Think 100%: The Coolest Show On Climate Change

 It takes a lot of courage for whistleblowers to come forward and reveal information, risking their livelihoods. What began with an EPA employee exposing unethical vanadium pentoxide mining in South Africa led to the protection of whistleblowers from discrimination and retaliation. Rev Yearwood speaks with Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, EPA whistleblower, former Black Panther, and president of the Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition. The two discuss the No FEAR Coalition, decoding the language of white supremacy, and the history of slavery and African burial grounds in Montgomery County, Maryland. Support the Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition: https://bethesdaafricancemeterycoalition.net The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at TheCoolestShow.com! Follow @Think100Climate and @RevYearwood on Instagram, Twitter, and Instagram.

Black farmers are facing extinction with a 99% decline since 1920 due to racial discrimination by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. While seeking debt relief through section 1005 of the American Rescue Plan, farmers of color are facing delay due to white farmers suing to block payments. Rev Yearwood speaks with John Boyd, the president and founder of the National Black Farmers Association. The two discuss the history of land theft from Black farmers, tactics to prevent them from receiving money, and the need for more Black landowners. Support the National Black Farmers Association: https://www.nationalblackfarmersassociation.org/ The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at TheCoolestShow.com! Follow @Think100Climate and @RevYearwood on Instagram, Twitter, and Instagram.

 Pan-Africanism is rooted in the connectivity and power of the Black/African diaspora. The continent of Africa is the epicenter of humanity--driving the future of not only the diaspora, but the world. Rev Yearwood speaks with Emira Woods, the senior advisor of Shine and associate fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies. The two discuss the colonial and economic oppression of Africa, the power and potential of women, and liberation leaders of the past and future.  Support the Shine Campaign: https://theshinecampaign.org/ The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at TheCoolestShow.com! Follow @Think100Climate and @RevYearwood on Instagram, Twitter, and Instagram.

It’s extremely dangerous when people in positions of power/leadership make empty promises and play two sides of the field. Slow-walking progress costs people their livelihoods. We must hold the people “on our side” just as accountable as those who oppose us. Rev Yearwood speaks with energy investor Dr. Michael K Dorsey. The two discuss the US’ role in the shift to clean energy, an energy revolution in the Black diaspora, and the Black Owners Solar Services organization. Support Black Owners Solar Services: https://www.blacksolar.org/ The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at TheCoolestShow.com! Follow @Think100Climate and @RevYearwood on Instagram, Twitter, and Instagram.

Did you know that only 1.3% of the U.S.-based climate funding goes to Black, indigenous, and people of color-led environmental justice groups? The Climate Funder's Justice Pledge calls on foundations to do better in the fight for climate justice. Donors of Color Network, a philanthropic group dedicated to funding racial equity efforts, has asked the top 40 climate funders to disclose precisely what percentage of their funding during these past two years went to organizations led by BIPOC communities. They are requesting funders to pledge at least 30% of their climate donations to such groups. Rev Yearwood speaks with guests Daniel Deane, climate adviser of Donors of Color network, and Miya Yoshitani, executive director of the Asian Pacific Environmental Network. They discuss the effort to fund racially diverse climate groups and how that is gaining momentum.  Support Donors of Color Network: https://climate.donorsofcolor.org/ The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drop

 It is important to be grounded when doing this work. For people like Rev Yearwood and Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, urban strategist and author, they ground themselves in their spiritual faith. They discuss extractivism vs regeneration, phases of the environmental movement, and the connections between Islam and the environment. The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at TheCoolestShow.com! Follow @Think100Climate and @RevYearwood on Instagram, Twitter, and Instagram.

