Climate Joy Interviews

Restore Buffalo — like Jason

Meet Jason Baldes, Executive Director of  the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative.

Jason’s journey to restoring Buffalo began on a childhood trip to Africa with his biologist father, where they witnessed the wildebeest migration — 1.5 million animals spread far and wide over hundreds of miles.

He realized the Buffalo herds of North America were a mere fraction of what they once were before near-extinction in the early 1900s.

Returning with a newfound appreciation for his home and community, Jason attended Montana State University and earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in Land Resources and Environmental Sciences.

As Tribal Buffalo Program Manager for the National Wildlife Federation’s Tribal Partnerships Program, Jason and the team have helped restore more than 300 conservation Buffalo to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes in Wind River since 2016.

As a keystone species, Buffalo revitalize the landscape, natural habitats, and promote diversity of wildlife. They are also essential to the Indigenous people:

“Buffalo was our food, our clothing, our shelter — but also central to our cultural and spiritual belief systems. It’s been missing for a long period of time, and so to restore that animal to our communities means we can begin to heal.” – Jason Baldes

In this time of biodiversity loss and rampant extraction, Indigenous-led climate solutions are a beacon of knowledge and hope.

From Global Citizen: “Indigenous communities make up just 6% of the global population, yet they’re responsible for safeguarding more than 80% of Earth’s remaining biodiversity. That’s not a coincidence — it’s the result of centuries of traditional knowledge, sustainable land management, and deep cultural ties to the land.”

Visit Wind River Buffalo to learn more.

Electrify Homes — like Candace!

Meet Candace Turtle, Co-Founder, Board Member, and Home Energy Coach with the Ashland Climate Collaborative.

As a trained Rewiring America Coach, Candace brings a passion for helping neighbors navigate their own electrification plans.

She walks the talk: over three years, she transformed her historic home to 100% electric—upgrading weatherization, switching to an induction cooktop, and replacing a 20-year-old heating system with an efficient Mitsubishi heat pump. She is now happily researching electric vehicles to replace her 2009 hybrid Camry.

Candace is eager to help you discover the comfort and savings of a clean-energy home! Sign up for a Home Energy Review and talk to Candace directly.

Visit Ashland Climate Collaborative to sign up for the newsletter — and schedule a free Home Energy Score to learn ways to make your home even more energy efficient.

Protect Public Lands — like Andy!

Andy Neal is a content creator, speaker, storyteller, and advocate based in Oregon. Known online as @andyfilmsandhikes, he has built a cross-platform audience of more than half a million followers and subscribers through honest, often humorous storytelling about mental health, faith, family, foster and adoptive parenting, identity, grief, and rebuilding a life when everything falls apart.

Andy first became widely known for his viral stupid hike for my stupid mental health videos, which resonated with millions of people through their mix of humor, vulnerability, and honesty. Since then, his work has grown into something much deeper, inviting people into conversations about surrender, survival, deconstruction, healing, and what it means to keep going when the life you planned no longer exists.

A former pastor, foster and adoptive parent, and public advocate, Andy brings a rare mix of grit, heart, humor, and hard won wisdom to the stage. His story spans faith and disillusionment, parenting through trauma, personal reinvention, public advocacy, and the long process of finding hope on the other side of loss. Whether online or in person, Andy is known for making people feel seen, challenged, and a little less alone.

Visit Andy’s website and follow him on your favorite social media! Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok.

Support Local Farmers — like Zhu!

Zhu Parker is the Farm Operations and Mentorship Manager at the SOU Farm. She has an undergrad degree in Environmental Science and Policy with a Sustainability Leadership Certification from Southern Oregon University. After graduating, she worked as a Garden Educator for Elementary School kids and managed a Native Plant Nursery before getting her dream job managing the SOU farm. 

Through her work at the SOU Farm, Zhu is passionate about teaching ecological growing practices that create a symbiotic relationship between nature and humans. By working with college students, Zhu is excited to share her passion for regenerative agriculture and inspire future generations about the importance of hands-on learning. 

Check out Zhu’s climate hero — Dr. Elaine Ingham — a pioneering soil biologist and founder of Soil Food Web. 

Reading for a Better World with Megan Isser

Megan Isser is the co-owner of Bloomsbury Books in Ashland, Oregon, alongside her husband, Dave. A Los Angeles native, she earned degrees from UCLA and USC Annenberg’s Graduate School of Journalism before spending more than 15 years as an executive producer in documentary film and television.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Megan and Dave—an Ashland native—came to Ashland with their two young daughters, planning to stay for just a few weeks. Six months later, they had bought a home and decided to make the Rogue Valley their permanent home.

In addition to running Bloomsbury Books, Megan teaches in Southern Oregon University’s Digital Cinema and Communications Department.

