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Clean Water Communications and Environmental Storytelling: Choose Clean Water Coalition · Clean Water Conversations

• 0:13
  SPEAKER_01: Hello, everyone, and welcome to Clean Water Conversations, the podcast where we have casual discussions about creating clean and clear waterways right here in Langster County.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_01: I'm Ken.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_03: Hi, everybody.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_03: It's Allison.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_01: Allison, we have reached the end of both 2025 and season four of this podcast.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_03: How is that possible?
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_03: But it is definitely worth celebrating.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_01: I hope they're not like cheering the end of the end of the season.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_03: They're celebrating with us.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_01: Well, you know, and and 2025 had a lot of ups and downs.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_01: What when you think back on 2025, what will you remember with fondness?
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_03: Amid the starts and stops and ups and downs.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, there's a lot to be grateful for, and there is a lot to remember with joy.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_03: And I recently heard a quote, and uh you may this may be previewing what's coming up, of that joyfulness is a key part of this work and gratitude.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_03: So things that I am fond of in 2025.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_03: I think our solid team that we have here at the Backbone plus the adoption of a revised common agenda.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_03: And I know I've said this on multiple podcasts, but it's such a key part of what we get to do as the backbone organization.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_03: So I really am grateful that the entire network committed to it and made it useful for them.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_03: So that's one of the things that I remember.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_03: But Ken, I can't pass this opportunity and not say my time with Ken.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_03: It's at 25.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_01: And she said it with a little bit, just a little bit of an eye roller.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_03: No, but seriously, this podcast is pretty awesome.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_03: And getting to the end of four whole seasons.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_03: If I'm remembering your stats correctly, we have made it past the average age of a podcast.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_01: We have, yeah.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, we have.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_01: Yep, yep.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_01: So we are uh motoring on into 2026.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_01: We'll be starting season five.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_01: I believe the first one that we'll do is in the beginning of February.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_03: Okay.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, something cool to look forward to.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, more to come.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_01: Yep.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_03: How about you, Ken, looking at 25?
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_01: Well, besides the podcast, of course, and the all the the fun with the storytelling.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_01: I personally am gonna look back at 2025 and think about our new house that we just got.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_01: And the my first time sitting in that enclosed porch, my favorite room in the entire house, the light breeze going and it was all nice and warm, and it was just a lovely, lovely experience and continues to be.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_01: So wonderful.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, that's a win.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, terrible sake.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_01: What's your recent win?
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_03: One of my recent wins is that we had a few people from the EPI, the Environmental Protection Agency came to visit in a good way.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_03: It was the kind of visit that we liked to have from EPI because they wanted to come see all the good work happening in Lanster.
• 3:21
  SPEAKER_03: So shout out to the city of Lancaster and a couple of our project leads that we got to spend the morning driving around, walking around, showcasing the green infrastructure and project examples of what collaboration looks like here in Lancaster.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, great.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_03: Ken, your world is always full of wins.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, it is.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_01: What's going on?
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_01: My biggest one right now is that the Conestoga River is in the running for River of the Year.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_01: So it is we're in that voting period now, which goes, I believe, until the 16th.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_03: Of January.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_01: Of January.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_01: So you still have a little bit of time.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_01: If you haven't voted, there is a banner on the top of our website.
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_01: It's the first thing that pops up when you open up our website.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_03: LancasterCleanwaterpartners.com.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_01: Click the link there.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_01: Go over and vote for the Conestoga River to be the river of the year.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_01: Let's do this.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_01: A lot of people working behind the scenes, a lot of passionate people working behind the scenes to make this happen.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_01: Hey, you know what?
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_01: Speaking of passionate people, we have a passionate guest today.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_03: Yes.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_03: So we're really excited to have Drew Robinson, the communications director for the Choose Clean Water Coalition.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_03: Drew, can you give us a little bit of background about the coalition and your role there?
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: We'd love to.
• 4:39
  SPEAKER_00: Choose Clean Water Coalition.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_00: We're in our 16th year and we're a network of more than 320 nonprofit organizations throughout the whole Chesapeake Bay region.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_00: We have members stretching all the way up to Cooperstown, New York, down to Hampton Road, Virginia, and as far as west as West Virginia, all six states plus DC.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_00: We have representation in the our Choose Clean Water Coalition.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_00: And what we do is we harness the collective power of all these organizations that are doing amazing work to clean water in their local communities.
• 5:08
  SPEAKER_00: And we work to equip them and help all of them sing from the same song sheet.
• 5:12
  SPEAKER_00: And that's kind of where my role comes in as communications director, providing resources and helping these organizations again sing from the same song sheet and work together.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_00: And just worth mentioning that we're always looking for new members to join us.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I joined the coalition a little over six years ago, and we had around 250 members, and we've grown considerably since then, with more than 320 now, and always welcoming new nonprofits to join us.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_00: There's no dues, but it's a great opportunity to get connected with peers from throughout the region working towards clean water.
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_01: Well, then let's start off with an icebreaker.
• 5:49
  SPEAKER_01: Your question is what's a goal that you're glad you gave up on?
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_01: And here's the second part of the question is what's one that you're glad you stuck with?
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, well, the first goal that I give up on, I don't know if it's a goal necessarily I had, or but my mother did.
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_00: She always said I should be a lawyer because I like to argue, I guess, especially as a kid.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_00: And, you know, she had some good points, and I did a bunch of informational interviews with lawyers and learning more about it, and uh decided it it wasn't for me.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_00: And having worked with lawyers all the time in our work for clean water, I can confidently uh assert that I made the right decision.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_00: Um just this week I was uh reformatting one of our sign-on letters that one of our great members from Mesapeak Legal Alliance, Evan Isaacson, wrote this 30-plus page letter and a bunch of legalese.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_00: And I'll just say, having read through that, I'm glad that that wasn't the path I chose.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_00: Communications is still a form of arguing.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_00: I think you can make that case, but just in a little bit different form.
