Planet Reimagined with Adam Met

On our final episode of Season Two, we’re talking to Naomi Oreskes, professor, climate activist, and author of the book Merchants of Doubt. Naomi began her academic career in Geology and Earth Sciences, working at Stanford and  Dartmouth, but later began teaching the History of Science at NYU and UC San Diego. Now, as a Harvard History of Science professor, Naomi is educating her students—and the world—on human-caused, or anthropogenic, climate change. Her most well-known book, Merchants of Doubt—co-authored by Erik M. Conway and later made into a documentary of the same name—parallels the misinformation campaigns led against climate change with those led against the negative effects of tobacco. We talk about the companies that led those campaigns, the universities that have divested from fossil fuels, and the scientists who have raised public awareness. Her most recent book, Science on a Mission, is available here. Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button! Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Today we’re in conversation with Mila Rosenthal, the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Sustainable Partners, Inc (SPI), as well as Nia Smith and Rai Saad Khan, two of SPI’s New Futures Fellows. If you’re reading this, you may have noticed that Sustainable Partners, Inc. is the Executive Producer of this podcast. Adam Met, our lovely host, founded SPI in 2019 to turn climate research into climate action. Along with producing Planet Reimagined and other climate-focused media, SPI runs a summer fellowship that brings together undergraduate and graduate students from around the world to work on projects tackling the issues laid out by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Each fellowship group produces an academic paper that explores their topic deeply, and media that advocates for a solution. Mila is not only the Managing Director of SPI, but also heads the fellowship program. Her work as the Head of Communications and Advocacy at the UNDP, as well as her teaching position in Columbia University’s Human Rights department, makes her perfect for the role. This past summer, she brought together ten fellows—from California to Sri Lanka—who produced projects on waste management and coastal access. Nia, an advocacy fellow on Team Waste, is an environmental designer and activist based in Los Angeles. She is currently studying architecture to develop more equitable and sustainable low-income housing. Rai, a research fellow on Team Coastal Access, is a Geography graduate from Christ Church, the University of Oxford, where he was a recipient of the Royal Geographical Society’s DevGRG Dissertation Prize. His research interests include development geographies and local governance, particularly in South Asia. He is currently pursuing the law conversion course, and looks forward to pursuing a career in development and advocacy. We talk about what it was like to combine research and advocacy, how their projects fit into this year’s theme of climate justice, and what they will take away from the program. If you’d like to support the fellowship, make sure to follow Sustainable Partners on Instagram and Twitter. You can find the projects of this summer’s cohort here. And if you’re interested in becoming a fellow, we’ll be opening applications in the Spring of 2022. Make sure to listen closely, because you might just hear Mila’s cat in the background! Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button. Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Today’s episode is with Dr. David Lehrer, the Director of International Development at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. In 1978, David moved from the US to Israel so he could be part of a kibbutz—the cooperative living arrangements found throughout the country. A few years later he became a member of Kibbutz Ketura, home to the Arava Institute. He was Executive Director of the Institute for 20 years, moving to Director of International Development just this year, after receiving his PhD from Ben-Gurion University. The Arava Institute brings together Israelis, Palestinians, and Jordanians to solve climate issues affecting the whole region: “The environment can’t wait for peace in the Middle East.” We talk about planting 2000-year-old Judean dates, harvesting solar power in the desert, and using animal waste to create clean energy. Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button! Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Today we’re talking to Kristy Drutman, also known by her social media handle, @browngirl_green. As a graduate of Berkeley’s “Society and the Environment” program, Kristy was interested in joining the climate movement, but also making it more diverse. At the time, the media was focusing only on white environmentalists, while ignoring the climate disasters affecting BIPOC around the world. This problem, along with some burnout, caused Kristy to create Brown Girl Green, a media hub that shares climate news, uplifts the voices of women and people of color, and provides self-care tips for eco-advocates. We talk about curating information for social media, how activism can affect relationships, and centering BIPOC voices. Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button! Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

