Ep. 05: Brent Suter & Lew Blaustein: An MLB Pitcher's Role of Climate Advocacy in Partnership with EcoAthletes

[00:00:00] Brent, what's your current walkout song? I know it was previously Jurassic Park. Has

[00:00:05] it changed from anything? Now it's empty hammers, two legit to quit. Classic, classic song.

[00:00:12] I remember dancing that as a kid growing up in the family to legit.

[00:00:17] Two legit to get so it's got to get it. Welcome to Champion This with Brianna

[00:00:31] Sabatori Duke and Chelsea Poppins where we share the incredible stories of athletes

[00:00:34] and entertainers who are using their platforms for to create positive change in the world

[00:00:39] and the communities they live in. We're super, super excited today because we have two total rock stars on the show

[00:00:45] Brent, suitor and Lou Blouse Dean who both really championed Climaxian and environmentalism.

[00:00:51] So just to jump into a little bit of their backgrounds, I'm going to hype up Brent first.

[00:00:56] So Brent is an MLB pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. He's had an eight year stint in the majors with teams including

[00:01:03] the Brewers and the Rockies. Like we mentioned, he's an environmental activist. He's also an author of a children's book called

[00:01:10] The Bankie Bandit and he's a Harvard graduate with a degree in environmental science and public policy.

[00:01:16] Welcome Brent. Thank you so much. Thanks for having me. It's an honor to be here and I love everything about this podcast.

[00:01:22] Yes, I'm excited.

[00:01:24] And next I want to hype up Lou Blouse Dean is the founder of EcoAplates and organization

[00:01:31] who's mission is to identify, inspire and equip athletes to speak out on climate change to a variety of audiences from fans to elected officials.

[00:01:40] He's also the host and CEO of the Green Sports blog. He's the president of LBS Green Solutions

[00:01:46] and he has an MBA from NYU with a bachelor's from Redgers. Welcome to the podcast Lou.

[00:01:51] It's great to be here guys.

[00:01:54] So good to have you both. I'm excited to hear more about your guys' stories and your journeys to start off.

[00:02:00] Let's kick it to Brent and get a little bit more into your background for listeners.

[00:02:06] You played baseball at Harvard where you studied environmental science and then proceeded to play four seasons in the minor leagues on on August 18,

[00:02:14] 2016 you woke up to 72 Miss calls from your manager Rick Sweet that you'd been called up to play and start with the viewers.

[00:02:23] What was that moment like for you?

[00:02:26] Yeah, it was surreal. First of all, I was really embarrassed that my phone was under my laptop and traps.

[00:02:30] I couldn't hear it and hear the vibration.

[00:02:32] I'm embarrassed that I missed him in a cold but he called me up when I called him back. He was like,

[00:02:38] where the heck you been? You're not starting for me tonight. You're starting against the Mariners tomorrow with a big club.

[00:02:43] I was like, what? And I looked back in my wife was crying tearing up and we just had such a celebratory moment.

[00:02:49] And then it was like, wait, our flights in four hours, we need to pack up our life and go to Seattle here and stuff.

[00:02:54] And it ended up going to the field, pack up all my stuff, getting our stuff packed up with the house and then find us the adult and World Wind of emotions in the next 24 hours

[00:03:04] was incredible. Tons of tax, tons of celebration but also like, I got a big time lineup.

[00:03:10] I need to face tomorrow, you know, I need to hold my own. And so it was a lot of nerves, a lot of excitement.

[00:03:17] It was day on like any other.

[00:03:20] That's incredible and we were talking about just before we started recording the importance of staying ready.

[00:03:25] As a pitcher, you have a game tonight that you're pitching.

[00:03:29] And you've mentioned, you know, I'm always ready. And it's interesting even I know probably those four seasons playing in the minors.

[00:03:35] You took that mindset. I'm sure of always being ready for when you got that call, when you were called up.

[00:03:41] And now you've been in the major leagues for eight years, which is an incredible, you've had a story career and you've been using your platform for positive impact.

[00:03:49] So I think just such a cool lesson for our listeners as well on the power of like putting in the work and staying ready.

[00:03:55] So love that friend.

[00:03:56] So, Lou to throw it to you for lack of a better metaphor.

[00:04:00] But we'd love to hear a little bit more about your background as a conservationist.

[00:04:05] When did climate action and environmentalism really become your way?

[00:04:10] Well, it's a great, it's, it's an unusual story I think.

[00:04:14] I was an environmentalist with a lower case e, you know, kind of my adult life.

[00:04:20] But I was working in sports marketing, advertising sales, New York City. I was your basic sports not like y'all meaning like I'm not an athlete but I love sports.

[00:04:30] And so, you know, I'm doing this job and for me it changed on 9-11.

[00:04:36] And I know that might sound cliche or hokey, but I was in Manhattan.

[00:04:42] I'd grown up and lived around the area and in the city my whole life.

[00:04:46] I didn't know anybody in the buildings downtown, but I felt like I had to do something.

[00:04:52] But I had no idea what that something was.

[00:04:56] So, time went by and then two plus years later there was a column in the New York Times that said written by Tom Friedman who still writes for them global kind of big macro thinker writer, Pulitzer Prize winner

[00:05:11] and the headline of it was Green is the new Red White and Blue.

