Home
Categories
EXPLORE
True Crime
Comedy
Society & Culture
Business
Sports
Health & Fitness
Technology
About Us
Contact Us
Copyright
© 2024 PodJoint
Loading...
0:00 / 0:00
Podjoint Logo
US
Sign in

or

Don't have an account?
Sign up
Forgot password
https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts211/v4/94/19/be/9419be1b-b4c9-abf6-0304-4b617aaf259e/mza_10602198718326700076.jpg/600x600bb.jpg
The Environmental Justice Lab
Lesley Joseph
93 episodes
1 month ago
Since the dawn of human history, the fight for environmental justice has always been a fight. Water wars between the people of Israel and herdsmen of Gerar in the book of Genesis, Chapter 26. The resistance of Native Americans to the pillaging of their land and resources at the founding of the United States of America. The refusal to allow a hazardous landfill to be built in the Warren County, a predominantly Black community in North Carolina, giving birth to the modern-day environmental justice movement. The struggle for clean water in places like Flint, MI and Newark, NJ and Jackson, MS. The struggle is real and the fight is on-going. And I'm here for it.

My name is Dr. Lesley Joseph, a professor, an environmental engineer, and a fighter for environmental justice in our present day. Every other Tuesday, on this podcast, I explore issues related to environmental justice and the ways in which communities of color are impacted. Each episode will discuss a important environmental justice issue or situation and what we can do to fight for change. Let's learn, grow, and fight for a better world together!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support.
Show more...
News Commentary
News
RSS
All content for The Environmental Justice Lab is the property of Lesley Joseph and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Since the dawn of human history, the fight for environmental justice has always been a fight. Water wars between the people of Israel and herdsmen of Gerar in the book of Genesis, Chapter 26. The resistance of Native Americans to the pillaging of their land and resources at the founding of the United States of America. The refusal to allow a hazardous landfill to be built in the Warren County, a predominantly Black community in North Carolina, giving birth to the modern-day environmental justice movement. The struggle for clean water in places like Flint, MI and Newark, NJ and Jackson, MS. The struggle is real and the fight is on-going. And I'm here for it.

My name is Dr. Lesley Joseph, a professor, an environmental engineer, and a fighter for environmental justice in our present day. Every other Tuesday, on this podcast, I explore issues related to environmental justice and the ways in which communities of color are impacted. Each episode will discuss a important environmental justice issue or situation and what we can do to fight for change. Let's learn, grow, and fight for a better world together!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support.
Show more...
News Commentary
News
Episodes (20/93)
The Environmental Justice Lab
Environmental Racism in My Hometown: The Legacy of Rock Hill’s "Trash Pile" with Kibri Everett (pt. 2)
What happens when the leaders in your hometown turn a Black neighborhood into a dumping ground?

In part 2 of our conversation, environmental scientist and advocate Kibri Hutchison Everett takes us back to my hometown of Rock Hill, South Carolina, to confront the legacy of the so-called “Trash Pile.” What began with the placement of unlined landfill in the heart of a Black neighborhood, the Trash Pile stands as a stark example of how racist policy choices create sacrifice zones in the United States. It is now a neighborhood with no water, sanitation, or city services, despite being within city limits.

Kibri shares how this desolate community still bears the scars of contamination, land loss, and disinvestment, and why she purchased a parcel of land there to transform it into a test site for community science and grassroots advocacy. Together, we explore how pollution, policy, and poverty intersect, and how data, organizing, and courage can shift the fight from environmental injustice to environmental and economic liberation.

This is not just a story about Rock Hill, South Carolina or even the plight of Black communities in the South. It’s about the structures that allow entire communities to be written off, and the movements rising to reclaim land, dignity, and a livable future.

Connect with Kibri Everett
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kibri-hutchison-everett-646b051b3/
Instagram: @the.enviro.vegan and @key.environmental.consulting
Websites: www.keyenvi.com & www.palmettofutures.org

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support.

Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community: 
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
Show more...
1 month ago
28 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
Science, Struggle, and Solidarity: Fighting for Environmental Justice with Kibri Everett (pt. 1)
What does it mean to fight for environmental justice when the very language of justice is under attack?

In this first episode (of a 2-part series), I talk with environmental scientist, small business owner, and consultant Kibri Hutchison Everett about the fight for environmental justice. We trace her journey from growing up in Rock Hill, South Carolina (my hometown), to working in federal environmental data analysis, and ultimately to founding her own company to support communities on the frontlines of pollution and disinvestment.

