Category: Parenting & Kids

Our Kids Climate: Teach Your Children Well with Harriet Shugarman, Executive Director of ClimateMama

It cannot be denied that we are in a difficult period of time in the US and globally. How do we talk to children about what is going on without scaring the living daylights out of them?  How do we talk to them about the state of our nation and about climate change?  We need to start listening to them in order to understand their feelings, so that we can better connect with them on topics that might be difficult to explain. With respect to the environment, a good starting point can be to find ways to relate climate change to their daily lives and explore the basic facts together. Try to expose your child to nature as much as possible, and nurture their enjoyment while being outside. Focus on positive action, exploring solutions as a family and pointing out the ways people and communities are working to make a difference. We have to empower children by showing them how they can contribute, emphasizing that it’s not their fault, and fostering a connection to nature and their community. We need to focus on actions and solutions and site examples of people who are working on ways to address climate change. For every problem you discuss, try to show a solution. Discuss positive and inspiring stories you see on the news or in your own community.

Climate education is key and (CRETF work) New York State, outlines the elements that educators believe are required for a successful statewide climate education program. It is based on research and analysis of best practices in other states, as well as the expertise from members, many of whom are educators, scholars, policymakers, and students. It lays out a shared vision which is aligned to ensuring the successful realization of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) New York State’s climate law, which is one of the most ambitious in the country.

It is my honor to have Harriet Shugarman join us on the Season 14 opening episode of TMSOG. Harriet is involved with the Climate & Resilience Education Task Force (CRETF) and is one of the leading voices in the global parent climate movement. She is the founder of and Executive Director of ClimateMama, and the award-winning author of “How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate, Turning Angst into Action.” She is the chair of the Advisory Council for Our Kids Climate, an anchor organization connecting national and grassroots groups from more than 50 countries working on intergenerational organizing and engagement strategies. Harriet is a core team member with Climate Junction/The Ecopsychepedia Project, as well as a Leadership Council member with Dear Tomorrow and a professor of World Sustainability and Climate Change Policy and Society. She is an economist and policy analyst and worked for 13 years with the International Monetary Fund including 10 as an IMF representative at the United Nations. Harriet is a mentor and leader with the Climate Reality Project and the recipient of the prestigious Climate Reality Alfredo Sirkis Memorial Green Ring. So it is important to teach our children well, and Harriet is leading the way in educating children and adults about the need to protect Mother Earth.

New York Climate Week 2025 runs from September 21st to September 28th. For more info on Climate Week NYC go to: https://www.climateweeknyc.org/ Event Calendar from The Climate Group

Additional links of interest are below:

NEST Climate Campus at the Javits Center

Dear Tomorrow Pop Up at The Creative Climate Forum, Pier 57 on 9/25 (no ticket needed to drop in) 

https://www.wecaninternational.org/climate-week

https://www.wecaninternational.org/event-details/climate-week-women-in-action-for-climate-justice-and-a-just-transition-path-to-cop30-and-beyond

WECAN EVENT  UN Church Center 9/24

Climate Education In Action 9/26 SunDay 9/21 with GreenFaith and other organizations. Check out EcoPsychepedia via Climate Junction

Dear Tomorrow

Our Kids Climate

CRETF  Climate Education in NYC

To help defend democracy please donate if you can to help lawyers defend our constitution by going to  https://www.aclu.org/   https://www.brennancenter.org/ and https://civ.works/ If you want to help protect the environment please donate to  https://earthjustice.org

To listen to past TMSOG shows go to:  https://hudsonriverradio.com/ and https://malcolmpresents.com  Follow The Many Shades of Green on FB, Threads and Instagram @tmshadesofgreen and on Blue Sky @tmshadesofgreen.bsky.social. Listen to TMSOG podcasts on all major podcast apps.#RaiseYourEco&SocialConsciousness

A Special shout out to Neil Richter for all of his help and engineering wizardry in getting TMSOG up and running each week.

