by Jose Almanzar
The climate crisis and biodiversity crisis are the defining challenges of our generation. More people feel called to do work that matters—but breaking into green and sustainability careers can be difficult. The Green Collar Careers Podcast helps students, career-changers, and professionals navigate green jobs, environmental careers, and sustainability roles through real stories and practical advice from industry experts. Build a meaningful career. Help heal the planet. 🌍
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Publishing Since
6/22/2023
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June 23, 2026
<p>In this episode ofthe Green Collar Careers podcast, I sit down with Sam Kay, Chief of the AirQuality Planning Branch at the DC Department of Energy and Environment. Sam'spath is anything but linear. He earned a PhD in geography, held assistantprofessor positions at the University of Minnesota Duluth and the University ofWashington, then left academia entirely to join the EPA as an AAAS Science andTechnology Policy Fellow. From there he became an Environmental ProtectionSpecialist and Scientist at EPA, co-founded the Environmental and Health DataAnalysis Trust, and is now four months into running air quality policy for thenation's capital.</p><p> </p><p>We dive deep into:</p><p> </p><p>• <strong>From theClassroom to the Air We Breathe</strong>: Why Sam walked away from a tenure-trackacademic career to join the EPA, and what that decision actually required.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>• The AAASFellowship</strong>:What the Science and Technology Policy Fellowship is and why it's one of themost underrated entry points into federal environmental work.</p><p> </p><p>• <strong>Moving TowardGovernment, Not Away From It</strong>: While many people are leaving federal andcity environmental roles right now, Sam moved deeper into public service. Why.</p><p> </p><p>• <strong>Put Yourself inthe Way of Surprise</strong>: The advice from Sam's graduate mentor that has shapedhow he thinks about career decisions ever since.</p><p> </p><p>• <strong>ImposterSyndrome as a Feature, Not a Bug</strong>: Sam's honest take on what it means tofeel like an imposter in this work and why that feeling might be the mostreliable sign you're exactly where you should be.</p><p> </p><p>• <strong>Advice forMid-Career Pivoters</strong>: What someone with a background in finance, healthcare,or any other field should actually do if they feel pulled toward environmentalor public health work.</p><p> </p><p>If you've everwondered whether a non-linear path, academia to government to data to policy,can lead somewhere meaningful, Sam Kay is proof that it can.</p><p> </p><p>Get the free GreenPivot Map (90-Day Framework) at josealmanzaresq.com and <a href="https://green-collar-careers.kit.com/adf2343a89">via this link</a>.</p><p> </p><p>#EnvironmentalCareers#GreenCollarCareers #AirQuality #PublicHealth #CareerPivot #ClimateJobs#Sustainability #EnvironmentalJustice #CareerAdvice #ClimateWork</p><p> </p><p>________________________________________</p><p>🎙️Connect with Sam Kay:</p><p>LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/samueljkay</p><p> </p><p>🎙️Connect with Jose:</p><p>Website:josealmanzaresq.com</p><p>LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/josealmanzaresq</p><p>Substack:substack.com/@josealmanzar</p><p>________________________________________</p><p>Subscribe to GreenCollar Careers Podcast:</p><p>🎧Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube</p><p> </p><p>📩<strong>Subscribe</strong> to the newsletter at josealmanzaresq.com and Substack.</p><p> </p><p>🎵Music Credit </p><p>Kwae: 📷Instagram: @kwaemusic </p><p> </p><p>🎨Logo Credit</p><p>Leo: 📷Instagram: @logic9uy_art</p><p> </p><p>🎙️<strong>About Green Collar Careers</strong></p><p>Green Collar Careersis a podcast and newsletter for professionals who feel pulled towardenvironmental or climate work but aren't sure how to make the move. Eachepisode features honest conversations with people who have built meaningfulcareers in this space and the practical lessons they learned along the way.Hosted by Jose Almanzar, environmental attorney and former environmentalscientist.</p><p> </p><p>📢<strong>DISCLAIMER</strong></p><p>Nothing in thispodcast constitutes legal advice. This podcast is not attorney advertising.Nothing said in this podcast is endorsed by the podcast host, their guests, ortheir employers. The views expressed by the podcast host and their guests aretheir own and do not reflect the opinions of their employers. By listening tothis podcast, the listener is not entering into an attorney-client relationshipor any other relationship with the host or their guests.</p><p></p>
