Episodes

The Biden administration must move fast in the first 100 days to not only reverse harmful policies of the Trump administration, but also set new precedents for community-driven climate solutions. John Podesta is the former top advisor to Presidents Clinton and Obama, the founder and a Board member for the Center for American Progress, and an advisory board member for Climate Power 2020. We caught up with him to discuss climate at the forefront of this election, Biden’s climate plan, and the impo...

Government investment in the fossil fuel industry infringes upon our constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property. A combination of litigation and demonstration is needed to hold our government accountable. Kelsey Juliana and Vic Barrett are plaintiffs in Juliana v. United States, also known as Youth v. Gov. We caught up with them to discuss the documentary Youth v Gov premiering at this year’s DOC NYC, America’s Largest Documentary Film Festival. Purchase tickets until November 19th her...

“Other people’s discomfort can risk your whole life.” It is time that we ensure adequate representation and compensation for injustices inflicted upon us. Expanding the U.S. Supreme Court and climate reparations are places to start. Tamara Toles O’Laughlinis the North American Director of 350 Action. We caught up with her to discuss the impact of Black women, voter suppression, and false climate solutions. Listen now! More at TheCoolestShow.com and @Think100Climate. #BlackWomen #Election2020 #Th...

This election cycle, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) invested over $115 million in priority races. This election was crucial for climate policy, as we have nine years until the 2030 deadline of cutting global emissions in half. Tiernan Sittenfeld is the Senior Vice President for Government Affairs at LCV. We caught up with her to discuss the first 100 days of the next administration, selecting intersectional candidates, and the National Environmental Scorecard. Listen now! More at TheCoo...

National Grid is expanding a massive fracked gas transmission pipeline in North Brooklyn, also known as the North Brooklyn Pipeline. The disparities between upstate New York and NYC are evident in the cumulative impact of COVID-19, the placement of toxic facilities, and disinvestment. Ali A. Zaidi is the Deputy Secretary for Energy & Environment in the Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo. We caught up with him to discuss the legacy of Cecil Corbin-Mark, a clean energy revolution, and community acces...

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) needs to be more intentional. This includes the meaningful involvement of BIPOC and hiring and retaining them in leadership roles. Adrianna Quintero is the Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at Energy Foundation. We caught up with her to discuss the potential of philanthropy, Big Greens sourcing funding to other white organizations, and the impacts of lawsuits. Listen now! More at TheCoolestShow.com and @Think100Climate. # # #Think100

Speaking truth empowers generations and communities whose history has been buried. We embody our connection to our heritage, culture, and land, and when those things are poisoned, we are left vulnerable. La’Meshia "L.A." Whittington-Kaminski is the Deputy Director of Advance Carolina and Campaigns Director for NC Black Alliance. We caught up with her to discuss The Kingdom of Happy Land, the history of the EJ movement, and #RespectMyVote. Listen now! More at TheCoolestShow.com and @Think100Clima...

Lead is a neurotoxin that has been intentionally used to inflict genocide upon Black people, ranging from family homes to the prison industrial complex. The effects of environmental justice are intergenerational so we must work to create policy for change and to hold agencies accountable. Michelle T. Mabson is a Healthy Communities staff scientist at Earthjustice and a co-founder of Black Millenials 4 Flint. We caught up with her to discuss translating the intersectionality of science, rebuildin...

Social media has become a vehicle for activism. With climate celebrity culture on the rise, one begins to question whether people are using movements to gain a following or genuinely educating the masses. Lauren Ritchie is an intersectional climate activist and the founder of @itsecogal. We caught up with her to discuss climate change in the Carribean, connecting climate and social justice, and online vs offline activism. Listen now! More at TheCoolestShow.com and @Think100Climate. #OnlineActivi...

Women Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have consistently had A+ scorecards in environmental and climate policy. They have been champions for decades, yet are not uplifted by the movement like they should be. Rep. Barbara Lee is the U.S. Representative for California's 13th Congressional District. We caught up with her to discuss holding members of Congress accountable, supporting the Green New Deal, and where faith and environmentalism intersect. Listen now! More at TheCoolestShow.com a...

Everything is intersectional and interdisciplinary. Systems of injustice work in tandem, and we must work together so we do not recreate or internalize them. Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta is the first openly LGBTQ+ person of color and one of the youngest members elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. We caught up with him to discuss multi-issued causes, voter suppression, and a Just Transition. Listen now! More at TheCoolestShow.com and @Think100Climate. #RespectMyVote #JustTransition #Think100

Abolition is tearing down systems that do harm and reimagining the world we want to live in. Violence comes from a lack of resources, and supplying oppressive systems with more resources is an ineffective response. Destiny Harris is a Black queer organizer, artist, abolitionist, and poet from the West Side of Chicago. We caught up with her to discuss the history of redlining and segregation in Chicago, being a 21st century abolitionist, and her top 5 Chicago artists. Listen now! More at TheCoole...

