HEAL Utah Podcast

We've had a few staff changes here at HEAL Utah and we are so excited to introduce you to our new Development Director, Turner Bitton, and Grassroots Organizer, Carmen Val Dez! Listen to this week's episode (the last of the 2019 HEAL Utah Podcast season) to hear about their background, how they'll live their best HEAL life with us, and what challenges they are excited to take on in their new roles. You can meet Turner and Carmen in person at our 20th Anniversary Fall Party on October 10th! Get tickets today at www.healutah.org/fallparty2019 (and don't forget to ask about their cows or dogs when you meet them at the party). This episode is brought to you by KUHL Clothing. Subscribe to the HEAL Utah podcast on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, Podbean, or our RSS feed.

Did you know that Utah has part-time legislators, that there are only 45 days a year where they can pass laws, and that citizen's can come to the State Capitol Building and lobby them during that time? HEAL Utah Policy Associate Jessica Reimer not only spends all 45 days of the legislative session at the Capitol, but she also develops bills and helps push them forward to become law. We sat down with Jessica to chat about how Utah's legislative process works, how HEAL successfully works on environmental legislation (its all about values), and how you can get involved! Listen now and then sign up to get HEAL's updates during the legislative session at https://www.healutah.org/get-legislative-updates/. This episode is brought to you by KUHL Clothing. Subscribe to the HEAL Utah podcast on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, Podbean, or our RSS feed.

If you're into big mountain freestyle skiing, you probably know about Dash Longe. But did you know that he is also a dad, filmmaker, and environmental advocate? Lately, Dash has been on a mission to refocus himself, his skiing, and his advocacy locally. The day his new film was announced (Stone's Throw, which is premiering on October 3rd and will benefit HEAL Utah!) and the day before the Global Climate Strike, we sat down with Dash to talk about athletes acting as advocates, how change will come with people power, and what world he wants for his daughters. Listen today and then join us and Dash on October 3rd at the Commonwealth Room for Stone's Throw premier (bit.ly/stonesthrowslc)! Watch the trailer for Stone's Throw below: DPS Cinematic // Stone's Throw Trailer from DPS SKIS on Vimeo. This episode is brought to you by KUHL Clothing. Subscribe to the HEAL Utah podcast on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, Podbean, or our RSS feed.

This week we sat down with another Torrey House Press author, Zak Podmore, to discuss his new book Confluence: Navigating the Personal & Political Rivers of the New West and his life on the river. Zak has a long history with the uranium industry, a history that is ongoing for him even today in San Juan County. This industry, along with other radioactive waste issues, is something that HEAL is especially familiar with. We dive into the issue of uranium milling and Utah's long relationship with radioactive waste. His book Confluence is on sale this October. This episode is brought to you by KUHL Clothing. Subscribe to the HEAL Utah podcast on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, Podbean, or our RSS feed.

Tim Sullivan and Michael Yount call themselves Salt Lake City cheerleaders, but they do more than just cheer on this growing city - they are an integral part of its development and are changing the way we think about using our streets, landscape, and public spaces. Tim and Michael are the owners of Little City Inc., a Utah Benefit Corporation that creates temporary, urban spaces utilized for walking, transit, and bicycling while providing affordable space for entrepreneurs and makers. We sat down this them in this week's episode to learn how Little City Inc. came to be, what a Utah Benefit Corporation is, and why we need to be using big city solutions as Salt Lake continues to develop. Listen and then be sure to check them out at www.littlecityinc.com! This episode is brought to you by KUHL Clothing. Subscribe to the HEAL Utah podcast on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, Podbean, or our RSS feed.

This week we caught up with Ayja Bounous to talk about our favorite thing - skiing - and our least favorite thing - climate change. Author of Torrey House Press' new book Shaped by Snow: Defending the Future of Winter (available in November 2019), Ayja has a deep, familial connection with winter and environmentalism. Together, we dive into how climate change is impacting our relationship with winter and with each other, and what the ski industry is and isn't doing to protect the season that they depend on. Listen to this week's HEAL Utah Podcast episode too to find hope for our winter even when it feels hopeless. More on Shaped by Snow: Defending the Future of Winter by Ayja Bounous, published by Torrey House Press: Skier and debut author Ayja Bounous explores threats to winters and watershed in the face of climate change and the far-reaching impacts of a diminishing snowpack on the American West—from ecological and economic perspectives and in regard to emotional and psychological health—as she realizes how deeply her personal relationships are tied to the snow-covered mountains of Utah's Wasatch range. This episode is sponsored by KUHL Clothing! Subscribe to the HEAL Utah podcast on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, Podbean, or our RSS feed.

