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Action Hour
by Whidbey Environmental Action Network
Welcome to “Action Hour” with the Whidbey Environmental Action Network. On this podcast, we discuss environmental issues affecting Whidbey and Camano Islands in Washington State, dive into ecology and policy impact, and educate you, the public, on what you can do about it. Share with your friends, share with your neighbors - the time is now, and change starts with us. Hosted by WEAN Engagement Director Amanda Bullis.Learn more about WEAN at our website: www.whidbeyenvironment.org.
Episodes
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Safe and Humane Fireworks with Jackie Lasater
Season 2, Episode 2 features a conversation with Jackie Lasater, WEAN board member, Conservation Chair for Whidbey Audubon Society, and co-founder of Citizens for Safe and Humane Fireworks. Jackie came to environmental work by way of public education. She earned her master’s in education with a...
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Common Land: A Conversation With Antonia Malchik
Season 2, Episode 1 features a conversation with author, scholar, and land access advocate Antonia Malchik. Antonia hails from northwest Montana, where she's writing No Trespassing—a book on ownership, private property, and the theft of the commons. Her first book, A Walking Life, was published…
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Amanda's Last Episode
Amanda hands the podcast to its new host, WEAN Executive Director Marnie Jackson, in a wide-ranging discussion about transitions, the commons, water resources, and what we've learned while working together over the last few years.
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WEAN Summer Benefit Keynote Conversation: Accidental And Intentional Environmentalists
On this episode of Action Hour, we are sharing a special recording of a keynote conversation between civil rights activist Grethe Cammermeyer and WEAN Environmental Data Analyst Violet Bluemer, moderated by WEAN Executive Director Marnie Jackson at the 2026 WEAN Summer Benefit at Dancing Fish...
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Public Engagement And Environmental Justice with Magali Cota
On this episode of Action Hour, WEAN Engagement Director Amanda Bullis chats with Friends of the San Juans' Legal Director and Staff Attorney Magali Cota. A Californian who grew up in the brownfields of Compton, Magali learned that the way she lived as a kid wasn't environmentally safe, a...
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Preserving Deer Lagoon With Carlos Andersen
On this episode of Action Hour, passionate birder and environmentalist Carlos Andersen shares his love for Deer Lagoon Preserve, an Audubon-designated Important Bird Area (IBA) on Whidbey Island, and dives into the principles of his management plan to protect, preserve, and restore the area for...
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An Island County Comprehensive Planning Update With Marnie And Amanda
On this episode of Action Hour, WEAN Executive Director Marnie Jackson and Engagement Director Amanda Bullis chat about the Comprehensive Planning process, WEAN's history with Island County's Comprehensive Plan, their experience during this current planning cycle, and what they hope the outcome...
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All About Wetlands With Allison Warner
Learn all about wetlands! Wetland ecologist Allison Warner teaches us how to identify a wetland, how wetlands can bolster our communities' climate resilience, and how Island County could improve its wetland buffers. Plus, she makes a pitch for beavers and gets nerdy about soil composition.
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The Ripple Effect Of WEAN's Battle Against Trillium Corporation
When Trillium Corporation purchased almost 3,000 acres of land on Whidbey Island from Georgia Pacific in the 1980s, the community had no idea who they were — until they started clearcutting a property on Coles Road. The logging company went on to clear-cut a parcel right outside the front door of...
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Keeping The Oak In Oak Harbor With Kyle Renninger
On this episode of Action Hour, Oak Harbor Garry Oak Society (OHGOS) board member Kyle Renninger teaches us about Garry oaks, their historical significance in Oak Harbor, and the current protections for these trees in the Oak Harbor city code. Listen to learn about this keystone species and...
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A Voice For Islands With Marnie Jackson
On this episode of Action Hour, Engagement Director Amanda Bullis and Executive Director Marnie Jackson discuss WEAN's programmatic priorities, including their work advocating for Whidbey and Camano Islands at the county and state levels, as well as current pending litigation against the City of...
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Rearranging Deckchairs In The Face Of Sea Level Rise With John Lovie
Sea level is projected to rise by one foot in the Puget Sound region by 2050, and Island County is at particularly high risk of hazards such as coastal flooding. Water activist John Lovie returns to this episode of Action Hour to discuss the complexities of land use in the face of sea level rise,...
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Drinking Water And Water Systems With John Lovie
On this episode of Action Hour, Amanda discusses drinking water sources and water systems in Island County with water, environmental, community activist, and writer John Lovie. John's insights and musings about water, mostly, can be found on his blog, Mostly Water, at https://johnlovie.substack.com/
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See Something, Say Something With Marianne Edain
On this episode of Action Hour, Amanda and Marianne unpack Marianne’s process for taking action against unpermitted development in our neighborhoods, following up with jurisdictions regarding permitted activity, and navigating the enforcement challenges. As always, persistence is key to success....
