Digging In The Dirt with Kevin Gallagher

Welcome Judith Enck who is a Professor at Bennington College in Vermont. She is the President of Beyond Plastics and former EPA Regional Administrator, appointed by President Obama. Professor Enck is author of the new book "The Problem with Plastic: How to Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late”

Today's guest is Mary Ellen Lemay. She is the "Conservation Director for the Aspetuck Land Trust", providing outreach, education and engagement to encourage people to improve biodiversity on their land by adding native plants and avoiding pesticides. Lemay's recent work includes designing and installing nature-based, climate smart projects in the City of Bridgeport, including the planting of 8 Miyawaki Forests at public schools and Seaside Park, as well as waterside buffers along rivers and coastal properties in the city.Her 25 years of conservation work was recognized as Winner of the Aquarion Connecticut Environmental Champion Award in 2022.

My guest today is Eliot Coleman. Eliot is an American farmer, author, agricultural researcher, educator, and proponent of organic farming. In 1989 he wrote the highly influential "The New Organic Grower". A master’s Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener.His latest book is "The Self-Fed Farm and Garden", A Return to the Roots of the Organic Method, on Chelsea Green Press. Then I speak with Eliot's wife Barbara Damrosch about her recent book,"A life in the garden". Barbara is a professional in the field of horticulture and a writer. Her book The Garden Primer is a classic manual of horticulture. For 14 years she wrote a weekly column for The Washington Post called A Cook’s Garden.Finally Long Islanders, my regular contributor to DITD Gloria Frazee of RewildLongIsland.org drops in to fill us in on many of the amazing events Rewild has going on this spring.

First up on Digging in the Dirt is Dana Jackson, who is the Director of Communications and Development for CT Northeast Organic Farming Association. Prior to joining CT NOFA, he published Edible Nutmeg, a regional magazine focused on western Connecticut’s food community, including farmers, chefs, and locally produced food of all kinds. He also worked for more than a decade as a certified organic farmer in Connecticut, an experience that led him to believe that local food production is the key to building stronger, more resilient communities in our state. Dana is coming here today to tell you about this weeks CT NOFA 44th annual Winter Conference. My 2nd guest is Sarah Layton Agricultural Programs Coordinator At the Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development AreaShe is a Certified Compost Operator, steering committee member of the CT Compost Alliance and the New CT Farmers Alliance, she is also a member of the Deep River Garden Club, and owner of a micro flower farm, Wild Hill Farm, in Deep River CT.She is here today to talk about the 2026 CT Compost Conference March 19, at Wesleyan University sponsored by the CT COMPOST alliance. Finally continuing with the subject of composting From the aforementioned Park city compost initiative, (PCCI), I have with me Tim O’Connor Executive Director of Park City Compost Initiative. Since then Tim has secured certification for Solid Waste Facility operations from CT DEEP, the Master Composter certification from UCONN and the Compost Operations Course by US Compost Council.As Executive Director of Park City Compost Initiative, Tim is all about PCCI's mission to Educate and Activate around aerobic composting.Tim has served for the past two years on the organizing committee of the CT Compost Alliance who have planned and arranged the March 19th 2026 Ct Compost Conference at Wesleyan University.

It's a great honor for me to host my next guest on Digging the Dirt, Bill McKibben. Bill is an American environmentalist, author and journalist who has written extensively on the impact of global warming . He has spearheaded many projects to address the climate crisis that faces our planet. Most significantly he founded 350.org and Third Act which focuses on making legislative progress state by state. Bill has a new book out called “Here comes the Sun”.My second guest on this episode of Digging the Dirt is the Executive Director of Biodiversity for a livable climate, Beck Mordini.Bio4climate states right upfront on their website that Nature is Climate. Biodiversity loss is not just the result of climate change, it is a primary driver of climate change. Only solutions that prioritize this web of life will create a truly livable climate for all.