• 7:01
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_00: For the second part of the question, in regards to what I stuck with, I go back to way back machine 20 years ago, really with the first goal that I set for myself that was a little bit audacious when I was just a teenager and pursuing my Eagle Scout.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_00: And I saw my brother or older brother earn his eagle and set the goal for myself to have that achievement as well.
• 7:23
  SPEAKER_00: And it wasn't easy, but you know, even all these years later, I'm grateful that I had the opportunity and the support system to go for that and and to earn it.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_00: Because as the phrase goes, once an eagle, always an eagle.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_00: So it's something that I'll always be proud of.
• 7:37
  SPEAKER_02: That's awesome.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, congratulations.
• 7:39
  SPEAKER_03: And what an impactful goal this many years later.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_03: Well, maybe this first question kind of ties to that of what are some of your early memories that tie you to conservation or clean water?
• 7:53
  SPEAKER_00: The story, and I tell the story quite often, and it's one of those stories that hindsight's 2020.
• 7:58
  SPEAKER_00: I didn't realize it at the time, but as a kid, we had a pond just less than a mile from my house, um, Fox Chase Pond.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_00: I grew up in New Jersey, and it was not a pond that you'd want to go swimming in, to say the least.
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_00: Full of algae.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_00: And it's kind of like the Simpsons episode where they you pull out a fish with three eyes, you'd expect that.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_00: But juxtaposed to that, my grandparents lived up on Cape Cod and they had just a pristine pond um that we always went to called Baker's Pond and went swimming in there, caught tadpoles, fishing, everything.
• 8:36
  SPEAKER_00: And again, didn't realize it at the time, but the juxtaposition between those two and the inherent unfairness really of you know being having a body water, a resource close to home, but not being able to use it in any way, shape, or form really um was struck me, and I think it planted the seed deep down to work for Queen Water.
• 8:57
  SPEAKER_00: The the tangled way webs we weave and how things you know you don't necessarily understand or grasp the importance of experiences in the moment, but years later it can kind of start to make sense.
• 9:10
  SPEAKER_01: Well, that's a perfect segue then.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_01: What did you want to be when you grow up?
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_00: I won't lie, my answer is I I just always wanted to play baseball.
• 9:19
  SPEAKER_00: And if I had to pick I would I would have played for the Yankees, but wasn't in the cards for me.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_00: I was five feet tall when I went went into high school.
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_00: So you look at the Little League World Series these days, um, and some of these kids have beards.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_00: Um that wasn't me.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_00: So that wasn't in the cards, but yeah, still still an avid baseball fan, and you know that that was the dream for sure.
• 9:42
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, we will totally get back to that.
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_03: Definitely.
• 9:45
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, I'm looking forward to it.
• 9:48
  SPEAKER_01: Well, you like me, are a comms guy, communications guy.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_01: Now, your work in communications has included a lot of topics or focus areas like climate change, clean water, habitat restoration.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_01: It's hard for people to say, no, I don't support clean water.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_01: So why do you think we struggle to communicate content in those topic areas?
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, that's a it's a great question.
• 10:13
  SPEAKER_00: And yeah, I'd love to.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_00: If you ever hear someone say that they don't want clean water, I'd I'd love to know.
• 10:18
  SPEAKER_00: I've never heard it.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_00: But you know, there I think really what it really boils down to is that there's no silver bullet.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_00: You know, there's not one single issue that's confronting the Chesapeake Bay for sure, but then of course all the rivers and streams that feed it.
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_00: There's not, you know, it's it's not we solve this one thing and then the bay will be saved.
• 10:35
  SPEAKER_00: Um and we'll have clean water and healthy communities.
• 10:37
  SPEAKER_00: It's complex and challenging and hard to understand at times.
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_00: So I guess if I'm looking for a silver lining, I'm glad for that because part of the reason why I have a job.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_00: Um I hear you.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_00: There really are so many issues and challenges to achieve clean water.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_00: So I think what we really need to do from a communication standpoint is just keep it simple.
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_00: First, by just keeping the the end goal in mind and and telling stories that demonstrating and revealing why clean water matters.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_00: And but beyond that, to to use language people will understand.
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_00: So when you're having those conversations on technical topics, I know you all are advocates for not using acronyms, so that's a good start.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but so certainly, you know, there's even simple words that we use all the time in our work that are perplexing to some.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_00: So a good great example is watershed.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_00: A lot of people think that that is literally like a green shed or a water tower.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_03: That totally happened to me, Drew.
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_03: I was doing I was doing a um reference check for somebody, and I said that they were part of this watershed effort.
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_03: And she she said, What are you talking about?
• 11:47
  SPEAKER_03: You mean the thing in my backyard?
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_03: I was like, Oh, I'm sorry.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_03: I yeah, you're exactly right.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_01: We keep the pool supplies, right?
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_01: That's a good one too, Pen.
• 11:59
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 12:01
  SPEAKER_00: That just but that really just demonstrates and opens eyes into us needing to use language that the people understand and then to connect the dots for what how all these things are connected and how they work together.
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_00: And and then, but of course, always going back to why it matters, uh, because that's not to be overlooked or underappreciated.
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_03: Drew, I have kind of a follow-up question on that.
• 12:21
  SPEAKER_03: When you say you have to use the language of your audience, how do you I'll say train yourself or become aware enough about every single audience?
• 12:31
  SPEAKER_03: Like you said, there's so many different people that we're aiming to include in this.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_03: And when we have to prepare for a board meeting or for a press release or for like the all those different places, how do you as a communications expert prepare best?
