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The Keeping Things Alive Podcast is here to explore and celebrate the connection between humans, the Earth, and all living things; amplify powerful, creative, and healing voices in Western New York & beyond; and empower people to live outside the box and take action for good in their communities. Hosted and produced by @lauramevans. Season 1-3 music by @madisonjrich. Season 4 music by @lonniebarlow. Season 5 music by @justconundrum.
Season 5 has come to a close! This episode starts with Laura going through the season episode-by-episode and reflecting on what happened (recorded on Jan. 6, 2021). After that, at the 27:10 mark, Laura shares a Zoom conversation with John Washington (recorded on Dec. 30, 2020) where they reflect on 2020 U.S. Election results, Biden's Cabinet picks …
Jillian Hanesworth is a social justice spoken word artist from Buffalo NY who writes with the intent of promoting change. She is also the Director of Leadership Development at Open Buffalo, where she focuses on programming designed to equip people in the community with the necessary tools to help create sustainable community change. In this episode…
Claire M. Gay is the owner of Inspiration Point, a spiritual goods and book store in Buffalo, NY, while Eva Danielle provides tarot readings at the store and online. In this episode, Laura, Claire, and Eva talk about tarot, astrology, reiki, small business ownership in 2020, & more.By Laura M. Evans
Kristin Grohman is an herbal educator, community herbalist, and owner of Reciprocal Roots, where she is currently providing one-on-one herbal mentorship to her students online. She is also the Founder and Co-Director of the WNY Chapter of Herbalists without Borders, and organizes the annual WNY Herbal Conference. In this episode, Laura and Kristin …
Be informed when you enter the ballot box! In this episode, Laura speaks with John Washington about the upcoming 2020 U.S. Election and how each position on the 14213 ballot affects our lives. Learn about the U.S. Electoral College, how write-in campaigns work, specifics on how our political system is so messed up, & more.…
Tiffany M. Nyachae is an Assistant Professor of Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Penn State University. She is a member of the Galactic Tribe's Wakanda Alliance Program, which is featured in Episode 70. In this episode, Laura and Tiffany talk about her work to address classroom inequity with a focus on Black girls, Black…
Anthony Pierce, Da'Von McCune, and John Washington are members of the Galactic Tribe and help create the Wakanda Alliance Program in Buffalo, NY. In this episode, Laura, Ant, Da'Von, and John talk about Afrofuturism, superheros, celebrating Chadwick Boseman, & more.By Laura M. Evans
Tito Ruiz is an artist and the owner/founder of TRu iNk Media®. Tito’s art focuses on the use of visual imagery in advocacy. He works to create alternative narratives to the portrayals of protesters by mainstream media. In this episode, Tito and Laura talk about his photography exhibit "Hope Rebellion & Justice", the story of Wardel Meech Davis, ho…
Christian Parra is the City of Buffalo Community Organizer for Citizen Action of New York and a member of Free the People WNY, a coalition of activists, organizers, and attorneys that envisions a world free from the violence and death of mass incarceration. In this episode, Laura and Christian talk about Free the People WNY's demands to hold police…
Myles Carter is a father and activist who was maliciously tackled by Buffalo police on camera as he was being interviewed during a peaceful protest in Buffalo, NY. He is currently advocating and working for the release of Deyanna Davis from the Erie County Holding Center. Please listen to this episode to hear Myles tell Deyanna's story and the stor…
In this episode, Laura speaks with Adam Bojak about tenant rights, the Black Lives Matter protests, defunding the police, & more. Adam Bojak is a tenants’ rights attorney who has spent years working with Buffalo residents in order to help them fight back against their bad landlords and ensure they know their rights; he has also helped homeowners fa…
In this episode, Laura discusses the protests happening in Buffalo NY and around the country, demanding justice for George Floyd and the many other black and brown human beings who have died at the hands of the police. She talks about how the protests are connected to covid-19, systemic oppression, and the slow violence that is environmental racism…
Welcome to Season 5 of the Keeping Things Alive Podcast! In this episode, Laura talks about intentions for the season, life during covid-19, and thoughts about the new Michael Moore/Jeff Gibbs documentary, Planet of the Humans.By Laura M. Evans
A special episode about COVID-19, where Laura has a conversation with John Washington about the current global pandemic. John is a community organizer with People's Action and has been on the podcast before (Episodes 48 and 60). This conversation took place on March 30, 2020 in Buffalo, New York, USA.…
