Where The Climate Things Are – Details, episodes & analysis

Emergency Pod! Tim Tollefson joins the podcast to talk about an issue urgently affecting the trail community: the budget cuts in the US Forest Service, which would greatly limit the provision of trail maintenance services, ecological protection, carbon emissions monitoring and even permit approvals. 

Thanks to Zoë Rom for shedding light on the issue and Runners for Public Lands for activating the running community on this. See the links below for more information and to take action. 

Ultrasignup Article 
Outdoor Alliance Congress Letter Template

⁠Want to support WTCTA? Visit the Patreon.

trail running, environmental activism, budget cuts, public lands, outdoor recreation, advocacy, community involvement, climate change

Dakota Jones is an ultrarunner, climate activist and co-founder and Executive Director of Footprints Running. We talk about his journey through finding his place in climate action and activism, his imperfect advocacy and the learnings from Footprints as a climate action incubator.

Topics Discussed:

• Dakota's running and advocacy background

• Personal behavior change (and what we can and can't control)
• Founding Footprints Running
• Last year's Footprints camp - mistakes & learnings
• Centering communities in climate action
• Exploring the degrowth movement

• Taking action: education and conversations

Links:

Dakota’s Instagram 

Footprints Instagram

Protect Our Winters

Dakota’s Writing on the Cargo Ship

More of Dakota’s Writing

Craftsbury Outdoor Center 

Jason Hickel’s Books - The Divide & Less is More

Climate Shadow

Katherine Hayhoe’s book Saving Us

Atmos Bank

Degrowth Movement 

Kristof's Public Health Reframing

trail running, climate advocacy, climate change, behavior changes, biking, running camps, privilege, accessibility, challenges, mistakes, centering communities, reparations, climate justice, inclusive, intentional, marginalized groups, decision-making, systemic issues, individual actions, education, conversations, global finance, degrowth

Welcome to Where The Climate Things Are - building an inclusive climate movement in the outdoor community. There is so much incredible work and experience in all corners of our world of outdoor enthusiasts, and if I’ve learned one thing in my time studying and working on environmental issues, it’s that sharing positive, solutions-oriented stories and personal experiences is often the biggest unlock to encouraging broader environmental action. We don’t do doomsday, guilt or shame here -- we uplift solutions-oriented work, talk about existing issues and challenges, and discuss where we need to go, together.

Hema Lochan (Heemz) is an environmental justice attorney and ultramarathon runner who joins us on the pod to share their journey of connecting running with environmental advocacy. They discuss their personal experiences that shaped their understanding of environmental justice, the importance of community in both running and activism, and their work in promoting both clean energy and inclusivity in outdoor spaces. 

We talk about:

• The need for collective action and the significance of listening to marginalized voices in addressing climate issues

• The unique challenges and experiences of being a person of color in predominantly white spaces, both in trail running and environmental law

• The importance of representation for non-binary athletes in running

• The shift from individualism to collectivism in the sport (and how that mirrors climate)

• Stand-up comedy! 

Links:

Heemz on Instagram

Heemz in Runners World! 

Coal Plant Retirement 

Transrockies 

We Run Long

The Speed Project 

TSP Instagram 

Native Lands Map

⁠Want to support WTCTA? Visit the Patreon.

environmental justice, running, ultramarathon, community, inclusivity, clean energy, climate change, trail running, advocacy, non-binary, collectivism, climate solutions, stand-up comedy, community, representation, environmentalism, passion

This episode features Khanh Vu, a humanitarian affairs and climate and environmental protection professional who is also a surfer and climber. Khanh Vu shares more about her upbringing in Vietnam, her various experiences that deepened her bond with the environment, and her wide-ranging career in humanitarian work, including her newer focus on the intersection of humanitarian work and climate impacts.  

We talk about: 

• Different types of connections to nature

• Humanitarian work in the face of climate migration

• Climate mainstreaming

• Cultural perspectives on environmentalism

• Seaweed! 

Links

WWOOFing

MIT Solve Khanh Bio 

Design Thinking 

Gender Mainstreaming

Climate Mainstreaming

Seaweed Farming Carbon Drawdown 

Sinking Seaweed in the Ocean

Cow Methane Reduction from Seaweed

How to Save a Planet: Kelp Farming for the Climate Episode (Part I)

How to Save a Planet: Kelp Farming for the Climate Episode (Part II)

⁠Want to support WTCTA? Visit the Patreon.

Keywords

climate, humanitarian work, nature, personal journey, environmental responsibility, design thinking, social innovation, mental health, refugee resettlement, climate awareness, climate migration, environmental impact, humanitarian sector, behavioral change, climate solutions, seaweed, climate crisis, conflict

In this conversation, Nicholas Triolo shares his journey in writing, running, environmental storytelling and activism. He discusses his awakening to climate advocacy through community engagement and reflects on the importance of storytelling in fostering empathy and understanding of environmental issues. 