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_00: From a preparation standpoint, it's certainly having your talking points document and having that cleared and ready and and and rehearsed.
• 12:55
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but I think it's also just having a a a solid grasp on the issues themselves.
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_00: And that certainly takes time given the complexity of this work.
• 13:05
  SPEAKER_00: But I think when you have those talking points to really guide you, and I don't know, even just saying that I kind of like how the sausage is made, it may it might feel like it's forced or inauthentic, but alternatively, I mean, in reality, it's more of just how important it is to get the main message across.
• 13:27
  SPEAKER_00: I heard a metaphor recently that messages are like bowling balls, that you can only give your audience one, maybe two.
• 13:34
  SPEAKER_00: And then if you try to give a third, then they'll drop them all and then nothing will nothing will stick.
• 13:39
  SPEAKER_00: And so sticking to those main messages, you know, messages being one or two is really critical to to get the main point across.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_03: That's from the conference we were at, isn't it?
• 13:51
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, caught camp.
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_00: Remember that?
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_03: I was like, I know I've heard this bowling ball.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, she was quoting Donald Miller, who's one of my favorite authors.
• 14:01
  SPEAKER_01: So at least two of us were paying attention.
• 14:03
  SPEAKER_01: That's good.
• 14:06
  SPEAKER_00: Yep.
• 14:07
  SPEAKER_00: And I I had heard that years ago, but it resonated in a different way when I heard it recently at Coscamp.
• 14:13
  SPEAKER_00: So it's so far it's sticking.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 14:17
  SPEAKER_03: One of the things I heard at Coscamp that has stuck is if you confuse, you lose.
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_00: Ooh.
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_00: Yep.
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_00: That's a good one.
• 14:24
  SPEAKER_00: Yep.
• 14:24
  unknown: Yeah.
• 14:25
  SPEAKER_00: Trying to figure out a reason why it's important to have your main messages front and center in your in your mind.
• 14:31
  SPEAKER_00: So talking to reporters or even just volunteers, advocates, community members to make sure you get the main points across.
• 14:40
  SPEAKER_01: And a word they kept using at CauseCamp was storytelling.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_01: It's like kind of the kind of the current buzzword.
• 14:46
  SPEAKER_01: How do you approach the need for authentic storytelling for the network of the Chuce Clean Water Coalition?
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_00: I think storytelling has become somewhat of a buzzword, but I don't say that in a bad way.
• 14:58
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 14:58
  SPEAKER_00: Because it's long overdue in my opinion.
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_00: It's an overdue, it's overdue for this to be a trend.
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, and I hope it's not a trend.
• 15:03
  SPEAKER_00: I hope it sticks sticks around for the foreseeable future.
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_01: I hear you.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_00: But the bottom line really is that facts inform, but it it's stories that are what really inspire people.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm not downplaying or diminishing the importance of having solid science to back up our our work and stats and data.
• 15:21
  SPEAKER_00: All of that is really important.
• 15:22
  SPEAKER_00: But if we don't tell it in a narrative form, in a way that organizes those facts, they're just going to be in one ear and out the other.
• 15:29
  SPEAKER_00: And the other thing that good stories do is they center people.
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_00: And that's something that historically, in my opinion, and I don't think I'm alone in this, environmentalists have sometimes forgotten to do that, struggle to do that, just talking about the resource itself.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm of the belief that the resource itself, our waterways do have intrinsic value, but it's so important to make that next step into how this impacts people and communities.
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_00: And a couple stats that I picked up when I was actually at another conference just a few days after COSCAM from Nancy Merrill and her presentation at the watershed forum was stories.
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_00: There's been studies on this.
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I think it was a Stanford study demonstrated that telling a story makes facts 22 times more memorable.
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_00: And when it comes to fundraising appeals, they result in a 20% increase in donations.
• 16:18
  SPEAKER_00: So and there are reams of more evidence and and and studies and data demonstrating the impact the stories have in our communications.
• 16:26
  SPEAKER_00: So yes, it's a buzzword, but we need to keep doing it and get better at it too.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_01: And we've we've mentioned Coscamp quite a few times.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna put I'm gonna put a link to Coscamp in the in the uh the show notes.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_01: So then you can do a little research and find out for yourself and maybe attend the next one.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_01: Yep.
• 16:45
  SPEAKER_03: Thanks for sharing that data, Drew.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_03: I had not heard about those studies, and I love to see that type of like that's the science information where I I get excited to be like, oh, okay, this is showing the impact and ripple effects of these kinds of techniques.
• 17:02
  SPEAKER_03: So very cool.
• 17:02
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you.
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_00: No, I I mean there's there's so much more to dig into.
• 17:06
  SPEAKER_00: Um I I'm looking forward to it.
• 17:09
  SPEAKER_00: I think I'll just real quick, I'll throw in a plug while we're talking about storytelling.
• 17:13
  SPEAKER_00: The um the choose clean water coalition, we're hosting a storytelling training series this year.
• 17:18
  SPEAKER_00: It's not registration, it isn't open for it yet, but it's for all of our members to become more effective storytellers.
• 17:25
  SPEAKER_00: And it's not designed just for communicators, though communicators are welcome, but for field staff, restoration staff, you know, executives, everyone.
• 17:33
  SPEAKER_00: So happy to share more information when that comes live, but it's very timely to mention it.
• 17:39
  SPEAKER_03: Drew, that's very exciting that there's an entire series coming up.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_03: I'm eager to learn more.
• 17:45
  SPEAKER_00: It's with the Chesapeake Bay Trust's support for that storytelling series together.
• 17:50
  SPEAKER_00: So we're we're excited for it.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_00: I've been working closely with it with Will on our team.