Season 4 has come to a close! Listen to Laura's reflections on each episode of Season 4, three book recommendations, and Laura's conversation with Emily Louis (owner of Live Inspired Events) about community energy planning, starting a small business, and more.By Laura M. Evans
Ilyas, Aniyang, and Sophia are three members of the WNY Youth Climate Council, which formed in early 2019 with the mission "to elevate youth voices and bring concrete climate action to the various communities of Western New York." In this episode, Laura talks to Ilyas, Aniyang, and Sophia about why climate action, community organizing, and intergen…
John Washington, Co-Director of Organizing at PUSH Buffalo, is a community advocate and activist for social, economic, and racial justice in Buffalo, New York and beyond. In Episode 48, John reviewed a 2018 election ballot, and now he is back to talk about his path, interests, and work. In this episode, Laura and John talk about Marvel comics and A…
New York now has the most progressive climate justice legislation in the United States! The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) is the result of years of community organizing across the state by NYRenews, a coalition of organizations committed to climate justice. In this episode, Laura reads the opening statements of both the CL…
It's time for New York to pass the Climate and Community Protection Act! Hear from NYRenews Climate Justice Organizer Geo Hernández (who has a home base at PUSH Buffalo and in Buffalo, NY) as we enter into the final days of the 2019 New York legislative session (it ends on June 19th). Laura and Geo talk about environmental racism, climate justice, …
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057 Andrew Marcum - Disability, Accessibility, & Inclusion
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Andrew Marcum, PhD, teaches Disability Studies for the City University of New York and works at the Center for Self Advocacy in Buffalo. In this episode, Laura and Andrew talk about the history of disability rights in the U.S., the importance of public transit, accessibility, & more.By Laura M. Evans
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056 Dennice Barr - Public Transit for the People
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Dennice Barr is the President of the Fruit Belt Advisory Council, a board member of the Coalition for Economic Justice, and a member of Buffalo Transit Riders United (BTRU). In this episode, Laura and Ms. Barr talk about the state of Buffalo's public transit system, people power, & more.By Laura M. Evans
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055 Lindsay Cross - Florida Land & Wildlife Conservation
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Lindsay Cross is the Public Lands Advocate for the Florida Conservation Voters. She has worked for nearly two decades in Florida as an environmental scientist and conservation advocate. In this episode, Lindsay and Laura talk about environmental education, the importance of connecting wildlife habitat, red tide, & more.…
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054 Manuela Baron - Living Sustainably & Being the Girl Gone Green
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Manuela Baron is The Girl Gone Green, a blogger and YouTube creator who lives her values by living a zero waste, minimal, plant based life with intention. She shares her experiences and knowledge online, which has inspired a community of people around the world to live more sustainably. In this episode, Laura and Manuela talk about Red Tide, minima…
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053 Rob Webster - Marine Degradation, Animals, & Personal Responsibility
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Rob Webster is the Co-Founder / CEO / Director of Operations of Planet Love Life, whose mission is to "continue to provide education of marine debris, promote sustainable living, and to help preserve our planet's natural environments through the love and respect for life." In this episode, Laura and Rob talk about the causes & effects of plastic po…
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052 Rodney Rainey - Community, Workforce, & Music
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Rodney Rainey is the PUSH Buffalo Workforce Coordinator and a lifelong West Side of Buffalo resident. He also creates underground rap and hip-hop music and is writing a memoir of his life experiences. In this conversation, Laura and Rodney talk about work experiences, music, looking forward to 2019, and much more. Intro and outro beats by Lonnie Ba…
Episode 51 of the Keeping Things Alive Podcast is a special episode in celebration of the 2018 Winter Solstice, and features Rebecca Strong’s conversation with Lynda Schneekloth and Laura Evans about the art and psychology of activism.By Laura M. Evans