How can you run a sustainable business when it inherently produces emissions? Owner of Publik Coffee Roasters and Publik Kitchen, Missy Greis, hasn't found all the answers but she has come to a few conclusions. On this episode, we talk with Missy about building a sustainable business - from installing solar panels to balance out emissions caused by roasting coffee and using local products to accepting occasional monetary losses for the sake of the environment. Plus, Missy opens up about the many obstacles to being sustainable and what small businesses should know before getting started. So whether you're trying to start your own business or you just love Publik coffee, listen to this week's episode and don't forget to bring your own mug to Publik next time you go! This episode is sponsored by KUHL Clothing! Subscribe to the HEAL Utah podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Podbean, or our RSS feed.

If you've come to any of HEAL Utah's main events in the last three years, they were most likely orchestrated by our Development Director, Hannah Whitney. In honor of her last few months here at HEAL (she's leaving this fall to ski volcanoes in Chile!), we sat down with her to get her "how I came to Utah" story and to learn how she got involved with environmental nonprofits after a short stint of pro-skiing. Plus, we dive into what a Development Director actually does at a small organization like HEAL. We'll miss you Hannah! This episode is sponsored by KUHL Clothing! Subscribe to the HEAL Utah podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Podbean, or our RSS feed.

Jason Groenewold came to Utah in the 90s with skis, a tent from Walmart, and $500 in his pocket. Decades later, he had built up a thriving environmental nonprofit and won countless victories against the giants of nuclear, chemical, and toxic waste. In this week's episode, our host Michael talks with Jason about the origins of HEAL Utah (including how it grew from local citizens to an office based out of his bedroom to an alliance continually influencing statewide policy) and how a small group of grassroots activists can - and do - make a difference. Learn more about the origin story of HEAL Utah from one of its founders, Chip Ward, in Canaries on the Rim. This episode is sponsored by KUHL Clothing Subscribe to the HEAL Utah podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Podbean, or our RSS feed.

Dr. Sandra Steingraber was there when Tim DeChristopher looked the judge who would sentence him in the eyes and said "This is what hope looks like...This is what patriotism looks like...This is what love looks like, and it will only grow." Those words were the impetus to her long career in activism, writing, and taking her research as a biologist from the halls of science to the halls of power to create meaningful change. Dr. Steingraber was also our 2019 spring breakfast speaker! She sat down with HEAL Utah's Executive Director, Dr. Scott Williams, the day before our breakfast to talk about everything in her life, from her cancer diagnosis that led to her fight on fracking to that day at Tim DeChristopher's trial that changed the course of her life, and everything in between. This episode is sponsored by KUHL Clothing. Listen and subscribe on iTunes here. RSS feed

For the last 15 years, KRCL’s RadioActive has been a radio show for grassroots activism. This week, we turned the microphone around on the show’s host, Lara Jones, and co-host, Billy Palmer, to interview them on creating a safe place for community conversation and change. Lara and Billy are fully comfortable in uncomfortable situations and they want us, RadioActive listeners, to do the same. They bring local activists (including environmental activists like HEAL Utah) onto the show and give them a platform to pose hard questions, foster solutions, invite people to get involved, or simply have a conversation about hard topics.  Listen for an inside look at one of Utah’s most influential radio shows and for their advice on how you can get involved with an issue you’re passionate about (hint: be willing to stink).

Thomas Quayle lives in a place that most people avoid or criticize: science communications. As the Education Program Specialist at the Clark Planetarium and a Solar System Ambassador for NASA/JPL, Thomas uses exploration to educate kids on topics like climate change. In this week’s episode, we chat about an astronaut’s view of the environment and the power of using experiments and the sense of discovery to teach children about climate change. Thomas also explains common climate change lingo (like the 2 degrees Celsius threshold) and gets deep with our host Michael Shea, who couldn’t resist Thomas’ NASA/JPL Ambassador title, about discovering life elsewhere in our universe.  You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Podbean. Don’t forget to subscribe on one or all four platforms! Bonus media!Part of this podcast was recorded live on the Clark Planetarium’s Facebook page. Watch it here. 

