After MUCH delay due to some pretty big life things (ahem welcome to the world baby August) we are back to wrap up Season 2 with a fun lil chat about what life is like as an Assistant Professor. Assistant to the Professor (Michael Scott?) …I mean sometimes, tbh. Follow along as we talk about many added job functions as you go from postdoc to prof, and listen for the stress in our voices. It’s not all rosy, but we also have the freedom to record a podcast at work LOL!

This week on the podcast Steph and Rachel talk about how similar the events in their lives have been over the past two weeks, and catch up with a friend of the pod(cast hosts), Jeff Kerby. Jeff is an award-winning natural history photographer with a passion for science. He currently works as a postdoc in ecology and geography, which is the coolest, but we are here to talk to him about his photography life. He photographed his first feature story for National Geographic in 2017 on gelada monkeys living in the Ethiopian Highlands. And just this past month, National Geographic named one of his photos (of a monkey giving birth, see below) one of the 100 Best Photos from this Century.

This week on the podcast (which is delayed thanks to many a daycare illness) Steph and Rachel catch up post-holiday and chat with Cate Mingoya. Cate is an urban planner, which we learn can mean a huge range of things! Cate is the National Director of Climate Resilience and Land Use at Groundwork USA, which is a network of environmental justice organizations. She works with people and communities to improve their environmental, economic, and social conditions, increase the likelihood of upward mobility, and improve health and overall quality of life.

On this episode of How We Got Here, Steph and Rachel talk to the incomparable Ben Cosgrove. Ben is a composer-performer whose music explores themes of landscape, place, and environment. Ben has performed in every U.S. state except for Delaware (some day!), collaborated with groups ranging from rock bands to research scientists, and held residencies and fellowships with institutions including the National Park Service, the National Forest Service, and NASA. The gang talks piano lessons, flutists, and not being deterred when your college declines your proposal for an interdisciplinary major

On this episode of How We Got Here, Steph and Rachel chat with THE Aja Barber—writer, stylist, consultant, activist—whose work deals with the intersection of sustainability, fashion, colonialism, the textile industry, feminism, and all the ways the not-great systems we live with affect our buying habits. Aja tells us all about how problematic the fashion industry is, how she found herself with a job that didn’t even exist just 10 years ago, and how dads are the kings of slow fashion (but also gender norms and social pressures UGH!). Aja teaches us how everyone can practice sustainable buying practices, including those of us who are on a tight budget (eBay, deciding if you really need a sequined sweater from ASOS that you’ll only wear once to a holiday-work thing?) or plus size (hello, @selltradeplus.)

Scientist turned policy maker… ahh, yes, we can all dream! This week we talk to the many-a-hat-wearing Dr. Cassaundra Rose, who works for the state of Maine in the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and… the Future. So cool. Cassy is the Senior Science Analyst and Climate Council Coordinator (CCC for those in the know), where she uses her science background to form policy and organize a huge group of volunteers.

Listen to Cassy tell us all about her early love for the ocean, including the time she touched a SHARK, her journey to the governor’s office, and her cats. We talk a lot about cats. Per usual.

How ‘bout them apples! This week on How We Got Here - the climate careers podcast - we sit down with farmHER (yes, so sorry) Hannah Blackmer of Field Stone Farm in lovely Vermont. We talk about favorite vegetables, favorite flowers, oh, and how Hannah became a climate-friendly farmer who utilizes regenerative, no-till practices to generate healthy soil. Her journey involves driving all over the country interviewing people doing sustainable things. She maybe chatted with a cult leader. Maybe.

In other important news, loving visitors brought Rachel all the comforts that she’s been missing in Denmark (no, not socialized medicine, she’s got that there): candy corn, melatonin, and huge quantities of salsa. Also, um, does anyone have climate-centric baby name suggestions for Steph? Mk thanks.

On this episode of How We Got Here, Steph and Rachel catch each other up on their respective new lives that feel like vacations, but aren’t, so that’s a whole thing.

Then, they talk to Sarah Jaquette Ray, professor of environmental studies at Humboldt State University, on her journey into the environmental humanities, and her book, “A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety: How to Keep Cool on a Warming Planet.” Sarah is an expert on climate anxiety, which is really just the exact kind of person we need to talk to in these trying times!!!

You can find amazing resources from Sarah on her website here.

And, buy her book here or at your local bookstore!

Hoo boy what a treat! This week we talk with Hila Perry - a.k.a. Hila the Killa, eco-rapper extraordinaire. Oh, you didn’t know that was a viable profession? Well now ya do! Hila Perry is a rapper, comedian, educator, producer, and… avid and skilled jungle gymmer! She does it all. Find this #climateclown running around New York City dressed as a globe spreading climate change and sustainability awareness, all the while making her community a better place to live.

You may know her from songs like Wet Ass Planet, TOMATO, or Mycelium, OR you may know her from a viral video where she IS swinging from a rope, dressed as Earth, falls off the stage, and then flawlessly gets back up and keeps rapping. Join us on this journey as we chat college majors, composting, and what it was like to live a plastic-free life. And stay tuned for her next big adventure - the Earth Show!

You can find Hila (@hilathekilla) on all the socials!
TikTok
Instagram
Youtube
Twitter

Also, the people of Puerto Rico and other nearby islands are currently suffering from the effects of Hurricane Fiona. If you want to / can help, you can find a list of vetted community-based organizations and non-profits here.

Welcome to Season 2 of the climate change careers podcast, How We Got Here! We are so pleased to kick it off with the incredible Risalat Khan, who—get this—is a campaigner. No, he doesn’t work on political campaigns, but on campaigns to convince the world that we can and should live in a more just environment. And YES he does get paid!!!

Join us as we take a winding path through Risalat’s journey from being named Bangladesh’s top teen event-planner-extraordinaire, to striking up an email convo with his future employer, to leaning into his Myers-Briggs identity. And boy do we talk Myers-Briggs. #StephIsSuchAnINTJ

You can follow Risalat on Twitter here.

To help with climate-change-induced flood-relief efforts in Southeast Asia, please consider donating to:

BRAC: A Bangladesh-based global nonprofit

Women Democratic Front: A Pakistani feminist network working on flood relief efforts