In this episode of Hi, Energy!, Host Esteban Gast sits down with Mike Young, the Executive Director of California Environmental Voters to talk about political power, climate champions, and how engagement at the polls can lead to better changes at home. Mike Young shares his insights from over 20 years of organizing for climate smart policies, promoting bold legislative leadership, and holding policymakers accountable. From doing your homework on candidates to fighting against the narrative that climate policies are too expensive or difficult to pass, Mike and Esteban break down how we can claim our political power and put our communities first. New episodes of Hi, Energy are coming out every month. So check out our Instagram and LinkedIn and subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Visit socalren.org/about/podcasts for full episodes and highlight reels coming soon.

Hi, Energy! is back for another season of expert insights with Southern California leaders, working to create solutions, workforce opportunities, and innovative partnerships, all to help communities save energy today while fostering sustainable practices for tomorrow. We’ll meet with top Southern California leaders who are actively building practical solutions to expand access to clean, sustainable energy and empowering communities through education, direct resources, and tangible calls to action. Tune in monthly for new episodes of Hi, Energy! coming to you where you get your podcasts. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn, and  be sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple, Spotify  or visit https://socalren.org/about/podcasts for full episodes and highlight reels coming soon.

In this episode of Hi, Energy! We learn about Allison’s Hollywood Climate Summit, where writers, executives, fans and actors can all gather and learn about how to make Hollywood climate friendly and the role Hollywood can play in bringing climate knowledge to the public.  Allison and Esteban discuss the power of storytelling in bringing knowledge about climate to everyday folks like you and me. They talk about how every industry —not just Hollywood— is connected to climate, and how government workers should think about storytelling in their work too.  Additional References from the podcast: PowerLines — Modernizing American Power People Allison Shouted Out Rasheda Crocket Rollie Williams Alexis Nikole Nelson Leah Thomas Kiana Kazemi Kristy Drutman Allison is also an occasional teacher at USC! Here’s a flyer for their class    New episodes of Hi, Energy are coming out every month. So check out our Instagram and subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://socalren.org/about/podcasts for full episodes and highlight reels coming soon.

In this episode of Hi, Energy! We learn about climate resilience and disaster preparedness from Nina Knierim, a fire survivor and the California Area Manager for Climate Resilience and Disaster Preparedness. Nina and Esteban discuss Nina’s personal story of surviving California wildfires, the steps she took to protect her family and neighbors and the way that community togetherness drives successful disaster responses.   Additional References from the podcast: Watch Duty Fire App New episodes of Hi, Energy are coming out every month. So check out our Instagram and subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://socalren.org/about/podcasts for full episodes and highlight reels coming soon.

In this episode of Hi, Energy! We learn about how new climate-focused technology is shaping the way we move ourselves and our stuff around the world. To help us learn about that, Esteban is joined by Jack Symington, the Director of City Climate Innovation at LA Climate Incubator. Jack and Esteban discuss how clean transportation will get us warmer burritos, the olympics are bringing us accessible EV charging, the origin story of the city of Los Angeles deciding that a city climate incubator was needed and so much more.  Additional References from the podcast: Books The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson Articles LA To Launch Cleantech Incubator — LACI Origin Story New episodes of Hi, Energy are coming out every month. So check out our Instagram and subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://socalren.org/about/podcasts for full episodes and highlight reels coming soon.

In this episode of Hi, Energy! We learn about the power of networking through social media, and about the community of people making green jobs the norm and accessible to all.  Kristy Drutman, aka “Browngirl Green,” and co-founder of The Green Jobs Board, joins the show to break down her trail-blazing career as a model for future climate work.  Kristy and Esteban discuss the origins of the Green Jobs Board, how to open climate jobs to underprivileged folks and people of color, how to draw on the power of your family history when the world isn’t ready for you to wield power and so much more.  Additional References from the podcast: BIPOC Green Career Summit - Black Oak Black Girl Environmentalist  Repack LA Climate Week Project Drawdown Inco Academy Cornell Green Jobs Institute New episodes of Hi, Energy are coming out every month. So check out our Instagram and subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://socalren.org/about/podcasts for full episodes and highlight reels coming soon.

