Podcasts about Sierra Club

What does healing look like when men are finally allowed to speak? In this powerful episode, we bring together four incredible voices—Leo Xia, Michael Huynh, Jackson Xia, and Noel Garcia, who are each reshaping the conversation around men's mental health, identity, and healing within Asian and Asian American communities. Through stories of pain, resilience, and community, this episode sheds light on how mental health challenges have shaped their identities, not just as individuals, but as men breaking generational silence. We also discuss what the future could look like if more safe spaces existed for men to connect, express, and heal. Whether you're personally navigating your journey or looking to support others, this conversation offers hope, guidance, and a powerful reminder: you are not alone. About the guests: Leo Xia is a men's group leader and facilitator focused on supporting Asian men. Through over six years of work and 500+ conversations, he's explored themes such as masculinity, identity, and culture. He leads JinShan Men's Community under his company, JinShan Collective, and facilitates Proud Asian Men with the nonprofit Asian Mental Health Project. → Leo Xia https://www.instagram.com/lowhiofficial/ → Proud Asian Men Bay Area Retreat 2025 https://lu.ma/2hlvr42p  Michael Huynh is a mental health researcher completing his PhD in Public Health at UC Irvine. He studies the impact of social relationships on mental health within Asian American communities. → Michael Huynh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mphuynh/ Jackson Xia is a dancer and facilitator who brings people together through joyful movement. With 15 years of street dance experience, he's taught youth across 20+ schools and led sessions for groups like Homeboy Industries and the Sierra Club. He also founded Soulful Sundays, a free dance picnic in Echo Park that supports mental health through movement in nature. → Jackson Xia: https://www.instagram.com/jackson.inabox/ → Soulful Sundays: https://www.instagram.com/soulfulsundaysla Noel Garcia is a Filipino American artist and founder of Genbu Daiko, with nearly 30 years of experience in Taiko drumming. His work blends rhythm, story, and soul to create spaces for healing, reflection, and connection. → Noel Garcia: https://www.instagram.com/taikonoel/ → Genbu Daiko of San Diego https://www.instagram.com/genbudaiko/   Useful Links: National Suicide and Mental Health Lifeline:→ https://988lifeline.org/ Teen Line:→ https://www.teenline.org/ How to Support Loved Ones: → https://www.suicideisdifferent.org/ → https://www.suicideispreventable.org/  --- ***This episode is sponsored by:

A legacy of pollution and neglect once left the James River and surrounding waterways in ecological crisis. But decades of federal protections and grassroots advocacy have shown that nature can heal—if given the chance. In this episode, Beth Roach, Vice Chair of the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia and National Water Conservation Campaign Manager for the Sierra Club, shares her personal and professional journey in water protection. Beth reflects on the environmental trauma of growing up beside a toxic river and the powerful return of wildlife spurred by the Clean Water Act. She describes how her tribe is leading efforts to reconnect people with their ancestral waters through cleanups and cultural engagement, and how the Tribal Coastal Resilience Connections project is building stronger bridges between Indigenous communities and government agencies.Beth also discusses the rollback of wetland protections, Sierra Club's national clean water campaigns, and why relationship-building is the enduring strategy to drive equity and resilience—even in politically turbulent times.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability. This episode is part of the Color Of Water series, a collaboration with the Water Hub.

In today's episode continuing our eight-part series, we examine how nonprofits are effectively advocating for environmental justice. We'll analyze practical strategies for building awareness and securing advocacy funding while navigating the regulatory frameworks that govern nonprofit activism. Join us for a clear-eyed look at how organizations are making meaningful progress in environmental protection and climate action.    Attorneys for this episode   Tim Mooney  Quyen Tu  Susan Finkle Sourlis    Shownotes   Current Events / Executive Orders:  • Trump Administration Environmental Rollbacks  • Rescinded EPA's Environmental Justice Screening Tool (EJSCREEN)  • Repealed Biden-era executive orders on Justice40, climate equity, and cumulative impacts assessments  • Reinstated NEPA rules from 2019, reducing environmental review for pipelines, highways, and factories  • Revoked protections for sacred Indigenous lands (e.g., Bears Ears downsizing, drilling leases on Chaco Canyon perimeter)  • Impacts on Vulnerable Communities:  • Halted all EPA funding for community air monitoring programs in EJ-designated census tracts  • Suspended grants to community-based climate resilience projects  • Cut FEMA's BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) equity prioritization language  • Reopened refineries and power plants previously closed for Clean Air Act violations, especially in Black and Latino neighborhoods  • EPA DEI cuts:  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to cancel nearly 800 environmental justice grants, totaling over $1.5 billion, which were intended to support projects mitigating climate change impacts in vulnerable communities .  •  Additionally, the EPA is undergoing a reduction in force, affecting employees in its Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, as part of a broader effort to realign the agency's mission    ·      Non-Lobbying Advocacy o   Nonpartisan Advocacy 101: 501(c)(3)s cannot support or oppose candidates for public office, but they can… o   Educate the public about issues of importance to your organization. §  Waterkeeper Alliance is holding EPA Admin Lee Zeldin accountable for cuts to PFAS research. o   Hold a rally §  Memphis Community Against Pollution rallied to celebrate a victory for clean water, while turning its attention to a clean air fight against an Elon Musk-owned company's proposed data center. o   Initiate or participate in litigation §  AFJ member Earthjustice has sued the Trump administration's improper withholding of IRA grant funds for projects that included Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants to install solar panels on small farms. o   Fund Advocacy §  Meyer Memorial Trust funded  41 organizations with EJ awards totaling $6.9 million in 2024 with a focus on frontline and indigenous communities   ·      Lobbying o   501(c)(3) public charities are also allowed to use unrestricted funds to engage in some lobbying activities. o   Tax Code Lobbying 101: Public charities can lobby, but they are limited in how much lobbying they may engage in. §  Insubstantial part test vs. 501(h) expenditure test. §  Under either test, lobbying includes attempts to influence legislation at any level of government. §  Track your local, state, and federal lobbying, and stay within your lobbying limits. o   State/local level lobbyist registration and reporting requirements may also apply when engaging in legislative and executive branch advocacy. o   Ballot measure advocacy (direct lobbying) could also implicate state / local campaign finance and election laws. o   Lobbying wins §  Hawaii just passed a first-of-its-kind climate tax on short-term accommodations to fund defenses against climate change fueled disasters. Sierra Club of Hawaii has been actively lobbying on climate change legislation for years. §  Ballot measure wins (h/t The Nature Conservancy) ·      California: $10 billion climate bond that funds climate resilience, protecting clean drinking water and preventing catastrophic wildfires.  ·      Washington: An effort to roll back the state's Climate Commitment Act was defeated. The CCA provides millions for conservation, climate and wildfire funding, including funding for Tribal nations and at-risk communities. ·      Minnesota: Renewal of the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for another 25 years. The fund will provide $2 billion ($80 million per year from state lottery proceeds) to protect water, land and wildlife across the state. Resources – ·      Earth & Equity: The Advocacy Playbook for Environmental Justice ·      Public Charities Can Lobby (Factsheet) ·      Practical Guidance: what your nonprofit needs to know about lobbying in your state ·      Investing in Change: A Funder's Guide to Supporting Advocacy ·      What is Advocacy? 2.0  

We're inviting you to head to one of seven local parks or open spaces for Black Birders Week. We'll hear from an inspired organizer, as well as representatives from Gather New Haven and the Sierra Club about how and why to get involved in all the local Black Birders Week activities.

