Climate Check: Stories and Solutions, is a podcast that brings climate activists and experts together to break down the climate crisis and discuss local strategies and solutions.
Climate Check is a part of 350Brooklyn, a grassroots, community organization of ordinary people who come together to fight the fossil fuel industry, promote sustainable energy and green jobs, and work for climate justice. Join host Eva Dean, a Brooklyn-based choreographer, climate activist, and member of 350Brooklyn as she leads discussions that span the climate change spectrum.
Microplastics and Community Action with Madeleine MacGillivray
Our host Audrey is joined by Madeleine MacGillivray, Climate Justice Lead at Seeding Sovereignty, to discuss the health impacts of microplastics, why recycling isn't enough, and how New York's Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA) could transform the way we deal with plastic waste. We also explore the power of hyperlocal civic action, building stronger communities, and share practical tips for Plastic-Free July.
DISCLAIMER: This episode was recorded before the adjournment of the 2026 New York State legislative session in June and makes reference to New York’s Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA), which failed to advance through the State Assembly before the legislative session ended.
Resources:
About Madeleine: https://www.madeleinemacgillivray.com/about (https://www.madeleinemacgillivray.com/about)
IG: @madeleinemacgillivray
About Seeding Sovereignty: https://seedingsovereignty.org/ (https://seedingsovereignty.org/)
IG: @seedingsovereignty
Seeding Sovereignty’s Community Action Portal: https://seedingsovereignty.org/cap-landing-page (https://seedingsovereignty.org/cap-landing-page)
About PRRIA:
Senate Bill S1464A: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1464/amendment/A (https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1464/amendment/A)
Beyond Plastics: https://www.beyondplastics.org/nys-packaging-reduction (https://www.beyondplastics.org/nys-packaging-reduction)
Beyond Plastics Report on Lobbying: https://www.beyondplastics.org/publications/prria-lobbying (https://www.beyondplastics.org/publications/prria-lobbying)
Beyond Plastics Report on Cost Savings: https://www.beyondplastics.org/press-releases/ny-packaging-reduction-save-400-million (https://www.beyondplastics.org/press-releases/ny-packaging-reduction-save-400-million)
‘Skip the Stuff’ Bill:
Climate Check Podcast Episode: https://350brooklyn.org/podcast/june-2023-skip-the-stuff-no-more-plastic-take-out-waste/ (https://350brooklyn.org/podcast/june-2023-skip-the-stuff-no-more-plastic-take-out-waste/)
Studies of Health Impacts of Microplastics:
Study of Microplastics in the Heart: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2309822 (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2309822)
Study of Microplastics from Tea Bags: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.9b02540 (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.9b02540)
Microplastics from Disposable Coffee Cups: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/to-go-coffee-cups-release-microplastics-study#What-influences-release-of-microplastics (https://www.healthline.com/health-news/to-go-coffee-cups-release-microplastics-study#What-influences-release-of-microplastics)
Microplastics from Textiles: https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/microplastics-from-textiles-towards-a-circular-economy-for-textiles-in-europe (https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/microplastics-from-textiles-towards-a-circular-economy-for-textiles-in-europe)
8 May 2026
Banning Mega-Dairies in New York
Our host Audrey is joined by Alex Beauchamp, Northern Region Director at Food and Water Watch. Food & Water Watch fights for the safe and healthy food, clean water, and livable climate we all deserve.
In this episode, Alex talks about the proposed bill to ban mega-dairies in New York State. Alex brings us through the issues with mega-dairies, what the bill would do, and what it's going to take to pass it.
Based in Michigan, Alex oversees all Food and Water Watch's organizing work throughout the region with a particular focus on New York. Alex started as an organizer with Food & Water Watch 17 years ago and has served as the Region Director since 2012. He has led the New York team to victories in winning a statewide ban on fracking, a cryptocurrency mining moratorium, a landmark gas ban in New York City, and shutting down the Danskammer and Astoria NRG fracked gas power plants and defeated several fracked gas pipelines proposed throughout New York.
