In Our Backyard Podcast

22. Beyond the Reference Man: Generational Risks of Radiation Exposure

Today on the podcast, we’re joined by Mary Olson, Executive Director of the Generational Radiation Impact Project, or GRIP,  an organization dedicated to understanding and addressing how radiation exposure affects people differently across age, sex, and generation. Mary has been a longtime advocate for more equitable and science-based radiation protection standards. Her work highlights something too often overlooked in nuclear policy: the fact that our current regulations are based on a so-called “reference man” ,an adult male model that doesn’t reflect the biological realities of women, children, or future generations. In our conversation, we explore why GRIP was founded and what its mission is, how scientific understanding of radiation’s impacts has evolved, and why the focus on “generational”matters now more than ever, 80 years after the first use of nuclear weapons. We also talk about what’s changed since we last spoke in 2020: new findings, new allies in science and policy, and what gives Mary hope that we can move toward a more inclusive, protective approach to radiation standards that safeguards everyone.

21. Seeds of Change: Empowering the Next Wave of Climate Leaders

Today, we’re joined by Mona Shomali, Director of the New Leaders Initiative at the Earth Island Institute,  the organization behind the annual Brower Youth Awards, which recognize some of the most inspiring young environmental leaders in North America. Earth Island Institute is a hub for grassroots environmental projects around the world, and the New Leaders Initiative focuses specifically on elevating youth leadership in the fight for climate justice. In this episode, Mona walks us through the legacy of Earth Island founder David Brower, why young people between 13 and 22 are at the forefront of transformational change, and how the environmental movement has evolved and must continue to evolve to support their leadership. We also talk about the behind-the-scenes support systems that sustain these youth leaders year-round, how the Brower Youth Awards have changed since their founding in 2000, and how Mona’s own journey including her work in the Amazon has informed her work in climate storytelling. New Leaders Initiative https://www.broweryouthawards.org/about/ [https://www.broweryouthawards.org/about/]  Water Mamas book: https://www.amazon.com/Water-Mamas-Climate-Spirituality-Indigenous/dp/B0FR3LRTFV

20. Sowing Justice and the Fight for Energy Equity in Memphis

Today, we’re joined by Marquita Bradshaw who is an environmental justice organizer, community advocate, and Executive Director of Sowing Justice. Marquita made history as the first African American woman to win a major party nomination for the U.S. Senate in Tennessee, all while using a traditional grassroots organizing model. After that groundbreaking campaign, she founded Sowing Justice,  a nonprofit focused on building power in communities long ignored or harmed by environmental injustice, especially in the Deep South. In this episode, we talk about injustices in Tennessee, the Elon Musk data centers in Memphis, and the growing fight against TVA’s planned methane gas expansion. From leaking pipelines to regulatory loopholes, we dig into how this public utility’s choices are shaping the lives and futures of people across the Tennessee Valley. Contact and connect: https://www.sowingjustice.org/ [https://www.sowingjustice.org/]  https://cleanenergy.org/news/tvas-methane-gas-expansion-is-a-bad-deal-for-memphis/ [https://cleanenergy.org/news/tvas-methane-gas-expansion-is-a-bad-deal-for-memphis/]

19. Faith, Food, and the Future: Sustainability with Purpose at Sustaining Way

Today, we're joined by Michael Brown, Executive Director of Sustaining Way, a nonprofit based in Greenville, South Carolina, that’s redefining sustainability through equity, education, and faith.  Through powerful community programs like Annie’s House, youth leadership initiatives, and resilient home interventions, Sustaining Way brings together environmental justice, interfaith values, and hands-on action. I’m excited to dive into how they’re creating a more sustainable and just future. hello@sustainingway.com [hello@sustainingway.com] https://sustainingway.org/

18. Storm Damage: How Insurance Companies Fuel the Climate Crisis

Today, we’re diving into a crisis that’s hitting close to home for many North Carolinians, one that sits at the intersection of climate change, corporate accountability, and financial survival: the insurance crisis unfolding in the wake of Hurricane Helene. I talk with Charles Slidders, Senior Attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law, or CIEL. Charles is a legal expert working on the front lines of climate justice and he’s co-author of a powerful new analysis that reveals a troubling pattern: insurance companies are helping finance the very fossil fuel projects that are driving extreme weather… and then turning around to hike rates or drop coverage when those disasters strike. When Hurricane Helene tore through the Carolinas, it didn’t just knock down trees or flood neighborhoods, it tore the lid off something deeper. It showed just how shaky our financial systems really are, especially when it comes to insurance. As the state works to recover, one thing’s clear: it’s not a matter of if another storm will hit, it’s whether we’ll be prepared when it does. Contact and connect with Charles: https://www.ciel.org/