Cwcm Podcast

Jane Fitkin is the Director of Citizens for a Safe & Clean Lake Superior. Founded by local residents passionate about protecting the lakeshore we call home, CSCLS advocates for Lake Superior’s shoreline and watershed in Marquette County, Michigan. Jane shares about the recent success story of their Stop the Rocket campaign which effectively mobilized grassroots opposition to the deeply flawed space port project that was proposed to be built on the shore of Lake Superior. Jane also shares about current initiatives that the organization is focusing on including wetlands advocacy, as they lift up the importance of wetland ecosystems to the health and well-being of Marquette County communities. Finally, we get to hear a bit of Jane’s personal story - how she got into this work and what drives her passion and commitment to advocate for the protection and health of the Lake Superior shoreline and watershed. You can learn more about Citizens for a Safe & Clean Lake Superior and how you can support and get involve

We’re thrilled to welcome author, activist, playwright and teacher, Maryann Lesert, to State of Water. Maryann’s new novel, Land Marks, will be published on April 16 and is the culmination of more than 2 years of research where she visited all of the fracking sites across Michigan. She shares with us some of the experiences and inspirations behind her writing and new novel in which Liz Kirkwood, Executive Director of FLOW says, “This outstanding novel is about our common fight for the natural places and systems we hold dear, but it is also about our society’s soul.” Maryann and State of Water host Seth Bernard really go deep - reflecting on the importance of storytelling, cultural change, and the essential role that artists, writers, musicians, and creative practitioners play in this moment where so many are living with a sense of eco-grief and loneliness. While acknowledging and honoring that heaviness - we hope you find this to be an uplifting & empowering conversation as Maryann and Seth speak to the tra

We’re happy to welcome Tom Grotewohl of Protect the Porkies, who are organizing against the development of the Copperwood Mine in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Important and time-sensitive calls to action: 1. Visit https://protecttheporkies.com/ to learn more and to sign the petition opposing Copperwood Mine. 2. Sign up contribute a public comment to the Michigan Strategic Fund’s public comment session on March 26th at 10am (in-person in Lansing or virtually). You can get all the info about attending, pre-registering a virtual comment, or submitting a comment of opposition via email at https://www.michiganbusiness.org/about-medc/michigan-strategic-fund/public-comment/ 3. Protect the Porkies are also hosting a virtual town hall this Saturday, March 23 at 11am where you can get more campaign updates. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpcOCrqTMjHdf5LigSt0aKNbDCB1p-S5l-? This proposed metallic sulfide mine would be the closest to Lake Superior in history as well as bordering the North C

We’re excited to share this wonderful conversation with Araya Montero of Two Hearted Midwifery. Araya shares reflections on her deep connection with Lake Superior, how she chose to pursue the path of midwifery, and the power and presence of water throughout the birthing process. Learn more about Two Hearted Midwifery: https://traversecitybirthcenter.com/ As always, keep your eyes open for highlight video clips from the episode on our Clean Water Campaign for MI social media and if you haven’t already, please subscribe & leave a review for the podcast and share with your friends! New episodes of State of Water will be dropping every other Wednesday throughout the year. /// EPISODE 43 / Araya Montero interviewed by Seth Bernard / Produced, edited and mixed by Dan Rickabus and Chris Good / Narrators - Alex Smith, Ben Darcie, Dan Rickabus, Jenny Jones, Angela Gallegos, Rachel Marco-Havens / Graphic by Chris Good, Photos courtesy of Araya Montero / Theme Music - Mike Savina, Seth Bernard & Dan Rickabus /

Hans Voss is Executive Director of the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities who work tirelessly to protect the environment, strengthen our economy and build thriving communities. In this special conversation with State of Water host, Seth Bernard, Hans goes back to 1995 telling some of the early stories from the Michigan Land Use Institute before it was renamed to Groundwork and sharing about some of the early success stories of coalition building and grassroots organizing that laid the foundation for decades of impactful work that have touched the lives of millions of Michiganders. Special shout out to Hans and the Groundwork family for their early support of the Clean Water Campaign for Michigan as we got off the ground. Groundwork continues to be an inspiring and nurturing force within the nonprofit community in Michigan and beyond. Check out their recently released 2023 annual report and learn more about their diverse programming within climate and environment, local food and farming, as well as

