In this episode of Climate to Action, host Molly Saruwatari kicks off a new series spotlighting CSUSM students who are actively taking climate action—starting with guest Tyler Weinstock, an Environmental Studies major and intern at Plastic Beach, a local North County nonprofit.

CREDITS  

Guest: Tyler Weinstock

Host: Molly Saruwatari

Editor: Elden Cadena 

Social Media Content: Molly Saruwatari 

Music: Marios Panousos 

Faculty Advisor: Anne Dabb  

Climate to Action: A CSUSM Student Podcast is advised by faculty from the Philosophy Department and the Environment Studies Program in the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences. Climate to Action is an initiative of the CSUSM Climate Action and Sustainability Center and is produced at Inspiration Studios on the campus of California State University, San Marcos.

In this episode, we dive into environmental literature and climate fiction (Cli-Fi) with Professor Dylan Winchock. We discuss what counts as ‘environmental lit,’ how stories can change how we think and act, and how Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake helps students grapple with the ethics of technology and climate justice. We unpack how literature differs from news and social media disaster narratives and explore how good stories can help us process feelings of dread and grief and move us from fear to agency. 

CREDITS  

Guest: Dylan Winchock 

Host: Saturn Salama 

Producers: Elden Cadena and Saturn Salama 

Editor: Elden Cadena 

Research & Script: Saturn Salama 

Social Media Content: Molly Saruwatari 

Music: Marios Panousos 

Faculty Advisor: Anne Dabb  

Climate to Action: A CSUSM Student Podcast is an initiative of the CSUSM Climate Action and Sustainability Center. The podcast is advised by faculty from the Philosophy Department and the Environment Studies Program in the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences. Climate to Action is produced at Inspiration Studios on the campus of California State University, San Marcos.

CSUSM’s own Dr. Elizabeth Ridder joins us to talk about what first drew her to geography and conservation work and why the Mediterranean basin is such a vital—and vulnerable—hotspot for biodiversity and climate resilience. We explore what makes this region unique, the climate pressures it’s facing, and how her fieldwork connects to the bigger picture of global environmental change.

From U.S. national parks to protected areas around the world, Dr. Ridder breaks down what funding cuts really mean on the ground and how conservation can support communities.

CREDITS 

Guests: Dr. Elizabeth Ridder

Host: Molly Saruwatari

Producers: Elden Cadena and Saturn Salama 

Editor: Elden Cadena 

Research: Molly Saruwatari and Saturn Salama

Script: Molly Saruwatari

Social Media: Molly Saruwatari

Music: Marios Panousos 

Faculty Advisor: Anne Dabb