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Making Positive Change: A Framework For Activism With Marianne Edain
Marianne and Amanda demystify the step-by-step process foundational to Marianne’s years of successful environmental activism. Societal problems are complex, government agencies are complex, and local communities that engage with this complexity repeatedly are imperative for making lasting change…
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Talking Conservation Easements And Contiguous Habitat With WCLT’s Ryan Elting
What exactly is a conservation easement? How do they work? Why would a landowner decide to put one on their property? Whidbey Camano Land Trust's Executive Director, Ryan Elting, joins us on an episode of the Action Hour podcast to discuss the many benefits of conservation easements, bringing...
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Monitoring And Protecting The Western Toad With Steve Erickson
Amanda and Steve discuss the conservation efforts for the western toad on Whidbey Island, including the challenges faced by the species due to rapid development and habitat destruction. They also explore the potential of using remote sensing approaches, such as bioacoustic monitoring and...
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The Need For Public Benefit Rating Reform With Marianne And Steve
On this episode of Action Hour, WEAN founders Steve Erickson and Marianne Edain explain the Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS) tax program on the state level and discuss how Island County could reform its PBRS program to include ecological classifications for forestry and beyond. See Island...
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WEAN's Battle For Critical Areas Protections In Island County, Part 2
WEAN founders Marianne Edain and Steve Erickson continue to chronicle their decades-long battle to protect critical areas in Island County and delve into the concepts of “takings” and “no net loss” of ecological function. If you haven’t listened to the previous episode, start there. Unfamiliar…
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WEAN's Battle For Critical Areas Protections In Island County, Part 1
Before 1984, Island County did not have a permanent code for development. Between 1982 and 1984, Marianne and Steve helped the county develop its first permanent zoning ordinance, which may have included the first critical area protections in the state. Then, the Growth Management Act passed in...
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"Not In Our Parks": WEAN vs Washington State Parks With Marianne Edain
Since at least the early 2000s, the US Navy had been using Washington State Parks for clandestine Navy Seals training without the knowledge of the public but with the permission of Washington State Parks. In 2022, WEAN litigated against the WA Parks Commission for allowing this activity to happen...
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A Loophole In Island County's Forest Practices With Marianne And Steve
For decades, WEAN founder Marianne Edain has been reviewing Forest Practices Applications (FPAs), the sole citizen in Island County providing oversight of the process. Over time, she discovered a disturbing pattern in Island County allowing applicants to circumvent environmental assessment. In…
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A Brief History Of Logging In Washington With Marianne Edain and Steve Erickson
In this episode of Action Hour, WEAN founders Marianne Edain and Steve Erickson give a brief overview of the history of logging in Washington and the negative impact correlating forest practices have had on the forests of the state.
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Monitoring Bull Kelp In Island County With Linda Rhodes
On this episode of Action Hour, Amanda is back with microbiologist Linda Rhodes to discuss what she has learned as a citizen scientist monitoring bull kelp in the nearshore marine environment off the coast of Whidbey and Camano Islands with the Island County Marine Resources Committee. Learn…
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Thinking Small In The World Of Microbiology With Linda Rhodes
On this episode of Action Hour, Amanda chats with microbiologist Linda Rhodes about the fascinating world of microbiology, the bad wrap we give bacteria, monitoring kidney disease in salmon, and what we can learn from thinking about ecosystems on a micro-scale.
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Vote NO On I-2117 With Mark Prentice
On this episode of Action Hour, Amanda speaks with Communications Director Mark Prentice from the NO On 2117 campaign about the harmful impacts Initiative 2117 poses to our environment, transportation systems, and public health in Washington State. A proud member of the historic NO On 2117...
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Building Tool Libraries And Economies Of Sharing With Josh Epstein
On this episode of Action Hour, Amanda chats with Seattle REconomy’s Executive Director Josh Epstein about their Northeast Seattle and Shoreline tool libraries, how to build a tool library of your own, and the societal and environmental benefits of creating circular economies of reuse and…
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The Comp Plan Continued With Marianne Edain And Steve Erickson
In this episode of Action Hour, Amanda continues discussing the considerations and impacts of the county's comprehensive planning process with WEAN founders Marianne Edain and Steve Erickson. If you missed the last episode, listen to that one first!
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The Comprehensive Planning Process With Marianne Edain And Steve Erickson
We’re back with WEAN founders Marianne Edain and Steve Erickson. In this episode, Marianne and Steve walk Amanda through the origins of the county-level comprehensive planning process, WEAN’s history of appealing the Island County Comprehensive Plan, and how the planning process relates to the...
