Changing Planet Justice

Melodies for a Changing Planet: Musician Michael Levy on Art, Activism, and Resilience

In this episode, we're joined by composer and activist Michael Levy, to explore the intersection of music, art, and climate action. Michael discusses the inspiration behind his latest album focused on the climate crisis, and how he translates complex environmental issues into emotionally charged music. We dive into his songwriting process and how he balances the weight of environmental issues with his creative flow.

Michael also shares stories from his involvement in movements like Transition Town, Extinction Rebellion, and his role in the resistance against the Line 3 pipeline, reflecting on how these experiences have shaped his music and activism. We also explore the challenges of staying resilient in the face of burnout, and the role music plays in sustaining his long-term advocacy. Join us for an in-depth conversation about how music can drive action and provide hope in the fight for a sustainable future.

Opening/closing music: Blockadia by Michael Levy

Check out Mr. Levy's other music here: Michael Levy Band

 

Turning the Tide: Dr. Libby Jewett's Mission to Combat Climate Change

In this episode of Changing Planet Justice, we sit down with Dr. Libby Jewett, a trailblazing marine scientist and the founder of NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program. Dr. Jewett shares her journey from a background in public policy to becoming a leading figure in marine science, where she has spent over a decade addressing the impacts of climate change on our oceans. We explore her groundbreaking work on ocean acidification, the challenges of balancing scientific research with policy-making, and her current focus on offshore wind energy and marine carbon dioxide removal. Tune in to hear how Dr. Jewett is pushing the boundaries of innovation to protect our planet’s vital marine ecosystems.

Conservation Leadership: A Conversation with Wildlife Biologist Sharon Dorsey on Inclusivity, Storytelling, and Climate Advocacy

In this episode, we sit down with Sharon Dorsey, a conservation biologist and activist, to explore her journey as an environmentalist. Sharon shares her experiences as a Black woman navigating a predominantly white, male-dominated field, and discusses the importance of diversity and representation in conservation. We also delve into her groundbreaking research on the endangered piping plover, her advocacy for community engagement through climate storytelling and citizen science, and her vision for making outdoor education accessible to all. Join us for an engaging conversation about breaking barriers and catalyzing positive change on this changing planet.

Sharon's website: https://sites.google.com/view/sharondorsey?usp=sharing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharinnature/?hl=en

 

 

Climate Change and Mental Health: A Conversation With Paul Kirk

Solastalgia: a form of emotional or existential distress caused by environmental change.

The rate of mental health issues in young people is rising with the sea levels. Though we've known for years that social media has drastic impacts on the mental health of young people, the research on climate-related mental health issues is comparatively scarce. Only recently have scientists created terms like "climate-anxiety," "eco-grief," and "solastalgia" to describe the anguish our generation feels as we bear the burden of the climate crisis. Is there an antidote to the psychological consequences of climate change? Listen in to my hopeful and insightful conversation with Mr. Paul Kirk, an educator, environmentalist, and outdoorsman, to find out. 

Cultivating Change: Tod Cossairt on Regenerative Agriculture for a Sustainable Planet

Tune into this captivating episode with Tod Cossairt, a leading educator and sustainable agriculture expert. We delve into the shortcomings of conventional farming methods and explore the transformative benefits of regenerative agriculture. You'll learn how our current agricultural practices contribute to the climate crisis, and uncover the vibrant ecosystem thriving in the soil beneath our feet. Discover how regenerative agriculture leverages traditional ecological knowledge to restore our planet and build a sustainable future. 

The Magic Market: An Interview with Ms. Helaine Harris

Riddle me this: what alleviates food insecurity, enhances climate resilience, supports local businesses, and tastes delicious all at the same time? Listen in to my eye-opening conversation with Helaine Harris, the woman who figured out how to harness the magic of the Historic Lewes Farmers Market to combat hunger in this Delaware beach town. 

Crash Course: The Vicious Cycle of Redlining, Food Insecurity, and Climate Change

Maybe you can figure out how two out of these three issues impact each other, but understanding how they're all related is a little less intuitive. In less than 10 minutes, you'll learn how redlining compounds climate vulnerability and food insecurity in historically marginalized communities. Whoa, that's a mouthful. But I promise it'll make sense! Plus, at the nexus of this multidirectional tangle of impacts, we explore a solution that almost seems too good to be true: urban food forestry.

25 GenZ-ers in 5 minutes: Youth Climate Perspectives from Across the Spectrum

I interviewed dozens of teens at my high school about their opinions and emotions surrounding the climate crisis. The audio clips you’re about to hear are diverse and polarizing–I featured many students whose perspectives align with mine, and others whom I fundamentally disagree with. However, the most common response I recieved was unexpected--and its frequency tells an important story in and of itself...Anyway, without further ado, here are the voices of Gen Z-ers contemplating the climate crisis. 

Seeds of Change: How an Indigenous Farming Practice Fights Urban Hunger and Climate Change

Learn about agroforestry, a 2000-year-old indigenous farming technique that can simultaneously mitigate the impacts of climate change on low-income urban communities, and remedy food insecurity. Plus, learn about how racist policies in our nation's capital are not a relic of the past--their impacts manifest today as climate change applies disproportionate pressure to historically exploited communities. 

 

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwi4hfzVu9uDAxWzLFkFHXUiDAYQFnoECA4QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mwcog.org%2Ffile.aspx%3F%26A%3DH75dpB3S5vx5Jv0iTc5V58y1O4PCWYFTreUGwX2LfNU%253D&usg=AOvVaw2TydNLK5Bnc4JYX-Zlq3Lu&opi=89978449

https://www.usaid.gov/agriculture-and-food-security#:~:text=What%20is%20Food%20Security%3F,hunger%20or%20fear%20of%20hunger.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-permaculture-food-forests

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-food-forests-urban-farms-numerous.html

https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/TNC_FoodscapesReport.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7239489/

https://foodsystemsjournal.org/index.php/fsj/article/view/830/811

Edible Gold: The Story of Biopiracy and a Supernatural Plant

In this episode, we travel to a tiny indigenous village in Oaxaca, Mexico. What we find there seems too good to be true--it could be the solution to a worldwide agricultural crisis. But who does this treasure truly belong to? We're not just going to loot it...right?