Go Green Radio

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.

Tired of recycling frustration? TerraCycle offers a profitable solution for over 400 hard-to-recycle waste streams—from beauty products and candy wrappers to coffee pods and kids' car seats—keeping billions of items out of landfills. Through partnerships with leading global brands, they're pioneering recycling processes for hundreds of complex waste streams. Join us as we speak with TerraCycle's CEO, Tom Szaky, and discover how you, your community, and your workplace can be part of their movement toward a truly circular economy.  

In August 2025, Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL), in  conjunction with the University of California, Davis, released a groundbreaking California governance study focused on the CA water sector. The study on Assessing Representation, Access, and Transparency of Decision-Makers in California's Water Sector examined board members and executive (or C-suite) positions, analyzing the composition of governing bodies in California's water sector. It identified 1,980 Public Water Agencies PWAs) and sampled 688 (or 35%) of them. Results showed that historically marginalized communities— including women, Latinos, and other underrepresented groups in these decision-making bodies. The study also examined systemic barriers that prevent more diverse representation and whether board members had prior advantageous knowledge before assuming their roles. Part II of this continuing study examined 364 Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA); and 12 State Water Agencies (SWAs); the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), nine Regional Water Boards (RWBs), California Department of Water Resources (DWR); and the Colorado River Board. Sadly, the disparities nearly mimic the first study's results. Tune in as we speak with the President and Founder of WELL, Victor Griego, and Associate Professor at the University of California Davis (UC Davis), Dr. Samuel Sandoval Solis, about the studies and what can be done to rectify this issue.   

We're celebrating National Herb Day with Best-Selling Author Sara Chana Silverstein! Sara Chana is a master herbalist (RH, AHG), classical homeopath, and board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC). For over three decades, she has dedicated her life to integrating the intuitive wisdom of natural medicine with the grounded power of modern science. She is the author of the Amazon #1 bestseller Moodtopia, and you may have seen her sharing tips on TV, lighting up podcasts, or speaking at top medical conferences. Join us as we talk with her about her upcoming new book, Moodtopia for Kids: Nurturing Emotional Wellness with Nature's Remedies (May 5), a timely guide for parents seeking natural, effective ways to support their children's emotional well-being. Packed with science-backed, practical solutions, the book introduces easy-to-use remedies that fit seamlessly into daily life, from calming teas and herbal honeys to tinctures, essential oils, and even kid-friendly ice pops designed to support balance and resilience.  

In June 2012, Alameda County in California became the first local government body to pass a safe drug disposal ordinance that would hold pharmaceutical companies responsible for the safe collection and disposal of unused medications from the public. Now San Francisco and numerous additional local governments are on the cusp of doing the same. Today we'll talk with former Center for Disease Control physician, Dr. Matt Willis; Heidi Sanborn, executive director of the CA Product Stewardship Council; Guillermo Rodriguez of the San Francisco Department of the Environment; and Conor Johnston, from the office of the President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

For California, 2013 was the driest calendar year ever recorded across virtually the entire state. On January 17, 2014, Governor Jerry Brown proclaimed the drought to be a State of Emergency, directed state officials to take all necessary actions to assist the hardest hit communities, and called for all Californians to pitch in to reduce water use by 20 percent. While CA agencies and experts have clearly identified those actions best suited to provide relief, some observers wonder whether the long-term answer to California's drought lies in the ocean through the promotion of seawater desalination. On today's episode, we'll explore an overview of the science and policy related to seawater desalination and demonstrates why this option is generally the least promising option for drought relief.

CONFESSIONS OF AN ECO-TERRORIST is the true, no holds barred story of 30 years of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) campaigns leading up to the hit show Whale Wars. It's a feature documentary that reveals the true odyssey of the most wanted environmentalist today, Captain Paul Watson. Filmmaker and longest-serving SSCS crew member Peter Jay Brown documented the mythic deeds of the organization while acting as the cinematographer, first mate, deckhand, quartermaster, Zodiac driver and officer/captain in Watson's absence starting in 1980. Peter Brown, a Sea Shepherd insider expertly exercises aikido with his camera by turning a negative accusation into a positive confession of influential activism. He gives us an intimate and honest look at what really goes on behind the scenes on some of the most infamous environmental campaigns ever.

Ed Begley, Jr. joins us to discuss an entire day of Earth Day coverage of Hollywood's efforts to Go Green. Interviews will be covered on www.BiteSize TV.com/live, and will bring together actors, authors, scientists, business innovators and other celebrities who are out front in the green movement, along with the leading experts on a wide range of environmental issues—from climate change and protecting our oceans to green fashion and sustainable farming. Ed will also discuss the Earth Day launch of Our Green House, the network's newest reality show documenting Begley and his wife, Rachelle, as they build a brand new, ultra-green home.

