In this episode of Green Tea Party Radio, host Katie Zakrzewski discusses the intensification of hurricanes in the face of climate change and how conservative approaches can offer innovative, market-driven solutions. Katie explores the impact of two recent hurricanes, Helene and Milton, on coastal communities and advocates for practical, resilient infrastructure to combat future natural disasters. As always, she emphasizes the importance of balancing environmental stewardship with conservative values, including economic growth and private-sector innovation. Katie also provides actionable steps for listeners to get involved in their local communities.

Key Takeaways:

1. Hurricane Intensification & Climate Change: Rising global temperatures contribute to stronger, more frequent hurricanes, with hotter oceans fueling storm intensification.
2. Conservative Solutions: Katie advocates for disaster recovery, flood control systems, and market-driven solutions such as storm-resistant technologies and green infrastructure.
3. Innovation Over Regulation: Instead of strict mandates, Katie encourages resilience and technological advancements to mitigate the effects of climate change on natural disasters.
4. Pro-Life Connection: Katie argues that climate change is a pro-life issue and that conservatives must lead the charge in addressing it to protect future generations.
5. Calls to Action: Register to vote, become a certified storm spotter, and engage your local politicians to advocate for infrastructure improvements.

Quotable Moments:

• "Conservatives need to step up and acknowledge that climate change is a pro-life issue."
• "Warmer oceans are fueling stronger hurricanes, and it's time we invest in resilient infrastructure to protect our communities."

Resources & Links:

• National Weather Service Storm Spotter Program
• Citizens Climate Lobby - Conservative Caucus: Citizens Climate Lobby
• RepublicEn.org - Eco-Right Climate Action: RepublicEn
• National Hurricane Center - Hurricane Forecasts: National Hurricane Center
• Voter Registration: USA.gov Register to Vote

"If you're not a pro-life Catholic, I might argue that you're not Catholic at all."

Description: In this episode, host Katie Zakrzewski explores environmental stewardship from a conservative Roman Catholic perspective. With a solid commitment to faith-based values, Katie discusses practical solutions for addressing environmental challenges without compromising core conservative and Christian beliefs. The conversation covers vital issues such as sustainable resource management, responsible consumption, and the role of individuals and communities in protecting God's creation.

Throughout the episode, Katie emphasizes the importance of faithful stewardship, drawing inspiration from scripture and Church teachings.

Katie Zakrzewski emphasizes a strong commitment to the pro-life stance, which she views as central to her identity as a Catholic. For her, being pro-life primarily means opposing abortion and protecting the unborn, and she suggests that this is a defining belief for Catholics. However, she also acknowledges Pope Francis's call for a broader, more holistic pro-life perspective, which includes caring for vulnerable populations like children affected by hunger and war. Katie critiques conservatives who focus solely on abortion while neglecting other life issues, such as health care, and believes that true pro-life values should encompass a wider range of concerns beyond just anti-abortion advocacy.

Overall, her beliefs reflect a mix of traditional Catholic pro-life views with an openness to the expanded definition of "pro-life" as promoted by Pope Francis, which calls for care for all forms of life and social justice.

Key Takeaways:

1. Conservative Values & Environmentalism: How environmental care aligns with the Christian responsibility to be stewards of creation.
2. Practical Strategies: Simple, everyday actions that reflect both conservative values and environmental responsibility.
3. Faith-Based Perspectives: How scripture supports environmental stewardship, focusing on Genesis and the teachings of Pope Francis on care for creation.

4. Laudato Si’ is Pope Francis’s encyclical that calls for global action to combat environmental degradation and climate change, emphasizing the moral responsibility to care for our common home.

   Link to Laudato Si’: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html

5. Individual Responsibility: The power of local, community-led solutions to environmental problems.
6. Katie's Faith Journey: Personal stories of how her faith drives her passion for environmentalism.
7. Upcoming Topics: Sneak peek at future episodes, including guest interviews with faith leaders discussing moral responsibility toward the planet.

