Episodes

“We are not helpless,” was the message from Ken Alex, Senior Policy Advisor to Governor Brown and Director of the Office of Planning and Research, at the recent press conference announcing the release of California’s historic body of research assessing the state’s vulnerabilities to the effects of climate change. Over 120 scientists organized into 26 research teams have completed over 30 studies that demonstrate the likelihood of certain climate changes in California over the next several decade...

My guest is author and leading green architect, David Bergman. An architect, ecodesigner and LEED Accredited Professional with more than 25 years of experience, Bergman has recently completed his first book, Sustainable Design: A Critical Guide, to rave reviews. Written for students and professionals as well as anyone looking to get an overall understanding of the general concepts of sustainable design, this book presents a concise and well-illustrated text of not just actionable advice for desi...

Today we’ll be joined by Major General Anthony Jackson, USMC (ret.), Lt. General John Castellaw, USMC (ret.), and retired Republican Senator John Warner, who also served in the Marine Corps and as the Secretary of the Navy from 1972-74. Each will discuss his views on America’s energy future and the need for advanced biofuels in the military. Tune in to hear what our armed forces are doing to conserve energy in every facet of their operations, and how military bases are generating impressive amou...

On Earth Day, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig sank creating the worst oil spill in history. According to the global media, the story ended when the well was capped – but that’s when the real story began. By exposing the root causes of the oil spill and what really happened after the news cameras left the Gulf states, filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell uncover a vast network of corruption. With help from executive producers, Tim Robbins, Peter Fonda, and Maggie Wachsberger, the...

Since the 1950s, it has become routine practice in many countries to add low levels of antibiotics to the feed or water of healthy poultry, cattle, and swine to promote faster growth and prevent infections that tend to occur when animals are housed in crowded, unsanitary conditions. The unnecessary use of antibiotics on farms is a key culprit in the rise of drug-resistant bacteria that pose a growing public health risk. By overusing antibiotics on farms and feeding them to healthy animals we’re ...

On Earth Day, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig sank creating the worst oil spill in history. According to the global media, the story ended when the well was capped – but that’s when the real story began. By exposing the root causes of the oil spill and what really happened after the news cameras left the Gulf states, filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell uncover a vast network of corruption. With help from executive producers, Tim Robbins, Peter Fonda, and Maggie Wachsberger, the...

A foreign oil company wants to build a tar sand oil pipeline that will cut through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The tar sands would flow across an aquifer that provides drinking water and crop irrigation to eight states. Is this good for America? Tune in as we discuss this issue with Chicago-based, Josh Mogerman, deputy director of the NRDC’s national media program.

It would be hard to overestimate David Brower's influence on the environmental movement. As its first director, Brower built the Sierra Club into the flagship conservation organization that it remains today. He went on to found the League of Conservation Voters, Friends of the Earth, and Earth Island Institute, all of which have been instrumental in saving countless natural wonders. An outspoken and tireless defender of the environment long before it was a popular to be so, Brower fought to prot...

What do coal plants, volcanoes, and your breath have in common? Carbon emissions. Of course, there are countless examples of additional sources of carbon emissions – some natural, some man-made – but our planet’s ability to absorb all that carbon is strained, to say the least. Wetlands, forests and oceans are the systems that bear the greatest capacity to extract carbon from the atmosphere, but as Earth’s CO2 levels continue to rise, and forests and wetlands increasingly succumb to development, ...

Food is one of the most basic things that all human beings have in common. We don’t all eat the same types of food, but we are all linked to one another in our need for nourishment. Modern agriculture has increased the amount of food that is produced, yet even in America, there are hungry, malnourished children. Additionally, the environmental footprint of modern agriculture places it in direct competition with other industries and consumers for limited resources like oil, water, and minerals. O...

“The United States is still almost completely reliant on finite fossil fuels, which are rapidly being depleted,” says R. Paul Williamson, author of Winning the Energy Wars: A Sustainable Energy Plan for America’s Future (www.usa-sep.com). “We should be following a plan now that transitions us to sustainable energy sources but, believe or not, there is no plan.” Dr. Williamson has a plan. Tune in as he shares insights into three innovative features of his proposal: Abolish the U.S. Department of ...

It would be hard to overestimate David Brower's influence on the environmental movement. As its first director, Brower built the Sierra Club into the flagship conservation organization that it remains today. He went on to found the League of Conservation Voters, Friends of the Earth, and Earth Island Institute, all of which have been instrumental in saving countless natural wonders. An outspoken and tireless defender of the environment long before it was a popular to be so, Brower fought to prot...

