Gulf Streams

Ep. 8 Green Jobs: Sustainability Director

We're joined by Lisa Lin, Director of Sustainability for Harris County, and Richard Johnson, Senior Executive Director of Sustainability at Rice University, in the first of a recurring series focused on green jobs. What does a sustainability director do? How can we be more sustainable in our homes and workplaces? And what should you do if you're interested in going into a job that makes our planet a little greener?

Ep. 7 Energy

Today Dr. Daniel Cohan, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice University, joins us to talk all about energy. What's will the future of energy in Houston and the US look like? How safe is the Texas grid? And what steps should we be taking now to ensure our energy supply remains safe well into the future? 

Ep. 6 Project 11

The Houston Port, one of the largest in the world, is getting bigger. The expansion is called Project 11, and will allow for larger ships to pass through, but what does it mean for local communities? Where will the dredge material go, and what should the port's relationship to local neighborhoods be? We're joined by local advocates Erandi Trevino of Moms Clean Air Force, Leticia Guiterrez of Air Alliance Houston, and Allyn West of the Environmental Defense Fund, who walk us through the myriad issues of Project 11 and what can be done to improve the expansion process. 

Ep. 5 Bayou City Waterkeeper

Today we speak with Danielle Garcia, the Education and Resource Hub Coordinator of non-profit legal and conservation organization Bayou City Waterkeeper. Garcia explains the wide range of water issues that the non-profit advocates for. Additionally, a group of local high school students visit the studio and pose a range of environmental questions. 

Ep. 4 Houston Urban History and Futures

Today we're joined by Bryson Kisner, a PhD candidate in History at Rice University who walks us through some of the history of Houston: why are we here? What was here before "Houston"? Using this information, host Weston Twardowski is joined by two student researchers, Jadyn Bray-Boyce and Siena Yiin, in a conversation about the future of the city. 

Ep. 3 Orphan Wells

Amanda Drane (Energy Reporter at the Houston Chronicle) and Paige Powell (Policy Manager at Commission Shift) join us to discuss drill sites that have been abandoned or forgotten. A problem throughout the country, these sites, some over a century old, can damage water quality, cause subsidence, and leak toxic gases and chemicals. On this episode we'll learn about the threat they represent in Houston, and what should be done to fix the issue.

Ep. 2 Urban Heat

After the hottest summer on record, we're talking about a major, and growing, problem: urban heat. Join us with Jaime González, the Community and Equitable Conservation Programs Director for the Nature Conservancy Texas, to talk about how cities are at greater risk for heat related problems and what we can do to address the problem. 

Ep. 1: Creosote

Creosote, a "chemical gumbo," is a known carcinogen. It is also all over Houston, especially in the historically Black neighborhood of the 5th Ward. In our inaugural episode, we speak with Sandra Edwards, a local activist, Joetta Stevenson, the president of the Greater 5th Ward Superneighborhood, and Aaron Ambroso, the co-founder and co-director of the Houston Climate Justice Museum and Cultural Center. In this episode: what is creosote, how long have we known about this issue, and what can we do about it? 

Introduction to Gulf Streams

Environmental and Climate News out of Houston Texas. Gulf Streams is your source for environmental and climate news. Covering a range of topics around Houston, the Gulf Coast, and the world, Gulf Streams brings you the best in conversations with community leaders and advocates, academic experts, and national thought leaders. Join us as we sit down every Monday at noon (central) to dive into the most pressing environmental challenges, solutions, and ideas. A co-production of Rice University’s Center for Environmental Studies and KPFT Houston, with support from Rice’s EcoStudio and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.