Quotable Moments:

• "We are called to care for the earth, not just because it's good for us, but because it's God's creation."
• "Faithful stewardship is about taking personal responsibility for how we live, consume, and care for the world God entrusted to us."

Contact Information:

• Email: info@greenteapartyradio.com
• Website: Green Tea Party Radio
• Social Media: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

Support Us: If you enjoy our content and want to support our work, consider becoming a patron for early access to episodes and exclusive merchandise. Visit our website for more details.

Disclaimer: Green Tea Party Radio is an independent project and does not represent the views of the Diocese of Little Rock, Catholic Climate Covenant, or any of our employers.

In this special episode, Zach and Katie welcome longtime friend and podcasting expert Peterson Toscano, producer of Citizens Climate Radio. Peterson discusses his latest project, Hot Mess: How Climate Consensus Turned Into Political Chaos, a limited series exploring the roots of the climate crisis through the lens of true crime. Peterson dives into the complexities of how bipartisanship around climate change unraveled, sharing insights from history, politics, and personal experiences. Through Hot Mess, he aims to highlight the causes of the chaos and why a bipartisan solution is more vital than ever.

Key Quotes:

• “What if we looked at climate change through the lens of a true crime podcast?” — Peterson Toscano on the inspiration behind Hot Mess.
• “We’re going to look at things that aren’t typically looked at, including the roles Democrats and society played, so that it’s not just about blaming Republicans.” — Peterson Toscano on the need for nuance in discussing the climate crisis.
• “Climate communication needs to be interesting and fun. That’s one of the things I love about your show. You two are hilarious.” — Peterson Toscano on why climate communication must engage listeners.

Key Topics:

• The Story of Hot Mess: Peterson explains how Hot Mess breaks down the transition from bipartisan climate consensus to the divided political chaos we see today.
• Forgotten History: Peterson explores key moments in U.S. history when leaders across the aisle were united in addressing climate change, highlighting how this has shifted since the 1980s.
• Conservative Voices on Climate: Peterson stresses the importance of involving conservative perspectives in the climate conversation and outlines how Hot Mess features both conservative and liberal voices.
• The Role of Fossil Fuels: Discussion on the dual reality of fossil fuels—both as a major driver of the industrial revolution and as a contributor to the climate crisis.
• Cultural Barriers to Climate Solutions: Peterson delves into the uniquely American resistance to addressing climate change and how that differs from other countries.

Why Hot Mess Is Unique: Hot Mess isn’t just another climate podcast. By framing climate change as a “true crime” story, it offers listeners a fresh, engaging way to understand how America went from climate cooperation to climate division. With a mix of archival footage, expert interviews, and dynamic storytelling, Peterson provides a deeply researched yet accessible approach to understanding climate misinformation and the need for bipartisan solutions.

Action Steps:

• Tune in to Hot Mess: How Climate Consensus Turned Into Political Chaos, launching October 2024, on the Citizens Climate Radio feed.
• Follow Citizens Climate Radio on Twitter at @CitizenscRadio for updates on new episodes.
• Visit Citizens Climate Lobby to learn more about their work and how you can get involved in bipartisan climate solutions.

Resources Mentioned:

• RepublicEN https://republicen.org/
• Glacial: The Inside Story of Climate Politics by Chelsea Henderson https://turnerpublishing.com/products/glacial-the-inside-story-of-climate-politics?srsltid=AfmBOorxPf93ogFUAc3tAeaVDEPGipWLwlgomJa2dJl6m57-dCMcJhV_

Contact Information:

• Email: info@greenteapartyradio.com
• Website: Green Tea Party Radio
• Social Media: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

Support Us: If you enjoy our content and want to support our work, consider becoming a patron for early access to episodes and exclusive merchandise. Visit our website for more details.

Disclaimer: Green Tea Party Radio is an independent project and does not represent the views of the Diocese of Little Rock, Catholic Climate Covenant, or any of our employers.