We call it the Trojan Horse of the nuclear industry and a disaster for Utah, but everyone else calls it depleted uranium (DU). Join us this week as HEAL Utah’s Policy Associate Jessica Reimer tells the story of DU, which starts out as low-level waste but becomes increasingly radioactive over time. From Utah’s long history with toxic waste to why we are fighting DU today, it’s a story that’s core to our mission and one that we told almost a decade ago when EnergySolutions first tried to bring DU to Utah. Since DU becomes more radioactive over time, it’s also a story about our values, principles, and willingness to take action to protect the future of our children, grandchildren, and beyond. Plus, Jessica lets you know how you can make your voice part of the story. *Please note that Jessica Reimer misquoted the isotopes of depleted uranium and has corrected it as follows: U-235 has 92 protons, 92 electrons, and 143 neutrons; U-238 has 92 protons, 92 electrons, and 146 neutrons.

With what lens do legislators look at a bill? Is it through a privileged one or an inclusive one that recognizes disproportionate effects that a bill could have on our communities? Representative Angela Romero (D-26) continually challenges her colleagues on the hill to enter that, sometimes uncomfortable, unknown in which privilege is recognized but utilized to help others. In the generally non-diverse environmental movement, these same challenges should be met. This week, Rep. Romero talks about environmental justice and equity, the fact that no injustice stands alone, whether that be environmental injustice, racial injustice, or gender injustice, and the importance of having conversations with people outside of your community where you listen and talk with, not down to, each other.

He’s a doctor, a grandfather, a cyclist, and the Bruce Springsteen of HEAL Utah: meet our Executive Director, Dr. Scott Williams. He came to the studio this week to give us a sneak-peak at his pre-HEAL life in the medical world and to explain how the transition from medicine to an environmental non-profit makes perfect sense. In both fields, he is focused on our children’s future, vulnerable populations, and prevention and protection. In a campaign pop-quiz from our host Michael Shea, Scott sheds light on what HEAL is up to this summer and what’s coming up for us this fall. If you haven’t met our Executive Director yet, here’s your chance. You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Podbean. Don’t forget to subscribe on one or all four platforms!

While some high school seniors were focused on prom, graduation, and spring break, Piper Christian spent a lot of her senior year at the State Capitol advocating for the climate change resolution. She spoke with us during a well-deserved vacation and unwrapped the evolution of the student-led climate change resolution, the power of the “inconvenient youth,” and the great mystery of whether or not our host, Michael Shea, is still part of the “younger generation.” We worked closely with Piper and her fellow students on the climate change resolution and are thrilled that she is an incoming freshman at the University of Utah, where we cannot wait to see where her relentless spirit takes her. 

While he was in town to speak at the Clark Planetarium, we managed to grab Dr. Robert Mendelsohn, a professor at Yale University’s Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, for a chat about his (and our own Michael Shea’s) favorite topic: the economics of climate change. We dove in quickly, immediately getting to why we should care about climate change, the difference between traditional economics and environmental economics, sacrifices for the collective good, how climate change interacts or doesn’t interact with global markets. Plus, we reflected on what Dr. Mendelsohn would do about climate change if he was president of the world.

Every advocacy group believes, for good reason, that their campaign should be front page news. There’s no front page big enough to cover everyone’s work, unfortunately, so instead, we spoke with Emma Penrod, a former environmental reporter at the Salt Lake Tribune and a current freelance journalist, to get the inside scoop on how stories make the front page. In our conversation about environmental journalism, Emma also walked us through an ongoing conflict in niche journalism: keeping a story simple and digestible without losing the complexity that many issues have. It’s a balancing act, as is so much more in environmental journalism.

After finishing off her final legislative session as a representative, Representative Rebecca Edwards sat down with the HEAL Utah Podcast. In this episode, we chatted about the struggle not make James Bond jokes over House Concurrent Resolution 007 (the climate change resolution) and about the resolution itself, including what it took to get it through the legislature. Rep. Edwards also shared some simple advice, that many overlook, for getting things done: know the rules. By knowing the rules of the legislature, the world becomes your oyster. For example, knowing the rules can shed light on when a bill is dead and when a bill is not quite dead yet, which can allow it to come back to life and maybe even get passed! 

