Podcasts about earth week

The Book of Acts- To the Ends of the Earth (Week 9 - Acts 3:17-26) by North Valley Church

Most of us want to see God do something real in our lives, but we don't always feel ready or confident enough to take that next step. The first followers of Jesus felt the same way—waiting, unsure, and not expecting much to happen. But when God prompted them to act, everything changed. In this message, we look at how God began something new in the earliest believers and how He still gives clarity, courage, and direction to ordinary people who feel unprepared or uncertain about what comes next.

Most of us want to see God do something real in our lives, but we don't always feel ready or confident enough to take that next step. The first followers of Jesus felt the same way—waiting, unsure, and not expecting much to happen. But when God prompted them to act, everything changed. In this message, we look at how God began something new in the earliest believers and how He still gives clarity, courage, and direction to ordinary people who feel unprepared or uncertain about what comes next.

The Book of Acts: To the Ends of the Earth (Week 8: Acts 3:11-16) by North Valley Church

As a lay leader of Traverse City Presbyterian Church, Linda Racine and a team of enthusiastic congregants prompted her church to start on a journey toward effective climate action. You can read about their commitment to creation care and learn about their 3 bright ideas for reducing carbon emissions in this congregation-led video. Traverse City Presbyterian took advantage of tools like the Interfaith Power and Light Carbon Assessment to understand their own energy use.Learn more about how Linda's denomination, the PCUSA, has committed to climate solutions in their Earth Pledge.Linda is also part of the Michigan Citizens Climate Lobby, which has local chapters all over the country.Many thanks to Linda and all the other terrific people who graciously hosted us when we visited Traverse City!Linda RacineTRANSCRIPTLinda Racine In 2022, there were multiple policies or overtures passed focused on creation care, and it really put out an alarm, saying “It's serious, folks, the Earth is really in trouble. So we need to take strong action.” And they were encouraging all churches to reduce their carbon emissions by at least 25% in the next four years and get it down to net zero or net positive by 2030.Debra RienstraWow. That's ambitious.Linda RacineVery ambitious. But a group of interested folks at church looked at that and said, “Let's do it. Let's go for it.”Debra Rienstra Welcome to the Refugia Podcast. I'm your host, Professor Debra Rienstra. Refugia are habitats in nature where life endures in times of crisis. We're exploring the concept of refugia as a metaphor, discovering how people of faith can become people of refugia: nurturing life-giving spaces in the earth, in our human cultural systems, and in our spiritual communities, even in this time of severe disturbance. This season, we're paying special attention to churches and Christian communities who have figured out how to address the climate crisis together as an essential aspect of their discipleship. Today, I'm talking with Linda Racine from the Presbyterian Church in Traverse City, Michigan. Linda happens to be Michigan co-coordinator for Citizen Climate Lobby, a role she adopted after a long career in academia. But I'm talking with Linda today in her role as a lay leader at the church. Traverse City Presbyterian, in many ways, is an ordinary congregation, but they are doing extraordinary work, integrating climate action into every aspect of church life. They have heat pumps, solar panels, native plantings, a pocket forest, educational programs and more. Their story demonstrates the importance of active pastoral and lay leadership, broad community buy-in, and denominational commitments. Linda will tell us their story. Let's get started.Debra RienstraLinda, thank you for talking with me today.Linda RacineOh, glad to be here.Debra RienstraIt's great to be here in your beautiful home, here in Traverse City. Thank you for your hospitality today, and I'm really excited to talk about the work of Traverse City Presbyterian Church. So I know you've been involved in the church for a long time. Maybe tell us a little bit about your personal background and how long you've been involved in the church.Linda Racine Oh, I think I joined about 25 years ago. We used we had been members at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church just down the street here, and it was actually our oldest son who was in high school at the time, going through confirmation class, and a lot of his friends were going to the Presbyterian Church, and he really wanted to go, and for a variety of reasons, we said, “Let's check it out.” And we've been members since. That was 25 years ago.Debra Rienstra Yeah, so you have been around for all of the adventures that your church has had in their creation care work. Yes, so let's start with that spark point. We're really interested in finding how these things begin with a church. So can you think back to the moment when something happened at the church that people began to work in earnest to respond to climate change as a community. What was that spark point for Traverse City Presbyterian?Linda Racine The thing that really kicked it off was Laura Jacobson, who manages/schedules things for our Wednesday night adult education, came to me because she knew I was really involved in Citizens Climate Lobby, which is a non-partisan volunteer organization. And, “Would you do a session on climate?” I wanted to, but I was also a little hesitant, just because, sadly, climate has become so politicized, and our church has had a long history—we're a purple church, check your politics at the door, and I was concerned about how people might receive it. So, I put together a presentation very thoughtfully about “How do I make this as non-political as possible?” But the heading for it was “Caring for God's Creation: a faith based approach to climate change.” I wasn't sure how it would go over. And at that time, we were getting maybe 20 people coming on Wednesday nights. 