Category: podcast

December 17, 2018 / podcast / No Comments »

On Radiolab and Sacred Tension podcasts

As someone who podcasts and does radio production, I am always excited to connect with other folks working in audio. This summer was I walked into the studios of WNYC for a 3 1/2 hour interview with Jad Abumrad, the host of Radiolab, a show I have been listening to for years. He had no need to apologize for taking so much of my time. What a thrill to sit there chatting with him and seeing him work. The large, busy studios was Disney World for an audio geek like me.

Jad helped produced the special podcast series, Unerased, which looks at the history of conversion therapy. The podcast came out along side the motion picture, Boy Erased, the story of a young man sent to the Love in Action program that I attended. Jad wanted to know about the history of conversion therapy leading up to that moment. Jad included episode four of Unerased in his Radiolab series.

I also recently sat down to chat with Stephen Bradford Long, the host of Sacred Tension podcast. He had me on a few months back to talk about conversion therapy, but then knowing I am obsessively engaged in climate change work, he contacted me for a second interview to talk down off the ledge. He read the recent UN report on climate change and was freaking out.

While it has been important to speak out about conversion therapy, it really gets me excited to talk about climate change and the justice issues connected to it. Having experienced the trauma of ex-gay ministries, I know it is important to move away from just talking about that experience. Part of recovery is moving onto new interests, passions, and issues.

Have a listen to my conversation with Stephen Bradford Long

December 15, 2018 / podcast / No Comments »

I sit down to chat with Dr Katharine Hayhoe

Dr. Katharine Hayhoe is a climate scientist, a professor in the Department of Political Science and director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University. She is also a brilliant climate communicator and the host of the Global Weirding web series.  I chat with her about what has changed since she her famous address at the 2015 Citizens Climate International Conference. There is no more speculation; climate change is here. She talks about the many ways people are adapting, and she provides excellent climate communication tips. Dr. Hayhoe also reveals where she finds hope in these troubling times.

In The Art House

Dr. Jeffrey Bennett and illustrator Roberta Collier-Morales created the whimsical and moving illustrated children’s book, The Wizard Who Saved the World. While most of his Dr. Bennett’s Max the Dog booksare about space travel, Jeff felt it was time to write about what was happening on earth with global warming. Not only did he need to tap into deep emotions, he had to find a new illustrator who could capture the story of Diego, a boy suddenly alarmed by climate change and motivated to do something about it. To create the vibrant images about Diego’s inner and outer world, Roberta Collier-Morales drew on her own childhood struggles with dyslexia and the role imagination played in her young life.

Listen Now!

You can hear Citizens’ Climate Radio on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, SoundCloud, Podbean, Northern Spirit Radio, Google Play, PlayerFM, and TuneIn Radio. We are now on Spotify. Also, feel free to connect with other listeners, suggest program ideas, and respond to programs in the Citizens’ Climate Radio Facebook group or on Twitter at @CitizensCRadio.

If you listen on iTunes, please consider rating and reviewing us!

January 24, 2018 / podcast / No Comments »

An Oklahoma Oil Town Embraces Wind Energy

Grant Samms

Who doesn’t like a good story about how a town filled with a long Conservative history is offered something new and they run with it? When Grant Samms told me about his time in Woodward, OK, I knew I needed to interview him for my monthly show. He’s a brilliant storyteller with a great story to tell.

He explains how this Western Oklahoma town, which was founded because of oil extraction, found a way to add wind energy to their portfolio. Grant expected to find conflict between the established oil folks and outsiders pushing liberal green renewable energy. Instead he found that the identity of the citizens and their sense of place opened the door for them to try something different. To them it was an extension of who they are as energy produces and providers.

