The Sierra Club began in 1882, founded by Californians who wanted to sponsor wilderness outings. Its first president, conservationist John Muir, rallied to preserve California forests, the Sierra Nevada, and the Pacific Coast. 140 years later, the Sierra Club has evolved into the prevention and now recently environmental activist that it is today.

Chance Cutrano is on the all-volunteer executive committee of the Sierra Club. Originally from Chicago, Chance studied political science and philosophy at Saint Xavier University, where he analyzed wildlife policy and systems in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Chance has traveled to Morocco, Vietnam, and Bolivia to research food, water, and energy management, and has worked on policy analysis with the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. He lives in Marin and has dedicated his adult life to the health of the planet and its people.

Our guest host for this episode of Beyond The Fog Radio is John Ribeiro-Broomhead, a native to San Francisco and a recent Stanford graduate with a Master’s in Atmosphere & Energy Sciences. John’s interest is in the intersection of policy, science, people, and institutions. He is a deep thinker and a kind soul, and is ready to help others navigate the challenges to our climate that lie ahead.

Meet Chance Cutrano and John Ribeiro-Broomhead!

https://www.sierraclub.org/san-francisco-bay

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-ribeiro-broomhead-37b809182/

David Philips is a biologist, activist, and Executive Director of the Earth Island Institute. This environmental non-profit is dedicated to developing and supporting fellow environmental non-profits and projects in need of legal, financial, technical, and organizational assistance. With a strong youth division, an award winning journal, and several globally-recognized awards and achievements, Earth Island Institute is one of the leading environmental activist organizations in the U.S. today.

David specializes in marine wildlife conservation, directing the International Marine Mammal Project at Earth Island Institute. He was integral in the institute’s successful negotiations with the world’s largest tuna companies in adopting dolphin-safe policies, and founded the Free Willy-Keiko Foundation, an initiative to oversee the historic rescue, rehabilitation and first-ever release of a captive orca whale to its native habitat. David is a very quiet, understated and deeply concerned individual with an immense knowledge of the environment. We were thrilled to learn about him and his work with the Earth Island Institute this April.

For more information about David, please visit: https://www.earthisland.org/index.php/team

Meet David Philips!

Sejal Choksi-Chugh is a fierce defender of the environment. From a young age she wondered why the water was murky, why the air was polluted, and why no one seemed to be doing anything to fix it. After receiving her law degree with a certificate in environmental law in 2002 from UC Berkeley, Sejal’s been taking charge at San Francisco Baykeeper, a non-profit whose mission is to protect our Bay. Using law, science and advocacy as their tools, SF Baykeeper seeks out polluting businesses and holds them accountable by any means necessary. Sejal has been Executive Director since 2015.

Sejal’s environmental advocacy work extends even beyond our bay. She sits on the governing council of the global Waterkeeper Alliance and co-founded the Bay Area chapter of Environmental Professionals of Color. We were thrilled to interview her this March on the Baykeeper boat. Enjoy!

For more information about Sejal, please visit: https://baykeeper.org/content/our-team

Meet Sejal Choksi-Chugh!

Jared Blumenfeld is the Secretary of Environmental Protection for the State of California. From protecting air and water quality to regulating pesticides and toxic substances, Jared has had a direct and positive impact on all of our lives here in the Golden State. Thanks to his efforts, not only does SF have the strongest recycling and composting program in the country, but we have also banned plastic bags and styrofoam and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent.

Blumenfeld is somewhat of an environmental warrior, having led international campaigns like the U.N.’s World Environmental Day in 2005, or the habitat protection program for the International Fund for Animal Welfare. He knows that environmental inequality is the most pressing issue facing the Bay Area today, so we at Beyond the Fog Radio were thrilled to be able to talk to him about his plans to help our city while learning about his fascinating career.

For more information about Jared Blumenfeld, please visit: https://calepa.ca.gov/about/bios/blumenfeld/

Meet Jared Blumenfeld!