Water Talk
Episodes
Making good on the Human Right to Water
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Susana De Anda (Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Community Water Center) about the gaps between legislating and enacting t...
Ep 81: Groundwater depletion, sea level rise, and satellites
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Jay Famiglietti (Global Futures Professor at Arizona State University and Director of the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative) abo...
Episode 80: The Imperial Valley—winter produce basket and living border
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with University of California Desert Research and Extension Center Director Dr. Jairo Diaz about water, agriculture, and border dynamic...
Ep 79: Disasters and Emergency Management
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Professor Samantha Montano (Massachusetts Maritime Academy, author of Disasterology) about the stages of emergency management, nee...
Ep 78: Inside the Working Cranberry Marsh
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Professors Leslie Holland and Amaya Atucha (University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension) about cranberry production, w...
Ep 77: Environmental justice tactics, strategies, and institutions
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Professor Tracy Perkins (Arizona State University) about the history of the environmental justice movement in California and diffe...
Ep 76: Water budgeting and bankruptcy
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Brian Richter (Sustainable Waters) about budgeting water for the environment and water accounting for the future. Released October...
Ep 75: Irrigation, Evapotranspiration, and Climate
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Professor Sonali McDermid (New York University) about irrigation, evapotranspiration, and impacts on climate systems. Released Oct...
Ep 74: Tribal and Transboundary Issues in the Colorado River Basin
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Cora Tso (Senior Research Fellow, Tribal Water Policy, Kyl Center for Water Policy, Arizona State University) and Prof. Sam Sandov...
Ep 73: Reimagining Flood Risk and Insurance
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Kathleen Schaefer about flood risk and new approaches for community-based flood insurance. Released October 10, 2025.
Ep 72: A Blueprint for Community Organizing around Data Centers
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Professor Michael Bogan (University of Arizona School of Natural Resources and the Environment) about data center water use, the c...
Ep 71: Water Footprint of AI Data Centers
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Professor Melissa Scanlan (UW–Milwaukee Center for Water Policy and School of Freshwater Sciences) about data center water use, ...
Ep 70: Season 6 Teaser
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the sixth season of Water Talk! Cohosts Drs. Mallika Nocco, Faith Kearns, and Sam Sandoval talk about the new normal, our favorite bodies o...
Ep 69: Advising CA Tribal Policy
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Anecita Agustinez (state tribal policy advisor, California Department of Water Resources) about water governance and expertise aro...
Ep 68: Engineering Safer and Cleaner Water
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Nichole Morgan (civil engineer, California State Water Resources Control Board) about implementing programs and policies to stewar...
Ep 67: Wildfire and Water Infrastructure
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Drs. Greg Pierce (UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation) and Faith Kearns (ASU Water Innovation Initiative) about water infrastructure...
Ep 66: Water Narratives
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Drs. Caroline Gottschalk (University of Wisconsin–Madison) and Marty Holtgren (Encompass Socio-ecological Consulting) about the ...
Ep 65: Water and Housing Instability
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Drs. Alhelí Calderón Villareal (California State University San Marcos) and Georgia Kayser (University of California, San Diego)...
Ep 64: Disabled Groundwater
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with professor Sunaura Taylor (author, artist, UC Berkeley) about injured aquifers and reframing disability in a broader environmental ...
Ep 63: Growing Agaves
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with California agave growers Ofelia Lichtenheld (East San Diego County) and Jordie Ricigliano (Central Coast) about opportunities and ...
Ep 62: Reflecting on SGMA after ten years
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Deputy Director for Sustainable Water Management Paul Gosselin (CA Department of Water Resources) about California's groundwa...
Ep 61: Blackwater Swamps
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with professor Ryan Emanuel (hydrologist, Lumbee tribe member, Duke University) about Indigenous survival and resilience across swamps,...
Ep 60: Colorado River Compact
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with John Fleck (author, journalist, University of New Mexico) and Kathryn Sorenson (Senior Global Futures Scientist, Kyl Center for Wa...
Ep 59: Science and Civic Engagement
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Juliet Christian-Smith (Union of Concerned Scientists) about the role of scientists in politics and policy with a focus on Wes...
Ep 58: Great Lakes Compact
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with environmental attorney and clinical law professor Oday Salim (National Wildlife Federation, University of Michigan Law School) abo...
Ep 57: Urban Agriculture, Compost, and Water
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with soil microbial ecologist Dr. Joshua Garcia about farming in cities, composting, and regenerative agriculture. Released October 18,...
Ep 56: Climate Change & Mental Health
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with climate psychologist and author Leslie Davenport about eco-anxiety, eco-grief, and mental health strategies for coping with clima...
