In episode 252 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons travels to the University of New Brunswick in Canada, where he keynoted an undergraduate climate conference bringing together students and faculty to explore a wide range of climate challenges. Doug's conversations with conference organizers Dr. Don Wright and Dr. Dion Durnford focus on how climate issues—particularly climate policy—are being taught at the university level, and the goals behind creating this kind of interdisciplinary learning experience. The episode also features interviews with students presenting their work, offering a window into the ideas and perspectives emerging from the next generation. Along the way, Doug reflects on the inspiration he found in these students and the energy they're bringing into the field. There is much to be excited about on how this and future generations will tackle climate change!

Posters for:

Yaniv Tunin – Just Stop Oil

Sara Elbakush – Laudato Si

Dustin Stewart – Ocean Acidification

Links in this episode:

Bay of Fundy

Fredericton, New Brunswick Key Themes Covered in This Episode Why undergraduate education is becoming a frontline for climate adaptation thinking The role of student-led conferences in shaping future leaders How younger voices are approaching climate risk differently What established professionals can learn from students right now

For Educators & Students

How to design interdisciplinary climate programs The value of experiential learning and student-led events Why adaptation should be embedded across curricula—not siloed Ideas for building your own campus-based climate initiatives Lessons from organizing a successful undergraduate conference

Who Should Listen to This Episode

University faculty and program designers Students interested in climate careers Adaptation professionals looking for fresh perspectives Funders thinking about workforce development Anyone wondering where the next generation of climate leaders is coming from

Support for America Adapts helps make episodes like this possible, including more international conversations on how adaptation is unfolding globally. All donations are now tax deductible!

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Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way,

Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts

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The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders

For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 251 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons speaks with Jamil Wyne, founder of Hazelwood Network, to explore whether climate adaptation is finally moving into the mainstream—or if we're seeing familiar signals that never quite add up. From growing attention in finance, consulting, and platforms like LinkedIn to real-world action in places like Singapore and across emerging markets, adaptation is gaining traction. But that momentum remains fragmented—spread across investors, governments, and innovators without clear coordination. At the same time, a major bottleneck persists: we still don't know how to clearly communicate adaptation, often relying on abstract climate metrics that fail to resonate. Drawing on his work across Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East, Wyne highlights how adaptation is already happening on the ground—often ahead of the U.S.—while the private sector cautiously begins to engage. The conversation also touches on the role of AI as both a tool and a source of new complexity. Ultimately, this episode asks a central question: if adaptation is having a moment, are we actually ready to capitalize on it?

Transcript of episode here.

Links in this episode:

Founder: Hazelwood Network

Lead author: The Climate Tech Opportunity (Oxford Saïd School of Business)

LinkedIn Learning Instructor: Climate Technology for Business Resilience and Adaptation

Articles: Forbes, SSIR, TechCrunch, WEF, World Bank, CSIS

Key Themes Covered in This Episode:

• Is adaptation really having a moment—or just more noise?
• A fragmented field that still isn't coming together
• Why we still don't know how to talk about adaptation
• What adaptation looks like on the ground in emerging markets
• New voices and leaders shaping the space
• Are we actually ready for this moment?

For Educators & Students

• Explore how climate adaptation is evolving across regions and sectors
• Examine the gap between adaptation in theory and on-the-ground reality
• Understand why adaptation is difficult to communicate effectively
• Analyze how emerging markets are shaping adaptation practice
• Discuss the role of new leaders entering the adaptation space
• Consider what it would take for adaptation to truly become mainstream

Who Should Listen to This Episode

• Climate adaptation and resilience professionals
• Policymakers and public sector leaders
• Researchers and students studying climate or sustainability
• Private sector professionals exploring climate risk
• Funders, investors, and philanthropies in climate
• Anyone trying to understand where adaptation is headed

Support for America Adapts helps make episodes like this possible, including more international conversations on how adaptation is unfolding globally. All donations are now tax deductible!

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Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here.

