Climate Champions

Dr. Thomas Carter is a Reader in the School of Sport and Service Management at the University of Brighton and the Executive Director of Football for Peace. Dr. Carter is a sport anthropologist and specialist in sport migration, and joins the podcast to discuss his career, the unique opportunities that lie in sport-for-development work, and the added pressures that climate change will add to migration systems.

Stephania Ergemlidze started a one-woman movement in the summer of 2020 when she took her basketball hoop to protest sites around the U.S. to facilitate positive interactions between groups. She joins the podcast to discuss her personal trajectory, the role of sports in strengthening communities and addressing inequities.

In this last 4-episode segment of The Listening Sessions, we get into the solutions. How to fix environmental and social issues in sport? The fourth answer comes from COFFEY, a NYC-based filmmaker, runner, and community organizer who uses running as his platform for protest and community-building. He sheds light on the possibility and potential that lies in using our favorite sports or activities as sites for resistance and healing.

In this last 4-episode segment of The Listening Sessions, we get into the solutions. How to fix environmental and social issues in sport? The third answer is brought forth by Charles T. Brown, a researcher and adjunct professor at Rutgers University, who highlights the inequities in the ways our communities, streets, and public spaces are designed and proposes that prioritizing those people closest to pain (especially Black, Brown, and low income communities) and inviting them to join decision-makers at the table is central to finding solutions.

In this last 4-episode segment of The Listening Sessions, we get into the solutions. How to fix environmental and social issues in sport? The second answer comes from Aileen McManamon, Kristen Fulmer, and Monica Rowand, who together with Dr. Maddy Orr form the Sport Sustainability Research Collective. These sustainability specialists highlight the enormous potential that lies in partnerships and collaboration for addressing major challenges in sport.

In this last 4-episode segment of The Listening Sessions, we get into the solutions. How to fix environmental and social issues in sport? The first answer comes from Drs. Ann Pegoraro and Lindsey Darvin, experts on gender issues in sport, who highlight the potential and benefits of putting women and POC into positions of power.

In episodes 9-12 of The Listening Sessions, Dr. Maddy Orr addresses the inequities and unique experiences of Indigenous athletes and people working in the Indigenous sport system. Dr. Tricia McGuire-Adams joins the show to talk about decolonization through sport and especially her work with Anishinaabe women.

In episodes 9-12 of The Listening Sessions, Dr. Maddy Orr addresses the inequities and unique experiences of Indigenous athletes and people working in the Indigenous sport system. Dr. Forsyth discusses the use of sport as an assimilation tool in residential schools, the inequitable distribution of resources in the modern Indigenous sport system, and her research examining the experiences of Tom Longboat award winners.

In episodes 9-12 of The Listening Sessions, Dr. Maddy Orr addresses the inequities and unique experiences of Indigenous athletes and people working in the Indigenous sport system. Kathryn Teneese, chairwoman of the Ktunaxa Nation Council, was a leading figure in the resistance to Jumbo Glacier Resort, which would have been the largest ski resort in North America. She shares her story in episode 10.

In episodes 9-12 of The Listening Sessions, Dr. Maddy Orr addresses the inequities and unique experiences of Indigenous athletes and people working in the Indigenous sport system. This episode, with Dr. Natalie Welch, breaks down some of the key challenges facing Indigenous athletes and discusses the deep-seeded colonialism impacting mainstream sports in North America.

In episodes 5-8, Dr. Maddy Orr digs into the environmental and social issues affecting individual sports. In this episode, Dr. Becky Beal shares her research on skateboarding culture and infrastructure, and how the sport has been experienced differently depending on the neighborhood, available resources, and local culture.

In episodes 5-8, Dr. Maddy Orr digs into the environmental and social issues affecting individual sports. In this episode, Henri Rivers, the President of the National Brotherhood of Skiers, addresses the lack of diversity in the ski sector and proposes solutions for bringing more Black people into the sport.

In episodes 5-8, Dr. Maddy Orr digs into the environmental and social issues affecting individual sports. In this episode, Dr. Asherah Allen shares her personal experiences and research findings on Black swimmers' experiences, and the infrastructural and psychological barriers that prevent more Black people from taking up swimming.

In episodes 5-8, Dr. Maddy Orr digs into the environmental and social issues affecting individual sports, zeroing in on surfing in this episode with Rhonda Harper, founder of Black Girls Surf.

In this episode of The Listening Sessions, Dr. Maddy Orr interviews Alexandra Rickham about what's missing in the sport sustainability movement: diverse voices, comprehensive strategy, and long-term positive thinking.

In this third episode of Season 3, The Listening Sessions, Dr. Maddy Orr interviews Garry Gilliam, former NFL player and CEO of The Bridge, about the challenges facing low-income Black communities and how The Bridge is holistically addressing wellbeing and fostering prosperity in these communities.

In this second episode of Season 3, The Listening Sessions, Dr. Maddy Orr interviews Dr. Nick Watanabe of the University of South Carolina on air quality, pollution, and the many ways sport organizations may inadvertently be contributing to these problems.

In this first episode of Season 3, The Listening Sessions, Dr. Maddy Orr interviews Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali on what environmental justice is, how it applies to sport, and what sport organizations should be addressing this issue.

In the last episode of Season 2, Hattie Park, Sustainability Manager at the All-England Lawn Tennis Club joins Maddy to discuss sustainable strategy, the importance of biodiversity and natural features to the overall experience at Wimbledon, the role of sports media in aiding sustainability efforts in the sport sector, and how the sport industry can move forward after COVID in collaborative and supportive ways.

