Hear me on the New Books Network podcast on Sustainability Simplified
From its About page:
The New Books Network is a consortium of author-interview podcast channels dedicated to public education. Covering 100+ subjects, disciplines, and genres, we publish 70 to 100 episodes every week. The NBN reaches about half a million people every month; NBN listeners download close to 1 million episodes a month.
The NBN does not authorize books or endorse anything said in them. We are strictly viewpoint-neutral, allowing the hosts to select books. Rather, like a bookstore, we make the viewpoints of authors available to the public. When we publish an interview, we are not saying “This is a good book” (though it usually is). Instead, we are saying “Here is a book by a serious author whose viewpoint you may or may not agree with. Listen in, and decide for yourself.”
The episode was hosted by Professor Susan Liebell, whom I quoted in my book and featured on my podcast for her writing on John Locke. From the page: “Susan Liebell is a political theorist working at the intersection of public law. Currently, she is researching and publishing on originalism, Stand Your Ground, reproductive rights, and the Second Amendment. Recently, her work has appeared in the Monkey Cage, The Journal of Politics, and Polity. Her teaching during COVID was featured in the Washington Post. She provides political commentary for many outlets including KYW in Philly, PHL 17’s In Focus, and Wisconsin Public Radio’s Central Time.”
Here’s the episode:
Show notes:
Summary
Josh Spodek disconnected his Manhattan apartment from the electric grid in May 2022. Over time, he has reduced his consumption and contribution to landfill. His new book argues that sustainability is not a sacrifice but an upgrade that can bring joy and increased quality of life. The book traces his journey to live more sustainably in a Manhattan apartment but also offers an argument about politics. He asks what narratives are already available to frame environmental degradation deploying a wide range of sources from John Locke to indigenous thinkers. Spodek, doubtful about governments or corporations leading on the environment, favors bottom up change focused on the actions and leadership of individuals. Sustainability Simplified: The Definitive Guide to Solving All (Yes, All) Our Environmental Problems (Amplify, 2025) explores the importance of culture and habit. How did the United States and other nations adopt polluting and passive habits? What can be done to reverse these cultural norms? The solutions range from a WWII level mobilization to a Constitutional Amendment.
Dr. Josh Spodek earned a PhD in Physics and an MBA in entrepreneurial leadership from Columbia University. He is a four-time TEDx speaker author (Initiative and Leadership Step by Step), and leadership coach. He hosts the This Sustainable Life podcast. He has been an Adjunct Professor at New York University. A 2024 recent New York Times article highlights his life changes in Who Says You Can’t Live Off the Grid in Manhattan?
Mentioned:
- NOAA’s interactive sea level rise map. NOAA is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Eric Williams’s Capitalism & Slavery (3rd edition, University of North Carolina Press, 1994)
- Works of Steven Pinker
- Spodek Method
- Susan’s research on Locke’s Enough and as Good from Perspectives on Politics
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