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  • Pollution, Power, & the Price of Telling the Truth: The Stunning Resignation of Kimberly Terrell of the Tulane Environ. Law Clinic

    Pollution, Power, & the Price of Telling the Truth: The Stunning Resignation of Kimberly Terrell of the Tulane Environ. Law Clinic
    2025/06/24
    In this episode of The Environmental Justice Lab, our host, Dr. Lesley Joseph, responds to a deeply troubling development: the resignation of Dr. Kimberly Terrell from the Environmental Law Clinic at Tulane University. A respected environmental scientist, researcher, and advocate, Dr. Terrell left her position as the Director for Community Engagement, citing political and donor-driven censorship, after years of research exposing the disproportionate health dangers experienced by the residents of Louisiana’s Cancer Alley.

    Dr. Joseph unpacks what this moment means for academic freedom, community-centered research, and the future of environmental justice in the U.S. He draws a clear line between truth-telling and power, asking hard questions about whether universities are still safe havens for critical inquiry, or simply extensions of corporate and political interests. Why are researchers being silenced for revealing the truth about pollution, cancer, and environmental injustice? What happens when scientific evidence threatens the bottom line? And how should the environmental justice research community respond?

    This episode is both a tribute to Dr. Terrell’s courage and a rallying cry for researchers, activists, and citizens alike to keep fighting. Because justice demands it.

    Resources:
    Tulane scientist resigns citing university censorship of pollution and racial disparity research - AP News

    Research from Dr. Terrell and the Environmental Law Clinic:
    Air pollution is linked to higher cancer rates among black or impoverished communities in Louisiana - Environmental Research Journal

    Toxic air pollution and concentrated social deprivation are associated with low birthweight and preterm Birth in Louisiana - Environmental Research Journal

    Pervasive racial and ethnic disparities in the U.S. petrochemical workforce

    Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community:
    Instagram: @envjusticelab
    YouTube: @envjusticelab
    Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

    Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
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    36 分
  • Where the Trash Goes - and Who It Hurts: Exploring landfilling in South Carolina, the United States, and beyond

    Where the Trash Goes - and Who It Hurts: Exploring landfilling in South Carolina, the United States, and beyond
    2025/06/10
    In this episode of The Environmental Justice Lab, I break down the findings from my latest research publication, entitied “Race, Class, Gender, and Waste: A Spatial Analysis of Landfill Siting and Intersectional Inequities in South Carolina.” This article is not simply a data-driven study; it is an investigation into how race, gender, income, and geography intersect to determine who ends up living next to the landfills in South Carolina… and who doesn’t. I explain why landfills are still important in today’s environmental justice movement. I talk about the history of waste-related activism, and discuss how communities, particularly Black women, Hispanic women, and female-led households in poverty, are disproportionately burdened by the health, environmental, and social harms of landfill placement.

    The episode goes beyond statistics. It’s a reflection on the academic resistance to justice-focused research in engineering, an ode to cross-institutional collaboration, and a rallying cry for policy change, intersectional thinking, and true community engagement.

    🎧 Tune in now to hear why it’s time we rethink how we manage our waste, and who bears the cost.

    Resources:

    Race, Class, Gender, and Waste: A Spatial Analysis of Landfill Siting and Intersectional Inequities in South Carolina - Environmental Sociology

    Toxic Waste and Race in the United States - Full Report

    Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community:
    Instagram: @envjusticelab
    YouTube: @envjusticelab
    Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

    Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
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    44 分
  • Unseen Suffering: The Mental Scars of Environmental Injustice

    Unseen Suffering: The Mental Scars of Environmental Injustice
    2025/05/14
    In this episode, we confront a powerful but often overlooked reality: environmental injustice doesn’t just harm our bodies - it harms our minds and breaks our spirits.

    As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, this episode sheds light on the hidden emotional toll of living in neglected, polluted, and disaster-prone communities. From climate anxiety to post-traumatic stress, Dr. Joseph explains how the fear, powerlessness, and injustice faced by frontline communities leads to real, lasting psychological harm. Drawing from research and real-world examples, including Flint, Michigan and global conflict zones, Dr. Joseph explores how trauma, uncertainty, and systemic neglect affect mental wellness just as much as contaminated water or polluted air. And the message is clear: these impacts are not random. They are patterned. They are unjust. And they must be addressed.

    This episode is both a call for recognition and a call to action. If we truly care about justice, we must care for the mental health of those most affected. Whether you’re an advocate, policymaker, healthcare provider, or someone seeking to understand more, this episode will expand your perspective and your compassion.

    🎧 Tune in now to discover why mental health must be part of every environmental justice conversation.

    Resources:
    The Mental Distress of Environmental Injustice - Urban Health Council
    The Emotional Distress of Living in an Environmental Justice Community - International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being

    Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community:
    Instagram: @envjusticelab
    YouTube: @envjusticelab
    Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

    Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
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    34 分
  • Legacy Environmental Justice, pt. 6 - Reflections and the Road Ahead (The Finale)

    Legacy Environmental Justice, pt. 6 - Reflections and the Road Ahead (The Finale)
    2025/04/29
    In the conclusion to this series, our special guest Savannah Domenech and I take a reflective look back at their deep dive into Rochester’s legacy of environmental injustice. Throughout this series, we explored how Kodak’s rise and fall left deep economic, environmental, and public health scars on the Rochester community. In this episode, Savannah shares personal stories, research insights, and the powerful realization that even lifelong residents often don't know the full extent of the damage. We discuss why legacy environmental injustice doesn't end when a company closes its doors - and why community awareness, activism, and healing must continue. From environmental pollution to gentrification, the conversation reminds us that true justice requires confronting the past and committing to building a better future. We urge all of you listening to dig into your own local histories, connect with your neighbors, and advocate for change - because the fight for clean, safe, and equitable communities impacts everyone.

