Hosts Mónika Serrano and Jessica Mederson interview people across the private and public sectors to discuss adapting the built environment to a changing climate. While climate mitigation and sustainability get most of the attention and financial investments, climate resiliency and adaptation are just as crucial because we are already experiencing the impacts of changes to our climate. Ensuring that we are adapting to extreme weather and evolving climate patterns requires us to reexamine what it takes to make our buildings, infrastructure, and communities safe and resilient both now and in the future, so that people, buildings, and businesses can continue to thrive for years and decades to come.
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25 recent
August 27, 2025Episode 845 min
Bridging the Gap: Finding Funds to Build (and Build Back) Better
Monika and Jessica talk to Abby Ross, the founder of The Resiliency Company, focused on helping communities adapt to climate risk. Abby has used her background as an entrepreneur and experience working with charitable giving to identify the funding gaps holding communities back from fully recovering from natural disasters and find ways to fund those gaps. The Resiliency Company mobilizes the funding, policies, and innovation required to shift markets and minds toward resiliency. Links and articles discussed on the show include the following: The Resiliency Company The Epicenter The Resilient LA Delta Fund — Rebuilding with Resilience in LA Home · Probable Futures Construction Costs for a Wildfire Resistant Home, California Edition Case Study: Adapt Nature doesn't cause disasters, we do | PreventionWeb
August 13, 2025Episode 745 min
Resilient Waterfronts: Designing for the Future
Dena Prastos, CEO and Founder of Indigo River Studios, joins Monika and Jessica to discuss waterfront resilience in NYC and beyond. Indigo River Studios is a women-owned design firm specializing in waterfront infrastructure, climate adaptation, and regulatory innovation. Dena is both a AIA licensed architect and civil engineer. She leads transformative public and private projects across New York and beyond, including work with NYCEDC, the Trust for Governors Island, and the Hudson River Park Trust. Dena chairs the NCARB Futures Collaborative, has served as a guest lecturer at Yale and Columbia, and was the lead author of the architectural chapters for NYC's first-ever Waterfront Code. Episode links: Indigo River Studios - https://indigoriver.com/ Case Study: Wildflower Studios - https://indigoriver.com/portfolio/wildflower-studios/ Book: What if we get it right? By Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/645855/what-if-we-get-it-right-by-ayana-elizabeth-johnson/
July 30, 2025Episode 61 hr 1 min
Messing with the Mississippi: Lessons Learned from the Great River
Monika and Jessica speak with Boyce Upholt, a writer and "nature critic," about his first book, The Great River: The Making and Unmaking of the Mississippi. They discuss the long history of American efforts to control and corral the Mississippi River, the engineering feats that have gone into that project, and some of the consequences of those actions. Links discussed in the show include: Boyce Upholt The Great River a book by Boyce Upholt - Bookshop.org US Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane - Book Review by Bookishelf Ancient Courses: Harold Fisk's Meander Maps of the Mississippi River (1944) — The Public Domain Review America's Achilles' Heel: the Mississippi River's Old River Control Structure | Weather Underground Natural Solutions for Mississippi River Flooding Flood: How climate change is making extreme rain more frequent and dangerous.
July 16, 2025Episode 531 min
Future-Proofing Business: The Chamber's Work on Climate Resilience
Monika Serrano and Jessica Mederson speak with Chuck Chaitovitz, Vice President for environmental affairs and sustainability at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. They discuss the work being done by the Chamber as well as the Chamber's foundation to help businesses improve resiliency in the face of climate change. Chuck brings to the Chamber twenty-five years of experience focused on environment and energy issues, working with companies on strategies to improve their bottom line and competitive positioning. At the Chamber, Chaitovitz is launching a new environment and sustainability capability to give businesses the tools they need to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change. Episode links: Building Resilience Conference | U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation The Economic Benefits of Investing in Climate Resilience | U.S. Chamber of Commerce Coalition Letter on 2025 Resilience and Preparedness Priorities | U.S. Chamber of Commerce
June 25, 2025Episode 449 min
Healthy Buildings, Smarter Leases: Climate Law in Action
Nicole DeNamur joins the podcast this week, along with co-hosts Jessica Mederson and Monika Serrano, they talk about emerging state and city climate-related laws, climate-aligned contracts and leases, and how they intersect with issues like water shortages, indoor air quality, occupant health and other climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. Nicole DeNamur (she/her), J.D., Hon. AIA, WELL AP, LFA, Fitwel Ambassador, LEED Green Associate, is the founder of Climate Aligned Law, a climate-focused law firm, and Sustainable Strategies, a consulting firm dedicated to creating healthy, inclusive spaces through sustainability. With over a decade of experience litigating construction and insurance matters, Nicole brings a rare combination of legal expertise and deep knowledge of the real estate and sustainability sectors. She helps clients navigate building performance standards, draft climate-aligned contracts and leases, and develop practical, risk-aware solutions that support ESG goals. Nicole also teaches sustainable development at the University of Washington and environmental health at the Boston Architectural College. She has been recognized as an Honorary Member of the American Institute of Architects (Seattle, 2021), named Educator of the Year by the International WELL Building Institute (2022), and honored as an Outstanding Voice of Pride by the Puget Sound Business Journal (2023). Episode links: The Chancery Lane Project: https://chancerylaneproject.org/ Responsible Contracting Project: https://www.responsiblecontracting.org/ COGFx Study: https://thecogfxstudy.com/ WELL Building Standard: https://www.wellcertified.com/ Healthy Buildings book: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674278363 There are no accidents book - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/There-Are-No-Accidents/Jessie-Singer/9781982129682
June 11, 2025Episode 345 min
Home Insurance: Will it Weather the Storm?
