The Joy Report - Intersectional Environmentalist

Episodes

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  Eco-Mindfulness and the Spring Equinox with Astrologer, Jessica Lanyadoo 18.03.2026 1h 3m

  In this episode of The Joy Report, host Arielle V. King sits down with Jessica Lanyadoo, astrologer, psychic medium, and animal communicator, to explore the spring equinox as a portal for renewal, intentional living, and values-aligned action.Resources MentionedGhost of a Podcast (Jessica's podcast) — https://www.lovelanyadoo.com/ghost-of-a-podcastAstrology for Real Relationships by Jessica Lanyadoo — https://www.lovelanyadoo.comMeditations for Your Sign (audiobook by Jessica Lanyadoo) — https://www.audible.comTiny Spark (free iOS app by Jessica Lanyadoo) — https://www.lovelanyadoo.comFree birth chart tool — https://www.lovelanyadoo.comClasses & webinars — https://www.lovelanyadoo.com/shopFollow The Joy Report & Intersectional Environmentalist:Instagram: @intersectionalenvironmentalist — https://www.instagram.com/intersectionalenvironmentalistYouTube: Intersectional Environmentalist — https://www.youtube.com/@intersectionalenvironmentalistSubstack: Intersectional Environmentalist — https://intersectionalenvironmentalist.substack.com00:00 Welcome to The Joy Report01:15 How Jessica sustains her joy: trees, roots & community03:00 What is humanistic astrology?05:00 Astrology as a tool: constructive, destructive, and in between07:00 Psychic medium & animal communicator: how Jessica discovered her gifts11:00 What drew Jessica to astrology as a child13:00 Helping people cultivate emotional intelligence16:30 Being well-resourced allows you to see the world as it is — and not look away18:30 Climate optimism, radical imagination & staying in movements20:30 What astrology can teach us about the earth and the seasons23:30 What is the spring equinox?25:30 The equinox chart: Neptune, Saturn & the astrology of 202627:30 Venus, Moon & Chiron in Aries: getting into right relationship with your values28:30 Spring equinox rituals & practices (candle work + journaling)32:00 How to discover your values if you feel lost or uncertain35:00 What the collective may be feeling around the equinox37:30 Pluto out of bounds & the call to build community40:00 Grace, imperfection & staying in the work41:30 Love is a value — and it's fierce43:00 Neptune enters Aries: a once-in-165-years transit45:00 Values vs. ideals: lampposts and stars47:00 Truth, toxic individualism & living amends50:00 Fire + air = more fire: grounding as the antidote51:30 About Ghost of a Podcast53:30 Astrology for Real Relationships & Meditations for Your Sign55:30 Where to find Jessica online56:30 Jessica's recent joy: meeting her first witch hazel tree01:01:00 Arielle's recent joy: officiating her best friend's wedding01:02:00 Closing reflection & call to action
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  Education as a Climate Solution with Brittany Jefferson (EJEDU) 04.03.2026 50m

  In this episode of The Joy Report, host Arielle V. King sits down with Brittany Jefferson, an LA-based classroom educator and the teacher behind EJEDU (Environmental Justice Education), to explore education as a powerful climate solution.Brittany shares how she developed her passion for environmental justice through her ancestral roots in the Seminole and Choctaw Tribal Nations, and how a single viewing of An Inconvenient Truth at age 18 helped her connect the dots between modern society and environmental harm. She walks us through how she built climate literacy into her fifth grade curriculum, weaving together history, science, and social studies, and how the convergence of COVID-19 and the racial justice uprisings of 2020 gave her the language to name the intersection of colonialism, capitalism, and the climate crisis.Together, Arielle and Brittany discuss the importance of justice-centered climate literacy, social and emotional learning, the ongoing literacy crisis in U.S. public schools, the impact of ICE raids on school communities, and why civic engagement, including understanding the Constitution, is an essential part of environmental education. Brittany also shares why she's celebrating community wins against AI data centers, and leaves us with a call to read more books, visit your local library, and find your own entry point into climate action.Resources Mentioned107 Days by Kamala Harris - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/107-Days/Kamala-Harris/9781668086803 An Inconvenient Truth (2006 documentary) - https://www.algore.com/library/an-inconvenient-truth-film All We Can Save by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katharine K. Wilkinson - https://www.allwecansave.earth Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, writer, marine biologist, and policy expert - https://www.ayanaelizabeth.com Paradise on Fire by Jewell Parker Rhodes (novel) - https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jewell-parker-rhodes/paradise-on-fire/9780316458474/ NAACP Climate & Environmental Justice Program - https://naacp.org/campaigns/environmental-climate-justice Catherine Jejo, climate journalist & newsletter writer (search her newsletter for the latest)The 17 Principles of Environmental JusticeWays to Stay ConnectedBrittany Jefferson / EJEDU:Instagram: @britt.theejeducator - https://www.instagram.com/britt.theejeducatorPatreon: patreon.com/theejeducator Follow The Joy Report & Intersectional Environmentalist:Instagram: @intersectionalenvironmentalistYouTube: Intersectional EnvironmentalistSubstack: Intersectional Environmentalist00:00 Welcome to Joy Report01:24 Joy rituals and reading03:23 History and identity05:12 Black teachers and belonging07:02 What is EJEDU08:19 Ancestral roots in nature10:38 Finding environmental justice14:03 Teaching climate in class16:43 Student stories and books20:18 Defining climate literacy22:48 Censorship and priorities25:25 A climate literate future26:46 Renewables Everywhere27:29 Constitution and Climate Civics31:24 Social Emotional Learning Basics32:49 SEL in the Classroom35:58 ICE Presence and Student Safety38:27 The Literacy Crisis Explained45:11 Adult Climate Action Steps47:27 Resources and Where to Follow48:32 Wins Against Data Centers49:56 Closing Thanks and Call to Action
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  The Black Voices You Didn’t Expect To Be Climate Justice Advocates with Dr. Margot Brown of EDF 18.02.2026 1h 2m