We talk about her work with the HBCU Environmental Justice Technical Collaborative, and Kibri speaks candidly about the realities of working with marginalized communities, and calling environmental racism what it is, even when federal agencies and political leaders try to erase the term. Together, we unpack how industries target poor Black, Brown, and rural communities, how changes in White House can roll back decades of progress overnight, and why grassroots organizing and data sovereignty remain critical tools for resistance.

This is not just a policy discussion; it’s a call to action. Tune in to learn how environmental justice plays out on the ground and why vulnerable communities are still forced to fight for clean air, clean water, and basic dignity.

Resources: 
HBCU Environmental Justice Technical Collaborative
Article: Environmental Justice in an Era of Federal Rollbacks
HBCU EJ Screening Tool
Justice40 Awards Tracker

Connect with Kibri Everett
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kibri-hutchison-everett-646b051b3/
Instagram: @the.enviro.vegan
@key.environmental.consulting
Websites: 
www.keyenvi.com
www.palmettofutures.org

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support.

Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community: 
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
Show more...
1 month ago
44 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
Don’t Just Go Green...Go Just: The Fight for Environmental Justice with Dr. Bruce Strouble
In this episode of The Environmental Justice Lab, Dr. Joseph is joined by scholar, strategist, and activist Dr. Bruce Strouble, the founder of Citizens for a Sustainable Future and author of By Any Dreams Necessary - Anti-Racist Strategies for Sustainability, Resilience, and Environmental Justice in African-American Communities.

Dr. Strouble's expertise made for a dynamic conversation about what it really takes to build grassroots environmental power in Black communities. Dr. Strouble brings deep insight into how environmental injustice intersects with political disempowerment, economic inequality, and systemic neglect, particularly in the South. From democracy to youth organizing, he shares stories from the field and hard-earned lessons about community-driven change.

They dive into:
⚡ Why climate solutions often leave Black communities behind
🗳️ How local organizing and political literacy can shift power
🌱 What true sustainability means in communities that have been chronically under-resourced
💡 And why it’s time for the environmental movement to center justice

This episode calls us to rethink how we talk about “green” policy and who’s shaping the conversation. If you care about equity, grassroots organizing, and real solutions that empower the most affected, this is an episode you can’t miss.

🎧 Tune in to hear how Dr. Strouble is flipping the script and building a future rooted in justice, power, and people.

Connect with Dr. Bruce Strouble
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucestroublephd/ 
https://www.facebook.com/ProfessaStrouble/
https://www.instagram.com/dr_strouble/
https://twitter.com/ProfesaStrouble
Info@brucestroublejr.com
https://www.brucestroublejr.com

Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community: 
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
Show more...
2 months ago
49 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
"Powerless": How Two Scholars Are Rewriting the Energy Narrative
In this episode of The Environmental Justice Lab, Dr. Lesley Joseph sits down with public health expert Dr. Diana Hernández of Columbia University and sociologist Dr. Jennifer Laird of Lehman College to talk about their new book, Powerless: The People's Struggle for Energy.

More than 1 in 4 U.S. households struggle to afford their utility bills, with many facing shutoffs, debt, and the constant stress of choosing between heating and food, or cooling and rent. Powerless brings this hidden crisis into the light, exposing how energy insecurity is not just a personal hardship but a systemic failure rooted in race, class, housing, and policy.

In this episode, Drs. Hernández and Laird reveal:
⚡ Why low-income and marginalized communities are disproportionately energy insecure
🏠 How housing conditions, debt, and disconnection policies deepen inequality
💡 And how we can rethink policy and infrastructure to create a more just energy future

🎧 Tune in now to learn how these two brilliant minds are helping rewire how we think about energy, poverty, and power in America.

Resources: 
Powerless - The People's Struggle for Energy

Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community: 
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
Show more...
3 months ago
1 hour 1 minute

The Environmental Justice Lab
Gajarah by Somia Sadiq: A Story of Resilience and Belonging in the Pursuit of Justice
In this episode, Dr. Lesley Joseph sits down with author, conflict practitioner, and activist Somia Sadiq to discuss her new novel, Gajarah, a story that challenges how we understand land, justice, grief, and the tangled threads of human resilience. Born in Pakistan, raised in Canada, and shaped by a life between cultures and continents, Somia brings her lived experience, and her deep work in justice and  peacebuilding, to the page. Through her unforgettable protagonist, Emahn, she explores trauma, displacement, and the often-unspoken truth that healing isn’t linear, and justice doesn’t always come with closure.

