What connection does Star Trek have to humane education? What needs to be done to our education system to foster creativity, compassion, ethics, empathy and critical thinking? Students need to be better prepared to be problem solvers and thinkers. Our guest this week is Zoe Weil, co-founder and president of the Institute for Humane Education (IHE). Zoe and I discuss the importance of transforming education, via concepts that teach children to be more caring, nurturing, and curious. While teaching the three R’s is important, humane education will lead to a more peaceful and harmonious society. Zoe is working to establish the Solutionary School in NYC, as she believes that societal problems can be solved by offering curriculum which highlights social justice, respect and empathy, in order to create a more humane and sustainable world. For more information about The Institute for Humane Education and The Solutionary School please visit humaneeducation.org & solutionaryschoolnyc.org and check our her inspiring “The World Becomes What You Teach” Tedx Talk: http://youtu.be/
Author: The Many Shades of Green
#1446: Happy Greengiving
It’s that time of year again, when consumerism and family collide into what we call the holiday season. To help you incorporate sustainable choices into your gift giving, decorations and food, we’ve invited Elissa Olin from Green in BKLYN, Ashley Spivak from Clean Plates and Eva Radke of Film Biz Recycling to share their tips and ideas. greeninbklyn.com, cleanplates.com & filmbizrecycling.org
#1445: Sunday, September 21st 2014, The People’s Climate March
400,000 strong, a mosaic of humankind gathered at the People’s Climate March in NYC, to voice their concern about the climate crisis, and demand that the leaders of the world take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. My co-producer, Abba Carmichael and I, were able to witness history and walk with those who trekked from across the globe, and from across the street, to take an active role in showing support for Mother Earth. We spoke to actor/activist and academy award nominee Mark Ruffalo, NY Senator Charles Schumer, former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, author, environmental and civil rights activist Van Jones, Climate Project Presenter Marc Sussman, Grandparents Climate Campaign of Norway and many many more. It was truly an uplifting moment in time, and an example of peaceful, democratic protest on behalf of Mother Nature. For more info go to 350.org and peoplesclimate.org
#1444: Ellen and Gary Patrick, Founders of Breathe Easy USA
The ancient holistic practice of going to salt caves to aide breathing, which originated in Europe and Russia, has now come stateside, and has been brought into the 21st Century in the form of Dry Salt therapy rooms. My guests Ellen and Gary Patrick, have opened up Dry Salt Rooms in the New York metro area, to bring salt therapy to help those suffering from sinus and lung related problems, as well as certain types of skin problems. Dry Salt therapy which is also know as halotherapy, has natural properties and minerals which are antiviral, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial in nature. Go to breatheeasyusa.com to get more information about the benefits of Himalayan Pink Salt, feeling zen while in the Salt Room, and getting the relief you need to Breathe Easy.
#1436: Andra Tomsa, Founder of the app, SPARE
Hunger is a quiet crisis that demands our attention. My guest this week is Andra Tomsa, Founder of Spare, an organization working to help fight hunger via an app and website that rounds up your restaurant or bar tab, and tracks your donation in real time. Spare has partnered with the Food Bank of NYC and City Harvest to get meals to those who rely on food kitchens and shelters for assistance. For more information please go to sparenyc.org.