In this second-last episode of Season 2, Maddy is joined by Jessica Murfree and Laura Stargel, two members of the 2019-2020 cohort for the Grad Student Mentorship Initiative, hosted by The Sport Ecology Group. Laura is based in Florida and is studying two master's degrees at University of South Florida and German Sport University Cologne. Jessica is a PhD Candidate and instructor of sport administration at the University of Louisville.

Dr. Walker Ross, an assistant professor of sport management at Florida Southern College, and Jamee Pelcher, a doctoral student at University of Tennessee at Knoxville, join the podcast to share their unique stories of what inspired them to study sport ecology, and update us on their current research.

Joie 'Jo' Leigh was a member of the Great Britain field hockey team that won the Olympic gold medal in Rio in 2016. Following her retirement from the sport, Jo entered a career in climate consultancy. She currently serves as an Analyst for Carbon Intelligence, a London-based firm, and is a member of the Commonwealth Youth Sport for Development and Peace Network.

EcoAthletes is a new international non-profit that offers athletes the resources and coaching they need to feel confident speaking out about climate change. In this episode, Maddy is joined by EcoAthletes founder Lew Blaustein, strategic advisor Kristen Fulmer, and EcoAthletes members Alena Olsen (USA Rugby) and Jeremy Casebeer (AVP Volleyball).

Adam Kreek is an Olympic Gold Medallist, best-selling author, and leadership consultant who also runs a start-up focused on making carbon offsets available to communities in British Columbia. He came on the podcast to chat about his athletic career, his successes and failures in the business world, and the potential for organizations to go carbon neutral through partnerships with other organizations in their own communities.

Chris Dickerson, former MLB player and founder of Players for the Planet, joins the podcast to discuss growing up in LA, his time in the minor league when he activated his first sustainability initiative, taking public transit to games as an MLB player, and how Players for the Planet began and grew.

Dr. Sheila Nguyen is the Executive Director of Sports Environment Alliance and joins the show to discuss her career trajectory, the work happening in Australia and New Zealand to make sport organizations more resilient in the face of climate change, and the Sport for Climate Action Framework.

Katie Rood, a professional footballer from New Zealand, currently in the UK playing for Lewes Ferns, joined Maddy on this episode to discuss her childhood and early exposure to sport, her experience playing in Italy, and how becoming vegan invigorated her health and propelled her into an advocacy role.

Dr. Cyrus Wadia is the Head of Sustainable Product at Amazon. Previously, he worked in sustainability leadership roles at Nike and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. He joins the show to talk about his upbringing in Upstate NY, an early internship that spurred his interest in sustainability, and the dynamics of leading change in large organizations like the White House, and Nike.

Brian McCullough is the Co-Director of The Sport Ecology Group and an Associate Professor of Sport Management at Texas A&M University. He joins the podcast to share his story of becoming a sport ecologist and discusses his latest research on fan engagement and measuring environmental impact.

It's been a year since Season 1 was released and in that time, a LOT has changed. Season 2 will be launched with episodes released weekly through the summer of 2020. At the end of Season 2, Season 3 titled the Ecojustice Listening Sessions, will be dropped all at once, just ahead of the back-to-school season. This intro episode offers an overview of both Seasons 2 and 3, and the conversations and insights you can expect to hear. Enjoy!

This 2 minute episode offers an overview of the Climate Champions Podcast.

Aubrey McCormick, retired LPGA golfer and sustainability consultant to the golf industry, joins Maddy Orr to discuss strategies for addressing politically charged topics with hesitant audiences, sustainability on golf courses, and the impacts of climate hazards (e.g. wildfires, rising sea levels) on golf courses.

Linda Gancitano, member of the original USWNT for soccer and Founder of the How Low Can You Go Challenge, joins Maddy Orr to discuss energy use reductions, galvanizing the energy of youth,

Dee Caffari, 6x Circumnavigator and Chair of the World Sailing Trust, joins Maddy Orr to discuss the role of sport participants and athletes as influencers, ocean plastics in the most remote parts of the world, and how small changes can have big impact.

Joey McColm, Professional NASCAR driver and ambassador for Earth Day Canada, joins Maddy Orr to chat about sustainability in the automotive industry, his experiences with advocacy, and future innovations.

Ovie Mughelli, former NFL Fullback and Founder of the Ovie Mughelli Foundation, joins Maddy Orr to discuss the importance of including marginalized communities in sustainability conversations, the potential for comic books and edutainment to connect with kids, and how poor air quality has affected those he loves most.

Caroline Gleich, professional skier and mountaineer and Founder of the Big Mountain Dreams Foundation, joins Maddy Orr to discuss her experiences with climate advocacy in schools and in Washington, the importance of spending time outside, and role models in the sustainability space.

Monica Rowand, Sustainability Manager at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, joins Maddy Orr to discuss zero waste, green transportation, and the importance of aligning values to get people on board with sustainability.

Dave Newport, Director of the Environmental Centre at CU Boulder and Chief Sustainability Officer at Phase 3 Sport, joins Maddy Orr to discuss sustainability in college sport, the challenge of monetizing sustainability initiatives, and the potential for Gen Z to make a big impact.

Lew Blaustein, Founder and Chief Blogger at the Green Sports Blog, joins Maddy Orr to discuss jobs in the green sport movement, the historical significance of climate change action, and strategies for getting people to pay attention.

Dr. Daniel Scott, Executive Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre on Climate Change at the University of Waterloo, joins Maddy Orr to discuss the difference between weather and climate, how climate change is affecting seasonal sport and tourism, and the future of the Olympic Games.

Erik Distler and Garrett Wong of the Green Sports Alliance join Maddy Orr to discuss the first ten years of the GSA, the awesome initiatives of their member organizations, and ways for fans to get involved in the sport sustainability movement.