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Reflecting On Wildfire With Marnie Jackson
Marnie and Amanda reflect on what they learned about wildfire resilience on Whidbey Island and beyond from attending a wildfire conference hosted by Whidbey Climate Action at WICA this month. The “Think The Unthinkable” conference program on wildfire and additional resources are available on the...
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Capitalism, Community Resilience, And The Environment With Marnie Jackson
Amanda chats with WEAN's Executive Director Marnie Jackson about how we can effect environmental change amid a rapidly shifting climate reality accelerated by capitalism, starting with choices at home and caring for our most vulnerable neighbors.
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Low Hanging Fruit — Island County's Organic Waste Problem With David Haskell
Organic waste is a huge generator of methane gas in our landfills. Redirecting waste through regenerative practices like composting is one of the quickest ways for communities to reduce emissions. On this episode of Action Hour, Amanda continues her conversation with environmentalist and zero…
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The Zero Waste Movement With David Haskell
In this episode of Action Hour, Amanda interviews Whidbey Island resident, zero waste practitioner, and career environmentalist David Haskell about the systemic ways in which industry has designed toxic waste into the lifecycle of our products —and how we might design our way out of it.
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What We Can Learn From The Hippie
In this episode of Action Hour, Marianne Edain and Steve Erickson chat with Amanda about balancing motherhood and activism, moving succulents under cover of darkness, and what we all can learn from the hippie movement.
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What's Critical? Part 2
In the second part of this two-part series, Marianne and Steve walk Amanda through three more critical areas designated in the Growth Management Act: fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, geologically hazardous areas, and frequently flooded areas. Why are they important? Listen to find out.
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What's Critical? Part 1
The Growth Management Act requires all counties in Washington State to adopt regulations protecting “critical areas.” What are they? Why are they important? How are they protected? During part one of this two-part series, Marianne and Steve walk Amanda through two of the five designated areas:...
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Free Speech, Vietnam, and Civil Disobedience
In the latest episode of "Action Hour," Marianne and Steve walk Amanda through Marianne's arrest record, her involvement in the Free Speech movement, Steve dodging the Vietnam draft, and the Democratic Convention in Chicago in 1968. Tune in and "get off the bus" with us. Special thanks to...
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The Limitless Growth Of The GMA
What does growth mean for our little islands? What are the limits? This episode of Action Hour goes through the Growth Management Act, the policy managing population and development growth in Washington State, and how it impacts our county. This episode is deep policy upfront, and community…
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The Shoreline Management Act And Sea Level Rise
How long can we hold back the sea? With sea level rise affecting shore communities around the world, local governments must ask and answer big questions. In this episode, Steve and Marianne walk Amanda through Washington State's Shoreline Management Act (SMA) and the Shoreline Master Programs…
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An Overview of the State Environmental Policy Act
In this episode of Action Hour with the Whidbey Environmental Action Network, Marianne and Steve walk Amanda through the State Environmental Policy Act, known as SEPA. Warning: this episode is policy heavy, and therefore a little dry upfront, but we promise to make it up to you at some point! If...
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(Re)Introducing WEAN Founders Marianne Edain and Steve Erickson, Part 2
In Episode 2 of Action Hour with the Whidbey Environmental Action Network, Amanda continues her initial conservation with WEAN founders Marianne Edain and Steve Erickson about the formation of WEAN, their reputation for holding the county accountable, and their hopes for future environmental...
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(Re)Introducing WEAN Founders Marianne Edain and Steve Erickson, Part 1
In the inaugural episode of Action Hour with the Whidbey Environmental Action Network, our host Amanda Bullis interviews founders Marianne Edain and Steve Erickson about their lives as environmental activists and the formation of WEAN. Marianne and Steve have been working tirelessly on ecological...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to “Action Hour” with the Whidbey Environmental Action Network. On this podcast, we discuss environmental issues affecting Whidbey and Camano Islands in Washington State, dive into ecology and policy impact, and educate you, the public, on what you can do about it. Share with your friends, share with your neighbors - the time is now, and change starts with us. Hosted by WEAN Engagement Director Amanda Bullis.Learn more about WEAN at our website: www.whidbeyenvironment.org.
HOSTED BY
Whidbey Environmental Action Network
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Action Hour have?
Action Hour currently has 42 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Action Hour about?
Welcome to “Action Hour” with the Whidbey Environmental Action Network. On this podcast, we discuss environmental issues affecting Whidbey and Camano Islands in Washington State, dive into ecology and policy impact, and educate you, the public, on what you can do about it. Share with your friends,...
How often does Action Hour release new episodes?
Action Hour has 42 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Action Hour?
You can listen to Action Hour on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Action Hour?
Action Hour is created and hosted by Whidbey Environmental Action Network.
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