Carolyn Kousky, Acting Chief Economist at Environmental Defense Fund and founder of Insurance for Good joins Jessica Mederson and Monika Serrano, to discuss the current and future status of home insurance, the relationship between insurance at the individual level vs. community, what home owners can do today and much more. Dr. Kousky's research examines multiple aspects of climate risk management and policy approaches for increasing resilience. She is the author of Understanding Disaster Insurance: New Tools for a More Resilient Future and an editor of A Blueprint for Coastal Adaptation. She has published numerous articles, reports, and book chapters on the economics and policy of climate risk and disaster finance and she is routinely cited in media outlets. Episode links: Dr. Kousky's bio - https://www.carolynkousky.com/about IBHS Fortified program - https://fortifiedhome.org/
May 28, 2025Episode 21 hr 1 min
Three Solutions for Climate Ready Construction
Mónika Serrano and Jessica Mederson talk to three entrepreneurs about their solutions to problems the construction industry faces on the job site, particurarly in the face of extreme heat, poor air conditions, and lack of water. They first talk to Zachary Kiehl, CEO and principal engineer of VigiLife, a connected health and safety technology company dedicated to protecting and enriching the lives of individuals at risk through innovative solutions. Then Mónika and Jessica speak with Tracie Wagman, CEO of ColdVest, a company dedicated to expanding its life-saving cooling technology worldwide. Finally, Jessica and Mónika talk to Andrew Crimston, creator of WashBox, a tool wash system that uses its own recycled water to provide tool washing for ALL construction trades. Links to their companies and other issues discussed on the show are below: WASHBOX | Sustainable Tool Wash Technology for Trades ColdVest | Fast, Effective Heatstroke Relief | Portable Emergency Treatment Our Company | VigiLife A business case for protecting workers from extreme heat - Fast Company Research Promotes Deeper Understanding of Impact of Heat Stress Mitigation Measures in Construction | Insights | Turner Construction Company High Temperatures Increase Workers' Injury Risk, Whether They're Outdoors or Inside The Heat Will Kill You First - Wikipedia
May 14, 2025Episode 137 min
Hot Lessons, Cool Solutions: The Miami-Dade Story
Jessica Mederson and Mónika Serrano sit down with Jane Gilbert, Miami-Dade County's Chief Heat Officer. Together, they dive into the growing threat of extreme heat for cities, its disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities, and how communities leaders can respond through thoughtful design and policy. Jane shares how her groundbreaking role has shaping heat mitigation strategies—from education strategies to tree canopy initiatives—and what is next. Links: www.Heat.Gov www.miamidade.gov/heat Earth Day: Fastest-Warming U.S. Cities and States | Climate Central Fast Company: Meet the 7 Chief Heat Officers who are making their cities more resilient
December 19, 2024Episode 832 min
Are Real Estate Investors Addressing Climate Risk?
Jessica Mederson and Mónika Serrano speak with Julie Manning, Global Head of Climate and Carbon Strategy at La Salle Investments. This conversation explores if real estate investors are factoring climate risk into their decision-making, what resilience actions are taking place, the challenges of evaluating climate risk across portfolios while considering the unique characteristics of buildings and surrounding communities, and more. Links: ULI, LaSalle Physical Climate Risks and Underwriting Practices in Assets and Portfolios ULI, LaSalle Provide Framework for Real Estate Industry to Assess Climate Risk America Adapts: The Wild Wild West of Climate Modeling
December 11, 2024Episode 738 min
Beavers: Nature's Climate Resilience Engineers
Drought. Flooding. Wildfires. These are all risks our communities and built environment face and these risks are increasing as our planet warms. Beavers, nature's engineers and a keystone species, can help us fight all of these risks. Beavers are central to water management (reducing flooding and droughts and mitigating wildfires) because of how they handle water: they slow it, spread it, store it, and sink it. Mónika and Jessica interview Ben Goldfarb, author of Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter. They discuss beavers' past, present, and future - their connection to European settlement of North America, present-day approaches to beaver activities, and how beavers can help protect our communities in the future. Links and resources mentioned in the show: Ben Goldfarb Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter a book by Ben Goldfarb Crossings | Ben Goldfarb | W. W. Norton & Company Beaver Institute Management, Research and Education Microsoft Word - ECONW Escalante Beaver Values Report 0211.doc
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