Earth Wise podcast

#Science #Earth Wise #Natural Sciences #Podcasting Education #Self-Improvement #Environment

1:15:36

In this episode, we welcome back David French, columnist for The New York Times , former constitutional attorney, and author of Divided We Fall . We discuss the current state of American democracy, the challenges of political division, and how we can engage in civil discourse despite deep ideological differences. David also shares a personal update on his family and reflects on the profound trials and growth that come with adversity. 📌 What We Discuss: ✔️ How David and his family navigated the challenges of a serious health crisis. ✔️ The rise of political polarization and the factors driving it. ✔️ Why distinguishing between “unwise, unethical, and unlawful” is crucial in analyzing political actions. ✔️ How consuming different perspectives (even opposing ones) helps in understanding political dynamics. ✔️ The role of Christian values in politics and how they are being redefined. ⏳ Episode Highlights 📍 [00:01:00] – David French’s background and his journey from litigation to journalism. 📍 [00:02:30] – Personal update: David shares his wife Nancy’s battle with cancer and their journey as a family. 📍 [00:06:00] – How to navigate personal trials while maintaining faith and resilience. 📍 [00:10:00] – The danger of political paranoia and the pitfalls of extreme polarization. 📍 [00:18:00] – The "friend-enemy" paradigm in American politics and its influence in Christian fundamentalism. 📍 [00:24:00] – Revisiting Divided We Fall : How America’s divisions have devolved since 2020. 📍 [00:40:00] – The categories and differences of unwise, unethical, and unlawful political actions. 📍 [00:55:00] – The balance between justice, kindness, and humility in political engagement. 📍 [01:00:00] – The After Party initiative: A Christian approach to politics focused on values rather than policy. 💬 Featured Quotes 🔹 "You don't know who you truly are until your values are tested." – David French 🔹 "If we focus on the relational, we can have better conversations even across deep differences." – Corey Nathan 🔹 "Justice, kindness, and humility—if you're missing one, you're doing it wrong." – David French 🔹 "The United States has a history of shifting without repenting. We just move on." – David French 📚 Resources Mentioned David French’s Writing: New York Times David’s Book: Divided We Fall The After Party Initiative – More Info Advisory Opinions Podcast (with Sarah Isgur & David French) – Listen Here 📣 Call to Action If you found this conversation insightful, please: ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics ✅ Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/politicsandreligion ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion 🔗 Connect With Us on Social Media @coreysnathan: Bluesky LinkedIn Instagram Threads Facebook Substack David French: 🔗 Twitter | BlueSky | New York Times Our Sponsors Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com Prolux Autogroup: www.proluxautogroup.com or www.granadahillsairporttransportation.com Let’s keep talking politics and religion—with gentleness and respect. 🎙️💡…

Earth Wise

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A look at our changing environment.

44 episodes

Earth Wise

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updated about 15 hours ago

Series home•Feed

A look at our changing environment.

44 episodes

#Science #Earth Wise #Natural Sciences #Podcasting Education #Self-Improvement #Environment

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Earth Wise

1
The green grab for land 2:00

15 hours ago2:00

2:00

Solar and wind farms are spreading rapidly around the world. Many economists believe that solar power has crossed the threshold where it is generally cheaper than other ways to make electricity and will become the dominant energy source in the next couple of decades. As a result, both solar and wind farms are gobbling up […]…

Earth Wise

1
The importance of shallow water 2:00

1 day ago2:00

2:00

Vacationers love beaches with shallow water. They are great for families with small kids and for less confident swimmers. Such beaches often attract intense coastal development. However, they are also fragile habitats that are disappearing around the world. A new study led by the University of South Florida highlights the need to protect these marine […]…

Earth Wise

1
Trapping carbon with rocks 2:00

3 days ago2:00

2:00

Many experts say that combating global warming will require both drastically reducing the use of fossil fuels and permanently removing billions of tons of CO2 already in the atmosphere. Developing practical, large-scale technologies for carbon removal is a significant challenge. There is a nearly inexhaustible supply of minerals that are capable of removing carbon dioxide […]…

