Tiny Climate Challenge

In this Tiny Climate Challenge episode, our Guest Challengers Amanda Essoh and Jim Wang discuss how they serendipitously met each other on a plane, spontaneously connected with folks in their local communities and organically created communities of their own to help elevate their voices and make a difference in our world. Guest Expert/Challenger Contact Information LinkedIn: Amanda Essoh LinkedIn: Jim Wang Expert/Guest Challenger Bio Amanda Essoh is a second-year Ph.D. student of Medical Sciences focusing on the intersection of stress and addiction. She joined a career in neuroscience research to contribute to burgeoning knowledge about mental health and illness. Her daily routine consists of conducting experiments to map the path of stress hormones across brain regions to measure their contribution to addictive behaviors. She ultimately plans to apply this foundation to an independent research career studying anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Aside from lab work, she is an enthusiastic participant

Leadership matters and how we show up in the world is just as important as the work we do. In this Tiny Climate Challenge episode, our Guest Expert Joan Kling teaches us her coaching philosophy that she developed called PIES and we discuss how this can be applied in all of our lives. Her Tiny Climate challenge for each of us is to find or create a community to help support us in both our personal and professional lives. Guest Expert/Challenger Contact Information Website: Joan Kling Coaching LinkedIn: Joan Kling Expert/Guest Challenger Bio Joan Kling specializes in promoting peace and communication between individuals, teams and organizations. She excels in teaching self-leadership, team leadership and organizational leadership. Guided by the belief in everyone’s intrinsic, unique value, Joan works tirelessly to bring out the best in everyone she meets. Her ability to see past the complexities of the human condition to the heart of every matter is unmatched. She is a certified professional coach, trainer, and

In this Tiny Climate Challenge episode our Guest Expert Dr. Bruce Bekkar and Mayela Manasjan share some of their own climate confessions and discuss what we can all do to enhance our personal resilience as we relate to our eco-anxiety. Dr. Bekkar also shares some tiny tips on the importance of being aware and honest about our own environmental shortcomings, accepting our imperfections, finding the joy in climate activism and taking care of ourselves and others as we work to solve our climate crisis. Expert/Guest Challenger Bio Bruce Bekkar, M.D. is a women’s health physician, activist, and international keynote speaker who has been engaged with the climate crisis since 2007.  As a full-time activist since 2013, he serves on ecoAmerica’s Climate for Health Leadership Circle Executive Committee, is Chair of the Public Health Advisory Council of the Climate Action Campaign and works with nonprofits including The Climate Reality Project and the American Lung Association.  Bruce has addressed the California State

In this Tiny Climate Challenge episode our Guest Challenger Sophia Militello’s talks about her journey to becoming a more conscious consumer. She discusses how she researched some of her favorite brands and companies and gained a greater awareness of her ecological footprint. Sophia also shares some tiny tips on how we can all become more sustainable in every purchase that we make. Guest Challenger Bio Sophia Militello graduated from the University of Washington with a double major in Chemistry and Community, Environment, & Planning. She spent this past year living in Madrid, Spain teaching English and adventuring around Europe. She recently returned to Seattle and is working as a Laboratory Analyst at IEH Laboratories and Consulting Group. Sophia is currently working with food safety analysis, but she hopes to work in the environmental sector soon. She considers herself an environmentalist, who loves teaching her friends and family about how to become more sustainable. Contact Sophia Militello https://w

In this Tiny Climate Challenge episode our Guest Expert Nancy Mancilla talks about the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) a management concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and interactions with their stakeholders. As the Founder and CEO of ISOS group, Nancy has trained and enabled numerous sustainability professionals and students to understand and use leading global sustainability standards and frameworks to promote a healthy planet, resilient communities, and thriving economies. Her Tiny Climate Challenge for all us is to research the CSR reports of our favorite companies and brands. Guest Expert Bio Since founding ISOS Group in 2008, Nancy Mancilla has orchestrated hundreds of certified training under the various non-financial standards, elevated many global brands to leadership status through ISOS Group’s strategic advisory work, and produced several linkage documents to help ease the reporting burden in the marketplace. As CEO