65 people came. The room was packed. So clearly there was a lot of interest.Debra Rienstra What year was this?Linda Racine It was like January of 2020, right before Covid hit.Debra Rienstra Goodness.Linda Racine So anyway, the evening went really well. Kind of started with a very broad based, here's what Scripture says. Here's what—oh, we did the Katharine Hayhoe video, which—she takes such a broad view of every faith tradition has something important to say about our responsibility to care for creation and for one another. So Katharine Hayhoe, then the Pope, and you know, went through some different traditions and how they're responding. And then did some information about what PCUSA was doing, which was new to me. I didn't really know what all our denomination—because it had never been talked about in our church. So went through that and offered the idea that our denomination has a certification process for creation care teams. And by the end, people were saying, “Let's do this!” There was an impromptu—somebody grabbed a piece of paper and pen, and “Who wants to be a part of the team?” And we got, I don't know, eight or 10 names on that list. Quickly got together and said, “Well, what do we want to do? Let's pitch it to our session.” So February's meeting, we had a proposal, and they all said, “Absolutely, let's go for it.” So that's what started it.Debra Rienstra What do you think prepared people to be that enthusiastic after one session? What was going on in the church? What are the congregation members like that makes you look back on that and say, “Yeah, we were somehow primed or prompted or ready for that moment.”Linda Racine I think that's hard to say. Our church has always—I guess what drew me to the church initially is it was really clear this was a community that really walked the talk. It wasn't coming on Sunday to check a box, but really genuinely living their faith. And people of faith were called to care for creation. And so I think that was a strong ethic that people had anyway. And clearly, by 2020, we're seeing, “Oh my gosh, this earth is in trouble.” That was pretty clear. And so, just to have a topic on—let's gather on Wednesday night and talk about it. I think people were ready.Debra Rienstra Fascinating, yeah. And I wonder if, because up north here in Michigan, this beautiful area of Michigan, people are very aware of the outdoors. So many people care a lot about the natural world around here and enjoy it. Summer up here is so beautiful. So I wonder if it was just a little bit of a more natural leap there.Linda Racine I think you've got a point there. People are drawn to this area because of its natural amazingness. And so there is a strong environmental ethic here. I mean, look at the land conservancy: all the explosion since that launched back in the 90s, I believe. The number of just natural areas that have been preserved, the whole Sleeping Bear sand dunes could have been development, but that has been preserved. There is a strong environmental ethic here. No question.Debra Rienstra Yeah, yeah. So what happened next? How did you go about inviting the whole congregation into a process that—you didn't know what was going to happen next. You have this spark moment. But then what happened?Linda Racine I think the structure of the certification process really drove that. It's so solid. When a church decides to do that, you're committing to really look at how you manage your facilities, how your worship embraces this, how your education programs, and advocacy—that's always been the toughest one. But those four areas. First you assess, where are we now? And then, what are your church's goals? And so that involved, in order to do that and to get all the committees in the church involved: what are you doing currently, and what would you like to do? What would you like to see happen in the next year? So every committee was involved in setting goals. The pastor support was critical. Oh my gosh, without that, this wouldn't have gone anywhere. Pastors have been, right from the beginning, very supportive. One Sunday, the whole church read the pledge.Debra Rienstra The Earth Care Pledge from the Presbyterian Church, okay.Linda Racine Yeah, yeah. So people were aware that that was going on. And then people have different interests. “I'm really excited about this piece of it or that piece of it.” So always open to anyone who wants to jump in and get involved to do that. But I think it's the discipline, the structure and the discipline, of that certification process that keeps us on track.Debra Rienstra Okay, yeah, and it sounds like you were able to get that certification pretty quickly, because you've had it since 2020, so pretty quickly you got the certification.Linda Racine Yeah, I think that first year, we filled out all the forms and sent goals, and then you submit that and get the certification, they review it at the denominational level,Debra Rienstra Yeah. So it seems, from all the conversations I've had with church folks this weekend that the physical plant aspects became a big part of it, first, as well as the landscaping and grounds aspects. So talk a little bit about the processes of those things happening.Linda Racine Well, one of the first projects that first year was converting pieces of ground. We had a bed out front that was dying. Some of the bushes were dying. And a couple of our church members, Gary Richardson and Cheryl Gross, were aware of a National Wildlife Federation grant opportunity. And so Gary was a member of Building and Grounds and took the idea to that committee, and they were all supportive of it. So we submitted the grant. We got $1,500 to get us started. And