On today's episode, we're chatting with Kathy Baughman McLeod, the Senior Vice President and Director of the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center. As someone who grew up, studied, and worked in Florida, Kathy is well-acquainted not only with the beautiful ecosystems of the state, but also with the climate-related disasters which threaten them. Throughout her work with the EPA, The Nature Conservancy, Florida's Financial Office, and other organizations, Kathy has emphasized the need to analyze climate risk and to create resiliency through education and resources. Naturally, our conversation moves into topics like community-organized aid and climate insurance. We talk about kitchen garden kits, resilience pods, and tree equity. Speaking of: reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button! Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Today’s episode is with Michael Regan, the Administrator of the EPA. Earlier this year, after working with North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Defense Fund, Regan was sworn in as Administrator, becoming the first black man to hold the position. Under President Biden, Regan and his team have placed environmental justice at the forefront of all of their initiatives—from cleaning legacy pollutants to rezoning urban development. We talk about the EPA’s role in the current administration, how individuals can participate in policy making, and greening the economy. Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button! Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Today, we’re chatting with Nikki Eslami, the founder of Wild Elements and co-founder of Bellami Hair. In 2012, Nikki co-created a hair extension company and promoted her products by reaching out to Instagram users, offering them free extensions in exchange for reviews. The biggest user only had 70,000 followers, and yet Bellami quickly grew into a business that has partnered with Kylie Jenner and Cardi B. Nikki not only grew Bellami Hair, but also established what we now know as influencers. That is why, this year, Nikki founded Wild Elements, an organization that pairs innovators with advocates to create campaigns that help humans, animals, and the earth. We talk about person-first businesses, branding the climate movement, and the interconnectivity of Animalkind, Humankind, and Plantkind. Be sure to follow Wild Elements on Instagram!   Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button.   Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc.  Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman  Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh  Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR  All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

In this episode, we talk to Jacqueline Novogratz, the founder and CEO of Acumen. Acumen is an organization dedicated to alleviating poverty through “patient capital”—investing in entrepreneurs and giving them ample growing time, so they can disrupt unsustainable or predatory markets without worrying about profits. “Traditional markets too often overlook or exploit the poor; aid or charity too often creates dependency. Neither take the time to actually sit on the ground and listen to who low-income people are.” We talk about solar lanterns that took on the kerosene industry, a young woman who brought feminine hygiene products to her community, and what a moral revolution could look like. Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button! Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Today’s episode is with Isaias Hernandez, also known by their Instagram handle as @QueerBrownVegan. After graduating from Berkeley with a degree in Environmental Science, Isaias was disappointed by the state of climate education: queer and POC advocates didn't get as much recognition and most research was only accessible through academic institutions. So he started Queer Brown Vegan, a social media platform and online community where people can learn and discuss intersectional environmentalism. We talk about going vegan, creating room for everyone in the movement, and communicating climate change. Be sure to check out QueerBrownVegan on Twitter and Instagram! Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button. Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

On today’s episode, we talk to Steven Donziger, the environmental lawyer who went up against the fossil fuel industry and won. In 1993, Donziger sued Chevron (then Texaco) for dumping oil waste in Ecuador, polluting the land and waterways of surrounding indigenous communities. About twenty years later, Chevron lost the $9.5 billion dollar case. Instead of paying the damages to the harmed communities, they retaliated against Donziger, suing him, leading a public campaign to discredit him, and forcing him under house arrest for the past two years. We talk about the corporate takeover of the justice system, the environmental devastation left by Chevron, and the human rights violations committed against Donziger and the people of Ecuador. On October 1st, a New York City judge will rule on the sentencing for Donziger. You can follow his story at freedonziger.com and voice your support by donating, writing, or rallying. Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button! Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Welcome back to Planet Reimagined! On this first episode of season two, we're in conversation with Christiana Figueres, a UN climate leader and key architect of the Paris Climate Agreement, and Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. They have both been crucial actors in the climate movement. The three of us talk about holding corporations and individuals accountable, connecting academia and activism, and incorporating human rights into our response to climate change. We also discuss optimism: Mary as a prisoner of hope and Christiana as a stubborn optimist. Christiana and Mary are two of the most well-spoken, influential climate advocates—you won't want to miss this. Christiana is currently working with Countdown, a collaboration with TED that provides a list of actions that individuals can take to lower their emissions. Mary is currently Chair for the Elders, a collection of human rights advocates brought together by Nelson Mandela in 2007. You can find Christiana on her podcast Outrage and Optimism and Mary on Mothers of Invention. Reminder that we plant a tree for every subscriber, so go ahead and hit that button! Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Join host Adam Met once again as he discusses climate justice with guests from all walks of life: philanthropists, entrepreneurs, patient capitalists, members of rural cooperatives, even former presidents. Throughout this season, Adam and the guests explore how individual actions can collectively create change. They've started social media channels, analyzed the risk of climate-related disasters, constructed international treaties from scratch, run research centers, invested in small business—all in the name of sustainability.   For every person that subscribes, Sustainable Partners, Inc. is planting a tree, so hit that subscribe button. Check back in every Thursday for new episodes starting September 16th. And be sure to check them out on our YouTube! Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. Produced by Shelby Kaufman Associate Produced and Engineered by Sophie Ewh Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

