The Most Important Question

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#85: A Blueprint for Fighting Food Waste in Your Community Feb 24, 2020

Show notes

In Episode 85, Quinn asks: Is there a blueprint for fighting food waste in your city?

Our guest is: Rick Nahmias. As Founder and Executive Director of Food Forward, Rick has spent more than a decade harvesting the bounty of LA’s fresh fruit and vegetables and getting them to the organizations feeding the many, many, many people in Southern California who cannot otherwise afford it.

When you realize just how much food goes to waste in the United States, it’s a little sickening. And when you then consider how many people go hungry every day in the United States, it’s more than a little disheartening.

But the bright side — and, yes, we know that we wouldn’t need to talk about the bright side of every topic if we didn’t exclusively talk about how our world is going to hell — is that, wherever you might live, you can help get food out of the landfill and onto the plates of people who need it.

Have feedback or questions? Tweet us, or send a message to questions@importantnotimportant.com

New here? Get started with our fan favorite episodes at podcast.importantnotimportant.com.

INI Book Club:

The Dalai Lama's Book of Love and Compassion by Dalai Lama
INI Book Club: https://bookshop.org/lists/important-not-important-book-club

Links:

www.foodforward.org
Spring Melt (April 4th @ The Jim Henson Company Lot): www.foodforward.org/about/spring-melt
Instagram: www.instagram.com/foodforward
Facebook: www.facebook.com/foodforwardla
Twitter: www.twitter.com/foodforwardla

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Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com!
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Intro/outro by Tim Blane: timblane.com

Important, Not Important is produced by Crate Media

#84: How is Climate Change (Already) Affecting Immigration to the USA? Feb 17, 2020

Show notes

We’re back!

In Episode 84, Quinn & Brian ask: Is the USA responsible for climate refugees (and then turning them away)?

Our guest is: Jessica Cisneros, a 26-year-old immigration and human rights attorney and proud Mexican-American woman running for Congress in Texas’ 28th district to fight for working families.

Jessica’s opponent and the district’s incumbent is Henry Cuellar, “an anti-choice, anti-labor, pro-NRA Democrat who voted with Donald Trump and the Republicans almost 70% of the time last Congress,” according to Jessica’s campaign website. Rick Perry also appointed him to Texas Secretary of State, so that’s a big red flag. On top of all that, Cuellar is one of the top congressional recipients from the oil and gas industry and — surprise, surprise — he has voted for rolling back environmental regulations. Funny how that works.

But here’s the thing: those choices don’t just affect voters in Texas’ 28th district. They affect generations of people in Texas, as well as people from other areas of the world who are already experiencing devastating effects from the climate crisis. But doing the work now to support and vote for people like Jessica will improve the lives of people around the world, for generations.

Have feedback or questions? Tweet us, or send a message to questions@importantnotimportant.com

New here? Get started with our fan favorite episodes at podcast.importantnotimportant.com.

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JCisnerosTX
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jcisnerostx_/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JCisnerosTX
Website: http://www.jessicacisnerosforcongress.com/
Are you a Shit Giver? Do you hate ads? Just love Fun Talk? Head over to http://importantnotimportant.com/shitgiver to learn more about our new premium feed!
Look at George W. Bush cradling Jessica’s opponent’s face: https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/capitol-hill-president-george-w-bushs-state-of-the-union-address-2006-picture-id95669298?s=2048x2048
“Climate refugees can't be returned home, says landmark UN human rights ruling”: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/20/climate-refugees-cant-be-returned-home-says-landmark-un-human-rights-ruling

Connect with us:

Subscribe to our newsletter at newsletter.importantnotimportant.com
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Intro/outro by Tim Blane: timblane.com
Artwork by Amrit Pal

Important, Not Important is produced by Crate Media

SPECIAL PREVIEW: Issue #169: CRISPR’ing Cancer, BP Oil, & Democrats Campaigning on Soil Feb 14, 2020

Show notes

This is a special preview of our new weekly audio newsletter. It's all the most vital science news you missed, with action steps you can take to fight back, delivered in five minutes and read by Brian. After this week, it's a premium-only product, so if you find it valuable, go to importantnotimportant.com/shitgiver to subscribe!