In part 2 of our powerful conversation with Palestinian artist, Ayed Arafah, Ayed shares about the reality of growing up in a refugee camp under Israeli occupation and how in spite of such brutality, the strength and resilience of the Palestinian people never wanes through the warmth of friendship, generosity of spirit, and rich cultural traditions. We also hear about some of Ayed’s current artistic endeavors and how he sees art and activism as powerful tools in the pursuit of freedom and liberation. If you haven’t had the chance to listen to part 1 in our conversation, please check out episode 40. Follow Ayed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayedarafah /// EPISODE 41 / Ayed Arafah interviewed by Seth Bernard / Produced, edited and mixed by Dan Rickabus and Chris Good / Narrators - Alex Smith, Ben Darcie, Dan Rickabus, Jenny Jones, Angela Gallegos, Rachel Marco-Havens / Graphic by Chris Good / Theme Music - Mike Savina, Seth Bernard & Dan Rickabus / Featured Music - “Homestretch” by Ecotone;

We are honored to welcome Palestinian artist Ayed Arafah as our first State of Water guest in 2024. Ayed’s art has been featured around the world from Cairo to Oslo to exhibits across the United States. He became beloved by many folks within our Michigan community during his artist residency at Earthwork Farm several years ago. Ayed shares about his creative process and how he engages art as a powerful tool to raise awareness and to create a space of freedom and imagination in the midst of a life lived under occupation. Ayed also poignantly shares about his relationship with water and his own painful disconnection from the nearby seas - living in a reality where he is able to travel and enjoy the Great Lakes but is unable to access the neighboring and culturally significant Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea. We also get a personal update from Ayed on the horrors of the current situation in his homeland. You can follow Ayed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayedarafah/ /// EPISODE 40 / Ayed Arafah intervi

For our final episode of the 2023 we are once again turning the microphone around on State of Water host and Title Track founder Seth Bernard. (3:51) We begin the episode with Seth sharing a few more reflections coming off of his recent experience at the One Water Summit, which was featured in Episode 38. (9:05) Seth gives some end of year reflections on where we’ve been as the State of Water Podcast and the Clean Water Campaign for MI, speaking to some of the many insights that we’ve learned along the way that will inform our work moving forward as we seek to deepen into our commitment to water equity, environmental justice, and climate resilience. (20:55) In the second half of our conversation, Seth vulnerably shares of his passionate commitment to being in solidarity with the Palestinian people and speaking truth to power. The grief, horror, anger and overwhelm that so many of us are feeling right now with the ongoing devastation in Gaza is so incredibly heavy - we hope that this conversation with Seth ca

In this special episode, State of Water host Seth Bernard checks in from this November’s One Water Summit in Tuscon, AZ, hosted by the US Water Alliance. Seth gives an intimate travel log style report sharing of inspiring connections, insightful conversations, and meaningful moments that will inform his work as he returns to Michigan. Seth attended the summit as part of the delegation of the Water Equity & Climate Resilience Caucus, joining frontline environmentalists from across the country as well as conference-goers representing many other sectors. Learn more about the Water Equity & Climate Resilience Caucus: https://climatewaterequity.org/ Throughout this episode you’ll be hearing music from “Headwaters”, a beautiful new album from Seth of instrumental home recordings. All proceeds from this album go to support the work of Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA). MECA is currently providing emergency assistance to families who have fled their homes amidst the ongoing attacks on Gaza as well as procuring

Monica Lewis-Patrick is CEO and co-founder of We the People of Detroit, and has worked tirelessly on water justice issues for years in Detroit as well as being an effective advocate at the state and federal levels for water affordability and human rights. She was our guest in Episode 14 and now returns in Episode 37 with more insight and info to share reflecting on her organizing experience opposing water shutoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of engaging both on the ground community building as well as policy work, her approach to engaging and empowering young activists, and much more. Her commitment to this work is truly contagious and we hope that you’ll be inspired as much as we are by this wonderful leader. Please visit https://www.wethepeopleofdetroit.com/ to learn more about We the People of Detroit and to sign the Water Affordability Pledge. Additional links: Common Dreams OP-ED: https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/drinking-water-as-a-human-right Great Lakes Now interview: https://w