Matt chats with Richard, who has written extensively (13 books!) on energy and economic issues, about climate change, energy trends and more. Richard, a senior fellow at the Post Carbon Institute, talks first about peak oil, a once popular theory about diminishing fossil fuel reserves which he believes will again soon rear its head, despite recent market trends. He also explains his pessimism about climate change solutions, including his belief that technological fixes won’t work absent broader social changes. For more information, check out the regular Museletters Richard puts out, his page at the Post Carbon Institute,  his Twitter feed, or his latest is a talk/performance at New England Conservatory of Music.

The Tribune’s environmental reporter, Brian Maffly, returns to the podcast to chat all things monument. Matt and Brian have a wide-ranging conversation about President Trump’s recent decision to cut the Grand Staircase Escalante monument in half, while reducing the new Bears Ears monument by 85 percent. (For many excellent articles which Brian has written about this issue, click here.) They discuss how this contentious fight, which of course will now head to the courts, has been defined by a tremendous amount of misleading rhetoric. Brian explains the different levels of protection that varied federal land has and the two chat about the likelihood that oil, gas, coal or uranium resources will be developed at either monument in the coming years. Lastly, they chat about the role that Native American nations have played in the monument fight. Click here for Brian’s Twitter feed, the Tribune’s website or Brian’s Authory page.

Josh Edson, from Tim Dahle Nissan, sits down with Matt to chat about the electric vehicle revolution we’re experiencing. As the local car dealership’s “electric vehicle ambassador,” they talk about trends in electric vehicle sales and how the new EVs are different than the early models (they go further!) They talk about the state legislature’s unfortunate decision to eliminate Utah’s EV tax credit last session and the current status of the federal tax credit. Josh describes how efforts to expand an EV charging infrastructure are going and the pitch he uses to encourage Nissan customers to consider purchasing or leasing a Nissan Leaf. Lastly, they discuss the future of autonomous or “self-driving” cars. For more information, check out Josh on the dealership’s Web site and on Facebook.

Matt chats with Peter, an assistant professor in the Environment & Society department at Utah State University, about his research on public opinion and climate change. They talked primarily about new research, featured in the Salt Lake Tribune and more recently, in the Herald Journal, which found that while Utahns are among “the least-likely Americans to believe in human-caused climate change,” they also “strongly support political action to curb climate change.” They discuss that paradox, offering a range of possible explanations including the age of the state’s population. More broadly, Peter and Matt chat about how climate change has become such a politically polarized issue and how, oddly, local weather plays a role in climate change polling. For more information, check out Peter’s USU website, his CV and his Twitter.

Matt chats with Nick Huey about his creative efforts to increase awareness about climate change, in coordination with University of Utah students. During this year’s rivalry football game between the two universities, Huey and others lit a giant purple Y in the mountains over LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo to bring attention to climate change. Nick described his background, how he became to be involved in climate work and generally how BYU students engage on the issue. He and Matt then talk about a new organization Nick has co-founded, The Climate Campaign, to be a moderate, nonpartisan, group to push for good climate change policies. They conclude by chatting about carbon fee and dividend, the policy Nick and many others strongly support to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For more information, check out the group’s website and Facebook page.

Yoram joins Matt in the studio for a chat about comedy, bipartisan climate advocacy, and Yoram’s recent move to Utah. Bauman, who has a PhD in economics, has built a living doing humorous lectures and presentations on serious topics, including economics and climate change. He also has co-written several books, including “The Cartoon Introduction to Climate Change.” In Washington state, where Bauman lived until recently, he led an (ultimately unsuccessful) effort to pass Initiative 732, a major carbon tax proposal. Matt and Yoram discuss that effort in Washington, carbon taxes in general, and why he thinks it’s a possible policy in conservative Utah. For more information, check Yoram out on Twitter and his website, which has info on booking him to deliver presentations and lectures. 