In this Tiny Climate Challenge episode, our Guest Expert Molly Basler talks about the importance of running a sustainable grassroots political campaign. As a current candidate for Los Angeles City Council District 5, she developed the “Green Dream Pledge” and “Code of Ethics” to encourage all democratic institutions and candidates to commit to sustainability. Her Tiny Climate Challenge for all of us is to get involved in the political process by registering to vote and supporting political candidates that care about people and our planet.  Links mentioned Green Dream Campaign Green Dream Pledge Green Dream Podcast Climate Reality Project Seventh Generation Autumn Press Surfrider Ocean Friendly Restaurants Cori Schumacher Climate Hawks Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Contact Us Mayela Manasjan TinyClimate.com We are grateful for the generosity of Ashley Mazanec and her permission to use "Possible" from her album "Let’s Talk About The Weather" available on iTunes or Bandcamp. Ashley is an Eco Musician, and the c

In this Tiny Climate Challenge episode our Guest Challenger Leonard Grossberg talks about his evolution from being a career environmental professional to becoming a passionate environmental and political activist as a retiree. He discusses the importance of raising eco-conscious families, connecting with our communities, being civically engaged, volunteering with environmental organizations and staying politically active. Guest Expert Bio Leonard Grossberg is happily retired after working more than 25 years with the City of Vernon Health & Environmental Control Department. He started as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) and worked his way up to Director/Health Officer. These days Leonard likes to spend his time as an environmental activist reviewing and commenting on local and regional construction/development projects and environmental policies and programs in San Diego County.  He also likes to work with the California Association of Environmental Health Administrators (CAEHA) as an e

In this Tiny Climate Challenge episode, our Guest Expert Brian Ettling talks about his commitment to caring for our environment as a former National Park Ranger and current climate activist for Climate Reality Project, Citizens Climate Lobby, and Renew Oregon. He reminds us that we can all make a difference in the world by the way we vote, the products we buy, and the attitudes that we share with each other. His Tiny Climate Challenge for all of us is to get out into nature, initiate climate conversations with everyone we meet, and take daily actions to solve our climate crisis.  Guest Expert Bio Brian Ettling is originally from St. Louis MO and currently lives in Portland OR with his wife Tanya. For 25 years he was a seasonal park ranger at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon and Everglades National Park, FL. While working in the national parks, he saw the negative impacts of climate change. In 2012, this inspired Brian to speak out and organize for climate action by getting trained as a Climate Reality Leader

In this Tiny Climate Challenge episode, our Guest Expert Ana Clara Faria talks about her experience attending a recent Climate Reality Project Leadership Corp training. She also shares her current efforts to engage, educate, and empower people on climate change in her home country, Brazil. Guest Challenger Bio Ana Clara Faria has a Bachelor of Journalism with a specialized degree in International Relations and Diplomacy. She is interested in writing about themes such as public policy, social and economic issues, and sustainable development.  She attended the Climate Reality Leadership Corps Training in March 2019, in Atlanta, U.S., and is a current volunteer at the Youth Action Hubs – Brazil, an international project supported by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) that aims to engage youth in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in their community.  She has a sustainability blog, Info Sustentável, which is focused on raising awareness on environmental issues and showing

In this Tiny Climate Challenge episode, we learn to create environmental and social impact with our Guest Expert Taylor Leigh Cannizarro. She inspires all of us to turn humanity's greatest threats into humanity's greatest opportunities through her work with Plastic Bank and invites us all to make our own impact in the world by joining her “Impact with Taylor” challenge. Guest Challenger Bio Meet Taylor Leigh Cannizzaro, Chief Alliance Officer at Plastic Bank, an economic development firm monetizing plastic waste to provide an opportunity for the impoverished to collect and trade plastic as a currency. Her visionary leadership skills and the ability to develop exponential relationships further Plastic Bank’s initiatives to empower a regenerative society that stops ocean plastic and alleviates poverty.  Taylor’s passion to create a world that works developed over a career as a molecular-oncology scientist driving better diagnostics and treatment via new testing and company launches. As a certified yoga instruct