Megan believes books have the power to deepen our understanding of the world around us, foster empathy, and inspire people to care for both their communities and the natural environment.

Megan and her family feel fortunate to call Ashland home and continue to cherish the valley’s remarkable beauty and welcoming spirit.

Megan’s climate fiction book recommendations…

‘A Guardian and A Thief’ by Megha Majumdar. An electrifying novel set in a near-future Kolkata, India, ravaged by climate change and food scarcity, in which two families seeking to protect their children must battle each other.

‘Wild Dark Shore’ by Charlotte McConaghy about a family on a remote island, a mysterious woman washed ashore, a rising storm on the horizon, and a seed vault…

Build community resilience – like Susie Garcia!

Susie Garcia is the regional coordinator for Rogue Climate in the Rogue Valley. She works with volunteer teams to support youth with climate justice campaigns, such as the recent Ashland Electrification campaign, where a collaboration with the city led to passing an ordinance to build new homes more energy efficient. 

In a similar goal of increasing energy efficiency in homes, she ran the Community Heat Pump Deployment Program in 2025 to install heat pumps in existing homes across Jackson County. 

Susie also coordinates outreach events and community partnerships in the valley, with collaborations across the state. Main areas of work include supporting youth & adult volunteer leadership, building community resilience, leading climate related campaigns, lobbying for a just transition, and fostering partnerships with other climate justice groups.

Protect natural ecosystems – like Keeya Wiki!

Keeya Wiki is a 18-year-old Yurok and Māori river advocate whose work centers Indigenous stewardship, youth voice, and environmental justice. She is a member of the Paddle Tribal Waters cohort that helped mark the largest dam removal and river restoration project in world history by completing the historic First Descent—a 30-day, 310-mile kayak journey down the newly freed Klamath River in northern California.

Keeya has shared this work on national platforms including The Kelly Clarkson Show, the White House, and in feature stories with The Washington Post, CNN, and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Grounded in her communities and guided by joy, courage, and deep preparation, Keeya brings clarity, hope, and purpose to her leadership, representing a new generation shaping a more just and connected future.

Living simply so that others may simply live – like Robin Greenfield.

Robin Greenfield is an activist, social reformer and servant to Earth, humanity and the plants and animals we share our home with. His life is an experiment with truth and integrity. At the heart of Robin’s action-based philosophy is his dedication to living simply and sustainably as a means of active resistance to systems of destruction and exploitation. Through living closely connected to Earth, he is on a path of personal liberation. Through living simply, he rejects societal standards of consumerism that contribute to great inequity and injustice.

Robin’s public activism involves dramatic gestures designed to reach the mainstream and to provoke critical thought, self-reflection and positive change. His activism creates nuanced conversations on the critical issues of our time, with a focus on solutions for living in harmony. His work has been covered by media worldwide and he has been named “The Robin Hood of Modern Times” by France 2 TV and “The Forrest Gump of Ecology” and “A Thoreau-esque character for our digital age” by Rich Roll. What Robin is dedicated to is simple – liberation and basic rights for all – Earth, humanity and our plant and animal relatives.

He is currently immersed in a year-long activism campaign of foraging 100% of his food and medicine, traveling the country extensively sharing the message that Earth provides us with everything we need. This year he launched the 1 Million Community Fruit Trees Initiative, with an objective to plant 1 million fruit and nut trees through a grassroots, collaborative effort of thousands of individuals and communities across the nation.

Living simply so that others may simply live.

• Why I am Foraging 100% of My Food and Medicine for a Year
• Foraging 100% of My Food and Medicine for a Year – The Guidelines
• Robin’s book – Food Freedom

Protect Ashland from wildfire – like Chris!

Meet Chris Chambers, from the Ashland Fire & Rescue, Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Division.

An Ashland native, Chris has worked at Ashland Fire and Rescue since 2002. He oversees the management of municipal forestlands under the Ashland Forest Plan; worked 15 years on the cutting edge Ashland Forest Resiliency Project; and helped lead the process from 2023 to 2025 to rewrite the City’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan. He’s currently working to implement that plan with community partners, other agencies, and citizens like you!

Special thanks to Ashland locals Doug and Rebecca for letting us film at their beautiful, fortified home. They have taken multiple steps to protect their home from the threat of wildfire — from non-flammable fences that attach to their home, 1/8 inch screens to keep embers out, metal flashing blocking “entry” areas, to keeping the 0-5 foot zone clear from flammables.

Visit the Fire Adapted Ashland website for great resources. Right away you’ll see 5 simple projects to create and maintain defensible space around your home.

1. Clear Debris
2. Trim Under Eaves
3. Space Vegetation
4. Remove Combustibles
5. Mesh Protection

You can also request a free Wildfire Risk Assessment.