  In this episode, host Arielle V. King sits down with Dr. Margot Brown, The Environmental Defense Fund’s Senior Vice President for Justice and Equity, to talk about the enduring legacies and stories of Black people throughout history whose work helped propel the environmental justice movement forward, even before the traditional movement began.You can find out more on Dr. Margot Brown and the Environmental Defense Fund by going to their website www.edf.org or following them on social media @brown_margot @environmental_defense_fundReferenced in episode:Fannie Lou HamerBill Clinton's EJ Executive OrderHazel M. Johnson's Story- People for Community RecoveryPeggy Sheppard's org, WeActDr. Beverly Wright's org, Deep South Center for EJVernice Miller Travis at Metropolitan GroupSharon Levine's org, Rise St. James17 Principles of Environmental Justice Toxics Waste and Race Report (1987) @ 55:45 Dumping in Dixie: Race, Class, and Environmental Quality book @ 56:36 Maya Angelou's Still I Rise poem @ 58:07Alvin Ailey's Revelations: videoAdditional resources:• It’s time for Environmental Studies to own up to Erasing Black People (Vice)• The 1619 Project (The New York Times)• Why Every Environmentalist Should be Anti-Racist (Vogue)• A Terrible Thing to Waste: Environmental Racism and the Assault on the American Mind by Harriet A. Washington• Before the Street Lights Come On: Black America’s Urgent Call for Climate Solutions by Heather McTeer Toney• Black Earth Wisdom: Soulful Conversations with Black Environmentalists by Leah Penniman•Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors by Carolyn Finney• From the Ground Up: Environmental Racism and the Rise of the Environmental Justice Movement by Luke Cole and Sheila Foster• The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein  To stay connected, follow IE on Instagram @intersectionalenvironmentalist, Substack @intersectionalenvironmentalist , and YouTube @IntersectionalEnvironmentalist If you have topics you would like to hear explored or guests you think should be featured on The Joy Report, please DM us @intersectionalenvironmentalist on Instagram, or send an email to [email protected] with “TJR Submission” as the subject line.Thank you!
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  How to Fight the Dirty Data Centers with Environmental Director for the NAACP, Abre' Conner 04.02.2026 40m

  In this episode, host Arielle V. King sits down with Director of the Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, NAACP, Abre’ Conner,  to discuss the growing threat of data centers and their impact on vulnerable communities. Together, they explore how grassroots organizations are pushing back and demanding equal enforcement, regulation, and environmental protection.
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  AI & the Climate Crisis: Promise, Pitfalls, and What Comes Next with Dylan Baker of DAIR Institute 21.01.2026 27m

  In this episode, we're diving into the world of artificial intelligence or AI exploring the present and future impacts this technology has on people and the planet. The topic of AI is unavoidable in our current world and political landscape, and we want to take a moment to acknowledge the people and institutions working towards creating more equitable outcomes using AI and other machine learning technologies.Dylan is the lead research engineer at DAIR Institute, an independent organization of globally distributed academics, activists, and engineers who conduct community-rooted research and believe in technology that benefits everyone.Follow Dylan to keep up with their Possible Futures workshops.https://dylanbaker.com/Bluesky: dylnbkrMastodon: @[email protected] Futures socials:ig: dair.futuresbluesky: dairfuturesSome referenced materials from the episode:Empire of AI: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/743569/empire-of-ai-by-karen-hao/Dr. Keolu Fox: https://anthropology.ucsd.edu/people/faculty/faculty-profiles/Keolu%20Fox.html
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  The Joy Report 2026 Trailer 14.01.2026 2m

  the Joy Report 2026 is coming...
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  Live at NYC Climate Week: Seaweed Solutions 19.11.2025 47m

  In this episode, host Arielle V. King sits down with Alexis Nikole aka @blackforager and Nicholas Kee of @keefarmshq to explore seaweed as a regenerative solution and imagine what a thriving future looks like for people and the planet!  
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  From Charity to Solidarity: How Communities are Reshaping CSR 24.04.2025 25m

  Our current political climate has shown us (yet again) that philanthropy isn’t built on enduring and sustainable principles. Corporate Social Philanthropy (CSR) initiatives— historically notorious for PR stunts— are facing philanthropic accountability for things like white saviorism and initiatives that don’t adequately advocate for and support local communities. Yet the role of philanthropy is more vital than ever, given federal funding cuts for community organizations. We find ourselves in a precarious and liminal time, and this moment offers us an opportunity to reimagine CSR initiatives that work for both this point in time and the future. In this episode, we explore what environmental CSR beyond conservation looks like, and how companies can more effectively build relationships with and support grassroots communities and organizations working to protect people and the planet.Access the full script and show notes on our Substack HERE🗣️ Hosted by @ariellevking🌐 Scripted + Researched by Marisa Orozco🦋 Audio Engineering + Music by @awesomenostalgia🌿 Graphic Design by @enzo.enez🍄 Produced by @diandramarizet + @sustainablesabs🤎 Sponsored by @keen
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  The Environmental Legal Wins Bringing Us Hope 13.03.2025 25m

  In this episode, we explore the environmental legal wins and resources keeping us hopeful. Learn what keeps us hopeful amidst the start of a new Presidential administration, how young people are creating pathways for environmental success through the courts, and ways we can all stay involved in the fight to protect people and the planet. Laws are certainly not the only climate solution, but they are one of the many tools we have at our disposal to help create a better world. Tune in to explore how radical imagination is propelling new solutions in the courts and through legislation. Hosted, Scripted + Researched by @ariellevkingAudio Engineering + Music by @awesomenostalgiaProduced by @diandramarizet + @sustainablesabsGraphic Design by @enzo.enezSponsored by @earthjustice
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  The Growing Movement for Regenerative Ocean Agriculture 19.02.2025 21m

  In this episode of The Joy Report, we dive deep into the different innovations that have emerged from the ocean justice movement. Learn why regenerative ocean farming is a climate solution that already exists, and meet the individuals and organizations that are reimagining our relationship to the sea. From online resources that promote sustainably sourced seafood to seaweed textiles, we explore the various ways people are taking action to protect our beloved ocean.Hosted by @ariellevking, Script by Marisa Orozco, Research by Marisa Orozco, + @ariellevkingAudio Engineering + Music by @awesomenostalgia, Produced by @diandramarizet + @sustainablesabs, This episode is sponsored by @montereybayaquariumVisit https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/together to join the Aquarium and learn more about how you can help protect the ocean for generations to come.Please visit https://intersectionalenvironmentalist.com/the-joy-report for show notes and a full episode transcript.
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  Coastal Communities are Making Waves in Ocean Conservation 28.01.2025 23m