It’s my distinct pleasure to have as my guest now Reverend Sara D. Smith, President/CEO and Founder Of nOURish BRIDGEPORT, a volunteer-powered, food-centered, and community-anchored not-for-profit, she founded in 2010, providing direct service programs to the people of Bridgeport. These programs include a SUPER FOOD PANTRY serving 3,000 individuals each week, a BABY CENTER providing diapers and formula to 400 babies each month, a HOT MEAL Program feeding 300 hot healthy meals each week, English as a Second Language classes for 100 immigrants weekly, and the first non-profit INDOOR HYDROPONIC FARM in the state of Ct. with the exclusive purpose of distributing fresh healthy produce to the food insecure. In its first three years of production, nOURish has distributed 17 tons of fresh produce from its Farm all over the City of BPT. In addition Reverend Sara is also Senior Minister of the United Congregational Church of Bridgeport A 330 Year Old Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ and is the Protestant Chaplain Of Sacred Heart University Office of Mission Integration, Ministry, & Community Engagement.

First up this episode is Peter Linderoth, director of science and watersheds for Save the Sound's Healthy Waters Institute. Save the Sound is doing so many good things to take care of our fragile ecosystem the Long Island sound. He joins me today to tell us about the results of the 2025 bacteria monitoring season in the western Sound.Then I talk to Tom Anderson, who is Director of communications at CT Audubon Society and editor of the Connecticut state of the birds reportWe discuss the key issues that the Connecticut Audubon Society is concerned about.

Dr. Michael E. Mann Returns to "Digging in the Dirt ", for his 5th visit, to talk about his new book called, "Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World": it is cowritten with Dr. Pete Hotez the Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and professor of virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine. Much of this book points fingers very explicitly at some of the bad actors shaping the narratives around Climate Change and Vaccinations. The authors call them the different P's, plutocrats, petro-states, propagandists, pro’s and the press. Secondly, I’m pleased to welcome to "Digging in the Dirt" the Co-director of the film "The little things that run the world ", Doug Hawes-DavisThe film delves into the story of how insects face unprecedented decline, their fate becomes a stark warning: that without them, neither we, nor the planet can endure. Even still, there is hope! The film is a survey of what E.O. Wilson, the man behind the half earth concept called, “THE LITTLE THINGS THAT RUN THE WORLD”, Insects.

This "Digging in the Dirt" starts off with Tom Anderson, who is Director of communications at CT Audubon Society and editor of the Connecticut state of the birds report. We talk about all the threats that our birds are facing. Habitat loss, pesticides, windows and feral cats.Then joining me is Megan Clendenan author of The book Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault A recent review said of her book, "This tale has an unusual ecological theme that makes seed preservation not only an essential task, but a sacred one. A must-have story."

My first guest is Kelpie Wilson author of The Biochar Handbook, Kelpie researches and teaches techniques for using biochar in compost and manure management and presents many biochar workshops each year to farmers, foresters, and landowners.Then Michael Garman the Development Coordinator at the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters joins me. The CTLCV's is a nonpartisan, nonprofit environmental organization that works across the state of CT on a myriad of environmental issues. Then I talk to Allison Rugila Associate Soundkeeper for Save the Sound. Allison covers the western half of Long Island Sound (basically the Bridgeport-Port Jefferson line west into the western narrows of the city). Allison has been deeply involved with shellfish restoration.

First up this episode is Emily Sanders the senior reporter for ExxonKnews, a project of the Center for Climate Integrity covering fossil fuel industry practices……disinformation, lobbying, and dark money spending -- as well as efforts to hold major oil and gas companies accountable. ExxonKnews is a partner of the Covering Climate Now journalism collaborative, and Emily's climate accountability reporting has been co-published with other outlets including The Lever, Grist, DeSmog, and HEATED. (Emily wants you to know that the actual fine levied against Greenpeace was $660 million dollars)Second, Allison Rugila has joined Save the Sound as Associate Soundkeeper, to cover the western half of Long Island Sound (basically the Bridgeport-Port Jefferson line west into the western narrows of the city. Allison has been deeply involved with shellfish restoration and has a PhD. In Ecology and Evolution from Stony Brook, where she studied the resilience of shellfish, such as Long Island Sound blue mussels, Shinnecock Bay quahog clams and bay scallops. Focusing on environmental stressors like sea water acidification and warming, and low dissolved oxygen conditions.Next up Linley Dixon serves as a Farmer representative and Co-Director of the Real Organic Project. Linley owns a vegetable farm in Durango, Colorado, with her husband and daughter. Linley works tirelessly for quality real organic standards with the Real Organic Project. She is here to tell us about the Real Organic Projects upcoming conference in NY called "Saving Real Organic: Antitrust & Food".