Discussion with Jenny Milchman author of the the psychological thriller “The Usual Silence”

In this world gone mad, we need to take time to escape, and a good book can take you to a place that allows your imagination to run free. Psychological thrillers are quite popular, as they keep you immersed in stories that connect characters with plot lines that create suspense. According to an online article in Psychology Today by Yoo Jung Kim MD and Yoo Eun Kim, psychological thrillers explore their characters’ innermost thoughts and motivations, allowing us to examine how their decisions propel the plot forward into the extremes of human ethics and morality. The author, Jean Hanff Korelitz who wrote the title You Should Have Known states that the reason that psychological thrillers are so engaging is the ongoing tension between what the audience knows (or thinks that they know) and what the characters know (or what they don’t know) and the sort of “smugness” the readers feel in relation to the characters. She states, “and while we’re busy yelling at them (in our heads, at least) not to make such stupid decisions, we’re also telling ourselves that we would never fall for such a suspicious character or obvious ruse.” Our guest on this episode of TMSOG is Jenny Milchman, the Mary Higgins Clark Award–winning and USA Today bestselling author known for her gripping psychological thrillers. In her latest novel, The Usual Silence, Jenny introduces us to psychologist Arles Shepherd, a character haunted by her own past while striving to help others, and she brings true crime podcast characters into the plot, which reflects the growing influence of true-crime media in real-life investigations. True crime podcasts are very popular and some have contributed to solving cases. There is even a TV show, Only Murders in the Building, where the characters have a shared interest in true crime podcasts, and wind up producing their own podcast about the murders which took place in their upscale apartment building in NYC. In The Usual Silence, Jenny highlights how modern technology, podcasts and social media can intersect with traditional investigative methods. 

Beyond her writing, Jenny Milchman is the founder of “Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day,” an initiative celebrated annually across all fifty states and on five continents, encouraging young readers to explore the joys of bookstores, and she is also known for her extensive book tours, having embarked on journeys that span over 400 bookstores across the United States, reflecting her dedication to connecting with readers nationwide. For our listeners eager to dive into Jenny’s newest compelling psychological thriller, The Usual Silence, it is available at bookstores, libraries and online at amazon.com. To stay updated on Jenny’s future projects, visit her website at https://jennymilchman.com/

To listen to past TMSOG shows go to https://hudsonriverradio.com/ and https://malcolmpresents.com  Follow The Many Shades of Green on FB and Instagram @tmshadesofgreen and on Blue Sky @tmshadesofgreen.bsky.social. Listen to TMSOG podcasts on all major podcast apps. #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

A Special shout out to Neil Richter for all of his help and engineering wizardry in getting TMSOG up and running each week.

TMSOG is proud to be on Feedspot’s list of the 50 Best Environmental Podcasts.

Climate Dads: Creating a Better Future with Ben Block and Jason Sandman

If we collaborate, exchange ideas, share experiences and create new tools, I predict that more families will make small but important changes that help combat climate change,”  Climate Dads founder Ben Block.

Here’s the reality: Climate change is not some distant problem. It’s already impacting our lives, from hotter summers to extreme storms, to warmer oceans and to rising food costs. Parents have a dual responsibility—not just to protect their kids but also to empower them to be part of the solution. Parenting and climate action go hand in hand. Today we have two eco-conscious parents, Ben Block and Jason Sandman. Ben and Jason started the group Climate Dads out of concern for their children and the planet. Ben is a founder of Climate Dads, a group of male caregivers who give a damn about protecting future generations from the climate crisis. He is the father of two young boys, Corey and Noah. Ben and his wife live in Philly where he can be seen riding with his kids on their cargo bike, hiking the trails in their urban oasis, and eating lots of vegan cheesesteak. Jason Sandman is a Founding Partner of Climate Dads and resides in Philadelphia, PA with his wife and children. Originally from Buffalo, NY (Go Bills!), he is often comparing weather forecasts between the two cities and is reminded he made the right choice. He also has formed an enduring relationship with hoagies. Which is the best cheesesteaks in Philly-Gino’s or Pat’s?  What is in a Vegan Hoagie? Follow @climatedads on social media to get more info. Also check out Dear Tomorrow (deartomorrrow.org) to collect first-person accounts from dads, describing their thoughts/emotions about climate change, sharing a message to future generations about what the future will hold/what they’re doing to try and create a better future.

To listen to past TMSOG shows go to HudsonRiverRadio.com and Malcolmpresents.com. Follow The Many Shades of Green on Facebook, Instagram and Threads @tmshadesofgreen and on Blue Sky at tmshadesofgreen.bsky.social. Listen to TMSOG podcasts on all major podcast apps. #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

TMSOG is on Feedspot’s list of the 50 Best Environmental Podcasts to follow in 2024 and beyond!

Mothers Out Front, Reduce Plastic, The “Upon Request” Law and more with Emily MacKenzie

The website Beyond Plastics (beyondplastics.org) put out the statistic that half of all plastic in Earth’s history was produced in the last 20 years — the plastic we’re seeing now in our air, water, food, and bodies didn’t even exist before the year 2000. Plastic is being measured everywhere, and microplastics are entering our soil, food, water, and air. Scientists estimate people consume, on average, hundreds of thousands of microplastics per year, and these particles have been found in human placenta, heart, arteries, breast mik, blood, lungs, and testicles.  

