has a moving conversation with bioregionalist Stephanie Mills. For nearly fifty years, Stephanie Mills has been writing and speaking for nature and community. She is a prolific published author, an adjunct professor, and has served on countless boards, from tha...

On this episode, we feature a dynamic and game-changing luminary from Detroit. Piper Carter is an Arts and Culture Organizer in Entertainment Justice, Education Justice, Maker Space, Environmental Justice, and Food Justice, communities. She is the Host of her own podcast, the Piper Carter Podcast on Detroit is Different where she discusses Social Justice and Hip Hop to a world wide audience. She i...

Peter Sinclair is an independent videographer specializing in climate change, and renewable energy solutions. His YouTube video series, “Climate Denial Crock of the Week”, the blog of the same name, as well as his collaboration with Yale Climate Connections called “This is Not Cool”, have all received millions of views. These series are used in higher education settings around the planet, and have...

On today’s episode, we continue our mission to connect clean water issues to the work of racial justice, and we’re excited to lift up the work and message of a one of a kind community hero. Nayyirah Shariff is a grassroots organizer based in Flint, Michigan. They have over a decade of experience organizing around local, state, and national electoral and issue-oriented campaigns. Nayyirah was one o...

On this episode, our second release since the COVID19 Pandemic began here in Michigan, we feature a true local hero. Monica Lewis-Patrick (aka The Water Warrior) is the president and CEO of We the People of Detroit. An educator, entrepreneur, and a legendary human rights activist/advocate, Monica Lewis-Patrick is actively engaged in almost every struggle on behalf of Detroit residents. She is an a...

Here we are in the midst of a global pandemic, an unprecedented time in the modern history of our people. It is times like these that remind us what’s important, what matters and what is essential for human life. As we see our communities here in Michigan struggling with this crisis in a myriad of different ways, it is clearer than ever how vital it is that we keep up the fight in demanding that c...

FLOW founder Jim Olson is back for part two of his in-depth interview with Seth Bernard. On our last episode, Jim shared an age-old legal framework called the public trust doctrine, which we the people can utilize as we demand the protection of our region’s waters. In this second half, Jim breaks down the four pillars that guide FLOW’s work. /// State of Water is a program of the Michigan-based no...