My guests on my next Digging the dirt start with Eric Sepenoski. Eric is a fourth-generation farmer at Seps Farm in East Marion, NY, on Long Island's North Fork. He’s also is an elementary school teacher and serves as an elected Trustee for the Town of Southold—where he focuses on stewarding wetlands and protecting coastal features.Then regular contributor to DITD Gloria Frazee of Rewild Long Island joins me to talk composting on Long Island. Finally, Author Melissa Stewart joins me to talk about her new children's book about the mighty carbon atom. It's called From BAM! to BURP! .

Jeff Masters meteorologist of the Yale climate connections talks about the heartbreaking tragedy of the recent Texas floods. It's A deeper look at how this happens and what is in store in the future . Then I rebroadcast an interview with Wilton, Connecticut fire chief and emergency management Director James Blanchfield on what to do if you encounter swift running floodwaters while in your car, amongst other useful advice for emergency situations.

Rita Valley is an artist and gardener living in Southbury Connecticut. Her passion for gardening started at an early age, nurtured by her Polish grandmother who tended an impressive vegetable garden. Valley’s love of gardening has persisted and blossomed into a penchant for writing about her gardening exploits as well.Rita seems to have the same arrangement that my wife and I have: her husband's the veggie guy and she's the flower lady. She maintains that a good sense of humor is every bit as important as a nice shovel or a sharp pair of pruners. Welcome to DITD Greg Lowenthal, Greg is President of The Long Island Native plant initiative and has served on the Initiatives board for over 4 years. The Long Island Native Plant Initiative (LINPI) is an all-volunteer cooperative effort of over 30 non-profit organizations, governmental agencies, nursery professionals, and citizens. The native plant initiative strives to preserve Long Island's biodiversity by cultivating ethically sourced ecotypic plants to ensure commercial availability of native plants for nurseries, communities, and habitat restorations.

First up Peter Linderoth, the director of healthy waters and lands for Save the Sound comes to “Digging in the Dirt” with the publication of Save The Sounds 2025 LONG ISLAND SOUND BEACH REPORT. How does your local beach in CT. or Long Island rate?Then Sandy Wilson joins me. Sandi is employed with the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System. She is the Fairfield County Master Gardener Program Coordinator based out of the Extension office in Bethel. She has been involved with the Master Gardener program for 25 years. Then a little bit about tomatoes.

Peter Linderoth, the director of healthy waters and lands for Save the Sound Comes to “Digging in the Dirt” with the publication of Save The Sounds 2025 LONG ISLAND SOUND BEACH REPORT. How does your local beach in CT. or Long Island rate?

My guest is Sandy Wilson. Sandi is employed with the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System. She is the Fairfield County Master Gardener Program Coordinator based out of the Extension office in Bethel. She has been involved with the Master Gardener program for 25 years.

Vincent Dion is a life-long Artist, Gardener, Connecticut resident and Do-it Yourself enthusiast. He maintains a 1,500 square foot backyard garden in Newtown, CT. I have it on good authority that Vincent is quite the gardener and we're here to talk about does his garden grow. My other guest is Craig Floyd. Craig is a tenth generation Farmer who has been here on DITD several times before. I always like talking with Craig, because of his incredible knowledge of regenerative and organic growing and for his work ethic and empathy for those who have less than the rest of us. Craig is retired from running the Giving Garden in Stonington CT. after a Farm accident severely damaged his left eye. The Coogan farm renamed itself after Craig to honor his legacy. He's now embarking on becoming a public speaker full-time as he teaches us about regenerative growing.

We pay our respects to the passing of Pope Francis, who followed in the footsteps of his name sake St. Francis of Assisi, honoring the planet earth and all its creatures. In 2015 he wrote it in encyclical about this and the introduction was by none other than my guest Professor Naomi Oreskes. Professor Naomi Oreskes is a Professor of the History of Science and Affiliated Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard University. Naomi who along with her colleague Erik Conway are bestselling authors of the book Merchants of Doubt…about the machinations of the fossil fuel industry and the book “The Big Myth, about the myth of the free market. Then Barry Kresch President of the EV Club ( Electric vehicle Cub) of CT. is my guest to talk about everything electric vehicles. Barry Kresch has long been involved in environmental activism. He has been a club member and EV owner since 2012. His participation in the club includes doing analytics, including the Interactive EV Dashboard tracking and EV adoption in CT.Finally Gloria Frazee of Rewildlongisland.org gives her monthly Long Island report.

