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.
Roopali Phadke: The Green Metals Dilemma & the Trade-Offs of Clean Energy
The Young IKE
20 minutes 49 seconds
8 months ago
Roopali Phadke: The Green Metals Dilemma & the Trade-Offs of Clean Energy
The push for green energy requires a massive increase in rare earth minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel—but sourcing these materials comes with environmental and ethical challenges. Dr. Roopali Phadke, a political scientist and climate policy expert at Macalester College, joins The Young IKE to discuss the ‘green metals dilemma’—a framework for balancing resource needs, energy justice, and sustainability.
We explore whether responsible mining is possible, the role of policy and public engagement, and what it will take to build a circular economy that reduces reliance on mining.
Guest Information:
Guest Name: Dr. Roopali Phadke
Bio: Dr. Roopali Phadke is a professor of environmental policy at Macalester College, specializing in climate solutions, energy transitions, and sustainable mining policies.
Links:
Macalester College Faculty Page – HERE
Episode Outline:
The ‘Green Metals Dilemma’ – Why green energy depends on mineral extraction and the tough choices we face.
E-Waste & Urban Mining – The future of electronic waste recycling and circular economies.
Can Mining Be Sustainable? – The debate over ethical extraction and energy justice.
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 Name: 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.
