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Gulf Streams

KPFT Houston and Rice University’s Center for Environmental Studies

Environmental and Climate News out of Houston Texas. Gulf Streams is your source for environmental and climate news. Covering a range of topics around Houston, the Gulf Coast, and the world, Gulf Streams brings you the best in conversations with community leaders and advocates, academic experts, and national thought leaders. Join us as we sit down every Monday at noon (central) to dive into the most pressing environmental challenges, solutions, and ideas. A co-production of Rice University’s

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All Episodes

58:00

Ep. 76 What's Biodiversity?

Gulf Streams ·

2025/04/21

On today's episode we sit down with Dr. Korey Evans (Rice University) and Dr. Scott Egan (Rice University) who recently hosted a symposium all about biodiversity and what it means to the Houston region. Later in the hour our researcher Sophia kicks off a new series all about green spaces around Houston.

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58:19

Ep. 75 The Columbia Tap Trail

Gulf Streams ·

2025/04/14

The Columbia Tap Trail, a historic train line in Houston, is a four-mile path where residents have practiced tactical urbanism for decades. Now, with new support from the city and funders, the trail is becoming more of a community resource for the thousands who live nearby. Edward D. Pettitt, doctoral candidate the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, joins us to discuss his work with the Friends of Columbia Tap, a group of residents working to bring this new vision to life.

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56:10

Ep. 74 Deepwater Horizon at Fifteen

Gulf Streams ·

2025/04/06

On today's show we sit down with Leigh Fondakowski, the playwright behind the documentary theatre show SPILL. SPILL recounts the events leading up to, and following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon and subsequent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The Moody Center for the Arts, at Rice University, will be mounting a production of the show April 11th and 12. We revisit that moment and discuss how the world has changed in the wake of the largest oil spill in global history. Later in the hour, our researcher

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50:13

Ep. 73 Nature Based Solutions

Gulf Streams ·

2025/03/31

Often when we think of environmental hazards and climate change, it feels as though nature is fighting us. What if we reimagined nature as our partner, our ally, in the fight against climate change? Today we sit down with Jim Blackburn (Rice University) and Dr. Carrie Masiello (Rice University) to talk all about Nature Based Solutions.

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56:46

Ep. 72 The Future of Nuclear Energy

Gulf Streams ·

2025/03/24

Is nuclear energy the future? Or is it doomed to be a decreasingly important energy source in a rapidly changing landscape. On today's show we sit down with two different thinkers on opposite ends of the debate around the future of nuclear: Dr. MV Ramana (University of British Columbia), and Paris Ortiz-Wines (Mothers for Nuclear). This episode is guest hosted by our researcher Nomin Rentsendorj.

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58:37

Ep. 71 CERA Week 2025

Gulf Streams ·

2025/03/17

On today's show we're joined by Dr. Casey Williams (Environmental Studies Lecturer at Rice University) as co-host, Dr. Randal Hall (Environmental Historian at Rice University), and Dr. Gökçe Gunel (Anthropologist at Rice University) discussing this year's major energy conference in Houston, CERA Week. Later in the episode two Rice Anthropologists, Dr. Dominic Boyer and Dr. Cymene Howe, discuss their work on glaciers.

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58:31

Ep. 70 New Solar Power and the EV Market Forming

Gulf Streams ·

2025/03/13

On today's episode we sit down with Dan Gearino of Inside Climate News to talk about the growing solar industry in Texas. Later in the hour we're joined by the Electric Vehicle Association of Houston to talk about how EV's have never been more popular in the area.

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55:57

Ep. 68 Houston Botanic Garden

Gulf Streams ·

2025/03/04

Botanical gardens are a feature of great cities around the world, and since 2020, Houston has a botanical garden of its own, the Houston Botanic Garden. On today's show we sit down with three of the garden's staff to talk all about the role of botanical gardens in cities, and what makes the Houston Botanic Garden so special.

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58:03

Ep. 67 Plant-Based Buildings?

Gulf Streams ·

2025/02/24

On today's show we're talking about the very materials we use to build our homes and buildings. We sit down with Jesus Vasallo (Rice University) to talk all about the future of building materials and the coming prevalence of plant-based construction approaches.

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58:25

Ep. 66 Understanding the Past for the Sake of our Future

Gulf Streams ·

2025/02/17

Today we sit down with Jonathan Levy (University of Chicago) to talk all about the past of Houston to understand what might be coming in its future. In particular, where Houston can serve as a leading example in the coming world of climate adaptation. Later in the hour our researcher Jadyn has a story on animal welfare during disasters.