• 17:55
  SPEAKER_03: Excellent.
• 17:55
  SPEAKER_00: Nice.
• 17:56
  SPEAKER_03: Why do you think storytelling is a strategy that's growing in popularity at this point in time?
• 18:02
  SPEAKER_00: It's a really good question.
• 18:04
  SPEAKER_00: And there might be people that can give you answers that are verified and studied, but my hunch is that people are seeking long-form content.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I think there's whether it's conscious or not, there's this rebellion against constant scrolling and the five-second hits from TikTok and um Instagram reels and all of that.
• 18:23
  SPEAKER_00: That and people are wanting to have those more in-depth, comprehensive stories and content.
• 18:30
  SPEAKER_00: And so that's one theory as to why stories might be taking more of a hold because it's hard to tell a really effective story super quickly.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_00: You can, I I I know there are those examples of tell a story in six words, and there's some really powerful ones out there.
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_00: But generally speaking, it takes a little bit more time, even if we're talking 20 or 30 seconds.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_00: And I think people are just yearning for that type of more authentic and again comprehensive and nuanced type of content in stories.
• 19:01
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, and the other thing was already mentioned, you know, good stories center people.
• 19:05
  SPEAKER_00: And so by focusing on that and and having content that centers people, I think it already is uh a winning formula.
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_01: I've been trying to be the storyteller here in Lancaster, and and Lancaster hasn't always been like a poster child for positively in the overall Bay wide community, the Bay Watershed community.
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_01: What have you seen as the difference in marketing and outreach lately?
• 19:29
  SPEAKER_01: And like what should we keep doing more of?
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's another good question.
• 19:34
  SPEAKER_00: Well, first thing I'll say is that I have seen a shift.
• 19:36
  SPEAKER_00: I've been doing this work in the Bay World for over 10 years now, and I I've seen a shift in a greater appreciation and recognition of all the fantastic work that's happening in Pennsylvania, especially in Lancaster, where you all are are very much on the cutting edge in many respects.
• 19:52
  SPEAKER_00: So it's not to say that there isn't still a lot of work to do in the Keystone state, but there's definitely a lot of progress.
• 19:59
  SPEAKER_01: But the studio audience will lose it.
• 20:05
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, Amen.
• 20:09
  SPEAKER_00: But what do we in regards to what to do more of?
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, have we talked about storytelling yet?
• 20:14
  SPEAKER_00: Uh that's a great place to start.
• 20:17
  SPEAKER_00: And one of the more underappreciated aspects of storytelling that's can be overlooked is thinking about who's the messenger, who's telling the story, you know, who who's it's a first-person narrative, who's that person.
• 20:30
  SPEAKER_00: And you all have some amazing messengers in Lancaster.
• 20:33
  SPEAKER_00: You know, there are lots of studies on who are the most trusted messengers.
• 20:37
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 20:37
  SPEAKER_00: And consistently, time after time, the top of the list are farmers and ranchers.
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 20:42
  SPEAKER_00: And looking at, you know, a lot of the work that you all do in Lancaster, you certainly have some amazing farmers.
• 20:47
  SPEAKER_00: I've had the pleasure of meeting many of them that have just really compelling stories, amazing backgrounds that are doing some just really inspiring work.
• 20:55
  SPEAKER_00: So I think that's a great place to start, just giving those people a platform.
• 20:59
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes you can keep it simple and just point a camera at some of them and let them go off and you know, and share and make all the amazing work they're doing.
• 21:07
  SPEAKER_00: And so I think that's you know the first the first thought.
• 21:09
  SPEAKER_00: But then, I mean, I I'm sure everyone that listens to this podcast already recognizes and believes that Lancaster is just a beautiful place.
• 21:17
  SPEAKER_00: And certainly there have been many people that are you know capitalizing on that and showcasing the beauty of Lancaster, you know, through visual storytelling and you know, photography and videography.
• 21:29
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that's another thing to keep keep doing, and because that multimedia content really helps stop the scroll.
• 21:35
  SPEAKER_00: But I mean, you guys are there on the ground every day.
• 21:37
  SPEAKER_00: I'm curious what you all think.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_03: I think you're right, keeping it with the messenger being the it there, keeping the messenger as a local trusted peer and keeping it a positive story, not focusing on the negativity.
• 21:51
  SPEAKER_03: And I was just thinking about this this morning.
• 21:52
  SPEAKER_03: It's funny you ask that when I started and I used a picture of the waters behind the Conowingo.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_03: Dam, I think.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_03: And it was right after a storm and it and somebody called me out on it.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_03: And I was, I didn't know what to do at the moment because I thought I was telling the story of what's going on.
• 22:10
  SPEAKER_03: And they were like, well, no, but like we have to show the positive pieces.
• 22:13
  SPEAKER_03: And I obviously it stuck with me.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_03: And yes, I was just thinking about that this morning.
• 22:18
  SPEAKER_03: So yeah, no matter what it is, the message has to be about the positive pieces.
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_03: I don't say that to act like we need to ignore the reality.
• 22:25
  SPEAKER_03: Like you said, there's a lot to do.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_03: There is a lot of work ahead of us.
• 22:30
  SPEAKER_03: But if that's all we focus on, we're not celebrating the wins, we're not pushing for people to be inspired by what others have done first.
• 22:39
  SPEAKER_01: And to me, I think the the most important message that I can give out there is look at all the really cool positive work our partners are doing.
• 22:51
  SPEAKER_01: That are positively changing our environment right here.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_01: And then because it's positively changing our waters here, it's positively changing the waters downstream to the bay.
• 23:05
  SPEAKER_00: Yep.
• 23:05
  SPEAKER_00: It's all connected.