Professor Naomi Oreskes is a Professor of the History of Science and Affiliated Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard University.Naomi who along with her colleague Erik Conway are bestselling authors of the book Merchants of Doubt…about the machinations of the fossil fuel industry and the book “The Big Myth about the myth" of the free market. I invited her here today as we pay our respects to the passing of Pope Francis who followed in the footsteps of his name sake St. Francis of Assisi honoring the planet earth and all its creatures. In 2015 he wrote it in encyclical about this and one introduction was written by none other than my guest professor Naomi Oreskes.

Barry Kresch has long been involved in environmental activism. He has been a club member and EV owner since 2012. His participation in the club includes doing analytics, including the Interactive EV Dashboard tracking EV adoption in CT.

Chuck Collins , co-founder of the Climate Accountability Research Project. He’s a researcher and campaigner based at the Institute for Policy Studies, where he coedits Inequality.org. He is the author of the forthcoming book, Burned By Billionaires: How Concentrated Wealth and Power are Ruining Our Lives and the Planet. He is also a major force behind climatecriminals.orgThen Julie Tighe President of the New York league of conservation voters joins me. As President, she oversees the organizations’ policy, political, development, programmatic, and communications team.

Professor Mann is a scientist and author. He is a Presidential Distinguished Professor of Earth & Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania. And Director of the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media. He is Vice Provost for Climate Science, Policy, and Action. He has contributed our understanding of the science behind our planets historic climate change. We discuss recent current events that will have a deeply negative effect on the health of our planet.Bruce Becker is President of Becker + Becker, an integrated sustainable architecture and development firm in Westport, Connecticut. Bruce designs buildings that have a transformative social and environmental value. Bruce has transformed the Armstrong Rubber Company Building in New Haven into the Marcel hotel, the country’s first fossil-fuel free hotel.

Bruce Becker is President of Becker + Becker, an integrated sustainable architecture and development firm in Westport, Connecticut. Bruce designs buildings that have a transformative social and environmental value. Bruce has transformed the Armstrong Rubber Company Building in New Haven into the Marcel hotel, the country’s first fossil-fuel free hotel.

-Priya Parrotta is a Senior fellow at the Safina center in Long Island NY. Priya is a historian, author, songwriter, composer, singer, and multimedia artist dedicated to furthering environmental consciousness across borders.-Bill Freese is the Science Policy Analyst For the Center for food safety on the efforts by the pesticide industry to protect pesticide manufacturers from lawsuits brought by those harmed by their products.-DITD regular contributor Gloria Frazee joins me to go over what is happening on Long Island this spring with RewildlongIsland.org

Digging in the Dirt guests this show are Ann Molloy Sales Director at Neptune's Harvest Organic Fertilizer Company which fully utilizes 100% of the fish they catch, by turning the gurry (everything that’s left after you fillet a fish) into an organic fertilizer.Up next Jeff Masters of the Yale Climate Connections talks with me about the effects the DOGE initiated cuts at The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Are having on tracking major weather events and climate change.Then citizen scientist Victor DeMasi member of The Pollinator Pathway drops by to telling us why he dressed as a Bee, (looking like Belushi) while visiting our politicians up in Hartford.And last but not least Freedom Gerrado puts a human face on the budget cuts and freezes by DOGE with his story of losing his grant to develop a Connecticut Hemp industry.

After several years of traveling around the country and world, ( more on that later ) she settled back there and has been helping run her family business. For over 30 years. Ann has overseen the marketing and sales for the Neptune’s Harvest division of Ocean Crest Seafoods, which came about to fully utilize 100% of the fish they catch, by turning the gurry (everything that’s left after you fillet a fish) into an organic fertilizer. Ann has a wide knowledge of organic fertilizers, and the fishing industry.