    🎧 Tune in for a conversation that will leave you informed, inspired, and ready to act. The journey doesn’t end here - it’s just the beginning.

    Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community:
    Instagram: @envjusticelab
    YouTube: @envjusticelab
    Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

    Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
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    29 分
  • Black Maternal Health Week 2025 – Listening, Learning, and Fighting for Justice

    Black Maternal Health Week 2025 – Listening, Learning, and Fighting for Justice
    2025/04/15
    In this personal episode, we recognize Black Maternal Health Week with a reflection on the systemic failures that Black women face during pregnancy and childbirth. Together, we explore the heartbreaking reality that Black women - regardless of income or education - consistently experience the worst maternal health outcomes in the U.S. Why are they not being heard? Why are their concerns dismissed, even by healthcare professionals? And what does it say about the society we live in?

    As we draw connections between environmental racism, healthcare inequities, and the lived experiences of Black mothers, we go beyond the statistics, and get personal about our family experiences, toxic beauty standards, and the critical importance of clean, safe environments and culturally competent medical care. As you listen, we hope that you will walk away not only informed, but inspired to act. Whether it’s advocating for Black physicians, confronting harmful stereotypes, or demanding safer neighborhoods, this is both a call to consciousness and a call to action.

    🎧 Tune in for an urgent conversation and learn how you can stand in solidarity with Black mothers, this week and every week.

    Resources:
    Black Women Maternal Health - Fact Sheet
    "With Black doctors, Black people live longer" - STAT News
    How Serena Williams saved her own life - ELLE Magazine

    Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community:
    Instagram: @envjusticelab
    YouTube: @envjusticelab
    Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

    Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
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    31 分
  • Legacy Environmental Justice, pt. 5 - Economic Impacts of Kodak on the People of Rochester, NY

    Legacy Environmental Justice, pt. 5 - Economic Impacts of Kodak on the People of Rochester, NY
    2025/03/25
    In this episode, Savannah Domenech is back to dive into the economic effects of Kodak’s rise and fall in Rochester, New York. For decades, Kodak wasn’t just a company - it was the economic backbone of the city, providing tens of thousands of jobs and shaping the entire community. But when the company went bankrupt, so did the financial security of many Rochester residents.

    What happens when an industry that once promised prosperity vanishes? Savannah unpacks the stark realities of Kodak’s economic collapse, from lost pensions and skyrocketing unemployment to the struggles of former workers forced back into the job market. They explore the racial and gender disparities in Kodak’s hiring and wage practices, the class-action lawsuits that followed, and the devastating impact of the company’s bankruptcy on retirees who were left with nothing.

    But this isn’t just a story of loss - it’s also one of resilience. How did the community rebuild after the downfall of its largest employer? And what lessons can we learn about relying too heavily on a single industry? Let's explore this and so much more on this episode of The Environmental Justice Lab.

    Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community:
    Instagram: @envjusticelab
    YouTube: @envjusticelab
    Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

    Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
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    30 分
  • World Water Day 2025 - The Fight for Water Justice

    World Water Day 2025 - The Fight for Water Justice
    2025/03/23
    In this episode, we dive deep into the urgent water crises affecting communities worldwide. Although the United Nations’ theme for World Water Day 2025 highlights glacier preservation, we are shifting the conversation to the pressing issue of water access in war zones, underprivileged communities, and regions suffering from environmental neglect.

    From Gaza to Flint, Sudan to Ukraine, billions are struggling to secure clean, safe water. We discuss how water scarcity is not just a resource issue but a matter of human rights and environmental justice. We also explore the devastating impact of climate change, conflict, and inequality on global water supplies, emphasizing how access to water determines survival, health, and social equity.

    Why are some communities forced to buy bottled water while others enjoy clean tap water? How has water become a weapon in modern conflicts? And could future wars be fought over this essential resource? Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the politics of water, the disparities in global access, and what we can do to push for change.

    Because water isn’t a privilege. It’s a right.

    Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community:
    Instagram: @envjusticelab
    YouTube: @envjusticelab
    Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

    Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
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    20 分
  • Legacy Environmental Justice, pt. 4 - Health Impacts of Kodak on the People of Rochester, NY

    Legacy Environmental Justice, pt. 4 - Health Impacts of Kodak on the People of Rochester, NY
    2025/03/11
    In this episode, we confront one of the most devastating consequences of Kodak’s industrial legacy: its impact on public health. For decades, the communities surrounding Kodak’s operations in Rochester have faced alarming health disparities—rising cancer rates, respiratory illnesses, and other chronic conditions linked to toxic pollution. Savannah unpacks the harsh reality of how environmental contamination has disproportionately affected vulnerable populations, especially children and low-income families.

    But this episode is not just about the problem—it’s about the fight for solutions. How do you heal a community that has been exposed to industrial pollution for generations? What policies or healthcare interventions are needed to address these long-standing health disparities? And most importantly—how can we prevent this from happening again in other communities? If you are concerned about the intersection of health, equity, and environmental justice, this episode is essential listening.

    Connect with our Environmental Justice Lab community:
    Instagram: @envjusticelab
    YouTube: @envjusticelab
    Email: theenvironmentaljusticelab@gmail.com

    Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! Support our work by joining the Supporters Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-environmental-justice-lab--5583745/support
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    44 分