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49:40

Ep. 66 The 2025 Texas Legislature is in Session

Gulf Streams ·

2025/02/10

Dr. Cyrus Reed is the Conservation Director of the Sierra Club's Lone Star Chapter. The Lone Star Chapter is the oldest environmental organization in Texas, and today they're sharing with us some of the most important issues in front of the Texas Legislature this session regarding energy security, environmental protection, and water quality.

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54:13

Ep. 65 Houston Bayous Pt. 2

Gulf Streams ·

2025/02/03

Today we sit down with Geoff Winningham, an award winning photographer, to talk all about his experiences charting Buffalo Bayou and learning about Houston's ecology for his book, Along Forgotten River. Our researcher Sophia and regular host Weston Twardowski learn about adventuring along the bayou, and discuss how it continues to change as we reshape it today.

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51:53

Ep. 64 Houston's Bayous Pt. 1

Gulf Streams ·

2025/01/27

The first of two episodes focused on exploring the Bayous of "Bayou City," our researcher Sophia Soltes talk with ecologist Suzanne Simpson (Houston Botanic Garden) and advocate Yudith Nieto (Bayou City Waterkeeper) about the history, health, and importance of the city's bayous. Later in the episode our researcher Jadyn Bray-Boyce shares the psychological benefits of spending time in nature.

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28:20

Ep. 63 Toxic Matters in the Port of Houston

Gulf Streams ·

2025/01/20

On today's show we have an update on Project 11, the expansion of the Port of Houston, and the history of polluted soil in local neighborhoods as a result of port dredging. We're joined by Leticia Gutierrez (Air Alliance Houston), Cleo Sharp (Achieving Community Tasks Successfully), and Naomi Yoder (the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice) to learn more.

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54:06

Ep. 62 Birds, Bioacoustics, and Geology, oh my!

Gulf Streams ·

2025/01/13

Today our researcher Nomin Rentsendorj sits down with Dr. Cin-Ty Lee to talk about his cutting edge geological research. Dr. Lee is a geologist/petrologist/geochemist whose work has moved into bioacoustics to study wildlife – especially birds. In this fascinating conversation, he walks us through his work.

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56:23

Ep. 61 Environment and Art: What Interdisciplinary...

Gulf Streams ·

2025/01/09

Today we sit down with Alison Weaver, Founding Executive Director of the Moody Center for the Arts, to talk about what can be accomplished through collaborations between environmentalists, scientists, and artists. The Moody Center has been dedicated to producing community engaged work, much of which explores the environment, for years and has a new exhibit opening that speaks to how we can reimagine our world through art – and even solve some it's environmental challenges.

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55:55

Ep.60 Learning to Laugh in a Changing Climate

Gulf Streams ·

2024/12/16

On today's show we're diving into the unexpectedly important role of laughter and comedy in addressing climate change. Our guest, Dr. Aaron Sachs (Cornell University), walks us through the importance of comedy to survival, social movements, and, he argues, fighting climate change.

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58:34

Ep. 59 Houston's Highways: Past, Present, and Where...

Gulf Streams ·

2024/12/09

We sit down with Dr. Kyle Shelton, Director of the University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies, to talk about his book, Power Moves and the history of Houston's transit infrastructure. Throughout, we discuss the environmental consequences of car dependency, when alternative movements in transit have proved successful, and why Houston is a leading example for understanding how sprawl is reshaping American cities across the country.

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57:50

Ep. 58 Fearing Nuclear Energy

Gulf Streams ·

2024/12/02

Today in our series on energy pasts and futures, we're delving into nuclear energy. On one hand, nuclear represents the future of science and technology, inspiring thinkers during the "Atomic Age." On the other hand, nuclear's capacity for devastation makes it among the most feared sources of power ever. On today's show we're delving into the history of nuclear energy, and especially why it is so feared – and if this fear is deserved or not.

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51:47

Ep. 57 Energy Futures: Geothermal

Gulf Streams ·

2024/11/25

In our ongoing conversation around the pasts and futures of energy, today we're talking about Geothermal. Heat from deep under the Earth's surface, geothermal offers a possible route to energy storage and creation around the world. We sit down with Cindy Taff, CEO of Sage Geosystems, to learn about new companies seeking to bring geothermal power to more places around the globe. Later in the hour we hear from our researcher Nomin about the rise in AI and new energy demands.

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