Dr. Joseph and Somia explore questions like:
🌿 What if land was a character in your story?
💔 Why do some conflicts never really end, even when we say they’re resolved?
🔥 What does environmental justice look like when we move beyond human-centered narratives?

If you’ve ever felt stuck between cultures, longed for a language to express the “in-between,” or wondered how storytelling can bring us closer to justice—this episode will speak to you.

🎧 Tune in now to hear how Somia's new book, Gajarah, invites us to feel more deeply, think more critically, and honor the land and people that shape our stories.

Buy the book and follow Somia Sadiq on Social Media: 
https://www.somiasadiq.com/
https://www.somiasadiq.com/gajarah
https://www.instagram.com/somiasadiq/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/somiasadiq/

Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community: 
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining...
Show more...
3 months ago
48 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
Pollution, Power, & the Price of Telling the Truth: The Stunning Resignation of Kimberly Terrell of the Tulane Environ. Law Clinic
In this episode of The Environmental Justice Lab, our host, Dr. Lesley Joseph, responds to a deeply troubling development: the resignation of Dr. Kimberly Terrell from the Environmental Law Clinic at Tulane University. A respected environmental scientist, researcher, and advocate, Dr. Terrell left her position as the Director for Community Engagement, citing political and donor-driven censorship, after years of research exposing the disproportionate health dangers experienced by the residents of Louisiana’s Cancer Alley. 

Dr. Joseph unpacks what this moment means for academic freedom, community-centered research, and the future of environmental justice in the U.S. He draws a clear line between truth-telling and power, asking hard questions about whether universities are still safe havens for critical inquiry, or simply extensions of corporate and political interests. Why are researchers being silenced for revealing the truth about pollution, cancer, and environmental injustice? What happens when scientific evidence threatens the bottom line? And how should the environmental justice research community respond?

This episode is both a tribute to Dr. Terrell’s courage and a rallying cry for researchers, activists, and citizens alike to keep fighting. Because justice demands it. 

Resources: 
Tulane scientist resigns citing university censorship of pollution and racial disparity research - AP News

Research from Dr. Terrell and the Environmental Law Clinic:
Air pollution is linked to higher cancer rates among black or impoverished communities in Louisiana - Environmental Research Journal

Toxic air pollution and concentrated social deprivation are associated with low birthweight and preterm Birth in Louisiana - Environmental Research Journal

Pervasive racial and ethnic disparities in the U.S. petrochemical workforce

Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community: 
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
Show more...
4 months ago
35 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
Where the Trash Goes - and Who It Hurts: Exploring landfilling in South Carolina, the United States, and beyond
In this episode of The Environmental Justice Lab, I break down the findings from my latest research publication, entitied “Race, Class, Gender, and Waste: A Spatial Analysis of Landfill Siting and Intersectional Inequities in South Carolina.” This article is not simply a data-driven study; it is an investigation into how race, gender, income, and geography intersect to determine who ends up living next to the landfills in South Carolina… and who doesn’t. I explain why landfills are still important in today’s environmental justice movement. I talk about the history of waste-related activism, and discuss how communities, particularly Black women, Hispanic women, and female-led households in poverty, are disproportionately burdened by the health, environmental, and social harms of landfill placement.

The episode goes beyond statistics. It’s a reflection on the academic resistance to justice-focused research in engineering, an ode to cross-institutional collaboration, and a rallying cry for policy change, intersectional thinking, and true community engagement.

🎧 Tune in now to hear why it’s time we rethink how we manage our waste, and who bears the cost.

Resources: 

Race, Class, Gender, and Waste: A Spatial Analysis of Landfill Siting and Intersectional Inequities in South Carolina - Environmental Sociology

Toxic Waste and Race in the United States - Full Report

Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community:
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
Show more...
4 months ago
43 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
Unseen Suffering: The Mental Scars of Environmental Injustice
In this episode, we confront a powerful but often overlooked reality: environmental injustice doesn’t just harm our bodies - it harms our minds and breaks our spirits.