In this Tiny Climate Challenge, our Guest Expert Erika Morgan is back to teach us how to read our electricity bills so that we can make our kilowatt-hours go a lot further to saving the planet.  Guest Challenger Bio Erika Morgan is an independent clean energy consultant dedicated to speeding the transition to zero-carbon energy solutions. She works with non-profit and private entities, providing technical, operations and business facilitation, policy advocacy, and market development for clean energy solutions, including community choice energy programs. She also provides operational support to the California Alliance for Community Energy - a statewide alliance of grassroots nonprofits dedicated to ensuring that “community” stays central to Community Choice. Ms. Morgan’s career spans the clean energy industry, as a policymaker, manager, consultant, project manager, public educator, and executive coach. A specialist in organizational management, Ms. Morgan helps clients manage rapid growth, innovation, and flex

In this Tiny Climate Challenge episode, April and May (The Quaran-Queens) are back to talk about their sustainable swaps and drops and how they’re surviving the COVID-19 pandemic together.  April Powers is a Quaran-Queen with a YouTube channel for everyone wondering how to cook in COVID times. She just started a bilingual children’s book and website called Finicky Fiona (Fiona Melindrosa for YouTube en español) to encourage children to eat the rainbow and to help people with allergies learn how to cook delicious food. Links mentioned Finicky Fiona April Powers TV (YouTube Channel)  Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm La Competencia Imports, LLC (Mexican wines from Valle de Guadalupe) Naked Wines Plenty Cookbook Roasted Beet Salad with Oranges and Beet Greens Recipe Nasturtium Pesto Recipe Violife Vegan Cheese  Miyoko’s Organic Vegan Cheese Recipes Calendula Hand Salve Recipe & Video Environmental Working Group Casa Werma Contact Mayela Manasjan TinyClimate.com We are grateful for the generosity of Ashley Mazanec and

In this Tiny Climate Challenge episode our Guest Challenger Marta Hynan teaches us how easy it is to be a Zero Waste Badass by minimizing her waste and making her own do-it-yourself (DIY) cleaning supplies. Guest Challenger Bio Marta Hynan originally from Brazil is a fitness and cleaning professional living in San Diego, California. She loves the outdoors, nature, people and our planet and is committed to finding new ways to living sustainably. She believes in the importance of cleaning up our environment “one small plastic bottle cap at a time” and loves to educate and empower people to make a difference in their own lives and in the world. Links mentioned Eco Goddess Eco Goddess YouTube Channel 5 DIY Cleaners: My Favorite Natural Cleaning Products Contact Mayela Manasjan TinyClimate.com We are grateful for the generosity of Ashley Mazanec and her permission to use "Possible" from her album "Let’s Talk About The Weather" available on iTunes or Bandcamp. Ashley is an Eco Musician, and the co-founder of Let'

In this Tiny Climate Challenge episode our Guest Expert, Marina Qutab (aka the Eco Goddess) teaches us how to be a Zero Waste Badass. She talks about how she tracked and reduced her trash and fit two years of her waste into a tiny mason jar. She also challenges all of us to embrace the philosophy of ecocentrism by becoming more resourceful in our own lives and creating our own DIY solutions for living more sustainably.  Guest Challenger Bio Marina Qutab is the personality behind Eco Goddess. Through her online presence, she shares zero waste living tips, plant-based recipes, and soulful wellness inspiration. It is her hope that in sharing her journey to living a more vibrant, ecologically conscious lifestyle with others, others will feel inspired and supported to embark on their own journeys. Find her on social media at @EcoGoddess and check out her startup {Zero} Waste Kit where she aims to provide you with the tools, mindset, and convenience for reducing your everyday waste and ecological footprint. Links m

Pia Piscitelli committed to her own slow fashion challenge for an entire year in 2019. In this episode, she shares her best ideas and inspirations to help us all take eco-actions to create a more sustainable closet. Guest Challenger Bio Pia Piscitelli is passionate about eco-action and finding tangible ways to make a difference. For over five years, she has worked in environmental education organizations helping kids and adults take steps to live a more sustainable life. She was trained as a Climate Reality Leader with former Vice President Al Gore, and she's certified as a Master Composter. She runs Greenie Guide, a resource that helps individuals take climate action, and she loves exploring sustainable travel, cooking with her solar oven, and supporting her local coffee scene. Links mentioned thredUP Pact Fashion Revolution Elizabeth Cline Additional Links A Year Without Buying Fast Fashion Clothing  24 New Years Resolutions for a Sustainable & Ethical Closet Tiny Climate Challenge Guest Contact Pia

