Livable Future Podcast

We delve into a highly unique and climate-vulnerable region of the world, the Hindu Kush Himalayas. Basanta Shrestha, Director of Strategic Cooperation at ICIMOD, discusses how the Himalayan region is already experiencing the consequences of climate change and why the Paris Agreement's goal of 1.5-degree warming is too hot for the Himalayas.We examine the necessary qualities to create effective partnerships and explore ways to bring 'mountains from the margins.' Learn about mountain tipping points, ecosystem services, the urgent need for increased financing to drive climate mitigation and adaptation for mountain communities, and more.Join hosts, Kaydee Barker & Cody Sanford, at the end to discuss key takeaways from our interview and actionable items that people from anywhere can do to support mountain sustainability.Full episode transcript and episode sources are available at livablefuturepodcast.com.

Appalachian communities have been deeply impacted by extractive industries, leading to devastating consequences from climate change. In the introductory episode of the Mountain Life Series, community leader, and activist Tiffany Pyette shares her perspective on the impacts of strip mining on the Appalachian community, the need for a Just Transition, listening to community members, and more."I know one of my friends who's a wonderful activist, her son, he asked one time, “When are the mountains gonna grow back?” And I remember that being just one of those moments where like, you had to really sit with the fact that like our mountains have been sliced clean off and we can't give this child a good answer," Pyette.Listen to Pyette on how extractive industries have taken away traditional and ancestral land, the origins and meaning of Two-Spirit identity, and ways of supporting mountain communities.Full transcript and episode sources are available at livablefuturepodcast.com

Welcome to the Livable Future Podcast, a thought-provoking series of discussions on climate change, environmental conservation, and sustainability. Our goal is to create a space for an open and factual dialogue accessible to everyone. In each episode, we dive deep into various sustainability topics, sharing insights from experts and stakeholders to help shape a livable future for all.In our latest episodes, we explore what a sustainable future means for communities and people in the mountains. We have partnered with the Mountain Sentinels Network to bring you informative discussions on how global mountain sustainability affects everything.Join us as we work towards a sustainable future for you and me. Subscribe to the Livable Future Podcast and follow us on social media to stay informed and engaged.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) publishes the most robust climate assessments. Dr. Jessica O'Reilly is a cultural anthropologist from Indiana University who has vigorously studied the decision-making process of the IPCC. In this episode, Dr. O'Reilly shares an inside look into the scientists writing the Sixth Assessment Report of the IPCC.

This round table discussion with students and young environmentalists from the YEAH network focuses on ways we can approach the climate crisis and keep a sense of optimism when we face an uphill battle.

Storytelling is inherent in science, but sometimes we get comfortable with narratives that may be problematic. Agroecology PhD student Siwook Hwang sheds light on the dangers of the "scarcity axiom" and how we should pay attention to and challenge how we frame our stories in science.

Wildfire season is lasting longer, affecting more people, and is becoming harder to control. Wildfire ecologist Casey Teske discusses fire's role in ecosystems, fuel treatment methods, and the challenges of fire forecasting.

Dr. Rick Knight set out on a mission to save nature 30+ years ago, but revelations over the course of his career have changed everything. In this episode, Dr. Knight shares how his work, and his life, have transformed and made for better outcomes.

Getting people on the same page about sustainability goals can be challenging. In this episode, environmental consultant, artist, and community facilitator, Emmanuelle Vital, discusses how we can bridge the gap between science, sustainability goals, and communities.

Australian environmentalist Shane French discusses the 2020 bushfires, Australia's unique wildlife, and offers advice for career longevity in environmentalism.

The 5th episode explores how important mentorship and community is to STEM students. Cristal Dominguez Vasquez, a recent college graduate in a STEM field, takes a moment to discuss the opportunities, hardships, and realizations she experienced as a Latinx student.

Connecting people to place can be a powerful teaching tool and is something, lecturer at Indiana University and long-time park service employee, Dr. Brian Forist embraces. In this episode, we detail many examples of how this connection to nature is powerful for healing, learning, and uniting people together.

America's national parks are called our "best idea", but are they? How can we make them better? What's co-management of the parks? What are ecosystem sciences? In this episode, long-time National Park Service employee and lecturer at Indiana University, Dr. Brian Forist gives an honest look at the growth happening across America's "Best Idea".

How can we make science and nature more accessible? In this episode, we look at how citizen science can be a tool for people to reach a higher understanding of the ecosystem surrounding them. Scientists Dr. Bowser and Sarah Whipple continue the discussion on how we each will connect to nature differently, we also examine the interesting parallels in finding nature in a park in New York City with finding frogs in Maine.

The first episode is focused on the importance of understanding multicultural understanding for climate action and sustainable development. This is the first one of a two-part interview with Dr. Gillian Bowser and Ph.D. candidate Sarah Whipple. In this episode, Dr. Bowser details the origin of the YEAH network, the "open the door & get out the way" teaching approach, and how each culture may think about conservation differently.