Uptown Chats

Hosted by Jaron Burke, Lonnie Portis, WE ACT for Environmental Justice

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Join Jaron and Lonnie as they explore issues in their community through the eyes of everyday people, and discuss how environmental justice is showing up in the news. It’s not just for experts, it's for everyone! The podcast is officially 1 year old! Now that we're older and wiser, we're releasing episodes twice each month - on the second and last Monday of each month. Uptown Chats is the official podcast of WE ACT for Environmental Justice. WE ACT was founded in 1988 and has offices in New York City and Washington, D.C. You can find us online at weact.org.

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25 recent

August 31, 202631 min

Battery Energy Storage Systems

Battery energy storage systems are coming to NYC! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn how this technology can help lower energy bills and improve local air quality with help from Alia Soomro, Deputy Director of New York City Policy at the New York League of Conservation Voters. This episode builds on our conversation about Peaker Plants with Yuwa Vosper, WE ACT’s Senior Policy Advisor. Check out the episode here: Episode 72 - Peaker Plants Extra Resources: Look for local energy storage projects on NYSERDA's online tool Learn more about battery energy storage systems with NYLCV's BESS Fact Sheets RSVP for an upcoming BESS site tour in the Bronx! 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 Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

August 10, 202625 min

Manhattan Clean Energy Hub

Have you ever struggled to pay your utility bill? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about one of the twelve Clean Energy Hubs across New York State that help New Yorkers access programs to lower their energy bills and participate in the clean energy transition. Our special guest for this episode is Sachaly De Leon from the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development (ANHD). Want to learn more? Visit manhattancleanenergyhub.org and sign up for free support from 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 Facebook Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

July 27, 202626 min

Peaker Plants

Ever wonder why your utility bill is higher in the summer? Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn how peak demand and peaker plants affect both the cost of electricity and the air quality in NYC communities. Our special guest this week is WE ACT’s Senior Policy Advisor, Yuwa Vosper. Check out one of our previous episodes to learn more about energy justice and how our electricity grid works Episode 4: Energy Democracy – Power to the People Extra Resources: What is Peak Demand? (Energy Sage) 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 Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

July 13, 202637 min

Measuring the Impact of Extreme Heat

Summer is here and it is HOT! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about a new project to measure the impact of extreme heat inside the homes of everyday New Yorkers led by WE ACT’s Environmental Health Manager, Valentina Rojas. Relevant Resources: Read the NYC DOHMH 2026 Heat Mortality Report to learn more about the impact of extreme heat in NYC. Check out one of our previous episodes featuring Valentina, where we talked about her work measuring outdoor air quality in Northern Manhattan: Episode 53: Air Quality Monitoring: Congesting Pricing & Other Sources of Air Pollution 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 Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

June 29, 202633 min

Solar and Storytelling (Part 2)

Have you ever seen or heard a reference to climate or environmental justice in mainstream movies, TV, or novels? Join Jaron and Lonnie as they continue their conversation with Kiana Michaan, long-time WE ACT member and host of Climate with Kiana, where they discuss how climate and environmental justice show up through storytelling in all kinds of media. Make sure to check out the first part of our conversation with Kiana: Episode 69: Solar and Storytelling (Part 1) You can also hear more of Kiana on her podcast, Climate with Kiana ! 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 Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

June 8, 202630 min

Solar and Storytelling (Part 1)

Have you ever seen or heard a reference to climate or environmental justice in movies, TV, or novels? Join Jaron and Lonnie for their first podcast collaboration with Kiana Michaan, long-time WE ACT member and host of Climate with Kiana, where they discuss the state of the solar industry and then explore how climate and environmental justice show up through storytelling in media. Stay tuned for part two! Check out one of our previous episodes to learn more about the legacy of Cecil Corbin-Mark and his contributions to WE ACT! Episode 19: Honoring Cecil Corbin-Mark You can also hear more of Kiana on her podcast, Climate with Kiana ! 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 Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

