Adapt: Climate Change and the Built Environment

Bridging the Gap: Finding Funds to Build (and Build Back) Better

Monika and Jessica talk to Abby Ross, the founder of The Resiliency Company, focused on helping communities adapt to climate risk. Abby has used her background as an entrepreneur and experience working with charitable giving to identify the funding gaps holding communities back from fully recovering from natural disasters and find ways to fund those gaps. The Resiliency Company mobilizes the funding, policies, and innovation required to shift markets and minds toward resiliency. Links and articles discussed on the show include the following: The Resiliency Company [https://resiliency.com/] The Epicenter [https://www.epicenterinsights.com/] The Resilient LA Delta Fund — Rebuilding with Resilience in LA [https://www.resilientlosangeles.com/fund] Home · Probable Futures [https://probablefutures.org/] Construction Costs for a Wildfire Resistant Home, California Edition [https://headwaterseconomics.org/wp-content/uploads/2022_HE_IBHS_WildfireConstruction.pdf] Case Study: Adapt [https://www.casestudyadapt.org/] Nature doesn't cause disasters, we do | PreventionWeb [https://www.preventionweb.net/news/nature-doesnt-cause-disasters-we-do]

Resilient Waterfronts: Designing for the Future

Dena Prastos, CEO and Founder of Indigo River Studios, joins Monika and Jessica to discuss waterfront resilience in NYC and beyond. Indigo River Studios is a women-owned design firm specializing in waterfront infrastructure, climate adaptation, and regulatory innovation. Dena is both a AIA licensed architect and civil engineer. She leads transformative public and private projects across New York and beyond, including work with NYCEDC, the Trust for Governors Island, and the Hudson River Park Trust. Dena chairs the NCARB Futures Collaborative, has served as a guest lecturer at Yale and Columbia, and was the lead author of the architectural chapters for NYC's first-ever Waterfront Code. Episode links: Indigo River Studios - https://indigoriver.com/ Case Study: Wildflower Studios - https://indigoriver.com/portfolio/wildflower-studios/ Book: What if we get it right? By Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/645855/what-if-we-get-it-right-by-ayana-elizabeth-johnson/

Messing with the Mississippi: Lessons Learned from the Great River

Monika and Jessica speak with Boyce Upholt, a writer and "nature critic," about his first book, The Great River: The Making and Unmaking of the Mississippi. They discuss the long history of American efforts to control and corral the Mississippi River, the engineering feats that have gone into that project, and some of the consequences of those actions. Links discussed in the show include: Boyce Upholt [https://www.boyceupholt.com/] The Great River a book by Boyce Upholt - Bookshop.org US [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-great-river-the-making-and-unmaking-of-the-mississippi-boyce-upholt/20610156?ean=9780393867879] Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane - Book Review by Bookishelf [https://www.bookishelf.com/is-a-river-alive-by-robert-macfarlane/] Ancient Courses: Harold Fisk's Meander Maps of the Mississippi River (1944) — The Public Domain Review [https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/maps-of-the-lower-mississippi-harold-fisk/] America's Achilles' Heel: the Mississippi River's Old River Control Structure | Weather Underground [https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/Americas-Achilles-Heel-Mississippi-Rivers-Old-River-Control-Structure] Natural Solutions for Mississippi River Flooding [https://www.nature.org/en-us/magazine/magazine-articles/reduce-mississippi-river-flooding/] Flood: How climate change is making extreme rain more frequent and dangerous. [https://slate.com/business/2025/07/texas-hill-country-nyc-flood-risks-extreme-weather-climate-change.html]

Future-Proofing Business: The Chamber's Work on Climate Resilience

Monika Serrano and Jessica Mederson speak with Chuck Chaitovitz, Vice President for environmental affairs and sustainability [https://www.uschamber.com/environmental-affairs-and-sustainability] at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. They discuss the work being done by the Chamber as well as the Chamber's foundation to help businesses improve resiliency in the face of climate change. Chuck brings to the Chamber twenty-five years of experience focused on environment and energy issues, working with companies on strategies to improve their bottom line and competitive positioning. At the Chamber, Chaitovitz is launching a new environment and sustainability capability to give businesses the tools they need to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change. Episode links: Building Resilience Conference | U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation [https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/event-series/building-resilience-conference] The Economic Benefits of Investing in Climate Resilience | U.S. Chamber of Commerce [https://www.uschamber.com/security/the-preparedness-payoff-the-economic-benefits-of-investing-in-climate-resilience] Coalition Letter on 2025 Resilience and Preparedness Priorities | U.S. Chamber of Commerce [https://www.uschamber.com/security/coalition-letter-on-2025-resilience-and-preparedness-priorities]

Healthy Buildings, Smarter Leases: Climate Law in Action

Nicole DeNamur joins the podcast this week, along with co-hosts Jessica Mederson and Monika Serrano, they talk about emerging state and city climate-related laws, climate-aligned contracts and leases, and how they intersect with issues like water shortages, indoor air quality, occupant health and other climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. Nicole DeNamur (she/her), J.D., Hon. AIA, WELL AP, LFA, Fitwel Ambassador, LEED Green Associate, is the founder of Climate Aligned Law, a climate-focused law firm, and Sustainable Strategies, a consulting firm dedicated to creating healthy, inclusive spaces through sustainability. With over a decade of experience litigating construction and insurance matters, Nicole brings a rare combination of legal expertise and deep knowledge of the real estate and sustainability sectors. She helps clients navigate building performance standards, draft climate-aligned contracts and leases, and develop practical, risk-aware solutions that support ESG goals. Nicole also teaches sustainable development at the University of Washington and environmental health at the Boston Architectural College. She has been recognized as an Honorary Member of the American Institute of Architects (Seattle, 2021), named Educator of the Year by the International WELL Building Institute (2022), and honored as an Outstanding Voice of Pride by the Puget Sound Business Journal (2023). Episode links: The Chancery Lane Project: https://chancerylaneproject.org/ [https://chancerylaneproject.org/] Responsible Contracting Project: https://www.responsiblecontracting.org/ [https://www.responsiblecontracting.org/] COGFx Study: https://thecogfxstudy.com/ [https://thecogfxstudy.com/] WELL Building Standard: https://www.wellcertified.com/ [https://www.wellcertified.com/] Healthy Buildings book: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674278363 [https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674278363] There are no accidents book - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/There-Are-No-Accidents/Jessie-Singer/9781982129682 [https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/There-Are-No-Accidents/Jessie-Singer/9781982129682]