Helping people build meaningful careers in environmental and climate work.
I'm Jose Almanzar. Environmental attorney and former environmental scientist. I host the Green Collar Careers Podcast, where I have conversations with the People professionals quietly building the Green Economy.
The Green Collar Careers Podcast
Real conversations with people who built meaningful careers in environmental and climate work, and the honest lessons they learned along the way. Each episode features a professional who made the move into this space, whether from a traditional environmental background or from somewhere completely unexpected.
If you feel pulled toward this work but are not sure how to get there, this podcast was made for you. Hosted by Jose Almanzar, environmental attorney and former environmental scientist.
All Episodes
27
Your Story Is Your Brand: What Environmental Employers Actually Want
EPISODE
Prof. George Homsy, Chair, Dept. of Environment and Sustainability Binghamton University (SUNY)
How a journalist went from public radio to leading an environmental department for one of the best universities in the United States, and what environmental employers really want from candidates.
26
Cleaning and Greening New York City: A Career Built on Passion, Purpose, and Philanthropy
EPISODE
Robyn Rehak, Chief Advancement Officer, New York Restoration Project
She has spent a career helping environmental and conservation organizations raise funds, spot talent and spread a message of hope.
25
How a Geography Professor Became DC’s Air Quality Planning Chief
EPISODE
Samuel Kay, Chief of Air Quality Planning, DC Dept. of Energy and Environment
Sam’s position at the US EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice was abruptly cut. Instead of walking away from government work, he leaned into it.
24
From the Classroom to Clean Energy: How a Sociologist Became a Climate Leader
EPISODE
He was in academia for a long time and then a mid-career pivot led him to directing clean energy programs and statewide energy policy initiatives.
Adam Flint, Director of Clean Energy Programs, Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow (NeST)
23
EPISODE
What Actually Gets You Hired in Environmental Work
Keith Brodock, PE, Senior Principal, Labella Associates
He spent 25 years building one of the most decorated careers in environmental engineering and every job he ever got came through his network. Here is what that actually means for you.
22
Storytelling for the Planet: Making the Pivot from Pharma to Conservation
EPISODE
Dana went from leading high-stakes communications in global pharma to landing a senior role at one of the most prestigious environmental organizations in the world through a cold LinkedIn application and a willingness to trust what she already had.
Dana Geller, Director of Marketing and Communications, The Nature Conservancy in New York
21
EPISODE
What Environmental Employers Actually Want: 40 Years of Advice in One Conversation
Kevin Doyle, Executive Director of Career and Professional Development, Yale School of the Environment
Kevin Doyle has spent four decades watching what separates the people who break into environmental work from the ones who do not, and he shares all of it here.
20
From Climate Anxiety to Climate Career: How Gen Z Is Reshaping Environmental Work
EPISODE
Heidi Pan, Host of the 1.5 Degrees Podcast, UPenn
Heidi started her climate podcast at 16, has been interviewed by the BBC, and still does not have it all figured out. That is exactly what makes this conversation worth your time.
19
From Bartender to Corporate Sustainability: How Stacy Savage Built a Green Career
EPISODE
Stacy Savage, Founder, Zero Waste Strategies
Stacy went from slinging margaritas in Austin to advising companies on zero waste strategy, and the door-to-door organizing work in between turned out to be the best career training she ever got.
18
Environmental Justice Careers: How Data, Systems Thinking, and Refusing to Sell Out Built a Movement
EPISODE
Aaron Mair, 57th President, Sierra Club
The first Black president of the Sierra Club in its history talks about building a career that did not just advance his life. It changed the conditions of an entire community.
17
From NYPD Officer to IP Attorney: How to Reinvent Your Career Without a Roadmap
EPISODE
Pablo Segarra, Esq., Trademark and IP Attorney
Pablo has reinvented himself at least five times and his playbook for pivoting without a roadmap is one of the most transferable conversations on this show.
16
How to Pivot into Environmental Law When You Have No Environmental Background
EPISODE
Ivonne spent over 20 years in civil litigation before burnout forced the question she had been avoiding, and what followed was one of the most intentional career pivots on this show.