Click below for a short clip of Grant explaining what he discovered

Chantal Bilodeau

In the show I also chat with playwright, Chantal Bilodeau. She adores the Arctic, and how she describes its vast openness and raw beauty, I imagine she draws lots of her audiences to consider this distant, cold world. She told me about the need for good art in talking about climate change. It’s not about debate, but about understanding the problem and our  possible responses. She also works hard to connect artists doing climate work with each other.

Click below to hear Chantal share insights about theater and art.

Every month I produce an episode of Citizens’ Climate Radio. It is not your typical climate change podcast. I also include an artist, like Chantal, and we focus on stories and solutions. Have a listen to the full interviews with Grant and Chantal.

October 27, 2017 / podcast / No Comments »

New Yorkers bring solar power to Puerto Ricans

I traveled to the island of Manhattan and met with someone engaged in hurricane recovery efforts in Puerto Rico. Ofelia Mangen, an Educational Designer and Technologist  at New York University, talks about climate change and Resilient Power Puerto Rico. This NY-based project has brought emergency solar power to the Puerto Rico. In addition, they are engaged in a project to provide long-term solar production. Ofelia talks about her own experiences in Rockaway, NY during Superstorm Sandy, and useful lessons she learned about resiliency.

Dig Deeper

You can hear Citizens’ Climate Radio on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Podbean, Northern Spirit Radio, Google Play, and TuneIn Radio. Also, feel free to connect with other listeners, suggest program ideas, and respond to programs in the Citizens’ Climate Radio Facebook group or on Twitter at @CitizensCRadio.

June 26, 2017 / podcast / No Comments »

And Now a Word about Pets

Growing up we had lots of pets in the house. In addition to the typical cats and dogs, we also had rabbits, chickens, a lamb, and a deer fawn that we found wandering alone in the woods.

I adore dogs. They adore me. I am allergic to cats, so I stay aloof. As a result, they are all over me. They must value the cool affect of apathy.

I have lots of conversations about climate change. Not everyone is interested. BUT when I talk to folks about pets and climate change, they perk up. I decided to chat with a veterinarian about household pets and farm animals and how global warming already affects them. What is a pet owner to do? Lots.

Have a listen to Dr. Steva Stowell-Hardcastle as she outlines for us the many ways climate change and pets rub up against each other.

April 25, 2017 / podcast / No Comments »

The Creativity of Engineers

For a long time I have been impressed with just how creative and artistic engineers can be. In my early 20s I met someone studying to be an electrical engineer. Along with his disciplined and detail oriented approach to his work, he also displayed an artsy side.

In my latest podcast episode I ask Dr. Hugh Sealy, an environmental engineer, about his creative side. As a problem solver, he is looking for solutions. Creativity is important to devise elegant solutions to complicated problems.

I aslo feature a 19 year old student, Adia Samba-Quee, from Springfield, MA. She is just beginning her journey as someone concerned about climate change. Her response? To use comedy and journalism.

For the Art House I get creative myself by imagining what a historian will have to say about us from the year 2167. Turns out the celebrities of our future will be engineers!

October 24, 2016 / podcast / No Comments »

Gay and Christian? An insightful and hilarious conversation

Lord Have Mercy

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Chrystal Cheatham

I sit down for an interview with Chrystal Cheatham, host of Lord Have Mercy podcast. Oh we cover a lot of ground–queer theology, race, privilege, wild Bible births, how everything is connected. I don’t know but she brings out the best in me.

We spoke so long that she is going to present the interview in two parts.

Taking Matters into our own Hands

If you are a gay Christian and you want a better understand of how to approach the Bible and get beyond the clobber passages, have a listen. Also, check out Chrystal’s site. She has articles and is creating a new special Bible app designed just for LGBTQ Christians. You might even want to submit an article or content to her site or the app.

Peterson Toscano is hilarious and poignant and our in-the-meantime-guest as Alba and Crystal craft an entire season of podcasts that don’t skimp on the awkward, tense and cringe worthy truths about God, Sex and the Bible. Peterson is one of Crystal’s favorite performers and a true trailblazer who has been handling top tier discussions on sex and the bible long before this podcast.