so work crews showed up. We ripped out the old plants. Then that also connected to the education piece. That's one of one of those other four areas. Our children's education person was absolutely passionate. So the Vacation Bible School that summer focused on pollinators. So we did a whole education piece on the role of pollinators and their importance, and then the kids helped plant the new pollinator garden.Debra Rienstra Yeah, awesome.Linda Racine Yeah. It was fabulous.Debra Rienstra So it sounds like what we need is enthusiasm across the leadership. Yeah. And the leadership working together.Linda Racine Absolutely.Debra Rienstra And I think you folks at this church have so many—not only enthusiastic, but really skilled leaders. You have organization experience. You have Cheryl, who does native plants as a passion. I had a wonderful tour today with Randy, who was excited about boilers and transferring those to heat pumps, which was so delightful to hear about. And at some point, the church made this wonderful video, which we'll link in the show notes, explaining the goals—the three bright ideas, goals. So talk about how that happened.Linda Racine That was triggered by our denomination's policy, where, as a denomination, delegates meet every two years to look at policy for the church. And in 2022, there were multiple policies or overtures passed focused on creation care, and it really put out an alarm, saying, “It's serious, folks. The earth is really in trouble, so we need to take strong action.” And they were encouraging all churches to reduce their carbon emissions by at least 25% in the next four years and get it down to net zero or net positive by 2030.Debra Rienstra Wow, that's ambitious.Linda Racine Very ambitious. But a group of interested folks at church looked at that and said, “Let's do it. Let's go for it.” So you need to start—understand where you are first before you can reduce something. So we use the Interfaith Power and Light carbon assessment. And Chris Wendland, who you met, really drove that train, and she and Randy both worked with staff to gather all the—here's our electric bills and our gas bills and all the stuff needed to submit that. And so then we got this feedback about, “Here's where you are.” And then it was, “Okay, now what do we do?” And so another church member said, “Let's talk with Tim Pulliam,” who was—he's the owner, executive, I don't know what his title, but he runs Keen Technical Solutions who, for I don't know, 25 years have been really focused on clean energy transformation.Debra Rienstra This is also a member of the church?Linda Racine Tim Pulliam is not, but it was a church member who recommended him. So Tim brought a team of folks in and looked at all this stuff, and they said, “Well, the thing you could—that would make the biggest impact the quickest would be changing all your lighting to LED.” So that seemed like a no brainer. We also had this ancient boiler that was ready to die any minute, and people were starting to panic about that. And so, okay, we got to do something there. And then there were a lot of people in the church saying, “Can we put solar panels up?” Because there's so many great things about the solar. Not only is it good for the clean energy, but it's also a public statement. It really is a public witness, and it helps normalize, because there's still so many people out there who think, “Oh, this is Northern Michigan. You can't— solar is worthless here.” Well, actually, it's not.Debra Rienstra Actually, it's not, especially because we have such very long summer days.Linda Racine Yes, yeah. And so anyway, there was a lot of enthusiasm around that. So kind of gathered after Sunday, after church on Sunday, anybody who wanted to come and talked about, “Well, here's what the report said, and what do we think?” And so there was interest in all three of those ideas. So we created task forces. People said, “Yeah, I'll work on this.” And everybody, the groups, had about three months to do their homework, come back with, “Here's what we think the options are and what it's going to cost.” And that in about April of that year, we heard what people had to say, and people wanted to do all three.Debra Rienstra Yeah, that's just amazing. Was there resistance at all? Were there people who were resistant?Linda Racine I'm not remembering that. Maybe they weren't showing up at the meetings. Are they quiet? I don't know. I don't remember. I mean, there's always questions about, “Well, will solar really work?” There were questions about, “Well, can we afford it?” And that was maybe the biggest concern. But people had done quite a bit of research on that, and between the very low interest loans that our denomination offers—that was huge, the potential for grants. And we did end up getting an $80,000 grant from our local utility. And then at that time there were IRA dollars available. That's a question mark right now, but the combination of that, and then when you look at the energy savings, it's like, “Okay, what we're going to save in electric bills is probably going to be pretty darn close to covering our monthly loan payment.” So when people saw that, it was like, collective, “Okay, sure, this is doable.”Debra Rienstra So at that point was the video made at that point?Linda Racine Yes, because the next step was, “Okay. So we've got maybe 50 people in the room. We've got 600 people in the church. How do we get everybody involved?” So putting together a strategy for really getting everyone enthused about it. And so the idea for the video came up. And Ray Starkenberg and her dad are professional videographers.Debra Rienstra Once again, talent in the congregation.Linda RacineOh my gosh. And so they took that project on. And you've seen the video, it's just amazing. The storytelling is so well done.Debra Rienstra It's playful, it's persuasive, it's full of facts. And I love the theme, you know, “the time is