[00:05:15] And he was writing in the context right of the Afghanistan War and the Iraq War and how being the US,

[00:05:23] 4% of the world's population 25% of the world's energy use and we were fueling the wars on terrorism that we were fighting.

[00:05:30] And so in a patriotic action, it came to me patriotically.

[00:05:34] I went out and changed my life bulbs, got a hybrid car when it was brand new 90% vegetarian and I'm like now I want to work in green because personal virtue so called isn't going to get it done.

[00:05:48] And especially then as I started researching it, I started learning about climate and I started to see the kind of geopolitics of the entire world

[00:06:00] and the energy systems that we are using to power the world coming together in this massive kind of need for change.

[00:06:09] It's a way to provide for all of us on this planet in a way that allows us to live a healthy life and not be in a climate weathered, deprived world.

[00:06:23] And so it went from 9-11 to being a climate and an environmental activist to quitting my job and starting a consulting company about how to help companies go green and then eventually to eco athletes.

[00:06:39] And I just want to say one thing here is that eco athletes, a key part of the eco athlete's story is Brent Suter.

[00:06:49] He doesn't even know this but he was the first person I called when I had this idea of starting a nonprofit to help athletes lead climate action because I interviewed Brent from my blog about this stuff.

[00:07:03] And I said, Brent got this idea of eco athletes. He's a major league ball player. He's not going to do it. He's like, oh yeah, I'm in.

[00:07:12] And then I knew we had it. So Brent, I have to thank you for that.

[00:07:17] He's like my first time in the area.

[00:07:20] Yeah.

[00:07:23] But to tell you in as an eco athlete Brent, I'd love to hear a little bit about why you're so deeply rooted in environmental advocacy and how and when that passion for climate action developed what was the catalyst.

[00:07:37] Yeah, I grew up loving nature, loving plants and animals but it was watching any community in truth in 2006, your came out my mom checked it out from the library and watched it and I was like, yeah, what's going on.

[00:07:47] Yeah, yeah, why I break mom for the win. But yeah, so from that point on, I was like, it was on my heart and I knew I wanted to study in college and make whatever I did in life kind of at least partially or centered on environmental causes.

[00:08:01] Yes, I'm student six. So I guess that's almost 20 years ago 18 years ago. So yeah, studying college been using trying to use the platform and baseball to you know for environmental activism and action.

[00:08:13] That's great. Yeah, and Lou, you kind of touched a little bit on your why for starting eco athletes or I guess a little bit of the how within contacting Brent first, which is really cool to kind of bring full circle, but have you both on the pot today, but can you talk to us a little bit more about eco athletes and kind of what is the mission of the organization? How you believe athletes can play a role in influencing culture and driving positive change, particularly around the climate.

[00:08:43] So kind of the why of eco athletes came from writing a blog about the green sports world called green sports blog or green sports blog.com for those of you haven't read it. I started that in 2013 and

[00:08:57] In writing about it and no one else was doing this at the time. I started to interview athletes, right, one of them and many of the athletes who were environmentally active right they were doing E-waste recycling drives. They were doing plastic ocean waste removal campaigns and I would ask them

[00:09:15] What about you know talking about climate changes kind of in my mind a natural extension of their environmental work, but many of them said no I don't do that and I'm like why not.

[00:09:26] And the same three obstacles kept on coming back those being it's too sciencey and I don't feel comfortable talking about science a science topic about which I know little it's too political.

[00:09:42] I don't want to get in the weeds of politics and then what I get the most nowadays is that I'm going to get hammered on social media for being a hypocrite because I fly all over the place for my sport and my personal carbon emissions are through the roof.

[00:09:56] And I would think to myself self, I know how to kind of rebut those criticisms. I know what to say to at least neutralize if not flip a critic who's open to being to having a real discussion some people are not as we know and the more I thought about it the more I thought you know what there needs to be an organization to help environmentally minded athletes and active athletes to get off the sidelines when they

[00:10:26] comes to climate change because given the scale of the crisis, the urgency of it and the scale of the opportunity for real climate action at you know at scale.

[00:10:39] We have to do this yesterday and athletes are the most influential humans on the planet like way more influential than like actors, rappers pop musicians whatever the Kardashians are they're like athletes are it and can we find the Billy Joaquins to author ashes in Muhammad Ali's the Colin Kaepernick.

[00:11:06] The you know Megan repinos of the climate movement that's what he co-athlete that's why we form deco athletes that's fantastic that's so cool that you guys lean into those I say controversial doesn't need to be controversial but those controversial polarizing conversations that are kind of political and then bringing on Brent suitor as one of the eco athletes Brent have you faced any of these kind of same issues same pushbacks.

[00:11:34] Do you have any stories of people like since you'd be kept stepped on that platform advocating for climate change has there been any people pushing back on you calling you hypocrite are there anything any similar stories to what lose talking to.

[00:11:47] Yeah sure a lot of teammates and people I've run into have disagreed or just kind of not given it the time and day or kind of the same thought process idea which.

[00:11:58] You know we just kind of I end up telling them what my thought process is I explain some of the signs to them trying not to get you know nerd now on them but trying to talk about the science and they hear it but you know sometimes it changes the thing you can do is just plant seeds of like huh.

