Podship Earth

Angela Glover Blackwell talks about how we can achieve racial justice through an agenda of inclusion, opportunity for all people of color, police abolition and reparations. Starting during the Black Power movement of the 1970’s, Ms Glover Blackwell has been a powerful, articulate and inspiring voice of change. Angela believes that our future success as democracy, economy and as a nation depends on the very people who have been left behind. Not until real change has been implemented will be able to move forward. The corrosive and toxic foundations of racism must be routed from every aspect of our government, business, communities, police and society at large.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

California is officially known as the “Golden State." One hundred and seventy years after the Gold Rush, the environmental legacy of gold mining is still with us and rarely acknowledged. Mercury which is a deadly neurotoxin, was elemental to the process of gold mining. Today large quantities of mercury from the Gold Rush are still polluting California - posing a risk to every kind of living organism, including us. I talk with Izzy Martin, a community organizer and environmental advocate who leads the Sierra Fund and has worked for the last decade to bring attention to gold’s dark shadow.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dolores Huerta is the one of the most important civil rights leaders in history. Dolores possesses an indomitable spirit, she is a fearless advocate on behalf of farm workers, women's rights and the environment. Huerta has been awarded every honor under the sun, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and yet at 90 she continues to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with farmworkers early in the morning to make sure their needs are taken care of before her own. Dolores is truly selfless. We talk about Earth Day’s 50th anniversary and just when you thought you knew everything about Dolores, she uncovers her love of Burning Man.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At 15 Doniga Markegard, left a note for her mom that she was taking off for the summer and would be back in the fall. Her hitchhiking adventure was the beginning of a quest that led her to tracking wolves in Alaska.  Doniga’s wanderlust brought her to indigenous elders who showed her the interconnectedness with all living things. Doniga shares her tracking practices.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I travel on a supply boat 30 miles of the coast of San Francisco to visit the remote Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge.  This rocky outcrop in the Pacific is home to millions of birds, five species of seals, whales and great white sharks - it is the Galapagos of the Northern Hemisphere!  I meet up with Pete Warzybok with Point Blue Conservation Science who has spent much of the past 20 years studying the wildlife of the Farallones and I learn about what happens when we leave nature alone.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Earth Day is turning 50 and I talk with Dr. Arlene Blum, who exemplifies the energy, humanity and spirit of this celebration which began in 1970 and gave birth to the modern environmental movement. Arlene is a biophysical chemist, an author, a mountaineer and Executive Director of the Green Science Policy Institute. Arlene’s belief that we can all do seemingly impossible things - is the foundation to a life of adventure.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anna Lappé, and I discuss Diet for a Hot Planet, her book about the challenges and opportunities presented by helping solve the climate crisis by changing the food system.  We uncover and debunk myths about the way food can be grown today and in the future. Anna’s mom, Frances Moore Lappé, wrote the 1971 book Diet for a Small Planet which revolutionized the way we think about food and democracy. Together Anna and Frances co-founded the small planet institute, an international network focused on root causes of hunger and poverty and co-wrote Hope's Edge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are made up of 70 trillion cells, more than half of which are not part of the human body - they are microbes.  Microbes play a critical role in keeping us healthy, protecting us from pathogens, boosting our immune system, and even fighting off stress. It turns out that microbes also play a pivotal role in keeping the earth’s soil healthy. I talk with Dr. Rupa Marya, who is no average doctor. Rupa is a forceful social justice advocate, a world-renowned musician, an urban farmer, a mother to two incredible kids, and Associate Professor of Medicine at UCSF, who is investigating how soil health is connected to people’s health.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An ancient English town named after the mysterious eels, which were the currency that paid for one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals. To unravel Ely’s secrets, dating back to Roman times, I talk with Mike Rouse, the Mayor and historian of this fascinating Fen town.