Earth Wise

1
Sea turtles and climate change 2:00

4 days ago2:00

2:00

Life is a struggle for survival from the moment a sea turtle hatches. In fact, only one sea turtle out of every 1,000 typically reaches adulthood as a result of natural predators and other challenges. Those fortunate enough to make it to adulthood face serious threats from humans. For example, sea turtles are hunted for […]…

Earth Wise

1
Are today’s refrigerants safe? 2:00

7 days ago2:00

2:00

Refrigeration is based on heat transfer mediums that absorb heat from the area being cooled and transfer it to the outside environment. The earliest refrigerants were dangerous substances like ammonia. In the 1930s, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) like Freon became the standard refrigerant for use in refrigeration systems and even in aerosol cans. When these substances were […]…

Earth Wise

1
A record year for solar and batteries 2:00

8 days ago2:00

2:00

According to a recent forecast from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, solar panels and batteries will account for more than 80% of new power capacity installed in the U.S. this year. The record growth of these technologies is hastening the decline of coal power in this country. Solar power alone will account for more than […]…

Earth Wise

1
Microplastics and birds 2:00

9 days ago2:00

2:00

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, less than 5 millimeters in size, that come from the breakdown of larger plastics, synthetic fibers, microbeads, and tire wear. Microplastics are found in oceans, rivers, soil, and even the air we breathe. These particles can take hundreds of years to degrade, spreading across ecosystems and accumulating in unexpected places, […]…

Earth Wise

1
Sand mining and the environment 2:00

10 days ago2:00

2:00

Sand mining is the world’s largest mining endeavor. It is responsible for 85% of all mineral extraction. It is also the least regulated, possibly the most corrupt, and likely the most environmentally destructive. Sand is the second-most exploited natural resource in the world after water. Its global use has tripled in the past two decades. […]…

Earth Wise

1
Tigers in India 2:00

11 days ago2:00

2:00

The Anthropocene is the term that describes the current era in Earth’s history when human activities are having a significant impact on the planet. It is an epoch filled with species extinction and species attrition in both numbers and range. The population of large carnivores are among the most affected species and recovering these animals […]…

Earth Wise

1
Clean energy in New York 2:00

14 days ago2:00

2:00

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority – NYSERDA – recently issued a report on clean energy progress in the state during 2024. The report highlighted continued and increased growth in heat pumps, electric vehicles, and solar energy. Heat pumps, which provide both heating and cooling, have outsold gas furnaces countrywide for three […]…

Earth Wise

1
Polar bear population decline 2:00

15 days ago2:00

2:00

Researchers from the University of Toronto have directly linked the population decline in polar bears living in Canada’s Western Hudson Bay to climate change. Between 1979 and 2021, the polar bear population in this region has declined by nearly 50%. The monitoring data over this period shows that the average size of polar bears has […]…

Earth Wise

1
Fighting fires with man-made wind 2:00

16 days ago2:00

2:00

Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a new portable tool that may help firefighters battle blazes more efficiently and with less risk. Traditional firefighting methods include chemical foams – which are toxic – and the use of hydrants, which can strain water resources. The recent fires in Southern California demonstrated the need for efficient […]…

Earth Wise

1
Tearing down small dams to restore rivers 2:00

17 days ago2:00

2:00

There are more than 31,000 dams in the northeastern United States. More than 4,000 of them are in the Hudson River watershed. Most of these dams are quite small and were built in the 19th century to form ponds and to power grist, textile, paper, saw, and other kinds of mills as the region developed […]…

Earth Wise

1
Rats and climate change 2:00

18 days ago2:00

2:00

Human activity has made rats one of the most prolific mammals on the planet. Our waste, buildings, and ships provide food, shelter, and transport. In the United States alone, rats cost the country approximately $27 billion each year in damage to infrastructure, crops, and contaminated food supplies. Additionally, rats carry and spread over 50 zoonotic […]…

Earth Wise

1
Fighting harmful algal blooms with harmful algal blooms 2:00

21 days ago2:00