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Facebook, Linkedin and Bluesky: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/

Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way,

Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts

Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts.

The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders

For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 250 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons speaks with Dr. Thomas Zeitzoff, professor at American University and author of No Option But Sabotage: The Radical Environmental Movement and the Climate Crisis, to explore a question at the edge of today's climate conversation: what drives movements to escalate? Drawing on his research on political violence and environmental activism, Zeitzoff traces the evolution of the radical environmental movement—from sabotage in the 1990s and early 2000s to today's climate justice movement focused on mass protest and disruption. The conversation explores how tactics shift, what motivates activists, and why—despite intensifying climate impacts—we haven't seen a widespread return to more extreme actions. At the same time, a bigger question emerges: what actually works? As climate impacts become more visible, activism is evolving—but not all attention leads to progress. That's where climate adaptation enters the conversation. At the center of the discussion is a question that reframes the debate: If adaptation and climate response were working, would people feel pushed toward more extreme tactics? This episode doesn't advocate for extremism—but it does examine the conditions that can give rise to it, and how climate adaptation—if done well and communicated effectively—may help prevent it.

Key Themes Covered in This Episode

• The evolution of environmental activism—from sabotage to modern climate justice movements
• What drives movements toward more extreme tactics—and why that has shifted over time
• The limits of disruption and whether attention leads to real-world outcomes
• The disconnect between growing climate impacts and public/political response
• Climate adaptation as a tangible pathway to reduce risk and build trust
• The role of communication in making adaptation visible and building broader support

For Educators & Students

• How social movements evolve under pressure and changing conditions
• The intersection of political violence theory and environmental activism
• How tactics shift based on perceived effectiveness and opportunity
• The role of communication and public perception in shaping climate action

Who Should Listen to This Episode

• Climate adaptation and resilience professionals
• Policymakers, planners, and climate communicators
• Researchers and students studying climate and social movements
• NGOs, funders, and private sector leaders focused on climate risk and engagement

Links:

https://www.american.edu/spa/faculty/zeitzoff.cfm

https://www.zeitzoff.com/

https://www.amazon.com/No-Option-but-Sabotage-Environmental/dp/0197796842/ref=sr_1_1?crid=QN51R2M1EBJJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wM0lQCG41LkQEyTyrLkqtw.snxAdEz-eh3IOkevRxa1UYKgj8YVscwKLl0-auHgj6c

Support for America Adapts helps make episodes like this possible, including more international conversations on how adaptation is unfolding globally. All donations are now tax deductible!

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Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way,

Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts

Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts.

The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders

For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 249 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons takes a deep dive into the growing climate-driven insurance crisis reshaping housing and communities across the United States. Doug first speaks with Rob Moore and Alfonso Pating of the Natural Resources Defense Council about their new reports on the nation's emerging insurability crisis—why premiums are rising, insurers are retreating from high-risk areas, and what state policies can do to reduce risk and keep homes insurable. Then filmmaker George Siegal joins the show to discuss his documentary Built to Last: Buyer Beware, which reveals how many American homes are simply not built to withstand the disasters they face. Together, these conversations connect the dots between climate risk, insurance markets, and the way we build our communities—showing how insurance is becoming one of the clearest warning signals of climate change in action.

https://www.americaadapts.org/episodes/an-uninsurable-country-what-rising-climate-risk-means-for-homeowners

Experts in this Episode:

Rob Moore - Director of the Climate Adaptation Division at NRDC

Alfonso Pating - Global financial regulations specialist with NRDC.

George Siegal - Award-winning documentary filmmaker, Director, Producer and owner of Move the World Films

Key Themes Covered in This Episode

• What an "insurability crisis" is—and why it's emerging across the U.S.