  In this episode of The Joy Report, we dive deep into ocean conservation and the emerging movement for ocean justice. Learn why oceans have been overlooked in climate solutions, how they are a powerful tool in fighting climate change, and meet the leaders reimagining our relationship with the sea. From the Blue New Deal to Indigenous wisdom, we explore how protecting our oceans can pave the way for a just, equitable, and sustainable future. Please visit intersectionalenvironmentalist.com/podcast for this episode's transcript. Hosted by @ariellevking Script by Marisa OrozcoResearch by Marisa Orozco, @ariellevking + @diandramarizet Audio Engineering + Music by @awesomenostalgia Produced by @diandramarizet + @sustainablesabsThis episode is sponsored by @montereybayaquarium
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  These Brands and Leaders Are Championing A Circular Economy 20.11.2024 25m

  Circular fashion offers a massive opportunity for both brands and consumers to build a world where ethical and sustainable practices are a given. What if it was standard for brands to examine the entire life-span of the clothes they make — from the quality of fabrics to the durability of garments long after they leave the stores? In this episode, we highlight the brands and consumers leading the movement toward radically reimagining the fashion industry and our relationship to clothing using circular models. Hosted by @ariellevking Script by Marisa OrozcoResearch by Marisa Orozco, @ariellevking + @diandramarizet Audio Engineering + Music by @awesomenostalgia Produced by @diandramarizet + @sustainablesabsThis episode is sponsored by @keen
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  Reimagining Funding for Climate Justice: Beyond the IRA 22.05.2024 30m

  The Inflation Reduction Act, which passed on August 2022, is one of the most significant pieces of legislation that US Congress has taken on behalf of clean energy and climate change. But what is it, and how exactly is it supporting the work of grassroots organizations - if at all? In this episode, we’re taking a magnifying lens to the Act and other funding mechanisms to see where the billions of dollars are being allocated, the emerging solutions we’re seeing in funding climate justice work, and where we go from here.
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  Community, Culture + Craftsmanship: Reclaiming Conscious Consumerism 09.05.2024 26m

  How are communities leading the shift towards sustainable consumption habits, and how are brands responding? Many of us want to care for items long and support brands with ethical practices and repair programs, but what communal systems exist to support us in that journey? In this episode we learn more about the re-emergence of sustainable community culture to combat our devastating waste systems and how it’s being driven by local organizers and shop-keepers that are making the art of mending cool again.
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  Building a PFAS-free future 25.04.2024 24m

  How exactly do PFAs impact people + planet? Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAs for short, are harmful forever chemicals found in consumer, commercial, and industrial products. In this episode, we’ll explore what PFAs are + what scientists, environmentalists + retailers are doing to remove them from our environment. And we’ll learn from Maine Farmland Trust - a nonprofit supporting Maine farms impacted by PFAS and advocating for agricultural policy & research to address the PFAS challenge nationwide.
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  The Joy Report Season 2 is Here 22.04.2024 2m

  Welcome back to the Joy Report, a podcast dedicated to sharing stories about climate solutions and environmental justice grounded in intersectionality and optimism. In this upcoming season, we’ll be exploring a wide range of topics— from conscious consumption and microplastics to funding for climate justice— while featuring success stories that can help us turn our feelings of climate doom and despair into climate optimism.
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  Intersectional Education: Overcoming Book Bans 08.12.2022 29m