#1443: Jesse Carmichael: Founding Band Member of Maroon 5 & Environmental Advocate
Music is the message and musicians are the messengers. Fans connect with their favorite artists, and follow their lead in both music and philosophy. Join me and my guest this week, Jesse Carmichael, guitarist and keyboard player for the rock band Maroon 5, as we talk about how he connects with his fans on issues of sustainability and social justice. On his green path he helps foster environmental stewardship of organizations such as SHFT, ACE, The Climate Reality Project and Vote Solar. Jesse is working on a solo project entitled “1863” and Maroon 5 has a great new album out called “V”. For more information go to maroon5.com, votesolar.org, ACE (acespace.org), SHFT (shft.com) and The Climate Reality Project (climaterealityproject.org). You can tweet Jesse @JRCarmichael
#1442: Annie Hauck-Lawson, Founder of Mompost
My guest this week is Annie Hauck-Lawson, author, nutritionist, master composter and the current Greening Director at Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn. Annie co-edited the book Gastropolis: Food and New York City, and founded Brooklyn Mompost. She created the term “Food Voice,” and her recollections of her upbringing in Brooklyn, foraging for edibles in Prospect Park, fishing off the Brooklyn Coast, and starting one of the first Natural Food pushcarts in Brooklyn gives us great insight into her upbringing, which shaped her vision of the importance and connection we all have to food and nature. To get more information go to www.brooklynmompost.com
#1441: Paul Lazarus Discusses His New Documentary, “Slingshot”
Water is the source of all life, there is a world water crisis, and millions of people on the planet do not have potable, clean, drinking water. My guest this week, Paul Lazarus, director, writer and producer of film, television and theater has directed a wonderful documentary entitled, Slingshot. The film focuses on the the current global water crisis, and the path that inventor/engineer extraordinaire, Dean Kamen takes to bring his water purification system to the world market. The documentary has won film festival awards, and is a must see movie. For more information, go to www.slingshotdoc.com
1439: Andrew Winston, author of “The Big Pivot”
“Green is Gold” is a classic book, offering a roadmap to companies worldwide to create value from environmental strategy. The author of that book, Andrew Winston, is my guest this week, and his latest book entitled, “The Big Pivot: Radically Practical Strategies for a Hotter, Scarcer and More Open World” focuses on how businesses must deal with climate change to create more sustainability driven innovation. Tune in to find out what the Big Pivot is, and how it will help companies adapt and adjust their practices to become better stewards of the environment. For more information visit andrewwinston.com
#1437: Bob Carmichael, Photographer, Videographer & Emmy Award Winning Producer
Restoring and converting a Landmark 100+ year old home in Boulder, CO to a LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Platinum home, is just one example of the amazing things that this week’s guest, Bob Carmichael does to bring positive flow to the planet. He is an Emmy Award winning producer for the the documentary film “Football in America,” and an Academy Award nominee for his short, “Fall Line” a film about extreme skiing. Bob is a wonderful photographer and videographer, and he specializes in nature shoots, as well as music shoots. He loves the great outdoors, and works to be a leader on issues of sustainability. He truly is a protector of the planet. His video about the conversion of his Boulder home to a LEED certified home, can be viewed on YouTube under Boulder Landmark Meets LEED Platinum: http://youtu.be/
#1434: Regina Cornwell, of Inclimate, and artist Lynn Cazabon discuss “Uncultivated”
Why are weeds considered the rats of the horticultural world, and what can we do to make people think about weeds in a more positive light? Join me and my guests Regina Cornwell, Curator and organizer of inClimate, and Lynn Cazabon, artist and Associate Professor of Art at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County as we discuss the project they are currently working on called “Uncultivated.” This project connects art and science, in an effort to educate the community about the importance of the edible plants (weeds), that grow wild within the urban area of Hunts Point in the Bronx. Regina is also a Climate Change presenter for the Climate Reality Project, which was started by Al Gore as an offshoot of the film An Inconvenient Truth. For more information go to www.inclimate.org and climaterealityproject.org
1440: Alliance for Climate Education (ACE)
There is nothing cool about climate change, but what is cool are the student leaders and educators who are working hard to build awareness, and develop solutions to environmental problems. Join me and my guests Maayan Cohen, Education and Leadership Manager at the Alliance for Climate Education (ACE), and student leaders from ACE, Lizbeth Lucero and Anthony Neciosup, for a lively discussion on the power of education. ACE uses interactive assemblies, which combine science and pop culture to build awareness and educate students about the environment, and how they can act to prevent global warming. For more information about ACE, go to climateeducation.org and acespace.org