A Sustainable CT podcast. The Impact shares workshops, conversations and interviews covering a wide range of topics that are central to Connecticut communities, including civic engagement, climate resilience, affordable housing, transportation, equity and social justice.
This fun and interesting show features two of our fabulous 2026 Fellows - Grace DiTunno and Natalie Crowley. We learn how they came to the program, what they hope to accomplish, what they think - about sustainability, about politics, about life - and how they see the future. They'll be joined by our equally fabulous Fellows Program Coordinator, and guest producer of this episode, Lilly Adamo. And, just to make things really exciting, Sustainable Communities Fellow extraordinaire Katie Meder takes over the host chair. It's wall-to-wall Fellows this month on the IMPACT. Don't miss it!
7/15/26 • 49:53
Since its creation in 2019, the Sustainable CT Community Match Fund has invested in over $5 million in more than 400 community-led projects in 88 Connecticut municipalities. We hear from our founder, Lynn Stoddard, about the origins of the CMF, and from project leaders Annie Geitner and Tom Martin who have done remarkable things with the support of this program. Listen, learn, get inspired, and start a Community Match Fund project in your own community!
6/15/26 • 66:46
We catch up with Jayson Velazquez at 'the nation's first green bank' to hear how they're supporting Connecticut towns and cities. A green bank accelerates the green economy using limited public dollars to attract multiples of private capital investment, making clean energy more affordable and accessible to consumers. Established by the Connecticut General Assembly in July 2011, the Connecticut Green Bank supports the Governor’s and Legislature’s energy strategy to achieve cleaner, less expensive, and more reliable sources of energy while creating jobs and supporting local economic development. In 2021, the Green Bank’s model was expanded to include new areas of environmental infrastructure related to climate adaptation and resiliency, land conservation, parks and recreation, agriculture, water, waste and recycling, and environmental markets, including carbon offsets and ecosystem services. Join us to hear how Connecticut Green Bank is supporting towns and cities work towards "a planet protected by the love of humanity."
5/15/26 • 54:19
Lori Brown and the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters work to protect our state’s environment by making environmental issues a priority for our elected leaders and holding lawmakers accountable with an “Environmental Scorecard” that they publish each year. Lori is a registered lobbyist at the Connecticut General Assembly, working with all of Connecticut’s statewide environmental advocacy groups to push for important legislation that shapes our state’s policies on air, water, land, wildlife, energy and climate change. Hear what the League's priorities are for this legislative session.
4/15/26 • 54:59
Dr. Adam Whelchel has spent the better part of two decades at The Nature Conservancy, currently serving as TNC's Director of Science. His forte is Community Resilience Building - "a unique, 'anywhere at any scale', community-driven process to improve community resilience for all hazards today, and in the future." Adam has been a faithful partner of Sustainable CT since we administered our very first certification process in 2018, providing Community Resilience Workshops to Sustainable CT-registered towns seeking to gain certification points under Action 5.4, Assess Climate Vulnerability. We - and municipalities all across Connecticut - are the beneficiaries of his commitment. Join us to hear how and why he does what he does.
3/15/26 • 52:46
Mary Ann Chinatti is the Economic & Community Development/Redevelopment Director in the Town of Putnam. The Town has done some amazing work through its Arts Council and they've made "arts and culture" a substantial part of their economic development strategy. We find out why, how, and with what result.
2/15/26 • 37:35
We catch up with Adrian Huq – a new, and decidedly accomplished, member of our Board of Directors. Adrian has done – is doing – so many wonderful things that it’s hard to keep track: they are currently a grad student at the Yale School of the Environment; they are a cohort member of the Nonprofit Management Program for Emerging Leaders of Color under the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven; they serve as cofounder of the New Haven Climate Movement Youth Action Team, which advocates for bold climate policy change on the city level; and let’s not forget that Adrian has worked across four summers as a Sustainable CT Fellow, working with both the Naugatuck Valley and Capitol Region Councils of Governments. This month, please join us for a view from the Boardroom with Adrian Huq.
1/15/26 • 54:54
Brian Hess is a Wildlife Biologist with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), where he specializes in non-game wildlife, particularly large raptors, reptiles, amphibians, and various other herpetofauna (and, yes, we had to look that word up). He is a leading authority on Connecticut's growing bald eagle population and the public face for many related outreach efforts. He shares his public face - or at least his public voice - with us. Be sure to catch the action.The Connecticut Wildlife Action Plan Partner Network NewsletterThe 2025 Wildlife Action Plan
12/15/25 • 60:27
Summer Mitchell, Katie Meder, and Lilly Adamo - they're all former Sustainable CT Fellows, and now they're all filling important positions and doing critical work with Sustainable CT. Join us to hear where they came from, what they're doing, and where they hope to go in the sustainability field. They're fun, they're smart, and they're motivated to make an impact.