  On this episode of The Joy Report, we’re discussing books and the ongoing fight for truth and inclusion in education, publishing, and storytelling.   Episode Transcript“Welcome to The Joy Report, a podcast dedicated to sharing stories about climate solutions and environmental justice grounded in intersectionality and optimism. Tune in to hear updates on all things climate, social, and environmental justice explained in a succinct and accessible way by me, Arielle King, an environmental justice advocate and attorney passionate about environmental education. The goal of this podcast is to give you the tools you need to stay informed and take action to protect the planet.”Episode Agenda:In this special episode, we’re talking all about books and the ongoing fight for truth and inclusion in education, publishing, and storytelling.Topic Background InfoScience fiction writer Isaac Asimov once said, “any book worth banning is a book worth reading.” So why have more than two thousand five hundred book bans been enacted from July 2021 to June 2022 in 138 school districts throughout 32 states? During this short timeframe more than sixteen hundred titles have been removed from school libraries and one clear theme and rationale has arisen: these books are predominantly written by and about the lives and experiences of diverse, but particularly historically marginalized, people. In fact, 4 out of 10 banned books analyzed by PEN America had LGBTQ+ characters or themes, and 4 out of 10 had protagonists or characters of color.Unfortunately, this wave of limiting students’ ability to think critically, freely, and with a heart open to difference is not new. Book banning is the most widespread form of censorship in the United States, and the practice began in the 17th century.Children’s literature is often the primary target of censorship, prompted by the fear that young people’s impressionable minds will be improperly influenced by a book’s contents. Today, many people opposing book bans believe that teaching a more inclusive history actually harms students.Lately, much of the controversy has centered on a framework called Critical Race Theory, coined by the prolific legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw, who also coined and popularized the term Intersectionality. Critical Race Theory has been used as a catch-all for wokeness, political correctness, and leftist-indoctrination. Some other prominent reasons for challenges and bans across the country include non-traditional values, LGBTQIA+ content, indoctrinating kids, anti-police sentiments, promoting a homosexual lifestyle, white privilege, and more.So how does book banning actually work? Generally, a book must be challenged before it is considered for banning. The initiator of the challenge must read the whole book, fill out a challenge form and explain why, how, and where in the book the offensive material takes place, and finally present a case in a hearing. From there a decision will be made on what action should be taken, with options ranging from complete removal from the library, thus completely restricting access from students, or diminished access to a book through relocation of the book to a different section of the library or the requirement of a signed permission slip from a parent or guardian before a student can check a book out from the library.However, many book challenges come from individuals who have never actually read the books they want to be removed. Often excerpts from these texts are taken out of context to villainize the authors who wrote them and the teachers and librarians who share the books with young people. According to Penn America, almost 40% of the time parents initiate book challenges, and only about 1 percent are initiated by students.[Recording pulled from this clip at 00:35] “I think those books… I don’t want to even see them. I think they should be thrown in a fire.” “Just cooperate with me, I’m sure I’ve got other colleagues here, I’m sure we’ve got hundreds of people out there who would like to see those books before we burn ‘em. Just so we can identify within our community that we are eradicating this bad stuff.”The voices you just heard were two members of the Spotsylvania, Virginia School Board discussing the removal, and even the potential burning, of any “sexually explicit” books from school libraries in the district. This uproar was spurred by a parent who was upset that her high school student was using their school library app to access and read what the parent called “LGBTQIA fiction”.Some of you might be wondering why we’re talking about books on The Joy Report. What do books have to do with climate justice and sustaining movements? And to that questions, I would challenge: what don’t books have to do with these things?[Recording pulled from this clip at 01:30] “It makes me furious that we, as a world, are prohibiting knowledge. How many of you have ever read the book The Giver before? It is a phenomenal  book, but that is not why we are talking about it. If we continue to pull books off the shelves, we are going to end up in a world like that, where we can only see things in shades of white, gray, and black, where every single person is the same. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to live in a world like that.”That was youth advocate McCartie McPadden during a youth TEDX talk in Fort Worth Texas, who makes abundantly clear that they do not want to live in a world with restrictions on knowledge.Regardless of where you live book bans impact us all. Censoring what and how people can learn limits the ways that we can interact and connect with one another. It limits our ability to envision a future— or present— beyond a straight, white, middle-class America. Limiting access to media increases division among those with different lived experiences because often books are a powerful means of connection. As people working toward a better world, we must recognize, honor, and uplift the voices of those most marginalized by society. Books written by these voices being ripped from library shelves can limit the ability of the next generation to understand difference and contribute to a more inclusive world. Now more than ever we need books written by these authors because we as a society have so much to learn from the rich, diverse perspectives of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other authors from from the global majority.Author Roxane Gay once said, “Salvation is certainly among the reasons I read. Reading and writing have always pulled me out of the darkest experiences in my life. Stories have given me a place in which to lose myself. They have allowed me to remember. They have allowed me to forget. They have allowed me to imagine different endings and better possible words.”I’m not sure there’s any better way to explain the value of books. This quote really leans into the idea of radical imagination that our last special episode was all about. If you haven’t listened to that one yet, I’d definitely encourage you to do so.Because we believe in radical imagination and ensuring that all voices are included in environmentalism, as an organization, Intersectional Environmentalist is continuing to amplify the voices of underrepresented voices in the environmental space and make environmental education more inclusive and accessible by gifting free books to our community. This year we launched a series of intimate music and educational events that serve as an entry point into the world of environmental justice called Earth Sessions. We had Earth Sessions shows in New York and California this year with more in the works for 2023 , and during these shows we started giving out free environmental and liberation-centered books by diverse authors to attendees.Fortunately IE is nowhere alone in this fight to work against censorship. Organizations and institutions are working against book bans all over the country, including in states where censorship is steadily increasing:Like the group of librarians in Texas, the state with the highest number of book bans nationally with over 800 bans in 22 different school districts from 2021-2022. These librarians invited families, authors, other librarians, teachers, students, and parents to come together to share and highlight the diverse books that bring them joy, and bring the support of readers to the attention of the Texas Legislature. The organization, called Freadom, now runs monthly campaigns to support the freedom of reading and resources for those interested in getting involved. In the show notes for this episode you can find the website they’ve created with templates and guides with resources for things like how to write a letter to the editor, how to speak at a school board meeting, how to start a local group to support school board races, and so much more.Diverse books also provide opportunities for adequate representation for students. Did you know that in an average classroom of 20, there are likely at least two kids who are trying to figure out their gender identity or sexual orientation? Pride and Less Prejudice is an organization that provides LGBTQ-inclusive books to Pre-K through 3rd-grade classrooms in North America to help students and teachers “Read out loud, read out proud.”In the three years that the organization has been around, they have helped educators create more inclusive learning environments by raising over one hundred thousand dollars to disseminate LGBTQ-inclusive books to over three thousand classrooms in the US and Canada. 44 different teaching guides to accompany the donated books have also been created, and the organization has held 10 professional development workshops to help more than 400 educators.Unsurprisingly libraries have been the biggest advocates against book bans, and all over the country librarians are going to great lengths to ensure that banned books remain on their shelves. You might even remember your local librarian, whether at school or in a local library, excitedly putting together the banned book exhibit each year. Banned Book Week, created by the American Library Association, has been bringing attention to school censorship for over three decades.Currently, over 25 organizations have partnered with the American Library Association for their Unite Against Book Bans campaign to empower individuals and communities to fight censorship and protect the freedom to read. This coalition of advocacy groups, education leaders, businesses, and civil rights groups all believe in the principles of reading as fundamental to learning, the right of leaders to access a variety of books, and the need to work together to protect that right.Through their Books UnBanned initiative, The Brooklyn Public Library now offers anyone ages 13-21 across the country unlimited access to the libraries eBook and audiobook collections, including banned titles. As of April, Scholastic, Hachette Book Group, and Macmillan Publishers have partnered with the New York Public Library to offer anyone in the country access to commonly banned books through a free e-reading app called SimplyE.And these aren’t the only places in New York where you can access to banned books and books from diverse authors.Featured Story:Did you know that during the 1970 and 80s there were woman-of-color-owned feminist bookstores and radical Black-owned bookstores throughout the United States? These bookstores not only served as places to preserve and support diverse literature, but the
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  Ecosystem Restoration + Mending Our Relationship with Nature 21.09.2022 28m