We're going to open with one of the new voices representing a familiar community partner - Green Village Initiative - which is successfully collaborating to address hunger, farming, and food insecurity in greater Bridgeport. Then, In the next segment of our Mental Health Awareness Month series, For the People is calling on one of the front line leaders of Wheeler's Mobile Crisis Intervention Services to talk about how it's responders are focusing on youth mental health support - and addressing stigmas tied to asking for help. And we'll close inviting you to head to one of seven local parks or open spaces for Black Birders Week. We'll hear from an inspired organizer, as well as representatives from Gather New Haven and the Sierra Club about how and why to get involved in all the local Black Birders Week activities.

One of the most followed stained glass artists on social media, Meggy Wilm of Colorado Glass Works, Boulder, Colorado, shares her creations with nearly 275K (and growing) followers on Instagram – attracting a new audience of young enthusiasts to the medieval craft. Wilm and her husband Dustin Mayfield also recently purchased Boulder-based D&L Art Glass Supply from Leslie Silverman, who dedicated 50 years to the company she founded. Experienced entrepreneurs, Wilm and Mayfield have a deep appreciation for the art glass industry and a forward-thinking vision for D&L. Her first company, Colorado Glass Works is a multifaceted art glass business where Wilm teaches a variety of classes, sells and ships sheet glass around the world, designs her own custom sheet glass, and creates small and large commissions for private clients. She has been creating stained art glass for the last seven years and has a deep love of all things nature- and glass-related. States Wilm: “I founded Colorado Glass Works in the fall of 2017 sitting criss-crossed on my living room floor in Denver, Colorado. My passion is creating dreamy and colorful stained glass art pieces ranging from mini sun-catchers to fully installable windows. I imagine, custom design, and hand-make every single one of my pieces with attention to every little detail.” Beginning on January 1, 2020, Wilm made a commitment to donate a percentage of her glass profits amongst her five favorite environmental organizations – The Sierra Club, The Marine Conservation Institute, the Rainforest Action Network, Defenders of Wildlife, and The Environmental Defense Fund. In 2024, through purchases of Wilm's art, she raised $10,000 and donated those funds to help protect our planet. Each of her chosen nonprofit organizations received $2,000 to continue their efforts. Raising larger amounts each year, in 2024 Wilm was able to expand on her altruistic goals and donate stained glass art supplies, classes, and glass to schools in need. Eight deserving schools across the United States received full beginner stained glass startup kits to introduce stained glass as an elective or after-school activity. These kits included tools, classes, and materials valued at over $10,000, giving students the opportunity to explore stained glass. Wilm says: “Together, we made a total of $20,678 in donations to causes that truly matter. None of this would have been possible without you. Thank you for being part of this journey. I am so thrilled we get to work together in making a small impact to help protect this beautiful world we live in.” In addition to running Colorado Glass Works, and taking the wheel at D&L, Wilm will be a TA for Ted Ellison at Pilchuck from May 22 – 29, 2025. Keep your eye on social media for more of the artist's beautiful Colorado landscapes, sparkling snowflakes and signature textured or dichroic Monstera leaves.  

In this episode of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," host Matt Payne sits down with accomplished photographer Greg Vaughn to discuss his journey in photography, ethics in location sharing, and the nuances of workshop teaching. Vaughn, known for his photography guidebooks on Oregon and Washington, talks about how he chooses locations carefully to preserve sensitive environments. They also explore challenges like maintaining a balance between publicizing beautiful places and preventing environmental degradation. Vaughn shares insights from his career, which spans over four decades, emphasizing the importance of business skills in photography and the value of having a love for teaching when leading workshops. Check out the episode on YouTube Resources Mentioned: Greg's books - Photographing Oregon & Photographing Washington Muench Workshops - please email me if you're interested in joining me! NANPA Arthelper Support the podcast on Patreon Photographers Recommended: Dewitt Jones, Laurent Martres, Tom Kirkendall Greg is a photographer, traveler, writer, and photo educator. During his 40+ years as a full-time pro, Greg has worked in multiple photographic genres, including years as a freelance commercial and editorial assignment photographer in Hawaii. He was the campaign photographer for two of Hawaii's governors and was the official photographer of the Ironman Triathlon in Kona. Greg is a proud alumnus of the University of Hawaii, earning a degree in Zoology at the advent of the 1970's Ecology movement.    Greg is now based in Eugene, Oregon. He and his wife/partner/soulmate Penelope love living in the Pacific Northwest, travel as much as possible, and especially enjoy exploring Mexico.    Greg's photos have been published by National Geographic, Backpacker, Sierra Club, Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and many other travel, conservation, and lifestyle magazines and websites. 

This is National Great Lakes Awareness Day. We'll talk to Jadine Sonoda of the Wisconsin chapter of the Sierra Club about a project designed to set a world record as part of their effort to demonstrate public opposition to the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline up north. We'll also visit with Nick Ramos of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign about their upcoming anniversary, 30 years of exposing money in politics and other ways the system is being rigged against regular folks. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Guests: Nick Ramos, Jadine Sonoda

The Trump administration has begun issuing contracts for border wall construction. During the first Trump administration, contractors dynamited mountains and depleted groundwater, including the Quitobaquito, a sacred spring for the Tohono O'odham tribal nation, to produce concrete for the wall. Under the Real ID Act, dozens of laws protecting the environment, endangered species, and clean air and water can be waived for the wall's construction. Trump's Department of Homeland Security has already begun filing waivers.Earlier this month, Erick Meza, borderlands coordinator for the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, discovered that one of the sections slated for the upcoming border wall is southern Arizona's San Rafael Valley, a critical wildlife corridor for endangered species, including jaguars. “It's an ecological catastrophe,” he said of the proposed construction in the grassland valley. Meza spends much of his time traveling the borderlands documenting wildlife and the impacts of the border wall on an ecosystem under extreme stress from climate change and militarization.ShareIn this podcast, Meza discusses the proposed wall construction and its impact on the San Rafael Valley, as well as other areas where the wall is slated to be built. He also shares what biologists and conservationists are learning about the effects on wildlife and the environment from previous wall construction, and how this knowledge will inform their work in the future.What You Can DoSign a Sierra Club petition against the building of border wall in Arizona's San Rafael Valley. Sign here.Contact your congressional leaders and express your opposition to further border wall construction. Contact them here.Read and listen to more stories about the U.S.-Mexico border at theborderchronicle.com

Most of the time it is the top officials in an organization who are interviewed to learn about & understand the group, but today we're exploring The Sierra Club from the ground up. Paul Wagner has been very active with The Sierra Club for over forty years, connecting at the local, Chippewa Valley level, within the state of Wisconsin, and also nationally.

