Carrie Jennings has spent her career piecing together how our landscapes came to be—and what’s happening to them now. A geologist by training and now Research and Policy Director at Freshwater, she’s spent decades mapping Minnesota’s glacial past, teaching at the University of Minnesota, and turning science into action to protect our rivers and groundwater.
In this episode, Carrie takes us deep into the story of the Minnesota River Basin. We start with the glaciers that carved it out thousands of years ago and then fast forward to today, where farming practices, drained wetlands, and tiled fields have transformed it into what she calls “an agricultural drainage ditch.” The result? Rivers running brown, biodiversity wiped out, sediment loads ten times higher than historical levels, and small towns struggling to keep up as floodwaters rise and infrastructure strains.
Carrie helps us connect these dots—how the choices we’ve made on the land ripple through everything from water quality and fish habitat to the cost of raising highways and dredging navigation channels. And she shares how her work has pushed past research into real change: new state programs to hold more water on the land, restore wetlands, and rebuild soil health; support for perennial crops that keep living roots in the ground year-round; and a growing recognition that this is a “Dust Bowl moment” for Minnesota, one that demands systemic change.
This isn’t just a conversation about rivers—it’s about how we live on the land, how federal farm policy shapes our choices, and what it will take for Minnesota to chart a different path. Carrie’s perspective brings both deep time (glaciers and plate tectonics) and an urgency grounded in the present: if we don’t act, we risk doubling down on the very patterns—corn, soy, and now biofuels—that are driving the problem.
Join the conversation:
Live Event (Aug 28): Sign up here
Website: theyoungike.org
Instagram: @theyoungike
Contact us: info@theyoungike.org
Support our partner: Minnesota Valley IWLA
Call to Action:
If you enjoyed this episode, please add the show to your library, download it, share it with a friend, and leave a review. It’s a small step that helps us grow and keep these conversations going.
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Carrie Jennings has spent her career piecing together how our landscapes came to be—and what’s happening to them now. A geologist by training and now Research and Policy Director at Freshwater, she’s spent decades mapping Minnesota’s glacial past, teaching at the University of Minnesota, and turning science into action to protect our rivers and groundwater.
In this episode, Carrie takes us deep into the story of the Minnesota River Basin. We start with the glaciers that carved it out thousands of years ago and then fast forward to today, where farming practices, drained wetlands, and tiled fields have transformed it into what she calls “an agricultural drainage ditch.” The result? Rivers running brown, biodiversity wiped out, sediment loads ten times higher than historical levels, and small towns struggling to keep up as floodwaters rise and infrastructure strains.
Carrie helps us connect these dots—how the choices we’ve made on the land ripple through everything from water quality and fish habitat to the cost of raising highways and dredging navigation channels. And she shares how her work has pushed past research into real change: new state programs to hold more water on the land, restore wetlands, and rebuild soil health; support for perennial crops that keep living roots in the ground year-round; and a growing recognition that this is a “Dust Bowl moment” for Minnesota, one that demands systemic change.
This isn’t just a conversation about rivers—it’s about how we live on the land, how federal farm policy shapes our choices, and what it will take for Minnesota to chart a different path. Carrie’s perspective brings both deep time (glaciers and plate tectonics) and an urgency grounded in the present: if we don’t act, we risk doubling down on the very patterns—corn, soy, and now biofuels—that are driving the problem.
Join the conversation:
Live Event (Aug 28): Sign up here
Website: theyoungike.org
Instagram: @theyoungike
Contact us: info@theyoungike.org
Support our partner: Minnesota Valley IWLA
Call to Action:
If you enjoyed this episode, please add the show to your library, download it, share it with a friend, and leave a review. It’s a small step that helps us grow and keep these conversations going.
Aimee Boulanger: The Future of Responsible Mining & Mineral Extraction
The Young IKE
30 minutes 59 seconds
8 months ago
Aimee Boulanger: The Future of Responsible Mining & Mineral Extraction
What does responsible mining look like? As demand for lithium, cobalt, and other rare earth minerals skyrockets, the question isn’t if we mine—it’s how. Aimee Boulanger, Executive Director of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), joins The Young IKE to explore the challenges of responsible mining, the global supply chain, and why communities must be involved in decision-making.
We discuss the feasibility of ethical mining, how standards like IRMA’s certification system can create accountability, and whether true sustainability is possible in an industry built on extraction.
Guest Information:
Guest Name: Aimee Boulanger
Bio: Aimee Boulanger is the Executive Director of IRMA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to setting global standards for responsible mining.
Links:
IRMA (Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance) – https://responsiblemining.net
Episode Outline:
What is ‘Responsible Mining’? – Defining ethical mineral extraction and its real-world challenges.
Holding Corporations Accountable – How IRMA works with companies like BMW, Microsoft, and Ford to promote responsible sourcing.
The Future of Ethical Mineral Extraction – The role of transparency, policy, and consumer awareness in shaping the mining industry
Episode Sponsor:
️ The Young Ike is bringing these conversations into the real world with live, quarterly community dialogues. Thank you to the Minnesota Valley Chapter of the IWLA for making this possible.
Learn more at iwlamnvalley.org
Host & Show Info:
Host: Griffith Pugh
Podcast Website: www.theyoungike.org
Community & Calls to Action:
Contact the host: griffith@theyoungike.org
Help Us Grow:
Follow us on Instagram: @theyoungike
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The Young IKE
Carrie Jennings has spent her career piecing together how our landscapes came to be—and what’s happening to them now. A geologist by training and now Research and Policy Director at Freshwater, she’s spent decades mapping Minnesota’s glacial past, teaching at the University of Minnesota, and turning science into action to protect our rivers and groundwater.
In this episode, Carrie takes us deep into the story of the Minnesota River Basin. We start with the glaciers that carved it out thousands of years ago and then fast forward to today, where farming practices, drained wetlands, and tiled fields have transformed it into what she calls “an agricultural drainage ditch.” The result? Rivers running brown, biodiversity wiped out, sediment loads ten times higher than historical levels, and small towns struggling to keep up as floodwaters rise and infrastructure strains.
Carrie helps us connect these dots—how the choices we’ve made on the land ripple through everything from water quality and fish habitat to the cost of raising highways and dredging navigation channels. And she shares how her work has pushed past research into real change: new state programs to hold more water on the land, restore wetlands, and rebuild soil health; support for perennial crops that keep living roots in the ground year-round; and a growing recognition that this is a “Dust Bowl moment” for Minnesota, one that demands systemic change.
This isn’t just a conversation about rivers—it’s about how we live on the land, how federal farm policy shapes our choices, and what it will take for Minnesota to chart a different path. Carrie’s perspective brings both deep time (glaciers and plate tectonics) and an urgency grounded in the present: if we don’t act, we risk doubling down on the very patterns—corn, soy, and now biofuels—that are driving the problem.
Join the conversation:
Live Event (Aug 28): Sign up here
Website: theyoungike.org
Instagram: @theyoungike
Contact us: info@theyoungike.org
Support our partner: Minnesota Valley IWLA
Call to Action:
If you enjoyed this episode, please add the show to your library, download it, share it with a friend, and leave a review. It’s a small step that helps us grow and keep these conversations going.