  On this episode of The Joy Report, we’re discussing ecosystem restoration and its importance in protecting and providing for people + balancing the earth’s natural resource cycles. Centuries of irresponsible human actions have caused massive-scale environmental degradation and biodiversity loss that is contributing to current environmental harm experienced by people and the planet. Ecosystem restoration work not only has the power to protect people and preserve our planet, but it has the potential to mend cultural and historical relationships with nature.This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guayaki Yerba Mate.   Episode Transcript“Welcome to The Joy Report, a podcast dedicated to sharing stories about climate solutions and environmental justice grounded in intersectionality and optimism. Tune in to hear updates on all things climate, social, and environmental justice explained in a succinct and accessible way by me, Arielle King, an environmental justice advocate and attorney passionate about environmental education. This podcast aims to give you the tools you need to stay informed and take action to protect the planet.”Episode AgendaIn this episode, we’re discussing ecosystem restoration and it’s role in protecting and providing for people and planet.This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guayaki Yerba Mate – yes the one in the yellow can & bottle! Guayaki is more than just a yerba mate brand - they're focused on personal, social, ecological and cultural regeneration through their commitment to regenerative practices, such as partnerships with Indigenous South American communities to grow yerba mate and steward rainforests. Yerba mate is a naturally caffeinated drink that comes in a variety of formats from loose leaf to cans to bottles. Guayaki’s mate is all organic, non-GMO and sure to make you come to life with all the goodness packed inside. Visit their website linked in this episode's show notes to learn more and find it near you.Topic Background InfoThere has never been a more crucial time to restore our ecosystems. Centuries of irresponsible human actions have caused massive-scale environmental degradation and biodiversity loss that is contributing to current environmental harm experienced by people and the planet. We are seeing this first hand all over the world, and those who have contributed least to the degradation— namely BIPOC, low-income, and other marginalized communities— are experiencing the impacts first and worst.Ecologists in the early 20th century believed that ecological harm could be reversed if harmful practices ended. However, by the 1960s, ecologists were beginning to write about the idea that an ecosystem can be so damaged that it loses the ability to repair itself. Decades later, the news and IPCC reports are making it very clear that we are very close to reaching that point, and with recent discoveries that rainwater is now unsafe to drink due to forever chemicals like PFAS, some might argue that we’re already there. That’s why we must prioritize the preservation and restoration of ecosystems that have been destroyed and can no longer regenerate themselves.So what is ecosystem restoration?Ecosystem restoration is the act of giving nature the ability to replenish the Earth. Our planet has the ability to heal itself and restore balance through the water, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles which distribute and balance essential nutrients to all living organisms. These complex, yet perfectly working cycles create the well-balanced ecosystems we live and thrive in. Native plants and animals, clean air, water, soil, and human respect for nature are all necessary components of a healthy ecosystem. Restoration aims to reintroduce these natural properties to ecosystems in order for the cycles to renew and self-regulate the environment. Human-caused environmental degradation in tandem with the removal of indigenous people upsets this balance to such a severe degree that ecosystems cannot restore equilibrium by themselves. The responsibility falls on humans to rectify the harm we’ve caused to nature and ultimately ourselves. The importance of ecosystem restoration not only amounts to beauty, it purifies the air we breath, the water we drink, the soil we grow our food from, and the relationship we have with nature.Those were the words of one of IE’s research fellows, Ramsey Elshiwick (rum-zee el-shu-wick).According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, ecosystem degradation can lead to more frequent and dramatic weather events, drinking water contamination, decreases in water availability and air quality, ocean pollution, an increase of disease in humans and animals, and loss in land productivity.In 2020, Project Drawdown released a report outlining actions that should be taken to effectively address climate change. Ecosystem restoration and preservation projects— like coastal wetland and tropical forest restoration, peatland protection, and restoring abandoned farmland— were very well represented on this list due to their ability to sequester carbon. But even without the current state of climate catastrophe we’re experiencing right now, there will always be a need for ecosystem restoration. Restoring our ecosystems can reverse air and water pollution, recover native biodiversity, preserve plant and animal species, balance the carbon cycle, increase access to green spaces, in addition to mitigating some of the impacts of climate change. Ecosystem restoration also gives us an opportunity