• Why premiums are rising, policies are disappearing, and insurers are pulling back

• What makes a home insurable: risk, location, and construction

• The role of states in shaping insurance markets, building codes, and land use

• How FAIR Plans work and why they're rapidly expanding

• Whether FAIR Plans can become tools for resilience, not just backstops

• How insurance markets are acting as a signal of climate risk

• Why many homes are not built to withstand today's disasters

• The tension between affordability and resilient construction

• What this all means for the future of housing and adaptation

For Educators & Students

• How insurance markets are responding to climate risk

• The role of states in shaping insurance, building codes, and land use

• The connection between housing, affordability, and resilience

• Insurance as an economic signal of climate change

• Professors are welcome to assign this episode or excerpts in syllabi

Who Should Listen to This Episode

• Climate adaptation and resilience professionals

• State and local officials focused on housing, risk, and planning

• Urban planners and developers working in high-risk areas

• Insurance and finance professionals tracking climate risk

• Climate communicators and educators explaining these shifts

Transcript of Rob Moore and Alfonso Pating interview avaible here.

Transcript of George Siegal interview available here.

This episode was generously sponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council

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Links in this episode:

An Uninsurable Country https://www.nrdc.org/resources/uninsurable-country

https://www.nrdc.org/resources/insurance-fair-future

https://builttolastmovie.com/

Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, more information can be found here!

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Join the climate change adaptation movement by supporting America Adapts! Please consider supporting this podcast by donating through America Adapts fiscal sponsor, the Social Good Fund. All donations are now tax deductible!

For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 248 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons is joined by Professor Mark Nevitt of Emory University School of Law to unpack the repeal of the Clean Air Act's Endangerment Finding and what it means for climate governance in the United States. Long considered the legal backbone of federal climate regulation, its rescission raises fundamental questions about agency authority, the role of the courts, and the durability of federal climate policy. Mark explains the legal theory behind the repeal, how it intersects with Supreme Court precedent, and what likely comes next in federal court. The conversation also explores the practical implications of regulatory instability — from increased climate litigation to the shifting balance between federal, state, and local responsibility. For listeners working in adaptation, public policy, infrastructure, law, or risk management, this episode offers a clear look at how legal shifts at the federal level can reshape the broader climate landscape — and why adaptation efforts must continue regardless of political volatility.

Transcript for this episode here.

Key Themes Covered in This Episode

• What the Endangerment Finding actually did under the Clean Air Act
• Why Massachusetts v. EPA mattered
• The legal basis for the repeal
• How the repeal affects federal climate regulation
• The role of the Supreme Court and administrative law
• What happens next in federal court
• More emissions and rising adaptation costs
• States and cities filling the federal vacuum
• The growing role of climate litigation
• Adaptation continuing — but in a more fragmented system

Previous appearances by Mark Nevitt on America Adapts

Destroy, Rebuild, Repeat: How to Break the Climate Disaster Cycle with Mark Nevitt

Climate Change and the Legal System: Why the U.S. Constitution Needs to Adapt with Law Professor Mark Nevitt

Climate Adaptation Predictions for 2025: What the Experts Say

For Educators & Students

• The structure and limits of federal agency authority
• The interaction between executive action and judicial review
• How Supreme Court doctrine reshapes environmental governance
• Federalism and the division of climate authority between states and Washington
• Legal uncertainty and its impact on infrastructure and long-term planning
• Climate governance in periods of institutional instability
• The evolving role of courts in climate policy disputes
• Risk management when regulatory frameworks shift abruptly
• Professors are welcome to assign this episode or excerpts in syllabi.

Who Should Listen to This Episode

• Climate adaptation and resilience professionals navigating shifting federal policy
• State and local government officials responsible for long-term planning
• Urban and regional planners integrating climate risk into infrastructure decisions
• Insurance, reinsurance, and financial sector professionals assessing regulatory volatility
• Corporate risk, legal, and strategy teams tracking climate governance shifts
• Environmental law and public policy scholars following administrative law developments
• Funders and foundations evaluating the durability of climate investments
• Climate communicators explaining governance instability to broader audiences

ClimateTech Connect Conference Mentioned in the Episode!

