The Sustainable Carolina Podcast

Hosted by Sustainable Carolina

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Latest episode

May 2026

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About the show

We bring you to the center of the sustainability conversation at UNC-Chapel Hill as we explore the technologies, partners, and exciting happenings that make our campus sustainable. From the North Carolina Piedmont to around the world, we seek out and discuss the latest in sustainability.

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28 recent

May 19, 202625 min

Salt, Sound, Sanctuary with Alexia Civit

During her time at Carolina, Alexia Civit took full advantage of hands-on offerings at the UNC Institute for the Environment. She's traveled to the Currituck Sound, Morehead City, Amazon and Galapagos for hands-on environmental experiences.In this episode, she talks specifically about her experiences at the Outer Banks Field Site. Studying on the island, participating in field studies, and completing an internship opened her eyes to how truly vulnerable the Outer Banks are to our changing climate. Upon her return to Chapel Hill this spring, she had a better understanding of the intersection between policy and natural resource management. As a spring 2026 graduate, she looks forward to a career where she can create an impact and make change.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

February 3, 2026Episode 430 min

From Trail to Trust with Florencia Loncan

Fresh off an epic 2,200-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail, Florencia Loncán began applying for her first post-grad job in spring 2025. She landed at the Triangle Land Conservancy, in a position she feels was made for her, where she could connect with the local community and get out into the field.Florencia is a double Tar Heel, having earned an undergraduate degree in environmental science and a master’s degree from the Hussman School of Journalism and Media.For her, conservation runs deep. As a graduate student, she discovered her love for Great Smokey Mountains National Park, where she spent a summer working for Discover Life America. When summer came to a close she did not want to leave. Lucky for her, she found a way back the following spring, when she completed her master’s thesis project in the Park.The sum of these experiences makes our conversation with Florencia a dynamic one. Sometimes it’s hard to believe she’s just three years removed from graduate school.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

December 16, 2025Episode 331 min

Campus History Keepers with Carolina Tree Heritage

In the aftermath of Hurricane Fran, UNC Grounds' green recycling program began. That's because the University inherited the grinder used during storm cleanup, which made wood chips from downed trees.Two decades later, University Arborist Tom Bythell asked administration to purchase a new grinder in order to continue green waste recycling program.And a few years after that, Carolina Tree Heritage came along. The nonprofit, housed within the UNC Institute for the Environment, aims to utilize the oldest, biggest fallen trees on campus. The program proved to be an excellent opportunity for Tom to recycle even more trees, specifically ones that were too large for the University's grinder.With these two methods of recycling trees on campus, the University recycles a majority of its landscape scraps.Join us for this episode with UNC Institute for the Environment Associate Director Susan Cohen and University Arborist Tom Bythell, who manage the Carolina Tree Heritage program.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

October 9, 2025Episode 237 min

Roots and Ridges with Jay Leutze

Forests impact water and air quality, and our quality of life. That’s why we’re exploring forests and trees in this season of the Sustainable Carolina Podcast.In this episode we talk with Jay Leutze, a double Tar Heel, author and land trust professional. An unscripted childhood outside, a love for reading, and dedication to his community has led to a life of stewardship and leadership. Earning his degree from the UNC School of Law taught him humility and respect. Today, he works with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, where he helps buy land for the purpose of conservation and preservation. After watching the community he lives in go through Hurricane Helene, he saw people set aside their differences to help one another. He truly believes that nature and conservation is a space that unites us.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

March 10, 2025Episode 141 min

Communicating for Community: Stories for a Better Planet

The new season of the Sustainable Carolina podcast kicks off with a special episode, recorded live during a Carolina Engagement Week Panel. From Highlands, North Carolina to the highlands of the Galápagos, Carolina’s communicators have stories to tell. Venture outside the confines of Chapel Hill to learn about the students and faculty conducting community-based research projects for a better future. This episodes discusses light pollution in the Outer Banks, hemlock health in the Appalachian Mountains, water security in the Galápagos and much, much more. This episode features:Alyssa LaFaro, Research Communications Manager, UNC Office of Research Communications, Office of the Vice Chancellor for ResearchKelly Weaver, Deputy Director, UNC Center for Galapagos StudiesEmily Williams, Director of Communications, UNC Institute for the EnvironmentAbigail Brewer, Communications and Engagement Specialist, Sustainable CarolinaSustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

November 26, 2024Episode 625 min

Amy Kryston | Sanitation as a Basic Human Right

Six million people living in the United States do not have access to safely managed sanitation. But Amy Kryston is cautiously optimistic that this public health problem can be solved in our lifetimes. In 2022, Amy began a deep dive into this staggering statistic. Through the UNC Institute for the Environment's Environmental Justice Graduate Research Award, she wrote a systematic review on the social barriers to adequate wastewater treatment. Her work was published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health in 2024. She hopes the review can be a jumping off point for policymakers, municipalities and governments working to address this public health problem.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

October 1, 2024Episode 519 min

Nathan Halsey | Cultivating a Beekeeping Business

"Anyone who thinks they're too small to make a difference has never met the honey bee." Nathan Halsey, co-president of the Carolina Beekeeping Club lives by this quote. As a high school student during the pandemic, he picked up beekeeping. When he arrived to Carolina, he knew he wanted to continue his business, Halsey's Hives. But he also wanted to make an impact on campus. In this episode, he shares how he balances running a business, building awareness for beekeeping at Carolina and succeeding in academics.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

September 27, 2024Episode 415 min

Research Out in the Real World

On the fourth and final bonus episode, we learn about applying research out in the real world and engaging students in the process. First, UNC Department of Earth Marine and Environmental Sciences Assistant Professor Antonia Sebastian talks about her research on 100-year floodplains, urban development and the social implications of development. She also shares how her research influences the ways she engages with students at the UNC Sustainable Triangle Field Site.Then, Research Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Public Engagement with Science Kathleen Gray encourages students interested in pursuing research to engage with faculty at Carolina. She talks about the far-reaching efforts of CPES. The group partners with municipalities to share important data and also with schools to share the power of science.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

August 13, 2024Episode 316 min

Water, Pipes and Satellites

This third bonus episode explores water. First, we take to the skies with UNC Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences Professor Tamlin Pavelsky. Pavelsky, who serves as the freshwater science lead for NASA's Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission, shares findings from the Atlantic Coast to the Yukon Delta to the Kakhovka Dam. SWOT is visualizing rivers and lakes in ways we've never seen before.In the second half of the episode we hear from Anna Patterson, program director at the UNC Environmental Finance Center. Anna begins by sharing the challenges water utilities, especially those that are underfunded, face when trying to manage stormwater. She shares how green infrastructure can change the way we view stormwater and how utilities might go about paying for this type of infrastructure.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

July 18, 2024Episode 417 min

Food Policies in Latin America and Crisis Response in South India

This episode explores two topics in global public health, presented at our spring Sustainability Research Symposium. Both researchers begin their conversations by sharing how our changing climate impacts their research and respective fields of study.Lindsey Smith Taillie, Gillings School of Global Public Health Department of Nutrition associate professor and associate chair of academics, shares research she's completed in Latin America and the United States. She talks about how Brazil is leading the way in incorporating sustainability into their dietary guidelines.Then, Abhishek Bhatia, a doctoral student in the Carolina Health Informatics Program, talks about analyzing post-disaster data to understand how countries respond to humanitarian crises. He compares and contrasts the work he did in two different countries — Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria and India — after major flooding in 2018.Sustainable Carolina works within the UNC Institute for the Environment to increase the University energy and water efficiency and decrease waste sent to the landfill. We work with student, staff and faculty to connect University research with these operational efforts.

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