These statistics are horrifying, and mothers are rightly worried that the continued production of plastic will greatly affect the health and well being of their children. Mothers are the key protectors of their off spring and have become a growing force in the climate movement. They have taken on a big role in forming groups and organizations to tackle the hazards of climate change. Many groups have popped up over the last decade to highlight the need to protect their children and humanity at large from the dangers of pollution from fossil fuels, which is in good part responsible for a warming climate which is causing extreme storms, fires, destruction of forests, increased air and water pollution and much more. Plastic pollution is a major concern and the organization Mothers Out Front (MOF) is working on getting bills passed to reduce plastic packaging and phase out harmful chemicals in their production. Other organizations with moms at the helm are Clean Air Moms which has over 1.5 million members who are on a mission to protect kids from air pollution and climate change. Another group, Science Moms is composed of Climate Scientists who are moms who create tip sheets about climate and resources to take action. Climate Mama which was founded by my friend Harriet Shugarman, wrote the book How To Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change: Turning Angst into Action which gives parents tips about what to say to your kids about Global Warming. Emily MacKensie, a member of Mothers Out Front gives us info about the group, which is a national organization that focuses on climate positive grassroots efforts spearheaded by moms. She has two children, lives in the Hudson Valley and became involved with the organization after running into the local chapter leader on a walk and striking up a conversation that turned into a discussion about local air quality, which is being negatively impacted by the incineration of plastic waste. Emily gives us some good insight and information on the initiatives and outreach being worked on by Mothers Out Front to educate the public about plastics and other environmental issues of importance. Please note that as per Emily one does not have to be a mother to be a part of the effort, as the earth is a mother to us all! For more info go to mothersoutfront.org, beyondplastics.org and not to be left out go to @climatedads for their perspective.

To listen to past TMSOG shows go to HudsonRiverRadio.com and Malcolmpresents.com. Follow The Many Shades of Green on Facebook, Instagram and Threads @tmshadesofgreen. Listen to TMSOG podcasts on all major podcast apps. #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

TMSOG is proud to be on Feedspot’s list of the 50 Best Environmental Podcasts to follow in 2024: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/environmental_podcasts/

Teaching Kids to Garden with Karen Bazik Super Gardener and Educator

There was an animated TV show in 1991 called Captain Planet, which brought the need to protect planet Earth to the forefront. Gaia, the spirit of the planet, assembled a diverse team of “Planeteers” who were able to combine their powers to summon the appearance of superhero Captain Planet, who worked with the Planeteers to defend Earth from pollution caused by villains. It is a series that should be revived and perhaps tweaked a bit for 2023, to help children understand the need to protect the Earth. The program led to the formation of the Captain Planet Foundation, which gives grants to youth gardens and youth climate education. According to kidsgardening.org the youth garden movement has grown steadily in the past decade as more educators, caregivers, and families get excited about garden-based learning opportunities for kids. With that, the number of national and state grants available for youth gardens has increased. Teaching kids to be stewards of the earth is essential in creating new generations who are aware of the need to be proactive in protecting Mother Nature. Our guest on this episode is Karen Bazik who is working to educate kids about nature and gardening.  She does wonderful innovative and impactful work with kids and young people as a native plant nature educator and mentor in her role as the leader of the Chappaqua Garden Club’s “Junior Garden Club” program.  Karen is doing incredible native planting work with kids at the Chappaqua Library and will be hosting the “Great Pollinator Planting Event” taking place June 2nd 3-5 at the Chappaqua Public Library. https://www.chappaqualibrary.org/special-programs. Also visit New Castle Healthy Yards on Facebook.

For past shows go to HudsonRiverRadio.com and Malcolmpresents.com. Please subscribe to TMSOG podcast on Spotify, Apple, iHeart, Spreaker.com and more. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @tmshadesofgreen #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

Mothers Day in Retrograde, Mother X artwork, and some companies doing good!

Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and we celebrate all women on that day who are caregivers and providers who give of themselves with all their heart and soul. It is also important to celebrate the ultimate mother of us all, Mother Earth. We must be eco-conscious and think about what actions are needed to preserve Mother Nature, so perhaps Mother’s Day traditions can also make space for our collective Mother. In the astrological world, this year on April 21st, Mercury turned retrograde in Taurus, the earth sign that rules sensuality and our bodies. As it turns out, Mercury in Retrograde runs through Mother’s Day, and I am not sure what effect that will have on the moms of the world, all 2 billion of them, as they celebrate the day. What type of energy will wrap itself around moms and Mother Earth? 