I like to welcome for a second visit to digging in the dirt, Peter Linderoth, director of science and watersheds for Save the Sound's Healthy Waters Institute. Then Louise Washer joins us. Louise is President of the Norwalk River Watershed Association and serves on the Board of the Pollinator Pathway. Louise is here again to continue the conversation about neonicotinoid pesticides in our local waters. Finally, Gloria Frazee of Rewild Long Island.org joins me now. Rewild Long Island is always busy doing something good for our local ecology. She's here to tell us what's up on their calendar now and the growing number of community gardens Rewild is nurturing,

My guest on this DITD this episode is Km Stanley Robinson. Stan Robinson is a New York Times Best selling Author and winner of the Hugo, Nebula and Locus Awards. He is author of more than 20 books including his much loved Mar's Trilogy and he will be here today to talk about his latest book "The Ministry for the Future". In 2008, he was named a "Hero of the Environment" by Time magazine, and he works with the Sierra Nevada Research Institute. He lives in Davis, California."[A] gutsy, humane view of a near-future Earth...Robinson masterfully integrates the practical details of environmental crises and geoengineering projects into a sweeping, optimistic portrait of humanity's ability to cooperate in the face of disaster. This heartfelt work of hard science-fiction is a must-read for anyone worried about the future of the planet."―Publishers Weekly on The Ministry for the Future

My guest today on DITD is Michael E. Mann. Arguably the foremost living paleoclimatologist and geophysicist. He is the director of the Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media at the University of Pennsylvania. Mann has contributed to the scientific understanding of historic climate change based on the temperature record of the past thousand years. His latest book is “Our Fragile Moment”. How Lessons from Earth's Past Can Help us survive the Climate Crisis.

On this “Digging in the Dirt” my guest is environmentalist, entrepreneur and author Paul Hawken. Paul is a leading voice in the worlds environmental movement. His visionary ideas emphasize changing the relationship between business and the Earth, as humanity seeks to rise to the challenge of our time, Globalwarming. In his new book "Regeneration - Ending the climate crisis in one generation", Hawken provides a refreshingly positive and comprehensive approach to global warming solutions.

Chuck Collins of climatecriminals.org is my guest on this "Digging in the Dirt". Chuck is here to talk about why he believes It’s time to name the names of the individuals delaying climate action and financing the climate crisis, so they can be held accountable.Chuck Collins is an American author and a senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC, where he directs the Program on Inequality and the Common Good. His latest book is a novel, “Altar to an Erupting Sun,” an eco-fiction exploration of the causes of climate disruption.

My guest on Digging in is Peter Byck director, producer and writer of a 4 part documentary series called Roots so deep, you can see the devil down there. He’s also currently producing an on-going series of short films called Carbon Cowboys. The film documents a $10 million research project comparing Adaptive Multi-Paddock (AMP) grazing with conventional grazing; collaborating with 20 scientists and 10 farm families, focused on soil health & soil carbon storage, microbial/bug/bird biodiversity, water cycling and much more. Its all about the inventive farmers and maverick scientists building a path to solving climate change with hooves, heart and soil. Plus, Gloria Frazee of RewildLongIsland.org on their community gardens grant program.

My guest on this “Digging in the Dirt” is the Climate Columnist for the New York Magazine and a best selling author of the book The Uninhabitable Earth. David gives us an assessment of what is happening on the planet Earth largely do to the industrial revolution and the massive carbon emissions it has unleashed. David then attempts to provide us with some possible futures for the climate of the planet and mankind's ability to continue living in an environment that we are radically and possibly fatally remaking.

Im very pleased to welcome to Digging in the Dirt Isabella Rossellini. In addition to a very successful modeling career, Isabella has starred in some extraordinary films, Like “Blue Velvet”. I Invited her here today not to talk about films but to talk to me about her wonderful organic farm in Brookhaven Long Island, called Mama Farm …..where Ms. Rossellini has a popular CSA and raises endangered breeds of farm animals.

My guest today is Author David Pogue. David talks to me about his new book "How to prepare for climate change." A practical guide to surviving the chaos. It is a practical and comprehensive guide to surviving what could be the greatest disaster of our time. David is a New York Times bestselling self-help author and CBS Sunday Morning science and technology correspondent .

My guest is Bill Weir. Bill is a CNN anchor and Chief Climate Correspondent and he is host and executive producer of the acclaimed CNN Original Series "The Wonder List with Bill Weir." Now Bill is the author of a wonderful new Book entitled "Life as We Know It (Can Be) Stories of People, Climate, and Hope in a Changing World."

Dr. Sawin is an expert on multisolving, actions that address equity, climate change health, well-being, and economic vitality as integrated issues. She developed the concept after studying bright spots around the world where people created systems change by building connections across silos. In 2021, Beth founded Multisolving Institute to share this research and to develop tools tailored for multisolving.

