Category

Environment

Environment, Journalism, Nature, Non Fiction

May 25: Greenpeace Captain on the Health of the Bering Sea & Why Fish Farming is No Solution

Vicki St. Clair onboard Greenpeace's the Rainbow Warrior, Seattle.

Onboard the Rainbow Warrior, Greenpeace, Vicki St. Clair

Onboard the Rainbow Warrior

Almost 9 years ago, Vicki took a field trip to meet with Captain Joel Stewart and Senior Campaigns Manager Jackie Dragon onboard Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior.

So, why are we sharing this again in 2022? Because despite best efforts, the Bering Sea is still in a precarious position. Because if we understand the science, we can clearly understand where we need to course-correct. And because these people, on board the Rainbow Warrior, are not only experts in their field, they really care about their work and the legacy we’re leaving for your children.

Vicki’s brother was visiting from England and tagged along as photographer. Both said touring the ship and meeting the crew was an awesome experience … from chef to communications specialist, scientist, and Captain “Rarely” said Vicki, “have I met people so genuinely invested in the work they do … ”

About the Crew

Captain Stewart shares why marine preserves and the health of the Bering Sea is so important to our ecology. He discusses why fish farming is not a good solution for ecosystems or feeding humans — and why that won’t even matter unless we get climate change and CO2 under control.

Scientist and campaigns manager, Jackie Dragon, shares details of a new species, more on the science of the Bering Sea, and why it’s critical to the survival of Native Alaskan communities.

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Environment, Memoir, Non Fiction, Science, Social Issues

OCt 06: Dr Samantha Montano & Disasterology–Dispatches From the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis

“At the start of every disaster movie, is a scientist being ignored.”

Dr Samantha Montano became passionate about studying disasters after spending years in New Orleans, working with various nonprofits on recovery efforts, related to Hurricane Katrina and the BP Oil Disaster.

Disasterology is part memoir, part expert-analysis. Dr. Montano shares insights on how climate crisis impacts what we call ‘natural disasters’. She discusses how media, politicians, and communities can hinder and help in such disasters. Why disaster resilience is the responsibility of every citizen. And what happens to those left behind after networks turn off their cameras.

About Dr. Samantha Montano

Dr. Samantha Montano has a B.S. in Psychology, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Emergency Management. She is currently an assistant professor of emergency management at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. She’s been interviewed in the New York Times, The Atlantic, National Geographic, Los Angeles Times, and published in the Washington Post, Teen Vogue, among others. Dr Montano is the author of Disasterology: Dispatches from The Frontlines of The Climate Crisis.

 

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Conservation, Environment, Non Fiction, Social Issues, Sustainability

JUL 22: Facing the Climate Emergency with Dr. Margaret Klein Salamon

“You can create transformative change only by facing the truth.”  So much of the battle to save the climate is psychological and Dr. Margaret Klein Salamon’s new book, Facing the Climate Emergency: How to Transform Yourself with Climate Truth, gives you the tools to face your negative emotions, accept your fears, and channel them into protecting humanity and the natural world.

So what is the Climate Truth we need to face? Simply put, Dr. Margaret Klein Salamon believes the scientific consensus that our current ecological crisis threatens every life on our planet.

Margaret Klein Salamon, PhD, is a clinical psychologist turned climate warrior and founder of The Climate Mobilization, which pioneered the internationally recognized Climate Emergency.

 

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Conservation, Environment, Health & Wellness, Humor, Social Issues

DEC 18: Richard Louv’s Our Wild Calling

What would your life be like if you were as immersed in nature as you are in your electronic devices?  Today you will find out how connecting with animals can improve our spiritual, mental, and physical well-being.  You’ll learn why a coyote riding on public transportation could become the new norm, and how our children can learn ethical behavior from our dogs.  And find out how our guest compares raccoons to Silicone Valley and Seattle technophiles!