• 23:06
  SPEAKER_00: Yep.
• 23:07
  SPEAKER_00: And it also makes me think of another lesson from Coscamp of just the creating that elevator pitch.
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_00: It's the problem.
• 23:13
  SPEAKER_00: You know, what's yeah, what's what are we trying to solve?
• 23:16
  SPEAKER_00: And then but then there's the solution, what we're doing, the work we're doing to solve it and what the result is or will be, the positive experience that will will happen as a result of our hard work.
• 23:26
  SPEAKER_00: So keeping that formula in mind is also another way just to make sure that we're staying on message.
• 23:32
  SPEAKER_03: That's a really good point.
• 23:34
  SPEAKER_03: We have used the elevator pitch with our partner organizations and we've given them like a one-pager about it and some practice time, but that was a while ago.
• 23:43
  SPEAKER_03: Ken, we should go back to it.
• 23:44
  SPEAKER_03: And as you described, drew the components of it.
• 23:47
  SPEAKER_03: We're at a new point in time and asking people to spend a little bit of time revisiting what is their elevator pitch here at the end of 2025.
• 23:55
  SPEAKER_03: I like that idea.
• 23:56
  SPEAKER_03: We should, how can we roll that out in 26?
• 23:59
  SPEAKER_00: As our circumstances change, our stories need to change too, right?
• 24:03
  SPEAKER_00: 100%.
• 24:03
  SPEAKER_01: Yep.
• 24:04
  SPEAKER_01: Now, I didn't realize this until recently.
• 24:06
  SPEAKER_01: You kind of you specialized in faith-based communication, serving as a community leader with interfaith partners for the Chesapeake or IPC.
• 24:15
  SPEAKER_01: You can use that uh that acronym now without getting buzzed if you want to.
• 24:19
  SPEAKER_01: Tell us tell us about why that kind of work is especially important and relevant in the collaborative approach to clean water.
• 24:27
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I studied political science and religion in college, not too far away from Lancaster at Dickinson and Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
• 24:35
  SPEAKER_00: Um and the two things you're not supposed to bring up at the dinner table.
• 24:41
  SPEAKER_00: And that I like to argue.
• 24:43
  SPEAKER_00: But I've really always been interested in in infrastructure, the social infrastructure provided by faith-based communities, an intersection between not even so much pop politics, but more of like public affairs and and religion.
• 24:55
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, you think about it, there's groups of people that are meeting consistently.
• 24:59
  SPEAKER_00: And when it comes to environmental work, virtually every faith tradition has an appreciation for the natural world and stewarding it.
• 25:06
  SPEAKER_00: And in faith circles, this is often called creation care, with the implication that of stewarding something that a higher power created.
• 25:13
  SPEAKER_00: So that's just was always my jam, still is, and I love the opportunity that I have to serve on the board of IPC.
• 25:21
  SPEAKER_00: They do some amazing work equipping congregations throughout the region.
• 25:26
  SPEAKER_00: Some might say watershed.
• 25:28
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, in particular, they do some amazing work in Lancaster.
• 25:32
  SPEAKER_00: So it's really just a great opportunity to capitalize on you know these communities that are gathering.
• 25:37
  SPEAKER_00: And when it comes to communications with those audience, it's really just about speaking their language, because faith-based communities have different languages.
• 25:46
  SPEAKER_00: And of course, that depends on what faith tradition you're you're trying to reach.
• 25:50
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but coming from, like for example, coming from an evangelical tradition and as a person of faith, you know, if if I'm trying to talk to a friend and trying to get them on board with our work for clean water or just explaining it, you know, I bring up scripture because that's that's everything, sola scriptura.
• 26:09
  SPEAKER_00: And if I'm able to showcase scripture and put that in the context of our work for creation care and stewarding what we've been blessed with and and called to steward, then over halfway there and getting them on board to recognizing the power of our work.
• 26:25
  SPEAKER_00: So that's just a little bit of behind the scenes into the thought process that goes behind faith-based communication.
• 26:32
  SPEAKER_03: Nice.
• 26:33
  SPEAKER_03: That's awesome.
• 26:34
  SPEAKER_03: And I'm excited to learn more about what you guys are doing with lots of different partner organizations as you prepare for the Choose Clean Water Conference coming to Lankster in 2026.
• 26:49
  SPEAKER_03: Huge studio audience.
• 26:50
  SPEAKER_03: Yes.
• 26:57
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, the conference is going to be at the Langster Marriott on May 18th to the 20th.
• 27:02
  SPEAKER_03: And it brings people together from all kinds of groups, nonprofits, governments, businesses, everybody talking about clean water.
• 27:09
  SPEAKER_03: So, what messages are you hoping to get out there this year?
• 27:15
  SPEAKER_00: Well, you both are wonderful members of our conference planning committee.
• 27:19
  SPEAKER_00: So you know a little bit about it, but to share with everyone else, the theme of our conference this year is the pursuit of clean water.
• 27:26
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm going to try to say the word here.
• 27:28
  SPEAKER_00: Ken, I think you're the one that taught me this word.
• 27:30
  SPEAKER_00: The bisusquicentennial.
• 27:32
  SPEAKER_00: That's the one, yeah.
• 27:34
  SPEAKER_00: Uh with the 250th anniversary, America coming next year, it's referenced to the famous line from the Declaration of Independence of the pursuit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness being an unalienable right.
• 27:46
  SPEAKER_00: And so it's it's no secret that the past year has presented presented many challenges for our clean water community.
• 27:53
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but we're hoping that this conference will unite us and motivate our community to keep pursuing clean water, pursuing it at all costs, despite the obstacles.
• 28:02
  SPEAKER_00: But beyond the theme, though, each conference really does take on a life of its own.
