Episode Overview

In this compelling conversation, host Shannon Lovgren sits down with Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics, former EPA Regional Administrator, long-time environmental advocate, and author of The Problem With Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late. Together, they explore one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time: the plastics crisis—how we got here, what’s at stake, and the powerful movement rising to confront it.

Judith begins by sharing her origin story: growing up in the Catskills, discovering activism in college, and carving an unconventional path into environmental policy. Her early work on passing New York’s landmark bottle bill sets the stage for a career spent navigating both government and grassroots organizing. Shannon and Judith discuss what it takes to lead change—tenacity, community, deep knowledge, and the willingness to take action even when the odds are daunting.

The conversation then turns to the plastic pollution crisis itself. Judith breaks down the many dimensions of the problem: the alarming health risks of microplastics now found in human organs, the toxic impacts faced by communities near plastic manufacturing sites, and the massive role plastics play in climate change. She explains why recycling—long promoted as the solution—is structurally incapable of addressing the scale of plastic waste, with over 90% of plastics never recycled.

Shannon and Judith explore the path forward: bold policy interventions, producer responsibility laws, local advocacy, and the power of collective action. They highlight how everyday people—from students to volunteers to local officials—can turn concern into meaningful change. Judith offers clear, actionable guidance: show up at city council meetings, write letters to the editor, engage neighbors, and push for laws that reduce plastic production at its source.

The episode also dives into global impacts, inequities in who bears the burden of plastic pollution, and promising alternatives to harmful plastics. Judith emphasizes that progress is possible—if we move beyond individual gestures and build a broad, sustained movement for systemic change.

Rich with insights, practical advice, and hopeful direction, this episode is both a wake-up call and a roadmap. Whether you’re new to the issue or deeply involved, Shannon and Judith offer inspiration for anyone committed to creating a healthier, more sustainable, and plastic-free future.

Produced by Trench