May 25, 202628 min

Deep Dive on Energy Justice

Summer is almost here and that means more expensive energy bills for many people. Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn more about energy justice and how it is being impacted by climate change with help from WE ACT’s Senior Policy Manager for Energy Justice, Eric Walker. Make sure to check out the first part of this conversation if you haven’t already: Episode 65: Energy Justice in New York You can also listen to this episode on YouTube . Got questions? Call our Uptown Chats Hotline at 877-UPTOWN6! You can also email us at podcast@weact.org . Make sure to subscribe to the WE ACT newsletter for updates, upcoming events and actions you can take! Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

May 11, 202626 min

EPA Rollbacks Part 2 - Fighting Back

Our health, environments, and climate action are under attack! Join Jaron and Lonnie to continue our conversation about the recent rollback of over 30 Federal EPA regulations protecting us from dangerous vehicle and climate pollution, including the Endangerment Finding. These hard-earned protections are at risk of being undone, despite being vital in protecting our health, neighborhoods, and in fighting climate fueled extreme weather, especially for environmental justice communities. Special guests include Byron Ramos Gudiel, Executive Director of Center for Earth, Energy & Democracy (CEED) (convener of the Platform for a Just Climate), and Manuel Salgado, Federal Research Manager for WE ACT's Federal Policy Office. Make sure to check out the first part of this conversation if you haven’t already: Episode 67: EPA Rollbacks Part 1 - The Endangerment Finding You can also listen to this episode on YouTube . Got questions? Call our Uptown Chats Hotline at 877-UPTOWN6! You can also email us at podcast@weact.org . Make sure to subscribe to the WE ACT newsletter for updates, upcoming events and actions you can take! Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

April 27, 202632 min

EPA Rollbacks Part 1 - The Endangerment Finding

Our health, environments, and climate action are under attack! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn about the recent rollback of over 30 Federal EPA regulations protecting us from dangerous vehicle and climate pollution, including the Endangerment Finding. These hard-earned protections are at risk of being undone, despite being vital in protecting our health, neighborhoods, and in fighting climate fueled extreme weather, especially for environmental justice communities. Special guests include Byron Ramos Gudiel, Executive Director of Center for Earth, Energy & Democracy (CEED) (convener of the Platform for a Just Climate), and Manuel Salgado, Federal Research Manager for WE ACT's Federal Policy Office. Did one of the topics in this episode pique your interest? Listen to one of our previous episodes to learn more: Episode 35: A Conversation with EPA Region 2 Administrator Lisa Garcia You can also listen to this episode on YouTube . Got questions? Call our Uptown Chats Hotline at 877-UPTOWN6! You can also email us at podcast@weact.org . Make sure to subscribe to the WE ACT newsletter for updates, upcoming events and actions you can take! Connect with the show: Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

April 13, 202637 min

Energy Justice in New York

Happy Earth Month! Join Jaron and Lonnie to learn more about how energy justice impacts everyday New Yorkers and what WE ACT is doing to defend our landmark Climate Law with help from WE ACT’s Senior Policy Manager for Energy Justice, Eric Walker. Want to take action to support energy justice in New York? Ask Your State Legislators to Defend the Climate Act & Fund the Sustainable Future Program: The Renewable Heat Now coalition invites you to email your state legislators , urging them to defend the law and fund the Sustainable Future Program . There’s no harm in asking twice! Take Action Tell the Public Service Commission to Deny the Fossil Fuel Industry’s Petition: A fossil fuel-backed group has asked a state agency - the New York Public Service Commission - to hold a hearing that could weaken New York's clean energy law. Click here to tell the PSC to deny this attempt by the fossil fuel industry to weaken our climate law. Take Action Other Resources: How to Read Your Utility Bill (Con Ed) Did this episode pique your interest? Check out other similar episodes: Episode 4: Energy Democracy - Power to the People Episode 49 and 50: Uptown Chats Book Club - Powerless (Part 1) and (Part 2) 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 Donate to WE ACT for Environmental Justice

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