I started a Substack! For those who don’t know me, I’m a journalist, academic, activist, and erstwhile podcaster, now working toward my PhD at the University of Colorado Boulder. My research and writing covers climate, ecology, politics, and, most of all, the exploitation and potential liberation of nonhuman animals. And, after thinking long and hard about the state of the … Continue reading Introducing The UpDayt!

I have two new pieces of writing to share! In the first, for Sierra magazine, I report on the climate impacts of planes, trains, and buses, and speculate on a possible greener future for travel. https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2023-2-summer/feature/planes-trains-and-decarbonization And the second, for the new magazine Strange Matters, is a more philosophical essay on dinosaurs, ourselves, and what makes a mass extinction so … Continue reading Two New Articles Out

Episode 40 of my podcast, Storytelling Animals, explores why I am a vegan and why I support animal liberation--listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Below I have compiled a list of resources that may be of interest on these topics. Articles by me "The Strategic Case for Animal Liberation," The Trouble … Continue reading Further Reading on Veganism – Episode 40

excerpted from the beginning of my 9/6/22 newsletter. You can sign up to receive future newsletters here. Early in the pandemic, I began rereading The Lord of the Rings for the first time since childhood. While I went to it partly for escapism, I was struck by how resonant it felt, the atmosphere of growing shadow and a call … Continue reading Episode 30 – The Lord of the Rings

This post is adapted from my 8/16/22 newsletter. Sign up here. This week's guest is the executive director of the Climate and Community Project, Johanna Bozuwa. She is here to help us make sense of the Inflation Reduction Act, the new congressional bill that manages to be the biggest US investment in climate yet, a … Continue reading Episode 28 – Inflation Reduction Act, Explained

Note: This is the 7/26/22 entry of my free weekly newsletter. You can sign up here: https://apple6.aweb.page/p/de4ee963-cd8d-4ced-9975-e13965236a7d  I have always loved reading fiction, and in recent years I have read quite a few novels dealing in some way with climate change, ecological issues, and/or our relationship with other animals. Standouts include Richard Powers' ode to forests The Overstory, Matt Bell's richly … Continue reading Episode 25 – Novel of the Apes

Note: This is the 6/28/22 entry of my free weekly newsletter. You can sign up here: https://apple6.aweb.page/p/de4ee963-cd8d-4ced-9975-e13965236a7d Today's topic is "degrowth": What does it mean? Is it actually desirable? How could we achieve it? And do we really need to confront economic growth if we want to fight climate change and build a just, sustainable … Continue reading Episode 23 – Degrowth