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Teacher recruitment and retention is a challenge across the U.S., but the problem is especially challenging for Rural schools. Tune in for a conversation with Teneka Robinson, a K–16 education strategist and researcher focused on STEM teacher pipeline development and workforce readiness, with a commitment to building equitable education pathways for underserved communities. Robinson advises district executives, university leaders, and nonprofit organizations on aligning recruitment, preparation, hiring, induction, and retention systems to sustain educator talent.

Moving the needle on student achievement is heartbreakingly difficult. A highly successful educational intervention, one that districts might spend thousands of dollars per student implementing, might yield an effect size the equivalent of weeks of learning. Unfortunately, most interventions fare even worse, often showing little to no measurable impact despite substantial investments.   As education leaders, we cannot afford to limit our search for solutions to what we conventionally think of as "education interventions." What if one of our most powerful tools for improving student outcomes has been overlooked because it doesn't fit neatly into our current frameworks?   Research shows that test scores and attendance improve when schools install air filters and upgrade ventilation. Tune in as we talk with David Carel about this topic and his important article in The 74.

In the wealthiest country in the world, almost 14 percent of households - that's 48 million Americans, including 14 million children - lack consistent access to affordable nutritious food. How can so much hunger persist in a land of such abundance? Abiding Hunger investigates the four-century history of this contradiction, from the Starving Time of Jamestown into the present day, when all those families relying on food assistance are routinely forced to choose between paying for groceries or other necessities like rent, utilities, and medical care - heartbreaking decisions that have been made even more impossible by recent delays and cuts to programs like SNAP.    In Part 1 of this conversation we spoke with the author of Abiding Hunger, Roger Thurow, who spent decades as a foreign correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, covering humanitarian crises and hunger abroad. Join us for the continuation of this important discussion with Roger!

"When people step forward to make the world a better place, almost anything is possible."   With these words, lifelong activists Annie Leonard and André Carothers introduce this vibrant, diverse, and inspiring collection of 42 protests and nonviolent movements that helped secure so many of the rights we often take for granted today: weekends off, women's right to vote, desegregation, same-sex marriage, cleaner air and water, wheelchair-accessible sidewalks, and so much more.   Protest is an invitation to anyone searching for ways to express their opinions in our complex and constantly changing world: a call to learn about the undeniable impact of peaceful protest, to celebrate what people can accomplish together, and to encourage readers to take action in defense of this essential democratic right. Along with powerful images, the book includes reflections from more than a dozen courageous activists—from Jane Fonda, Rebecca Solnit, and Robert Reich to Dolores Huerta, Nemonte Nenquimo, and Justin J. Pearson.   With protest under threat across the world, Leonard and Carothers remind us that there are many ways to safely engage in and support the right to protest—from organizing an action to supporting environmental action groups in your own community. This book offers inspiration for how to answer that call.

Join us as we talk with Raj Setty,  President of Setty & Associates, a full-service Mechanical, electrical and plumbing consulting engineering firm headquartered in Washington DC, with 10 offices, specializing in institutional projects, energy modeling, commissioning and high-performance buildings. Across 10 offices, Setty works on over 200 projects at a given time across the healthcare, laboratory, university, K-12, commercial, local, state, and federal sectors. Tune in as we talk about their expertise in everything from Emergency Preparedness to Forensic Engineering and much more!

In the wealthiest country in the world, almost 14 percent of households - that's 48 million Americans, including 14 million children - lack consistent access to affordable nutritious food. How can so much hunger persist in a land of such abundance? Abiding Hunger investigates the four-century history of this contradiction, from the Starving Time of Jamestown into the present day, when all those families relying on food assistance are routinely forced to choose between paying for groceries or other necessities like rent, utilities, and medical care - heartbreaking decisions that have been made even more impossible by recent delays and cuts to programs like SNAP.  Join us as we speak with the author of Abiding Hunger, Roger Thurow, who spent decades as a foreign correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, covering humanitarian crises and hunger abroad.

Climate change is amplifying existing inequities that disproportionately affect students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, and students with disabilities. What's more, these students — many of whom lack consistent access to clean air and water and safe housing — are at greater risk of exposure to pollution that can worsen asthma and other health issues. They're increasingly and understandably anxious about the climate crisis — as the stakes are high and they will likely bear the brunt of it — and want to know what they can do about it. Join us as we speak with Dr. William Rodick and Rev. Terrance McKinley about this important issue.

