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The United States of America was once tribal lands. One of the things that I have always respected about those cultures are their deep ties to the natural world. In a capitalist society that can feel pretty unattainable, but we would do well to at least appreciate the fact that our land is one of the most precious resources that we have. We rely on the natural world to support every aspect of our lives, and if our extraction occurs without consideration, it has tangible detrimental impacts. One of the most glaring is exacerbating the effects of climate change.

For this episode, I was fortunate to be joined by Jacob Malcom (Founder and Executive Director, Next Interior) and Taj Schottland (Director of Climate Resilience, Trust for Public Land) to discuss our current trajectory for land use and climate impacts. I started this discussion a bit grumpy after spending a few hours on episode prep but somehow ended it on a hopeful note. My hope is that it will have a similar effect for you.

Enjoy, Taj and Jacob have a wealth of knowledge and passion on these topics.

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I've never liked video games. I've never been able to sit still for very long. Growing up in Central New Jersey in the early 90s, meant I spent much of my time climbing trees, playing huge games of manhunt with friends in the neighborhood, and basically doing anything I could to be outside all day. I have always loved the outdoors but first gained an understanding of it and connection to it in the summer of 1994. My mom agreed to send me to 4H sleepaway camp for the first time. The experience was pivotal. We spent a week swinging from tire swings into a river, learning about watersheds and local animal life, and talking with environmental professionals. I didn't know it then, but looking back on it now, that was one of the first major steps toward my career.

So when my friend Dennis Toft (Chair Environmental Department, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi) emailed a few months ago suggesting that I do an episode on the New Jersey School of Conservation (NJSOC), and explained the school and his connections to it, I jumped at the chance.

For this episode I was joined by Dennis and Kerry Pflugh (Executive Director, Friends of the NJSOC) to talk about the NJSOC. The property is located in northwest New Jersey in Stokes State Forest, and offers among other things, the sort of transformational getaway experience that once meant so much to me eons ago.

New Jersey was named the Garden State for a reason, and the NJSOC is a hidden treasure in the state that I am glad to now support. I hope you enjoy the episode and to learn more about the NJSOC or support their programing please visit https://njsoc.org/.

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Immigration. That one word alone likely makes most of us want to run back to our designated corners and start regurgitating talking points. This topic is an objective reality and challenge that should never have been so politicized. People choose to come to the US for a myriad of reasons, but they can most often boil down to seeking better opportunities for their families. Many still carry a deep love for their native country, but they decide to come to America due to slipping economic, safety, and social systems at home. No matter which side of the aisle you fall on, I'd hope that we could treat people with respect and dignity and follow established processes. With that said, there are many flaws in our immigration systems, and rising impacts from climate change will only highlight those areas as we see more people elect to immigrate.

Carlos Claussell (PennFuture) and Daniel Gonzalez (DJourneys) both came to the US to study climate change and dedicate their lives to affecting positive changes on critical issues. They have both also experienced multiple stages of our immigration system and have important stories to tell. Daniel is now in Madrid in part due to some of these challenges.

I invite you to listen to this episode with an open mind. You will learn something. Thank you to Carlos and Daniel. I enjoyed this conversation.