 The movement  to protect land and natural resources in the United States has been going on for a long time. Our guests: Rosa Hance and Cindy Dillon have both worked on behalf of The Sierra Club in the state of Maryland.The Sierra Club was founded on May 28, 1892, with John Muir as its first president. It is the oldest and largest environmental group in America, the Sierra Club has 750,000 members. Sierra Club mission statement is “to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; To educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment, and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.” Protecting the environment and Improving lives. All music and lyrics in this episode written by James Harrell and Ilyana Kadushin. 

Sierra Club v. FERC

On this episode of Spotlight Now, we’re talking about the future of Oahu’s next landfill. Joining us for the discussion are Department of Environmental Services director Roger Babcock, Honolulu City Council member Matt Weyer, and Sierra Club of Hawaii director Wayne Tanaka.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As part of the Critical Conversations series, the Sanctuary for Independent Media hosted Aaron Mair, Arbor Hill eco-activist and former president of the national Sierra Club, and Benita Law-Diao, former public health nutritionist and first person of color to sit on the board of the Adirondack park Agency to lead a conversation around environmental justice moderated by Eleanor Stein professor and environmental lawyer. This is A'Livija Mullins- Richard and Mary Keating's reflections on the event.

With projects including blocking destructive mining, protecting water, native forests & wildlife, and reducing climate change threats, the Sierra Club – Wisconsin Chapter, strives to keep a clean environment for […] The post Jadine Sonoda on The Sierra Club — Wisconsin Chapter appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

As we get ready for Earth Day, Bill chats with Samantha Dynowski, State Director of Sierra Club and Jameson C. Davis, Environmental Justice Advocate.

As part of our ongoing series of profiles with our favorite lawmakers and activists, Advocacy Manager Reagan Stone enjoyed a sit-down with two terrific Texans at the Texas State Capitol: State Rep. Ron Reynolds has represented Missouri City and Fort Bend County in the legislature since 2010, and Dr. Cyrus Reed serves as Conservation Director for the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club.Learn more about Rep. Reynolds at https://house.texas.gov/members/2040.Learn more about the Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter and Dr. Reed at https://www.sierraclub.org/texas.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Joannie Griffin, Camilla Feibelman from the Sierra Club, and Carl Ulibarri co/owner of New Mexico Home Solutions, come in to discuss the 2nd Annual Earth Day celebration happening at the Balloon Fiesta Park this Sunday. All this and more on News Radio KKOBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week John takes a look at how we talk about the qualities we value in a bike. Patrick takes a look at a fresh stance one chapter of the Sierra Club has taken with regard to mountain biking. Show links:Surly BikesBanana Boat Sport Performance Sunscreen

This episode of Energy Evolution focuses on the recent executive order signed by President Donald Trump to boost domestic mineral production in the US. This order seeks to reduce reliance on foreign mineral supplies, particularly from China, which dominates the mining and refining sectors for critical minerals. Lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements are just a few materials essential for energy transition technologies, including batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. For this week's episode, host Taylor Kuykendall is joined by Francesca Price, a senior analyst in the metals and mining research team at S&P Global Commodity Insights; Mark Smith, executive chairman, president, and CEO of NioCorp Developments; Pat Risner, president of South 32 Hermosa; and Athan Manuel, director of the Sierra Club's Lands Protection Program. Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays.

This episode of Energy Evolution focuses on the recent executive order signed by President Donald Trump to boost domestic mineral production in the US. This order seeks to reduce reliance on foreign mineral supplies, particularly from China, which dominates the mining and refining sectors for critical minerals. Lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements are just a few materials essential for energy transition technologies, including batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. For this week's episode, host Taylor Kuykendall is joined by Francesca Price, a senior analyst in the metals and mining research team at S&P Global Commodity Insights; Mark Smith, executive chairman, president, and CEO of NioCorp Developments; Pat Risner, president of South 32 Hermosa; and Athan Manuel, director of the Sierra Club's Lands Protection Program. Energy Evolution has merged with Platts Future Energy, and episodes are now regularly published on Tuesdays.

Dr. Aaron Mair, legendary Arbor Hill eco-activist and former president of the national Sierra Club, will come to the Sanctuary on April 10 to speak about Environmental Justice with Eleanor Stein, a board member of the Sanctuary and an environmental lawyer. Eleanor Stein and Jeff Jones speak about environmental justice and the work of Aaron Mair with Sina Basila Hickey for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Joanna Black, Senior Archivist at the Sierra Club, shares about their work and the archive at the 2025 Outdoor History Summit. Joanna Black Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-m-b-a4880730/ Sierra Club Archives: https://www.sierraclub.org/library Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industries. Learn more at opdd.usu.edu or follow the program on LinkedIn or Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/usuoutdoorproduct/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/opdd Discover the Outdoor Recreation Archive on Instagram or on USU's website. https://instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive https://library.usu.edu/archives/ora Subscribe to our ORA newsletter: https://outdoorrecarchive.substack.com/ Outdoor Recreation Archive Instagram https://www.instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive/?hl=en Episodes hosted, edited, and produced by Chase Anderson in beautiful Cache Valley, Utah. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasewoodruffanderson/  

From the Sierra Club, Camilla Feibelman comes in to talk about the Legislative Session and Green Energy. She also discusses "surface water", and also climate change and potential bills/grants for it with TJ on News Radio KKOB See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's guest is Aida Davis, founder of Decolonizing Design and chief people officer of the Sierra Club. Jen and Neema sat down with Aida to discuss her book Kindred Creation and the work of reclaiming African heritage in the Black community.Aida's Recommendations:- Insight & Poems by Huey Newton and Ericka Huggins- By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept by Paulo Coelho- Things Fall Apart by Chinua AchebeThe Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capture our imagination. New episodes every Wednesday. If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@villagewell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you love the show and want us to keep creating, please consider subscribing on YouTube or leaving us a review wherever you listen!

The Sierra Club — a grassroots environmental organization out of the Bay Area — has sued the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Elon Musk over the mass firing of federal workers, alleging it will cause big problems at national parks in California and across the nation. KFBK's Mark Demsky with more.

Trump administration deports hundreds of immigrants, even as a judge orders removals be stopped; Sierra Club sues DOGE over mass firings; Lack of opportunity pushes rural Gen Zers in AZ out of their communities; Fixing one problem, creating another? Ohio's lead pipe replacements.