From the acclaimed environmentalist, Bill McKibben, Here Comes the Sun tells the story of the sudden spike in power from the sun and wind—and the desperate fight of the fossil fuel industry and their politicians to hold this new power at bay. From the everyday citizens who installed solar panels equal to a third of Pakistan's electric grid in a year to the world's sixth-largest economy—California—nearly halving its use of natural gas in the last two years, Bill McKibben traces the arrival of plentiful, inexpensive solar energy. And he shows how solar power is more than just a path out of the climate crisis: it is a chance to reorder the world on saner and more humane grounds. You can't hoard solar energy or hold it in reserves—it's available to all.

Professional school facilities management is a tough job, especially when education budgets are tight. Facilities Directors need support from the entire community in order to ensure school environments are optimized for learning. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Management is a vital component of educational excellence, and it requires more than a well-trained Facilities Director.  Tune into this episode with Ken Wertz, Executive Director, National School Plant Management Association (NSPMA), to learn about the budget, staffing, training, policy support, and more that Facilities Directors need in order to provide healthy indoor air for every student and staff member.

New research from Boston University reveals challenges faced by school districts that were early adopters of collecting real-time indoor environmental quality (IEQ) data in classrooms. With aging buildings, rising temperatures, and limited budgets, school districts in the United States need effective strategies to address classroom environmental issues, secure funding for upgrades, and develop climate resilience plans. Collecting real-time indoor environmental quality (IEQ) data in classrooms can support these goals, yet few districts have adopted comprehensive school environmental monitoring, and little is known about the barriers and facilitators to its use. Understanding the value of this approach to ensure good environmental conditions inside schools, the challenges faced by early adopters, and strategies to overcome them will be essential for broader implementation.  Tune in as we speak with the authors of this new paper, M Pilar Botana Martinez, PhD, and M Patricia Fabian, ScD.

Our Future Is Clean is American Cleaning Institute's campaign highlighting the cleaning products industry's efforts toward a clean, sustainable world and to promote consumers' health and well-being.    If people are to enjoy a livable tomorrow, behavior must change today – by reducing emissions, using less and recycling, reusing and repurposing more and creating a true circular economy in which waste no longer exists. Together, we can make a real difference in achieving our sustainable goals, helping to ensure a vibrant future. Tune in as we talk with the Vice President of Sustainability for the American Cleaning Institute, Dr. Emily Trentacope

Our guest today is Nicholai Allen, wildfire expert, active firefighter, & founder of safe soss. Tune in as we talk about why low snowpack in the Pacific Northwest increases wildfire risk heading into summer; the simple prevention steps homeowners should take now; and the biggest vulnerabilities firefighters see during fire season.

From datacenters to a few laptops, CEWS has your IT asset disposition (ITAD) covered. Taking time to recycle end-of-life electronics can be the last priority in any business. That's why CEWS offers critical logistics assistance and stress-free options for on-demand or on-going E‑Waste management. CEWS maintains multiple industry standard certifications demonstrating our dedication to data security and environmental standards. Partnering with a certified recycler ensures your electronics are properly dealt with in an environmentally safe and ethical manner.

Join us as we talk with the dynamic Shannon Rochon about his new book, "Jack of All Trades Master of All: Being Multi Gifted in a Singular Gifted Society." Shannon is a school board trustee in the Wayne-Westland Community School District in Michigan, and founder and executive director of BlackCount, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing Black representation in civic life. Tune in as we talk with him about his views on leadership, representation, environmental justice, and so much more!

In a world where companies are being fined, investigated, and publicly shamed for sustainability claims that don't hold up to scrutiny, Helen Neal is the person behind the scenes helping household names get it right. Helen built an AI platform to stop brands from accidentally greenwashing themselves before they hit publish. Zena is an AI pre-publication governance platform that checks sustainability content against five regulatory frameworks — Green Claims Code, EU Green Claims Directive, CSRD, ASA guidelines, and more — before it goes public. It was built because her clients kept asking the same question: is this claim safe to make? Helen is the founder of HN Communications, a B Corp-certified sustainability communications consultancy whose clients include Bosch, Heineken, Asahi, Nissan, and Aston Martin. She came up through the UK Parliament and government affairs roles at Virgin Atlantic and Nissan before founding her own agency in 2017. She knows the regulatory landscape from the inside.