Ep 55: Season 5 Teaser
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ep 54: Water Advocacy and Implementation
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Laurel Firestone (State Water Resources Control Board) about water governance, leadership, and policy implementation in CA. Releas...
Ep 53: Sierra Snowpack
19 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Safeeq Khan (UC Merced) about the Sierra Nevada Snowpack, snow-vegetation-fire interactions, and snow futures. Released May 1...
Ep 52: Water Sovereignty and Artistry
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Brittani Orona (San Diego State University) about visual sovereignty, Indigenous history, artistry, and advocacy on waters. Re...
Ep 51: Rural Socio-hydrology
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Daniel O'Connell (Central Valley Partnership) about land, water, and community development in the CA Central Valley. Rel...
Ep 50: Comparative Water Politics
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Sharon Megdal (University of Arizona) about water governance in AZ and CA, recharge, transboundary aquifers, and science diplo...
Ep 49: David 'Mas' Masumoto
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with farmer and author David 'Mas' Masumoto about peaches, regenerative practices, soil, water, and intergenerational histori...
Ep 48: The Salton Sea(s)
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Traci Brynne Voyles (University of Oklahoma) about the environmental history of The Salton Sea as well as current and future c...
Ep 47: Regulating Nitrogen
07 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Claire Bjork (Central Coast Regional Water Board) about groundwater nitrogen policy, water quality compliance, and the Irrigated L...
Ep 46: Environmental Justice in the San Joaquin Valley
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Nayamin Martinez (Central California Environmental Justice Network) about environmental public health issues and activism in the S...
Ep 45: Atmospheric Rivers
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Katerina Gonzales (EPA Climate Adaptation Advisor) and Dr. Daniel Swain (UCLA) about atmospheric rivers, climate extremes and ...
Ep 44: Water Insecurity and Circularity
10 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Greg Pierce (UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation) about the Human Right to Water, the housing-water-fire nexus, wastewater equit...
Ep 43: Educating & Empowering Elected Officials
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Leticia Gonzales (District 4 Supervisor, Madera County) and Victor Griego (Water Education for Latino Leaders) about representatio...
Ep 42: Regenerative Viticulture
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with UCCE Viticulture Advisor Dr. Chris Chen (Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino Counties) and soil scientist Noelymar Gonzalez-Maldonado (UC Davi...
Ep 41: Dam, History!
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with historian Varsha Venkatasubramanian (UC Berkeley) about the history of dams in the Western United States and the world as it relat...
Ep 40: Whiplash & Reflection
10 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Drs. Sam Sandoval, Faith Kearns, and Mallika Nocco about the 2023 Water Year so far, weather whiplash, and what it means for Calif...
Ep 39: Slow Water Movements
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Erica Gies (Author, Reporter, National Geographic Explorer) about water detectives, slowing down the movement of water, controllin...
Ep 38: Ag in the Delta
29 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Michelle Leinfelder-Miles (University of California Cooperative Extension Delta Crops Resource Management Advisor) about diffe...
Ep 37: Water journalism and information flows
22 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Ian James (Los Angeles Times) about water journalism in the Western United States, developing stories, journalistic roles, sourcin...
Ep 36: Central Coast Wine and Water
15 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Mark Battany (University of California Cooperative Extension Water Management and Biometeorology Advisor) about viticulture, water...
Ep 35: Disasters and Climate Justice
08 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Michael Méndez (UC Irvine) about climate-induced disasters, planning, responses, and justice in the Los Angeles area. Release...
Ep 34: CA Native Water Rights, Stewardship, & Protection
01 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Beth Rose Middleton Manning (UC Davis) about water rights, hydroelectric infrastructure, easements, and conservation in Califo...
Ep 33: Pacific Kelp Forests
18 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Arturo Ramírez-Valdez (UC San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography & Universidad Autonoma de Baja California) about ...
Ep 32: Water inheritance and futures
11 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Joaquin Esquivel (CA State Water Resources Control Board) about intergenerational systems, water histories, and the future of CA w...
Ep 31: Cover Crop Hydro-economics
04 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Alyssa DeVincentis (Vitidore) and Dr. Ellen Bruno (UC Berkeley) about the costs and benefits of cover crops, SGMA, and drought...
Ep 30: Soil, Political Ecology, and Water
25 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe (UC Merced) about soil degradation & water quality, political conflicts, climate solutions, and the p...
Ep. 29: Functional Environmental Flows
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Marisa Escobar (Stockholm Environmental Institute) and Dr. Belize Lane (Utah State University) about different California rive...