11/15/25 • 59:04
We're joined by Michael Fling, Associate Artistic Director at Goodspeed Musicals, to talk about everything Goodspeed, its history, its achievements, and what this celebrated venue means to the East Haddam community and to Connecticut. And don't forget to join us at the Goodspeed for our 2025 Awards Celebration on October 28. We'll be hitting the high notes!
10/15/25 • 55:26
Joanna Wozniak-Brown joins us to discuss Sustainability and Resiliency Week - the second annual week of events that celebrate work across Connecticut that protects our economy, natural resources, and our communities taking place from September 28 through October 4. Joanna serves as the Climate & Infrastructure Policy Development Coordinator at the Connecticut Office of Policy & Management, a role in which she leads the development and implementation of Connecticut’s climate and sustainability strategies. She's also a major organizer of Governor Lamont's Sustainability and Resiliency Week initiative, so be sure to listen to get all your S&R ducks in a row for the end of September.
9/15/25 • 49:23
John-Henry Burke, Sustainable CT Fellow Extraordinaire, takes over the Big Microphone this month to make some noise about noise pollution in Connecticut. His guests include acoustician Amy Ziffer, along with our WestCOG friend Mike Towle. Our Fellows have been working hard this summer on, among many other things, assessing which communities have noise ordinances on the books, and developing a database of their respective details. This will be music to your ears.
8/15/25 • 40:36
Bill McKibben, author, educator, and tireless advocate for the earth and our environment joins us to discuss his latest initiative: Sun Day - a nationwide tribute to the sun, solar energy, and other renewable energy to take place on the autumnal equinox, September 21. Also joining us for this episode are Third Act Connecticut organizers Davida Foy Crabtree and Lynn Stoddard, Sustainable CT's founder and former executive director. Third Act, the group founded by Bill McKibben that recruits and organizes retirees to work for climate action and social justice, is taking the lead on Sun Day organizing.
7/15/25 • 50:59
The June episode of our podcast will introduce some of our newest Sustainable CT Fellows: Maya Aviles, Thomas Busemeyer and Anna Hilary. We place highly qualified college students across the state’s Councils of Governments (COGs) to help cities and towns become registered, certified, or recertified with Sustainable CT during the summer. Fellows are directly engaged in supporting cutting-edge sustainability initiatives, local government operations, and regional coordination. And they’re swell people! You will want to hear what they have to say.
6/15/25 • 42:37
Mallory Howard is the Assistant Curator at the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford - which just so happens to be where we'll be having our 2025 Spring into Summer Celebration on June 4. Mallory knows more about the Twain House and Sam Clemens' time in Hartford than any one human should legally be allowed to know. Please join our May podcast for a delightful conversation about historical preservation, the Gilded Age, and all things Twain.
5/15/25 • 43:59
We catch up with David Dickson, Director of the University of Connecticut Center for Land Use Education and Research - a/k/a UConn CLEAR. UConn CLEAR provides indispensable resources to land use decision makers in support of better land use decisions, healthier natural resources, and more resilient communities. Dave also happens to be a member of the Sustainable CT Board of Directors. It's a fun and informative conversation about sustainability, and basketball, and lots of acronyms.
4/15/25 • 54:43
Danielle Chesebrough knows a thing or two about responsible investments. She's the First Selectman of Stonington and a member of Sustainable CT's Board of Directors. And before holding these notable positions, Danielle spent eight years as a Senior Analyst of Investor Relations with the United Nations Global Compact. We ask her (among many other interesting and important questions) why she thinks a state investment in Sustainable CT is such a great idea.
3/15/25 • 52:16
The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters calls Hwang “the only Republican Senator who has consistently supported major climate legislation, emphasizing practical, nature-based solutions that promote responsible stewardship of the lands, forests, wetlands, and waterways of the state.” We find out why his reputation for common sense, bi-partisanship and good humor is so well-deserved.
2/15/25 • 53:57
This year marked the 25th Anniversary Annual Environmental Summit. Hosted by the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, it was a milestone in bringing together advocates, lawmakers, policy experts, and passionate community members to chart the future of Connecticut’s environmental movement.And the IMPACT was there - interviewing, witnessing, and learning. If you weren't able to attend on January 7 - and even if you were - this will be a great opportunity to listen in and gain valuable insight on this "premier space for learning, collaboration, and action."