• 28:07
  SPEAKER_00: So last year we were in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and the conference met when many orgs were still in the throes of the funding freeze.
• 28:16
  SPEAKER_00: And the coalition director, Kristen Riley, shared this message of in her opening remarks of joy is an act of resilience and finding those opportunities to to celebrate and to find joy in our work.
• 28:28
  SPEAKER_00: Um and it really took on a life of its own and was incorporated throughout the conference and has continued beyond the conference as well.
• 28:34
  SPEAKER_00: So I can't wait to see what will take hold.
• 28:36
  SPEAKER_00: This Maine Lancaster is obviously so much amazing work and people in that area to highlight and showcase and celebrate.
• 28:43
  SPEAKER_00: So I can't wait and excited to keep working with you all and to pull together another great conference.
• 28:50
  SPEAKER_01: And I will put a link to the conference page in our notes as well.
• 28:55
  SPEAKER_00: Awesome.
• 28:57
  SPEAKER_01: Now, what messaging do you think is the most important with regards to clean water in both the Chesapeake and in Lancaster County in 2026?
• 29:05
  SPEAKER_03: It may be what you're planning to cover at the conference and and showcase.
• 29:09
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 29:09
  SPEAKER_03: Curious as you, yeah, as we start the year, what's top of mind for you?
• 29:13
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I mean, clean water is essential no matter what the calendar says.
• 29:17
  SPEAKER_00: And uh I think I'm not one to make bold predictions, but I think it's it's safe to assume that hundreds of years from now our children's children, children's children will will want and need clean water in their communities.
• 29:28
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, our work really has a legacy component to it.
• 29:31
  SPEAKER_00: But that said, we are confronting real threats right now that will impact our work for clean water for decades to come.
• 29:37
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, one example that is taking on more and more, I don't want to say importance, but more of our time and resources and energy is data centers.
• 29:45
  SPEAKER_00: And, you know, Northern Virginia is the epicenter of the world, the largest concentration of data centers in the world are in Northern Virginia, but it's they're not staying there.
• 29:53
  SPEAKER_00: They're spreading throughout the whole region, including Pennsylvania.
• 29:56
  SPEAKER_00: So we really need to push for thoughtful considerations for long-term impacts of data centers and really any development and thinking through, again, not even thinking in the context of months or years, but decades, because some of the decisions that are going happening now and then will continue over 2026 for sure, um, will have long-term ripple effects and impact.
• 30:17
  SPEAKER_00: But I mean, again, you guys are are the the experts in in Lancaster County.
• 30:21
  SPEAKER_00: What do you all think is really on the cutting edge and what we need to uh have an eye on this year in 2026?
• 30:27
  SPEAKER_03: Well, just because you mentioned data center, I will give a shout out to the city of Lancaster for the way that they have been working with the company coming to Lancaster with a data center.
• 30:36
  SPEAKER_03: And I won't go into all the details, but there is a communications need to better educate the public about what they will be.
• 30:45
  SPEAKER_03: However, we do know that it is a reuse of an existing building.
• 30:48
  SPEAKER_03: So it is not taking land, and it also will not use more water than a regular office building.
• 30:55
  SPEAKER_03: So it is a big win for the city of Lancaster, and I'm really grateful for their leadership.
• 31:02
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I mean that those are we're not, I think something that the environmental community can often gain the reputation of being like a party of no, like always just saying no.
• 31:11
  SPEAKER_00: No matter what it is.
• 31:12
  SPEAKER_00: No, no, no, no, no.
• 31:14
  SPEAKER_00: And I think we have to learn how to be the party of yes, but.
• 31:18
  SPEAKER_00: And so in that context, you know, with data centers, you know, not recognizing that they are important, that, you know, we there is a need, especially with how rapidly AI is growing.
• 31:30
  SPEAKER_00: There is a growing need for data centers.
• 31:33
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and we're not trying to bury our heads in the sand and and try to just forget about it.
• 31:38
  SPEAKER_00: But the key is trying to get to the pieces that are important for our work and the long-term impacts on our our natural world, which of course means the impacts on our local communities and people.
• 31:49
  SPEAKER_00: So that's encouraging that there are groups out there that are looking at data centers in a very thoughtful and holistic way.
• 31:58
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 31:58
  SPEAKER_03: And that's, as you point out, that's only one of the components of what's coming in 2026.
• 32:03
  SPEAKER_03: And so to answer your initial question, some of the other pieces I think that are right in front of us here in Lancaster is really the excitement that the momentum we've been building with all the outreach to landowners, with the delisting strategy, with building the narrative of local success, there is still demand.
• 32:19
  SPEAKER_03: Programs are oversubscribed, but people are eager to get these projects done.
• 32:24
  SPEAKER_03: And there are more efficient processes.
• 32:26
  SPEAKER_03: So seeing that continue in 26 is really exciting.
• 32:30
  SPEAKER_03: Using the common agenda to help guide people so that there is appropriate capacity.
• 32:35
  SPEAKER_03: Like we got to have enough engineers, we got to have enough people to do the shovels in the ground.
• 32:40
  SPEAKER_03: And we have been able to grow that.
• 32:43
  SPEAKER_03: So in 26, I'm excited to keep seeing that and be able to tell the story so that it continues way beyond.
• 32:51
  SPEAKER_00: I love it.
• 32:52
  SPEAKER_03: How about you, Ken?
• 32:53
  SPEAKER_01: I I think for me, just the the messaging you know, continues to be there's great work being done.
• 33:00
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, as we approached the end of 2025 and the the end of the Bay Agreement, there had been, it started to be a lot of concern that oh when we're not gonna meet these goals, we're not gonna meet these goals.