Ep 28: Getting to the Heart of Water Communication
12 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Faith Kearns about science communication around contentious issues, approaches for supporting science communicators, and relat...
Ep 27: Season 3 Teaser
04 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to the third season of Water Talk, a University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources podcast about all things California Water...
Ep 26: Water Diplomacy and Dialogue
25 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Felicia Marcus (Stanford University) about facilitation, coalition building, innovation, and community partnerships in California....
Ep 25: Drought and "Egosystem" Management
18 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Felicia Marcus (Stanford University) about community organizing, emergency response systems, and drought in California. Released J...
Ep 24: Drought and disease in the Sierra
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Joan Dudney (UC Davis) about drought, disease, and pest interactions on forest communities in California's Sierra Nevada....
Ep 23: Advancing water justice in underserved communities
04 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Angel Fernandez-Bou (UC Merced) and Dr. Jose Pablo Ortize Partida (Union of Concerned Scientists) about water equity issues an...
Ep 22: North Coast Wine and Water
28 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Glenn McGourty (University of California Cooperative Extension Viticulture & Plant Science Advisor Emeritus) about grape water...
Ep 21: Watering Urban Green Spaces
21 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Janet Hartin (University of California Cooperative Extension Area Environmental Horticultural Advisor and Director for San Bernadi...
Ep 20: Decolonizing Water Part 2
14 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Cutcha Risling Baldy (Humboldt State University) about land and water use futures, decolonization, and communities in Californ...
Ep 19: Decolonizing Water Part 1
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Cutcha Risling Baldy (Humboldt State University) about land and water use futures, decolonization, and communities in Californ...
Ep 18: California Urban Water 101
30 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Erik Porse (Sacramento State University & UCLA Institute of the Environment) about urban water resources, energy, conserva...
Ep 17: The Human Right to Drinking Water & SGMA
23 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with researchers Darcy Bostic (Pacific Institute) and Kristin Dobbin (UC Davis) about the legislated human right to drinking water, the...
Ep 16: Agriculture in the California Borderlands
16 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with University of California Desert Research & Extension Center Director Dr. Jairo Diaz about agriculture across the California/Me...
Ep 15: Wild Horses and Water in California
09 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with University of California Cooperative Extension Advisor Laura Snell about her work studying the lives of wild horses and water in M...
Ep 14: California Peaches and Water
02 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with farmer and author David 'Mas' Masumoto about peaches, organic practices, soil, water, and histories in the CA Central Va...
Ep 13: Season 2 Teaser
28 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to the second season of Water Talk, a University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources podcast about all things California Wate...
Ep12: Water Reform in California Institutional Ecosystems
10 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with UC Davis doctoral researchers Linda Estelí Méndez Barrientos and Jess Rudnick about water governance, institutional reforms, equ...
Ep 11: Rivers in the California Sky
04 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Stanford doctoral researcher Katerina Gonzales and UCLA climate scientist Dr. Daniel Swain about atmospheric rivers, climate extre...
Ep 10: California Water Policy and Extension
27 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Doug Parker about climate-smart agriculture, nitrogen & water management, the paradox of irrigation efficiency, and the cu...
Ep 9: Small Farms and Water in California
20 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Ruth Dahlquist-Willard about crops, irrigation, drought, groundwater management, and water policy on diverse small farms in th...
Ep 8: Indigenous Water and Fire Expertise in California
13 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with California State University-Chico Professor Don Hankins about his work integrating ecohydrology with Indigenous water and fire man...
Ep 7: Beaver hydrology and management
29 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with California State University-Channel Islands Professor Emily Fairfax about her work studying the lives of beavers and their impacts...
Ep 6: California Water Law 101
23 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with University of California Davis School of Law Professor Karrigan Börk about the CA Water Rights, the Sustainable Groundwater Manag...
Ep 5: California Gardening: Past, Present, and Future
16 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with University of California Cooperative Extension Sustainable Food Systems advisors for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, Drs. Rach...
Ep 4: Youth and Water in California Cities
09 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with 4H Youth Development Advisors Marianne Bird and Claudia Diaz Carrasco about different youth development programs that focus on wat...
Ep 3: The Food-Water-Virus Nexus
30 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Erin DiCaprio about basic virology, virus transmission in food and water systems, COVID-19 + food safety, and canning/preserva...
Ep 2: Ranching and Water in California
24 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Dr. Leslie Roche and Dan Macon about livestock, water use, drought, and ranching communities in California. Recorded April 21, 202...
Ep 1: Water Talk Pilot
21 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Water Talk, a new University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources podcast about all things California Water hosted by Drs. Malli...