Environmentalism can often seem far off and impersonal. This podcast is meant to bring us closer to the people working toward building a more sustainable future. Through interviews with researchers, nonprofits, and others, Dragonfruit will show that sustainability is all around us and for everyone.
linktr.ee/dragonfruitthepodcast
Michelle Barton: LA Biodiversity, Healthy Soils, and Community Science
Michelle Barton is an environmental specialist with LA Sanitation and Environment; she runs both their biodiversity and healthy soils programs. In this episode we discuss their current and upcoming projects, community science, what being an environmental specialist actually means, and so much more. I encourage anyone in LA to get involved with the summer Bioblitz challenge to help track local biodiversity. Thank you so much for listening and I hope you enjoy!
Learn more:
Michelle Barton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-barton-8a405892/
LA Sanitation and Environment: https://www.lacitysan.org/san/faces/home
Biodiversity: https://www.lacitysan.org/san/faces/home/portal/s-lsh-es/s-lsh-es-si/s-lsh-es-si-bd?_adf.ctrl-state=1cuhmpip86_5&_afrLoop=14568175592775941
Healthy Soils: https://www.lacitysan.org/san/faces/home/portal/s-lsh-es/s-lsh-es-si/s-lsh-es-si-hs?_adf.ctrl-state=1cuhmpip86_5&_afrLoop=14568204219968232#!
BioBlitz Challenge (with the LA Public Library): https://lapl.org/steam/bioblitz
18 Jun 2021
Florence Williams: The Nature Fix and Environmental Journalism
Florence Williams is a journalist and author who is a contributing editor to Outside Magazine and freelance writer for various publications including the New York Times and National Geographic. In this episode, we discuss one of my favorite books, The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative, which discusses the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits we all gain from exposure to natural spaces. She also gives us a glimpse into her writing process and shares some wonderful stories about her time in the field. Enjoy!
Learn more at: http://www.florencewilliams.com/
20 May 2021
Evan Meyer: The Biodiversity Crisis and How Planting Native Helps
Evan Meyer is the Executive Director of the Theodore Payne Foundation, an organization in Los Angeles focused on California native plants. This episode gets into the current biodiversity crisis and how planting natives can help combat environmental harm and connect wild spaces. We also discuss topics like making the field of ecology more inclusive, the need for interdisciplinary teams, ideas for popularizing native plants, and finding mentors. I learned so much talking to Evan and I hope you enjoy this episode!
Learn more:
Evan Meyer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-meyer-976775100/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-meyer-976775100/)
Theodore Payne Foundation: https://theodorepayne.org/ (https://theodorepayne.org/)
Interviews and Panels About Native Plants, Landscape Design, and More: https://www.nativeplantgardentour.org/ (https://www.nativeplantgardentour.org/)
Find Native Plant Nurseries in California: https://calscape.org/ (https://calscape.org/)
6 May 2021
Georgia Tunioli: Table 2 Farm, Clean Boating, and Getting Involved
Georgia Tunioli is the Community Engagement Program Manager with The Bay Foundation. While I have previously spoken with Karina Johnston, who is also with The Bay Foundation, our conversation today takes on a different focus. In this episode we discuss their Table 2 Farm and Clean Boating programs, both of which get into the amazing ways that they are educating and engaging the public in environmental work. Georgia was such a pleasure to speak with and I am so happy to be sharing this episode with you. Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy the episode!
Learn more at: https://www.santamonicabay.org/
22 Apr 2021
Tobias Tubbs: Healing and Re-Entry for the Previously Incarcerated
Tobias Tubbs is the co-founder of Angel City Urban Farms, a resiliency garden program that helps guide previously incarcerated individuals through healing and re-entry. Tobias has been through the prison system himself, and turned his experiences into opportunities to create community and hope. This episode goes from his first gardens while still in prison to his work now as a re-entry specialist. The conversation was incredibly impactful for me and I hope you come to feel the same.
Learn more at: https://www.instagram.com/angelcityurbanfarms8/ (https://www.instagram.com/angelcityurbanfarms8/)
Email Tobias: tobiasinservice@gmail.com (mailto:tobiasinservice@gmail.com)
2 Apr 2021
Katie Freeze-Becker: Grassroots Collaboration and Support
Katie Freeze-Becker is a chair for the US Green Building Council - Los Angeles Legacy Project and an environmental consultant with Leading Edge Consulting Services. We took this episode to focus on the Legacy Project and equity, with some bonus questions about Katie's experiences in consulting. This is a great conversation to hear if you are interested in getting your organization, or yourself, more involved in supporting community-led projects that make a difference in the lives of real people. Episode 14 is part two of a two-part series featuring USGBC-LA; our last episode featured Ben Stapleton, their executive director, and discussed USGBC-LA as a whole, the Healthy Building Alliance, and the Net Zero Accelerator. Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy!
Learn more:
USGBC-LA: https://usgbc-la.org/
Legacy Project: https://usgbc-la.org/committees/legacy-project/
Dragonfruit: linktr.ee/dragonfruitthepodcast
31 Mar 2021
Ben Stapleton: Healthy Buildings and Innovation
Ben Stapleton is the Executive Director of the US Green Building Council - Los Angeles (USGBC-LA). In this episode, we focused on USGBC-LA's Healthy Building Alliance and Net Zero Accelerator programs, as well as some discussion about the organization in general and Ben's career. These specifics also led to conversation about broader topics such as public health, equity and representation, and technological advancements. I am very excited to release this episode, which is part one of a two-part series features the USGBC-LA; tune in to the next episode to hear from Katie Freeze-Becker about their Legacy Project. Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy!
