We Are Water: Erin Brockovich On Pollutants, Politics & People Power

Over 40,000 chemicals currently find their way into a litany of consumer products. Although many are toxic, less than 1% have been tested for human safety. Nonetheless, great quantities can still be found in our drinking water. How is this possible? Shouldn’t clean water be a fundamental right? These questions are both fair and important. Unfortunately, trusted regulatory bodies like the EPA often fail to adequately protect us. Science is often manipulated by companies that put profit over public health. And thus, industry pollution continues unsupervised -- and the consumer protection laws we do have in place remain unenforced. To better understand this reality -- how we got here and where to go from here -- I sat down with one of the most famous names in environmental activism. Meet the the singular and eminent Erin Brockovich. Best known as the legal file clerk who battled PG&E over polluted water in the town of Hinckley, CA, Ms. Brockovich was instrumental in architecting a case that resulted in the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit in U.S. history. It’s a story that ended up on the big screen. Garnered Julia Roberts an Oscar for her portrayal of Erin under the direction of the great Steven Soderberg. And turned the name Erin Brockovich into not only a household name, but a verb. Unfortunately, America’s waters didn’t cease to be polluted after the closing credits of the film. In fact, they’ve only gotten worse -- a fact that should leave us all deeply concerned. And highly motivated to act. Because Superman's not coming. Today Erin delivers a master class on water, with one resounding takeaway: the problem is our's to solve. Simply put, we cannot rely on corporations or the government to protect us. An admittedly disheartening realization, it's also empowering -- a call to citizen activism to forge the better world we deserve. It's a theme Ms. Brockovich explores in her new book, Superman's Not Coming (and recently launched podcast of the same name), which both take a brutally honest look at how mismanagement, chemical spills, mishandling of toxic waste and sludge, and even fake studies have created the perfect storm in terms of damaging water systems in the United States. The result is making us sick. And destroying the environment along the way. This is a conversation about the outdated policies that perpetuate this pollution cycle, and the evil-overlord-level of deception that is happening in the corporations and government bodies we blindly trust. We discuss the regulatory landscape of clean water. How what most consider a human right has become politicized and weaponized. How to better educate yourself about your own water supply. And the actions to undertake in the event of an issue. In addition, we explore Erin’s upbringing. Her struggles with dyslexia. The experiences and mentors that fuel her perseverance. The case that brought her fame. And the vital work she has done since. Brimming with unexpected optimism, I think you will find Erin’s message a welcome break from the relentless apocalyptic doom presented by the 24-hour news cycle. A mighty, whip-smart and imposing force of nature, for many years I've deeply admired and respected Ms. Brockovich from afar. This conversation was an honor. And a powerful reminder of the indelible influence of the individual to create positive change and awaken a movement.  The visually inclined can watch our exchange on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. My this one awaken you to action. Peace + Plants, Listen, Watch & Subscribe Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts Thanks to this week’s sponsors Athletic Greens: 75 whole food sourced ingredients designed to optimize 5 key areas of health, Athletic Greens is the delicious daily habit that sets you up for a healthy future. I take the packets everywhere I go. So invest in your health without compromise! Go to: athleticgreens.com/richroll and claim your special offer today: 20 FREE travel packs valued at $79 with your first purchase. Calm: The #1 app for meditation and sleep with 100+ guided meditations covering anxiety, focus, stress, sleep, relationships and more. Plus 7-day and 21-day programs for both beginner and advanced users. Right now, my listeners can get a special limited-time promotion of 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at calm.com/richroll. It includes unlimited access to ALL of Calm’s amazing content. Get started today! Whoop: The world’s most powerful fitness tracker. Get smarter about how you sleep, recover, and train, so you can unlock your best self. Go to WHOOP.com and use the promo code “Richroll” at checkout to save 15% off WHOOP. For a complete list of all RRP sponsors and their respective vanity url's and discount codes, visit my Resources page and click "Sponsors". Books by Erin Brockovich:Superman's Not Coming*Hot Water*Rock Bottom*Take It from Me: Life's a Struggle But You Can Win* SHOW NOTESConnect With Erin: Website | Facebook | Twitter | InstagramPodcast: Superman’s Not Coming with Erin BrockovichCommunity Healthbook: Report An IssueEnvironmental Working Group: Know Your Environment, Protect Your HealthNPR: Erin Brockovich Says 'Superman's Not Coming' To Save Our Water SupplyBetter Than Yesterday: Erin BrockovichForbes: ‘Superman’s Not Coming’: Erin Brockovich On Stick-To-Itiveness And What You And I Can Do About Our National Water CrisisUSA Today: 'It affects us all': Erin Brockovich's 'Superman's Not Coming' explores water issues, urges actionCNN: Regulations can save the planetOutside: In her new book, 'Superman's Not Coming,' the activist gives a lesson in community engagementThe Guardian: The US is in a water crisis far worse than most people imagineThe Atlantic: The Trouble With America’s WaterThe Atlantic: Erin Brockovich Wants to Know What You’re DrinkingThe Atlantic: Who Poisoned Flint?The Atlantic: How the U.S. Protects the Environment, From Nixon to TrumpThrive Global: Yes, Climate Change Is a Water Crisis TooThe Philadelphia Inquirer: ‘Superman’s Not Coming’: Erin Brockovich’s new book is about saving our drinking waterGRIST: Nearly a quarter-century after winning millions from PG&E, the 'Erin Brockovich' town continues its fight for clean water. Related Podcasts:RRP #535: Confronting The Climate Crisis With Margaret Klein Salamon, PHDRRP #473: We Can Solve Climate Change Now: Paul Hawken & In-Q LiveRRP #497: Gregg Renfrew Leads The Clean Beauty Movement For 1000s of delicious, customized plant-based recipes & so much more, check out our Plantpower Meal Planner HOW CAN I SUPPORT THE PODCAST? Tell Your Friends & Share Online! Subscribe & Review:  iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | Soundcloud | Google Podcasts Donate: Check out our Patreon account Support The Sponsors: One of the best ways to support the podcast is to support our sponsors. For a complete list of all RRP sponsors and their respective vanity url's and discount codes, visit my Resources page and click "Sponsors". Thanks to Jason Camiolo for production, audio engineering and show notes; Blake Curtis for video, editing and graphics; portraits by Davy Greenberg; and theme music by Ana Leimma. *Disclosure: Books and products denoted with an asterisk are hyperlinked to an affiliate program. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.