Conservation Connection

How can we make the fashion industry more sustainable? Join us on a captivating journey through sustainable fashion with Lewis Perkins, the visionary mind behind Apparel Impact Institute and the Fashion Climate Fund! In this episode the Conservation Connection team dives into the world of fashion, intertwining conscious consumerism, innovative solutions, and the art of upcycling. Listen in to learn about the often-hidden costs behind fast fashion, exposing the environmental and societal repercussions of our clothing choices. We also hear about Lewis's personal journey, his non-profit's growth, and the powerful impact of sustainable choices. Lewis shares anecdotes of moth-defying creativity, the joy of rekindling forgotten wardrobe gems, and the hope for a future where fashion becomes an expression of individuality AND a catalyst for change. Click here to learn more about the Fashion Climate Fund: https://www.fashionclimatefund.org/ Click here to visit Apparel Impact Institute: https://apparelimpact.

How can we repurpose waste products of the timber industry to capture carbon, improve soil, and generate electricity? In this episode of Conservation Connection, we dive into the world of carbon sequestration with Lauren Breynaert, the Public Affairs Director of MYNO Carbon! MYNO Carbon is a recent startup with an innovative process which transforms waste biomass, including timber residuals and agricultural waste, into biochar – a highly porous material that sequesters carbon for up to a thousand years. Lauren shares how biochar supports regenerative agriculture, reduces carbon emissions, and fosters growth in timber economies. Biochar improves water retention and soil health, and can filter toxins in stormwater infrastructure. On top of all theses positive benefits, MYNO Carbon is partnering with power utilities to convert the waste heat from their manufacturing process into electricity that can power thousands of homes! Tune in to discover this remarkable carbon removal solution and its multi-faceted impa

How can one organization support a global network of grassroots climate projects? We're sitting down with Emmy Scott, the Executive Director of Earth Guardians, to answer that question! Earth Guardians supports youth-led climate projects all across the world through their crews initiative, a program available to young people everywhere. We also talk about the value of putting young voices at the forefront of the climate conversation and the importance of providing support vs direction. Click here to learn more about Earth Guardians: www.EarthGuardians.org Click here to learn more about our nonprofit: www.ConservationConnection.co

What threats driven by climate change will be among the first to take lives? Listen in this week to hear about Jeff Goodell's new book, The Heat Will Kill You First, which covers the dangers of increased heat in a changed climate and the ways that communities are responding to the threat. Click here to learn more about Jeff's Book: JeffGoodellWriter.com Click here to learn more about our nonprofit: www.ConservationConnection.co

Where does plastic come from and how does it affect our everyday lives? This week we sit down with Dianna Cohen, CEO and co-founder of Plastic Pollution Coalition, to talk through the current issues with plastic pollution and solutions to move forward into a plastic free future! Click here to visit the Plastic Pollution Coalition website: www.PlasticPollutionCoalition.org Click here to check out the UP Scorecard: www.UPScorecard.org Click here to check out our nonprofit: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

Just how far have microplastics traveled across our planet? In our final interview from the Wild and Scenic Film Festival we sit down with National Geographic Explorer Mike Libecki to talk about his 14 antarctic expeditions, his recently released film, and ways to hold on to hope! Click here to watch Mike's Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCCMekuepeg Click here to learn more about the Joyineering Fund: https://joyfund.org/ Click here to learn more about our nonprofit: www.ConservationConnection.co

How can wealth be managed in a way that benefits the environment? Kristin Hull, founder and CEO of Nia Impact Capital, is working to do just that by building investment portfolios with intention and purpose. Listen in to hear all about the green possibilities available to protect both your future and the planet's! Click here to learn more about Nia: www.NiaImpactCapital.com Click here to learn more about our nonprofit: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

This week we're releasing an interview with Benjamin Dimmitt that we recorded at the Nature Now Film Festival in Columbus Georgia! Listen in to learn about saltwater intrusion, the process by which ocean water enters freshwater reservoirs and fundamentally changes the ecosystem. Benjamin's work as a photographer has documented the changes to these costal estuaries, hoping to bring attention to this critical problem. To see some of Benjamin's work, click here: https://www.benjamindimmitt.com/ To learn more about our nonprofit, click here: www.ConservationConnection.co

This week we're releasing our interview with Rhett Butler, the founder and CEO of the wildly successful conservation and environmental science news organization Mongabay! With a monthly readership of more than 4 million, Rhett's organization has a huge impact on getting these vital stories in front of the public. Listen in to hear how his early experiences inspired him to care for the environment and ultimately led him to create the Mongabay that we know and love today! To read some fantastic nature news stories, click here: www.Mongabay.com To learn more about Mongabay as an organization, click here: www.Mongabay.org

In this week's episode we sit down with Nick Grossman at the Wild and Scenic film festival! Nick is the Director of Marketing Production for the organization Natural Habitat Adventures, and he was a Producer for the film Endangered Migration. Natural Habitat Adventures brings awareness to wild spaces by organizing trips for members of the general public to visit them in a sustainable manner. Their film, Endangered Migration, talks about the struggles of the Monarch Butterfly and its recent inclusion on the Endangered species list! Click here to watch Endangered Migration: www.NatHab.com/monarchs Click here to learn more about their educator scholarship: www.NatHab.com/monarchgrant