Season 3 has come to an end! In this episode, Laura goes through each episode of Season 3 to explain some of the backstory and what is talked about with each guest. There is also some thoughts on Charles Eisenstein's new book "Climate: A New Story" and the Juliana v. U.S. lawsuit.By Laura M. Evans
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049 Emily Terrana - Emergent Strategy in Action
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Emily Terrana is a proud Buffalonian, mother of two, and long-time community organizer and educator. She currently works as PUSH Buffalo’s Movement Education Specialist where she creates, coordinates, and runs PUSH’s political training and political education work to build power with residents of the West Side of Buffalo. In this episode, Laura and…
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048 Voting Matters - John Washington's Ballot Review
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In this special episode, Laura and John Washington, PUSH Buffalo's Director of Organizing, provide voter information by reviewing Buffalo, New York's 2018 Election Ballot. Learn about political parties, what each government position does, what an incumbent is, tips for getting to the polls, & more.By Laura M. Evans
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047 Laura Evans - Interconnection & Keeping Things Alive
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In this special episode, Sarah Sorci of Sweet Flag Herbs interviews Laura Evans, an environmental lawyer and the creator of the Keeping Things Alive Podcast. Sarah and Laura talk about living in Western New York, being an introvert, coping with eco-anxiety, & more.By Laura M. Evans
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046 Whitney Walker & Kartika Carr - Community Organizing with Love
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Whitney Walker is the Executive Director of Voice Buffalo and the Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope (NOAH), both faith-based social justice organizations in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls region. Kartika Carr is the Lead Community Organizer for NOAH in Niagara Falls, NY. In this episode, Laura, Whitney, and Kartika talk about organizing based on love…
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045 Niki Rodriguez - Community Healing & Self Care
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Niki Rodriguez is a social worker, community healer, and PUSH Buffalo board member. In this episode, Laura and Niki talk about community healing, self care, racial justice work, & much more.By Laura M. Evans
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044 Rebecca Town - Criminal Justice Reform
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Rebecca Town is a public defense attorney working in the Criminal Defense Unit of the Legal Aid Bureau in Buffalo, NY. In this episode, Laura and Rebecca talk about racial bias, bail reform, & much more.By Laura M. Evans
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043 Geo Hernández - Climate Justice Community Organizing
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Geo Hernández is the Climate Justice & Energy Democracy Organizer for PUSH Buffalo. In this episode, Laura and Geo talk about climate justice, the education system, NYRenews legislation, & much more.By Laura M. Evans
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042 Eliza Schneider - Holistic Health & Ecstatic Dance
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Eliza Schneider is holistic coach for women through her company Resolve to Evolve. She is also passionate about ecstatic dance, women's health, and creating sacred space for others. In this conversation, Laura and Eliza talk about her previous experience co-founding Merge Restaurant, entrepreneurship, the power of plants, and much more.…
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041 Holly Nowak - Equity and Public Transit
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Holly Nowak is the Transit Riders Organizer for the Coalition for Economic Justice in Buffalo, where she works with Buffalo Transit Riders United (BTRU). In this episode, Laura and Holly talk about a more equitable public transit system, the Bechdel Test, and much more.By Laura M. Evans
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040 Esmeralda Jimenez - Water Protection & Education
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Esmeralda Jimenez is a water protector (with Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper) and the Landscaping Manager of PUSH Blue. In this conversation, Laura and Es talk about what it means to be a water protector, how green infrastructure works, and much more.By Laura M. Evans
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039 Sage Green - Community Energy Planning & Democracy
