Connecting Communities and Science: Insights from Dr. Valerie Johnson & Dr. Brian McAdoo

Extreme Heat: Humidity, Hot Nights, and Staying Safe w/Ashley Ward

Michelle talks to Ashley Ward, director of Duke University’s Heat Policy Innovation Hub, to discuss why extreme heat has been overlooked and how it is changing, especially in the Southeast. Explore Ashley Ward’s work at Duke’s Heat Policy Innovation Hub and push local leaders and organizations to prioritize heat safety, affordability, and infrastructure resilience now. 03:07 How Ashley Got Into Heat 07:36 Why Heat Gets Ignored 28:11 Staying Cool Without AC 34:12 Finding Hope and Momentum 37:05 Infrastructure Under Heat Stress 40:25 More Heat Songs and Climate Stick ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Plant Swaps, Native Plants & Climate Hope with Amberly Dyer

Host Michelle Lewis interviews Amberly Dyer of the Rodanthe Waves and Salvo Civic Association about their fourth annual Earth Day event in Rodanthe, which began as a free, neighbor-connecting plant swap tied to litter pickup and has grown to include live music, community organizations, master gardeners, native plant giveaways from a regional grower, and a low-cost raffle—while avoiding vendors to keep it pressure-free. They discuss gardening successes and frustrations (herbs, tomatoes, eggplant, okra, cold-weather crops, companion planting, and pests), the value of simple, consistent community engagement beyond social media, and how gardens help build relationships and shared leadership for longevity. Amberly shares that people—especially young people—give her hope, and she would use a “climate stick” to push better solutions for the power and water impacts of large data/AI centers on marginalized communities. Website: rwscivicassociation.org. 00:00 Meet Amberly Dyer 01:40 Why an Earth Day Event 03:44 Plant Swap and Gardening 04:50 Cold Crops and Garden Hacks 06:56 Favorite Plants and Pest Battles 10:03 Community Engagement Advice 12:30 Gardens Build Community 16:45 Growing Earth Day Bigger 17:34 Native Plants and Local Partners 19:32 When Events Really Connect 21:07 Start Local Gatherings 25:20 Herbs And Gut Health 27:21 Heat Tolerant Varieties 29:23 Container Gardening Basics 33:26 Earth Day Every Day 35:16 Climate Stick Data Centers ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Building Community & Growing Food w/ Sherryl Durrant

Host Michelle Lewis talks with Sherryl Durrant, resident garden manager and community lead at Kelly Street Garden in the South Bronx, about her shift from corporate work to nearly 20 years in community gardening after the 2008 economic collapse and training at Farm School NYC. Sherryl describes Kelly Street Garden’s history tied to housing activism after the “decade of fire,” its small 8,000-square-foot footprint, and its programming around culturally relevant food, health, education, art, and mental wellness. She emphasizes learning from community knowledge, the politics of poverty, and practical advice for new growers—volunteer, learn from elders, and follow seasonal timing. They discuss youth transformation through gardening, collaborative growing that increased harvests from about 600 to nearly 1,800 pounds, a community apothecary of herbs, and Sherryl’s hope in collective community, plus her “climate wand” vision for greener, more livable cities. 01:28 From Corporate to Soil 04:23 Kelly Street Garden Origins 12:01 Advice for New Growers 15:28 Youth Transformation and STEM 20:02 Okra Love and Food Culture 20:50 Finding Hope in Community 23:21 Growing Together and Big Harvests 25:52 Climate Stick ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Aisha Ellis on Food Sovereignty, and Growing Hope in Detroit

Host Michelle Lewis interviews Aisha Ellis on Finding Hope in the Climate Crisis about D-Town Farm, an extension of the Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network and a seven-acre urban farm in Detroit’s River Rouge Park operating on long-term city leases and farming about 2.5 acres since acquiring the former Meyers Nursery land in 2008. Ellis shares how concern about GMOs and feeding her young son led her to growing, and how she joined D-Town Farm through a 2013 internship after working as a dance teacher. She describes her start in the Food Warriors afterschool gardening program, teaching children to grow and taste fresh produce while learning how advertising shapes unhealthy food choices. Ellis frames farming as purpose, stewardship, and resistance, discusses challenges like pests, limited staff and reliance on volunteers, and highlights beehives, senior food distribution, a Harvest Festival around the equinox, and dbcfsn.org. She concludes with a “climate stick” vision of protecting a clean, healthy climate for everyone. 00:00 Welcome and Retreat Meet 01:16 D Town Farm Origins 02:49 Aisha Starts Growing 05:54 Food Warriors Kids Program 11:18 Why Farming Matters 13:13 Heat Waves and Harvest Joy 16:12 Favorite Crops and Pests 21:36 Volunteers and Farm Operations 23:37 Advice for New Growers 25:26 D Town Events and Support 27:27 Climate Stick Vision 28:57 Closing Thanks and Goodbye ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Invisible Mammal: A Filmmaker's Journey to Bat Conservation

In this episode of 'Finding Hope in the Climate Crisis,' host Michelle Lewis interviews filmmaker Kristen Tièche about her film 'The Invisible Mammal,' which explores the lives of bats and the devastating impact of white nose syndrome. Kristen shares her journey from discovering bats as a graduate student to making a film aimed at raising awareness and love for these misunderstood creatures. The discussion covers the ecological importance of bats, the challenges they face from diseases and environmental changes, and the innovative conservation efforts like 'Operation Fat Bat.' Kristen also highlights the importance of individual actions in community conservation efforts and how people can support and screen her film. The episode ends with a thought-provoking discussion on using a hypothetical 'climate stick' to encourage sustainable transportation. Be sure to visit www.obxeff.com for more information on the Outer Banks Environmental Film Festival. 00:36 Kristen's Journey to Filmmaking and Bats 02:38 The Impact of White Nose Syndrome 07:15 Raising Awareness and Love for Bats 09:26 Bats' Contributions to Ecosystems 13:41 Bat Rehabilitation and Conservation Efforts 25:14 Current and Future Projects 28:23 Finding Hope in the Climate Crisis 34:09 Conclusion and Where to Watch the Film ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.