to mend and deepen our relationship with the planet.Robin Wall Kimmerer once said, “repair of ecosystem structure and function alone is insufficient— restoration of a respectful, reciprocal relationship to the natural world is also essential for long term success. In many cases, it is not only the land that has been broken, it’s our relationship to the land that has been broken. So our work in restoration needs to heal that relationship, as well as the land.”California State University East Bay Associate Professor, Enrique Salmon explains it this way: [0:07- 0:57, https://youtu.be/8SFzfBgJOi8]. Professor Salmon has coined the term “kincentric ecology” [0:1:19-1:58, https://youtu.be/8SFzfBgJOi8]This concept emphasizes the fact that we as humans are keystone species to our environments. Our presence in nature significantly impacts the ecosystems of this world. Kincentric ecology can be a useful framework to understand our interconnected relationship to nature while highlighting the importance of climate justice and ecosystem restoration. To destroy nature is to destroy humanity. To restore it is to restore ourselves.Ecosystem restoration is more than just planting hundreds of trees and hoping that will save the world alone. We’ve tried that. Most tree planting efforts prioritize the number of seedlings planted over tree maintenance, biodiversity, and working with local communities.For example, in 1978 officials in China began a tree planting campaign to stop the rapid expansion of the Gobi Desert, which has become the fastest growing desert on Earth due to mass deforestation, overgrazing, and high winds that speed up erosion. The program, nicknamed the Great Green Wall, [aimed at planting trees along a 4,500 kilometer stretch](https://www.sciencenews.org/article/planting-trees-climate-change-carbon-capture-deforestation#:~:text=The concerns are myriad%3A There's,very different amounts of carbon.), has now involved millions of seedlings being hand planted and dropped from airplanes. A 2011 analysis showed that up to 85% of the plantings failed because the species of tree chosen were nonnative and couldn’t survive such an arid environment.This isn’t to deter people from planting trees, but to encourage that those who do, ensure the trees planted can thrive and contribute positively to the ecosystems they will now inhabit.Proper ecosystem restoration requires understanding the historical context of the landscape, knowing what plants and animals will thrive there, and engaging the people who live in the area.Restoration efforts that don’t incorporate community input have an increased likelihood of failure. That’s why organizations are beginning to take on restoration projects that actively engage local communities in all parts of the process. Community-based solutions not only produce the traditional benefits of ecosystem restoration projects, but also offer the ability to center indigenous traditional ecological knowledge, address economic wellbeing within the community, prioritize individual and community wellbeing, and contribute to community autonomy, stewardship, and self-determination.In Uganda, the International Union for Conservation of Nature is working in the eastern part of the country to enhance the resiliency of the lands and communities that depend on the lands for their livelihoods. This initiative is supporting farmer managed natural regeneration to implement forest landscape restoration. The program has trained local farmers and technical personnel in 3 districts to promote the regeneration of lands that had once been cleared for farming. Not only does this project help increase tree cover and biodiversity, but it allows residents to become active contributors to the ecosystem restoration.Author of Wild by Design: The Rise of Ecological Restoration and Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Williams College, Dr. Laura J. Martin explains that knowing the history of ecological restoration, its pitfalls and predecessors and how the past has led to where we are today, is powerful knowledge to have in order to empower people to become, what Martin calls, “agents of political change.”Ecosystem restoration brings back biodiversity and, if done right, has the potential to increase and evolve environmentalism to become more inclusive and intersectional.The future needs of ecological restoration work is not simply about a shift in technological measures and applications—it also calls for a necessary cultural shift. A shift in mindset and upliftment of women, LGBTQ+ people, BIPOC, youth, and ancestral/elder voices, needs, political power, and knowledge. Embedded within the need to restore ecosystems is the need to also address and rectify social imbalances and create a more equitable future for all. Currently, only about 30 percent of jobs in the restoration ecology field are held by women, and within that 30% women of color make up less than 25% of the workforce.As Indian scientist and ecological activist Vandana Shiva once said: [43:14-44:54, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soBLeuRGnSQEcosystem restoration must include all perspectives in order to be successful. As Indigi-queer land steward Tiffany Joseph explains: [4:55-5:35, https://youtu.be/iYUo2er-jdw ]Ecosystem restoration work not only has the power to protect and preserve our planet, but it has the potential to mend cultural and historical relationships with nature.In doing restor
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  A Just Energy Transition is Underway 07.09.2022 23m