In the aftermath of last Friday’s devastating ruling from the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to grant the permits for a Line 5 tunnel, we’re happy to present this interview with Bill Latka, co-founder of the Oil and Water Don't Mix campaign. Bill is an amazing storyteller, filmmaker, and climate change activist who has been on the front lines of the effort to shut down Line 5 for years. State of Water host Seth Bernard sat down with Bill this past weekend for an in-depth conversation on his initial reactions to the MPSC decision, what’s next as far as Shut Down Line 5 strategizing, the importance of creativity and imagination in organizing work, how the Oil & Water Don’t Mix coalition has been so effective at building a broad community of support, and how folks can get involved in this movement as this essential work continues - advocating to keep oil out of the Great Lakes and inspiring a transition to a clean energy future. Please visit https://www.oilandwaterdontmix.org/ for the latest action

On this summer solstice 2023, we are happy to bring you a conversation with water protector, Jannan Cornstalk, founder of the Water is Life Festival. Jannan shares poignantly of her spiritual connection with the water and her hope that the Water is Life Festival can continue to be a space of connection, education, and inspiration for people of all ages to find a space of meaningful cultural exchange through music, art, conversation, and creativity. This year’s Water is Life Festival will be on Saturday, September 2 on the Petoskey Waterfront from 12pm to sunset. Learn more about the Water is Life Festival at https://www.waterislifefestival.org/ /// State of Water is a program of the Michigan-based non-profit organization Title Track, and is powered by the Clean Water Campaign for Michigan. The podcast is made possible through a generous contribution from the Esperance Foundation.
 /// EPISODE 35
 / Jannan Cornstalk interviewed by Seth Bernard
 / Produced, edited and mixed by Dan Rickabus and Chris Good
 /

Our guest for episode 34 of State of Water is botanist and musician, Susan Fawcett. Susan sat down with longtime friend and collaborator, State of Water host Seth Bernard, for a wonderful conversation fresh off of their annual ritual of creativity, collaboration, songwriting and recording that is the band, Hy-Lo. Susan and Seth dive into all sorts of topics including Susan’s unique perspective as a botanist, the desperate need for septic system regulation in Michigan, changes she’s noticed in Michigan over her lifetime, her passion for the app iNaturalist, some epic scuba diving stories, and a walk through some water-inspired songs in the 20 year Hy-Lo catalogue, some of which are shared here publicly for the first time. Enjoy!! /// State of Water is a program of the Michigan-based non-profit organization Title Track, and is powered by the Clean Water Campaign for Michigan. The podcast is made possible through a generous contribution from the Esperance Foundation.
 /// EPISODE 34
 / Susan Fawcett interview

In our final episode of 2022, we bring you a compelling conversation with Denise Keele, Executive Director of the Michigan Climate Action Network (MiCAN). Denise discusses her fascinating vocational path, her passion for music and the arts, and MiCAN’s recently re-envisioned strategic plan and mission which states: “Michigan Climate Action Network connects and amplifies individuals, communities, and organizations confronting the climate crisis in Michigan and supports them in advancing equitable climate solutions with the urgency science demands for the environment and all that live in it.” /// State of Water is a program of the Michigan-based non-profit organization Title Track, and is powered by the Clean Water Campaign for Michigan. The podcast is made possible through a generous contribution from the Esperance Foundation.
 /// EPISODE 33

 / Denise Keele interviewed by Seth Bernard

 / Produced, edited and mixed by Dan Rickabus and Chris Good

 / Narrators - Alex Smith, Ben Darcie, Dan Rickabus, Jenny

In Episode 32 of State of Water, we’re thrilled to bring you an inspiring conversation with Annalise Povolo, Director of Administration and Programs for the Lake Leelanau Lake Association (LLLA). Annalise is an aquatic ecologist who grew up in the area deeply connected to the same Lake Leelanau waters that she now cares for and works to protect. After spending some time away from Michigan with studies and adventures, she chose to return to this area bringing with her a tremendous toolbox of skills and perspectives. In her work with the LLLA, she not only does the scientific work at hand such as managing and preventing invasive species but also the human-centric work of educating, advocating, and motivating citizens to do what they can to care for and protect the waters even in the midst of challenges that may at times feel daunting. /// State of Water is a program of the Michigan-based non-profit organization Title Track, and is powered by the Clean Water Campaign for Michigan. The podcast is made possible

