A podcast series exploring how to propel a clean energy transformation in the Great Lakes State. Hosted by Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities and the Michigan Climate Action Network.
Join host Kate Madigan for a series of interviews with experts to explore how we transition Michigan to a clean energy economy to help solve the climate crisis while creating economic stimulus in this changing landscape. If you care about protecting Michigan from an overheated future, and want to rebuild the economy to be more resilient, just, and sustainable, this is the podcast for you.
EPISODES
PODCAST HOSTS



Kate Madigan



Jim Lively
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EPISODE 21:
Climate Action: What can we expect from Congress?
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In the recent Michigan Climate & Clean Energy Summit, co-hosted by Michigan Climate Action Network and Groundwork, we invited Michigan’s U.S. Senators Peters and Stabenow, and U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib to discuss the likelihood and scope of potential congressional action to stop global warming. This episode of our podcast is a recording of their comments edited into a single broadcast. The legislators express a genuine understanding of the urgent need to transition to a clean energy economy, and a commitment to do what’s needed to pass legislation that will deploy the full might of the U.S. government to create the essential renewable energy infrastructure we need—and the jobs that will be created as the nation moves beyond fossil fuels.
EPISODE 20:
Michigan climate & clean energy summit preview
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These are historic days in the arc of Michigan’s clean energy transformation, and to give momentum and inspiration to that transformation Groundwork and MiCAN teamed up to present the Michigan Climate & Clean Energy Summit, May 24–27. In this brief episode Summit organizers share highlights and their thoughts on what we can expect!
EPISODE 19: nancy wang
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Our guest today is Nancy Wang, executive director and a founding member of Voters Not Politicians, the organization that led the successful ballot initiative to end gerrymandering and draw fair districts in Michigan. Nancy led the policy committee that wrote the constitutional amendment language with input from the public. Nancy is an attorney, and prior to leading Voters Not Politicians, she was the Director of the Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School. We talk about redistricting, climate policy, and how gerrymandering threatens our democracy.
EPISODE 18: Esosa Aimufua
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In this episode we interview Esosa Aimufua, an attorney at Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC). Enbridge is trying to keep climate impacts from being considered as the state reviews the company’s proposed oil tunnel. Esosa is one of the attorneys leading the fight to convince the state of Michigan to consider the climate impacts of Enbridge’s massive oil tunnel as part of its review.
EPISODE 17: Laura schmidt
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This episode of Speaking of Resilience features LaUra Schmidt, co-founder of the Good Grief Network, a nonprofit organization that creates community space to process the painful feelings and realities of our time, and to help participants orient their lives toward meaningful action.
EPISODE 16: Jim MacInnes
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We invite Jim MacInnes, CEO of Crystal Mountain Resort, in Benzie County, Michigan, to discuss the impact of warmer winters on the people, culture and business of Michigan—and what we must do now to slow global warming. Jim is among the best people in the nation to explore this topic because prior to running a ski resort he was an electric power engineer working with some of the nation’s largest electric utilities.
EPISODE 15: douglas jester
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Douglas Jester is a partner at 5 Lakes Energy and one of the most knowledgeable energy experts in the state. We talk with him about what achieving carbon neutrality for Michigan’s entire economy means, and what we need to do in the shorter term to be on track to meet that goal. We also discuss the devastating power outages that happened recently in Texas, and his work on the UP Energy Task Force — including how the UP can transition to clean electric heat sources and save money.
EPISODE 14: GILLIAN GIEM
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EPISODE 13: LINE 5 EASEMENT REVOKED
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This is a huge win for the Oil & Water Don't Mix coalition and other organizations in Michigan, and thousands of people who have been working to get this pipeline shut down for over 7 years.
In this episode, host Kate Madigan speaks with four leaders of the OWDM campaign to talk about this huge win - how it happened and what we need to do going forward - because it is not over yet, and Enbridge is still pursuing their oil tunnel project. With us today we have Sean McBrearty, Clean Water Action, who coordinates the OWDM Campaign; Liz Kirkwood, Executive Director of FLOW - For Love of Water; Jim Lively, Program Director of Groundwork Center and the Great Lakes Business Network; and Mike Ripley, Environmental Coordinator with the Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority (CORA).
EPISODE 12: CHARLES GRIFFITH
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In our interview, Charles and host Kate Madigan discuss how electrifying our vehicles will help solve the climate crisis and how Michigan - the world's car capital - can lead this transition - creating good jobs along the way.
EPISODE 11: Justin Snowden
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Justin Snowden is a Mobility Strategist and Project Manager in the City of Detroit’s Office of Mobility Innovation. In this role, Justin works to test and deploy new technology, with the goal of bringing advanced mobility options to Detroit.
In our interview, Justin and Kate Madigan, Director of the Michigan Climate Action Network, discuss public transit in Detroit, micro-mobility vehicles (such as scooters, bikes), and how to make different transportation options accessible to everyone. We also talk about some lessons learned from the current pandemic and how streetscapes are changing as a result of people relying less on cars.
EPISODE 10: Marnese Jackson and Grover Easterling
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This week's Speaking of Resilience podcast guests, Marnese Jackson of Mothers Out Front and Grover Easterling of Michigan League of Conservation Voters, are working hard to make that answer "yes" through the Turn Oakland County Green campaign. The good news: they see signs of positive change.
Marnese is an environmental and climate justice advocate who works as the Frontline Organizing Program Director with Mothers Out Front, and she is the former Midwest Regional Organizer for NAACP’s Environment and Climate Justice Program. Grover is the SE Michigan field organizer for Michigan League of Conservation Voters, and previously worked as a legislative assistant to Detroit City Council, and led events and direct actions with a group of organizations known as the Coalition for Black Struggle.
EPISODE 9: Dr. Sarah Mills
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Let's dive back into an issue that’s especially important for successfully developing renewable energy in Michigan: finding land to build new solar and wind projects, and getting the projects approved by local townships. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to go back and listen to last week’s episode with Ed Rivet from the Michigan Conservative Energy Forum, in which we discuss renewable energy siting and his work with local governments to build support for new renewable projects.
EPISODE 8: Ed Rivet
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Kate Madigan talks with two guests over the next two weeks who are very familiar with the challenges of siting renewable energy projects. A lot of this work focuses on working with local governments and local communities to build support for new renewable projects.
EPISODE 7: DR. LAURA SHERMAN
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EPISODE 6: LARRY BELL AND BETH WALLACE
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EPISODE 5: JUSTIN ONWENU
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EPISODE 4: Dr. Brandy Brown
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EPISODE 3: BRYAN NEWLAND
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EPISODE 2: DR. JONATHAN FOLEY
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EPISODE 1: DR. MISSY STULTS
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