Ivonne Norman, Legal Network Manager, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School
15
Clean Energy Careers and Climate Tech: How to Break in and Build Real Impact
EPISODE
Keith Kinch, Co-Founder, Bloc Power
Keith helped grow BlocPower from a Brooklyn startup into a nationally recognized leader in building electrification and shares his three-part framework for breaking into the green economy from anywhere.
14
EPISODE
How to Beat Job Search Burnout and Land Your Green Career
Lauren Celano, CEO, Propel Careers
Lauren returns for a deeper conversation about what job search burnout actually looks like, how to catch it early, and the practical strategies that keep people moving when the search feels like it is going nowhere.
13
Renewable Energy Careers: Why Every Job Can Be a Green Job
EPISODE
What if the green career you are looking for is not a specific job title but a mindset you bring to any role? Pete Rose makes the case and shows you how.
Pete Rose, Director of Stakeholder Relations, Hydro-Quebec
12
Green Building and Sustainable Real Estate Careers: From Roofer to Developer
EPISODE
Dusten breaks down what sustainable real estate development actually looks like from the ground up and what it takes to build a career in green building without a traditional path.
Dusten Hendrickson, Mailbox Money Real Estate
11
Mentorship and Diversity in Environmental Law: How to Navigate Your Career with Intention
EPISODE
Marisa Blackshire, Bloom Energy
What separates the professionals who break into environmental law from those who do not? According to Marisa Blackshire, a lot of it comes down to mentorship and knowing how to use it.
10
EPISODE
Environmental Insurance Careers: How to Break Into Environmental Risk Management
Mary Gerding, Managing Director of Environmental Risk, Hylant
Mary started as a receptionist at a hazardous waste facility right out of high school and built a four-decade career in environmental insurance, proving that the path in is rarely the one you expect.
09
Environmental Law and Government Careers: How to Break Into Environmental Policy
EPISODE
Will Kellermeyer, NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Will is three years into his environmental law career inside a state agency and shares exactly what it took to get there, including the advice nobody gives you before you start applying.
08
Sustainability Careers in Higher Education: How to Break In and Move Up
EPISODE
Ryan McPherson, Chief Sustainability Officer, University at Buffalo
Higher education is one of the most overlooked pathways into sustainability work and one of the most accessible for professionals at every stage. Ryan McPherson shows you how to get there.
07
Mentorship and Diversity in Environmental Law: How to Navigate Your Career with Intention
EPISODE
Evan van Hook, Chief Sustainability Officer, Viridi
What does it take to decarbonize our economy and build a career at the center of that work? Evan van Hook has spent decades figuring that out and shares everything here.
06
EPISODE
Environmental Health and Safety Law Careers: Breaking Into Corporate America
Jonathan Nwagbaraocha, (Former) In-House EHS Counsel, Xerox
Jonathan built an environmental health and safety law career inside one of the largest corporations in the world and pulls back the curtain on a path most law students never consider.
05
EPISODE
How to Land Your Dream Job in the Environmental Space: Cold Outreach, Boards of Advisors and Finding Your Calling
Lauren Celano, CEO, Propel Careers
Lauren has helped thousands of professionals break into environmental and life sciences careers and shares the framework she has seen work consistently regardless of background.
04
EPISODE
ESG and Sustainability Careers in Law: How to Build a Purpose-Driven Legal Career
Christine Uri, ESG Attorney
Christine built a career entirely around ESG and corporate sustainability law and shares what it actually looks like to do purpose-driven legal work inside major corporations.
03
Environmental Engineering and Consulting Careers: 25 Years of Advice from a Senior Principal
EPISODE
Mark Johnson, Senior Principal, Geosyntec Consultants
Mark spent 25 years building one of the most respected careers in environmental consulting and shares what he has seen separate the candidates who make it from the ones who do not.
02
EPISODE
Latinx Careers in Sustainability: Breaking Barriers in the Green Economy
Cristina Garcia, Founder, Latinxs in Sustainability
The environmental and climate fields are among the least diverse across all disciplines. Cristina Garcia decided to do something about it and built an entire organization around changing that.
01
EPISODE
Sustainability Careers in Tech: How a Corporate Attorney Built a Green Career
Kim Alcantara, (Former) Head of Legal, BetVictor
The conversation that started it all. Kim shares what it looks like to bring sustainability into a corporate legal role from the inside and why that path is more available than most people think.
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