This week: the EU lost their meat pies to Boris but gained a hell of a lot of clean energy; energy emissions are flat worldwide but flat isn't enough; be damn glad you're not stuck on a cruise ship with the coronavirus; we CRISPR'd the first cancer patients; can we trust BP oil?; Democrats are campaigning on fixing our soil

Find links from this newsletter and more at importantnotimportant.com/newsletter
Got feedback? Email us at funtalk@importantnotimportant.com
Follow us on Twitter at @importantnotimp

Important, Not Important is produced by Crate Media

Introducing the Important, Not Important: Sh*t-Giver Edition! Feb 13, 2020

Show notes

We’re very excited to announce the launch of our new premium podcast feed — The Shit-Giver Edition!

Our main feed (this one) will always be free, and will always host the latest in our award-nominated "save the world" conversations, with ads read by us to help pay the bills. Our mission remains to reach the greatest audience and affect as much change as two guys and a rescue dog possibly can.

But for those of you that don't want ads, or love Fun Talks, or just want to support our hard work -- you can now go premium!

In exchange for supporting the show with $5 a month or $49 a year (a 17% discount!), you'll get:

Exclusive access to *ad-free* versions of the main "save the world" shows
All of our *Fun Talk* episodes
A *brand-new* audio version of our weekly newsletter. That’s all of the news you missed, read in the sultry voice of Brian Colbert Kennedy, delivered to your favorite podcasting app every Friday.

Plus, you’ll get a *discount on merchandise* in our store!

So head on over to http://importantnotimportant.com/shitgiver to invest in the future of our work and help pay, most importantly, for Brian’s coffee.

Thanks, as always, for all of your support.

Important, Not Important is produced by Crate Media

#83: Knock Knock. Who’s There? Climate Change. Climate Change Who? Climate Change Pooped On Your Head. (A Conversation About Mangroves) Nov 05, 2019

Show notes

In Episode 83, Quinn & Brian discuss: Blue carbon, the patriarchy, and how one of those two things has ruined the other (we’ll give you three guesses).

Our guests are Dr. Sarah Myhre and Priya Shukla. Dr. Myhre is a leading voice in the fields of climate science, science communication, and public advocacy, as well as a Fellow with Project Drawdown and the Executive Director of the Rowan Institute.

Priya is a PhD Student (AKA an almost-doctor) at UC Davis studying how climate change affects shellfish aquaculture operations within the coastal ocean, as well as a board member at The Rowan Institute and a Forbes contributor writing about ocean science.

Blue Carbon is not an upcoming sequel to the highly-underrated Deep Blue Sea or a spinoff of the Netflix show Altered Carbon. Rather, it’s our best chance of sucking carbon right out of the air, if the man doesn’t keep trying to keep it down. These two more or less cut us out of the conversation — as it should be when we’re talking to two people who actually know what they’re talking about — debating the merits of different solutions to healing our oceans and addressing the climate crisis. But(!) we do make a few jokes. So, you know, we’re doing our part too.

Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!

Trump’s Book Club:

F*** You Very Much: The Surprising Truth about why People are So Rude by Danny Wallace & Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado-Perez: https://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/3R5XF4WMZE0TV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_ws_2Gr8Ab6RS5WF3

Links:

Have feedback or questions? Send a message to funtalk@importantnotimportant.com
Leave us a voice message: anchor.fm/important-not-important/message
Sarahmyhre.com
Sarah on Twitter: twitter.com/sarahemyhre
Priyashukla.com
Priya on Twitter: twitter.com/priyology
Read Priya’s blog: www.forbes.com/sites/priyashukla/

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Intro/outro by Tim Blane: timblane.com

BONUS: Help Dr. Ghazala Hashmi Flip Virginia Oct 29, 2019

Show notes

We’re interrupting your normally scheduled programming with a Special Election Report! So, today, Quinn & Brian ask: Will You Help Us Flip Virginia?

Our guest is Dr. Ghazala Hashmi, an immigrant, educator, and mother who is running in the general election for Virginia State Senate District 10 on November 5, 2019 — just seven days after this episode airs! That means there are just seven days left to flip Virginia and make it blue.