  On this episode of The Joy Report, we’re discussing what energy justice is + why energy ownership must be re-imagined to overcome the current priority of profit over maintenance, affordability, and human health. A true just transition will create opportunities for people who have been excluded from the start of the renewable energy movement to become recipients of intentional investments, benefactors of job training in the renewable energy sector, and key thought leaders in this space.   Episode Transcript“Welcome to The Joy Report, a podcast dedicated to sharing stories about climate solutions and environmental justice grounded in intersectionality and optimism. Tune in to hear updates on all things climate, social, and environmental justice explained in a succinct and accessible way by me, Arielle King, an environmental justice advocate and attorney passionate about environmental education. This podcast aims to give you the tools you need to stay informed and take action to protect the planet.”Episode AgendaIn this episode, we’re discussing energy justice + working towards more decentralized energy systems.Topic BackgroundIt shouldn’t be a shock to anyone that our current energy system is in need of a major overhaul. Our current, fossil fuel-dependent grid is owned by a small sliver of the population who have prioritized profit over people, and caused significant harm to people and the planet. But before we dive into this concept, let’s take a step back and explain what the grid is:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fwh86X-G04 [1:28-2:07]To sum it up, electric system, which includes electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, is owned by a mix of entities, including private, public, and government. Currently, about 72% of U.S. electricity customers get their energy from less than 200 companies. About 3/4 of utility consumers get their electricity from investor-owned utilities. This ownership model issues stocks owned by shareholders, and accounts for nearly 40% of energy generation, 80% of transmission, and 50% of the distribution. Unsurprisingly energy disparities arise since investor-owned utilities are always looking for opportunities to increase profits.The current grid creates inequities in the amount people pay for their electricity, who can access cleaner, more renewable energy sources, and who experiences the health risks associated with garnering electricity from fossil fuels. The environmental impacts of electricity generation, extraction, production, and transportation can contribute to large-scale regional environmental concerns, as well as localized concerns that affect the area directly surrounding the source.Disparities within the current grid give rise to sacrifice zones, which are areas where a small segment of the population disproportionately bears the burden of living near an industry. Although everyone benefits from these industries, mostly low-income and BIPOC communities experience the environmental consequencesOne example is the 85-mile corridor in Louisiana called Cancer Alley, where nearly 150 refineries, plastic plants, and chemical facilities heavily pollute the air and harm those who live there. In fact, yet another plastic factory that is set to be built in Cancer Alley which will discharge toxic chemicals into the already heavily polluted air and water. This is part of the fossil fuel industry’s push to turn an oversupply of fracked natural gas into more plastic, causing further harm to the people living in this area and the planet.In the energy context, as Michele Morrone and Geoffery L. Buckley’s book titled *[Mountains of Injustice](https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1j7x69w#:~:text=Mountains of Injustice,-Book Description%3A&text=Research in environmental justice reveals,power plants%2C and polluting factories.)* explains, sacrifice zones are characterized as “an unfortunate product of high demand for energy coupled with the lack of comprehensive energy policy designed to protect areas that generate the energy sources modern society takes for granted.”In the United States, 68% of African Americans live within 30 miles of a coal-fired power plant, compared to 56% of the country’s white population. Living near these [types of facilities](https://surgery.duke.edu/news/despite-studies-health-effects-coal-burning-power-plants-remain-unknown#:~:text=A review of studies over,disease and other health problems.) increases death rates at earlier ages, risks of respiratory diseases, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease and other health problems. For the preservation of our planet and all its inhabitants, we cannot continue on like this.That’s why we need energy justice and a just transition to clean, renewable, affordable energy. Here’s what Dr. Tony Reames has to say about energy justice[insert 1:40-2:35 https://youtu.be/HwrzCMebgmg]Dr. Reames is the Deputy Director for Energy Justice at the U.S. Department of Energy.[insert 2:42-3:09 https://youtu.be/HwrzCMebgmg]Changing our grid may seem like an impossible task since it’s been this way forever, right? Before the grid existed, humans hunted whales and used their oil for candles. Around the same time that whale populations began to decline from this practice, petroleum was discovered in Pennsylvania in 1852. Soon after, other fossil fuels became a more popular and reliable source of energy. By 1935, the energy grid evolved into the one we’re essentially still using today. In other words, change is possible even when it seems insurmountable. In less than 150 years we have transitioned from using whale oil to light homes to harnessing the earth’s naturally replenishing resources to provide energy to whole communities.A better way to produce energy already exists in ways that benefit people and planet. Environmental justice advocates and scholars have been talking about the “just transition” for years now. This movement away from fossil fuel dependence is defined by the Climate Justice Alliance as a “vison-led, unifying, and place-based set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.” The transition must be just and equitable— it must redress past harms and create new relationships of power for the future through reparations.Now is the time to reimagine energy ownership. A just energy transition must be built to create economic justice and equitable access to reliable, clean, affordable energy. We must find ways to overcome the energy sector’s current priority of profit over adequate maintenance of infrastructure as well as impacts to human and planetary health.We need energy democracy, which is defined by Shalanda Baker as a means of opposing energy corporations on a large scale by replacing investor-owned utilities with publicly owned, democratically run alternatives. It also means creating opportunities for economic justice. This includes ensuring equal access to high-paying jobs and training in the renewable energy sector for those who have worked within the fossil fuel industry. It requires creating opportunities for equal access to energy resources and education so people can make informed decisions about what happens in their homes. Energy democracy also looks like distributed ownership of new energy production, like community solar farms.Featured StoryLike many other industries, there has been a relatively small, homogenous group of individuals who have been benefitting from advancements in the energy sector, with a 2019 study from the Solar Energy Industries Association on diversity in the solar industry finding that 85% of senior executives in the solar sector are white and 80% are men. A true just transition will create opportunities for people who have been excluded from the start of the renewable energy movement to become recipients of intentional investments, benefactors of job training in the renewable energy sector, and key thought leaders in this space.Fortunately, we are already beginning to see shifts toward this equitable, inclusive, just energy transition, and Black women are at the forefront.IE’s founder, Leah Thomas recently sat down with Shalanda Baker on IG live to discuss energy justice.IG Live convo with Leah & Shalanda: https://www.instagram.com/tv/ChIZTwHsyz4/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D [21:27-20:37]The Justice 40 initiative that Shalanda mentioned is President Biden’s commitment to ensuring that at least 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. And here’s what she had to say about getting involved and leading the charge for this initiative:IG Live convo with Leah & Shalanda: [https://www.instagram.com/tv/ChIZTwHsyz4/?](https://www.instagram.com/tv/ChIZTwHsyz4/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D) [17:57-16:10]This unprecedented amount of attention to equity and justice issues can be seen not only in the federal government but also within the private sector. Updating infrastructure and ensuring that intentional investments are made in communities that have been historically overlooked for this type of aid and environmental protection is exactly what environmental and energy justice is all about.Kristal Hansley Interview AudioAfter attending a Black Women in Energy brunch hosted by Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy a few weeks back, I had the opportunity to sit in downtown DC on a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon with Kristal Hansley, the founder and CEO of WeSolar.Kristal Hansley Interview AudioOf all the different types and sources of renewable energy available, why solar? Why community solar? Here’s what Kristal had to say in response to this question?Kristal Hansley Interview AudioIt’s about access, it’s about equity.Kristal Hansley Interview AudioIt’s about options, economic resilience, and creating opportunities for communities to regain control. It’s about energy democracy:Kristal Hansley Interview AudioCalls To ActionSo what can you do to support energy justice in your community?First, educate yourself on renewable energy sources, the just transition, and energy usage structures around you.Clean Choice Energy is a great resource for learning about renewable energy options near you by zip code.
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  Regenerative Agriculture + Decolonizing Food Systems 24.08.2022 18m