ClimateTech Connect Registration

Use code: AAVIP for 25% discount off ticket prices

Support for America Adapts helps make episodes like this possible, including more international conversations on how adaptation is unfolding globally. All donations are now tax deductible!

Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here!

Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here.

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Facebook, Linkedin and Bluesky: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/

Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way,

Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts

Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts.

The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders

For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 247 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Mekala Krishnan, partner at the McKinsey Global Institute, for an inside look at how one of the world's most influential private research institutions is approaching climate adaptation. Drawing from MGI's recent report, Advancing Adaptation, the conversation explores what it would actually cost to protect people and economies from escalating heat, flooding, drought, and wildfire — and why investment still falls short even when the economic case is strong.. The discussion also examines how ideas developed within a private firm travel into real-world decision-making, and why governance, leadership, and awareness remain critical to ensuring that new data and tools translate into action. For listeners working at the intersection of climate risk, finance, infrastructure, and policy, this episode offers a clear view into how the private sector is framing adaptation — and what that framing could mean for the future of the field.

Transcript of episode available here.

Key Themes Covered in This Episode

• Why the McKinsey Global Institute is focusing on adaptation now
• What it costs to respond to rising physical climate risk
• The resiliency gap and why investment remains insufficient
• How climate risk is entering mainstream economic thinking
• What large-scale adaptation models include — and exclude
• Governance, leadership, and awareness as scaling constraints
• The need for shared language between public and private actors

Links & Resources from This Episode

Advancing adaptation: How evolving hazards could shape the agenda

Dr. Mekala Krishnan

Ten key requirements for a systemic approach to climate adaptation

For Educators & Students

This episode is well-suited for courses on climate adaptation, environmental economics, climate risk management, corporate sustainability, public policy, or infrastructure finance.

Key themes include physical risk modeling, cost-benefit analysis, capital allocation, governance constraints, and the expanding role of the private sector in adaptation.

Professors are welcome to assign this episode or excerpts in syllabi.

Who Should Listen to This Episode

• Climate adaptation and resilience practitioners
• Corporate sustainability, risk, and strategy professionals
• Urban and regional planners working on long-term resilience
• Insurance, finance, and reinsurance professionals
• Researchers and students studying climate governance or environmental economics
• Government staff involved in adaptation planning
• Funders interested in scaling adaptation solutions
• Climate communicators bridging public and private perspectives

ClimateTech Connect Conference Mentioned in the Episode!

ClimateTech Connect RegistrationUse code: AAVIP for 25% discount off ticket prices

Support for America Adapts helps make episodes like this possible, including more international conversations on how adaptation is unfolding globally. All donations are now tax deductible!

Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here!

Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here.

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Facebook, Linkedin and Bluesky: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/

Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way,

Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts

Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts.

The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders

For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 246 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons hosts Dr. Shiran Victoria Shen, assistant professor at Washington University in St. Louis, for a closer look at how climate adaptation actually emerges in China. Drawing on her research after the devastating 2021 Henan flood, Shen shows how public demand for adaptation surged—not through climate change language, but through calls for safety, infrastructure, and risk reduction, often using formal government channels. The conversation highlights adaptation as a lived governance issue rather than an ideological one, and surfaces practical lessons about public participation, the limits of top-down approaches, and what governments everywhere tend to respond to when climate risk becomes impossible to ignore.

Transcript of interview here.

Key Themes Covered in This Episode

• How public demand for climate adaptation emerges after extreme disasters
• Why people often ask for adaptation without using "climate change" language
• The 2021 Henan flood as a national turning point for adaptation awareness in China
• Public participation and formal governance channels, including the Local Leaders' Message Board
• Differences between adaptation and mitigation from a governance perspective
• The limits of top-down adaptation and where citizen influence realistically ends
• What adaptation in China reveals about public engagement globally
• Lessons for policymakers, planners, and communicators working outside the U.S.