 On July 2nd, 2021, the Hip Hop Caucus held a press conference to rally around the Byhalia pipeline fight in Memphis, Tennessee. Later that day, Plains All American Pipeline announced the cancellation of the 49-mile proposed Byhalia pipeline that would have gone right through the predominantly Black Southwest Memphis to transport crude oil for export.  In this episode of The Coolest Show, you’ll hear part of our press conference to depict the tone and fight before the cancellation, as well as the aftermath through the voices of Justin J. Pearson, Co-Founder of the Memphis Community Against the Pipeline (MCAP), and Ms. Scottie Fitzgerald, a Southwest Memphis landowner and MCAP Supporter.  Listen as we discuss the battle against the Byhalia pipeline and the importance of spirit and human first over profit. The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at

While people are profiting off the planet and the most vulnerable, creatives are leading innovation in sustainability with a heart and people-centered approach. The artist's eye is the bridge between the culture and movements. Rev Yearwood speaks with Maya Penn, environmental activist and CEO of the eco-fashion brand Maya’s Ideas. Maya and Rev discuss standing on the shoulders of giants, buying Black and ethical, and the rise of Black women entrepreneurship.  Support Maya’s Ideas: mayasideas.com The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at TheCoolestShow.com! Follow @Think100Climate and @RevYearwood on Instagram, Twitter, and Instagram.

Racism is a public health crisis that fuels the Black community’s lack of trust in the government. Incidents such as the Tuskegee experiment and the Flint water crisis are examples of environmental racism, also categorized as genocide. Rev Yearwood speaks with Elise Tolbert, Founder and Executive Director of Next Step Up and the Deputy Director of Partner Engagement at Climate Action Campaign. Elise and Rev Yearwood discuss the need for young leadership, Black mental health, and the challenge to thrive in a society built to destroy you. Support Next Step Up: www.nextstepup.org The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at TheCoolestShow.com! Follow @Think100Climate and @RevYearwood on Instagram, Twitter, and Instagram.

The producers of The Coolest Show (DeJuan Cross, Destiny Hodges, and Tamara Toles O’Laughlin) give listeners an inside look at the production of the show. Rev Yearwood guides them through a critical conversation on: why spaces like The Coolest Show are needed to speak truth to power; the importance of prioritizing a Black audience for a climate podcast; and “lifting up the struggle while it’s evolving.” The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at TheCoolestShow.com! Follow @Think100Climate and @RevYearwood on Instagram, Twitter, and Instagram.

Institutionalized groups want young, BIack, and Indigenous organizers to be inspirational and play a superficial role. But oftentimes, they don’t want to fund their work to effectively dismantle systems of oppression. It is easier to do the work that coddles one’s privilege because they don’t have to confront their privilege or the realities that communities first and foremost affected are experiencing. Rev Yearwood speaks with Isha Clark, Co-founder of Youth Vs Apocalypse, and Aniya Butler, Hip Hop & Climate Justice coordinator. They share with us the struggle to gain funding and support for young people-led organizations; the importance of doing radical (root-addressing) work; and taking power out of systems of oppression and putting them into community-led solutions that center liberation. The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at TheCoolestShow.co

The fight for fair equity and access to appropriate resources has been an uphill battle for many organizations started in black communities.  Funders have historically not trusted black organizations, resulting in folks doing twice the work for a small percentage of any available support. Rev Yearwood Speaks with Natalie Mebane, Associate Director of U.S. Policy at 350.org.  Natalie shares her origins in the movement, the culture in her home of Trinidad and Tobago, using privilege to help the environment, and how white led organizations should strive to become equitable and diverse workplaces. The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at TheCoolestShow.com! Follow @Think100Climate and @RevYearwood on Instagram, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Coalitions are necessary in working to solve the climate crisis. They are often composed of people with different experiences, perspectives, needs, and opinions. So how do we secure a win with such a coalition? Rev Yearwood speaks with Jane Fleming Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party and President of Bold Alliance. She shared her experience as a former young activist, building the Cowboy Indian Alliance, and ongoing pipeline fights.  The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at TheCoolestShow.com! Follow @Think100Climate and @RevYearwood on Instagram, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Black church has played a major role in many social justice movements. There is a history of politicians and the climate movement being transactional and extractive with Black churches. Rev Yearwood speaks with Rev. Michael Malcom, the Executive Director of Alabama Interfaith Power and Light. He shares insight on the performance of worship, the role of the Black church in the movement, and the intersections of church and climate. The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at TheCoolestShow.com! Follow @Think100Climate and @RevYearwood on Instagram, Twitter, and Instagram.

