Water Talk

A conversation with soil microbial ecologist Dr. Joshua Garcia about farming in cities, composting, and regenerative agriculture. Released October 18, 2024. 

A conversation with climate psychologist and author Leslie Davenport about eco-anxiety, eco-grief, and mental health strategies for coping with climate change. Released October 11, 2024. 

Welcome back to the fifth season of Water Talk! Cohosts Drs. Mallika Nocco, Faith Kearns, and Sam Sandoval talk about some big changes and updates for Season 5. Released August 16, 2024

A conversation with Laurel Firestone ( State Water Resources Control Board) about water governance, leadership, and policy implementation in CA. Released June 2, 2023. 

A conversation with Dr. Safeeq Khan   (UC Merced) about the Sierra Nevada Snowpack, snow-vegetation-fire interactions, and snow futures. Released May 19, 2023. 

A conversation with Dr. Brittani Orona (San Diego State University) about visual sovereignty, Indigenous history, artistry, and advocacy on waters. Released May 12, 2023. 

A conversation with Dr. Daniel O'Connell   (Central Valley Partnership) about land, water, and community development in the CA Central Valley. Released May 5, 2023. 

A conversation with Dr. Sharon Megdal (University of Arizona) about water governance in AZ and CA, recharge, transboundary aquifers, and science diplomacy.  Released April 28, 2023.

A conversation with farmer and author David 'Mas' Masumoto about peaches, regenerative practices, soil, water, and intergenerational histories in the CA Central Valley. Rereleased April 20, 2023 with original recordings from October 2020.

A conversation with Dr. Traci Brynne Voyles (University of Oklahoma) about the environmental history of The Salton Sea as well as current and future challenges. Released April 14, 2023. 

A conversation with Claire Bjork (Central Coast Regional Water Board) about groundwater nitrogen policy, water quality compliance, and the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program. Released April 7, 2023

A conversation with Nayamin Martinez (Central California Environmental Justice Network) about environmental public health issues and activism in the San Joaquin Valley. Released March 24, 2023.

A conversation with Dr. Katerina Gonzales (EPA Climate Adaptation Advisor) and Dr. Daniel Swain (UCLA) about atmospheric rivers, climate extremes and futures, and climate science communication. Rereleased March 17, 2023 with original recordings from June 30, 2020.

A conversation with Dr. Greg Pierce (UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation) about the Human Right to Water, the housing-water-fire nexus, wastewater equity, and green infrastructure. Released March 10, 2023. 

A conversation with Leticia Gonzales (District 4 Supervisor, Madera County) and Victor Griego (Water Education for Latino Leaders) about representation in water governance, service through leadership, and action-oriented education for elected officials. Released March 3, 2023. 

A conversation with UCCE Viticulture Advisor Dr. Chris Chen (Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino Counties) and soil scientist Noelymar Gonzalez-Maldonado (UC Davis) about regenerative viticulture, soils, and climate resilience in vineyards. Released February 24, 2023.

A conversation with historian Varsha Venkatasubramanian (UC Berkeley) about the history of dams in the Western United States and the world as it relates to foreign policy, policy history, and environmental movements. Released February 17, 2023.

A conversation with Drs. Sam Sandoval, Faith Kearns, and Mallika Nocco about the 2023 Water Year so far, weather whiplash, and what it means for California agriculture and communities. Released February 10, 2023.

A conversation with Erica Gies (Author, Reporter, National Geographic Explorer) about water detectives, slowing down the movement of water, controlling water, and giving water space. Released May 6, 2022.

A conversation with Dr. Michelle Leinfelder-Miles (University of California Cooperative Extension Delta Crops Resource Management Advisor) about different types of crops, soils, salinity, and water management in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region. Released April 29, 2022. 

A conversation with Ian James (Los Angeles Times) about water journalism in the Western United States, developing stories, journalistic roles, sourcing data, and reporting on contentious water issues. Released April 22, 2022.

A conversation with Mark Battany (University of California Cooperative Extension Water Management and Biometeorology Advisor) about viticulture, water use, fog, salinity, and water use for frost protection in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. Released April 15, 2022.

A conversation with Dr. Michael Méndez (UC Irvine) about climate-induced disasters, planning, responses, and justice in the Los Angeles area. Released April 8, 2022.

A conversation with Dr. Beth Rose Middleton Manning (UC Davis) about water rights, hydroelectric infrastructure, easements, and conservation in California. Released April 1, 2022. 

A conversation with Dr. Arturo Ramírez-Valdez (UC San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography & Universidad Autonoma de Baja California) about the iconic Pacific kelp forests, international management efforts, marine protected areas, giant sea bass, and coastal ecosystems. Released March 18, 2022.