Host Philip Berman talks to Maxine Bedat, Executive Director at New Standard Institute, the official sponsor of the Fashion Environmental Accountability Act, a new bill introduced into the California State Assembly at the start of February 2025 which, if enacted, would become the first law in the country to require brands to engage in “environmental due diligence” concerning their products and supply chains.   This Californian Bill is essentially the same as the 'New York Fashion Act' which was introduced into the New York State legislature in 2022 - though it's not yet law - and which is also backed by Maxine, The New Standard Institute and a broad coalition of industry folk including influential names such as, Rothys, Everlane, Reformation, Eileen Fisher, Patagoina, ThredUp, Circ, Vestiaire Collective, Stella McCartney, Ganni, Faherty, Cotopaxi, NRDC, Sierra Club, Canopy, Trove, EVRNU, American Academy of Pediatrics. Full list at thefashionact.org Maxine talks about both bills, their purpose, what stage they have reached in the legislative process. what it's like trying to push through groundbreaking legislation in two states on opposite sides of the US, simultaneously, whether her work has become harder with President Trump in the White House, and how she manages to build broad support with politicians of all persuasions. Subscribe to Ecotextile Talks podcasts on Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music or have a look around our complete podcast archive here.    

Trump administration deports hundreds of immigrants, even as a judge orders removals be stopped; Sierra Club sues DOGE over mass firings; Lack of opportunity pushes rural Gen Zers in AZ out of their communities; Fixing one problem, creating another? Ohio's lead pipe replacements.

Fossil fuels are bad for us, both to our climate and to our health. These impacts are felt most acutely in fenceline communities immediately adjacent to fossil fuel power plants, which also tend to be lower-income, communities of color. Folks from these communities are banding together to present a new energy future that leans into renewables and battery storage in order to shut down the gas power plants that pollute their neighborhoods and harm their families. Julia Dowell of the Sierra Club and Heena Singh of California Environmental Justice Alliance join us on the show to talk about their work leading Regenerate California where they apply pressure on local and state agencies to retire gas plants in environmental justice communities. They share their advocacy on how responsible utility scale energy infrastructure (like offshore wind and transmission) can enable gas plant retirements. Show your support for state action to build offshore wind by signing a petition here.Learn More:EcoNews: Tribal Energy SovereigntyHeat Wave ReportNOx ReportSupport the show

In today's episode, Viet and Sam sit down with Koda Wilson and discuss her involvement at Kentucky Wesleyan College. She is involved with the Sierra Club, Prism, and Wesleyan Walkers! Listen to her talking about it! 

Legendary Leo Lebon, hailed as the grandfather of adventure travel. Leo shares his incredible journey from humble beginnings in Belgium to co-founding the ground-breaking California-based company, MT Sobek, which helped launch the adventure travel industry. Facebook   Twitter   Instagram Love the show? Subscribe,  rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter  HERE I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here:  rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes Leo Le Bon  Wanderlust Consulting MT Sobek  Thomas Cook's  Sierra Club  Colonel James Roberts,  Mountain Travel Nepal  Gurkha officer  Alan Steck  Richard Bangs  Mountain Lodges of Peru   What Happened: Picture this: You're young, your life's in flux, and your mom casually suggests, “Why don't you go visit my cousin in New York?”—a cousin you didn't even know existed. That's exactly how Leo Le Bon's adventure began. Fast forward a few months, and he's driving a stranger's car across America just to get his $50 deposit back. (Gas was 25 cents a gallon back then—can you imagine?) One thing led to another. A chance meeting. A hiking trip. A casual chat with a fellow climber who just happened to have connections in Nepal. And before he knew it, Leo wasn't just exploring—he was pioneering an entire industry. There were no guidebooks. No established trails. No GPS. Just a wild dream and a whole lot of figuring-it-out-as-you-go. And that's how adventure travel as we know it was born. Principle: The biggest adventures don't start with a perfect plan—they start with a yes. Leo didn't wait until he had everything figured out. He said yes to a cross-country road trip. Yes to a new job. Yes to a trek in Nepal before most people even knew where Nepal was. The truth? Most people sit around waiting for the “right time” to go after something big—whether it's an adventure, a new business, or a major life shift. But adventure (and success) doesn't work that way. You don't need certainty. You need a willingness to start. Transition: Too many people get stuck waiting for the stars to align before they chase their dreams. They tell themselves:

Monongalia County Commissioner Tom Bloom and Morgantown City Councilor Louise 'Wheezie' Michael enter the studio to announce an agreement involving the State Department of Highways. Chair of the Sierra Club, West Virginia Jim Kotcon discusses issues with First Energy's natural gas plan.

Sierra Club v. FERC

If you use healthcare or live on Planet Earth, you want a comprehensive ban on flavored tobacco products. This podcast is a helpful summary of all the issues wrapped up in flavored tobacco, e-cigarettes and the human, environmental and economic damages of the tobacco industry. Statewide and comprehensive flavored tobacco bans that include menthol, cigars, e-cigarettes and more are simple and potent steps we can all take in our states to protect our kids and environment. Rather than having to listen to 5 different podcasts to get up to speed, this one will catch you up on all the major issues in a tight 20 minutes, so you can be on your way to understanding why this issue matters to you and why it should matter to everyone!I cover tobacco and vaping a great deal on this podcast because tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death, disease and disability in the United States. Anything we can do to decrease its harms improves the health, lives and economy for all of us! I also go through many of the common objections and “whaddabouts” that come up with this concern. Please share this episode!To Do:- If you live in Oregon, contact your State Senator and Representative to ask them to pass a comprehensive flavored tobacco ban.- Post on social media and consider writing an Op-Ed about why you support a ban on flavored nicotine products. - Find out if there is a flavor ban being considered in your county or state, and do what you can to support it. - Learn more about how you or a loved one can break free of the nicotine habit here.- If you are between 50 and 80 years old and currently smoke or have quit within the last 15 years, go to SavedByTheScan.org to find out about whether you should consider lung cancer screening.- Share this episode and post with friends and family and anyone whom you think might be interested. To Learn More- Prior podcast episodes for deep dives on each topic include:A Heartbreaking Trap- episode with a youth pastor who worked for Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids about hx of menthol and other flavored tobacco products, particularly targeted at the Black community. The Route Makes the Poison- Inhaling Flavors with Prof Ilona Jaspers- about difference between eating and inhaling flavoring chemicals.Not Kool- Menthol and Lung Numbing with Prof Svent Jordt- about particular dangers of menthol and numbing products to the lungs, Do the Vape Talk- episode for parents and teachers about talking to kids in their lives about e-cigs and vaping with expertise from American Lung AssociationLearn more about health effects of e-cigarettes in the podcast episode “Gambling with Your Lungs”  A County vs Big Tobacco- Fighting Flavors and Protecting Kids- episode about one of these county level battles from a few years ago that passed and with the current State Senator sponsoring the bill.  If your state or county doesn't have tobacco retail licensing, that is a vital step in knowing what is going on! Listen to the A Teen Talks Vaping episode to learn more. Teens Tackle Tobacco- Butts, E-cigs, Schools and more- with 2 members of Sierra Club youth tobacco project Climate Change, Microplastics and Fires- the EcoToll of Tobacco with the Sierra Club-  more on environmental toll of tobaccoImage of my kids with flavored tobacco products at their eye level at a gas station

Virginia has about 16 million acres of forested land. About 20% belongs to various government agencies, but nearly 60% is in private hands. Now, a nonprofit called the 500-Year Forest Foundation is trying to persuade individuals and families to preserve their trees, as Sandy Hausman reports.