now” is the theme of the video, and the involvement of kids in the video saying their piece, saying, “This is about me and my future. Please help.” It's just—and that combined with the playfulness, it's just brilliant.Linda Racine It's a good balance, isn't it? Yeah. And a couple things about that. One member of the church, after seeing the video, said, “If this was just about buying a new boiler, I wouldn't be that enthused. But this is about the future. There was so much enthusiasm in the church after really hearing the whole story and the possibilities there. I do want to mention, that theme, “the time is now,” that's right out of the overture that was passed by our general assembly.Debra Rienstra Yeah. Once again, that denominational leadership is so important.Linda Racine Yeah, that was in that very first overture in 2022 talking about how serious this moment in time is and the time is now to act.Debra Rienstra Hi, it's me, Debra. If you are enjoying this podcast episode, go ahead and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. If you have a minute, leave a review. Good reviews help more listeners discover this podcast. To keep up with all the Refugia news, I invite you to subscribe to the Refugia newsletter on Substack. This is my fortnightly newsletter for people of faith who care about the climate crisis and want to go deeper. Every two weeks, I feature climate news, deeper dives, refugia sightings and much more. Join our community at refugianewsletter.substack.com. For even more goodies, including transcripts and show notes for this podcast, check out my website at debrarienstra.com. D-E-B-R-A-R-I-E-N-S-T-R-A dot com. Thanks so much for listening. We're glad you're part of this community. And now back to the interview.Debra RienstraSo how was the video used and disseminated?Linda Racine We started doing some meetings, just in homes, small groups, eight or 10 people. Showing the video, and then having a discussion. And that was the first step, and getting people's questions answered, and then Sunday morning it was in the service. And, wow.Debra Rienstra So it worked, so to speak, yeah.Linda Racine And then it's been on our website ever since. The thing is that video has gone—I wouldn't say viral, but it has been broadly, broadly disseminated.Debra Rienstra Oh, I can see why. I think every church should imitate it as best they can. Yeah, I mean the statistics—the numbers are specific to you folks.Linda Racine Yeah, the storytelling though, the power of that, are things that other churches can use, yes.Debra Rienstra And it stars many people from your church. So the stars of the show are your fellow congregants.Linda Racine And they're all people who have really stepped up and wanted to be and are a key part of this.Debra Rienstra So at this point you have—the heat pump system is well underway. Solar panels are sitting on the roof waiting for installation when the snow melts. You have education programs going. Maybe we'll come back to that. Quite a lot of landscaping work, quite a lot of native planting done, really neat native gardens. You have a pocket forest going. So as far as the four things, the four elements of earth care congregation: it's the building, the landscaping...Linda Racine Well, those are kind of together, so how you manage your facilities.Debra Rienstra Okay, what are the other three again?Linda Racine Worship. And pastors lead that, and they do that beautifully. That first year that we received certification, we had a kickoff celebration in the prayer garden that was just lovely. And so that theme gets worked into the worship by the pastors.Debra Rienstra Yeah, give some examples of how that happens in worship. Are there sermons? Is it in the litanies, in the music?Linda Racine Hmm, probably all of the above.Debra Rienstra Yeah. Okay, and you have two worship services. So this has to be done in two different ways, so it requires a little creativity.Linda Racine Yeah, although often in the spring, especially around earth— there can be combined services. We do a combined service once a month anyway, and so there have been a couple earth care themed services, that way it was one service.Debra Rienstra Yeah. And then do you have anything special for Earth Day or Season of Creation?Linda Racine Usually, yes, on like Wednesday, well, that would be more the education piece, but usually on the Wednesday nights, we've done something big related to earth care. This year, we're telling our story. We've got a thing planned for that Wednesday of Earth Week. We're inviting every church in the region to come and hear the story. Our contractor will be there to answer questions, and resource people, the Light and Power folks will be there. So if they have questions about, “Well, what programs do you have?” And there are other churches in the area also that are doing similar things. So it'll be a good chance to share stories also and learn from one another. So we're doing— that's the plan for this during Earth Care Week.Debra Rienstra So just to make the refugia connection there, as Traverse City Presbyterian is operating as a refugia place, a refugia space, doing their work, modeling that work, with this idea of getting other churches together, you're creating those corridors and creating that whole network to let these life giving capacities spread and grow. That's brilliant. Really great idea.Linda Racine Another thing that we've done, we've got a racial justice task force that has, over the last several years, made a very focused effort to build relationship with the local tribe. And so the last, I think, three Lent seasons that we've had a Lenten series where inviting tribal leadership into talk about the—to educate us about the history of the tribe and practices and beliefs, and whereas much of that is focused on caring for the earth, caring for Mother Earth, it's central, yeah. So we've learned a lot and helped make a connection