This is a special episode for us, and not only because we think Brian’s U.S. electoral map Halloween costume looks much better on him in blue (we’re thinking long-term here). Virginia is also Quinn’s home state and we have an opportunity to guide it towards a significantly more kick-ass future with women like Ghazala at the helm! So, if you don’t do it for the future of our nation and world, will you at least do something for Quinn?

Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!

Support Dr. Hashmi:

Donate to Dr. Hashmi RIGHT NOW: secure.actblue.com/donate/ghazalahashmiwebsite
Learn more at ghazalahashmi.com

Trump’s Book Club:

The Constitution of the United States of America: https://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/3R5XF4WMZE0TV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_ws_2Gr8Ab6RS5WF3

Other Links:

Have feedback or questions? Send a message to funtalk@importantnotimportant.com
Leave us a voice message: anchor.fm/important-not-important/message

Connect with us:

Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com!
Check out our Morning Show and other daily bite-size content on Instagram: instagram.com/ImportantNotImportant
Leave us a voice message: anchor.fm/important-not-important/message
Follow Quinn: twitter.com/quinnemmett
Follow Brian: twitter.com/briancolbertken
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/ImportantNotImp
Like and share us on Facebook: facebook.com/ImportantNotImportant
Pin us on Pinterest: pinterest.com/ImportantNotImportant
Tumble us or whatever the hell you do on Tumblr: importantnotimportant.tumblr.com
Intro/outro by Tim Blane: timblane.com

Important, Not Important is produced by Crate Media

#82: Sustainable Trees + Death Metal = Climate Progress Oct 22, 2019

Show notes

In Episode 82, Quinn & Brian discuss: How to fix our somewhat pressing land reconfiguration issues -- from 30,000 feet down to the soil under your feet.

Our guest is Dr. Iara Lacher, a land use ecologist at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. She is also the co-runner of a small nursery out of northwestern Virginia called Seven Bends Nursery. The work she does is based around sustainable planning and living, where they conduct the science to provide information for use in planning, land use, and conservation. She also wants to, through the nursery, provide these materials on a smaller scale to homeowners.

We have a lot of work to do to combat climate change. We need to drastically rebuild our land use from top to bottom, reforesting the world — and before we can even start doing that, we have to stop deforestation. There is no one solution that’s going to solve it all, but we need a diverse portfolio of planning for our ecological future.

Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!

Trump’s Book Club:

Silent Spring by Rachel Carson: https://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/3R5XF4WMZE0TV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_ws_2Gr8Ab6RS5WF3

Links:

Have feedback or questions? Send a message to funtalk@importantnotimportant.com
Leave us a voice message: anchor.fm/important-not-important/message
Smithsonian Institution: www.si.edu
Conservation Biology Institute: consbio.org
Changing Landscapes Initiative: www.vaworkinglandscapes.org/what-we-do/collaborative-projects/203-changing-landscapes-initiative

Connect with us:

Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com!
Check out our Morning Show and other daily bite-size content on Instagram: instagram.com/ImportantNotImportant
Leave us a voice message: anchor.fm/important-not-important/message
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Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/ImportantNotImp
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Intro/outro by Tim Blane: timblane.com

#81: Legalizing the Other Weed Oct 08, 2019

Show notes

In Episode 81, Quinn & Brian discuss: Legalizing the weed of the sea.

Our guests are Bren Smith and Tom Ford, two fine, clean-living gentleman who are out on the water, every day, trying to change the way that we eat and use the ocean to our benefit — and, more importantly, to the ocean’s benefit (which seems obvious to us, but apparently is not).

Bren started the Thimble Island Ocean Farm, a farm dedicated to restorative ocean farming, and is the Executive Director and co-founder of GreenWave, a nonprofit supporting a new generation of ocean farmers feeding the planet and building a blue-green economy in the era of climate change.

Tom Ford is Executive Director of The Bay Foundation, Director of the Santa Monica Bay National Estuary Program, and Co-Director of the Coastal Research Institute at Loyola Marymount University — all of which adds up to him being a super smart guy with a lot of ideas about how we can improve both the ocean and our lives, and as we’ll learn today, some of them are surprisingly cheap and easy!

Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!