Rocket and Stump give listeners a look in the High Trips - monthlong outings into the mountains organized by the Sierra Club starting in 1901. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Suppose for a moment that the Sierra Club was a political party, with candidates running and elected officials in government. They might look like Germany's Green Party, which has drawn support from idealistic German voters since the 1980s. They are politically left, view everything through the narrow prism of environmentalism and have a history of […]

Tom DeWeese is president of American Policy Center. Tom is one of the nation's leading advocates of individual liberty, free enterprise, private property rights, personal privacy and back-to-basics education.Tom began by explaining non-governmental organizations, otherwise known as NGO's. They're experts at pushing various policies and issues along with the grants to tell recipients to apply for. They pressure city council members, county commissioners and even state legislators to put whatever policies the NGO's have in mind, in place. Jim noted how even the media gets involved in this so that when a community or a state rejects one of these offers, they tell listeners/viewers how certain funding has been turned down, making it appear as though it was a bad decision. What they don't explain is the part about how that community or state has their hands tied if the money is accepted. In other words, that community or state has now lost control at some level.The latest trick has to do with getting citizens to voluntarily surrender a level of control of their land. It involves land trusts such as the Sierra Club, the Nature Conservancy and others who are pushing for farmers to sign what are called, "conservation easements." These are being offered with the promise that if they sign, the farmer will no longer have to worry about developers taking their land. It may sound good on the surface, but one problem is that the land trusts have the farmers sign these easements in perpetuity. Conversely, the land trusts aren't tied to the perpetuity clause. They can buy, sell or trade these conservation easements with other organizations or even with the government.

Tom DeWeese is president of American Policy Center. Tom is one of the nation's leading advocates of individual liberty, free enterprise, private property rights, personal privacy and back-to-basics education.Tom began by explaining non-governmental organizations, otherwise known as NGO's. They're experts at pushing various policies and issues along with the grants to tell recipients to apply for. They pressure city council members, county commissioners and even state legislators to put whatever policies the NGO's have in mind, in place. Jim noted how even the media gets involved in this so that when a community or a state rejects one of these offers, they tell listeners/viewers how certain funding has been turned down, making it appear as though it was a bad decision. What they don't explain is the part about how that community or state has their hands tied if the money is accepted. In other words, that community or state has now lost control at some level.The latest trick has to do with getting citizens to voluntarily surrender a level of control of their land. It involves land trusts such as the Sierra Club, the Nature Conservancy and others who are pushing for farmers to sign what are called, "conservation easements." These are being offered with the promise that if they sign, the farmer will no longer have to worry about developers taking their land. It may sound good on the surface, but one problem is that the land trusts have the farmers sign these easements in perpetuity. Conversely, the land trusts aren't tied to the perpetuity clause. They can buy, sell or trade these conservation easements with other organizations or even with the government.

Episode: 2422 John Muir, Naturalist and Engineer.  Today, an unlikely engineer.

2/5/25: The Northamptones LIVE! — singing us towards Sunday's Silver Chord Bowl. D.A. Dave Sullivan live from the nationwide gathering of DAs in DC: justice imperiled by Trump policies. Brian Adams, Lynne Man & Tara Wallace of Sierra Club Forest Protection Team: the dangers of logging. Larry Hott recommends Oscar-worthy "Sugarcane" and "Black Box Diaries."

Episode Summary: In this extensive episode of "90 Miles from Needles," host Chris Clarke dives into the controversial Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station project in the Mojave Desert. He examines the ecological impacts of this large-scale solar project, highlighting the tension between renewable energy and biodiversity preservation. Chris discusses the unforeseen consequences on local wildlife, particularly the endangered desert tortoise and avian species, as a consequence of this project. Through a blend of personal narrative and investigative journalism, he offers insights into the ongoing debates over habitat disruption by renewable energy initiatives. The episode continues to chronicle the story of Ivanpah, offering an in-depth analysis of bird mortality rates caused by the solar project's thermal technology. Clarke provides a critical examination of the response from environmentalists, regulatory agencies, and the public to the Ivanpah plant's adverse effects. He contrasts the utility of renewable projects against their ecological costs, challenging the notion of desert landscapes as barren wastelands. Clarke's passion for desert conservation is evident as he reflects on both personal experiences in the Ivanpah Valley and the broader implications of unchecked industrial progress on these fragile ecosystems. Key Takeaways: Large-scale renewable energy projects like the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station can have significant negative impacts on local wildlife, including endangered species. There is a crucial need for evaluating the ecological costs of industrial projects against their purported benefits. Conservation often finds itself at odds with technological advancements. Biodiversity preservation should be prioritized even in areas deemed suitable for renewable energy; this requires balancing climate change goals with ecosystem integrity. Economic and technological advancements can abruptly shift narratives and outcomes, as seen with the affordable availability of photovoltaic panels influencing Ivanpah's future. Continuous advocacy, investigative journalism, and public awareness are vital in halting potentially damaging industrial projects but might not solely suffice without economic shifts. Notable Quotes: "Are we really so bereft of wisdom that we see this beleaguered but beautiful stretch of ancient desert as nothing more than a blank spot on the map?" "In the Ivanpah Valley, a place that, though radically altered by the hands of industry, is still precious, still alive, well worth being defended from further unnecessary and destructive change." "The split happened even within groups…few people fought harder to keep the Ivanpah solar power plant from being built than a handful of Sierra Club members." "The Ivanpah plant should never have been built." "Photovoltaics are just cheaper. That's essentially what will force Ivanpah to shut down." Listen to the full episode for an eye-opening exploration of the challenges facing desert conservation amid the push for renewable energy. Stay tuned for more insights from "90 Miles from Needles" as we continue to discuss critical environmental issues affecting desert regions.Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wes, Eneasz, and David keep the rationalist community informed about what's going on outside of the rationalist communitySupport us on Substack!News discussed:Newsome made it illegal to offer to buy fire-damaged properties at market ratesHawaii did that after their devastating fires 18 months ago and were stopped via lawsuits brought by the Sierra Club and ACLUBiden ShenanigansClaims the Equal Rights Amendment passedBiden pardoned his shady family members, Fauci, Milley, and Jan. 6 committee on the way outCommuted sentences of 2,500 more nonviolent offendersSEC is suing Elon Musk for fake reasonsCeasefire in GazaTrump Executive ordersRevoked 78 Biden EO'sBio sex only on federal documentsNo more DEI programs for feds or contractorsrepealed EO 11246, the “origins of woke” oneDEI grifters put on paid leave alreadyTerminated birthright citizenship??A judge has already blocked it - “blatantly unconstitutional”Declared emergency at Southern borderBuild! The! Wall!Also directs military to enforce border controlAlso paused refugee programAlso deny funding to sanctuary cities and deport illegal migrantsSpeaking of which - Houthis too!GULF OF AMERICA!CO state gov fucked Mt Evans in 2023Freeze on all new regulationsDOGE neutered?Declared a “national energy emergency”But also suspended offshore wind projectsThen added solar on federal landsRevoked EO allowing CEQ to make rules (previously suspended by DC Circuit)Made Architecture Great AgainWithdrawal from Paris Climate Agreement and WHOPardon for all Jan. 6th riotersAnd Ross Ulbricht, the Dread Pirate RobertsNo more remote work :(Also hiring freezeAlso reclassified “policy-influencing” positions as Schedule FRevoked security clearance for everyone who said Hunter Biden laptop was Russian disinformationOther Trump stuffHegseth confirmed 51-50Trump reinstated ban on money going to foreign NGOs that perform or promote abortionsState Department put “freeze” on all foreign aidhalted PEPFAR program and President's Malaria InitiativeTrump fired 18 inspectors generalEuros refloating the idea of putting boots on the ground in UkraineTik Tok Ban?SCOTUS ruled 9-0 that the ban is ConstitutionalTrump EO says not to enforce law for 75 daysColombia wouldn't let 2 planes of deportees to land, Trump threatened universal 25% tariffs, Colombia yielded.OpenAI announces $500B AI infrastructure projectDeepSeek - Chinese AI company - releases a competitor to ChatGPT.Nvidia down 17% in one day, many other tech stocks also down.Local violent deathcult ups their body count by 2The Vietnamese Communist Party adopts Mileism as national policyHappy News!Justice Department is going to stop suing police departments for having standards!Rents in Austin are 8% less this year, third year in a row, and still going down :)FDA approves new depression treatment - ketamine-based nasal spray68yr old today healthier and more generally capable than 62yr old of a decade ago.Truck Driver - Timothy VanNostrand - Intervenes in Highway Shootout, prevents shooter from escapingOlympic Kite Surfer Saves Drowning Woman, with videoTroop DeploymentEneasz - The Patriarchy is run by women, and Barbie knows itGot something to say? Come chat with us on the Bayesian Conspiracy Discord or email us at themindkillerpodcast@gmail.com. Say something smart and we'll mention you on the next show!Follow us!RSS: http://feeds.feedburner.com/themindkillerGoogle: https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Iqs7r7t6cdxw465zdulvwikhekmPocket Casts: https://pca.st/vvcmifu6Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-mind-killerApple: Intro/outro music: On Sale by Golden Duck Orchestra This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindkiller.substack.com/subscribe