In this episode of Hi, Energy! We learn about the grid, climate tech startup culture, and California’s special relationship to climate issues.  Josh Rothermel of SoCal Edison and formerly of Rivian and the UCLA Anderson Energy & Cleantech Association, joins Esteban to talk about having a career in clean energy. Josh and Esteban discuss simple but important questions like “what is the grid?” and “what is an internal combustion engine?” and so much more. Josh also shares his impressions of California’s well-above-average climate consciousness.  Additional References from the podcast: After 4 Years And Billions Of Dollars, The Texas Grid Is Not Fixed  The Carbonauts  New episodes of Hi, Energy are coming out every month. So check out our Instagram and subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://socalren.org/about/podcasts for full episodes and highlight reels coming soon.

In this episode of Hi, Energy! We learn about the connections between community engagement and environmental policy. Ken Chawkins, a professor at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs, joins the show to share wisdom from  nearly 30 years in public affairs, serving business, labor, government, and nonprofits.  Ken and Esteban discuss coalition building towards climate solutions, how to get involved locally and politically to support the environment, climate policy from a working class perspective, and so much more.  Additional References from the podcast: Books Who Is Government by Michael Lewis Articles California makes major changes to the state's landmark environmental law to build more housing  Environmental impact of Al Gore Making change in the "diesel death zone" | LA Public Press  People/organizations mentioned East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice Cynthia Kennedy of Pasadena 100 Other “Who are the stakeholders and what stakes are they holding?” Ken’s UCLA Syllabus  New episodes of Hi, Energy are coming out every month. So check out our Instagram and subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://socalren.org/about/podcasts for full episodes and highlight reels coming soon.

In this episode of Hi, Energy! We learn about how climate news is made. Sammy Roth, a former climate columnist for the LA Times and the host of the podcast and newsletter Boiling Point, has been writing about Southern California’s climate issues for over a decade. He now writes an independent newsletter, Climate-Colored Goggles, about climate & culture. In this episode, he comes to spill the tea on climate news. Sammy and Esteban discuss how California is a hub for many of the most important climate issues facing the entire United States, how to become a clued-in reader of climate news, how to read lots of climate news without feeling down, and so much more.  Additional References from the podcast: Books Silent Spring by Rachel Carson Articles Sammy’s weekly Boiling Point newsletter E&E News by Politico Canary Media Inside Climate News Volts by David Roberts  Everybody needs a Climate Thing | David Roberts for Grist Podcasts Sammy’s Boiling Point Podcast Esteban’s appearance on Sammy’s podcast People/organizations mentioned Jim Lawson John Lewis Bill McKibben United Farm Workers New episodes of Hi, Energy are coming out every month. So check out our Instagram and subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://socalren.org/about/podcasts for full episodes and highlight reels coming soon.

In this episode of Hi, Energy! We learn about all of the options we have to move around LA. Eli Lipmen, Executive Director of Move LA, shares that the future of clean transit is a future with many options. Eli and Esteban discuss the 2028 Olympics from a transit perspective, some of Move LA’s biggest policy wins, why a public transit advocate like Eli still sees value in owning his car, and so much more.  Additional References from the podcast: Books Nobody Walks in LA by John Bwarie  Articles LA Metro’s 2024 Ridership Soars to More Than 311 Million Measure M - LA Metro L.A. Metro Releases Measure M Five-Year Comprehensive Assessment, Equity Report  People/organizations mentioned Metro Micro LADOT LANow DASH Overview Commuter Express GO Pass Festival Trail     New episodes of Hi, Energy are coming out every month. So check out our Instagram and subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://socalren.org/about/podcasts for full episodes and highlight reels coming soon.