1/15/25 • 56:48
Laura Francis, Interim Director of South Central Regional Council of Governments, joins us to discuss the role of COGs in achieving Connecticut's sustainability goals. With 30 years of experience in Durham town government (15 as First Selectman), Laura brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to any table. And that's a good thing, too, because she also happens to be the Co-chair of Sustainable CT's Board of Directors.
12/15/24 • 52:08
Our new Executive Director is hardly new to Sustainable CT - she's been an indispensable part of the organization since its inception. Jessica LeClair joins us to talk about many things - what it's like to sit in the Big Chair, the politics of the moment, her hopes and aspirations for Sustainable CT's future, and why the Campaign for a Sustainable CT is so important. Please listen.
11/15/24 • 50:40
Carl Fortuna's service to the community reads like a hearty alphabet soup: MIRA (the Materials Innovation Recycling Authority), CCM (the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities), COST (the Council of Small Towns), River COG (the Lower Connecticut River Council of Governments), and let's not forget CIRMA (the Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency). Topping it off, he's been the First Selectman of Old Saybrook, a Gold certified town, for 13 years. And we just happen to be holding our 2024 Awards Celebration at the historic Kate Theater in Old Saybrook on November 13th! Come to the table for October's IMPACT when we sit down for a great conversation and a healthy helping of Old Saybrook.
10/15/24 • 52:32
Thomas Clynch is something of a Renaissance Man - a principal at Civic Mind, the creative agency dedicated to social progress and corporate citizenship, and the founder of the new Hartford Times - he is also the founder of Yoga In Our City, a Community Match Fund project. We talk about many things, as Renaissance Men will, but we definitely wanted to hear what TJ had to say about his experience working with Sustainable CT through the Match Fund process. Leonardo would be proud.
9/15/24 • 53:17
If you think "socially responsible investing" just might be an oxymoron, you wouldn't be alone, but you will be enlightened when you listen to James Osborn, founder of Envest - the first (and so far, the only) Certified B Corporation financial advisory firm in the state of Connecticut. James’ roots run deep in sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) and financial planning which motivated him to create Envest Asset Management. Join us as we explore the promise - and the challenge - of investing in a sustainable future.
8/15/24 • 55:02
Sustainable CT Fellows Adrian Huq and Jackie Flaherty take over the big microphone this month to interview collegiate movers-and-shakers in the sustainability movement. Their guests include: Dylan Steer, President of EcoHusky, lead organizer with Fossil Fuel Free UConn, and UConn Office of Sustainability intern; Amelia Kearney, Founder and Former President of Tunxis Sustainability Club, and Communications Lead at Sunrise Movement Connecticut; and Derek Faulkner from Southern CT State's Office of Sustainability. It's a lively and informative conversation that you won't want to miss!
7/15/24 • 51:28
Thought Partner Solutions (TPS) is invested in opening doors to authentic social impact through values-based leadership development. With an unwavering commitment to a more inclusive world, they offer solutions to help their partners to build a more inclusive and equitable workplace. They are experts at uncovering organizational values and turning those values into action with a framework that they call the Be READI© Approach. Join us for an in-depth discussion with TPS dynamic founder and leader, Jamal Jimerson.
6/15/24 • 56:46
We catch up with Bryan Garcia, long-serving president and CEO of Connecticut Green Bank - a quasi-public agency that leverages ratepayer funds with private capital to offer low-cost, long-term financing for clean energy projects. CT Green Bank was the first of its kind back in 2011, and they've not let up on innovation since. Hear about the Green Bank's current and future plans to support resilient infrastructure and so much more.
5/15/24 • 58:20
Weston High School teacher Michael Aitkenhead and a few of his industrious students joined us to discuss their pollinator garden project - an interactive ecosystem where students can get hands-on experience with wildlife and problem-solving. Good things happen in the spring at Weston HS, so join us to hear the buzz. A Community Match Fund project!
4/15/24 • 34:31
Nicole Chevalier - philanthropist, activist, writer, member of the Sustainable CT Board of Directors, and chair of our search committee for a brand new Executive Director - talks about the ED's role, how finding the right person is so important, and what the future holds for Sustainable CT.
3/15/24 • 51:00
A recent addition to the Sustainable CT Board of Directors, Mike Purcaro has been working with the Town of Vernon in one capacity or another for almost 20 years and as town administrator for the last seven years. Vernon is truly a Sustainable CT "success story" - over-achieving in nearly every action area since their registration in 2018. Join us to discover how they did it and what lies ahead for the Silver certified Town of Vernon.
2/15/24 • 48:06
