
Bridging the Equity and Inclusion Gap Within the Green Economy
12/1/2026 | 31 min
In this episode of Hi, Energy! We learn about the power of networking through social media, and about the community of people making green jobs the norm and accessible to all. Kristy Drutman, aka “Browngirl Green,” and co-founder of The Green Jobs Board, joins the show to break down her trail-blazing career as a model for future climate work. Kristy and Esteban discuss the origins of the Green Jobs Board, how to open climate jobs to underprivileged folks and people of color, how to draw on the power of your family history when the world isn’t ready for you to wield power and so much more. Additional References from the podcast: BIPOC Green Career Summit - Black Oak Black Girl Environmentalist Repack LA Climate Week Project Drawdown Inco Academy Cornell Green Jobs Institute New episodes of Hi, Energy are coming out every month. So check out our Instagram and subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://socalren.org/about/podcasts for full episodes and highlight reels coming soon.

Breaking into Climate Tech and Clean Tech Transformations
15/12/2025 | 28 min
In this episode of Hi, Energy! We learn about the grid, climate tech startup culture, and California’s special relationship to climate issues. Josh Rothermel of SoCal Edison and formerly of Rivian and the UCLA Anderson Energy & Cleantech Association, joins Esteban to talk about having a career in clean energy. Josh and Esteban discuss simple but important questions like “what is the grid?” and “what is an internal combustion engine?” and so much more. Josh also shares his impressions of California’s well-above-average climate consciousness. Additional References from the podcast: After 4 Years And Billions Of Dollars, The Texas Grid Is Not Fixed The Carbonauts New episodes of Hi, Energy are coming out every month. So check out our Instagram and subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://socalren.org/about/podcasts for full episodes and highlight reels coming soon.

Bridging the Equity and Inclusion Gap Within the Green Economy
15/12/2025 | 31 min
In this episode of Hi, Energy! We learn about the power of networking through social media, and about the community of people making green jobs the norm and accessible to all. Kristy Drutman, aka “Browngirl Green,” and co-founder of The Green Jobs Board, joins the show to break down her trail-blazing career as a model for future climate work. Kristy and Esteban discuss the origins of the Green Jobs Board, how to open climate jobs to underprivileged folks and people of color, how to draw on the power of your family history when the world isn’t ready for you to wield power and so much more. Additional References from the podcast: BIPOC Green Career Summit - Black Oak Black Girl Environmentalist Repack LA Climate Week Project Drawdown Inco Academy Cornell Green Jobs Institute New episodes of Hi, Energy are coming out every month. So check out our Instagram and subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://socalren.org/about/podcasts for full episodes and highlight reels coming soon.

Achieving Environmental Goals Through Community Engagement
10/11/2025 | 31 min
In this episode of Hi, Energy! We learn about the connections between community engagement and environmental policy. Ken Chawkins, a professor at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs, joins the show to share wisdom from nearly 30 years in public affairs, serving business, labor, government, and nonprofits. Ken and Esteban discuss coalition building towards climate solutions, how to get involved locally and politically to support the environment, climate policy from a working class perspective, and so much more. Additional References from the podcast: Books Who Is Government by Michael Lewis Articles California makes major changes to the state's landmark environmental law to build more housing Environmental impact of Al Gore Making change in the "diesel death zone" | LA Public Press People/organizations mentioned East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice Cynthia Kennedy of Pasadena 100 Other “Who are the stakeholders and what stakes are they holding?” Ken’s UCLA Syllabus New episodes of Hi, Energy are coming out every month. So check out our Instagram and subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://socalren.org/about/podcasts for full episodes and highlight reels coming soon.

Climate in the News
31/10/2025 | 41 min
In this episode of Hi, Energy! We learn about how climate news is made. Sammy Roth, a former climate columnist for the LA Times and the host of the podcast and newsletter Boiling Point, has been writing about Southern California’s climate issues for over a decade. He now writes an independent newsletter, Climate-Colored Goggles, about climate & culture. In this episode, he comes to spill the tea on climate news. Sammy and Esteban discuss how California is a hub for many of the most important climate issues facing the entire United States, how to become a clued-in reader of climate news, how to read lots of climate news without feeling down, and so much more. Additional References from the podcast: Books Silent Spring by Rachel Carson Articles Sammy’s weekly Boiling Point newsletter E&E News by Politico Canary Media Inside Climate News Volts by David Roberts Everybody needs a Climate Thing | David Roberts for Grist Podcasts Sammy’s Boiling Point Podcast Esteban’s appearance on Sammy’s podcast People/organizations mentioned Jim Lawson John Lewis Bill McKibben United Farm Workers New episodes of Hi, Energy are coming out every month. So check out our Instagram and subscribe to the show on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://socalren.org/about/podcasts for full episodes and highlight reels coming soon.



Hi, Energy!