[00:12:14] It's interesting to look into that you know I've never won a debate of climate and just been like oh yeah he's a client he's an environmentalist.

[00:12:22] I like it take like nail bait.

[00:12:24] It takes time you got to plant some seeds and fertilizes those things but yeah it's definitely running the.

[00:12:31] And then I'm going to do a lot of things that are not going to be a part of the idea of the conflicting ideas and then how to incorporate those ideas in your life for sure.

[00:12:38] And yeah I keep call the hypocrite I mean I'm flying planes all over the leg I get it's not like I'm living in the cleanest footprint life but I try.

[00:12:47] And every day and my actions in my words and hope that plants and seeds to.

[00:12:53] I love that I think that you're you being so relatable helps other people be help it helps that topic be more approachable and for people to ask those types of questions because a lot of times they don't feel comfortable asking those types of questions because they're kind of loaded questions sometimes or because they don't have the answers and are educated.

[00:13:12] They don't want to feel stupid when talking to someone who's advocating for those kind of things and so I think you're the perfect person to be on that platform talking about this this change this this topic.

[00:13:22] Man yes.

[00:13:24] I think even about my own journey as an athlete, Lou and and Bren in deciding to join echo at eco athletes I also felt very illiquipped in all of those kind of three major hurdles that you mentioned like.

[00:13:37] Those in my head even though I've worked at UNESCO and I've like done a lot around impact and understand the role of sports.

[00:13:44] I think that climate piece for me even though it's passionate about it just kind of felt a little bit more difficult to really walk into and embrace my role in in that fight.

[00:13:56] But Bren just also kind of continue to understand like what are some ways that you feel like you're able to educate and inspire your fans or people in the clubhouse through your platform.

[00:14:07] What does that work look like for you? What are some things you do?

[00:14:10] Yeah, honestly the best way it happens is like I have this type of where I'm reusable bottle that I take everywhere to prevent you know saying you use plastic paper waste so I get questions about like why you do this and then I talk well.

[00:14:22] Yeah, I mean part of it is the convenience separates my thoughts and colds and the bottles really nice big and icy and cold water but really main reason I do it is save the waste they go home and tell me more and then we get an conversation and then I'm like seed planted.

[00:14:38] Check. Yeah, but that's the best way it happens is like inquisitive talking about you know what the heck are you doing that for and then yeah some some of the other stuff like on social media posting about you know beach cleanups or tree plantings or environmental days and all that and the book the kids book I wrote has an environmental theme to it and that's really helped.

[00:15:00] I've gone into a lot of schools and read the book and then talk you know very kind of clearly and logically about the climate based on the story and the story.

[00:15:10] The folks is more on plastic waste but it is kind of a general tale of like, you know problems in our society or like waste compounds really quickly so what we can do to limit it helps a lot so yeah that's been that's been really easy thing with it with the kiddos my kids and then just kids are great too.

[00:15:28] So stuff like that and yeah, like we're saying conversations just bringing it up and not being afraid to talk about it is a big thing.

[00:15:36] You also let an initiative with your team I think to kind of stop using plastic bottles and it really it was well received by a majority of your your fellow teammates and people around what was the name of that.

[00:15:49] I strike out ways yeah, yeah five or six years ago and once a bottle companies like sent me free stuff so I ended up being able to get there's a win for everybody everyone got free bottles and I was like yeah, so the middle man here is cool.

[00:16:04] They're like influencer.

[00:16:06] I love it.

[00:16:10] Blue to kind of jump to you now.

[00:16:13] I also wanted to understand like more concretely what are some of the ways that you're equipping eco athletes like I know because I've been equipped for you but would love for you to share that with our listeners and how you can practically and tactically get these athletes ready for action.

[00:16:29] Yes, great question. So we right now you guys Brent and Brianna are two of 157 now eco athletes champions from around the world professionals, limpians growing cadre of NCA students athletes no one from Iowa state Chelsea so if you know of anybody you know a cyclone.

[00:16:52] I do.

[00:16:53] I know an Audi crooks, I know a lot of cyclone.

[00:16:55] All right so let's you know we'll talk offline but what we do our mission is to inspire and coach athletes to lead climate action and then to answer Brianna's question how do we do go about doing that we provide them those 157 champions with the tools to advance from climate curious or climate shy.

[00:17:16] To climate leader and they come to us all along the spectrum you know and so what we do those tools are the ways that we help move them in the right direction the tools include community providing a network and connection because a lot of athletes say I don't feel confident talking about climate I'm alone in my team I'm alone in my sport and it's scary and I don't know what I'm talking about so much and we provide community chats and we're going to be able to do that.

[00:17:45] community chats, initiatives programs and so you're not alone if you're an ego athletes champion then we have we provide social media content because a lot of champions say I don't know what.

[00:17:57] To talk about on social when it comes to climate there's so much misinformation out there and so we say hello our hashtag climate comeback because we are behind in the climate game we need to make comeback and who makes comebacks all you all do athletes do dentists don't well.

[00:18:14] Yes, I've got a molar impacted that can be big but not in the same way and athlete and so we help them with social media then we help with mentorship in terms of career coaching for green and green sports careers.

[00:18:31] Then we provide an education under mentorship climate education and how to communicate on climate overcoming those obstacles and then the last two are.