As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, this episode sheds light on the hidden emotional toll of living in neglected, polluted, and disaster-prone communities. From climate anxiety to post-traumatic stress, Dr. Joseph explains how the fear, powerlessness, and injustice faced by frontline communities leads to real, lasting psychological harm. Drawing from research and real-world examples, including Flint, Michigan and global conflict zones, Dr. Joseph explores how trauma, uncertainty, and systemic neglect affect mental wellness just as much as contaminated water or polluted air. And the message is clear: these impacts are not random. They are patterned. They are unjust. And they must be addressed.

This episode is both a call for recognition and a call to action. If we truly care about justice, we must care for the mental health of those most affected. Whether you’re an advocate, policymaker, healthcare provider, or someone seeking to understand more, this episode will expand your perspective and your compassion.

🎧 Tune in now to discover why mental health must be part of every environmental justice conversation.

Resources: 
The Mental Distress of Environmental Injustice - Urban Health Council
The Emotional Distress of Living in an Environmental Justice Community - International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being

Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community:
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
Show more...
5 months ago
34 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
Legacy Environmental Justice, pt. 6 - Reflections and the Road Ahead (The Finale)
In the conclusion to this series, our special guest Savannah Domenech and I take a reflective look back at their deep dive into Rochester’s legacy of environmental injustice. Throughout this series, we explored how Kodak’s rise and fall left deep economic, environmental, and public health scars on the Rochester community. In this episode, Savannah shares personal stories, research insights, and the powerful realization that even lifelong residents often don't know the full extent of the damage. We discuss why legacy environmental injustice doesn't end when a company closes its doors - and why community awareness, activism, and healing must continue. From environmental pollution to gentrification, the conversation reminds us that true justice requires confronting the past and committing to building a better future. We urge all of you listening to dig into your own local histories, connect with your neighbors, and advocate for change - because the fight for clean, safe, and equitable communities impacts everyone.

🎧 Tune in for a conversation that will leave you informed, inspired, and ready to act. The journey doesn’t end here - it’s just the beginning.

Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community:
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
Show more...
6 months ago
29 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
Black Maternal Health Week 2025 – Listening, Learning, and Fighting for Justice
In this personal episode, we recognize Black Maternal Health Week with a reflection on the systemic failures that Black women face during pregnancy and childbirth. Together, we explore the heartbreaking reality that Black women - regardless of income or education - consistently experience the worst maternal health outcomes in the U.S. Why are they not being heard? Why are their concerns dismissed, even by healthcare professionals? And what does it say about the society we live in?

As we draw connections between environmental racism, healthcare inequities, and the lived experiences of Black mothers, we go beyond the statistics, and get personal about our family experiences, toxic beauty standards, and the critical importance of clean, safe environments and culturally competent medical care. As you listen, we hope that you will walk away not only informed, but inspired to act. Whether it’s advocating for Black physicians, confronting harmful stereotypes, or demanding safer neighborhoods, this is both a call to consciousness and a call to action.

🎧 Tune in for an urgent conversation and learn how you can stand in solidarity with Black mothers, this week and every week.

Resources: 
Black Women Maternal Health - Fact Sheet
"With Black doctors, Black people live longer" - STAT News
How Serena Williams saved her own life - ELLE Magazine

Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community:
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
Show more...
6 months ago
31 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
Legacy Environmental Justice, pt. 5 - Economic Impacts of Kodak on the People of Rochester, NY
In this episode,  Savannah Domenech is back to dive into the economic effects of Kodak’s rise and fall in Rochester, New York. For decades, Kodak wasn’t just a company - it was the economic backbone of the city, providing tens of thousands of jobs and shaping the entire community. But when the company went bankrupt, so did the financial security of many Rochester residents.

What happens when an industry that once promised prosperity vanishes? Savannah unpacks the stark realities of Kodak’s economic collapse, from lost pensions and skyrocketing unemployment to the struggles of former workers forced back into the job market. They explore the racial and gender disparities in Kodak’s hiring and wage practices, the class-action lawsuits that followed, and the devastating impact of the company’s bankruptcy on retirees who were left with nothing.

But this isn’t just a story of loss - it’s also one of resilience. How did the community rebuild after the downfall of its largest employer? And what lessons can we learn about relying too heavily on a single industry? Let's explore this and so much more on this episode of The Environmental Justice Lab. 

Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community:
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
Show more...
7 months ago
29 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
World Water Day 2025 - The Fight for Water Justice
In this episode, we dive deep into the urgent water crises affecting communities worldwide. Although the United Nations’ theme for World Water Day 2025 highlights glacier preservation, we are shifting the conversation to the pressing issue of water access in war zones, underprivileged communities, and regions suffering from environmental neglect.

From Gaza to Flint, Sudan to Ukraine, billions are struggling to secure clean, safe water. We discuss how water scarcity is not just a resource issue but a matter of human rights and environmental justice. We also explore the devastating impact of climate change, conflict, and inequality on global water supplies, emphasizing how access to water determines survival, health, and social equity.

Why are some communities forced to buy bottled water while others enjoy clean tap water? How has water become a weapon in modern conflicts? And could future wars be fought over this essential resource? Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the politics of water, the disparities in global access, and what we can do to push for change.

Because water isn’t a privilege. It’s a right.

Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community:
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
Show more...
7 months ago
20 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
Legacy Environmental Justice, pt. 4 - Health Impacts of Kodak on the People of Rochester, NY
In this episode, we confront one of the most devastating consequences of Kodak’s industrial legacy: its impact on public health. For decades, the communities surrounding Kodak’s operations in Rochester have faced alarming health disparities—rising cancer rates, respiratory illnesses, and other chronic conditions linked to toxic pollution. Savannah unpacks the harsh reality of how environmental contamination has disproportionately affected vulnerable populations, especially children and low-income families.

But this episode is not just about the problem—it’s about the fight for solutions. How do you heal a community that has been exposed to industrial pollution for generations? What policies or healthcare interventions are needed to address these long-standing health disparities? And most importantly—how can we prevent this from happening again in other communities? If you are concerned about the intersection of health, equity, and environmental justice, this episode is essential listening.

Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community:
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
Show more...
7 months ago
44 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
Legacy Environmental Justice, pt. 3 - Environmental Impacts of Kodak on the People of Rochester, NY
In this continuation of our series on Legacy Environmental Justice, we shift our focus from Kodak to the people of Rochester - the communities that lived in the shadow of the factory, bore the brunt of its pollution, and are still dealing with its lasting effects today. Savannah unpacks eye-opening statistics from the latest census, revealing how economic hardship, failing school systems, and environmental degradation have shaped the city over time.

At the heart of this episode lies in the deeply human impact of Kodak’s environmental footprint. From toxic spills near elementary schools to alarmingly high cancer rates in women and children, we discuss how systemic neglect and corporate irresponsibility continue to haunt Rochester long after Kodak's decline.

How does a community recover from a century of environmental injustice? What can be done to protect future generations? And is anyone still being held accountable? This is a conversation about resilience, accountability, and the fight for justice. If you want to learn more about environmental equity and the real-life consequences of corporate pollution, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community:
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
Show more...
8 months ago
1 hour 3 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
Legacy Environmental Justice, pt. 2 - The Kodak Facility in Rochester, NY
In this episode, we welcome back Savannah Domenech for a deep dive into the rise and fall of Kodak— and the lasting environmental and social impacts on Rochester, New York. Once a corporate giant that defined photography for generations, Kodak was more than just a company — it was the backbone of an entire community. Savannah unpacks Kodak’s golden era, its contributions to Rochester, and how it became synonymous with job security and innovation. But, as the company declined, so did its reputation, with environmental disasters, mass layoffs, and lingering pollution leaving a lasting mark on the city and its people.

Was Kodak a benevolent giant, or just another corporation prioritizing profits over people? How did the Rochester community respond when faced with toxic spills and economic downturns? And what lessons can we learn from Kodak’s environmental justice legacy?

Join us for an eye-opening conversation that connects history, business, and environmental responsibility. If you’re interested in corporate accountability, community resilience, and the real-world impacts of industrial decline, this episode is a must-listen.

Resources: 

Pollution By Kodak Brings Sense Of Betrayal - NY Times
The Environmental Ruin of Kodak - Psychology Today

Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community: 
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen!

Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
Show more...
8 months ago
43 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
An Introduction to Legacy Environmental Justice with Savannah Domenech
For many, fighting for environmental justice means pushing polluters to stop poisoning our air and water. It means shutting down non-compliant factories and industrial facilities that refuse to follow the law. However, environmental justice issues can persist long after these facilities shut down or stop polluting. It's called "legacy environmental (in)justice", where the pollution of the past continues to impact our present. Not much has been said on this, but it's something that we need to discuss and confront wherever we see it.

