SSDN‘s Green Minds

Green Minds Ep. 36: Mobility in the Southeast: Making Transportation Safe and People First

Celebrate Mobility Month this May as host Mika Gadsden, Director of Sustainability for Charleston, South Carolina, interviews Executive Director Katie Zimmerman and Director of Programming Savannah Brennan with Charleston Moves about local mobility efforts. #biking #charlestonmoves

Green Minds Ep. 35: Sustainability and Mental Health: Supporting our Communities and Ourselves

This Earth Month, we explore the connection between sustainability work and mental health. Host Jessica Reid is joined by two guests bringing complementary perspectives. Ashley Stokes, who currently works for the Seminole Tribe of Florida and is the creator of the documentary Good Natured, discusses the role of storytelling in helping people process climate emotions and move toward action. Sarah Sterzing of Keep Norfolk Beautiful shares how her background in social work informs a trauma-informed approach to sustainability.  Together, this conversation offers practical insights and reflections for those working in climate and sustainability, especially those navigating the emotional weight of the work.  Watch Good Natured [https://www.wedu.org/shows/good-natured/]  Check out this article [https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/06/a-lifesaving-lesson-for-climate-activists-you-deserve-support-too] that some of our SSDN members enjoyed, inspiring this episode.

Green Minds Ep. 34: Storm Resilience with Environmental Journalist Mark Schleifstein

🎙️ March Green Minds Podcast Coral Gables Sustainability Supervisor Diego J. Cancel and SSDN member sits down with Pulitzer Prize winning environmental journalist Mark Schleifstein to discuss climate and resilience to major storm events.   #GreenMindsPodcast #SSDN #Louisiana #resilience

Green Minds Ep. 33: Turning Glass into Sand

🎙️ February Green Minds Podcast Got glass? Get sand.   Osceola County, Florida, is doing something unique with their recycling program. They are turning their glass into sand.  Explore the topic with Dr. Shaleen Miller in our latest Green Minds podcast edition, featuring Paul Conover, Sustainability Project Manager and Nicole Enverga, Sustainability Program Specialist.  #GreenMindsPodcast #LocalSustainability #GlassRecycling #SSDN

Green Minds Ep. 32: One Year In: Why Local Sustainability Needs Strong Networks

🎙️ January Green Minds Podcast This month’s episode of Green Minds features a conversation with Rob Phocas, SSDN’s new Executive Director. Rob shares with host Dr. Shaleen Miller why he’s excited to be back with SSDN at a pivotal moment, what it’s been like to see the network grow into its first year as a nonprofit, and why peer networks are essential for sustainability professionals working at the local level. We also talk about what makes a network work — what SSDN needs from participants, why showing up matters, and how shared learning and collaboration help move projects forward faster and with greater impact. If you work in or alongside local government and are looking for connection, practical support, and a community that understands the realities of this work, this episode is for you. #GreenMindsPodcast #LocalSustainability #ClimateLeadership #PeerLearning #SSDN