Hot Mamas

Summers are getting hotter, wildfires more frequent, and our children are feeling the stress of an uncertain climate future. How do we keep our kids safe and healthy in a warming world? In this episode, host Sarah Spengeman talks to pediatricians Dr. Amanda Millstein and Dr. Lisa Patel about practical ways parents and caregivers can protect children and youth from air pollution and heat. When is it O.K. for children to play outside? What are the signs of heat stress? Should we speak with our children's teachers about these challenges? And how do we talk to our kids about hard issues like climate change or racism without stoking their fears? Lisa and Amanda share insights from their experiences as physicians and as mothers of young children.As climate and health advocates, Lisa and Amanda also discuss how they are working for more sustainable schools and healthier, more equitable communities where all children can thrive. You'll hear how you can make a difference in your own neighborhood or state, and policy proposals that can save lives.  Recommended Resources:Climate Health NowMedical Society Consortium on Climate and HealthProtecting  Youth in Warming Summers fact sheetsNew  Biden admin heat resourcesAmanda Recommends: Listos CaliforniaEssential Labor by Angela GarbesLisa Recommends: 99% Invisible

In this episode, host Sarah Spengeman talks with two EcoMadres, Lucy Molina and Shaina Oliver. EcoMadres is bringing Indigenous and Latina moms together to address issues of clean air, climate, and toxics that affect the health of children and families.  Both Lucy and Shaina and their families live in the shadow of the Suncor Refinery located in Commerce City, Colorado.  For decades, the refinery has spewed toxic pollution that has severely impacted the predominantly Latino neighborhoods. Lucy and Shaina have spent years organizing the members of their community and standing up to Suncor on behalf of their children's right to breathe clean air and drink clean water.In this episode, they share how they won a critical bill that will finally monitor three specific toxics from the refinery and how they're fighting for other climate justice policies in Colorado. They share what they have learned as they have fought alongside other mothers, what a just transition looks like, and what is giving them hope to keep at it.For anyone who has wondered what environmental racism looks like from a first-hand perspective, this is a must-listen episode.  Recommended Resources:Take action here:Thank the EPA for objecting to CO's permit for Suncor RefineryAbout Shainahttps://www.momscleanairforce.org/team/shaina-oliver/About Lucyhttps://www.9news.com/article/news/local/next/commerce-city-mother-polluted-neighborhood/73-a77532fc-9c67-4f6e-a1d9-0184ee45f91cAbout EcoMadreshttps://www.momscleanairforce.org/ecomadres/About Cultivandohttps://www.cultivando.org/About the Suncor settlementhttps://www.cpr.org/2021/04/21/commerce-city-nonprofit-wins-suncor-energy-fine-money-will-use-it-to-monitor-suncor-energy/Lucy and Shaina's join op-ed calling for EPA to object to the Suncor permithttps://www.denverpost.com/2022/03/21/suncor-pollution-epa-cdphe-plant-2-permit/Contact [email protected]

Harriet Shugarman is one of the leading voices in the parent climate movement, the founder of Climate Mama, and the award-winning author of the book How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change: Turning Angst into Action. Harriet joins host Sarah Spengeman to share her story--how, even though she had worked on climate change, she woke up to the climate emergency after she had her children. She talks about why she launched Climate Mama as a community to connect parents concerned about climate change and how she's seen the parent climate movement grow over the past decade.Harriet and Sarah chat about what it means to be hopeful in the midst of a climate crisis, what women and mothers bring to the climate movement, and why centering indigenous voices and frontline communities is essential to solving climate change. You won't want to miss Harriet sharing essential wisdom from her own book, along with her top children and adult book recommendations!Recommended Resources:Climate Mamahttps://www.climatemama.com/How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change: Turning Angst into Actionhttps://newsociety.com/books/h/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-climate-changeClimate Reality Projecthttps://www.climaterealityproject.org/What the World Needs Now book serieshttps://www.cherylrosebush.com/kids-books

This hopeful conversation with Hot Mama Jennifer Rennicks - clean energy policy wonk and mother of two grown daughters - is the best way to start your new year! Jennifer spends her days working to keep our children safe from the toxic pollution generated by our country's fleet of dirty diesel school buses. Did you know children riding a fossil fuel-powered school bus are exposed to 12x the pollution compared to outdoor levels? Jennifer talks all about the exciting trend toward electrification of school buses, the federal and state leadership that is accelerating this trend, and how any parent can advocate for all-electric buses in their school district.Jennifer also shares her story with us - how an unplanned study abroad trip to Costa Rica changed the trajectory of her life, how having two asthmatic daughters fueled her advocacy, and the lessons she's gained from two decades championing cleaner energy in the Southeastern United States. You'll also hear why Jennifer says our clean energy transformation is unstoppable! This inspiring conversation will feed you soul for the year ahead! Recommended Resources:League of Conservation Voters’ Chispa program: Clean Buses for Healthy Niñoshttps://www.lcv.org/chispa/clean-buses-healthy-ninos/E School Bus 4 Kids!https://www.eschoolbus4kids.org/WRI's Electric School Bus Initiativehttps://www.wri.org/initiatives/electric-school-bus-initiativeMothers Out Front Toolkithttps://nation.mothersoutfront.org/electric_school_bus_campaignALA's Electric School Bus Solutionhttps://www.lung.org/policy-advocacy/healthy-air-campaign/electric-school-bus-solutionFollow Jennifer on Twitter!https://twitter.com/JenRennicks

Xoli Fuyani is a powerful voice for climate justice and a leader in the global parent climate movement. She is a mother of two children and the founder of Black Girls Rising in Cape Town, South Africa, which provides "Brave space for Girls where they are taught  personal growth and development." This multi-year program mentors and trains the next generation of climate and social justice leaders, providing them the skills they need to find their own voice and claim their power. In this podcast, she shares how Black Girls Rising is transforming the lives of girls to transform the world. Xoli has been an environmental activist her entire life and recently traveled to COP26 to deliver a message from 500 parent groups around the world who are demanding an end to all fossil fuel investments to protect our children. Tune in to hear why she traveled from South Africa to urge climate action, her concerns about climate finance, and why indigenous knowledge must not be ignored. Xoli also talks navigating her busy life as a working mom and how she finds and spreads healing through her dance practice.  Parent letter to COP26 delegates:https://parentsforfuture.org/nonewfossilfuelsFollow Xoli and Black Girls Rising on social media:https://twitter.com/xolifhttps://www.instagram.com/black.girls.rising/To donate, contact Xoli:[email protected] courtesy of Doubletron