[00:18:43] Let's say you're a champion and you're ready to get out there and talk we put you on podcast.

[00:18:49] Wow, we're on a podcast right now we got we got you to conferences we got you on panels we also get the champions on traditional media and our champions have been interviewed on the SPN.

[00:19:02] BBC sports friends been on BBC also recently on NBC sports T.S. and Canada etc and then finally endorsements and included now in college sports NIL green companies green brands connecting with green or athletes who are leading on climate so that's how we.

[00:19:22] Yeah, that's great I can speak to even just my own experience and and lose the great work of eco athletes and I know I feel like so much more confident now with so many of the tools that have been provided.

[00:19:33] through eco athletes and I think in the same respect like having a team behind me and us all being unified behind this cause.

[00:19:42] right on that note I know you know you have the eco athletes team in your corner are there any other MLB players or any other teammates that you feel like really have partnered with you.

[00:19:53] in this journey as well and that you feel like you can kind of yeah that's my guy over there on the giants who also has my back I know he's doing the good work and we can support each other yeah what are those partnerships look like for you.

[00:20:05] Yeah for sure a big kind of connector is Chris Dickerson he started players for the planet is pretty league wide there's probably I would say average of two guys on each team and the big leagues that are players for the planet so yeah it's a little community with them community kind of thing and hunter green on the res is great.

[00:20:22] played for the planet and great partner and I knew him before coming to the reds but it's been really great to.

[00:20:30] you know be with him get to know him and get to kind of partner on some things we're going to do some cool things to suffer so.

[00:20:37] I've been really fun but yeah throughout the league a bunch of guys.

[00:20:41] I'm going to go on like John Carlos Dan some guys are players for the planets and it's players for the planet too and just one player.

[00:20:47] Yeah it's been really fun and yeah it's it's a good community I went down to the Dominican a couple times and so a lot of the Dominican players like Nelson crews Robinson can know.

[00:20:58] I'm in risario will he down as to the team a time to show up and we clean the beach up and did.

[00:21:05] Have a cool event the next day so it's been really fun about a cool community of people care guys of care want to do something about it.

[00:21:13] That's really cool to hear with all the things that you guys are doing and for people on your platform and better so visible to the fan base I think in one of your interviews you said.

[00:21:23] 65 to 70% of people follow sports so the things that athletes do I think is so vital to them to climate change and climate advocacy.

[00:21:32] It's one thing to speak it is another thing to actually do it.

[00:21:35] I would love to hear how you and your wife Erin are actively doing that in your own home with your kids and kind of raising children around the same mindset and values and morals.

[00:21:47] How do you guys do that? Are there anything specific that you guys do around the house.

[00:21:51] Yeah, composting is a big thing that my kid is falling in love with so we have a compost or that one of those things that rotates and so I might go back one to the end.

[00:22:01] Yeah, it's a game preparation for the pod Chelsea was I just got inspired listening to all these interviews with Bren and Lou and so I bought I'm going to I bought my compost stuff.

[00:22:11] I'd been holding back and all it took was the listen to your guys' interviews and I was like this is telling me to spend a couple bucks on a compost bin outside of my house.

[00:22:20] Yeah, that's great. It composted so much faster than just the you know stable or would like the land base one so it's really good investment.

[00:22:29] But we go out there we put the waste in spin it and we shred like cardboard to help get some of the browns in the compost because it needs like what two to one at least browns of greens.

[00:22:40] So we do that that's been really fun. We go out outside and we have plenty of some trees back there and we have woods back there so we explore like just getting in touch with nature is a really big thing for us and then driving a lecture car use reusable grocery bags do the all the they have their own water bottles that you know we don't really have any plastic water bottles in the house.

[00:22:59] So just teach them how to use reusable stuff like that and we're going to put solar panels on our house later this year which would be a big energy energy boost for our you know our green boost for our house so.

[00:23:11] A lot more we could do but that's those are kind of like the starting points that are great our kids are five and two almost two so they don't quite get it yet but we have to use really brainwashed at this point in time.

[00:23:23] Usually.

[00:23:25] Yeah so it's been yeah environmental books like reading them I love the earth books and stuff like that's been been a good good touch to.

[00:23:34] I love that speaking of value so something that you have mentioned is faith as a big part of your journey as an athlete your Christian.

[00:23:44] I would be really curious to hear how that plays into your view and your role as an environmentalist I know like faith is important to me as well and that's informed a lot of my work in this space but would love to hear from you like what that means to you and how that informs that work.

[00:24:00] Yeah for sure it's essential to it you know God gave us this you know like you said a Christian so I believe God created this plan for us to.

[00:24:09] You have to many know but also take care of and so I feel like abuse of the environment is kind of going against God's well and his desires.

[00:24:17] Yeah it's a huge central tenet of my environmentalism probably you know the most important thing to me in my life and then.

[00:24:24] We're also talking to our kids about that we treat Jesus as if he's one of our family you know we're always bringing him up always talking about him and plays into our environmentalism as well.

[00:24:33] I'm not care for the planet but yeah it's a huge piece of it and like we're saying off camera before it's it's unfortunate that for some reason climate.

[00:24:41] Pretty being pro climate can polarize you and to think like people think you're this you know anti god or just like you know not the more.

