A conversation with Anecita Agustinez (state tribal policy advisor, California Department of Water Resources) about water governance and expertise around challenging policy issues. Released February 7, 2025

Season 5Mallika NoccoFebruary 7, 2025reservoirs, dams, Land Back, Colorado River

Episode 68: Engineering Safer and Cleaner Water

A conversation with Nichole Morgan (civil engineer, California State Water Resources Control Board) about implementing programs and policies to steward water resources and infrastructure. Released January 31, 2025.

Season 5Mallika NoccoJanuary 31, 2025engineering, operators, Clean Water Act, drinking water, environmental justice

Episode 67: Wildfire and Water Infrastructure

A conversation with Drs. Greg Pierce (UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation) and Faith Kearns (ASU Water Innovation Initiative) about water infrastructure before, during, and following wildfires. Released January 24, 2025.

Season 5Mallika NoccoJanuary 24, 2025wildfire, Los Angeles, climate change, drinking water, fire-fighting, power

Episode 66: Water Narratives

A conversation with Drs. Caroline Gottschalk (University of Wisconsin–Madison) and Marty Holtgren (Encompass Socio-ecological Consulting) about the importance of restoration, oral histories, dams, and rivers. Released January 17, 2025.

Season 5Mallika NoccoJanuary 17, 2025rivers, anabranch, meander, restoration, oral history

Episode 65: Water and Housing Instability

A conversation with Drs. Alhelí Calderón Villareal (California State University San Marcos) and Georgia Kayser (University of California, San Diego) about the importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services for people experiencing housing instability. Released December 20, 2024.

Season 5Mallika NoccoDecember 20, 2024sanitation, hygiene, unhoused, Skid Row, Tijuana, hospitality

Episode 64: Disabled Groundwater

A conversation with professor Sunaura Taylor (author, artist, UC Berkeley) about injured aquifers and reframing disability in a broader environmental context. Released December 13, 2024.

Season 5Mallika NoccoDecember 13, 2024environmental justice, disability, Arizona, Superfund, desert

Episode 63: Growing Agaves

A conversation with California agave growers Ofelia Lichtenheld (East San Diego County) and Jordie Ricigliano (Central Coast) about opportunities and challenges for agave production. Released December 6, 2024.

Season 5Mallika NoccoDecember 6, 2024dry farming, fire breaks, tequila, mezcal, succulents

Episode 62: Reflecting on SGMA after ten years

A conversation with Deputy Director for Sustainable Water Management Paul Gosselin (CA Department of Water Resources) about California's groundwater governance and progress towards sustainability goals. Released November 22, 2024.

Season 5Mallika NoccoNovember 22, 2024California, groundwater, subsidence, small farms, sustainability, policy

Episode 61: Blackwater Swamps

A conversation with professor Ryan Emanuel (hydrologist, Lumbee tribe member, Duke University) about Indigenous survival and resilience across swamps, plains, and blackwaters in Eastern North Carolina. Released November 15, 2024.

Episode 60: Colorado River Compact

A conversation with John Fleck (author, journalist, University of New Mexico) and Kathryn Sorenson (Senior Global Futures Scientist, Kyl Center for Water Policy, Arizona State University) about the Colorado River Compact. Released November 8, 2024.

Season 5Mallika NoccoNovember 8, 2024leadership, representation, governance, Colorado River, Mexico, Arizona

Episode 59: Science and Civic Engagement

A conversation with Dr. Juliet Christian-Smith (Union of Concerned Scientists) about the role of scientists in politics and policy with a focus on Western water policy. Released November 1, 2024.

Season 5Mallika NoccoNovember 1, 2024politics, power, policy, danger season, action

Episode 58: Great Lakes Compact

A conversation with environmental attorney and clinical law professor Oday Salim (National Wildlife Federation, University of Michigan Law School) about the Great Lakes Compact. Released October 25, 2024.

Season 5Mallika NoccoOctober 25, 2024Great Lakes, water law, Canada, policy, Midwest, governance

Episode 57: Urban Agriculture, Compost, and Water

A conversation with soil microbial ecologist Dr. Joshua Garcia about farming in cities, composting, and regenerative agriculture. Released October 18, 2024.

Season 5Mallika NoccoOctober 18, 2024regenerative agriculture, urban food systems, urban farming, compost

Episode 56: Climate Change & Mental Health

A conversation with climate psychologist and author Leslie Davenport about eco-anxiety, eco-grief, and mental health strategies for coping with climate change. Released October 11, 2024.

Season 5Mallika NoccoOctober 11, 2024climate change, eco-anxiety, solastalgia, climate psychology

Episode 55: Season 5 Teaser

Welcome back to the fifth season of Water Talk! Cohosts Drs. Mallika Nocco, Faith Kearns, and Sam Sandoval talk about some big changes and updates for Season 5. Released August 16, 2024

Season 5Mallika NoccoAugust 16, 2024science communication, Extension, Arizona, Wisconsin, California

Episode 54: Water Advocacy and Implementation

A conversation with Laurel Firestone (State Water Resources Control Board) about water governance, leadership, and policy implementation in CA. Released June 2, 2023.

Episode 53: Sierra Snowpack

A conversation with Dr. Safeeq Khan (UC Merced) about the Sierra Nevada Snowpack, snow-vegetation-fire interactions, and snow futures. Released May 19, 2023.

Episode 52: Water Sovereignty and Artistry

A conversation with Dr. Brittani Orona (San Diego State University) about visual sovereignty, Indigenous history, artistry, and advocacy on waters. Released May 12, 2023.

Episode 51: Rural Socio-hydrology

A conversation with Dr. Daniel O'Connell (Central Valley Partnership) about land, water, and community development in the CA Central Valley. Released May 5, 2023.

Episode 50: Comparative Water Politics

A conversation with Dr. Sharon Megdal (University of Arizona) about water governance in AZ and CA, recharge, transboundary aquifers, and science diplomacy. Released April 28, 2023.