Links & Resources from This Episode

• Shiran Victoria Shen – Faculty Page (Washington University in St. Louis)
• The 2021 Henan flood increased citizen demand for government-led climate change adaptation in China
• Shiran Victoria Shen – Research & Publications
• Dialogue Earth article: How the Chinese public is engaging in climate adaptation
• China's National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (latest version)
• Background on the 2021 Henan Flood

For Educators & Students

• This episode is well-suited for courses on climate adaptation, environmental governance, public policy, or comparative politics.
• Key themes include public participation, disaster response, adaptation without climate language, and institutional limits.
• Professors are welcome to assign this episode or excerpts in syllabi.

Who Should Listen to This Episode

• Climate adaptation and resilience practitioners
• Urban and regional planners working on risk, infrastructure, or public engagement
• Researchers and students studying climate governance, adaptation, or comparative policy
• Government staff and policymakers involved in disaster response or long-term planning
• Funders and foundations interested in how public demand shapes adaptation outcomes
• Climate communicators looking to move beyond technical or ideological framing
• Anyone interested in how climate adaptation is unfolding outside the United States

Support for America Adapts helps make episodes like this possible, including more international conversations on how adaptation is unfolding globally. All donations are now tax deductible!

Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here!

Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here.

Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here!

Facebook, Linkedin and Bluesky: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/

Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way,

Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts

Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts.

The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders

For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 245 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons is joined by legendary climate journalist Jeff Goodell, author of The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet for a conversation about what's happened since the book came out — and what hasn't. Extreme heat is no longer a future risk or a background climate issue; it's a present-day killer that exposes deep failures in public health, labor protections, urban design, and climate communication. We also talk about how recent political shifts have pushed the U.S. further backward on heat response, weakening protections and leaving communities more exposed just as the risks accelerate. This isn't a book recap — it's a reckoning with the legacy of the warning, and why heat will still kill first if we keep refusing to take it seriously.

Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here!

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Links in this episode:

https://jeffgoodellwriter.com/books/

https://jeffgoodellwriter.com/about/

Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way,

Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts

Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders

Join the climate change adaptation movement by supporting America Adapts! Please consider supporting this podcast by donating through America Adapts fiscal sponsor, the Social Good Fund. All donations are now tax deductible!

For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 244 of America Adapts, we adapt in the southwest! Welcome to the desert proving ground for climate adaptation. In my home state of Arizona—Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff—we get right down on the ground to see how communities are beating extreme heat, planning responsibly for water in a changing climate, and living with wildfire risk without losing what makes these places home. You'll hear street-level fixes that change daily life—and travel anywhere—plus a clear playbook cities can steal now: run the hottest months smarter, put shade where people actually stand and walk, and build the partnerships that keep projects alive. We also spotlight the next wave of adaptation pros coming out of Arizona's universities and city halls—real careers, real impact. If it works in the desert, parts of it can work where you live. Made possible by generous support from the CO2 Foundation.

Experts in this Episode:

• Dr. Ladd Keith – Associate Professor in the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning at the University of Arizona - interview transcript

• Fatima Luna – Chief Resilience Officer City of Tucson - interview transcript

• Blue Baldwin – Storm to Shade Program Manager at Tucson Water for the City of Tucson - interview transcript

• Alekzander Ryan - Heat Resilience Initiative, Southwest Integrated Field Laboratory - interview transcript

• David Hondula - Director of Heat Response and Mitigation for the City of Phoenix - interview transcript

• Ryan Stevens – Engineering manager with the City of Phoenix - interview transcript

• Nicole P. Antonopoulos – Sustainability Director City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office - interview transcript

• Victoria Joseph and Leona Davis - University of Arizona's Institute for Resilience - interview transcript

This episode was generously sponsored by the CO2 Foundation.

Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here!