[00:24:50] The religion gets pulled into the politics of conversations.

[00:24:54] Yeah it's an unfortunate you know happening that's happened here in America as probably as well as internationally but it's just not how I how I approach climate at all it's all.

[00:25:04] So we're talking about the climate that's going to be a big space god god base and saying hey we got this gift of the planet and I want to be part of the solution of taking care of it and help being it.

[00:25:12] And you're like very uniquely places well I think being a person of faith also maybe like even some of the audiences that you're reaching and you're helping to speak towards an educate.

[00:25:29] Maybe bringing them along in this climate journey in a way that might you know you might be able to pull the push the needle for them to actually say oh okay like this is related to my faith this is something I can get involved in so being able to even share that message around your advocacy work in a way that might be able to reach a new demographic of individuals who share your same faith.

[00:25:50] Lou wanted to throw it to you have a question for you in terms of messaging around climate action how important to you is taking a hopeful tone in this message or how do you think you know not only having a hopeful tone but like what do you think is the best way that athletes 10 message around climate action in order to actually drive meaningful change.

[00:26:13] I mean that's the only tone we can have because if we let's put this way.

[00:26:20] And I go back to climate comeback I know it sounds kitsch but that's the our main hashtag but that is so crucial to understanding why sports is so important because what do athletes do?

[00:26:35] And Chelsea when you played hoops if you're playing a team that's you know you're down by eight at halftime you're trying to course correct you're trying to solve problems.

[00:26:44] Brent's trying to figure out okay how am I going to get when he comes to pitch to the eight he's Juan Soto out you know how do I get these guys at what like how do I do this?

[00:26:56] This is the ultimate problem solving okay but problem solving is so exciting right and so sports is a perfect metaphor for it I mean it just is the perfect metaphor.

[00:27:11] Second you know so there's that but let's be real okay the real the problem is immense we are in a crisis moment however we have the technology.

[00:27:26] And so we have the ability to force all the worst and even a good chunk of the climate problems that the future could have if we don't act.

[00:27:37] That's the case then the met then the key is having the will and the consistent work to do to get the will to be able to solve the problems to answer your questions specifically we emphasize solutions just like if you're behind in the game how do you get back into it.

[00:27:57] So one example is with our most recent eco athletes Hall of Famer.

[00:28:04] The induction of fellow name Kyle Clark who played ice hockey at Harvard and then in the minor leagues but unlike most ice hockey players or athletes he's also an aeronautical engineer.

[00:28:18] And he would on minor league bus trips from places like Portland main to Halifax, Nova Scotia sketch out claims electric planes fast forward 22 years he's the CEO and founder of a company called beta technologies that has two and four seat.

[00:28:37] The electric planes in the air as we speak and is saying in five years he'll have planes that can go from New York to Los Angeles will 25 seats i.e. enough to have a hot an NHL hockey team on it.

[00:28:52] So electric zero emissions plan you know so when people say you guys are hypocrites my answer is wait a minute we don't want those emissions just like you don't want those emissions but we have to do our job how about we work to.

[00:29:06] You know accelerate progress and demand for electric aviation and zero carbon aviation the technology is out there will you join me Mr. or Mrs. critic in this effort.

[00:29:19] Um, extending the hand in order for them to we take it or maybe it is planning that seed with a solution with the real solution like going at.

[00:29:31] The problem is saying hey wait we have some answers here.

[00:29:35] Yeah, I love that. I think that message of thinking about being down in a game you know me playing Chelsea pop and steam and splits a little more down by 20 because she's played on the best team.

[00:29:44] My two definitely lost but you know me as like leader game team like sorry about you playing you can.

[00:29:53] Yeah, when we played you can okay that was rough it was rough to have hope in that game because they were they had one 81 games at a row just getting some act.

[00:30:02] But nonetheless really that metaphor that like visual of how can you basically like inspire the hope of no we can win this like this is what we need to do.

[00:30:12] To overcome this challenge to win the game this is how we can inspire and get your teammates fired up as a leader as a captain and it's kind of that same heart posture kind of as an advocate for the climate like you mentioned and I love that.

[00:30:26] I think it's really beautiful and telling. I think I'm displaying that it's not an untouchable cause it's not like it's not insurmountable.

[00:30:35] I think is so vital in those conversations and to lean into what you're doing do you have any upcoming projects or initiatives that you guys are doing that listeners should be on the lookout for this upcoming year.

[00:30:49] We have two that are new on is we're going to be we're going to be doing something around the 20 24 summer Olympics in Paris as we have now six champions are qualified for the Olympics and we could have as many as depending on how the trials we have.

[00:31:13] 20 25 potential so we're going to be doing some Olympic related. Granting that will be available to all of the champions so you don't have to be an Olympic sport you don't have to be retired everybody can be involved so that is beyond look out for that really soon.

[00:31:34] And then we are waiting into a text but not by recommending a candidate we are going to start with an initiative called vote climate vote like your climate depends on it and so vote for the candidates that represent you and your values who will forward climate positive solutions as an on profit we can't endorse candidates and we don't want to get into that business,

[00:32:01] but we certainly can advocate for people to exercise their vote for the climate the issue doesn't get enough attention with all the other stuff that's out there and we need to put it out there in a very positive

[00:32:15] solution oriented way that's all that we do at eco athletes. Brandon Lou this is a question for both of you but through some of your work maybe we'll start with you first friend.