Matt chats with Michael Cundick and Darin Mann, executive director and action director (respectively) for the local grassroots effort known as Salt Lake City Air Protectors. Michael and Darin explain the origins of the new group, which grew out of the fight over the Dakota Access Pipeline on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. The new nonprofit is less interested in advocating specific air quality policies and more on building a grassroots movement, the two explained. They described how they hope to be truly community-based effort with a decentralized movement which champions diverse, local efforts. Michael and Darin describe how their effort is different than another new group that grew out of the pipeline protests, known as PANDOS, or Peaceful Advocates for Native Dialogue and Ongoing Support. For more information, check out the SLC Air Protector’s website and Facebook page.

Bob and Mary Ellen, longtime HEAL board members, talk about how they first became involved in the organization. They describe how the group’s work shifted over the years, from primarily a focus on nuclear waste issues to multiple campaigns of which nuclear now is a relatively small part. Matt asks them about the different staff and executive directors they have worked with, and what common characteristics the group’s different leaders have shared. They discuss what factors have helped HEAL grow and thrive and what Bob and Mary Ellen think are the most important criteria that make a good nonprofit Board member. For more information, check out HEAL’s Board of Directors web page and op-eds that Bob and Mary Ellen have written on nuclear waste and air quality science.

Matt talks to Chip about his new novel, Stony Mesa Sagas, which will be released by Torrey House Press on November 14th. Chip describes the plot and characters for the novel, which is a mix of genres and about the West and environmentalism. Chip said his first novel, after two acclaimed non-fiction books, was a fun experience to write. Chip then talks about several issues that have been important for Torrey, where he lives, including the communities (for now) successful effort to stop a gravel mine and ongoing issues to maintain a sustainable water supply. Matt then asks Chip about a new feature film,  “the public,” directed by Emilio Estevez, which was partly based upon a Los Angeles Times article Chip, a former librarian, wrote about libraries and the homeless. Lastly, Chip briefly previews the talk he will give at HEAL Utah’s Fall Party coming up on Thursday November 9. You can buy tickets here!

Julie Stewart, a Westminster honors college professor, joins Matt in a conversation about research she and her students did about Utah rooftop solar owners. Julie, an award-winning scholar and teacher who happens to also be Matt’s wife, describes the 200+ online surveys and 60+ interviews her team did to learn about who owns rooftop solar in Utah and why. Julie points out that their sample of solar owners was much larger than the one Rocky Mountain Power used to justify its proposed rate hike from 2016. Her team found that Utah solar owners are more diverse than the utility would like to believe, with a significant number of middle-class families in relatively small homes. Julie and Matt also discuss the attitudes of rooftop solar owners towards Rocky Mountain Power (not good!) For more information, check out the “Executive Summary: A Study of Utah Rooftop Solar Power Owners,” which Julie and her team produced.

Matt chats with David, one of the most important writers today on energy, climate and the environment, about several of his recent columns in the online news outlet Vox. First, they tackle “radical flank effects,” about whether more radical forms of activism are useful to broader movements. Next, they discuss renewable portfolio standards, a wonky but important policy tool. David then explains why he thinks discussing population growth and birth rates is a poor choice for climate activists. They chat about why it’s important to understand the  logic and economics that explain the actions of utilities like Rocky Mountain Power. Lastly, David describes how he stays optimistic in the Age of Trump. For more information, check out David’s lively Twitter feed, his indispensable Vox columns, and his Grist.org articles.

Vancouver-based journalist, Geoff Dembicki, joins Matt in the studio to chat about his new book, Are We Screwed? How a New Generation is Fighting to Survive Climate Change. Geoff explains he remains hopeful despite the current political moment, hostile to positive policy developments on climate change. His optimism is based, the author explains, on recent election results in Canada and the UK, in addition to the young activists he profiles in his new book. Matt asks the writer about whether he thinks climate activism must be driven by leftist economic imperatives and how he perceives the left’s tendency towards factionalism. Lastly, they discuss the climate divestment movement, a focus of the second part of Geoff’s book. For more information, check out a review of  “Are We Screwed,” visit Bloomsbury’s website and follow Geoff on Twitter. 