This week we're sharing a catch-up interview with a good friend of the podcast, Vance Martin! We last spoke with him at EarthX in 2019, way back in episode 36, and he and his WILD Foundation have been working on some incredible projects over the past few years. Listen in to hear a discussion about the role of biomass and biodiversity in carbon sequestration, as well as to learn about their work rewilding natural spaces! Check out the wild foundation at WILD.org Check out our website at ConservationConnection.co

In this exciting episode from the Sun Valley Forum we sit down with Christi Cooper, producer & director of the documentary Youth v. Gov, and Vic Barrett, one of the plaintiffs in the legal battle featured in the film! Listen in to learn about their case, their incredible six-year journey detailed in the film, and the ways in which the fossil fuel industry has attempted to block their progress at every turn! Youth v. Gov is streaming now on Netflix. Learn more about the film here: YouthVGovFilm.com Check out Our Children's Trust here: OurChildrensTrust.org Check out our nonprofit here: LastChanceEndeavors.com

This week we have another awesome episode that came out of the Wild and Scenic Film Festival this year! Cameron Nielsen is the co-director of the film Washed Ashore which chronicles the plight of Pacific Gray Whales! His film seeks to understand why one out of four Gray Whales have washed ashore dead in the past few years. Listen in to learn more about Cameron's story and his view about the role of documentary filmmaking as a way to inspire action for our planet! To watch Washed Ashore, click here: https://www.latimes.com/about/shortdocs/washed-ashore-123 To learn more about our nonprofit, click here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

Sarinah Simons is a documentary filmmaker and a California State Parks employee who helped document the recent devastation and regrowth that occurred in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, following the CZU fire of 2020. Listen in for a discussion of the importance of fire to the forest ecosystem, how fires have changed in recent years, and how Sarinah was able to communicate the emotional impact of this massive fire to members of the public. Check out Big Basin Speaks here: https://reimaginingbigbasin.org/ Check out Sarinah's website here: www.SarinahSimons.com Check out Earth to Humans here: Spotify Check out our nonprofit here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

This week we're sitting down with Malia Byrtus, a conservationist and story teller who's deeply involved with the fight to protect Florida's wild panther population! She's an experienced camera trapper, using motion-triggered cameras in the woods to study the secret habits of these elusive and beautiful animals. She and her collaborators have produced a feature-length film, Path of the Panther, using these images to highlight the story behind one of America's rarest species! Check out Path of the Panther available this week on Disney+. To learn more about Path of the Panther, click here: www.PathOfThePanther.com To learn more about our nonprofit, click here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

This week we're interviewing Nicole Ujita, the Education Director for the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center in Combine, Texas! The JBS Wetland Center is a 1800 acre manmade wetland that pulls from the Trinity River, removing sediment and excess nutrients from the water and creating clean drinking water for the booming population of Central Texas! Listen in to learn more about the value of wetland areas, the tricky puzzle of water rights issues, and how the wetland center has created an oasis for endangered wildlife! Click here to learn more about the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center: www.WetlandCenter.com Click here to watch the Eagle Nest Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCJV5Ag5qSE Click here to learn more about our nonprofit: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

In this informative episode we sit down with Mattie Mead, the CEO and Founder of Hempitecture! Instead of using oil based fibers, Mattie's company uses plant fiber to create construction materials like home insulation or concrete! Listen in to hear the history behind industrial hemp, and how these incredible materials can reduce the environmental impact of new construction! Click here to learn more about Hempitecture: www.Hempitecture.com Click here to learn more about our nonprofit: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

This week we sit down with Frank Niepold, the Senior Climate Education Program Coordinator and Manager at NOAA's Climate Program Office! That's a long title to say that Frank collaborates with organizations and NOAA offices all across the country to get engaging and cutting edge climate education activities into the hands of educators. He believes that the grand task of our time is for humans to learn how to live sustainable lives on our planet, and that the best way to make that happen is by fostering a community from all sectors that can come together as one! Listen in to hear more about NOAA's role in preparing our country to address climate change. If you'd like to check out NOAA's Climate Program Office, click here: https://cpo.noaa.gov/ If you'd like to check out Saiarchana's episode, click here: Episode 73

As western wolf populations continue to grow, so too does the number of livestock being predated upon by those wolves. That's where Daniel Curry comes in! He spends his days on horseback in the wilds of northeast Washington, minimizing interactions between cattle and reintroduced grey wolves! When he's not out range-riding he's building relationships between ranchers and wolf conservationists, bringing both sides of the debate together to find better solutions for everyone involved. To learn more about the film Range Rider, click here: http://www.wildconfluence.com/range-rider To learn more about Daniel's business, click here: www.griphs.com To learn more about our nonprofit, click here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com

This week we sit down with Molly Kawahata, a former climate advisor to the White House, to discuss the ways in which we talk about the climate crisis. Focusing on the doom and gloom of it all has a paralyzing effect, making it harder for people to take action, but providing a message of hope is energizing and spurs people to push for critical systemic change! Listen in to hear the role that positive messaging plays in the Patagonia documentary The Scale of Hope, which tells the story of Molly's experience as a smooth water ice climber in the Alaskan Range!  To learn more about Molly, visit her website: www.MollyKawahata.com To view the film The Scale of Hope, click here: TinyLink To learn more about our nonprofit, click here: www.LastChanceEndeavors.com