Richard Louv is a journalist and author of ten books, and co-founder and chair emeritus of the nonprofit Children & Nature Network.  In 2008, he was awarded the Audubon Medal, presented by the National Audubon Society. Prior recipients have included Rachel Carson, E. O. Wilson, Sir David Attenborough and President Jimmy Carter.  His new book is Our Wild Calling: How Connecting with Animals Can Transform our Lives — and Save Theirs.

 

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Conservation, Environment, Social Issues

OCT 16: National Geographic’s Vanishing with Joel Sartore

15 years ago, Joel Sartore began his quest to photograph all of Earth’s animal species under human care. The resulting National Geographic’s The Photo Ark project has since inspired thousands of people to protect the world’s most vulnerable animals.  Vanishing is the third installment in the series, examining animals that are on the brink of extinction, or in some cases, already extinct in the wild but kept alive in captivity thanks to the work of heroic conservationists.

Joel will discuss how everyone can make a difference, looking at our technology, and the real cost of the cup of coffee you buy everyday.  We’ll also take a deep dive into the IUCN red list, which is a critical indicator of the health of our world’s biodiversity.

Joel is a photographer, author, and 30-year contributor to National Geographic magazine, named 2018 National Geographic Explorer of the Year. Through his National Geographic Photo Ark project, he plans to photograph every species of animal under human care, an estimated 12,000. (As of Nov 2018, he has photographed nearly 9,000.

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Career, Environment, Self-help

OCT 14: National Geographic’s Night Sky Guy, Keep Going with Austin Kleon, & Dr. Tammy Nelson’s When You’re the One Who Cheats

So when the going gets tough, what do the tough do?  They Keep GoingCreativity expert Austin Kleon returns with his latest book to share ways to stay creative in good times and bad.

Find out why this “writer who draws” describes himself as a mongrel, and how that benefits his work. Why he says life is for art, and not other way around. How burnout can strike even if you love what you do. And, the big question, can you separate the art from the man, and the man from the art?

Austin Kleon’s New York Times bestselling books include Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work.

Are you a stargazer? Andrew Fazekas is. So much so, that his passion for stargazing developed into a star-studded career, earning him the alias “The Night Sky Guy”.

Today, he shares fun science facts, such as what causes the elusive “green flash” at sunset. And sheds light on his partnership with National Geographic to take the world’s first open-air, augmented-reality planetarium, to a global audience.  Exciting times in Backyard Guide to the Night Sky.

A science writer, speaker, and broadcaster Andrew Fazekas writes the StarStruck for National Geographic, and is the author of Star Trek: The Official Guide to Our Universe.

Ending today’s show, if you’ve ever been cheated on, you might find it confusing when the cheater claims they are also confused. You may not even believe them–but according to sex therapist Dr. Tammy Nelson, they’re probably telling the truth.

Dr. Nelson returns to Conversations Live to help unravel confusion on both sides of the cheating situation.  She’ll offer tips on how to stop cheating if you’re the guilty party, and ways to move forward in When You’re the One Who Cheats: 10 Things You Need to Know.

Tammy Nelson, PhD is a sex and relationship expert, international speaker, author, and licensed psychotherapist. She has 30 years of experience working with individuals and couples, and you can catch our earlier conversation on The New Monogamy here.

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Conservation, Environment, Health & Wellness, Personal Development, Spirituality, Travel & Adventure

SEP 23: Susan Hand Shetterly’s The Seaweed Chronicles & Dan Millman’s The Life You Were Born to Live

Known as the Peaceful Warrior, Dan Millman returns to Conversations Live today to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Life You Were Born to Live: A Guide to Finding Your Life Purpose.  The new revised edition includes key spiritual laws to overcome life’s hurdles, how to live in harmony with the nine-year cycles of your life, and more.

Dan is a former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor.  He has authored 17 books, and delivers keynotes, seminars, and workshops to people from all walks of life.

Next, nature writer Susan Hand Shetterly takes you on a journey from her native Maine, to Canada, Wales, Japan, the Philippines, and beyond, as she reveals the hidden world of nature’s most abundant resource.  Her latest book, Seaweed Chronicles: A World at the Water’s Edge comes out in August.