Matt chats with Tyler Poulson, Salt Lake City’s sustainability program manager, about several key climate and energy issues including Utah Climate Week, coming up October 8-14. First, Tyler offers his take on the recent rooftop solar settlement reached between Rocky Mountain Power and other stakeholders. He then updates us about how Salt Lake City is progressing on its efforts to utilize more renewable energy. Lastly, Matt and Tyler chat about how climate policy work has evolved under the challenging administration in Washington. To send a message asking Governor Herbert to sign onto the Paris Agreement, fill out our “We Are Still In” action alert. (Share it with your networks, too: https://www.healutah.org/wearestillin) For more information about Salt Lake City’s work, visit the SLCGreen website. For more information about all of the interesting activities occurring during Utah Climate Week, visit the website of the Utah Climate Action Network. To learn about the FOUR events HEAL is hosting (or co-hosting) during climate week, check out our website!

Matt chats with Suzanne, the Board President of the Escalante & Boulder Chamber of Commerce, about the possible reduction of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. She describes how that region’s economy has been growing in recent years, as she wrote in a recent Deseret News op-ed. Suzanne, who owns and runs NEMO’S Drive-Thru in Escalante, talks about a growth in hotels, restaurants and other businesses directly linked to tourists visiting and enjoying the monument, which she believes should not be shrunk, as President Trump and Secretary Zinke appear poised to do.  She and Matt talk about whether grazing and fossil fuel extraction offer promise to the local economy and how some local leaders have shunned the promise of the monument’s economic benefits. For more information, visit the website of the Escalante & Boulder Chamber of Commerce — and visit the gorgeous Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument!

Matt chats with Michael about the historic rooftop solar agreement reached between Rocky Mountain Power, the solar industry and advocates like HEAL in late August. Michael, who worked nearly full-time on defending rooftop solar for the past nine months, describes the negotiating process that led to the recent settlement. He reviews the outcome, which has three parts. The first is for existing solar customers; the second, for those who sign up over the next three years, and, lastly, for those who acquire solar after 2020. Overall, Matt and Michael agree the agreement, while not perfect, should be seen as a positive outcome, all things considering. For more information, check out a video Michael made, news coverage in the Deseret News & Salt Lake Tribune, and for the true diehards, a link to the negotiated settlement itself.

Matt chats with Marisol Cortez, a scholar, writer and activist based in San Antonio, Texas. Since graduating from U.C. Davis with a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies, Cortez has returned to Texas to advocate for climate and social justice in her hometown. Matt and Marisol discuss gentrification in San Antonio and the displacement of the Mission Trails Mobile Home Park where Matt draws similarities between housing crises in San Antonio and Salt Lake City. They also spoke about a recent presentation Marisol gave at the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment conference about “resisting burnout.” Marisol is also a co-founder of Deceleration News, an online journal that reports at the intersection of climate change and social justice. Deceleration is currently seeking contributing writers. 

Matt chats about current Western environmental issues with Jonathan Thompson, an accomplished environmental journalist from southwestern Colorado. Thompson has recently reported on the battle over the Bears Ears National Monument and the coal industry in the West. Matt and Jonathan discuss the value of preserving not only the artifacts at the heart of a historic landmark, but also the landscape and physical context of a landmark, while examining Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke’s proposal to break up Bears Ears into several discontinuous sections. The two discuss another Trump cabinet member, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, and the myths which surround his push to defend coal-fired power sources. Finally, Matt asks Jonathan about the polarization of politics about the environment in the West and how we might engage in conversations with our friends and family across the aisle. To check out Jonathan’s writing and reporting, visit his author page at High Country News.

Ashley joins Matt in the studio to chat about the endeavors of Wasatch Community Gardens throughout the Salt Lake Valley. They discuss the mission of WCG to empower people of all ages and incomes to grow and eat healthy, organic, local food. They help refugees and women experiencing homelessness learn how to garden. Listen in to hear Matt and Ashley dissect issues surrounding locally grown food, the limiting factors in community gardening, and the future of urban growing. You can learn more or sign up to volunteer on their website.  Be sure to check out WCG’s Facebook, & Instagram, too.