Earlier this year, State of Water host, Seth Bernard, visited the Kingsley Farmer’s Market during their Water Week festivities. Seth led a workshop, performed a concert, and talked with some vendors and market goers about their personal relationships with water. Featured in this episode of State of Water are conversations with JC Bailey, Co-owner of Bailey’s Farms; Allison Cooley-Brakeman, Seth’s 9th grade science teacher; and Dan Hawkins, Village Manager for Kingsley, MI. It was a windy day at the farmer’s market, so please excuse a bit of wind and market background noise, but we hope you enjoy these small-town reflections on water - reflections of gratitude, of connection, and of the importance to protect our waters for future generations. /// State of Water is a program of the Michigan-based non-profit organization Title Track, and is powered by the Clean Water Campaign for Michigan. The podcast is made possible through a generous contribution from the Esperance Foundation.
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 / JC Baile

Episode 30 of State of Water features a power-packed conversation with Carl Lindquist, founder and Executive Director of the Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP). Carl was the sole employee when the Great Lakes non-profit formed in 1999. Working together with a creative board they have been able to grow the organization to 18 full-time staff and over 30 seasonal employees in their Great Lakes Climate Corps (GLCC). Tune in to hear how SWP is truly a 100% local, Upper Peninsula organization that nurtures a variety of innovative collaborations while implementing on-the-ground efforts that embrace climate resiliency as a key component to protecting our waters. The organization focuses on a wide range of community-based projects that provide documented, measurable results that benefit UP communities, enhance the UP environment and help protect the three Great Lakes that virtually surround the UP (Superior, Michigan and Huron). /// State of Water is a program of the Michigan-based non-profit organization Title Tr

We’re so happy to bring you this wonderful conversation between scientists, teachers, musicians, activists, and brewers around the theme of “What Water Wants to Be.” Listen in as these experts from a diversity of fields discuss their own unique relationship with water, the power of collaboration, how to seek local solutions for global challenges, the healing and connecting possibilities of art, and much more. This dynamic panel discussion was presented by the City of Marquette Arts & Culture Center, Superior Watershed Partnership, and Ore Dock Brewing Company as part of the 7th Annual Art Week and recorded in front of a live audience at the Ore Dock on June 22, 2022. Panelists: Jake Shea of Ore Dock Brewing Company John Highlen of Trout Unlimited Tyler Penrod of Superior Watershed Partnership Dr. Sarah Mittlefehldt of Northern Michigan University Seth Bernard of Title Track and the Clean Water Campaign for MI Moderated by: Dr. Jess Thompson of Northern Michigan University /// State of Water is a program o

Earlier this year, State of Water host Seth Bernard sat down with Jill Ryan, Executive Director of the wonderful organization Freshwater Future. Jill shares compelling stories and insights from working both at the policy and community levels, thoughts on the essential role of arts and culture in this work, and so much more about her philosophy and Freshwater Future’s commitment to ensuring the health of our waters. /// State of Water is a program of the Michigan-based non-profit organization Title Track, and is powered by the Clean Water Campaign for Michigan. The podcast is made possible through a generous contribution from the Esperance Foundation. /// EPISODE 28 
/ Jill Ryan interviewed by Seth Bernard 
/ Produced, edited and mixed by Dan Rickabus and Chris Good / Narrators - Alex Smith, Ben Darcie, Dan Rickabus, Jenny Jones, Angela Gallegos, Rachel Marco-Havens
 / Graphic by Will Thomas
 / Theme Music - Mike Savina, Seth Bernard & Dan Rickabus
 / Featured Music - “Bluegreen New Wave Expedition” by Ecot

On today’s episode, we feature a musical collaboration, rooted in friendship, that honors the deep history of the Great Lakes while sharing a love of water that drives a conviction to act boldly in the present. Ben Traverse is a guitarist, singer and multi-instrumentalist who has a passion for American traditional folk music. He is also a core member of the Earthwork Music Collective, and a behind-the-scenes M.V.P. for Michigan’s music community. Inspired by Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and many more folk heroes, Ben creates eclectic mixtures of story and song. Michael Dause is best known as the drummer for the phenomenal band The Accidentals. He is a prolific songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and recording engineer apart from the band, and he releases his own immersive music under the moniker Treeskin. These two unique Michigan artists joined forces in 2019 to record an album of both traditional and original Sea Shanties. The album, entitled "Songs of the Lakes, Rivers and Seas, Shanties, Forecastle