On the final episode of the season we talk with three incredible people from the United Nations Development Programme. At first glance, this may seem dry, but at it’s core, this episode is about people, and it’s about potential. We talk with UN experts from all over the world from big picture approaches, all the way down to a very interesting blockchain chocolate project.  JD D’Cruz  Matilde Mordt, and Lesley Wright come together to tell us an incredible story about the web of human potential. Reminder to subscribe and we will plant a tree! Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman Engineered by Joe Pecora Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

On today's episode we chat with Leroy Mwasaru from Kenya about turning human waste into energy. Please forgive the audio quality on this episode as the wireless connection didn't agree with us as we recorded. I know this may sound unbelievable but at just 16 Leroy started to address an issue in his community. He is an incredible young man who uses his engineering skills to problem solve, sustainably.  Reminder to subscribe and we will plant a tree! Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman Engineered by Joe Pecora Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Today we are chatting with Lucas Joppa, the Chief Environmental Officer of Microsoft. We talk about everything from artificial intelligence, to water, sustainable airline fuel, Bill Gates, ignorance and more. Lucas always makes me think about environmentalism in different ways. Even though we both have academic backgrounds, we approach similar topics from very different perspectives. This tends to make for a great conversation. His daughter stops in for a quick hello partway through our conversation. Reminder to subscribe and we will plant a tree! Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman Engineered by Joe Pecora Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

On this episode we discover how surfing, yoga, football/soccer depending on where you are in the world, and rugby, are all connected to sustainable development. Beyond Sport is an organization that drives forward sports' commitment to social change. We speak with the CEO, Nick Keller and four shortlisters from the Beyond Sport awards, each recognized for their commitment to sports and sustainability: Kris Primacio, Julie Auma, Kushbu Oli, and Dom Walduck. A quick reminder that we are planting a tree for every person who subscribes to this podcast, so make sure to hit that subscribe button.

Today we are chatting with Joey Zwillinger, Co-Founder of the shoe company Allbirds. We talk about the fashion industry, corporate responsibility, and why sustainability is baked into his company’s mission. Joey is an incredible guy who has creative ideas about the future. Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman Engineered by Drew Allsbrook Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Today we talk about the future of food with Eugene Wang and Bill Broadbent. Eugene is the founder and CEO of Sophie’s BioNutrients. We chat about micro-algae protein, data, and why plant-based is the new vegetarian. Then later on I chat with Bill, the President of Entosense, about the many benefits of insect consumption.The food industry, from start to finish, has many practices that are harmful to people and the world. We can envision a future where everything, from food production, to transportation, to sales are all done safer, cleaner, and more sustainably . I intentionally ask them some of the same questions and it’s interesting to hear their different perspectives.  Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman Engineered by Drew Allsbrook Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Today we are chatting about Biomimicry with Dr. Dayna Baumeister. The conversation, at it’s core, is about nature and the incredible tools that it provides to help solve some of our biggest problems. Dr. Baumeister is a Professor and the Co-Director of The Biomimicry Center at Arizona State University and the Co-Founder and Partner of Biomimicry 3.8, where she trains, equips, and connects change-makers with nature’s 3.8 billion years of brilliant designs and strategies.  Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman Engineered by Drew Allsbrook Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.

Maxwell Frost and Matt Deitch are friends and collaborators across the worlds of activism, mobilization and fighting inequality. Matt was a founding member of March For Our Lives, the gun violence prevention organization started by students in Parkland Florida, and has gone on to work with numerous human and civil rights organizations. Maxwell is a multi-dimensional activist as well, and is currently the Organizing Director of March for Our Lives. We talk about everything from Black Lives Matter to gun sense legislation, climate, music, mobilization, and of course, sustainability. Executive Produced by Sustainable Partners, Inc. Edited/Produced by Shelby Kaufman Engineered by Drew Allsbrook Music by Ryan and Jack Met of AJR All Rights Reserved, Sustainable Partners, Inc.