[00:32:25] Do you have any examples of kind of see positive impact through some of your work or maybe it can even be a personal anecdote of like a teammate or or on a macro scale you can kind of take that question however you want that brand all kick it to you first.

[00:32:39] Yeah that's a great question certainly in Milwaukee there was a good really good kind of aftershock of me being kind of the strike out waste environmental activist and then that it bruised and up getting creating like an eco labor counselor or eco council business leaders around the city and they're doing some really cool stuff and that was actually as I was on my way out.

[00:33:00] But that was like really cool like okay the bruised like bought it enough to create like bring leaders and Milwaukee together and really do maybe some systemic changes to their ballpark and and the watch you so that was really cool.

[00:33:11] We had a really cool like education program that was going on in Milwaukee that reached a lot of youth and there's some really cool stories coming from that as well.

[00:33:21] And then yeah here in Cincinnati it's been coming back home and playing for the hometown team and people kind of like.

[00:33:28] Maybe knowing who I was or whatever but then like say like oh this guy's for the environment all that I've gotten just really good just like coming back home got some really cool like stories and like connecting and.

[00:33:40] Really being encouraged to speak out about climate and do things really climate and yeah just I would say with the pleasure of the planet there's been a really good momentum.

[00:33:50] For our guys joining and it's more part to me and my.

[00:33:54] Yeah what I've done with place with pants of some some really cool things have gone on but like I said there's always more to do there's always more on the horizon more that I should be doing and want to be doing but.

[00:34:06] Also have to yes like you said get one set about at night and stuff like that so there's definitely it is time and commitment like in the four to it, but just I can't go crazy with it.

[00:34:17] So they 24 hours in a day.

[00:34:19] You've done it.

[00:34:20] Yeah yeah it's definitely it's been cool though it's I've been really blessed to have this platform and be able to speak on things like climate and under privilege you so I'm very fortunate.

[00:34:32] That's great.

[00:34:33] And Lou what about you do you have any stories of the impact that you guys are driving any examples of conversations you've had with people receiving your message.

[00:34:43] I got there's the hard thing is picking out one because the one thing that this job has done for me personally and it's to work with people like Brent and the other and the eco athletes champions and this kind of sound like.

[00:35:00] It's just truth they are the most inspirational people I have ever worked with.

[00:35:07] And what they're doing and whatever ways they're doing it in terms of thinking out on climate acting on climate sometimes in ways that are uncomfortable.

[00:35:16] Is just phenomenal I'm going to just cite one and this is going to short change everybody else but I'll just shut one example.

[00:35:26] Her name is Jordan Marie Daniel now her married a Jordan Marie weftstone she's a long distance runner a marathoner she's of the Lakotination native American indigenous peoples advocate she.

[00:35:42] I'm just a myriad of of programming to show the impact of climate degradation and the fossil fuel industries attempts to go through native lands she did she led a youth run from North Dakota from the Dakota access pipeline to Washington DC that's in spur.

[00:36:05] So that's just one example so cool.

[00:36:09] Right I wanted just super quickly you know we're talking a lot about climate here in this podcast but you did mention some of your work and your passion for underserved youth.

[00:36:17] Can you quickly just speak a little bit about kind of why that's important to you and some of the work you do it in mass base as well.

[00:36:23] Yeah yeah for sure that's always been really important me.

[00:36:27] I think in this life you the ideals for everyone to have an equal shot at happiness you're equal shot at you know prosperity whatever that looks like for people and what breaks my heart sometimes is like inner city particularly black brown communities kids growing up and they like hardly have a chance because broken families socio economic status poverty just crushing poverty and.

[00:36:49] I can't you know good education.

[00:36:51] I try to do trying to do my part with helping out underserved use so I've done a lot with like our behind me trying to bring baseball and my lessons all in one with a.

[00:37:00] You know really good middle man being MLB bring the programs together so I've worked with Cincinnati or be all you can tell me a lot.

[00:37:07] I also work with the general mental miracle league it's not necessarily underserved but it's special needs kids that go play baseball every Saturday up in Fairfield.

[00:37:16] I was just in what sense it is just like the most heartwarming program and unbelievable it's really great and then this young partner with Sam Poverch Foundation he's a defensive end with the Cincinnati bangles and he.

[00:37:27] Started foundation a couple years ago to try to help the Cincinnati children's poverty rate it's like top five worst in the nation so we're trying to get together him me.

[00:37:37] I think Andrew Bennett's ending might be joining and we're just kind of saying like not in our town you know I mean like we all grew up in Cincinnati.

[00:37:42] I'm in the school with Sam's brother so I'm not for a long time just something so we're going to put.

[00:37:47] I'm going to put a cupboard in to the school that full of food and medical supplies and school supplies in rock and bird academy it's just going to work the downtown societies and over the line and.

[00:37:59] Bunch underserved kids there so trying to you know find out what other ways to help the best way to.

[00:38:06] Best ways to help under serve youth and in the the Cincinnati area but in Milwaukee I had some some really good visits to you know underserved academy we had a really good relationship with boys and girls club.

