How does your zip code affect your life expectancy? The impacts of climate change, toxic water, and dirty air aren’t evenly distributed. Low income and communities of color bear the brunt of these impacts.

Today, we dive into conversation with Peggy Shepard, an environmental justice pioneer who has worked for more than three decades to shine a light on the ways damage to the natural world intersects with issues of race and class. She co-founded WE ACT for Environmental Justice, a community organization based in New York City with the mission of ensuring that the right to clean air, water and soil extends to all people, no matter where they live, what color their skin is, or how much money is in their bank accounts. Many of the environmental protections she helped to fight for in her community have later been scaled up to the national level, benefitting people around the country and even around the world.

Threshold is a public radio show and podcast that tackles one pressing environmental issue each season. Launched in 2016, Threshold has received a Peabody Award nomination, a national Edward R. Murrow Award, and a citation from the Overseas Press Club among other honors.

Threshold Conversations features interviews with environmental thought leaders on important issues impacting cultures, communities, and ecosystems in the United States and beyond. These conversations aim to create space for thoughtful, civil conversations about the urgent environmental issues we’re living with today.

Threshold Conversations is supported by the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists, Montana Public Radio, Park Foundation, High Stakes Foundation, and Threshold’s listeners.