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Sage Green is the Community Energy Planner at PUSH Buffalo. In this conversation, Laura and Sage talk about what community energy planning is, how Buffalonians get their energy, what energy democracy and resiliency looks like, and much more.By Laura M. Evans
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038 Rahwa Ghirmatzion - Strength in a Just Transition
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This episode features Laura’s conversation with Rahwa Ghirmatzion. Rahwa is the Deputy Director of People United for Sustainable Housing, Inc. (PUSH Buffalo). Laura and Rahwa talk about gentrification, a just transition, green infrastructure, and much more.By Laura M. Evans
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037 Elizabeth Walsh - Co-Creation & Regeneration
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Elizabeth Walsh is a professor at the University at Buffalo’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning. Her research and teaching focus on the theory, history and practice of environmental justice, sustainable development, and regenerative design. In this episode, Elizabeth and Laura discuss their parallel and connected paths in Austin and Buffalo…
Welcome to Season 3 of the Keeping Things Alive Podcast! In this episode, Laura reflects on the break between seasons and explains intentions for Season 3. This episode also contains a clip of Laura speaking with Jim Anderson on his radio show about the book emergent strategy by adrienne maree brown, which connects nature to social justice movement…
Season 2 of the Keeping Things Alive Podcast has come to a close! In this episode, Laura reviews each episode of the season, looks ahead to Season 3, and talks about three books that have helped her on the "keeping things alive" path in recent months.By Laura M. Evans
This is the fourth episode in a four-part series on nuclear waste and weapons, with a particular focus on Western New York. This episode features Laura’s conversation with Joanne Hameister. Joanne is a retired research analyst and computer consultant who has devoted over half of her life to good decision-making at the West Valley Demonstration Proj…
This is the third episode in a four-part series on nuclear waste and weapons, with a particular focus on Western New York. This episode features Laura’s conversation with Jim Anderson. Jim is a peace activist, President of Peace Action New York State, and Vice President of the Citizen Action New York Board of Directors.…
This is the second episode in a four-part series on nuclear waste and weapons, with a particular focus on Western New York. This episode features Laura’s conversation with Diane D'Arrigo. Diane is the Radioactive Waste Project Director at the Nuclear Information Research Service.By Laura M. Evans
This is the first episode in a four-part series on nuclear waste and weapons, with a particular focus on Western New York. This episode features Laura’s conversation with Lynda Schneekloth. Lynda is the advocacy chair of Western New York Environmental Alliance, Professor Emerita at the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning, form…
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030 Katrinna Martin-Bordeaux - Nursing & Political Engagement
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Episode 30 of of the Keeping Things Alive Podcast features Laura's conversation with Katrinna Martin-Bordeaux. Katrinna is a professional nurse and a deeply engaged citizen. In 2013, she founded the Young Black Democrats, now called the Young Black Citizens of Western New York. In this episode, Katrinna and Laura talk about the nursing profession, …
Episode 29 of the Keeping Things Alive Podcast features Laura's conversation with Jody Chan, the Organizing Coordinator for The Leap, a Canadian organization that works to implement The Leap Manifesto. Jody and Laura talk about organizing, current Leap projects, self care in the activism space, and much more.…
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028 Claire Gay - Inspiration, Small Business, & Dogs
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Claire Gay is the owner (gatekeeper!) of Inspiration Point, a spiritual bookstore and mystical shop in Buffalo, New York. She purchased the store from Sandy, the previous owner, and has added her own energy to the business with new items and workshops. Claire and Laura talk about the concept of "leading from the emerging future," meditation, and wh…
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027 Bruno Ávila - Collaborative Urban Planning
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Bruno Ávila is the President of Instituto COURB, an NGO based in Brazil. He is also the Coordinator of Urban Regulations in the Brasília City Government. In this conversation, Laura talks with Bruno about how he co-founded COURB, his experiences in the City of Buffalo and Brazil, and his vision for more collaborative urban planning around the world…