with that.Debra Rienstra I noticed in your bulletin, there's a land acknowledgement. And also I noticed you have a garden specifically co-cared for with the indigenous folk around.Linda Racine Not yet.Debra Rienstra Okay, that's in the plans.Linda Racine Yes, it's on the plans to—because in one of the sessions where a tribal leader was talking about...it was right after the land acknowledgement had been created. And the talking through that, someone at the end asked, “So, what's next?” You know, we really, our heart is in this land acknowledgement, what's next? And her response was, “When you care for the earth, you care for the Anishinaabek and what we believe in.” So that sparked this thing in my head of, “Oh my, here's a beautiful opportunity.” And we followed up, thinking, if we could learn from tribal leadership on how to create a healing garden, we'd love to do that. And so we have had one of the tribal leaders come and help educate us about a healing garden, what all it involves. And we've created a space. It's all smothered and ready to go. And the first thing that we would like to plant there is a plum tree. Because what we learned from her, I had no idea, but apparently, the plum tree is a has a very special place in the Anishinaabek story, where—my understanding is that plum trees were very prevalent in the Grand Rapids area, and when the Dutch came and settled that area, the plum trees were taken out. And so, in fact, it was hard when she came to meet with us, she had brought a plum tree as a gift, and we didn't have a place to put it. Broke my heart. But we so would love that to be the center of this healing garden. So we've got, you know, ground is all ready. We weren't even sure where it ought to go. And so anyway, so we've got a spot, because she helped us find a place for the healing garden. So as soon as we can reconnect, and they have the time, though, we're going to get that garden launched.Debra Rienstra Wow, that's beautiful. And will it be medicinal plants?Linda Racine That's the thought, yes.Debra Rienstra So healing plants, but also healing a relationship.Linda Racine Both, yes, all three, yeah, all three things.Debra Rienstra Beautiful. So a lot of churches struggle with—I've been sort of calling it the “boutique issue” problem, which is to say, you have, you know, your creation care folk, and they have a green team or something, and they kind of do their little thing off to the side, and other people have other issues that they're dealing with, and it's really hard to get that creation care work to infuse through, to diffuse through the whole congregation's life. And it sounds like that happened fairly organically. So what advice would you have for other churches that struggle with that boutique issue problem?Linda Racine Well, I think the strength of the PCUSA certification process is what allowed that to happen or fostered that. Because when you've got—you're required or expected to set goals in very comprehensive list of how the church functions, it really requires everybody to be involved. And so right from the beginning, pretty much every committee was asked to look at, what are we doing related to creation care, and what do we want to do? And every year that gets repeated. So there's a clear—we've got a pace of it. It's built into the planning structure. Every fall, the committees are looking at their goals around everything but creation care is on the list, and they're looking at their budgets to submit for the final reports and what happens next year. So it's really built into the fabric and structure of how we operate. So if it weren't for that, it would be a committee off to the side doing whatever it does. But really, everyone in all committees are involved.Debra Rienstra So it sounds like that answers my next question too, which has to do with the problem of “fade.” So by that, I mean everybody gets excited. You replace the boiler, you replace the LED lights, or replace lights with LED, and then...yeah, this enthusiasm sort of fades. But it sounds like that annual goal-setting process with an indefinite horizon, like there's no end point to that, right? So that annual goal-setting process also helps with that fade problem.Linda Racine I think it's key.Debra Rienstra One last question, what has been most challenging and most joyful about the transformation that Traverse City Presbyterian has gone through in a mere five years?Linda Racine I don't know that anything has been particularly hard, but oh my gosh, the joy. Ah. Just so many examples. When we decided that there was this huge section of lawn that was totally unusable as lawn, let's turn it into a pocket forest. And we were able to get a local tree trimmer to donate the wood chips to smother it. And we have this huge group of people with two truckloads or three, I don't know how many truckloads of stuff. We're out with the wheelbarrows spreading stuff. We're having so much fun. Jordan is sliding down it like it's a ski slope. We're just having a great time, and I'm looking around and thinking, “I absolutely love this community.” They're so committed to being the best stewards of creation and one another. Yeah, it's not hard, it's just wonderful.Debra Rienstra Linda, it's been such a pleasure to talk to you. There's been joy in this conversation, too. Thank you for your time. Thank you for all that you do and blessings on Traverse City Presbyterian.Debra Rienstra Thanks for joining us for show notes and full transcripts, please visit debrarienstra.com and click on the Refugia Podcast tab. This season of the Refugia Podcast is produced with generous funding from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Colin Hoogerwerf is our awesome audio producer. Thanks to Ron Rienstra for content consultation as well as technical and travel support. Till next time, be well. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit refugianewsletter.substack.com