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Donate to America Adapts

Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/

Links in this episode:

https://climateaction.tucsonaz.gov/pages/gsi

https://www.awwa.org/AWWA-Articles/tucsons-storm-to-shade-program-creates-a-cooler-city/

https://www.flagstaff.az.gov/4687/Meet-the-Sustainability-Team

https://www.phoenix.gov/administration/departments/heat/heat-response-programs/heat-response-plan.html

https://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/phoenix-fights-urban-heat-with-expanding-cool-pavement-program-that-lowers-street-temperatures

https://www.phoenix.gov/content/dam/phoenix/oepsite/documents/climate/Heat.CAPWorkshops%202025%20AllSlides.pdf

https://www.coolseal.com/blog/az-family

Hiking Recommendations!

https://tucsontopia.com/tanque-verde-falls/

https://wildpathsaz.com/pusch-peak/

https://www.arizonahighways.com/cochise-trail

https://adventuresofaplusk.com/bear-canyon-to-seven-falls-trail/?srsltid=AfmBOopxtf54vPgFb6XX5rSiwzwPpfIXezBijXK_ClrUyed7McDH5TFx

Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, more information can be found here!

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Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders

Join the climate change adaptation movement by supporting America Adapts! Please consider supporting this podcast by donating through America Adapts fiscal sponsor, the Social Good Fund. All donations are now tax deductible!

For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 243 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons welcomes back recurring guest and leading adaptation scholar Dr. Jesse M. Keenan to discuss his new book, North: The Future of Post-Climate America (Oxford Univesity Press). Keenan examines how the United States is already changing through mobility, shifting markets, governance pressures, and evolving cultural identities. Doug and Jesse unpack why adaptation is not just a set of technical responses to climate impacts but a broader transformation in how communities understand stability, opportunity, and belonging. They explore the limits of local governments, the growing influence of market-led adaptation, and the emotional and political tensions surrounding places like Florida. The discussion also touches on Keenan's fictional leap into 2079, using storytelling to highlight where current trends may lead. A central theme emerges: adaptation is an emerging sector still defining its identity, and this book offers a way to think more clearly about that evolution. If your work intersects with climate, planning, housing, finance, or governance, this episode offers a fresh lens on what climate adaptation means for America's future.

Promotion Code for North

Use promotion code AUFLY30 to save 30%https://global.oup.com/academic/product/north-9780197641613?lang=en&cc=us#

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Links in this episode:

Jesse Keenan

https://www.keenanclimate.com/

Ben Preston paper referenced by Jesse KeenanClimate adaptation heuristics and the science/policy divide https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11027-013-9503-x

Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way,

Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts

Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders

Join the climate change adaptation movement by supporting America Adapts! Please consider supporting this podcast by donating through America Adapts fiscal sponsor, the Social Good Fund. All donations are now tax deductible!

For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

In episode 242 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons checks in on FEMA at a moment of rapid change. With funding delays, political uncertainty, and major reforms underway, FEMA's role in national resilience is shifting in real time. Doug speaks with four guests — Joel Scata (NRDC), Michael Coen (former FEMA Chief of Staff), Samantha Medlock (former FEMA Assistant Administrator), and Derrick Hiebert (AECOM) — to unpack what's happening inside the agency, where communities are feeling the impacts, and what potential improvements could emerge from this period of transition. It's a candid, timely look at the future of FEMA and the evolving landscape of climate adaptation in the United States.

Experts in this Episode:

• Joel Scata – Senior Attorney, Environmental Health – Natural Resources Defense Council - transcript

• Michael Coen – Former Chief Of Staff at FEMA - transcript

• Samantha Medlock – Founder and Principal – Climate Risk Advisors - transcript

• Derrick Hiebert – Infrastructure Resilience Practice Leader - AECOM - transcript

This episode was generously sponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

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Donate to America AdaptsFacebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/

Links in this episode:

Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, more information can be found here!

Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Donate to America Adapts

Follow on Apple PodcastsFollow on Android

Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts

Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders

Join the climate change adaptation movement by supporting America Adapts! Please consider supporting this podcast by donating through America Adapts fiscal sponsor, the Social Good Fund. All donations are now tax deductible!

For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com