May 31, 2026
<p>In this episode of the Green Collar Careers Podcast, I sit down with Adam Flint, Director of Clean Energy Programs at the Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow (NeST) in Binghamton, New York. </p><p>Adam has two sociology degrees from Binghamton University, no engineering background, and co-led the design of a $52 million statewide clean energy program in New York. His story is proof that the biggest barrier to clean energy careers is not credentials. It is that most people have never heard these jobs exist.</p><p>We dive deep into:</p><ul><li><p><strong>The Sociology to Clean Energy Pipeline:</strong> How two sociology degrees and a mid-career pivot from academia became the foundation for over a decade of directing clean energy programs, workforce development, and statewide policy work.</p></li><li><p><strong>The Energy Corps Internship:</strong> How NeST has placed over 130 interns from every major into meaningful clean energy careers and what Adam actually looks for when he hires.</p></li><li><p><strong>The Resume That Wasn't Written for the Job:</strong> Adam was hiring the morning of a panel we did together at Binghamton University. The resumes weren't written for the position. The interviews revealed everything.</p></li><li><p><strong>The Visibility Problem:</strong> Why the biggest barrier to filling clean energy jobs is not a shortage of qualified people. It is that most people have never heard of these careers and what we need to do about it.</p></li><li><p><strong>Advice for Mid-Career Pivoters:</strong> What someone 10 or 15 years into finance, communications, or tech should actually do to break into clean energy. Adam's advice maps almost exactly onto the Green Pivot Method.</p></li><li><p><strong>Stubborn Hope:</strong> Adam's closing message for anyone who feels paralyzed by the state of the planet. Why doing something, anything, with someone else is the answer.</p></li></ul><p>If you have ever wondered whether your non-traditional background can translate into a meaningful clean energy career, Adam Flint is your proof that it can.</p><p>Get the free Green Pivot Map (90-Day Framework) at josealmanzaresq.com.</p><p>#CleanEnergy #GreenCollarCareers #EnvironmentalCareers #GreenJobs #CareerPivot #Sustainability #ClimateJobs #CleanEnergyJobs #EnvironmentalJustice #CareerAdvice</p><p><strong>Timestamps:</strong>0:00 - Introduction2:02 - What is NeST and what they do9:22 - The Energy Corps internship program20:18 - Two sociology degrees to directing a $52 million clean energy program24:45 - Where Adam's passion for justice comes from30:08 - Solving the visibility problem for clean energy careers36:15 - The resume story from the Binghamton panel45:15 - Advice for mid-career professionals wanting to pivot53:57 - Final words for people sitting on the sidelines57:01 - How to connect with Adam</p><p>🎙️ <strong>Connect with Adam Flint:</strong>LinkedIn: <a href="https://linkedin.com/in/adamsflint" target="_blank" rel="noopener">linkedin.com/in/adamsflint</a>NeST: nynest.org</p><p>🎙️ <strong>Connect with Jose:</strong>Website: josealmanzaresq.comLinkedIn: <a href="https://linkedin.com/in/josealmanzaresq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">linkedin.com/in/josealmanzaresq</a>Substack: <a href="https://substack.com/@josealmanzar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">substack.com/@josealmanzar</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Subscribe to Green Collar Careers Podcast:</strong></p><p>🎧 <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5AR3iFNAynrOMiogzbPcIq?si=7ace91e6642e4082">Spotify</a> | <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/green-collar-careers-podcast/id1693822204">Apple Podcasts</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hbayrY6s4c&list=PL5L7M6XolMS5waxmPL3UKkYABn-S6QIcO">YouTube</a></p><p><br></p><p>🎵 <strong>Music Credit - Kwae:</strong>📷 Instagram: @kwaemusic</p><p>🎨 <strong>Logo Credit - Leo:</strong>📷 Instagram: @logic9uy_art</p><p><br></p><p>🎙️ <strong>About Green Collar Careers</strong>Green Collar Careers is a podcast and newsletter for professionals who feel pulled toward environmental or climate work but aren't sure how to make the move. Each episode features honest conversations with people who have built meaningful careers in this space and the practical lessons they learned along the way. Hosted by Jose Almanzar, environmental attorney and former environmental scientist.</p><p><br></p><p>📩 <strong>Subscribe to the newsletter at</strong> josealmanzaresq.com and Substack.</p><p><br></p><p>📢 <strong>DISCLAIMER:</strong> Nothing in this podcast constitutes legal advice. This podcast is not attorney advertising. Nothing said in this podcast is endorsed by the podcast host, their guests, or their employers. The views expressed by the podcast host and their guests are their own and do not reflect the opinions of their employers. By listening to this podcast, the listener is not entering into an attorney-client relationship or any other relationship with the host or their guests.</p>