Doug Tallamy is a professor of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware and a NY Times best selling author.He Has written Three books..... the critically acclaimed Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants. The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden and his latest Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard. I find this book to be A great optimistic look at the issues facing our environment and a positive way to get ourselves as a species back on track one yard, one community at a time.

My guests this show are Lindley Dixon of the Real Organic Project. Linley serves as a Farmer representative and Co-Director of the Real Organic Project. Then Louise Washer a founder of the Pollinator Pathway joins me to tell us the latest news on the neonicotinoid pesticides problem Finally Gloria Frazee of Rewild Long Island makes her monthly visit to talk about….Rewilds fall programs and how long Islanders can get involved in community composting and planting pollinator friendly native plants.

This week on Digging in the Dirt, it's all about heavy weather. The first of Kevin Gallaghers three guests will be Yale Climate Connection meteorologist, and hurricane expert, Jeff Masters who will review how hurricane Helene became so devastating. Next up is farmer Kaitlyn Kimball Director of agriculture for Cityseed in New Haven. She weighs in on the recent heavy flooding affecting Connecticut small farmers. Then Wilton, Connecticut fire chief and emergency management Director James Blanchfield gives us some tips on what you should do if you and your car get stuck in swift running floodwaters.

My guest today joins me for a 2nd time here on “DITD”. He is filmmaker John Feldman. I first met John when I discovered his film Symbiotic Earth about the renowned , unknown to the public, scientist Lynn Margulis. A wonderful film. Now he is out with his latest film. “Regenerating Life”. A three part documentary that highlights the importance of biodiversity and natural ecosystems in regulating the climate. The poem that follows, "Mama Nature," is written and performed by Naima Penniman

My guest is Denise Baden, a Professor of Sustainable Business within Southampton Business School at the University of Southampton in Britain. Denise set up the Green Stories Project which includes free writing competitions that encourage storytellers to embed climate solutions into stories aimed at mainstream readers across a variety of formats. She believes that solution-focused stories were more likely to inspire pro-environmental behavior. Prof. Baden is also on the Forbes list of Climate Leaders. There are links below.

My guest on this show is Rana Foroohar an American author, associate editor at the Financial Times and CNN's global economic analyst. We will be discussing her newest book Homecoming: The Path to Prosperity in a Post-Global World and her short film of the same title. Ms. Foroohar contends that unregulated globalization has produced serious negative consequences for society. That While globalization has made the planet wealthier as a whole, that wealth has been concentrated largely at the very top, among financial and managerial elites who own the most assets.

I welcome back to DITD Jeff Masters of the Yale Climate Connection. Jeff, worked as a hurricane scientist with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters from 1986-1990. He has a Ph.D. in air pollution meteorology from the University of Michigan. In 1995, he co-founded the Weather Underground weather channel. On Monday Jan 22nd , a relatively weak atmospheric river, along with favorable winds in the mid-to-upper atmosphere, combined to deliver a deluge to San Diego, with the city seeing 2.73 inches of rainfall in a very short amount of time causing major flooding and destruction of property. Now California is being slammed up and down the coast in the same manner. What's going on?

I welcome back to DITD Jeff Masters of the Yale Climate Connection.Jeff Masters, worked as a hurricane scientist with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters from 1986-1990. He has a Ph.D. in air pollution meteorology from the University of Michigan.In 1995, he co-founded the Weather Underground weather channel. He also was creator of the Category 6 blog, one of the Internet's most popular and widely quoted sources of extreme weather and climate change. What with all this worrisome heat and rain and extreme weather we’ve been experiencing, I thought it would be a good time to check in with Jeff.

My guest today is someone special to me. It's my youngest sister Clare. In light of what's going on in Los Angeles with the horrific destruction by the wind driven fires and what a monumental task of rebuilding will be. I thought what she has to say about her recent experience in Ft. Myers Florida would be interesting to you. What she experienced during her vacation was not what she had expected.

My guest now is Craig Floyd. Craig has been here on DITD several times before. I always like talking with Craig, because of his incredible knowledge of regenerative and organic growing, his work ethic and empathy for those who have less than the rest of us. Craig is retiring from running the Giving Garden in Stonington CT., which grows tons of wholesome food and gives it away.