The Los Angeles fires are a warning to all of us. Over the past week, lives, homes, businesses and entire communities have been lost in what's expected to be among the nation’s costliest disasters ever. But with more than one-third of the U.S. population living in counties with high wildfire risk, this begs the question: Should lots of people relocate? Crystal Kolden, director of the Fire Resilience Center at the University of California at Merced and a former wildland firefighter, said abandoning these places isn’t the only option. On the show today, Kolden explains why the L.A. fires have been so tough to put out, why wildfires are different from other natural disasters like hurricanes and floods, and how devastated communities can rebuild in a way that makes them more resilient to future fires. Later, a listener shares a teamwork approach to cleaning up after a house party. And, Brad Stulberg, author of “Master of Change,” was wrong about how to find motivation. Here’s everything we talked about today: “L.A. Fires Show Limits of America's Efforts to Cope With Climate Change” from The New York Times “Column: Recovery will be tempered by hard decisions and, if we aren’t careful, inequality” from The L.A. Times “Palisades and other Southern California fires could be most expensive in US history” from LAist “More People Are Living in the Riskiest Wildfire Zones” from Bloomberg “‘Zone Zero’ Mandates Near Completion for High Wildfire Risk Areas” from the Sierra Club “‘Conditions’ should be placed on California wildfire aid: House Speaker Mike Johnson” from USA Today We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The Los Angeles fires are a warning to all of us. Over the past week, lives, homes, businesses and entire communities have been lost in what's expected to be among the nation’s costliest disasters ever. But with more than one-third of the U.S. population living in counties with high wildfire risk, this begs the question: Should lots of people relocate? Crystal Kolden, director of the Fire Resilience Center at the University of California at Merced and a former wildland firefighter, said abandoning these places isn’t the only option. On the show today, Kolden explains why the L.A. fires have been so tough to put out, why wildfires are different from other natural disasters like hurricanes and floods, and how devastated communities can rebuild in a way that makes them more resilient to future fires. Later, a listener shares a teamwork approach to cleaning up after a house party. And, Brad Stulberg, author of “Master of Change,” was wrong about how to find motivation. Here’s everything we talked about today: “L.A. Fires Show Limits of America's Efforts to Cope With Climate Change” from The New York Times “Column: Recovery will be tempered by hard decisions and, if we aren’t careful, inequality” from The L.A. Times “Palisades and other Southern California fires could be most expensive in US history” from LAist “More People Are Living in the Riskiest Wildfire Zones” from Bloomberg “‘Zone Zero’ Mandates Near Completion for High Wildfire Risk Areas” from the Sierra Club “‘Conditions’ should be placed on California wildfire aid: House Speaker Mike Johnson” from USA Today We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.

On New Year's Day, Julie's beloved mother, Karen O'Connor, passed away at the age of 86. Karen was a remarkable woman who touched the lives of many with her kindness, warmth, and wisdom. As a prolific author of 70 books and a gifted writing teacher, Karen's legacy is one of inspiration and creativity. She was deeply cherished by her three children, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.In this special episode, we honor Karen's life and contributions by sharing an interview recorded in 2018, when Karen was one of Brave Writer's most beloved writing coaches. Through this conversation, we celebrate her incredible journey, her passion for writing, and her lasting impact on the Brave Writer community.You can read Karen O'Connor's obituary here. Donations can be made to the Sierra Club in her name. Visit Karen's website and learn more about her books at www.karenoconnor.com.Resources:Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that's sure to grab and keep your child's attentionSign up for our new Substack: Brave Learning with Julie Bogart Take a look at the Brave Writer Book ShopLearn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programsRead all Brave Writer class descriptionsSign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684Connect with Julie:Instagram: @juliebravewriterThreads: @juliebravewriterTwitter: @bravewriterFacebook: facebook.com/bravewriterConnect with Melissa:Website: melissawiley.comSubstack: melissawiley.substack.comInstagram: @melissawileybooksTwitter: @melissawileyProduced by NOVA

