Shows
Uptown ChatsHeat PumpsPump it up! In this episode, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by Jordan Bonomo from the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to talk about how they have been piloting heat pumps in their buildings to reduce their energy usage and improve the comfort of their residents.
Extra Resources:
Heat Pump 101
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook2025-05-1235 minUptown ChatsSolar EnergySolar energy is everywhere! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about how New York State is using the power of the sun to help meet its climate goals with help from Stephan Roundtree, Deputy Program Director for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic at Vote Solar.
Extra Resources:
Learn more about Vote Solar!
Check out the Manhattan Clean Energy Hub!
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook2025-04-2833 minUptown ChatsJust TransitionLonnie and Jaron are kicking off their Right Direction mini-series by exploring what it means to promote a just energy transition with special guest Shalanda Baker, Vice Provost for Sustainability & Climate Action at the University of Michigan, and former Director of the Office of Energy Justice and Equity at the Department of Energy.
Resources:
Just Transition: History, Principles, and Examples
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on...2025-04-1429 minUptown ChatsAnnouncing Right Direction Mini-SeriesStarting on April 14th, Jaron and Lonnie will be launching a new mini-series where they’ll be joined by some incredible guests to take a look at technologies, like solar, wind, geothermal, and heat pumps that can help support environmental justice. They will also talk about what’s going on with these technologies here in the United States and how the ever-changing political landscape impacts our ability to bring them to our communities. Sound interesting? Stay tuned to learn more!2025-03-3101 minUptown ChatsPFASPFAS - only four letters, but it includes 15,000 chemicals that are found in products we use every day. Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn more about what New York and other states are doing to ban these chemicals with help from Kate Donovan, Director of Northeast Environmental Health at NRDC.
Extra Resources:
Visit pfasfreeny.org to learn more about the PFAS-Free NY campaign.
Check out PFAS Free NY on Instagram @pfasfreeny
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
Connect with the sh...2025-03-2429 minUptown ChatsNew York Beauty Justice ActAre your personal care products safe to use? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about WE ACT’s Beauty Justice campaign, which aims to ban dangerous toxic chemicals from products we use every day. Featuring special guest Elizabeth Reyes, WE ACT’s Toxics Policy Campaign Coordinator.
Extra Resources:
Not sure if your products are safe? Check out the apps and resources below to learn more.
Clearya - Nontoxic Shopping Made Easy
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Check out our previous episode Don't Be Toxic, Be Beautiful to learn more about WE ACT's work on b...2025-02-2426 minUptown ChatsAffordable and Renewable Energy with NY HEATIs your energy bill too expensive? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about WE ACT's campaign to help make energy more affordable and support New York’s transition to renewable energy, featuring Cameron Clark, WE ACT's NY HEAT Campaign Coordinator.
Extra Resources:
How a Bill Becomes a Law (New York State)
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on X2025-02-1031 minUptown ChatsCongestion PricingCongestion pricing is here! What is it, and why should you care? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about the pros and cons for environmental justice communities with help from New York State Senator Liz Krueger.
Extra Resources:
What Is Congestion Pricing? (NRDC)
Congestion Pricing Myths and Facts (NRDC)
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on X2025-01-2835 minUptown ChatsLooking Back, Thinking Forward: Building on the Success of 2024Goodbye 2024, Hello 2025! Join Jaron and Lonnie as they reflect on some of WE ACT's major wins from 2024 and discuss some exciting advocacy efforts coming in 2025 with the help of WE ACT's new Acting Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs.
Resources:
Check out WE ACT's 2025 Policy Agenda at weact.org/policy!
Get involved with WE ACT's Climate Justice Working Group
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on F...2025-01-1330 minUptown ChatsHoliday Special with WE ACT Chair Jeff JonesIn the spirit of the holidays, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by long-time activist and Chair of WE ACT’s Board of Directors, Jeff Jones to tell stories and reflect on this moment in the environmental justice movement.
Guest Information:
Jeff Jones, Jeff Jones Strategies
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions or suggestions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on X2024-12-2330 minUptown ChatsEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working to keep our air, water, and soil clean since 1970. Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn more about how the EPA supports environmental justice with help from the Administrator for EPA Region 2, Lisa Garcia.
Resources:
You can learn more about WE ACT’s Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center supported by the EPA at weact.org/tctac.
Check out the EPA’s EJSCREEN tool to explore maps and data about environmental justice in your area at epa.gov/ejscreen.
You can also listen to this episode on YouTu...2024-12-0936 minUptown ChatsCommunity Land TrustsPublic land for public good! In this episode, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by WE ACT’s Climate Justice Campaigns Manager, Annie Carforo, to talk about community land trusts and how they can help address the housing affordability crisis in NYC.
Want to get involved? Join WE ACT’s Climate Justice Working Group on the third Tuesday of every month from 7:00-8:00 PM.
Want to learn more? Check out these helpful resources:
Affordable Housing (NYT)
What is a Community Land Trust?
Community Land Trusts Explained
You can also listen to this episode on YouTu...2024-11-2531 minUptown ChatsWasteIt’s time for more trash talk! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn more about the history of waste management in New York City and how it impacts environmental justice communities with help from Julio Lopez Torres, a member of WE ACT’s Climate Justice Working Group.
Resources:
Want to reduce your waste? Check out this 3 Step Guide to Zero Waste!