• 33:12
  SPEAKER_01: What we did was to push, we're not gonna meet these goals, but we're still moving forward.
• 33:17
  SPEAKER_01: We're thinking beyond 2025, we're looking for clean and clear water by 2040.
• 33:22
  SPEAKER_01: And the beyond 25 agreement that they have now focuses a lot on 2040.
• 33:28
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 33:29
  SPEAKER_01: So I I think it's great that that we're all in agreement for that.
• 33:32
  SPEAKER_01: And um, the messaging to me is we're still pushing forward.
• 33:36
  SPEAKER_01: We're still pushing forward, we still have these same goals.
• 33:39
  SPEAKER_03: Drew, how do you guys handle that at the Choose Clean Water Coalition?
• 33:43
  SPEAKER_03: Because so much of your work is bay driven, but you're integrating so many different different partner organizations and their goals too.
• 33:50
  SPEAKER_03: So how do you do that beyond 2025 kind of messaging and and integration of things?
• 33:57
  SPEAKER_00: It's been the story of my life, Allison, for the past couple of years.
• 34:00
  SPEAKER_00: Sure.
• 34:00
  SPEAKER_00: But I'll start branching that by I'll tell a quick story.
• 34:04
  SPEAKER_00: And this comes back to my time with at CBF when we overlapped Allison and Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
• 34:11
  SPEAKER_02: I think that he was just he was just saying it.
• 34:15
  SPEAKER_00: Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
• 34:16
  SPEAKER_00: Oh man, no, that I earned that buzz.
• 34:19
  SPEAKER_00: So uh you got me.
• 34:22
  SPEAKER_00: When I first started there in 2014, I was gosh, I had been there just I think two or three months, and we were touring the at that point newly opened Brock Environmental Center and just an amazing lead platinum facility down in Hampton Road, Virginia, that met the Living Building Challenge.
• 34:39
  SPEAKER_00: And anyways, uh we were getting a tour of that facility, and I remember the our tour guide at the time saying that, you know, putting in the context of the blueprint, and he used the phrase when he was talking about the context of 2025, and he said, when we're all out of jobs by 2025 with a successful implementation of what they found called the blueprint.
• 34:59
  SPEAKER_00: And honestly, for like there's a couple weeks there where I you know I wasn't too concerned because at the time, 10 years ago, that felt a long way away.
• 35:07
  SPEAKER_00: But then obviously I I kind of picked up on that that's not exactly the case.
• 35:10
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, the reality is, yeah, yes, we certainly have made progress.
• 35:14
  SPEAKER_00: Um, we want to celebrate those wins of the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Agreement.
• 35:18
  SPEAKER_00: We met 18 out of the 31 goals, so not enough.
• 35:22
  SPEAKER_00: Certainly, there's still a lot of work to do, but there is progress that we can celebrate.
• 35:25
  SPEAKER_00: And and not to sound like a philosopher or a sage by any means, but progress isn't a straight line.
• 35:31
  SPEAKER_00: And we've certainly seen that over the past 10 years where the overall trajectory is up, but it hasn't been a straight line.
• 35:37
  SPEAKER_00: And our coalition and so many of our member organizations have worked really, really hard on this revised big agreement that was just approved in December by the Chesapeake Executive Council, and you know, working for bold and ambitious goals within that agreement to you know really spur on innovation and drive us to reach even higher.
• 35:59
  SPEAKER_00: But while the final product isn't perfect by any means, you know, the overall agreement is better due to our advocacy.
• 36:05
  SPEAKER_00: And many of the goals, in our opinion, are too low, and we're gonna meet those before the new 2040 deadline, in which case we're gonna be ready to push for new goals that pushes the envelope even further because there's no time to rest on our laurels here when we're dealing with an issue that's of such importance to so many people, to every everybody.
• 36:26
  SPEAKER_00: In clean water, we need to keep pushing forward.
• 36:28
  SPEAKER_03: I think those are wise words.
• 36:30
  SPEAKER_03: I'll I'll call you Sage for today.
• 36:33
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, thank you.
• 36:36
  SPEAKER_01: Cool.
• 36:37
  SPEAKER_01: Well, that brings me to my absolute favorite time of the show, and that is trivia time.
• 36:45
  SPEAKER_00: All right.
• 36:47
  SPEAKER_01: Now you noted that your interests outside of Clay Water include the Yankees and World War II history.
• 36:56
  SPEAKER_01: So I put together this round of trivia called The Yanks Are Coming.
• 37:03
  SPEAKER_02: The Ants are coming.
• 37:05
  SPEAKER_01: I like it.
• 37:06
  SPEAKER_01: I am gonna give you a name.
• 37:08
  SPEAKER_01: You tell me if that person was associated with World War II or the New York Yankees.
• 37:15
  SPEAKER_01: Ooh, good one.
• 37:16
  SPEAKER_01: So we will start with an easy one.
• 37:18
  SPEAKER_01: How about Derek Jeter?
• 37:20
  SPEAKER_00: Let me think.
• 37:21
  SPEAKER_00: I would have to go with the Yankees on that one.
• 37:23
  SPEAKER_01: No, I'm sorry.
• 37:23
  SPEAKER_01: Colonel Derek Jeter actually led the first infantry.
• 37:26
  SPEAKER_01: No, I'm just kidding.
• 37:28
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, obviously, you are correct.
• 37:30
  SPEAKER_01: Winston Churchill.
• 37:32
  SPEAKER_00: Colonel Churchill, one of our esteemed World War II leaders.
• 37:37
  SPEAKER_00: Fight him on the beaches, we'll fight him in the streets.
• 37:40
  SPEAKER_00: There you go.
• 37:41
  SPEAKER_01: Also, a heck of a catcher, I understand.