Learn more:
USGBC-LA: https://usgbc-la.org/
Healthy Building Alliance: https://usgbc-la.org/initiative/healthy-building-alliance/
Net Zero Accelerator: https://usgbc-la.org/initiative/net-zero-accelerator/
Ben Stapleton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstapleton/
Dragonfruit: linktr.ee/dragonfruitthepodcast
11 Mar 2021
Trevor Zink: The Circular Economy And Its Potential Harms
Trevor Zink is an associate professor of Sustainability and Management at Loyola Marymount University. His research has previously focused on the circular economy and recycling, although he is now shifting toward studying alternative economic models that may better suit our environmental and social needs. This episode is wonderful because it allows us to critically think about some of the most celebrated sustainability measures in order to evaluate their efficacy and find the best solutions. I hope you enjoy!
Learn more:
LMU Bio - https://cba.lmu.edu/faculty/?expert=trevor.zinkphd (https://cba.lmu.edu/faculty/?expert=trevor.zinkphd)
Circular Economy Rebound - https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12545 (https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12545)
Material Recycling and the Myth of Landfill Diversion - https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12808 (https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12808)
The Inevitable Labor and Environmental Crises and the Need for a New Economic System - https://doi.org/10.1177/1056492619827382 (https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1056492619827382)
4 Mar 2021
Michael Martinez: Bringing Communities Together Through Compost
Michael Martinez is the founder and executive director of LA Compost, a Los Angeles-based non-profit focused on compost and community. Previously an elementary school teacher, Michael now expresses his passion for connection and education by building gardens and compost systems throughout LA County. This episode is great if you want to hear about engaging community members and organizing a nonprofit; we also touch on food systems and policy. Enjoy!
Learn more at: https://www.lacompost.org/
22 Feb 2021
Scott Culbertson: The Power of Environmental Education
Scott Culbertson is the Executive Director of Friends of the Ballona Wetlands, a Los Angeles-based non-profit focused on restoration of the Ballona Wetlands and environmental education. In this episode Scott not only introduces us to the history of the Wetlands and the Friends but also honestly discusses non-profit organizations and the power of experiencing nature. I thoroughly enjoyed having this conversation and I hope you enjoy.
Learn more about Friends of the Ballona Wetlands at: ballonafriends.org
22 Feb 2021
Alec Baird: Agriculture, GMOs, and Plant Physiology
Alec Baird is a fourth year PhD student at UCLA researching plant physiology. In this episode, he shared some incredible knowledge, and opinions, with us on topics from plant adaptations to genetically engineered crops. I hope you enjoy this episode and learn something new.
Learn more about Alec Baird and find his publications at: alecbaird.weebly.com (https://alecbaird.weebly.com/research.html)
21 Jan 2021
Rhay Flores: Restoration, Undergraduate Work, and Eco-Anxiety
This episode introduces a new format: an open-ended conversation between me and a friend.
Rhay Flores is a fourth year Ecology major at UCLA with experience in both research and field work. We met through a research project focusing on American Crow populations in Marina del Rey, California and their interaction with the endangered Least Tern. In this episode, we get into topics like restoration, finding your passions, our UCLA experiences, and much more. I hope you enjoy!
Find Rhay on social media: @rhaygeena https://www.instagram.com/rhaygeena/
10 Dec 2020
Jill Pelto: Climate Change Art Incorporating Scientific Data
Jill Pelto is a climate change artist with a background in glaciology. Jill uses scientific data in combination with watercolors to create art that is both emotional and impactful; she was recently featured as the cover artist for TIME Magazine's July 2020 Climate Issue. In this episode we touched upon her experiences doing field work in Antarctica, the communication of science through art, and staying motivated beyond instant gratification. I would highly encourage any listener to visit Jill's website and/or social media to see her art for themselves!
Learn more at: jillpelto.com
3 Dec 2020
Meredith McCarthy: Safeguarding Water for Greater Wellness
Meredith McCarthy is the Director of Operations at Heal the Bay, a non-profit focused on water quality in Los Angeles. In this episode we discussed water recycling, stormwater capture, water policy, and collaborating with community organizations; she also shared what led her to leave the film industry and find a career within an NGO. Meredith's insights and anecdotes are riveting and I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I do.
Learn more at: healthebay.org
11 Nov 2020
Jess Heckman: Disaster Planning and Shifting Perspective
Jess Heckman is currently a third-year PhD student at the University of California Los Angeles’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability; her research interests focus on coastal resilience and disaster planning. In this episode we had a great discussion about coastal concerns, disaster planning and policy, and shifting perspectives. She also shared how her personal experience with Hurricane Sandy shaped her research interests and offered some hopeful advice for figuring out graduate school and finding your path.
Learn more at: ioes.ucla.edu
29 Oct 2020
Karina Johnston: Adapting Coastlines with The Bay Foundation
Karina Johnston is the science director for The Bay Foundation, as well as the director of programs for the Loyola Marymount University Coastal Research Institute. In today's episode we discussed Karina's career path and advice, nature-based adaptations of coastlines, and stakeholder engagement in the context of The Bay Foundation's work and the Santa Monica Beach Restoration Pilot Project.
Learn more at: santamonicabay.org
15 Oct 2020
Paul Stainier: Climate Change, Wages, and Food Security
Paul Stainier is a second-year PhD student at the UCLA Institute of the Environment & Sustainability, and is currently researching the effects of climate change on labor wages and food security. Some of the topics we discussed include: his work, addressing uncertainty, equity in research, and graduate school advice.
Learn more at: ioes.ucla.edu
1 Oct 2020
Hannah Christian: Stay True to Your Goal and Don't Give Up
Hannah Christian is the co-founder and product development manager of Habitat Botanicals, a Canadian-based eco-friendly bathroom essentials company. Amongst other things, she offers perspective on finding safer ingredients, owning a business while being a mom, and making sustainability for everybody.
Learn more at: https://habitatbotanicals.com/
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