Podcasts to remind you we *might* get through this
Hurricane Florence’s secondary impacts rolled out in classic whack-a-mole style this month, with one crisis barely getting under control before six more popped up. Coal ash ponds and hog manure pits overflowed, contaminating floodwaters and threatening the drinking water. Ten days after landfall, thousands were still urged to evacuate due to rising rivers. Inequality was exposed and exacerbated when, for example, public housing residents had to wait longer for the power to get turned back on than those in wealthier neighborhoods. People were advised to stay out of the ocean on the North Carolina coast due to the risk of bacterial infections, hepatitis and more. (NASA shared images of particularly ominous-looking, polluted runoff bleeding into the Atlantic by Cape Lookout.) And to top it all off, billions of unusually large “gallnipper” (Psorophora ciliata) mosquitoes hatched and started attacking everyone, as their dormant eggs were activated by the flooding. The mosquitoes are so big that they’ve been mistaken for wasps and jokingly called the new state bird.
New science came out and showed that Hurricane Florence was the second rainiest storm in the U.S. in the last 70 years, behind only Hurricane Harvey. The preliminary analysis by Ken Kunkel, a NOAA meteorologist, found that four of the top seven rainiest storms happened in the last three years — which makes sense since we know a warmer atmosphere can hold and dump more moisture.
In short, the start of fall has been rough. Luckily, we’ve got a fresh batch of podcast episodes about people who are working to mitigate these climate change problems and fighting for climate justice. Warning: they might restore your faith in humanity.
America Adapts — The Climate Change Podcast with Doug Parsons
Episode 75: Women + LGBT + People of Color Adapt to Climate Change — A People’s History of Climate Adaptation
Doug takes a journey with the Freedom to Breathe bus on location in New Orleans. During his visit, Doug attends a town hall on women and minority groups talking about climate resilience; he visits Africatown to learn about the legacy of racism and environmental pollution and a protest community that is also serving as a gateway for refugees fleeing storm events and climate change. Women, tribal members, people of color and members of the LGBT community talk about how climate uniquely impacts them and what steps they are taking to adapt to climate change. It’s an exciting episode, with interviews with minority voices on the front lines of climate change.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher | Overcast | YouTube
Episode 9: Did Florida Ban Climate Change? The Amazing Untold story of the Climate Change Story of the Year!
In this episode of America Adapts, Doug Parsons talks with Tristram Korten, investigative reporter from Florida who was responsible for the most covered climate change story of the year! Learn specific details on how Tristram broke the climate change story of the year, which uncovered the fact that the Florida Governor had banned the use of the term “climate change” by state employees. Hear the untold stories of who was involved; what the ultimate fallout was from this story, and what it means for the future of Florida. This amazing story was covered by almost every major news outlet, from Huffington Post, Washington Post, the New Republic, New York Magazine, USA Today, Time, CNN, and Newsweek; the international media also got involved, and Tristram describes when the French media conducted a surreal and humorous interview with him. In addition, The Daily Show and even President Obama referenced this groundbreaking story.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher | Overcast | YouTube
Climate Conversations podcast by MIT ClimateX
Special Episode: Designing a Better Future: Climate CoLab and Crisis Mitigation, with Maarten van Aalst
As the world braces for the 2018 hurricane season, we revisit this January 2018 episode on climate risk management with Maarten van Aalst, director of the Red Cross Red Crescent’s Climate Center. Maarten and his team build protection and deliver resources for vulnerable communities during environmental crises, translating scientific forecasting into humanitarian action. With the UN A2R (Anticipate, Absorb, Reshape) program, they recently sponsored a Climate CoLab contest on innovative climate risk solutions.
Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | Stitcher | Player FM
Reversing Climate Change podcast by Nori
Episode 37: Ben Kessler, Holistic Grazing Specialist
Ben Kessler is a holistic grazing specialist with a long family history in ranching. Ben served in Afghanistan as a member of the Marine Corps before studying environmental philosophy at the University of North Texas. Two years ago, he discovered regenerative agriculture, and now he’s on a mission to design a holistic grazing model that can be replicated at critical mass. In this episode, Ben joins hosts Ross, Christophe, and Paul to share his family history in the realms of ranching and science. They discuss the difference between organic and regenerative agriculture, the process by which ungulates maintain grasslands, and the barriers to transitioning away from feedlots to holistic grazing. Ben offers his take on feeding cows algae, bringing back the aurochs, and the true impact of methane emissions. Listen in for insight around how meat production can be good for the environment and learn how Ben is working to accelerate the shift to holistic grazing.
iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Overcast