Shout-out to Chris’s daughter Mira — his climate hero — who was a part of the incredible youth-led Rogue Climate Ashland Youth for Electrification campaign!

Get kids on bikes – like Mike!

Discover how Mike Vergeer is inspiring the next generation of Ashland kids to ride bikes through fun programs and safety skills. Join his vision to see throngs of happy kids riding to school and bike parking areas jam-packed!

Mike believes that biking and walking will not only help us reach our climate goals, it will put smiles on our faces, build resilient communities, and cultivate healthy independence among our youth.

You can find Mike leading a local Bike Bus for kids on his giant orange bicycle, teaching the PedalPower program to Ashland elementary students, or at The Grove fixing bikes in the community bike shop.

If you live in Ashland Oregon and find that something is keeping you from biking and walking for your short trips, Mike wants to help.

Live in another town? Start a Bike Bus where you are — learn more from Mike’s climate hero Coach Sam Balto at Bike Bus World!

Compost like Flavia!

If you live in Ashland Oregon, you know Flavia from the food scrap collection bins at the Tuesday Growers Market.

Flavia has been building her climate knowledge and outreach experience since 2006. In 2019, she learned from Project Drawdown just how powerful reducing food waste is to avoiding methane emissions, and she was hooked!

She’s a volunteer with Southern Oregon Food Solutions, the Ashland Climate Collaborative Compost Team, and Southern Oregon Climate Action Now — and president of the Ashland Bellview Grange.

Live in Ashland? Learn more about composting and bring your food scraps to the Tuesday Growers Market!

Live, love, and connect – like Jay Preskenis!

Dear viewers, Jay passed away on May 28, 2026. These videos were filmed 2 weeks prior on May 12. It is with utmost respect that his words are shared here.

I’m honored to interview my dear friend and precious guest, Jay Preskenis. We worked together at the Ashland Climate Collaborative where Jay was in charge of community outreach. He connected with EVERYONE. In October 2025, Jay was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s and his time on this earth has been shortened, leaving him with a very unique perspective.

Jay was a beloved educator and leader with over 30 years of experience in environmental stewardship and education. He designed and implemented programs like the Social Action Environmental Justice (SAEJ) program at Ashland High School and taught Wilderness Charter School. As Coordinator of Student Services in Ashland and Principal in Medford, Jay led efforts that prioritized environmental consciousness alongside academic achievement, shaping students into responsible, eco-aware citizens. Jay has led backpacking clubs for middle and high school students.

His personal commitment to the environment was reflected in his love for backpacking, fly-fishing, and trail running.

Donate in Jay’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Bike like Barb – Octogenarian Cyclist!

Barb is over 80 and rides her yellow bicycle all over town. Not an ebike – a regular bike! She is part of the Allison Street neighborhood climate club in Ashland, a proponent of carpooling, and may even start a ride share program to keep more cars off the roads.

Barb retired to Ashland in 2015 after 30 years of teaching in international schools outside the US – where riding a bike was not an easy endeavor. On day 2 of moving here, her family helped her hop on a bike – as they ride bikes everywhere.

Barb is eager to chip away at our carbon footprint. Her dream is to see WAY MORE people riding bikes in Ashland! She envisions Ashland as a hub for climate solutions and hopes all of us will consider minimizing our “stuff” — paring down and sharing. For inspiration on simplifying, one of her favorite books is The Sweetness of a Simple Life by Diana Beresford-Kroeger.

Join Barb in real life at a First Friday Bike Ride in Ashland. Get inspired by 3 generations of Barb’s biking family.

Revitalize community – like Matt Hoffman!

Born and raised in Ashland, Oregon, Matt Hoffman has been pushing creative boundaries of storytelling, directing commercials for the world’s leading brands– Nike, Gatorade, Michelob, Nissan, ESPN, and Capital One. In 2025, Matt joined the illustrious director roster of world-renowned production company hungryman with offices in LA, NYC, and London.

Matt is the founder of Storytown Ashland – which aspires to revitalize Ashland through world-class events (like the Sarcasm Festival), emerging technology (like the Storytown App), community infrastructure, workforce development, and collaboration – all with the goal of making Ashland an ever-flowing and attractive destination for young families and artists, 365 days a year.

Envision climate success – like Erin!

In our very first interview, beloved Ashland kindergarten teacher Tia introduces our founder Erin — and asks her the 3 Climate Joy questions.

Erin is a climate leader and communications expert helping communities turn everyday choices into powerful waves of change.

She spent 22 years running Ruby Slipper Designs, an award-winning web and marketing firm for nonprofits, and recently served as Executive Director of the Ashland Climate Collaborative, advancing community action on clean energy, transportation, composting, water conservation, and wildfire resilience.

Through her newest venture, the Climate Joy Project, Erin delivers keynote speeches, consulting, and writing that inspires hopeful, practical climate action.