An award-winning author of nine books, Susan has also written for several magazines, including Down EastYankeeand Audubon MagazineShe was a contributing writer for Maine Times for many years, writing essays and articles on wild lands and wildlife, and the people who work with them.

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Conservation, Environment, Journalism, Social Issues

SEP 02: Multi-time Award-winning Filmmaker John de Graaf

John de Graaf is one of the good guys in our world, always right there with the next important, life-affirming idea,” says The Giraffe Project’s Ann Medlock.  The late 70’s gave birth to John’s award-winning documentary film career that continues to this day.

Today, we’ll explore John’s career as a filmmaker and activist, and find out why he does what he does. We’ll hear about his latest film, REDEFINING PROSPERTIY, and some of the activism he’s engaged in. We’ll discover how John chooses projects, and how he navigated his own prolific creative path while still making a difference in people’s lives.

“I’m an author, filmmaker, speaker, and activist with a mission to help create a happy, healthy, and sustainable quality of life for America,” reads John’s mission statement.

With over 40 documentaries and countless short films to his credit, he has received over 100 regional, national, and international awards for filmmaking.  15 of his films have been broadcast nationally in primetime on PBS, and he has taught filmmaking at the University of Washington, Evergreen State College, and Boston University’s Center for Digital Imaging Arts.

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Environment, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle, Memoir, Personal Development

JUN 17: Karen Auvinen’s Rough Beauty & Donald Altman Returns

Imagine a winter’s day alone in the mountain’s, the silence runs deep, the wind chills your bones, yet you feel the warmth of joy from this solitary moment.  Award-winning poet and author Karen Auvinen has spent decades living alone at 8500 feet, and shares her experiences in her new memoir, Rough Beauty: 40 Seasons of Mountain Living.

Karen is a mountain woman, life-long westerner, and accomplished writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Lithub, Real Simple, and Westword, as well as numerous literary journals.

Later, psychologist and former Buddhist monk Donald Altman returns to Conversations Live to share how love, kindness, and compassion help overcome fear and negativity.  Hear his original interview on mindful living here.

Donald is a psychotherapist, award-winning writer, former Buddhist monk, and teacher. He served as adjunct professor at Lewis and Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling, and is an adjunct faculty member of the Interpersonal Neurobiology program at Portland State University.

 

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Environment, Lifestyle, Non Fiction, Personal Development, Women's Issues

APR 08: Keep Going with Austin Kleon, National Geographic’s Night Sky Guy, & Dr. Tammy Nelson’s When You’re the One Who Cheats

What do the tough do, when the going gets tough? They Keep Going, which just happens to be the name of Austin Kleon‘s new book where he shares 10 ways to stay creative in good times and bad.

We’ll find out why this “writer who draws” describes himself as a mongrel, and how that benefits his work. Why he says life is for art, and not other way around. And, the big question that many have asked over the past few months in light of scandalous celebrity behavior, can you separate the art from the man, and the man from the art?

Austin Kleon’s New York Times bestselling books include Steal Like an Artist, and Show Your Work.

Want a fun, educational, and free activity to enjoy with your kids? Try star gazing.  Andrew Fazekas, aka the “Night Sky Guy”, turned his life-long passion into his career.  Today, he shares fun science facts such as what causes the elusive “green flash” at sunset. He also discusses his partnership with National Geographic in taking the world’s first open air augmented-reality planetarium to a global audienceExplore the cosmos with him in Backyard Guide to the Night Sky.

A science writer, speaker, and broadcaster Andrew Fazekas writes the StarStruck for National Geographic, and is the author of Star Trek: The Official Guide to Our Universe.

Sex therapist Dr. Tammy Nelson returns to Conversations Live to help unravel confusion and make sense of unfaithful behavior. She’ll offer tips on how to stop cheating, and share advice for those still involved in an affair with When You’re the One Who Cheats: 10 Things You Need to Know.

Tammy Nelson, PhD is a sex and relationship expert, an international speaker, an author and a licensed psychotherapist with almost thirty years of experience working with individuals and couples.  Enjoy her previous appearance here.

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