[00:38:17] I'm up in Milwaukee did a lot of work with them and I got a bunch of laptops to the program and it's really cool stuff with the brewers and boys and girls club so definitely.

[00:38:27] Always been a passion in mind and trying to make sure I make that leap into my hometown so I can use those you know facilities use those relationships rest in my life.

[00:38:37] I think the being in the home town is super special for the season of life you're in is your so easy to relate to and connect to because everybody kind of already knows you and you have all these good initiatives and good things going for you that you're trying to build up and.

[00:38:53] When I talk about this all the time is giving back and that coming that full circle moment of giving back to youth in the young minds of where we used to be when we were that age and it's it's really cool to see you using your platform for that as well.

[00:39:08] But so thanks for doing that I love to see you. I think that kind of ties this into our final question before we get into the lightning round questions.

[00:39:17] So we always finish off our episode by asking this question, but we'd love to hear from you both for in live on words of advice for our listeners to use their talents and passions to make the world a better place.

[00:39:28] So let's start with the you, Lou do you have any words of advice for our listeners looking to use their passions and well personal good in the world.

[00:39:36] Thank you both for having us on this podcast and I love the way you frame it and I look forward to listening to future episodes of all the athletes that you have I think it's going to it's this is awesome.

[00:39:51] Okay, so you know tip it to me.

[00:39:55] If you want to really have a maximum impact on climate but that's something you want to do yes certainly recycle eliminate single plastic single use plastic to the extent that you can run or walk or cycle more and drive less all of that.

[00:40:15] However, the things that you can do that the thing you can do that is most powerful is to talk about it.

[00:40:23] Talk about it with your friends but sometimes when we think about talking about it we're like people don't want to talk about this.

[00:40:30] What you have to overcome that and talk about it in a way that's welcoming and solutions oriented and then the other is vote and I don't only mean with your ballot and I'm

[00:40:42] talking back to what you guys were saying this should not be a partisan issue it doesn't have to be a partisan issue and I don't look at it that way and so I just say vote climate whatever your political persuasion is but also vote with your pocketbook.

[00:40:57] What do you buy your composter what you know what don't you buy and then vote also with your investments if you have them or when you get them.

[00:41:09] You are making an impact with all of your decisions have a climate impact and you can make them from your desktop or out in the fields or wherever and we.

[00:41:20] So that's my answer.

[00:41:21] It's a great word Lou I love that thank you Brent what about you how can our listeners really use their talents and passions to make the world a better place.

[00:41:30] Yeah for sure. I just want to touch on what Lou was kind of loon too is that every choice matters and I've been talking about diet but how important diet is not just for our health but for like choosing environmentally friendly diet and how beneficial I can be to the whole planet and including our body so.

[00:41:46] I'm going to show you trying to avoid less red meat less seafood and focus more on color coming your plate with locally grown plant you know fruits and veggies is really big.

[00:41:56] Really big thing we always hear it as athletes like color up your plate but it's very much more environmentally friendly and it's definitely has benefits but.

[00:42:04] I would say yeah like every one of us is given talents we have you know unique you know gifts that we can bring and meditation is a really good way to kind of tap into what your role might be here on earth so if you're kind of confused maybe some kids are out there like I don't know what to do in my life like just sit you know get yourself some salt to time being the present moment as much as you can tap into.

[00:42:27] You get into a platform meditation to say like what what am I here for you know what what can I do on this earth to make.

[00:42:33] Make a positive impact I think that's a really good way to start and then then on this act you know we do find out what that answer is or just try some different things and see what really clicks with you someone said.

[00:42:45] Kind of when you find that passing or when you find that you know nature in your life it should be like floating downstream you know me it should be it shouldn't be like a hard work like upstream like all that got grinded up grinded it's a service there should be like a musical quality to and just like a downstream flow like man this is.

[00:43:00] This makes sense to me this is like deep in my soul like this is what I was supposed to do so I would say try to you know do your best to find that find that thing and roll down stream until till you hit wherever you're trying to go.

[00:43:12] I love it.

[00:43:14] I think it's important to we're all confused majority of the time and we're just doing it anyway.

[00:43:19] I love that my I like put out my vision board for the year just as kind of my like goal setting whatever and my word for the year with dancing to God song which I think really is kind of being in the flow of like okay god what do you have for me like for me the faith piece is really important being a Christian but.

[00:43:39] I just being in rhythm when you find your purpose and your passion and your that thing that you're like I'm locked in like it does feel very in rhythm it does feel like you know not something you need to really really force obviously you put your best foot forward but yeah there's a natural.

[00:43:54] That is well can I just have one thing to that yes go look you know we're talking about in essence giving back.

[00:44:02] And sometimes people think man that's like work right or they'll say wow that's so great that you do this volunteer work or did it and when they would say that to me.

[00:44:15] Because I used to run a volunteer project where we would dance with the residents of a senior citizens home.

[00:44:20] Oh I love it and people would say oh my god I love that's so great that you do that and of course it's a good thing.

[00:44:28] However inside I would say I feel a little guilty because I get so much from doing it like I feel so good when I come out of that place and this place is places people in their 90s and hundreds and over a hundred and there.

[00:44:45] And you're the end of life and it's not easy in all of this but they are inspiring and you come out of there and you feel great so when you give you actually get more back which is seems paradoxical but it's true.

