Planet Earth 2072

The future can seem bleak. With a warming planet, there's the threat of rising seas, increased flooding, intensified storms, and that's already happening. With all of this, what can the youngest generation expect for their future? We speak with GenZ activist John Paul Mejia about that anxiety. We also hear from Florida International University associate professor Tiffany Troxler about how we got here.

What will climate change actually look like when it happens? Well, you only need to look at what's been happening. Notice how the temperatures are on the rise, annually. Notice how flooding is getting worse, regularly. We've been living under climate change for decades. Professor Ben Kirtman from the University of Miami helps us better understand how the changes that are coming will become part of our everyday lives. We all hear from high school senior and GenZ environmental activist Maya Gowda. She's concerned with making sure that impoverished communities are not left behind as the climate crisis starts reshaping the geography of our cities.

Delaney Reynolds started teaching and advocating climate change when she was a young teenager. It started with a book she wrote at the age of 14. Shortly after, it led to the launch of a non-profit called the Sink or Swim Project. She's hosted a TedX talk, won numerous accolades and is currently studying law and the environment at the University of Miami. Some consider Reynolds the Greta Thunberg of South Florida because she is that and more. Reynolds started working on her advocacy way before Greta was a household name. In this episode, Delaney talks about a lawsuit she helped file against the governor of Florida, a law she cowrote with a Miami mayor, and her thoughts on the future of her hometown.

Caroline Lewis wants to educate people about the climate crisis. She understood that the best way would be to start with the youngest generation. So, she launched the Cleo Institute.    We talk with Caroline about her efforts to light a fire under GenZers. We also spoke with one of those young advocates, Gabrielle Rodriguez, a young woman leading groups of kids to make the changes necessary for a brighter future.

Believe it or not, climate change was not always a hotly debated topic between Republicans and Democrats. There was a time when politicians of all stripes listened to the warnings from scientists.    At some point things changed and Democrats took the helm, making the topic theirs. That's changing, and it must if we're going to overcome the coming climate crisis.   We spoke with former Republican Congressman Carlos Curbelo of Miami who started a trend on the Hill that brought both sides together. 

Miami is a hot market for real estate. Housing values are climbing at an unbelievable pace. Rents are also out of control, considering how many people are moving to the area.  All of this is happening as the temperatures and ocean-levels are rising. Do these challenges scare people away from investing in Miami-Beach? Or, are people ignoring the signs at their peril?  In Episode 2 we talk with author Mario Ariza, who wrote the book Disposable City. We'll discuss how his real estate agent parents handle all the risks, as well as his idea of what the future may look like.

NY Times environment reporter Christopher Flavelle discusses why Miami can handle some of Mother Nature's most brutal punches. Thanks to being a city with a lot of money and investment, it can afford to do things many other cities won't.    The climate crisis will impact millions living in cities like Miami. But, the Magic City could be one of the few that teaches us all how to handle a hotter planet with rising seas.

How much will the world change in the next 50 years as the climate crisis intensifies? This podcast asks members of GenZ about their fears for their future. We also spoke with politicians, scientists, and environmentalists about their concerns for the future.