In order for us to survive and thrive, we must transition to a green economy where there is opportunity for not only jobs but ownership. Black women are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in the country. Kristal Hansley is the first Black woman in the U.S. to own a community solar company, as the founder and CEO of WeSolar Inc. We caught up with her to discuss bridging the gap in the solar industry, solar legislation, and launching a business during a pandemic. Listen now! More at TheCoo...

Protect the Arctic is a special 3 part series on The Coolest Show. We are covering the urgency to preserve the Arctic Refuge from the Trump administration's efforts to expand oil and gas development. Their plan is to lease 1.6 million acres on the Coastal Plains of the Arctic Refuge before the end of the year, and the plan must be stopped. . This episode isIn Part 3 in the series, and we speak to Isaiah Horace, a member of the Youth Council of the Gwich’in Steering Committee, to hear his view as...

Protect the Arctic is a special 3 part series on The Coolest Show. We are covering the urgency to preserve the Arctic Refuge from the Trump administration's efforts to expand oil and gas development. Their plan is to lease 1.6 million acres on the Coastal Plains of the Arctic Refuge before the end of the year, and the plan must be stopped.. This episode is Part 2 of the series and features Chad Brown, the founder of Soul River Inc., and delves into his deep personal connection he has to the Arct...

Protect the Arctic is a special 3 part series on The Coolest Show. We are covering the urgency to preserve the Arctic Refuge from the Trump administration's efforts to expand oil and gas development. Their plan is to lease 1.6 million acres on the Coastal Plains of the Arctic Refuge before the end of the year, and the plan must be stopped. This episode is Part 1 of the series and features Bernadette Demientieff, the Executive Director of the Gwich’in Steering Committee. She discusses the Gwich’i...

The Environmental Justice for All Act holds the government and industry accountable to the people and gives communities the right to redress. Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03) and Rep. Donald McEachin (VA-04) introduced the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year. We caught up with them to discuss the gutting of the EPA, voting for our future, and rebuilding climate resilient communities. Climate change should be a bipartisan issue because access to a clean and safe environment i...

As we commemorate the 15th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we are actively grieving those we have lost to COVID-19. The legacy of resilience is present in today’s generation, as they refuse to sweep issues like the aftermath of Katrina under the rug. Mia X is a best selling author, professor of music, and known as the Mother of Southern Gangsta Rap from the notorious No Limit Records. We caught up with her to discuss bridging cultural differences with Hip Hop, the importance of food and health...

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COVID is changing life as we know it and it’s showing us how unequal crises are. Antonique Smith is a Grammy nominated singer, actress, artivist, climate champion, and has been a co-host on The Coolest Show. On this special episode, she and Rev Yearwood catch up to discuss being an artist and artivist in 2020, staying creative during the pandemic, and if and how the entertainment industry will survive.. Listen now! More at TheCoolestShow.com and @Think100Climate. #Artivism #MusicfortheMovement #...

“Now is the moment to make a significant shift. Now is the moment to root in love and justice. Now is the moment to create economies that actually work for everyone.” Rahwa Ghirmatzion is the Executive Director of PUSH Buffalo. We caught up with her to discuss collective responsibility, community ownership, and the rich history of Buffalo, New York. Listen now! More at TheCoolestShow.com and @Think100Climate. #ClimateJustice #CommunityControl #Think100

Climate is not just a planet problem, it’s a people problem. This is the time to shift power within the climate movement towards people driven just solutions. Gina McCarthy is the President and CEO of NRDC and former EPA Administrator under President Obama. We caught up with her to what she has learned from past movements, what an intergenerational approach looks like, and taking time to elevate ourselves. Listen now! More at TheCoolestShow.com and @Think100Climate. #ClimateJustice #RacialJustic...

Comedy is often used to critique the status quo, disrupt harmful dominant narratives, and invite needed hope and optimism into challenging issues. Using comedy in activism can help people digest the serious and often overwhelming topic of the climate crisis. Caty Borum Chattoo is the executive director of the Center for Media & Social Impact. We caught up with her to discuss comedy as a shared cultural language, her new book and the report she wrote on the impact of Think 100% and our Co-created...

It is time to get on track. The fossil fuel industry has received billions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds, while communities of color see increased poisoning and vulnerability to the pandemic. We must continue to mobilize and build coalitions, as there is strength in numbers. Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán is U.S. Congresswoman for California's 44th District. We caught up with her to discuss fossil fuel bailouts, police brutality, climate smart ports, and change at the top. Listen now! More at ...