The Absurd Problem of New York City Trash (NYT)
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
Connect with the show:
...2024-11-1135 minUptown ChatsWrong Direction Wrap-UpThat’s a wrap! Join Jaron and Lonnie as they reflect on important themes from the Wrong Direction mini-series, and drop some not-so-subtle hints about future episode topics.
Anyone who missed WE ACT’s Webinar on the Implementation of New York State’s Cumulative Impacts Law can find a recording on our YouTube channel.
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on X2024-10-2824 minUptown ChatsCumulative ImpactsNew York and New Jersey have both passed landmark laws to address cumulative impacts. What does that mean for environmental justice communities? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn how these laws can help reduce pollution with help from Dr. Nicky Sheats, co-founder of the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance.
Join our Cumulative Impacts Webinar on October 16, 2024: https://www.weact.org/event/cumulative-impacts-implementation-webinar/
Can’t attend the webinar on October 16? Check out this recording of our previous webinar on Cumulative Impacts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7DdpxQl-8o&
References in the Show:
...2024-10-1435 minUptown ChatsWaste IncinerationWhat’s worse than throwing away trash? Burning it! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn why waste incineration is part of the wrong direction and how it impacts environmental justice communities with the help of two special guests.
Guests:
Chris Tandazo, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance (NJEJA)
Jessica Roff, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA)
Extra Resources:
U.S. Municipal Solid Waste Incinerators: An Industry in Decline (Tishman Environment and Design Center)
Where does your waste go? (NYC)
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at...2024-09-3028 minUptown ChatsBiogasBiogas stinks! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about the impacts of biogas facilities on environmental justice communities in New York City with the help of Willis Elkins, Executive Director of Newtown Creek Alliance.
Recommended Episode: A WE ACT Story - Holiday Special
Check out our previous episode from December of last year about the North River Sewage Treatment Plant, where we talked about how WE ACT formed in response to the siting of that facility. There are some similarities you’ll see between that story and our conversation with Willis.
Extra Resources:...2024-09-0939 minUptown ChatsNuclear Power PlantsNothing lasts forever, including nuclear power plants. Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about what happens when a nuclear power plant is decommissioned and how it impacts environmental justice communities with help from two guest speakers from Riverkeeper.
Extra Resources:
Nuclear Power 101
Beyond Indian Point (Riverkeeper)
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on X2024-08-2637 minUptown ChatsGreenwashingIt isn’t easy being green, especially when it comes to energy. Join Jaron and Lonnie as they reflect on recent episodes and discuss the issue of greenwashing in the energy sector.
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on X2024-08-1229 minUptown ChatsLiquefied Natural Gas (LNG)There’s nothing “natural” about natural gas, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) is no different. Lonnie and Jaron are joined by Roishetta Ozane to talk about how LNG facilities impact environmental justice communities in the fourth episode of our Wrong Direction mini-series.
Guest:
Roishetta Ozane, Founder and Director of Vessel Project of Louisiana
Extra Resources:
Natural Gas Explained
Overview of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
Connect with the show:
Foll...2024-07-2936 minUptown ChatsCarbon Capture and Storage (CCS)Technology is great, but is it always the answer? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about carbon capture and storage (CCS) with help from Dr. Ana Baptista in the third episode of our Wrong Direction mini-series.
Guest Information:
Ana Baptista, Associate Professor of Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management & Co-Director of the Tishman Environment and Design Center at The New School
Extra Resources:
DOE Carbon Management Projects (CONNECT) Toolkit
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
Connect with the show:2024-07-0839 minUptown ChatsHydrogenGreen, blue, gray, and brown - so many colors of hydrogen! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn why WE ACT considers hydrogen a false solution in addressing climate and environmental justice. Guests include WE ACT's Federal Research Manager, Manuel Salgado, and Cecil Corbin-Mark Environmental Justice Research Fellow, Tali Natter.
Extra Resources:
Hydrogen Fuel Cell 101
Explain It Like I’m Five (ELI5)
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us o...2024-06-2435 minUptown ChatsEnergy is Environmental JusticeEnergy is here, there, everywhere! Join Jaron and Lonnie for the first episode of the Wrong Direction mini-series to learn from WE ACT's Federal Policy Director, Anastasia Gordon, about new energy technologies that are creating environmental justice challenges.
Over the next three months, the Wrong Direction mini-series will explore the impacts of the current U.S. energy policy on individuals in environmental justice communities with the help of a few special guests.
Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow...2024-06-1028 minUptown ChatsAnnouncing Wrong Direction Mini-SeriesSummer is almost here - just in time for Uptown Chat's new mini-series starting on June 10th. Over the next three months, this series will explore the impacts of the current U.S. energy policy on individuals in environmental justice communities with the help of a few special guests.
Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on X
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mountaineer/end-credits [License code: YU...2024-06-0301 minUptown ChatsCelebrating AAPI Heritage MonthIn honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Lonnie and Jaron are joined by Albert ‘AJ’ Yuan to highlight the role of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in building the environmental justice movement.
Guest Information:
Albert ‘AJ’ Yuan, WE ACT’s Federal Policy Legislative Coordinator
You can also listen to this episode on YouTube.
Got questions? Email us at podcast@weact.org
Connect with the show:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter2024-05-2730 min