[00:44:59] And that goes to entand them with Olivia Ho who we just interviewed and she she's a CEO of given grow and she had talked on that same topic of when you give you grow and like you you just I mean it's a continuous cycle of giving in order to like receive at the same time.

[00:45:18] But I think that takes us into our lightning round.

[00:45:22] We're going to get some real sound effects for that.

[00:45:25] Yeah, well yeah this is what we have in the meantime.

[00:45:28] Okay so these are quick questions you get 30 seconds each to answer first question.

[00:45:33] Brent what's your current walk out song I know it was previously Jurassic Park and has it changed from anything.

[00:45:40] It's a similar to the two legit to quit I said constantly song I remember dancing that as a kid growing up family to the two legit.

[00:45:50] So it's not that I'm like shunning the Raptor nickname because I was like my nickname with the bird was locked the Raptor but just kind of.

[00:45:58] I was I kind of run it's course and I didn't want to have to like talk to people like all these questions like a why in Jurassic Park and I'm like well and walk you as this I've got a new chapter and walk out some.

[00:46:10] Love it that's a great pick.

[00:46:12] Who next question what's the most epic sporting event you've ever attended was it a you con husky's woman's basketball match or something else.

[00:46:20] I know your big husky's been.

[00:46:22] Big husky's fan but I would have to say for me it was game seven of the 2003 American League championship series when Aaron Boone hit.

[00:46:35] Home run in the bottom of the 11th to win the penant for the Yankees over that hated red socks not to of course the next year the red socks got the Yankees but we won't talk about that I was acting and the Yankees came back from a five to deficit in that game and it was like Yankees stadium was literally shaking.

[00:46:57] It was incredible that sounds powerful.

[00:47:00] I've I've experienced similar things that hill in where the crowds get so loud you can't hear people call the play and you're just like what.

[00:47:09] And you're just out there doing your thing.

[00:47:12] Right.

[00:47:13] That's phenomenal.

[00:47:14] Alright, Brent what.

[00:47:15] It's different when you're in the crowd it's interesting is so different when you're in the crowd versus when you're playing in a game like that.

[00:47:21] Yeah and the crowd you're just yelling whatever comes to mind.

[00:47:26] Alright, for our next question Brent besides yourself who's your favorite baseball player who is the goat.

[00:47:32] I came for junior was always mind growing up probably still as yeah he's my guy loved watching his highlights loved the you know backwards hat you know absolute tank seems hit and so great plays on the optional he was my guy.

[00:47:45] Inspires the look today.

[00:47:47] Yes yes yes.

[00:47:48] Yeah for sure.

[00:47:49] Backwards hat we love it.

[00:47:52] Okay, Luke next question sorry go ahead Luke.

[00:47:54] He's a Cincinnati kid right.

[00:47:56] Yeah yeah I actually went to the same high school so that was really cool.

[00:48:00] It's awesome.

[00:48:01] So Luke next question what is your favorite climate action initiative you've been a part of or even something unique that you really like.

[00:48:09] My favorite climate action initiative that I was a part of was and Brent knows this organization it's called Citizens Climate Lobby and they are speaking of.

[00:48:21] Nonpartisan advocate nonpartisan climate.

[00:48:25] Forward legislation that and they and the group is incredible they have chapters all over the country and actually internationally but mainly in the US and they we would go to.

[00:48:38] Congress and lobby for specific pieces of legislation my member of congress senators both parties and it was just.

[00:48:48] It was really inspirational to see so many people who were we're all volunteer lobbyists and who are giving up their time in their passion to show their elected work for them what they want to see.

[00:49:02] It was really cool.

[00:49:03] That's great.

[00:49:04] So before we had this podcast we actually asked some people on our story if they had any questions for you Brent and so one of them came from Dean Schneider and actually 1.5 there's like two questions.

[00:49:17] First is what is your favorite part to play in and second is there a batter who you hate pitching to.

[00:49:27] Good for you.

[00:49:28] Anybody out.

[00:49:29] So favorite part plan is green American both arguments is that but since that's the hometown park now the one where playing at now San Diego probably probably number two it is.

[00:49:41] I think it's a great part of my job just an amazing city I'm looking out of like the Navy base with the ocean right here is amazing.

[00:49:48] And it's always it's like 69 and sunny every day it's crazy but it's a great this is a great park.

[00:49:54] Personally I least like face and no one are not as typically been like the thorn of my side yeah he's like really he's hit every pitch I throw for some type of extra base hit in my career so.

[00:50:06] And he's really good and there's a bunch of others but he always comes in my.

[00:50:10] I love that great answers well Brent and Lou it has been an absolute pleasure having you both on the pot today we're so so grateful for your time.

[00:50:19] I think this conversation was super inspiring for me and and for our listeners as well.

[00:50:24] For listeners we will link all of Brent and Lou's social profiles to our show notes so you can follow along their journeys get involved with eco athletes get involved with the great.

[00:50:35] Client action and social initiative's a friend as well but yeah we would love to help you connect and support what our amazing guests have been doing today.

[00:50:44] And thank you so much again to you both for your time it's been a pleasure like we said.

[00:50:48] Thank you thank you it's been great really appreciate.