Trump’s Book Club:

The Lorax & In a Fisherman's Language: https://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/3R5XF4WMZE0TV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_ws_2Gr8Ab6RS5WF3

Links:

Have feedback or questions? Send a message to funtalk@importantnotimportant.com

Leave us a voice message: anchor.fm/important-not-important/message

GreenWave: www.greenwave.org

The Bay Foundation: www.santamonicabay.org/

Eat Like a Fish by Bren Smith: www.amazon.com/Eat-Like-Fish-Adventures-Restorative-ebook/dp/B07GMYJJWM

“Is Seaweed the Next Superfood?”: www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/11/02/a-new-leaf

Connect with us:

Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com!

Check out our Morning Show and other daily bite-size content on Instagram: instagram.com/ImportantNotImportant

Leave us a voice message: anchor.fm/important-not-important/message

Follow Quinn: twitter.com/quinnemmett

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Intro/outro by Tim Blane: timblane.com

#80: Mosquitoes. The Serial Killers of Nature. Should We Make Them Go Away? Oct 01, 2019

Show notes

In Episode 80, Quinn & Brian discuss Quinn’s wife’s least favorite thing: Mosquitoes!

Our guest is Dr. Natalie Kofler, a trained scientist and the founding director of Editing Nature at Yale University, a global initiative to steer responsible development and deployment of environmental genetic technologies. Dr. Kofler’s work navigates the technical, ecological, and ethical complexity of gene editing applications designed to impact wild species, such as CRISPR-edited mosquitoes to prevent malaria transmission.

Dr. Kofler shares a deep level of technical understanding, paired with a heaping helping of compassion and nuance that is really something to behold. We are so happy she’s one of the people leading us into the future, and leading by a much-needed example.

Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!

Trump’s Book Club:

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer: https://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/3R5XF4WMZE0TV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_ws_2Gr8Ab6RS5WF3

Links:

Have feedback or questions? Send a message to funtalk@importantnotimportant.com

Leave us a voice message: anchor.fm/important-not-important/message

Editing Nature: editingnature.org

Twitter: twitter.com/nataliekofler

Connect with us:

Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com!

Check out our Morning Show and other daily bite-size content on Instagram: instagram.com/ImportantNotImportant

Leave us a voice message: anchor.fm/important-not-important/message

Follow Quinn: twitter.com/quinnemmett

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Pin us on Pinterest: pinterest.com/ImportantNotImportant

Tumble us or whatever the hell you do on Tumblr: importantnotimportant.tumblr.com

Intro/outro by Tim Blane: timblane.com

Important, Not Important is produced by Crate Media

#79: Air Pollution: The Low Hanging Fruit of Our Hellish Future Sep 24, 2019

Show notes

In Episode 79, Quinn & Brian are back to discuss: Optimism in the air (wait... that doesn’t sound like us). Our guest is Beth Gardiner, an environmental journalist and the author of Choked: Life and Breath in the Age of Air Pollution. We talk about why Beth was driven to write Choked, how we got to the sad state that we’re in on this planet right now, and how we’re actually getting out of it. It’s not improving everywhere, and it could definitely be improving faster, but this is one area where you can actually see and feel change happening. Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message! Trump’s Book Club: “Field Notes from a Catastrophe” by Elizabeth Kolbert: https://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/3R5XF4WMZE0TV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_ws_2Gr8Ab6RS5WF3 Links: Have feedback or questions? Send a message to funtalk@importantnotimportant.com Leave us a voice message: anchor.fm/important-not-important/message Read “Choked: Life and Breath in the Age of Air Pollution:” www.amazon.com/Choked-Life-Breath-Age-Pollution/dp/022649585X Connect with us: Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com! Check out our Morning Show and other daily bite-size content on Instagram: instagram.com/ImportantNotImportant Leave us a voice message: anchor.fm/important-not-important/message Follow Quinn: twitter.com/quinnemmett Follow Brian: twitter.com/briancolbertken Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/ImportantNotImp Like and share us on Facebook: facebook.com/ImportantNotImportant Pin us on Pinterest: pinterest.com/ImportantNotImportant Tumble us or whatever the hell you do on Tumblr: importantnotimportant.tumblr.com Intro/outro by Tim Blane: timblane.com Important, Not Important is produced by Crate Media

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