EDUCATION: Environmental Studies Initiative creates ‘TAMIU Green Talk’ podcast
By Veronica Mata
Bridge Staff Writer
Published Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026
The Environmental Studies Initiative produced its first podcast alongside TAMIU communication interns Enrique Fiscal and Sean Jimenez and communication Professor Marcela Moran. Available on TAMIU’s YouTube channel, “Green Talk” tackles issues pertaining to the environment.
It took a collaborative effort from a research team of scholars to find a way to promote the Environmental Studies Initiative and agreed that “TAMIU Green Talk” would be a good way to do that.
Enrique Fiscal works on editing the “TAMIU Green Talk” Podcast in the KLRN Studio on April 10, 2026.
“Me being a media maker, I thought, ‘Oh, well maybe a podcast themed on the environment would be something that everybody in all different disciplines can contribute to,’” Moran said.
“TAMIU Green Talk” serves the purpose of communicating an important topic, like the environment, in a way that makes it accessible and relevant to the TAMIU, Laredo and border community.
“Sometimes the information that is out there is very scientific or worded in ways that people [who] aren’t scholars, or aren’t academics, might not understand,” Moran said.
Because the environment affects everyone, they aim to target different audiences by sharing this one topic through different perspectives.
The pilot episode of “TAMIU Green Talk,” which officially debuted on May 4, features Assistant Professor of sociology Kyle Breen, who shares his research about environmental justice. In future episodes, the podcast is expected to feature other scholars with different areas of knowledge.
“Another episode might be someone, a faculty from the art department, who works with recyclable materials,” Moran said. “Our goal is to include everybody, to include not just the sciences, the scientists, but also art as well.”
Enrique Fiscal, communication intern and editor of the podcast shared his experience working on the podcast. He admitted it was challenging but it was an opportunity to learn something new.
“It was definitely something different because I’m used to working with short films or more narrative productions,” Fiscal said.
Despite the challenges, he said he enjoyed working on this project alongside everyone else.
“It was a really fun experience; it was something new,” Fiscal said.
Fiscal said people should give this podcast a chance since the topic is of great importance, whether they enjoy the topic or podcasts in general.
“I do think it’s a very important topic because it’s about environmental issues, so I think it’s something that [is] worth it to put out and to see,” Fiscal said.
Moran highlights how they are hoping this project can become a product of students’ contribution and how this could become a great learning opportunity for them. “We feel that it should be student-led,” she said.
Interested people may contact Moran at amoran@tamiu.edu to learn more about the Environmental Studies Initiative or if they are interested in helping out with “TAMIU Green Talk.”