It’s interesting to note that in the US, Mother’s Day actually began as a women’s movement to better the lives of Americans. Its origins spring from lifelong activists who championed efforts toward better health, welfare, and peace.  Mother Earth is a metaphor which  focuses on the nurturing and life-giving aspects of nature, and she is THE collective Mother. All mothers want a healthy, safe, clean and green planet so that current and future generations can thrive. As Mother’s Day endures and evolves, we continue to commemorate the many ways mothers have fought to better the lives of their children, from social welfare to non-violence to protecting the planet. On this episode, our resident astrologist, artist, mother of three awesome kiddos, film maker and voice for moms, Charlotte Ghiorse joins us to discuss Earth and Mother connections during this period of retrograde, as well as her Mother X art exhibits, various green subjects and more. For more info check out houseofchoclet.com and Sexy Astrologist on YouTube and Facebook. You can catch past shows on HudsonRiverRadio.com and MalcolmPresents.com #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

“Motherhood Never Ends” with founder of The Museum of Motherhood, Joy Rose

May is Mother’s Month and we need to give thanks to Mother Earth and all she provides to keep all Earthlings Alive. Mother Earth is not just another mother, she is the greatest mother of them all! She needs to be cared for and protected every day. The same holds true for all mothers who care for others, as many times they neglect their health and well being in that role. There is a history of motherhood and which goes untold. We must be in control of our health, both on a physical and mental level. It’s ok to speak up for our needs, voice our opinions and take the time we need for ourselves. Let’s face it, we are in challenging times, and it is easy to feel down with all of the conversations about guns, corrupt politicians, and the obliteration of women’s reproductive rights and more. Is the mantra that moms can do it all is a myth? Moms need help, which is not always forthcoming, as it truly takes a village to raise a family. In the words of Joy Rose “Motherhood never ends!” Joy is the Founder and Acting Director of the Museum of Motherhood and she joins us on this episode to talk about the many shades of motherhood. Joy is a mother of four now adult kiddos (I knew them when they were littles). She also has two grands, and is a writer, Educator, Adjunct teacher, media maven and is truly a mom who rocks! Joy is a Shero in so many ways! For more info go to mommuseum.org

For past shows go to HudsonRiverRadio.com and malcolmpresents.com. Follow TMSOG on Facebook and on Instagram @tmshadesofgreen. Subscribe to The Many Shades of Green podcast on all major podcast apps #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

Courtney on Health Discusses ARFID-Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Parents have to deal with a lot when raising a child, and they hope to have a kiddo who is a  “good” eater. But what happens when your child has little interest in eating food, and has a very limited variety of preferred foods? Chances are the child has ARFID, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder which is a fairly new eating disorder, and it can lead to poor growth, poor health and improper nutrition. Fear and anxiety about food or the consequences of eating, like choking, can lead to ARFID. It is not the same as being a picky eater, and many times children as well as adults, avoid foods that have an unwanted color, taste, texture or smell. Since there are mental health, sensory aversions and fears regarding food, treatment often takes the form of cognitive behavioral therapy. There is a lot to cover regarding ARFID, and Courtney takes us through treatment options, how it is diagnosed, and what parents and caregivers can do to help their child.

To get more info, follow Courtney on her Facebook page Courtney on Health, on Instagram and TikTok @clgwellness and visit her website: courtneygravenese.com.  For past shows go to malcolmpresents.com and themanyshadesofgreen.com

The Rewilding School with Founder Eric Stone

We are living in stressful times, and connecting with nature is a way to become calmer and more centered. Being in a forest, on a beach or any open space adds to ones sense of well being, and provides a needed respite from the day to day grind of life. While being locked up during covid was horrific on so many levels, it brought more people outdoors, as walks in the woods or any open space provided exercise and benefits to your psyche. Children especially needed to connect to the outdoors and play in a park, make a snowman, build a sand castle, climb a tree, spot fireflies or listen to the songs of the birds. In our busy work-a-day lives, it’s good to know that there are people who help us connect with nature, and with each other. In this episode we talk to Eric Stone, who is a true nature connector. Eric is the founder of The Rewilding School, an outdoor education organization he runs with his partner Megan, which is dedicated to building connections between people and the traditional lands of the Wappinger and Lenape that we now call The Lower Hudson Valley. The Rewilding School runs preschool programs, hands-on summer programs, parent child classes, and workshops for school-age kids. For more info go to rewildingschool.com and @rewildingschool

