SSDN‘s Green Minds

In a city as historic as Charleston, balancing preservation with modern sustainability can be a challenge. In this episode of Green Minds, host Mika Gadsden (Director of Sustainability for the City of Charleston) sits down with April Magill, Principal Architect of Root Down Designs, to discuss how we can build healthier, more resilient homes without losing the character of our city.

April is a true pioneer in the advancement of Healthy Buildings. As an architect, small business owner, Executive Director, and Adjunct Professor, she brings a wealth of knowledge on how to navigate the intersection of design, policy, and public health. Together, Mika and April dive into the nitty-gritty of engaging local government, the challenges of retrofitting historic structures, and the urgent need for sustainable building practices in the Lowcountry.

Climate change is often described as a generational issue, but is age really what shapes how people think about climate action? The reality is more nuanced, especially in a time of deep polarization. On this episode, leading climate scientist and climate communications expert Dr. Katharine Hayhoe join podcast host and Senior Sustainability Strategist for the City of Raleigh, N.C., Jessica Reid, to discuss how we can connect climate change to people's values and help them take action.  

 

The conversation also examines a challenge that is especially relevant across the American South: how climate discussions intersect with rapid growth, community identity, and differing visions for the future. 

 

Whether you work in local government or are interested in the future of your community, this episode offers practical insights for fostering productive conversations across generations and finding common ground in a changing world. 

Dr. Shaleen Miller talks with Cameron Gonzalez, Grounds Maintenance Supervisor, and Kimberly Conley, Sustainability Coordinator, with the Town of Morrisville, NC, about the real-world transition to electric vegetation management equipment.

 

Hear what they have learned about costs, battery life, charging, crew performance, staff buy-in, and quieter day-to-day operations.

 

#sustainability #SSDN #SoutheastUS 

Join host Diego J. Cancel from Coral Gables, Florida, as he interviews several of our SSDN members and leadership at the 2026 Annual Meeting. Interviewees share the important things they learned and what they are taking home with them. 

Celebrate Mobility Month this May as host Mika Gadsden, Director of Sustainability for Charleston, South Carolina, interviews Executive Director Katie Zimmerman and Director of Programming Savannah Brennan with Charleston Moves about local mobility efforts. #biking #charlestonmoves

This Earth Month, we explore the connection between sustainability work and mental health. Host Jessica Reid is joined by two guests bringing complementary perspectives. Ashley Stokes, who currently works for the Seminole Tribe of Florida and is the creator of the documentary Good Natured, discusses the role of storytelling in helping people process climate emotions and move toward action. Sarah Sterzing of Keep Norfolk Beautiful shares how her background in social work informs a trauma-informed approach to sustainability. 

Together, this conversation offers practical insights and reflections for those working in climate and sustainability, especially those navigating the emotional weight of the work. 

Watch Good Natured 

Check out this article that some of our SSDN members enjoyed, inspiring this episode. 

 

🎙️ March Green Minds Podcast

Coral Gables Sustainability Supervisor Diego J. Cancel and SSDN member sits down with Pulitzer Prize winning environmental journalist Mark Schleifstein to discuss climate and resilience to major storm events.  

#GreenMindsPodcast #SSDN #Louisiana #resilience

🎙️ February Green Minds Podcast

Got glass? Get sand.  

Osceola County, Florida, is doing something unique with their recycling program. They are turning their glass into sand. 

Explore the topic with Dr. Shaleen Miller in our latest Green Minds podcast edition, featuring Paul Conover, Sustainability Project Manager and Nicole Enverga, Sustainability Program Specialist. 

#GreenMindsPodcast #LocalSustainability #GlassRecycling #SSDN

🎙️ January Green Minds Podcast

This month’s episode of Green Minds features a conversation with Rob Phocas, SSDN’s new Executive Director.

Rob shares with host Dr. Shaleen Miller why he’s excited to be back with SSDN at a pivotal moment, what it’s been like to see the network grow into its first year as a nonprofit, and why peer networks are essential for sustainability professionals working at the local level.

We also talk about what makes a network work — what SSDN needs from participants, why showing up matters, and how shared learning and collaboration help move projects forward faster and with greater impact.

If you work in or alongside local government and are looking for connection, practical support, and a community that understands the realities of this work, this episode is for you.

#GreenMindsPodcast #LocalSustainability #ClimateLeadership #PeerLearning #SSDN

How do local governments talk about resilience and recovery after hurricanes and tropical storms? In this episode, Jessica Reid from the City of Raleigh, North Carolina, talks with local government leaders from across the Southeast about how they communicate through crisis, connect with residents, and frame climate challenges in ways that build trust and understanding.

 

Guests include Leslie Gahagan, the Sustainability and Natural Resources Director for the City of Foley, Alabama; Matt Efird, Assistant Town Manager and Community Services Director for the Town of Hillsborough, North Carolina; and Ashlee Painter, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Sanibel, Florida. 

 

Our thoughts and hearts are with all the communities that continue to experience impacts from climate-related disasters. Check out the episode to hear some great insights about how communities can respond to and prepare for these impacts.