Many Grassroots Organizations have found themselves in a competition for support from donors. Unfortunately, organizations vying for attention have created a circumstance where groups step on each other for resources, leaving those who need help the most buried.  Rev Yearwood speaks with Actress, Activist, and Author Alyssa Milano about her work connecting organizations to people on the ground in the movement. Alyssa dives into the realities of being a celebrity activist, cancel culture, and the backlash for speaking up for justice.   The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at TheCoolestShow.com! Follow @Think100Climate and @RevYearwood on Instagram, Twitter, and Instagram.

Historically in the United States, building new or better communities hasn't always benefited people of color in these areas who have been systematically oppressed due to tactics like redlining and gentrification.  President Biden's proposal of the Build Back Better plan will include investments in infrastructure and is projected to create 10 million clean-energy jobs. Expenditures would also have government funds on housing, education, economic fairness, and health care. Rev Yearwood Speaks with Dr. Cecilia Martinez, Senior Director for Environmental Justice, CEQ,  about a whole government approach to EJ and creating clean energy jobs in communities worst impacted.  Dr. Martinez shares strategies and ideas of Building Back Better and fossil-free in this episode of The Coolest Show. The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at TheCoolestShow.com! F

The fight for Energy Justice has an adversary posing as a friend. The fossil fuel companies have begun to use their tactics in the clean energy space by taking indigenous lands to create solar farms in Hawaii and other island nations that have historically depended on their energy solutions from outside sources. Rev Yearwood speaks with Raya Salter, the "Climate Auntie," an attorney, consultant, educator, and the Lead Policy Organizer for the NY Renews Climate Justice Coalition.   Raya explains the energy fight through the lens of the people being affected first and worse by showing how much income is lost in paying energy bills. Also, she shares how she became involved in the movement as the Climate Auntie and how social media has become her platform to spread awareness and joy with her climate family. The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at The

Transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy has been a hot issue for activists, communities, and the people most affected by the climate crisis. While actions like mountain top removal pollute the air, water, and food in neighborhoods surrounding the Appellation region in West Virginia and Kentucky, 68% of Black Americans also reside near coal fire power plants in their communities, making this an issue that affects us all. Rev Yearwood speaks with Mary Anne Hitt, the Senior Director of Climate Imperative at Energy Innovation. They share their ideas and thoughts on introducing the green energy transition to communities while creating equity in these areas for the people. Mary Anne also spent 12 years with the Sierra Club and describes its growth and understanding of racial justice as the center of the climate movement and launching campaigns to end fossil fuels with grassroots organizers. The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on env

Everything is interdisciplinary and intersectional. As our analysis of the world evolves to include the root of our issues (global racial capitalism and white supremacy), it must inform our work. Naomi Klein is an award-winning journalist, columnist, and author. Naomi discusses with Rev Yearwood the effects of exploiting states of trauma from Climate Gentrification, building public support for fights with fossil fuel companies, and reflections on President Biden’s first 100 days in office. The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at TheCoolestShow.com! Follow @Think100Climate and @RevYearwood on Instagram, Twitter, and Instagram.

Energy Combat requires a hand-to-hand fight with policymakers and interest groups who have persuaded the passing of laws that benefit corporations and disengage communities most affected. Dr. Leah Stokes, Assistant Professor at the University of California, Santa Barabara, discusses with RevYearwood her book "Short-Circuiting Policy". She shares the tactics that Fossil Fuels companies use over the years, from graduating from Climate Denial to now Climate Delay and even hiring actors to protest in support of the companies taking land from our neighborhoods.  We must realize that both the Green Energy and Fossil Fuels companies cannot both have their way, and Dr. Stokes gives us a game plan to combat these tactics. The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at TheCoolestShow.com! Follow @Think100Climate and @RevYearwood on Instagram, Twitter, and Instagram.