  This episode covers regenerative agriculture through an intersectional lens. While many agricultural practices have had detrimental impacts on the land, especially coupled with the impacts of climate change, there ARE practices that support a more beneficial way to grow food, repair soil, and restore landscapes.Regenerative agriculture covers a variety of practices— from agroforestry to ecological grazing, permaculture, and others— but the main function is to replicate how natural ecosystems work.   Episode Transcript“Welcome to The Joy Report, a podcast dedicated to sharing stories about climate solutions and environmental justice grounded in intersectionality and optimism. Tune in to hear updates on all things climate, social, and environmental justice explained in a succinct and accessible way by me, Arielle King, an environmental justice advocate and attorney passionate about environmental education. This podcast aims to give you the tools you need to stay informed and take action to protect the planet.”Episode AgendaIn this episode, we’re exploring regenerative agriculture: what it means, where it comes from, and what its role in decolonizing agricultural systems is.Topic Background InfoNature has the ability to heal itself if we let it. While many agricultural practices past and present have had detrimental impacts on the land, especially coupled with the impacts of climate change, like droughts and excessive heat, there are practices that support a more beneficial way to grow food and sustain landscapes. Regenerative agriculture covers a variety of practices— from agroforestry to ecological grazing, permaculture, and others— but the main function is to regenerate how the landscape works.Regenerative agriculture consists of practices and systems that nurture the land and the people who work on it. This holistic land-stewarding practice helps increase soil quality and biodiversity in farmland while producing nourishing products. Doing so avoids harm from pesticides and exploitative techniques to the landscape and those working on it.Dr. Lauren Baker of the Global Alliance for the Future of Food explains that, “to address accelerating climate change, biodiversity loss, rising food insecurity and growing inequality we need to repair the relationship between people and nature. Agroecology, regenerative approaches, and Indigenous foodways are a direct response and counterpoint to the dominant, industrial food system. The industrial food system, defined by chemicals, concentrated livestock, monoculture, and ultra-processed foods, comes with a cost we can no longer afford.”Historically, food has been used as a way to colonize the body, mind, and physical landscape. As such, while there is no single way to be a responsible and conscious consumer, there are ways we can all work to disrupt systems that cause and perpetuate harm to people and planet. The food system is a powerful place to start.When we have the option to do so, we should all be striving to support groups and engage in practices that care for people and the planet. Fortunately, we are witnessing an emergence of mutually beneficial agricultural practices that are deeply connected to decolonization in the mainstream agricultural system that are helping create indigenous sovereignty, and preserve our planet. Traditional, pre-colonial food systems were sustainable and regenerative. Indigenous communities worldwide have been farming regeneratively for millennia, and we’re continuing to learn and benefit from those practices.But as Robin Wall Kimmerer explains in her book Braiding Sweetgrass, “Old-growth cultures, like old-growth forests, have not been exterminated. The land holds their memory and the possibility of regeneration. They are not only a matter of ethnicity or history but of relationships born out of reciprocity between land and people.”Respectful stewardship of the land is an essential element of ensuring a livable future. The Landback movement— which we explained a bit about during episode 4— and other efforts to regain land sovereignty have led to an increase in mainstream access to indigenous plants, ingredients, and other natural resources. This movement has also led to an increased understanding for the need to decolonize many of the systems that are deeply woven into the function of modern society. This episode is all about the food system.The CDC’s native Diabetes Wellness Program released a report “Traditional Foods in Native America”, which explains that a primary tenant of the global food sovereignty movement asserts that food is a human right, and to secure this right people should have the ability to define their own food systems.”Food sovereignty, especially as it relates to land sovereignty is a key element to the restoration of landscapes and the preservation of our planet’s essential resources.There are numerous organizations and farmers all over the world committed to engaging in regenerative agricultural practices, developing food sovereignty, and sharing their knowledge to counter the harmful practices that exists within mainstream agriculture.Like Regeneration International, the Rodale Institute, the Soil Foodweb Institute, and the Indigenous Food Systems Network to name a few.The author and earth steward Leah Penniman and the team working at Soulfire Farm in upstate New York puts it like this:https://youtu.be/zvQJP8QP-Ng [5:47-6:33]Kelsey Ducheneaux is a member of the Lakota Sioux Nation, a fourth-generation beef and cattle rancher, the youth programs coordinator and natural resource director of the Intertribal Agricultural council, and and the owner of DX Ranch in South Dakota.https://youtu.be/1slB62EK_rg [0:31-0:49**]**In her own words, she “helps young people realize that the wide-open spaces we call home are not just ‘the middle of nowhere,’ but instead a place to call home, full of resources and the potential to grow food to feed their family.”https://youtu.be/I5NuxWOmAxE [0:01-1:01]That’s the voice of Chris Newman, an afro-indigenous farmer who runs Sylvanaqua Farm in northern Virginia:https://youtu.be/Zd2rvT5jR0I [17:54-19:09]Featured StoryLet’s talk about bison.Bison have been in the news quite a bit over the last year, from a recent sighting in Big Bend National Park, populations of bison being returned to tribes in Montana, and the successful reintroduction of bison populations in other parts of the United States.Bison have deep cultural and ecological significance.In the early 1500s an estimated 30-60 million bison roamed the landscape freely throughout North America, from Canada to Mexico, and from New York to the Rocky Mountains.As the largest land-dwelling mammal in North America, these giant, powerful grazing animals stand at about 5-6.5 feet tall, weighing about a thousand pounds on average. They provided food and sustenance in the form of meat and marrow; and raw materials like bones for tools, hide for clothing and shelter formation/creation. Because of all the resources that could be derived from them, bison formed the basis of the economy for numerous tribes in the Great Plains region.Bison roamed the western and central plains of Texas in large numbers; with four main herds existing within the state. By the late 1800s, after already hundreds of years of colonization, in an attempt to cause further harm and eradication to the Indigenous populations of Texas and continue Westward expansion and industrialization via the Transcontinental Railroad, the bison were hunted and killed to nearly extinction—with fewer than 1,000 animals remaining. Only through the efforts of Indigenous tribes and non-Indigenous Texas ranchers over the past twenty years, has the number of bison grown in Texas.Earlier this year, five buffalo were reintroduced to Lipan Apache lands in Texas to join their existing herd, through a program by the Nature Conservancy which has given 270 bison back to Indigenous nations throughout the country.https://youtu.be/FL_JMK94IvA [1:16-1:26]Restoring bison populations can help restore prairie ecosystems while improving issues of food insecurity and food sovereignty for indigenous communities, while also helping to mitigate the adverse impactshttps://youtu.be/FL_JMK94IvA [0:39- 0:50]The Texas Tribal Buffalo Project is one of many organizations working to restore bison populations. The project is dedicated to healing the generational trauma of the Lipan Apache descendants, as well as other tribes in geographic proximity, with the ultimate goal of returning the bison to Texas.https://youtu.be/FL_JMK94IvA [1:28-2:05]Calls To ActionHow can we as individuals support farming practices that protect and nourish people while restoring the planet?First, be thoughtful and conscious of how and where you’re purchasing your food. When you can, buy local, since it’s often a lot easier to find out where and how things you’re buying are produced.Find a regenerative farm near you. Buy food from them, get to know the farmers, take advantage of volunteer days.Learn about where your food comes from and different production systems. Help get the word out about the benefits of regenerative agricultural practices.Get involved in a community garden if you’re able to. Contributing to greening the place you live, especially in a way that’s focused on producing food for your community is an incredibly powerful experience.One great resource to help you find a farm near you can be found by googling “regeneration international” and searching for the farm map on their website. We’ve also linked the website in the show notes. There are tons of different filters to help you find the right farm for you. (https://regenerationinternational.org/regenerative-farm-map)Support tribal and indigenous led agricultural organizations whenever you can.If you have the means to do so, support organizations focused on developing, expanding, and teaching about regenerative agricultural practices.Spend as much time as you can outside. Build your own relationship with the land around you. Developing an individual relationship to land and the food you eat makes supporting regenerative agriculture and practices a no-brainer. As Robin Wall Kimmerer once wrote: “Restoring land without restoring relationship is an empty exercise. It is relationship that will endure and relationship that will sustain the restored land.”Positive News StoriesHere’s some positive climate news you should also know about:On July 28th, the United Nations Gen