Matt chats with Royal about his efforts on behalf of Salt Lake County to improve air quality and to work on climate change for the sake of public health. Royal discusses his involvement with the Utah Clean Cities Coalition to provide alternative fuel options and promote non-idling practices, as well as Salt Lake County’s measures to enforce wood burning regulations. You can report a wood-burning violation at any time, here. Finally, Matt and Royal explains an important effect of global climate change in Salt Lake County — heat stress, a growing public health concern. To find a place to cool off this summer in Salt Lake City, visit this interactive “cool zone” map. To learn more about the county health department’s work, check them out on the Web and on Facebook, Instagram, and their YouTube Channel.

Anne Mariah chats with Matt about the economic and environmental impacts of uranium milling and nuclear waste storage near Blanding, Utah. Anne Mariah describes the White Mesa Mill, the last conventional uranium mill in North America. Its nuclear waste pits, nearby residents and advocates say, pose some serious concerns regarding groundwater contamination and public health. While acknowledging White Mesa is a significant employer in San Juan County, Anne Mariah emphasizes the long-term economic value of protecting public health and the local environment.  For more information, check out news coverage of a recent march by White Mesa Concerned Community, a native-led grassroots organization. You can also learn more by watching a short film about the mill and by checking out Grand Canyon Trust on the Web, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Matt chats with Will about the successful brewery he founded nearly 25 years ago which has grown steadily and now sells its brews in 34 states. Will discusses Utah’s sometimes unusual alcohol laws. Matt and Will then talk about Uinta’s impressive commitment to environmental values, including acquiring renewable energy, installing energy efficiency measures and supporting many, many local nonprofits via donated product. Lastly, they talk about beer! For more information, check out the brewery’s Website and Twitter feed. And visit their brewhouse pub at 1722 Fremont Dr in Salt Lake City.

Matt chats with Ben about the origins and current operations of Salt Lake’s bike share program, which now has 33 stations in and around downtown and 141,000 rides in 2016. They talk about how GREENbike is funded, the demographics of the program’s ridership and the challenges the program has faced, including how to serve a more economically diverse group of riders. For more information check out recent articles about GREENbike in Catalyst, Slug Magazine and the Deseret News. And to find out more about the program, including how to buy a membership, check out GREENbike’s Web site and its presence on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Matt chats with Nazz, the CEO of Petzl America, about the outdoor company, its products and its involvement in policy issues. They talk first about Petzl’s history and products, and how the company makes gear not just for rock climbers, but for anyone who works in “a vertical environment,” from firefighters to window washers. Nazz then talks about the company’s decision to be a strong voice on important health and environmental issues, from air quality to the health of the Colorado River to protecting Bears Ears. Lastly, they chat about the recent announcement that the Outdoor Retailer shows will be leaving Utah, and Nazz’ disappointment with the development. For more information about Petzl, check out its Website, its Facebook page and on Instagram.

The Matts chat about the very timely issues of health care and health coverage in Utah, focusing on UHPP‘s valuable advocacy. Slonaker speaks to how, while Utah’s uninsured rates has improved in recent years, it is still higher than other states with similar populations and demographics. He compares how the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) has helped Utah families, with how the American Health Care Act (Trumpcare) is projected to reduce coverage. The two Matts also discuss how certain populations, such as refugees, the LGBT community, and those who speak English as a second language, face challenges accessing the health care system. For more information on UHPP, check out their Website, Facebook page and Twitter feeds.

Laura joins Matt in the studio to discuss all things related to water in the Salt Lake Valley. As the Director of the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, her role is focused on ensuring that 350,000 residents reliably receive clean drinking water and can flush their toilets with sound mind that their waste will be properly disposed of. Laura describes the importance of our canyon streams to providing drinking water, her role in protecting the source waters of the Wasatch Front, and how the Department is preparing for climate change, which is a real concern for water security here in the Salt Lake Valley. She touches on the progress being made with the recent Salt Lake County Mountain Accord, and concludes with insight to how Salt Lake can be a leader in water resource planning going forward. Join Matt and Laura in their dynamic discussion of the challenges that face water in Utah!

