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Your home for conservative weekly climate news and guests

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41 min

S13 E10: Communicating climate risk

George Mason University's Center for Climate Change Communication Postdoctoral Fellow Doran Tucker knows a thing or two about communicating climate risk. An undergraduate degree in international affairs at Penn State sparked his interest in how investments in military infrastructure (for example, remote sensing) can become tools we use in everyday life (GPS). From this inquiry, Tucker went on to explore in his masters and doctoral work the nexus of identity, policy and the environment with a particular emphasis on effective climate change communication in Appalachian and military contexts. Host Chelsea Henderson talks with the Mason 4C Postdoctoral Fellow about the effectiveness of communicating climate risk through a national security lens, including a very personal example from his family.

32 min

S13 E9: Maintaining America’s Greatest Idea

The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) made a historic investment in protecting and maintaining popular federal lands in part by establishing the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) to address billions of dollars in overdue maintenance needs. From 2021-2025, the LRF provided more than $9 billion to tackle priority repairs in national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, BLM areas and more. Unfortunately, the fund expired in August 2025, and the combined deferred maintenance backlog across federal land agencies is now estimated at over $35 billion. As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, lawmakers have an opportunity to renew the fund and support continued repair of our most beloved landscapes and historic places. During its five-year lifespan, the Legacy Restoration Fund supported more than 1,500 Interior Department and U.S. Forest Service projects across all 50 states and D.C., reaching every corner of the country. Pew Charitable Trusts' Rebecca Knuffke joins us this week to discuss the importance of renewing the LRF, if we want to protect America’s greatest idea.

26 min

S13 E8: National Clean Energy Week 2026, celebrating 10 years of bipartisan clean energy policy and advocacy

National Clean Energy Week 2026 is here and we're excited to welcome Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) Founding President James Dozier to set the stage for this year's event. Dozier shares more about the week-long celebration of clean energy innovation with conversations to help solve the world’s most pressing challenges in nuclear, solar, wind, wave, hydropower, geothermal, natural gas, biomass, carbon capture, storage and waste-to-energy technologies. This year's NCEW lineup of speakers includes a robust list of Governors including Mike Dunleavy (Alaska), Kelly Ayotte (New Hampshire), Kelly Armstrong (North Dakota), Spencer Cox (Utah), Jared Polis (Colorado) and Mikie Sherrill (New Jersey). Hear more about this year's event and so much more from James Dozier!

31 min

S13 E7: How to hold space for those you disagree with

Despite different upbringings, the hosts of the " We've Got To Talk " podcast, Jolene Conway (a self-identified conservative from Pleasantville, Iowa) and Nicole Fonarow (a self-professed liberal from San Francisco) became fast friends at the University of Iowa. And they're tighter than ever 40 years later. Living in a world that often seems intent on drawing lines in the sand and choosing political sides, they launched their " We've Got To Talk " podcast to inspire others. In this deeply divided society, the power of conversation can unite us. Their goal isn't to change each other's opinions, but to listen with curiosity, kindness, and empathy. And yes, to also have a good time while doing it!

35 min

S13 E6: We can build a power system that is resilient and decarbonized

The power grid is old and it is being asked to do things it wasn’t built to do. Luckily, there are a lot of smart people on the task of updating the grid. Pat Wood is one of those people. Co-chair of The Pew Charitable Trusts Distributed Energy Resources Initiative Advisory Council, Wood has spent three decades building more competitive, resilient energy systems — first as a regulator in the state of Texas and now as an entrepreneur. He is also Executive Chairman of Hunt Energy Network, deploying distributed resources across the Texas power grid, and chairs Luma Energy's board, overseeing the rebuild of Puerto Rico's power system after decades of underinvestment. Previously, as Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under President George W. Bush, Wood helped shape the nation's wholesale energy markets and strengthen grid reliability. As Chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, he helped engineer the restructuring that made Texas one of the most competitive electricity markets in the world. Wood also led the recent Pew report, " Distributed Energy Can Unleash the Resilient, Affordable Grid of the Future ," a comprehensive policy playbook with recommendations and examples from throughout the country and around the globe for deploying distributed energy resources and virtual power plants. Catch the interview with Pat Wood!

35 min

S13 E5: Keeping the lights on by building a better, stronger electricity grid

How do we keep the lights on during extreme weather such as Winter Storm Yuri, the Texas ice storm of five years ago? This week's two guests lived through the debilitating storm and hope to never repeat that experience, NextGen Energy founder Kimberly Johnston and Vice President of Public Partnerships Shannon Fitzgerald O’Shea. A community energy infrastructure company focused on catalyzing public and private-sector collaborations and mobilizing capital investment towards transformative U.S. clean energy economic development projects, NextGen Energy was founded to build a safer, more resilient America by ensuring that families, communities, and critical services never lose power. Check out what Kimberly Johnston has to share about clean energy on this episode!

31 min

S13 E4: Can AI be the catalyst for a decarbonized world?

AI is changing the shape and scope of the world as we know it. While many talk about the negatives of AI, including the energy demands, the Climate Leadership Council’s Greg Bertelsen sees an opportunity to take advantage of the largest investments being made probably in our lifetimes. Clean energy and renewables can attract significant investment to fuel AI needs, potentially making AI a force for a new energy paradigm. In Bertelsen's essay " An Optimist’s Case on AI and Climate ," he delves into the transformative prospects AI has to drive us toward a decarbonized world. Don't miss this interesting conversation with the CLC's Greg Bertelsen!

30 min

S13 Ep3: We can build a strong, sustainable lucrative agricultural sector for the 21st century and beyond

Host Chelsea Henderson was recently asked to join the steering committee of the Thriving Economy Project, a coalition of members of Congress, former senior congressional aides, officials from multiple presidential administrations and leading energy and environmental policy experts. The group is collaborating on a new policy blueprint aimed at strengthening economic competitiveness, creating jobs, and delivering affordable and reliable energy for American families and businesses. An upcoming report in September 2026 will outline a blueprint to build a thriving economy for all Americans. Joining us this week is the Congressional lead for the section of the report advising on 21st-century agricultural opportunities. Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski , a Democrat from Illinois, is leading the recommendations that will help farmers have stable, diversified income streams; drive innovation and adaptation; and make farming more sustainable, more lucrative, and healthier for all. She brings a wealth of experience both in her district, which features a strong agricultural constituency, and her work protecting workers and strengthening the middle class.

1 min

Clip: AAF's Shuting Pomerleau explains the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

American Action Forum's Shuting Pomerleau explains what the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is and how it works.

30 min

S13 Ep2: Virginia rejoins RGGI—but at a cost

After joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in 2021 before leaving in 2023, the state of Virginia recently re-entered the environmental pact. In this episode, Shuting Pomerleau of the American Action Forum shares research that shows the pressure Virginia is putting on itself and the utility sector, pressure borne by ratepayers, by rejoining the carbon pricing pact, while also adhering to the strict greenhouse gas emissions cuts currently on the state’s books and trying to meet the demands of the AI energy boom.

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