Global Goals, Atlanta Action is an interview-driven series that showcases RCE members’ work to connect the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with our local community here in Greater Atlanta. In this podcast, we seek to highlight the multiplicity of viewpoints and approaches contained within our broad and multifaceted local network. Whether it's community action, academic research, community-higher ed partnerships, policy improvements, or business strategies, we want to share the stories of the SDGs in action in Greater Atlanta! Thanks to Alex Kozela for hosting.
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All Episodes
In our new series "Ordinary Extraordinary Atlanta," the first episode host and resident anthropologist Carrie Furman introduces listeners to ordinary Atlantans who are doing extraordinary work in the field of sustainability. In this first installment, Carrie speaks with jack-of-all trades Jenna Mobley, photographer, educator, quilt maker, music teacher, and Co-Executive Director of Community Farmers Markets, a nonprofit whose mission is to develop a local food infrastructure for long term sustainability and meaningful community impact.
In the eight episode, Megan Jermak and Fayola Waithe are joined by Iesha Baldwin, who is the current sustainability coordinator at Spelman College. Iesha specializes in implementing the UN SDG goals in Spelman’s climate initiatives and focuses on how to get current students engaged with sustainability projects on campus. In this podcast Iehsa shares her journey in sustainability, the work she does at Spelman, and tips for the younger generation who are interested in starting a career in sustainability. Join Iesha as she shares her journey in climate action, innovation, and sustainability.
In the seventh episode, hosts Megan Jermak and Alex Kozela are joined by Abigail Franks and Mare'shah Malcom, hosts of the Climate Justice, Y’all podcast, a collaborative effort between the Southeast Climate and Energy Network, the People’s Justice Council, and the Greater Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution. Abigail and Mare'shah share insights from their five years of podcasting, highlighting impactful interviews with community leaders, activists, and experts while reflecting on lessons learned about climate resilience and community action. They emphasize the importance of supporting one another to prevent burnout, meeting people where they are, and making climate science accessible and tangible. Highlighting how southern communities come together through food, music, and neighborhood engagement, this conversation explores practical strategies for local action, underscoring how joy, connection, and community support empower people to navigate the climate crisis.
In the sixth episode, Alex Kozela is joined by Jan Meadows and David Lloyd Davis to honor the 50-year legacy of the Cascade Forest Neighborhood Comprehensive Plan and the preservation of Cascade Springs Nature Preserve. Together, they connect past and present, showing how a visionary, community-driven plan centered Black voices in sustainable development and local control. Join Jan and David as they unearth the Preserve's many untold stories and reveal how its recommendations continue to shape the community through Black environmental activism, participatory planning, and place-based stewardship of the Utoy Creek Watershed.
The fifth episode explores the intersection of biophilic design, Afrofuturism, and environmental justice through the story of an outdoor classroom project taking root in the Bush Mountain community of southwest Atlanta. Developed by the Building for Equity and Sustainability Vertically Integrated Project (VIP) at Georgia Tech in collaboration with the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, the project draws inspiration from the living building principles of the Kendeda Building while weaving ancestral knowledge into forward-thinking design. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Bush Mountain’s Outdoor Activity Center, host Alex Kozela is joined by Darryl Haddock, Christian Coles, Jenny Hirsch, and Megan Jermak to reflect on how the project bridges Black history, environmental stewardship, and place-based learning, not just as a physical space, but as a symbol of resilience and just futures.
In the fourth episode of Global Goals, Atlanta Action, host Alex Kozela is joined by a panel of Georgia Tech faculty, staff, and students to discuss hope and action in the sustainability movement amidst shifting political landscapes. In light of current events, the panel turns its collective focus to hyperlocal climate initiatives, grassroots advocacy, and the enduring power of community networks. The episode aims to inspire listeners by showcasing actionable strategies for building resilient, sustainable communities, regardless of political challenges, while fostering collaboration and innovation within the RCE Greater Atlanta network and beyond.
In the third episode of Global Goals, Atlanta Action, host Alex Kozela sits down with Dr. Kelly Comfort, Dr. Jenny Hirsch, and Dr. Britta Kallin from the Georgia Institute of Technology to explore the intersection of art, humanities, and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Together, they discuss the recently published book A Global Humanities Approach to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals: Understanding Planet, People, and Prosperity, which delves into an educational framework for environmental justice through impactful works of global art and literature. From Fabrice Monteiro’s haunting The Prophecy series to Barbara Dombrowski’s evocative Tropic Ice installations, this episode uncovers how visual storytelling can inspire empathy, highlight cultural connections, and offer new pathways to understanding the world through sustainability as a universal language.
The second episode of Global Goals, Atlanta Action features a conversation with Carrie Salone, Program Manager for the Center of Excellence on Climate and Environmental Health at the Morehouse School of Medicine. She is also the Founder and CEO of Legacy Supply Team, a boutique consulting firm specializing in sustainability solutions for companies, institutions, communities, and public health providers. She was a pioneer in public health planning, evaluation, and implementation for the CDC for 23 years, a McDonalds franchisee owner and operator for 17, and served in various roles including Vice Chair of the Atlanta Region Supply Chain. She is also a LEED Green Associate, Zero waste expert, and a Global Health Equity Advisor and WELL City Advisor with the International Well Building Institute (IWBI).
The first episode of Global Goals, Atlanta Action, features a conversation with Dr. Chavonda Mills, Dean of the School of Science and Technology at Georgia Gwinnett College, and the cofounder of the Georgia College Women’s Leadership Faculty Fellows Program. Dr. Mills has worked extensively in science education, particularly in physics, astronomy, and chemistry, and is a champion for enhancement of science curricula and diversifying the STEM pipeline. She joined the podcast to speak on her extensive research, advice for succeeding in STEM, and the importance of networks including RCE Greater Atlanta.
Global Goals, Atlanta Action is made by:
Alex Kozela: Host and Producer
Megan Jermak, Host and Producer
Fayola Waithe, Host and Editor
Carrie Furman Glover, Host