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The Book Of Acts: To the Ends of the Earth (Week 7: Acts 3:1-11) by North Valley Church

Psalm 24- Credence Tarukwasha

In our final of 3 monthly HEAVEN ON EARTH nights, Pastor Sam Cabra shifts our focus to the manifest Presence of the Lord. We are reminded that humility, hunger, and stillness all attract the Lord, and there are no shortcuts for any generation to encounter Him. Let's press in together into the manifest glory of the Lord! Thank you for partnering with Reunion Hawaii! To GIVE online, please visit our website at www.reunionhawaii.comMake sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to this podcast!You can follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/reunionhawaii@reunionhawaii

Book of Acts To the Ends of the Earth Week 3 (Sandy Mason) by North Valley Church

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Your Values Are Like Spiritual DNA. They Are Invisible, But They Determine Who You Are.Support the show

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This week, Terrence uncovers how worship—intended to glorify God—can be corrupted by guilt, duty, or personal agendas. His message offers a deep diagnostic tool for modern believers, especially those in church culture who risk coasting through faith. He balances conviction and grace, warning against superficial worship while holding up the joy of childlike connection with God.   Whether struggling with shame, burnout, or disappointment, listeners are reminded that true worship begins in identity—that Jesus rejoices over us, and from that place, we can offer Him worship that echoes Heaven.   “Worship is seeing what God is worth and giving Him what He's worth.” Not what you think He wants, not what culture expects, but what He actually deserves.

This week on the Glossy Podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska break down the latest in luxury earnings, pricing shifts and political pushback. Later in the episode, Zwieglinska speaks with Vanessa Barboni Hallik, founder and CEO of sustainable luxury fashion brand Another Tomorrow, about the brand's physical retail expansion and its approach to digital product passports. Barboni Hallik also discussed brand opportunities to scale circularity, during a conversation about Earth Week. In this week's news segment, Parisi and Zwieglinska discuss Kering's first-quarter earnings, which painted a concerning picture, with overall revenue down 14% and Gucci plunging 25%. They talk about the vulnerability of conglomerates overly reliant on a single label and the way macroeconomic tension between the U.S. and China is complicating luxury's recovery.  In other news, Louis Vuitton quietly raised its U.S. prices by nearly 5%, a move likely linked to tariffs and growing production costs. And, amid the U.S. administration's ongoing efforts to dismantle DEI initiatives, major corporations and fashion brands are responding in different ways. While Target rolled back its diversity programs and saw 11 weeks of consecutive declines in foot traffic, companies like Levi's and Costco have stood firm on their initiatives — and in some cases, benefited from doing so. Stories mentioned in this episode Fashion Briefing: Fashion brands are feeling the immediate impact of plummeting international travel to the US Hermès price hike sets stage for American tourist boom in Europe Earth Week Activewear brands are scrambling to clean up in America's age of health anxiety Why brands like Blueland and Faherty are turning to sustainability activists for collaborations Beauty & Wellness Briefing: The sustainability roadblocks impacting top brands today

What if the most powerful tool humanity has ever created could either help heal the Earth — or accelerate its unraveling? In this special Earth Week edition of Frankly, Nate delves into what it truly means for a technology or project to be “in service of Life,” using the rapidly evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence as an example. Like any other tool that humanity has created, AI has the potential to either mitigate humanity's impact on our planetary home or deepen the ecological crises we face. Nate speculates on the key metrics that might guide AI and other technologies toward goals that support the abundance and vibrancy of all complex life on Earth. In an age overflowing with information, could rethinking our relationships and incentive structures offer a clearer path forward? How can we identify goals that are not in service of Life? Finally, how could a shift in social and cultural values play the most critical part in transforming our human system to be aligned with the rest of the biosphere?  (Recorded April 21, 2025)   Show Notes and More Watch this video episode on YouTube   Want to learn the broad overview of The Great Simplification in 30 minutes? Watch our Animated Movie. --- Support The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future Join our Substack newsletter Join our Discord channel and connect with other listeners  

A manhunt is underway after a deadly stabbing on a Manhattan subway platform during Friday morning's rush hour. Meanwhile, the Manhattan district attorney's office is urging more survivors to come forward after a finance attorney was indicted on more than 100 counts of sexual assault. Also, Catholic churches across New York City are holding Masses Friday night to honor the late Pope Francis, whose funeral is Saturday. Plus, as we wrap up coverage of Earth Week, we examine New York's progress and setbacks on its ambitious climate goals with Columbia University's Michael Gerrard.

For the Back to Nature series on In Focus, we visit with Michael Mullen, the Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper during Earth Week.