Live from an ESG-flavored 2025, it's an all-new Wacky Wednesday edition of Business Pants. Joined by Analyst-Hole Matt Moscardi! On today's Costco lovefest called January 8th 2025: Headlines We Missed since the end of December and the new comic book superhero named Costco!Our show today is being sponsored by Free Float Analytics, the only platform measuring board power, connections, and performance for FREE.DAMION1Shit We Missed (in no particular order):Tech BrosZuckDana White, UFC CEO and Trump ally, to join Meta's board of directorsZuckerberg Announces New Measures to Increase Hate Speech on FacebookMark Zuckerberg's Meta is moving moderators out of California to combat concerns about bias and censorship“Huge problems” with axing fact-checkers, Meta oversight board saysCo-chair Helle Thorning-Schmidt said she is "very concerned" about how parent company Meta's decision to ditch fact-checkers will affect minority groups: "We are seeing many instances where hate speech can lead to real-life harm, so we will be watching that space very carefully," she added.Meta Drops Rules Protecting LGBTQ Community as Part of Content Moderation OverhaulThe changes included allowing users to share “allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation, given political and religious discourse about transgenderism and homosexuality.”Meta replaces policy chief Nick Clegg with former Republican staffer Joel Kaplan ahead of Trump inaugurationSamSam Altman Explodes at Board Members Who Fired Him"And all those people that I feel like really fucked me and fucked the company were gone, and now I had to clean up their mess," adding that he was "fucking depressed and tired.""And it felt so unfair," the billionaire told Bloomberg. "It was just a crazy thing to have to go through and then have no time to recover, because the house was on fire."The board's primary fiduciary duty was not to maintain shareholder value or profits, but rather to stay true to OpenAI's mission of creating safe artificial general intelligence (AGI) that benefits humanity.Helen Toner: the director of strategy at Georgetown's Center for Security and Emerging Technology.Tasha McCauley: an adjunct senior management scientist at think tank RAND Corporation. McCauley was also on the advisory board of the Centre for Effective Altruism. In 2017 she signed the Asilomar AI Principles on ethical AI development alongside Altman, OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever, and former board member Elon MuskOpenAI CEO Sam Altman denies sexual abuse allegations made by his sister in lawsuitMuskMaga v Musk: Trump camp divided in bitter fight over immigration policyElon Musk Endorses Nazi-Linked German Party, Even Though It Opposed Tesla's GigafactoryTech Bro Wealth12 US billionaires gained almost $1 trillion in wealth in 2024 as the stock market delivered another year of massive returnsNYT Report Says Jensen Huang, The CEO Of Nvidia And The 10th-Richest Person In The U.S., Trying To Allegedly Avoid $8 Billion In TaxesMark Zuckerberg says he doesn't have a Hawaiian doomsday bunker, just a 'little shelter.' It's bigger than most houses.You could live next door to Jeff Bezos on 'Billionaire Bunker' island for $200 millionMusk urges Bezos to throw an ‘epic wedding' after Amazon founder blasts report of $600 million nuptials as ‘completely false'Elon Musk takes aim at MacKenzie Scott again for giving billions to liberal causes, calling the gifts 'concerning'How Jensen Huang and 3 Nvidia Board Members Became BillionairesMark Zuckerberg sported a $900,000 piece of wrist candy as he announced the end of fact-checking on MetaDEI/ESG Flip-FloppingWhen an anti-DEI activist took a swing at Costco, the board hit backA Costco shareholder proposal brought by conservative activist The National Center for Public Policy Research asked the company to probe its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, with an eye toward eliminating them.The thrust of the proposal is that certain DEI initiatives could open Costco up to financial risks over discrimination lawsuits from employees who are “white, Asian, male or straight.”The company's board of directors unanimously urged shareholders to reject the proposal and made the case that Costco's success depends on establishing a racially diverse, inclusive workplace: “We believe that our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are legally appropriate, and nothing in the (Center for Public Policy Research) proposal demonstrates otherwise,” the board's statement said.The statement went on to rebuke the Center for Public Policy Research, saying that they and others were the ones responsible for inflicting financial and legal burdens on companies. “The proponent's broader agenda is not reducing the risk for the Company but abolition of diversity programs,” the board said.Costco board member defends DEI practices, rebukes companies scrapping policiesJeff Raikes, co-founder of the Raikes Foundation and former CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, who has served on Costco's board of directors since 2008: "Attacks on DEI aren't just bad for business—they hurt our economy. A diverse workforce drives innovation, expands markets, and fuels growth. Let's focus on building a future where all talent thrives." He concluded his post on X with the hashtag, "InclusiveEconomy." While businesses began to announce their departures from DEI policies last year, Raikes urged companies to expand such practices at work, insisting that scaling down DEI in businesses would harm the economy.Robbie Starbuck: “I fully endorse cancelling memberships at this point.”McDonald's rolls back DEI programs, ending push for greater diversityFour years after launching a push for more diversity in its ranks,McDonald's said it will retire specific goals for achieving diversity at senior leadership levels. It also intends to end a program that encourages its suppliers to develop diversity training and to increase the number of minority group members represented within their own leadership ranks.Managers 'touch up' staff: McDonald's faces fresh abuse claimsFast-food chain McDonald's has been hit by fresh allegations of sexual and homophobic abuse as staff members allege they have been 'touched up' by managers and offered extra shifts for sex.The chain first faced bombshell claims of widespread sexual abuse and harassment at its stores in July 2023 and has since been reported more than 300 times for harassment to the UK's equality watchdog.Allegations have included racist abuse, sexual assault and harassment and bullying. BlackRock Cuts Back on Board Diversity Push in Proxy-Vote GuidelinesThe policy updates remove both (a) numerical diversity targets (i.e., boards should aspire to 30% diversity of membership and have at least 2 women directors and 1 director from an underrepresented group) and (b) the related disclosure-based voting policy (i.e., BlackRock previously would consider taking voting action if a company did not adequately explain its approach to board diversity) – but provides that BlackRock may consider taking voting action if an S&P 500 board is not sufficiently diverse (BlackRock includes a footnote in the policy update suggesting that 30% diversity may still be the expectation).BlackRock's investment stewardship team tweaked the language used to describe how it approaches votes for other companies' boards. It didn't explicitly recommend that boards should aspire to at least 30% diversity of their members, after having done so in previous years.The report noted, however, that all but 2% of the boards of companies in the S&P 500 have diverse representation of at least 30%—and that if companies were out of step with those norms, BlackRock may cast opposing votes on a case-by-case basis. JPMorgan Leaves Net Zero Banking Group, Completing Departure of Major U.S. Banks Stakeholder Anger (or Anger at Stakeholders)Poll finds many Americans pin partial blame on insurance companies in