In this Tiny Climate Challenge, our Guest Expert Erika Lopez Lara talks about slow fashion, the alternative to fast fashion which advocates for good quality clothing that is friendly to consumers, producers, and our planet. She shares great tips for buying local, second-hand clothing, and participating in clothing swaps. Guest Challenger Bio Erika Lopez Lara is the Founder of WEEDS Association a non-profit that aims to empower people to solve the environmental crisis we are facing through education, research and entrepreneurship in Mexico. She recently graduated from Tecnológico de Monterrey with a degree in Nanotechnology and Chemical Sciences Engineering. She has worked in research at Harvard, MIT, the Water Center for Latin America and the Caribbean, UC Berkeley and Stockholm University. Last year she participated in an entrepreneurship program at UC Berkeley where she developed a report to map the startups that could save our oceans in partnership with L’atelier. When she’s not busy with her research, wor

In Tiny Climate Challenge Episode 12 our Guest Challenger and Energy Consultant Extraordinaire Erika Morgan talks about the benefits and ease of purchasing carbon offsets through The Good Traveler program for her recent car and air travel from San Diego to Boston. Guest Challenger Bio Erika Morgan is an independent clean energy consultant dedicated to speeding the transition to zero-carbon energy solutions. She works with non-profit and private entities, providing technical, operations and business facilitation, policy advocacy and market development for clean energy solutions, including community choice energy programs. She also provides operational support to the California Alliance for Community Energy - a statewide alliance of grassroots nonprofits dedicated to ensuring that “community” stays central to Community Choice. Ms. Morgan’s career spans the clean energy industry, as a policymaker, manager, consultant, project manager, public educator, and executive coach. A specialist in organizational managemen

www.TinyClimate.com In Tiny Climate Challenge Episode 11 our Guest Experts, Paul Manasjan and Steve Statler talk about The Good Traveler, a program they co-founded to engage the traveling public to fly carbon neutral through the purchase of carbon offsets. Their Tiny Climate Challenges for all of us is to purchase carbon offsets as individuals, organizations (private, public and non-profit), to promote sustainable conferences and events and encourage all airports to achieve carbon neutrality. Visit The Good Traveller for more information. Guest Expert Information Paul Manasjan619-990-1767The Manasjan Consultancy With over 30 years of public sector experience working in the fields of environmental health, resource management, and sustainability, Mr. Paul Manasjan is an internationally recognized leader and innovator in airport sustainability and the recipient of the 2018 Pioneer in Aviation Sustainability Award. Mr. Manasjan has recently retired from his post as Director of Environmental Affairs for San Diego

In Tiny Climate Challenge Episode 10 our Guest Challenger, poet and artist Christina Burress talks about how she uses found objects (tiny plastic trash that she picks up off our beaches) to create artwork while raising awareness of the threats of plastic ocean pollution. She also shares a reading of her powerful poem, “In the Crease”.  Guest Challenger Information Christina Burress is passionate about teaching her students to notice the world around them for inspiration and healing. Currently, she is Chair of the English Department at the Grauer School in Encinitas, California where she teaches 10th and 12th-grade Literature and Creative Writing. Since 2010, she has taught the course, Language of Poetry to K-12 educators getting their Master’s in Arts in the Curriculum from the School of Education at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Since 2009, she has taught poetry classes for UCSD Extension. You can find some of her poetry published in the San Diego Poetry Annual.  Christina Burress on Instagr

In Tiny Climate Challenge Episode 9 our Guest Expert Ashley Mazanec talks about the importance of EcoArts in addressing our climate crisis. Guest Expert Information Ashley Mazanec is an environmental policy and non-profit professional, eco-art educator, and eco musician committed to optimizing human and environmental health. As Assistant Executive Director of the San Diego Energy District, she is deeply invested in the future of clean energy in San Diego. Founding EcoArts Foundation in 2016 led to her current position in teaching and programming eco-art education at Del Sur Elementary. EcoArts Foundation's mission is to inspire the regeneration of Earth's ecosystems with creative media, events, and performance. Ashley has advanced this mission by producing: environmentally-themed music, an EcoArts TV production for the City of Palmdale, an educational eco art series generously funded by the Tommy Short Foundation, and the Let's Talk About the Weather podcast -- which explores ecological topics through the eye