To listen to current and past shows go to hudsonriverradio.com and malcolmpresents.com. Follow TMSOG on Facebook and Instagram @tmshadesofgreen. Subscribe to our podcast on all major podcast apps. #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

Susiku, And More: A Collection of Poems by Susan L. Pollet

Poetry is a verbal art form. I was awed by the young poet Amanda Gorman who wowed everyone at President Biden’s inauguration. I always try to start my podcasts with a poem, as I feel it is important to push poetry out further into other mediums. When I was in grade school we had to memorize a poem and recite it in class. I remember learning The Children’s Hour, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and was so nervous about going in front of the class because I thought I would flub the lines. In an online article in herculture.org Poetry and Social Change Richa Gupta said that “poetry doesn’t solely have a literary dimension; it has a religious one, a social one, a cultural one. An often neglected aspect of poetry is the power it can have in initiating social change, or in raising awareness about different issues people would otherwise remain oblivious to.” Poetry surrounds us daily, especially in the form of lyrics by songwriters (Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell from boomer land, and Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, and Michael Kiwanuka from Z and Millennial generations. The Internet has been a spring board for poetry making it more accessible online with a click of a button. Our guest on this episode is Susan L. Pollet, a poet, artist, author and attorney who has written thought provoking poems which are now available in her most recent book Susiku, and More: a collection of poems. The poems focus on life moments, struggles, conflicts, as well beauty and the environment. The book is divided into two parts. Part One is called Seeking Connection, However Tenuous, and Part Two, Redemption and Renewal, On Occasion. It is available on Amazon, Barnes and Nobel and other book retail outlets. Go to SusanPollet.com for more info.

Check out past shows on: HUDSONRIVERRADIO.COM, MALCOLMPRESENTS.COM AND THEMANYSHADESOFGREEN.COM TWEET US YOUR THOUGHTS @TMSHADESOFGREEN. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK AND SUBSCRIBE TO TMSOG PODCAST ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST APPS. REMEMBER TO PICK A SHADE OF GREEN AND #RAISEYOURECOCONSCIOUSNESS

Teach Your Children Well about Climate Change with Guest Harriet Shugarman-Founder of Climate Mama

We are all anxious about world events and particularly to the degradation of the environment. The term eco-anxiety, includes “worry, fear, anger, grief, despair, guilt, and shame, as well as hope. A recent BBC Newsround survey found that 70% of 8- to 16-year-olds report feeling worried about the state of the planet. So how do parents, caregivers and teachers talk to kids about climate change? What can we tell them that will ease their tension about the climate crisis? We discuss these issues with our guest and friend of the podcast Harriet Shugarman, an incredible woman who is working to put children’s minds at ease. Harriet wrote the book, How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change:Turning Angst into Action, which provides tools and strategies for parents to explain the climate emergency to their children and galvanize positive action. Check out these websites for more info:

Our Kids Climate https://ourkidsclimate.org/

Parents for Future Global  https://parentsforfuture.org/

How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change, Turning Angst into Action. https://www.amazon.com/Talk-Your-About-Climate-Change/dp/0865719365/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=anthropocene&qid=1570739365&s=books&sr=1-2

Global Warming Six Americas, Yale Climate Communications https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/about/projects/global-warmings-six-americas/

You can find The Many Shades of Green podcast on all major podcast apps (Spotify, Apple, iHeart, Amazon and more) Also check out HudsonRiverRadio.com and Malcolmpresents.com #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

How to Teach Your Kids about Climate Change with guest Harriet Shugarman

Our guest this week, Harriet Shugarman, wrote the book, How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change:Turning Angst into Action, which provides tools and strategies for parents to explain the climate emergency to their children and galvanize positive action. Harriet is the Executive Director of ClimateMama, a professor of Climate Change and Society and World Sustainability, and Chair of the Climate Reality Project, NYC Metro Chapter. She is a nationally recognized influencer, connector, and trusted messenger for parents on solutions to our climate crisis. Harriet is a recipient of the prestigious Climate Reality Green Ring Award, and has been praised by Al Gore as “an outstanding Climate Reality Leader, who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to her role as a climate communicator and activist.” For more info go to ClimateMama.com, climaterealityproject.org, malcolmpresents.com and HudsonRiverradio.com. Tweet us your thoughts @tmshadesofgreen #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

Listen to “Harriet Shugarman – the Climate Mama” on Spreaker.