May 12, 2026
<p>“Everysingle position I've ever gotten came through someone I knew.”</p><p>Thatis what Keith Brodock, Senior Principal at LaBella Associates, told me after 25years of building one of the most decorated careers in environmentalengineering. Three patents. Seventeen PE licenses across the country. A canoeguide in Minnesota. A production line worker at IBM. And somehow, all of it ledto remediating contaminated sites, designing cleanup systems, and helping thenext generation of environmental professionals find their footing.</p><p>Inthis episode of the Green Collar Careers podcast, Keith breaks down theunconventional path that took him from chemical engineering at ClarksonUniversity to becoming one of the most sought-after environmental engineers onthe East Coast.</p><p><br></p><p>Ifyou have ever wondered whether your non-traditional background can translateinto a meaningful environmental career, Keith Brodock is your proof that itcan.</p><p>Getthe free Green Pivot Map (90-Day Framework) at josealmanzaresq.com</p><p>#GreenCareers#EnvironmentalEngineering #CareerPivot #GreenCollarCareers#EnvironmentalCareers #Networking #CareerAdvice #Sustainability#LaBellaAssociates #ClimateWork</p><p>Timestamps:</p><p>0:00 - Introduction </p><p>2:28 - What LaBella Associates does </p><p>5:24 - Geothermal energy: why hasn't it taken off? </p><p>6:37 - Keith's role as an environmental engineer </p><p>11:53 - Growing up in the IBM era & early influences </p><p>17:26 - Chemical engineering at Clarkson University </p><p>25:01 - How Keith accidentally landed in environmental work </p><p>26:27 - The Green Pivot Map </p><p>28:24 - The black hole of online job applications </p><p>41:00 - How to stand out in the environmental job market </p><p>45:27 - Networking: the real way careers get built </p><p>47:36 - Introverts vs. extroverts at conferences </p><p>53:05 - Advice for mid-career professionals wanting to pivot </p><p>56:37 - Final words for anyone sitting on the sidelines </p><p>🎙️ Connect with Keith Brodock: </p><p>LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/keithbrodock</p><p>🎙️ Connect with Jose: </p><p>Website:josealmanzaresq.com </p><p>LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/josealmanzaresq </p><p>Substack:substack.com/@josealmanzar</p><p>Subscribeto Green Collar Careers Podcast: </p><p>🎧 Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube</p><p>🎵 Music Credit - Kwae: </p><p>📷 Instagram: @kwaemusic 🎨Logo Credit - Leo: 📷 Instagram: @logic9uy_art</p><p>🎙️ <strong>About Green Collar Careers</strong></p><p>GreenCollar Careers is a podcast and newsletter for professionals who feel pulledtoward environmental or climate work but aren't sure how to make the move. Eachepisode features honest conversations with people who have built meaningfulcareers in this space and the practical lessons they learned along the way.Hosted by Jose Almanzar, environmental attorney and former environmentalscientist.</p><p>📩 <strong>Subscribe</strong> to the newsletter atjosealmanzaresq.com and Substack.</p><p>📢 <strong>DISCLAIMER</strong>: Nothing in this podcastconstitutes legal advice. This podcast is not attorney advertising. Nothingsaid in this podcast is endorsed by the podcast host, their guests, or theiremployers. The views expressed by the podcast host and their guests are theirown and do not reflect the opinions of their employers. By listening to thispodcast, the listener is not entering into an attorney-client relationship orany other relationship with the host or their guests.</p>
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The climate crisis and biodiversity crisis are the defining challenges of our generation. More people feel called to do work that matters—but breaking into green and sustainability careers can be difficult.
The Green Collar Careers Podcast helps students, career-changers, and professionals navigate green jobs, environmental careers, and sustainability roles through real stories and practical advice from industry experts.
Build a meaningful career. Help heal the planet. 🌍
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