This week, Joan speaks with Matt about her time as the Senior Policy Advisor for EPA Region 8 under former President Obama from 2013-2016. Joan worked closely with Shaun McGrath, former Region 8 Administrator, who will be joining HEAL as the keynote speaker for our 2017 Spring Breakfast in May. During her tenure at the EPA, Joan was responsible for ensuring Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act were carried out in Region 8, contributed to the development of the Clean Power Plan and Obama’s Climate Action Plan, and worked closely with tribal governments on issues surrounding oil and gas development. Join us as she and Matt discuss the role of the EPA in ensuring clean air and a healthy environment along the Wasatch Front, the sea change of the current Administration and how this could affect the EPA, and the ways the EPA is looking to the future. She concludes with a taste of what Shaun will bring to the Spring Breakfast – get your tickets here! Be sure to listen!

Matt chats with the founder and namesake of Ken Sanders Rare Books. They discuss how the history of environmentalism and literature in Utah have often gone together, discussing such literary giants such as Edward Abbey and Wallace Stegner. Ken reminisces about his time spent with these great writers, and describes how he came to be an early founder and activist with Earth First!. They then chat about books, including the brisk trade in first edition Book of Mormon. He also bemoans the fact that, because of Salt Lake City’s growing gentrification, his iconic store on 200 East in Salt Lake City faces eviction within a couple years. Despite that, Ken has faith in the future of the book, insisting that books have a lasting, tangible presence that electronic copies cannot hope to emulate. Lastly, Ken delights listeners with a powerful reading of “Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front,” by farmer, poet and activist Wendell Berry.

Natalie joins Matt to chat about Sage Mountain Farm Animal Sanctuary. As the Director of Communications (and a doctoral student within Environmental Sociology and Gender at the University of Utah), Natalie works to challenge the current food system through educational programs and creating a physical space for rescued farm animals. This organization hosts pot lucks and Thirsty Thursdays throughout Utah as a way to create community and have conversations about environmental degradation, water consumption, and animal cruelty associated with the current US food system. Natalie acknowledges the personal resistance to changing our diet stems from a fear of discomfort and an adherence to family traditions. However, each of us can make small shifts in what we consume – THREE times a day. Changes can be incremental: swap nut milk for diary or abstain from meat one or two days a week. We each have the power to make conscious choices about the food we eat.

Matt chats with Cheryl about her organization’s work protecting and preserving land in Park City, Summit County and beyond. They talk primarily about the current drive to preserve Bonanza Flats, a 1,350 acre parcel in the Wasatch which will be developed if local governments and nonprofits can’t raise $38 million by June 15. After a huge commitment from Park City—of $25 million— and significant gifts from others (if not Salt Lake County), the broad coalition fighting to preserve the land is now about $3 million short. Cheryl also discussed how quickly the Park City area has grown and changed and her organization’s many successes in preserving key land around the area, including the popular Round Valley area. For more information, or to donate to Bonanza Flats, visit the land conservancy’s Website.

Matt chats with Ryan about his work advocating for clean air and for the Utah solar industry over the past few years. First, Ryan talked about his efforts with the Salt Lake Chamber pushing good clean air programs. Ryan then discusses how he came to be the solar association’s new President, and the group’s growing program and influence. They then move to talk about some current issues, including the recent battle over a proposal to get rid of a state tax credit which supports rooftop solar. Lastly, they talk about 2017’s biggest solar fight, which is the decision about whether to approve Rocky Mountain Power’s three proposed fees which would make rooftop solar unaffordable to most Utah families. For more information about Ryan and his work, check out the website of the Utah Solar Energy Association, their Twitter and Facebook. 

Matt has a wide-ranging chat with Erin about air quality, politics and homelessness. They discuss Erin’s tenure at Breathe Utah and the historic climate goals Salt Lake City has committed to. They then turn to discussing a high profile local issue — homeless shelters and Erin’s concerns about the (now cancelled) Simpson St. shelter. In the immediate aftermath of a new agreement about the shelters, which the City Council was shut out of, Erin discusses the often-frosty relationship between Mayor Biskupski and the council. To find out more about Erin’s work on the council, and to sign up for her regular newsletters, click here.

Matt chats with Tyler, the city’s Sustainability Program Manager, about SLC’s’s efforts to push effective climate change policies. First, they talk about the greenhouse gas inventory the city did, which found that the biggest part of the carbon footprint of the average city resident comes from buying power from Rocky Mountain Power. Tyler also describes the historic agreement the city recently reached with the utility to acquire more renewable energy, among other climate change initiatives. For more information, visit SLCgreen’s climate change page and follow them on Facebook.