Yearly plug-in vehicle sales increased 198 percent in 2012, and the number of available models in the U.S. market is expected to triple by model year 2015. Since entering the market just more than two years ago, more than 70,000 plug-in vehicles have hit American roads. Today we'll be joined by Brian Wynne, President of the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA), to discuss both performance and public policy issues that impact the electrification of light transportation in the U.S.

With a million more of us every 4½ days on a planet that's not getting any bigger, prospects for a sustainable human future seem ever more in doubt. Alan Weisman traveled to more than 20 countries to ask what experts agreed were the probably the most important questions on Earth-and also the hardest: How many humans can the planet hold without capsizing? How robust must the Earth's ecosystem be to assure our continued existence? Can we know which other species are essential to our survival? And, how might we actually arrive at a stable, optimum population, and design an economy to allow genuine prosperity without endless growth? Tune in as we talk with Alan about what he encountered on his global search for answers.

Hillary and Chelsea Clinton made protecting wild African elephants the centerpiece of the 2013 Clinton Global Initiative, in part because the elephants are facing extinction in a decade given current poaching rates, but also because their tusks are financing terrorism. Today we are joined by bestselling author and war correspondent, Mike Bond, to discuss the real world threat that is the subject of his new fiction novel, The Last Savanna. The book is based on his participation in military operations with Kenyan rangers against elephant poachers.

The Natural Resources Defense Council has just released its annual report on water quality at U.S. beaches, and found that the number of beach closing and advisory days exceeded 20,000 for the 8th time in the past 9 years. On today's show, we'll talk with Jon Devine, NRDC's Senior Attorney for their water program, who will help us understand the sources of pollution that impact our beaches, and what can be done to mitigate or eliminate the pollution altogether. For anyone who loves a great day at the beach, this show will empower you to advocate for measures to keep our beach free from toxins that pose a serious threat to human health.

Yearly plug-in vehicle sales increased 198 percent in 2012, and the number of available models in the U.S. market is expected to triple by model year 2015. Since entering the market just more than two years ago, more than 70,000 plug-in vehicles have hit American roads. Today we'll be joined by Brian Wynne, President of the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA), to discuss both performance and public policy issues that impact the electrification of light transportation in the U.S.

The Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) is dedicated to the efficient and sustainable use of water. The Alliance has embarked on seven key tasks to support and enhance water conservation efforts: • Stand as a clear and authoritative national voice for water efficiency. • Provide comprehensive information about water-efficient products, practices, and programs--what works and what doesn't. • Represent the interest of water efficiency in the development of codes and standards. • Transform the market for fixtures and appliances. • Coordinate with green building initiatives to institutionalize water efficiency. • Train water conservation professionals. • Educate water users. Tune in as we talk with Mary Ann Dickinson, President and CEO of AWE. For more information, check out their website at: www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org

During Earth Week 2011, I visited the OSU campus, and toured the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) where the world's fastest electric vehicle (top speed 320 mph) is housed. The only thing more impressive than getting to see the "Buckeye Bullet" in person was meeting the Director of CAR, Dr. Giorgio Rizzoni. While the Buckeye Bullet is fueled by lithium ion batteries, the world class research facility run by Dr. Rizzoni is fueled by his unparalleled brilliance and enthusiasm for advanced electric propulsion and energy storage systems for reduced fuel consumption and emissions. Dr. Rizzoni and his team are focused on advanced engines and alternative fuels that will shape transportation in the 21st century. Whether you're into cars or into green, this interview will leave you thrilled that Dr. Rizzoni is in the driver's seat of one of the world's premiere transportation transformation incubators!

Everywhere we turn, there is another news story about carbon emissions and efforts to reduce them. But for the average town, small business, school, home or individual, reducing carbon emissions is a bit of a mystery. How do we know how much carbon we are emitting? Where can we cut carbon from our operations? Is there a way to offset the carbon that we cannot reduce? Until recently, answering these questions was imprecise at best. But now there is a company with reliable and easy-to-use tools that can take the guesswork out of carbon reduction and offsetting. Our guest on Go Green Radio this week is Dr. Ron Dembo, founder of Zerofootprint and the Zerofootprint Foundation. His organization can provide any sized enterprise with carbon calculators that are tailor designed for everything from large-scale corporate applications to calculators that even elementary school children can use. For more information on his remarkable set of tools and services, visit his website at: http://www.zerofootprint.net/

Many in the U.S. are trying very hard to 'go green', and they are using less gasoline, changing their light bulbs to CFL's, and recycling. Even with all of these efforts, if we multiply the amount of energy used per person in the U.S. by the world's total population…we'd have a problem…not enough energy to go around. We live well in the U.S., so it's understandable that people in other countries would want to live as well, but is there enough energy in the world for everyone to live like Americans? Do we have a shortage of energy, or an energy management problem? My guest, Susan Meredith, author of "Beyond Light Bulbs: Lighting the Way to Smarter Energy Management" will help us uncover the truth.