On this episode, we begin our discussion about legacy environmental justice with Savannah Domenech, a Senior majoring in Environmental Management at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. (And she promised to stay with us for several episodes on this topic.)

So let's get into it!

Resources:
A Primer on Legacy Pollution - PBS
Legacy Pollution and Health - University of Wisconsin

Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community: 
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support  

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! 
Show more...
9 months ago
34 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
Welcome to Season 4 of the Environmental Justice Lab!
Happy New Year and welcome to Season 4 of the Environmental Justice Lab. We have a lot of amazing stories and analysis planned for this season. From thinking through the implications of a new president in the United States for EJ work to examining topics like legacy environmental justice to lifting up marginalized voices around the world, we are going to be getting deep this year. Stay with us! Connect with us! And support us!

Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community: 
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support 

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! 
Show more...
9 months ago
12 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
Engineering Environmental Justice in Palestine - A Conversation with the El-Sayeghs, pt. 1
It's the holiday season, and we are coming to the end of another amazing season of the Environmental Justice Lab Podcast. And to finish the year strong, we have a 2-part conversation with the El-Sayeghs. They are a dynamic father-daughter duo of Palestinian engineers who care deeply about environmental justice and equity. I hope you enjoy these episodes as much as I enjoyed recording them. 

So let's get into Part 1 of my conversation with the El-Sayeghs! 

Resources:
Five Myths about Israel & Palestine
Voices from Gaza  
Reports from B’Tselem (Israeli Human Rights Organization) 


Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community: 
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
Show more...
11 months ago
52 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
Environmental Apartheid, pt. 3 - Infrastructure Apartheid, explained
We are talking about infrastructure apartheid. Infrastructure can play an important role in social inclusion and economic growth. However, when infrastructure is inadequate, it can lead to social exclusion, poverty, and poor health. The fact that some people in some places have more better, more resilient, more effective infrastructure than others is not an accident. Decisions are being made that keep people from enjoying the quality of infrastructure that would allow them to live healthy, whole lives, while others have an overabundance of high-quality systems and infrastructure. It’s not right.

So let’s talk about it on this episode of the Environmental Justice Lab. 

Resources:
How infrastructure has historically promoted inequality - PBS News

‘Infrastructure apartheid’: Africatown’s fight against toxins, new toll bridge

Green Apartheid: Urban green infrastructure remains unequally distributed across income and race geographies in South Africa - Journal of Landscape and Urban Planning

Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians - Amnesty International   
 
Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community:
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
Show more...
11 months ago
41 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
Environmental Apartheid, pt. 2 - Food Apartheid, explained (pt. 3)
We are (still) talking about food apartheid. While the United Nations has the goal of a world free from hunger by 2030, the reality is that because of these inequitable food systems, we are far from that goal. From conflict to climate change, there is a lot that is keeping us from living in a hunger-free world. 

So let’s get into it on this episode of the Environmental Justice Lab. 

Resources:
Food Apartheid - ReGeneration.
Food Apartheid | Why we should change the way we talk about food deserts
Global Food Crisis - World Food Programme
Violence and the Right to Food - The Situation in Palestine
The Question of Palestine: The Right to Food - United Nations (2003)  


Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community: 
Instagram: @envjusticelab
YouTube: @envjusticelab
Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support  
Show more...
1 year ago
36 minutes

The Environmental Justice Lab
Since the dawn of human history, the fight for environmental justice has always been a fight. Water wars between the people of Israel and herdsmen of Gerar in the book of Genesis, Chapter 26. The resistance of Native Americans to the pillaging of their land and resources at the founding of the United States of America. The refusal to allow a hazardous landfill to be built in the Warren County, a predominantly Black community in North Carolina, giving birth to the modern-day environmental justice movement. The struggle for clean water in places like Flint, MI and Newark, NJ and Jackson, MS. The struggle is real and the fight is on-going. And I'm here for it.

My name is Dr. Lesley Joseph, a professor, an environmental engineer, and a fighter for environmental justice in our present day. Every other Tuesday, on this podcast, I explore issues related to environmental justice and the ways in which communities of color are impacted. Each episode will discuss a important environmental justice issue or situation and what we can do to fight for change. Let's learn, grow, and fight for a better world together!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support.