Resources:
Read the bill and track its progress: Senate Bill S6530 (https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6530)
Tool to tell your legislator to support the bill (https://act.foodandwaterwatch.org/page/81874/action/1?locale=en-US)
Food & Water Watch Website (https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/)
Food & Water Watch Factory Farm Nation Report (https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2024/09/21/factory-farm-nation-2024-edition/)
Food & Water Watch Farm vs Factory Interactive Resource (https://farmvsfactory.org/)
17 Mar 2026
"Everyone Has Their Assignment": Third Act NYC on Solar Legislation
Our host Audrey is joined by Katherine Alford, Co‑facilitator of Third Act NYC — a member organization of folks aged 60+ dedicated to protecting our planet and our democracy. Third Act NYC has collaborated on major climate actions including the September 2023 Climate March, Summer of Heat, the Albany Teach‑in for the Superfund Act, and Sun Day.
In this episode, Katherine explains why distributed solar is one of the most affordable and empowering climate solutions for New Yorkers, and walks us through the process of getting legislation passed in Albany. Along the way, she reflects on intergenerational organizing, the role of storytelling in policy work, and the personal experiences that fuel her commitment to climate justice.
Katherine’s “second act” included a celebrated career in food — as a 4‑star chef, Greenmarket Manager, and Director of Peter Kump’s Cooking School (now the Institute of Culinary Education). She spent 20 years working at the Food Network and is the coauthor of the activist cookbook, "Rage Baking: The Transformative Power of Flour, Fury, and Women’s Voices".
Third Act NYC Resources:
Third Act NYC Website: https://thirdact.org/nyc/ (https://thirdact.org/nyc/)
Webpage about Climate Policies: Third Act Advocates for New York State Climate Policies (https://thirdact.org/upstate-ny/events/third-act-advocates-for-new-york-state-climate-policies/)
Video Explainers about Solar Energy & the NY Power Grid: https://thirdact.org/upstate-ny/2026/02/17/solar-energy-the-ny-power-grid-with-prof-richard-perez/ (https://thirdact.org/upstate-ny/2026/02/17/solar-energy-the-ny-power-grid-with-prof-richard-perez/)
ASAP Act:
Senate Bill S6570A: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6570/amendment/A (https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6570/amendment/A)
Assembly Bill A8758A: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A8758/amendment/A (https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A8758/amendment/A)
Study on $1B savings by Synapse Energy Economics for the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_7B7gHlzZ7QlEewtJ-X_QfRQtDyNvf-J/view (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_7B7gHlzZ7QlEewtJ-X_QfRQtDyNvf-J/view)
From Third Act NYC: NY’s ASAP Act – Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power (https://thirdact.org/upstate-ny/2026/02/05/nys-asap-act/)
ASAP One-Pager: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1em5EqCk6IW4wyTs0SQjUKuQCUevryMU7/view (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1em5EqCk6IW4wyTs0SQjUKuQCUevryMU7/view)
SUNNY Act:
Senate Bill S8512A: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8512/amendment/A (https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8512/amendment/A)
Assembly Bill A9111A: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9111/amendment/A (https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9111/amendment/A)
From Third Act NYC: Plug-in Solar – The SUNNY Act (https://thirdact.org/upstate-ny/2026/02/04/plug-in-solar-the-sunny-act/)
SUNNY Two-Pager: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHDjum5o30/r4FrP_GioEHEisFchfO0vw/edit (https://www.canva.com/design/DAHDjum5o30/r4FrP_GioEHEisFchfO0vw/edit)
Solar Permitting:
Senate Bill S5781A: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5781/amendment/A (https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5781/amendment/A)
Assembly Bill A6270A: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6270/amendment/A (https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6270/amendment/A)
NYS 2019 Climate Law:
Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (CLCPA): https://climate.ny.gov/ (https://climate.ny.gov/)
Senate Bill S6599: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/S6599 (https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/S6599)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 42 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
53
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
77
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