Chris Martenson may know more about The Three E’s (economy, energy and environment) than just about anybody else. Once a vice-president of an international Fortune 300 company, he was definitely part of the 1%. Now, the dynamic, articulate and entertaining Martenson is regularly invited to speak at the United Nations, major corporations, municipalities, the U.K. House of Parliament and various U.S. state legislatures – but not because his message is one the 1% want to hear. In fact, it’s just th...

Studies show that more than 90% of Americans support mandatory labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods. Yet for twenty years we have been denied that right. While our reasons for wanting to know what’s in our food may vary, what unifies us is the belief that it’s our right. Without labeling of GE foods, we cannot make informed choices about our food. The Just Label It campaign was created to advocate for the labeling of GE foods (www.justlabelit.org). Today our guest is Robyn O’Brien, foun...

Are genetically modified seeds and crops safe for human consumption? Are they already in our food supply? Should genetically modified food be labeled as such, so consumers can decide for themselves if they wish to purchase it? Today we’re joined by Megan Westgate, Executive Director of the Non GMO Project (www.nongmoproject.org). Megan will discuss GMO’s from the perspective of consumers, farmers, and the future of our global food supply.

At 8:30 p.m. on March 31, people around the world will turn off their lights for one hour to show their commitment to saving energy and saving the Earth. What started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia has now become a worldwide movement. Some will celebrate by candlelight in a public gathering, while others will do so in the privacy of their homes. In either case, millions of people will unite in one common cause: to take personal action to help stop climate change. Today’s guest is John McDonald, Di...

Will it be up to women to save the planet? Perhaps, according to a new award-winning documentary, Mother: Caring for 7 Billion. Grounded largely in the theories of acclaimed social scientist and best-selling author Riane Eisler, the film strives not to pass on blame for our environmental and social challenges, but to rather to educate, highlighting a different path for humanity. The film highlights encouraging evidence of what’s starting to happen around the world. Women, who have been primarily...

The pipes that make up our nation’s water systems were not built to last forever. They need maintenance, and in many cases, they need replacement, but government investment to keep our water flowing has dried up. Without significant investment in our clean water delivery systems and our wastewater treatment facilities, we will no longer be able to take clean water for granted. Clean water isn’t just needed for drinking, it’s needed to water our crops and to operate our nation’s energy plants. Ob...

At 8:30 p.m. on March 31, people around the world will turn off their lights for one hour to show their commitment to saving energy and saving the Earth. What started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia has now become a worldwide movement. Some will celebrate by candlelight in a public gathering, while others will do so in the privacy of their homes. In either case, millions of people will unite in one common cause: to take personal action to help stop climate change. Today’s guest is John McDonald, Di...

In Asphalt to Ecosystems: Design Ideas for Schoolyard Transformation (New Village Press), author Sharon Danks broadens our notion of what a well-designed schoolyard should be, taking readers on a journey from traditional, ordinary grassy fields and asphalt, to explore what's being created in the growing movement toward green schoolgrounds in the United States and around the world. This book documents exciting examples from more than 150 schools in 11 countries, illustrating a vast range of possi...

While we fight about short-term environmental obstacles and debate symptoms and solutions, societies fail to offer positive incentives for change. We need a positive vision for humanity’s future to harness the full power of human imagination and community initiative. This is where Mother Earth News publisher, Bryan Welch, and his new book, Beautiful and Abundant, come in. Learn how to make your lifestyle more sustainable, and learn how to look beyond immediate obstacles toward humanity's destina...

Consumers have looked to Good Housekeeping for trusted advice for more than 125 years. The magazine has crusaded for food and toy safety, warned readers about flammability risks in Halloween costumes, children’s sleepwear, and kids’ rain coats, and called out manufacturer deceptions on a variety of product claims. In 2009, the magazine introduced the Green Good Housekeeping Seal (GGHS), an environmental extension of the brand’s primary Seal, the most recognized consumer icon in America, to offer...

As sustainability practices continue to mature, recent events and trends have set the stage for significant shifts in 2012. Brighter Planet, a leading sustainability technology company, forecasts five big transformations in how leading organizations will address sustainability in the coming year. From shareholder demands to employee engagement, big companies are no longer able to simply “green wash” their way to being considered a good, green enterprise. Data on carbon emissions is now merely a ...

Many veterans who fought an oil war overseas are now coming back home with a renewed sense of duty – this time, to the environment, energy security, and their communities. They’re looking for meaningful jobs defending our country’s natural resources, as a continuation of their military service. Veterans Green Jobs launched a new initiative that matches veterans with green sector jobs in energy efficiency, outdoor conservation, green construction and other areas. The program’s goal is to place 30...