Have a Listen

Lord Have Mercy podcast: Peterson Toscano Part One  (Also hear it on iTunes)

June 2, 2015 / podcast / No Comments »

Polar Bear Fatigue. Queer Reasons to Address Climate Change?

It’s weird. I’m not an environmentalist, but I am concerned about climate change, and I think it is because I am gay. This may not make any sense to anyone, but I know about people coming up with false science in order to push a political agenda. For years anti-LGBTQ folks have either fabricated or distorted “scholarship” to slander LGBTQ, insist that our feelings and lives are immoral and unnatural, and to try to convince people that Change is Possible.

I can relate to climate change being this offensive thing that a group of people want to ignore, bash, or legislate out of the discussion. And honestly I grow tired of how many environmentalist talk about climate change. I mean some of my best friends are environmentalists. They are passionate and committed. But their arguments of why we should engage in climate action do not motivate me at all. Now talk about coffee as an endangered specie, yeah, you have my attention.

Save the Coffee Bean

This wakes me up better than a double espresso!

In order to develop other talking points about why we should engage in climate action, I surveyed a bunch of people, asking, Besides the polar bears and future generations, why do you think we should act on climate change? I talked to mostly teenagers but some adults too, and I had some of my favorite characters chime in including my newest character, a British pensioner living in Spain (but she has yet to tell us her name.)

Through the conversations I came up with a very queer reason to act to address climate change, one that may not come to mind to most people right away–the plight of transgender, queer, gender queer, bisexual, lesbian, and gay homeless youth and adults in times of extreme weather events like hurricanes, floods, and heatwaves.

Take a listen to my latest podcast filled with fun characters, great music, and fresh approaches.

Episode 27 of The Stew

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Many voices fill my head. Good thing I have a mic to record them all.

May 4, 2015 / podcast / No Comments »

As an adult text worker, I am looking for fresh ways to talk about climate change

I’m thrilled to announce that the quirky, off-beat show known as Climate Stew is back for a second season. Wait before you run to the hills or click onto some celebrity’s butt, but take a moment and click on Climate Stew instead. I promise there is no doom, gloom, or guilt. I’m not gonna make you feel ashamed of eating almonds or driving or breathing. In fact, I’ll make it easy for you. Here is a short sample from the show in which I present as myself and as Yuri, a lovable and knowledgable Russian foodie in Brooklyn.

Ok, that was your appetizer. How about the main course? Take a listen to Episode 25 of Climate Stew.

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January 4, 2015 / podcast / No Comments »

And on the Eighth Day God Created Breakfast!

I confess I am a breakfast fiend. I go to bed at night dreaming of what I might have for breakfast. Half the fun of traveling for me is knowing I will get to go out for breakfast (and not have to clean up all the breakfast mess.) Of course Wally and Emma, the cats who own us and demand to be fed long before I am willing to get out of bed, get the prize for breakfast for being most passionate about breakfast in our house.

When I first read The Hobbit and discovered that those delightful, hairy, little creatures routinely had multiple breakfasts, Bilbo become the hero of the book for me even before the adventure began. Who wants to be an airy-faery elf that seems to live on beauty and eternal wisdom when you could have:

  • 7:00am – Breakfast
  • 9:00am – Second Breakfast
  • 11:00am – Elevenses

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Not too long ago I surveyed people about their favorite breakfast foods, (you can see results here.) Right now I am deep into hot cereal season. I also have been obsessed with drinking so much oolong tea that soon I will need to insert a catheter. But breakfast for those who enjoy it can be a treat and a very personal, regional, and emotional meal.

I invite you to enjoy my conversation with Yuri Ivanovich (yes, he is one of my many characters. More proof that I do not play well with others.) We talk over the results of the survey and reveal some surprising changes ahead on our breakfast tables. PLEASE tell me about your breakfast.

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