Earth Week 2025 came with a positive development for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) on efforts to implement a pilot program for analyzing wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) and learn ways to design safer crossings.Amanda Novak, a resource specialist in MDOT's Bay Region, returns to the podcast to talk about a recently awarded $476,000 federal grant and how it will be put toward the pilot program. She previously spoke about the grant on the podcast in September 2024.While we think of white-tailed deer most commonly when it comes to WVCs, other species to be considered include elk, moose, black bear, wild turkey, pine marten, eastern massasauga rattlesnake and Blanding's turtle. As laid out in the project abstract for the grant, the number of WVCs in Michigan continues to increase annually, worsening risks and costs to drivers. For example, white-tailed deer alone account for more than 55,000 WVCs and cost motorists an average of $130 million per year in Michigan. Additionally, WVCs are a major threat to many wildlife populations in the state, including documented impacts on several threatened and endangered species. Projected increases in tourism, housing development and climate change effects are likely to exacerbate WVC effects on motorists and wildlife in Michigan.

In today's episode, I'm celebrating Earth Week by discussing a small way to do better and highlighting a sustainable way of shopping. I'm letting you in on some of my all-time top finds and discussing my take on a new celeb brand. Get outside, pick up the trash, and stay peachy my friends!

The Trump administration may shift legal strategy in its bid to kill congestion pricing after accidentally uploading a letter suggesting current arguments are weak. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, a teen has been charged with setting a wildfire that's burned at least 15,000 acres in Ocean County. Also, the NYC Council is preparing to vote on bills aimed at limiting tourist helicopters following a deadly crash in the Hudson River. Plus, climate law expert Michael Gerrard joins us for Earth Week to discuss how New York State is progressing in its ambitious climate goals.

Live with Sam and Greg, we're breaking down everything you need to know This Week at Walt Disney World! April 23, 2025. You can watch this episode here on youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WCzYWNMFiI Easter Sunday in the Parks Spring was in full bloom at Walt Disney World over the Easter weekend. From floral photo ops to classic meet-and-greets, guests enjoyed festive touches across all four parks. We spotted Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny at Magic Kingdom, along with seasonal treats, egg displays, and some egg-ceptional surprises in the form of rare characters. Earth Week Highlights & a 1996 Flashback Walt Disney World continued its Earth Week celebration with special exhibits and interactive activities at Animal Kingdom, including conservation stations and eco-friendly crafts for kids. https://vimeo.com/538073498 We also took a nostalgic look back at the 1996 Earth Day television special, a time capsule of Disney's original conservation message. It featured appearances by Disney characters and Imagineers sharing early sustainability efforts across the parks. Star Wars Celebration News Reshapes the Galaxy Fresh from Star Wars Celebration Japan, major news has landed across the galaxy! From new Disney+ content to theatrical updates, one of the biggest stories was how The Mandalorian and Grogu will reshape the Galaxy's Edge timeline. What does this mean for Batuu? With new stories and character integrations, the Star Wars universe in the parks continues to evolve. Sam and Greg unpack what it could mean for ride overlays, appearances, and future merchandise. These updates from Star Wars Celebration are sure to influence how fans experience Star Wars at Disney Parks. May the 4th Is Coming to the Parks Get ready for May the 4th, the ultimate Star Wars holiday! Walt Disney World is prepping for an out-of-this-galaxy celebration. Guests can expect limited-time food and beverage offerings, exclusive May the 4th merchandise, and themed photo ops throughout Galaxy's Edge and beyond. If you're visiting in early May, this is the moment to lean into your love of the Force. Greg Spots' New Merch Greg hit the shops and came back with some fresh finds. From limited-edition Star Wars pins to Earth Day tees, Disney Springs and resort stores are brimming with collectible goodies this week. If you're into seasonal exclusives, now's the time to check it out.   Stay Tuned and Subscribe That's everything This Week at Walt Disney World! Be sure to catch the full video over on SamsDisneyDiary on YouTube, and don't forget to subscribe for all the latest Disney Parks coverage, merchandise roundups, and in-park fun.

Scott talks with Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reece about yesterday's memorandum of understanding. Also Seth Walsh discusses yesterday's talks about the Hyde Park redevelopment project. Finally Amanda Pratt from Rumpke talks what we can do for Earth Week.

Scott talks with Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reece about yesterday's memorandum of understanding. Also Seth Walsh discusses yesterday's talks about the Hyde Park redevelopment project. Finally Amanda Pratt from Rumpke talks what we can do for Earth Week.

On this episode of Bounced From The Roadhouse:Special Guests in 4B:School Bus MemoriesHighest BridgeBJ's PukerApril TheoryX-Files RebootBodyguard RemakeSmuggling AntsTreasurer's OfficeThat's a Great QuestionExercising with Loved onesAge Gap TrendEarth WeekQuestions? Comments? Leave us a message! 605-343-6161Don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review and some stars Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new Siena poll shows U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer's approval rating has fallen following his support of a Republican-led budget deal to avoid a federal shutdown. Meanwhile, the Adams administration says hundreds of new rain gardens and so-called infiltration basins are now in place across Flatbush and Canarsie to help manage stormwater and reduce flooding. Plus, on Earth Day, experts say New York State is lagging in its goal to fully transition off fossil fuels by 2040. WNYC's Rosemary Misdary reports on how the state might catch up.

