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Inspiring people to appreciate the natural world is one thing; empowering them to protect it is another. For Julie Packard, bridging those two goals has been at the heart of her career.
In this episode of People, Places, Planet, host Natalie Triana sits down with Julie Packard, internationally recognized ocean conservation leader, longtime Executive Director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and recipient of ELI's 2026 Environmental Achievement Award. Julie joins us to reflect on her career, the evolution of ocean conservation, and the importance of connecting science, policy, and public engagement to protect marine ecosystems.
Drawing on more than four decades of leadership at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Julie shares how the institution evolved from showcasing the wonders of marine life to becoming a leading force in ocean conservation and policy advocacy. The conversation also examines the major threats facing our oceans today, including the challenges of advancing sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. Finally, Julie reflects on how far ocean conservation has come, the work that still lies ahead, and the importance of fostering connections between people and the natural world to protect the ocean for generations to come.
Timestamps:01:40 – Julie Packard's Path to Ocean Conservation 04:20 – From Marine Biology to the Monterey Bay Aquarium 07:30 – The Aquarium's Evolution from Education to Conservation 09:48 – Turning Exhibits into Real-World Impact 14:30 – Communicating Science to the Public 17:00 – A Shifting Perspective on Ocean Conservation 19:13 – The Biggest Threats Facing Our Oceans 23:08 – Advancing Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture 25:30 – The Next Generation of Ocean Conservation Leaders
Does next generation geothermal have the capital and regulatory certainty to scale? In part two of this two-part series, host Sebastian Duque Rios continues the conversation on geothermal energy, turning to the financing and policy side of the equation with a panel of experts: Caroline de Bossart (Grantham Foundation), Drew Nelson (Project InnerSpace), and Susannah Dibble (Environmental Law Institute).The conversation first digs into the challenges of financing geothermal energy. The panel unpacks the unique risk profile of geothermal projects (front-loaded drilling costs, resource uncertainty, and the absence of standardized data) and how emerging tools could unlock institutional lending and insurance the way similar frameworks have for oil and gas. They also explore the regulatory patchwork shaping geothermal's growth state by state, from Texas and Colorado's bipartisan legislative wins to the Mountain West Coalition's push for coordinated permitting and financing reform, and what an ideal legal and regulatory environment — one built to keep pace with fast-moving technology — could look like.Along the way, the panel covers permitting timelines, water rights and reinjection issues, and where organizations like ELI can help close the remaining research and policy gaps. It's a wide-ranging look at what stands between geothermal and the capital it needs to scale, and the policy moves that could unlock it.
For more information, see part one of this two-part series and ELI's webinars on The Future of Geothermal:
Geothermal energy is having a moment. As demand for reliable, always-on power grows alongside data centers and electrification, new drilling technologies are unlocking geothermal's potential far beyond its traditional strongholds in California, Nevada, and Iceland. In part one of this two-part series, host Sebastian Duque Rios sits down with Tom Lutken, science fellow at the Environmental Law Institute, for a primer on how geothermal energy actually works — and what's changing.
We break down the science behind geothermal electricity generation, the difference between direct-use applications and power generation, and next-generation technologies like enhanced geothermal systems, advanced geothermal systems, and super-hot rock geothermal that are expanding where geothermal can be developed. The conversation also covers drilling costs, potential risks, and innovative approaches aimed at solving geothermal's biggest cost barrier.
The episode closes with a preview of the regulatory landscape shaping geothermal's growth with Susannah Dibble, staff attorney at ELI. From the decades-old Geothermal Steam Act to the state-level legislation now playing catch-up with the technology, we highlight some of the major financing, legal, and policy questions surrounding geothermal that merit further analysis. The second part of this series digs deeper into these issues with a full panel of experts.
For more information, see ELI's webinars on The Future of Geothermal:
Forever chemicals are everywhere — in your carpet, your cookware, your cosmetics, and increasingly, your drinking water. PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — have been building up in our environment, our water, and our bodies for decades. And while federal regulatory momentum on forever chemicals is stalling, states are moving in the opposite direction. In this episode of People Places Planet, we sit down with Secretary Jim Kenney, General Counsel Zachary Ogaz, and Assistant General Counsel Greg Smithkier from the New Mexico Environment Department to break down what PFAS are, why they're so difficult to eliminate, and what state-level action actually looks like in practice.
They walk us through New Mexico's multi-pronged PFAS strategy: listing aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) as a hazardous waste, phasing out PFAS-containing consumer products, and implementing the country's first-ever consumer product labeling icon for intentionally added PFAS. They also discuss the state's ongoing litigation against the Department of Defense over PFAS contamination at Cannon Air Force Base.
New Mexico has emerged as a national leader on PFAS action, and this conversation reveals exactly how — and why it matters for every state. With