UHC CEO killingA recent survey from the University of Chicago, found that, while 8 out of 10 U.S. adults believe the person who killed Brian Thompson bears the responsibility for the murder, 7 in 10 shared the belief that healthcare companies are also to blame. Luigi Mangione mention on SNL met with applause, critics slam 'woke' audience: 'Wooing for justice?'New York to charge fossil fuel companies for damage from climate changeThe new law requires companies responsible for substantial greenhouse gas emissions to pay into a state fund for infrastructure projects meant to repair or avoid future damage from climate change.Albania bans TikTok for a year after fatal stabbing of teenager last monthTeens in Vietnam will now be limited to one hour of gaming per sessionStarbucks baristas set to strike as new CEO makes $100 millionWashington Post Cartoonist Quits After Jeff Bezos Cartoon Is KilledNorway on track to be the first to ‘erase petrol and diesel engine cars'Fully electric vehicles accounted for 88.9% of new cars sold in 2024Exxon Sues California Official, Claiming He Defamed the CompanyExxon Mobil sued California's attorney general, the Sierra Club and other environmental groups on Monday, alleging that they conspired to defame the oil giant and kneecap its business prospects amid a debate over whether plastics can be recycled effectively.DystopiaMan Trying to Catch Flight Alarmed as His Driverless Waymo Gets Stuck Driving in Loop Around Parking LotAsked to Write a Screenplay, ChatGPT Started Procrastinating and Making ExcusesKlarna's CEO says AI is capable of doing his job and it makes him feel 'gloomy'Governance newsShari Redstone is saying goodbye to Paramount GlobalCharles Dolan, TV pioneer who founded HBO and Cablevision, dies at 98Richard Parsons, former Time Warner CEO, dies at age 76 Dye & Durham board resigns, activist nominees take control, interim CEO named The Fortune 500 has two new female CEOs—finally pushing that milestone above 11%And we end with a few classics:Boeing ends a troubled year with a jet-crash disaster in South KoreaMan who exploded Tesla Cybertruck outside Trump hotel used ChatGPT to plan the attackNorovirus rates have skyrocketed by 340% this season. Here's where the ‘winter vomiting disease' is spreading and whyMATT1CostcoNational Center for Public Policy Research filed the proxy with CostcoTheir arguments include…US Supreme court decision at HarvardA $25m judgment in PA for white regional manager at Starbucks who was fired after two black patrons were arrested for being blackThis gem: “With 310,000 employees, Costco likely has at least 200,000 employees who are potentially victims of this type of illegal discrimination because they are white, Asian, male or straight.”This, perhaps, is the greatest ironic argument for “meritocracy” ever made in historyThey point out that the MAJORITY OF THE STAFF is white, Asian, male, or straight… but they don't even use Costco's data, they source census data and just guessThe real numbers:Non management is 44.2% white, management is 58% white - a 14% increase in meritocracyExecutives are 80.6% white - a whopping 36.4% more meritHispanics are 33.1% of non management, 23.3% of management - 9.8% less merit!Executives are 5.8% Hispanic, 26.3% less meritAsians are 8.5% and 7.1%, so 1.4% less merit7.9% executive - so even merit?US Exec management is 72.3% maleSo 80.6% of executives are white, and 72.3% are male - and the argument NCPPR is making is that BECAUSE there are a lot of white males, there is a lot of RISK that THE WHITE MALES WILL SUE YOU if they think they're discriminated againstThink of what they're saying - because you have so many non diverse people, you can't have diversity programs for risk of lawsuitThe response dropped the pretense that the proxy was anything except racismThe proponent professes concern about legal and financial risks to the Company and its shareholders associated with the diversity initiatives. The proponent's broader agenda is not reducing risk for the Company but abolition of diversity initiatives. A 2023 federal district court decision, in a case brought by the proponent, noted that the proponent had "published a document called 'Balancing the Boardroom 2022,' which describes its shareholder activism as 'fighting back' against 'the evils of woke politicized capital and companies.' [The proponent went] on to describe 'CEOs and other corporate executives who are most woke and most hard-left political in their management of their corporations' as 'inimical to the Republic and its blessings of liberty' and 'committed to critical race theory and the socialist foundations of woke' or 'shameless monsters who are willing to sacrifice our future for their comforts.'" National Center for Public Policy Research v. Schultz, E.D. WA. (Sept. 11, 2023). And the proponent's efforts to demonstrate retrenchment on the part of companies are misleading, at best. For example, the assertion that "Microsoft laid off an entirea[sic] DEI team" is simply wrong. It was later reported that Microsoft stated that the two positions eliminated were redundant roles on its events team and that Microsoft's diversity and inclusion commitments remain unchanged, according to Jeff Jones, a Microsoft spokesperson: “Our focus on diversity and inclusion is unwavering and we are holding firm on our expectations, prioritizing accountability, and continuing to focus on this work.” Colvin, Caroline. Amid DEI cuts, Microsoft works to distinguish itself from those responding to ‘woke' backlash. HR Dive, July 24, 2024.Reason Costco might be pushing back?Racism is basically unveiledOf all the companies targeted by a proposal or Robbie Starbuck, Costco has the lowest deviation in board member influence - as in, nearly the entire board has equal power, it's highly democratic - women, men, diverse cohorts are more or less equally powerful to anyone else in the roomNo connections to any board member on another DEI flipper companyMeanwhile, the anti DEI, anti immigrant movement has begun to eat itself before Trump even takes officeIn defense of more HB1 visas and foreign workers, Vivek Ramaswamy says we venerate jocks over valedictorians on Twitter, and Americans aren't as good employeesThe rebuttal was MAGA Trumpers saying Vivek is fake MAGAAlso this: “His entire argument is a terrible proposition,” he adds. “Children raised to be good little robots might grow up to build robots of their own someday, and become rich. Asians are the highest-earning racial group in America, but are they happier for it? Suicide is the leading cause of death for Asians aged 15-24 … and the second-leading cause of death for those aged 25-34.” Page points to a Psychology Today post that blames tiger parenting for causing anxiety and depression and then asks, “Do we really want this country to be even more stressed-out?”Costco proxy says Asians are discriminated againstTwitch gamers are streaming about “meritocracy”

Delia Malone is the Wildlife Chair for the Colorado Chapter of the Sierra Club, and an Ecologist for the Colorado Natural Heritage Program at Colorado State University. She has also been at the forefront of wolf reintroduction efforts for the state of Colorado. Delia spoke at length on ecosystem balance, the roles wolves and other species play in the broader ecological picture, and how Colorado stands ecological from her perspective. Delia Malone Sierra Club ColoradoDelia Malone Articles@thewolfconnectionpod

En el segmento inicial de su primer programa del año 2025, Susanne Nicole conversa con Johnny Rodríguez Ortiz de la Asociación de Jubilados de la Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica. El intercambió giro sobre los retos que tienen estos trabajadores cando viene a salvaguardar los derechos y recursos económicos por los que pagaron durante su vida laboral. En la segunda media hora, Susanne platica sobre el activismo con Hernalíz Vázquez Torres del capítulo en Puerto Rico de la organización Sierra Club