State lawmakers, led by Assemblymember Phil Steck and Senator James Sanders Jr., gathered with advocates during Earth Week in front of the NY Stock Exchange to urge the state to reinstate the Stock Transfer Tax. Originally enacted in 1905, the Stock Transfer Tax was a modest half-penny levy on stock trades. However, it was repealed in 1981, resulting in an estimated loss of $13 to $17 billion in annual revenue for the state. With the pending threat of reduced federal funding, it is more critical than ever for New York to explore sustainable revenue sources. Reinstating the Stock Transfer Tax would provide much-needed funding for essential program. Some of the funds would be dedicated to climate efforts. Gloria Mattera of the Green Party, one of the speakers, talks with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine to talk about the tax as well as climate and Earth Day.

This week, we feature a special recording of our live webinar featuring PRI scholars and policy experts exploring key green topics being debated and discussed in Washington, DC and in the states – from Cap and Trade and gas and carbon taxes to green appliance mandates.  Learn about the latest study from PRI detailing just how much the green transition in California will cost you – you'll grab on to your wallet when you hear the figure!  Panelists include PRI's Dr. Wayne Winegarden and Todd Myers from the Washington Policy Center.

A growing number of schools and districts are banning cellphones in classrooms—what students are saying about the impact it's having on their focus and social lives. Also, a closer look at the endangered red wolf and the nationwide effort to protect this vital part of the ecosystem. Plus, our Shop TODAY team shares discounted must-haves across beauty, skincare, home, and tech. And, tech expert Katie Linendoll offers tips on how to declutter your digital life.

Welcome to today's ICYMI, where we kick off the week with a quick game-changing tip from one of our guests that you might have missed. In honour of earth day, we're taking a look at the cost of fast fashion, our consumption habits, and how we can become more sustainable consumers.We're throwing it back to this perspective-shifting advice on overconsumption with Conni Jespersen, as she explains the impact of overconsumption on our confidence, wallets, and the environment, and how self-accountability for the lifespan of every product we purchase can help end impulse shopping. Conni is an educational wardrobe stylist and founder of Art in the Find. She has spent over a decade helping people craft intentional wardrobes, edit their closets, and break free from excessive consumption. Through her Signature Style Method Course, she helps clients edit their closets and uncover their unique style.Conni has kindly given Teach Me How To Adult listeners a discount on her Signature Style Method Course (which has helped me SO much in understanding the elements of my personal style), so if you're ready to revamp your wardrobe, check it out here and use the discount code style10 for 10% off. Listen to the full episode here.Tune in every Monday for an expert dose of life advice in under 10 minutes.Follow Conni:@artinthefindartinthefind.com Sign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia@gillian.bernerFollow on TikTok: @teachmehowtoadultSubscribe on YouTube

It's Day 5 of WeWow Earth Week! Dennis and Reggie play Treasure or Trash plus an encore episode, “A Diaper Home for Gforce!” Originally aired 4/26/24.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's Day 5 of WeWow Earth Week! Dennis and Reggie play Treasure or Trash plus an encore episode, “A Diaper Home for Gforce!” Originally aired 4/26/24.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's Day 4 of WeWow Earth Week! Dennis tells Reggie how he cleaned up the whole neighborhood plus, an encore episode, “Spider Mindy to the Rescue!” Originally aired 4/25/24.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's Day 4 of WeWow Earth Week! Dennis tells Reggie how he cleaned up the whole neighborhood plus, an encore episode, “Spider Mindy to the Rescue!” Originally aired 4/25/24.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's Day 3 of WeWow Earth Week! Dennis shows Reggie how he's been saving water, plus an encore episode, “Painting the Town Cool!” Originally aired 4/24/24.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's Day 3 of WeWow Earth Week! Dennis shows Reggie how he's been saving water, plus an encore episode, “Painting the Town Cool!” Originally aired 4/24/24.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's Day 2 of WeWow Earth Week! Dennis and Reggie snoop through the neighborhood's recycling, plus an encore episode, “Plastic Eating Pets!” Originally aired 4/23/24.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's Day 2 of WeWow Earth Week! Dennis and Reggie snoop through the neighborhood's recycling, plus an encore episode, “Plastic Eating Pets!” Originally aired 4/23/24.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to WeWow Earth Week! Dennis and Reggie discuss growing birds from bird seeds plus, an encore episode, “Save Our Parasites!” Originally aired 4/22/24.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to WeWow Earth Week! Dennis and Reggie discuss growing birds from bird seeds plus, an encore episode, “Save Our Parasites!” Originally aired 4/22/24.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.