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How a fight to save the Yuba River, turned into a massive film festival where activists go to get inspired. Podship Earth’s intrepid correspondent, Sara Aminzadeh, travels through the snow to meet with first time film-makers, long time water keepers, and local teenagers to get the skinny on how our love of nature is the best motivator for action. Sara talks with Melinda Booth, Mitch Dion, Tom Bartels, Chris Simon, John Weisheit, Susette Weisheit, and Tova Rothert.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our mothers made us. Our mothers shaped us.  I talk with my mother Helaine Blumenfeld about her passion for life and creativity. By the age of 22, Helaine had received her PhD in politics from Columbia. Then, everything changed when she discovered the language of sculpture. Early in her career she decided to divide her time between being a mom when at home and being a sculptor when in Pietrasanta, Italy (where she still works). In 2011, Helaine received the Order of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth. We talk about spirituality, art, nature and her childhood in Queens.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Satellite data is now giving us real time data on which crops are being planted, which crops might fail because of climate impacts like drought or disease, and how many acres of rainforest are being cut down for grazing land.  Using this information we can better prepare for famines, reduce price volatility and work out how to feed a planet of 9 billion people by 2050.  I talk with Dr Inbal Becker-Reshef, the Director of NASA’s food security and agriculture program about how we can build a more integrated global food system.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Willie L. Brown Jr., is a legend. He is California’s longest serving speaker and was San Francisco’s first African American mayor. Since hiring me 19 years ago, he’s been a friend and mentor. This week we talk food, movies, fitness, politics, re-gifting, legacy and why it always helps to be sharply dressed! Talking with Willie Brown always leaves me with a sense of vitality, vigor, and a love of life!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Good COP / Bad GOPSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The sea level is rising and we need to get ready! From Venice to the Florida Keys, to Pacifica  - coastal communities are waking up to the realities of significant climate related impacts.  California Coastal Commissioner Sara Aminzadeh and I meet up with community organizers Jennifer Kalt, from Humboldt Bay Keeper, and Violet Saena, from Acterra.org who is working with residents in East Palo Alto to listen, learn and plan for sea level inundation. We then talk with Susanne Moser about how to remain hopeful as the tide gets higher.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Heather Bolint and Bryan Galvin were so frustrated by the plastic on Florida’s coastline that they decided to be the first people to walk around the entire state - all while picking up trash and bringing attention to the issue. They ended their walk by dumping 3,000 pounds of trash on the steps of the Florida State Capitol.  I catch up with Heather and Bryan to find out about walking in sand, the most annoying types of trash, and what sea-level rise looks like.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mono - is a magical lake twice the size of San Francisco that has tufa towers, salty water and millions of birds. It’s also the story of how scientists and advocates came together to save a national treasure threatened by water being taken by Los Angeles. I talk with Geoff McQuilkin and his daughter Ellery and David Herbst who was part of the original student team that went to Mono Lake in 1976.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With an all star team of scientists and advocates, I witness firsthand a few of the more than 500 rock glaciers in the Sierra Nevada mountains. To be honest, I had never heard of rock glaciers -  it turns they are well kept secret. Led by Daniel Taillant, Dr. Connie Millar, Dr. David Herbst, Sara Aminzadeh and Adam Riffle, we discover that rock glaciers may help many streams keep flowing cold even during the worst climate change has to offer. As a bonus you’ll learn how to make a rock glacier in your home freezer!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Purple sea urchins, a “blob” of warmer water, and star fish wasting syndrome have all conspired to turn California’s northern pacific coastal kelp forests into wastelands. As a result, ocean biodiversity, including prized Abalone, are all suffering. I get into scuba gear and go with Jack Linkins a local abalone fisherman and Mike Esgro a dive master and ocean expert to find out what’s going on.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Melissa Bumstead’s daughter Grace was diagnosed with a rare form of childhood cancer - both their lives changed in unimaginable ways. They spent weeks and then months in hospital over many years fighting for Grace’s life. As Melissa got know other children with cancer and their families, a pattern began to emerge - many of them, including Grace, lived close to a Cold War era weapons and nuclear energy testing site - Santa Susana Field Laboratory near Simi Valley California. We talk with Melissa about her journey and what she discovered.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.