We talk about:

• His identity as someone who writes and the path he’s had through outdoor storytelling (at publications like Orion and Trail Runner magazines)

• What it means to be in right relationship with a landscape and with nature 

• The profound experience of visiting Antarctica to write about a stage race 

• His forthcoming book, “The Way Around,” about circumambulation

• The best (and coolest?) summer job he’s ever had 

Links:

Nick’s Essay “In The Way” 

Orion Magazine

Western States Endurance Run

“The Musician” from Salomon

Racing the Planet Event Series

The Quickening by Elizabeth Rush

W.S. Merwin Poem

The Way Around (Nick’s Forthcoming Book!)

Nick’s book preview/summary from Milkweed

Meander, Spiral, Explode by Jane Alison

Doppelganger by Naomi Klein

 ⁠Want to support WTCTA? Visit the Patreon.

Keywords

climate change, environmental awareness, storytelling, activism, running, community, mentorship, creative writing, environmental studies, personal journey, Antarctica, ultrarunning ,environmentalism, circularity, climate change, storytelling, personal growth, self-discovery, nature, conservation

On this week’s episode, Kate Courtin shares her journey as a runner and climate policy professional. She reflects on her deep-rooted love for the outdoors, her pivotal moments of realization regarding climate change, and her career trajectory in environmental advocacy. 

We talk about: 

• Finding your “team,” in sport and in climate
• The importance of state-level advocacy and the power of local action (and how individuals can engage here)
• Thoughts on motherhood in the context of climate change
• Art and poetry as climate inspiration
• The changing landscape of running goals over time 

Links:

Kate’s Instagram

Superfund Act

Brownfields Program

Obama Clean Power Plan

Nature Conservancy

Environmental Defense Fund

November Project

Philly Runner Track Club

Paris Agreement

US Climate Alliance

America is All In

All We Can Save

To Be Of Use Poem

⁠Want to support WTCTA? Visit the Patreon.

Keywords:

climate policy, environmental advocacy, running community, motherhood, climate awareness, environmental justice, outdoor activities, personal journey, community impact, climate change, parenting, environmental advocacy, local action, clean energy, community engagement, climate solutions, state policy, environmental justice, art and climate

This week, Tim Tollefson joins us once again on the WTCTA pod for a full episode. We dive into his experiences in professional ultra running, climate awareness, and the creation of Mammoth Trail Fest amidst the backdrop of a changing climate in Mammoth, CA. 

We talk about:

• Pivotal moments that shaped his understanding of environmental issues
• The connection between climate and trail running
• His experience as a race director (including his biggest surprise as an RD) and the community he’s created at MTF
• The need for advocacy around public lands 
• Very importantly, our middle names

Links:

Tim's instagram

Mammoth Trail Fest

US Forest Service article

We Can't Run Away From This book

Not The End Of The World book

⁠Want to support WTCTA? Visit the Patreon.

climate awareness, ultrarunning, trail running, Mammoth Trail Fest, environmental changes, mental health, community engagement, race director, outdoor recreation, environmental awareness, public lands, climate challenges, community engagement, event planning, sustainability, advocacy, recreation

Spencer Fields is a clean energy specialist who is also a skier, climber, (former) backpacking trip leader, musician and new dad. Spencer shares his journey in the clean energy sector, his love for outdoor recreation, and the importance of effective communication in climate action.

We talk about:

• His long career in the environmental/electrification space
• Outdoor passions fueling 9-5 work
• Climate communication as a tool for change
• Attending COP17 (yes, MANY years ago)
• Music!

Links:

⁠Energy Sage⁠ 

⁠Noble Carbon⁠ 

⁠Rewiring America⁠ 

⁠Quilt Heat Pumps Hat ⁠

⁠AdventureTreks⁠

⁠Tommy Caldwell Podcast Episode⁠ 

⁠Study of nature connection to care about climate 

⁠Cargo ships and recent developments

Research on consumer energy journeys

⁠Energy Sage Solar Calculator⁠ 

⁠Bonus link: Lawrence⁠

⁠Want to support WTCTA? Visit the Patreon.

climate change, clean energy, outdoor recreation, electrification, solar energy, environmental education, climate action, communication strategies, personal experiences, sustainability, environment, COP17, environmental policy, sustainability, climate solutions, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, renewable energy

Lauro Silva is a trail runner, environmental justice advocate, community leader, designer and educator. They are building pathways to environmental action and inclusion for BIPOC folks in the outdoor community. We talk about identity, access, environmental justice and community care, and what belonging in the climate movement means to them. We also discuss their new initiative, Tierra Libre.

We talk about: 

• How having a relationship with nature is essential for effective climate action
• Their upbringing and how that influences their community work today
• Trail running, and more trail running
• Their new initiative, Tierra Libre
• Climate gardens! 

Links

Lauro’s Instagram

Footprints running

Victory Gardens

Tierra Libre 

Wyeast Wolfpack 

⁠Want to support WTCTA? Visit the Patreon.

trail running, climate action, cultural identity, environmental justice, community building, Tierra Libre, Footprints camp, personal growth, outdoor inclusivity