I can’t stand our nanny state that coddles corporations and gives them welfare without requiring they do anything to help society in return. They’ve manipulated the government to redistribute money from people who work for a living, like me, to corporations that get handouts. It’s like socialism for corporations. What made me think of it was a passage from Marion Nestle‘s Food Politics. Since interviewing her, I’ve been reading and[…] Keep reading →

My series answering the New York Times’ Ethicist column with an active, leadership approach instead of an analytical, philosophical perspective continues with “Should Kids Whose Parents Could Earn Higher Salaries Get Financial Aid?”. I have a friend with school-age children who is a professional in a fairly lucrative field. The spouse is in a nonlucrative field. My friend chose to work fewer hours to spend time with their growing children,[…] Keep reading →

On December 22, 2011, I did ten burpees, planning with a friend to do ten a day for thirty days. Origins A friend asked me in my senior year of high school how I had lost my chubbiness from 9th grade, since he and I started with the same body type but I got more fit. My joining the cross country team probably helped. I also played ultimate frisbee with[…] Keep reading →

The nation and world have seen a lot of sexism and inequality. I don’t like it. I work to end it. I don’t believe that the counter to sexism hurting one sex is sexism hurting another group, I believe it’s to stop hurting either and to promote equality. Not everyone agrees, it seems, as some like to judge others by their sex. Naomi Fry wrote in the New Yorker, “This[…] Keep reading →

This episode is for people who detest Trump. I’ll speak to people who love him in future episodes. If you pollute and emit greenhouse emissions beyond the IPCC recommendations, which one round-trip cross country coach flight will nearly do, you personally pulled out of the Paris Agreement so many people criticized Trump for pulling out of. If you defend your flying and other pollution as necessary for your job, congratulations,[…] Keep reading →

I talk to a lot of people who aren’t acting on their environmental values. They explain their inaction in many ways, but one of the top ones is that they claim they first have to raise their awareness or become more conscious. To claim unawareness of an issue making global front page news monthly, maybe weekly, when anyone who has ordered takeout or considered eating less meat or driving fewer[…] Keep reading →

Beth personifies whom this podcast is designed to showcase: someone whose hard work, risk-taking, and personal challenge brought her to the pinnacle of her craft, which she is willing to share. That is, someone who did what leaders in the environment have to—to work hard before you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, having faith in yourself. She shares inside views of cultural change toward environmental[…] Keep reading →

Many people believe that technology will save many of our environmental problems. I’ve written and spoken on how making a polluting system more efficient will lead to it polluting more efficiently. My recent cross-country trip by Amtrak, which prompted me to wonder what it would take to transform Amtrak into a first-world train system, illustrated the challenges of systemic change and how pushing on one lever won’t do it. Do[…] Keep reading →

My series answering the New York Times’ Ethicist column with an active, leadership approach instead of an analytical, philosophical perspective continues with “Do I Have to Repay a Loan to an Ex-Lover?”. I recently ended a long relationship (we were engaged for several years). The split was tumultuous but ultimately amicable. While we were together, my fiancé gave me a loan to help with rent while I was on a[…] Keep reading →