• 37:43
  SPEAKER_01: So that's the feeling that's a frame for it.
• 37:47
  SPEAKER_01: Clement Ale.
• 37:50
  SPEAKER_01: Ooh, World War II.
• 37:51
  SPEAKER_01: You got it.
• 37:53
  SPEAKER_01: Do you remember who he was?
• 37:55
  SPEAKER_01: He was British, wasn't he?
• 37:56
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, he was the deputy prime minister under Churchill.
• 37:59
  SPEAKER_01: So very good.
• 38:00
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 38:01
  SPEAKER_01: Very good.
• 38:01
  SPEAKER_01: He's not kidding when he says he knows his World War II history.
• 38:04
  SPEAKER_01: I love it.
• 38:05
  SPEAKER_01: That was a deep pull.
• 38:06
  SPEAKER_01: Akiro Suzuki.
• 38:09
  SPEAKER_01: Did you mean to say Ichiro?
• 38:10
  SPEAKER_00: Ichiro, I guess Ichiro, yes.
• 38:13
  SPEAKER_00: Ichiro played for the Yankees.
• 38:15
  SPEAKER_00: He's more known for his time with the Mariners, but yeah, he was a great Yankee.
• 38:18
  SPEAKER_01: That is exactly right.
• 38:20
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 38:20
  SPEAKER_01: He was over a decade with the uh with the Seattle Mariners.
• 38:23
  SPEAKER_01: Very nice.
• 38:24
  SPEAKER_01: Mitsuru Mitsu.
• 38:25
  SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna mispronounce this one too.
• 38:26
  SPEAKER_01: Mitsudo Fakita?
• 38:29
  SPEAKER_00: Ooh, that sounds World War II.
• 38:31
  SPEAKER_01: That is World War II.
• 38:32
  SPEAKER_01: He actually coordinated the bombers and and fighters on the attack on Pearl Harbor.
• 38:36
  SPEAKER_00: Jim Coates.
• 38:39
  SPEAKER_00: Jim Coates.
• 38:40
  SPEAKER_00: I'm pretty sure that was a Yankee pitcher.
• 38:42
  SPEAKER_01: He was indeed a pitcher from 1959 to 1962.
• 38:46
  SPEAKER_01: I am so impressed.
• 38:47
  SPEAKER_01: Wow.
• 38:48
  SPEAKER_01: That's a deep goal.
• 38:50
  SPEAKER_03: Don't challenge this guy.
• 38:52
  SPEAKER_01: How about Andrew McCutcheon?
• 38:55
  SPEAKER_00: Andrew McCutcheon's on the Pirates.
• 38:57
  SPEAKER_00: I guess he was on the Yankees for a short stint, but yeah, he's back on the Pirates.
• 39:02
  SPEAKER_01: Yep.
• 39:03
  SPEAKER_01: You got it.
• 39:04
  SPEAKER_01: He was he was an outfielder and he played for the for the Yankees in 2018.
• 39:09
  SPEAKER_01: The one season.
• 39:10
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 39:11
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 39:11
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, he's he's a great player.
• 39:14
  SPEAKER_01: Edward Ford.
• 39:18
  SPEAKER_00: That's a pretty generic name.
• 39:23
  SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna go World War II for that one.
• 39:27
  SPEAKER_01: Edward Edward Ford, better known as Whitey Ford, for his light blonde hair.
• 39:32
  SPEAKER_01: He's a pitcher.
• 39:36
  SPEAKER_01: See, I get a little tricky.
• 39:37
  SPEAKER_01: I gotta get a little tricky from time to time.
• 39:41
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, he's the best pitcher in the 50s.
• 39:43
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's gonna bother me.
• 39:44
  SPEAKER_00: I can't bother his first name.
• 39:46
  SPEAKER_00: That's a trick question, I will say.
• 39:48
  SPEAKER_00: I wouldn't say trick.
• 39:50
  SPEAKER_01: It's a little tricky.
• 39:50
  SPEAKER_01: A little tricky.
• 39:51
  SPEAKER_01: Well, I'll redeem you on this one.
• 39:53
  SPEAKER_01: How about Richard Winters?
• 39:56
  SPEAKER_00: Dick Winters, World War II.
• 39:58
  SPEAKER_01: You got it.
• 40:00
  SPEAKER_01: And Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez.
• 40:05
  SPEAKER_01: A-Rod.
• 40:06
  SPEAKER_01: That's A-Rod.
• 40:06
  SPEAKER_01: You're absolutely right.
• 40:10
  SPEAKER_01: And Joe DiMaggio.
• 40:13
  SPEAKER_00: Jolton Joe DiMaggio.
• 40:15
  SPEAKER_00: 56-game hitting streak.
• 40:16
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, one of the best Yanks ever.
• 40:17
  SPEAKER_00: Speaking of a trick question, it's both.
• 40:22
  SPEAKER_00: That is fair.
• 40:23
  SPEAKER_01: He actually he was a center fielder from 36 to 42.
• 40:26
  SPEAKER_01: He enlisted in the United States Army Air Force, which is what it was called at the time, in 1943, and was discharged in 46.
• 40:34
  SPEAKER_01: He came back for for the 46 to 51 season.
• 40:38
  SPEAKER_01: There you go.
• 40:39
  SPEAKER_00: You're right.
• 40:40
  SPEAKER_00: There's several Yankees that you could have used for that.
• 40:42
  SPEAKER_00: Yogi Bear is another big one that comes about.
• 40:45
  SPEAKER_00: He was actually one of the guys that was brought people guys to the beach on D-Day.
• 40:49
  SPEAKER_03: Wow.
• 40:50
  SPEAKER_03: So Ken, I feel like you have to change the sound.
• 40:52
  SPEAKER_03: He got it right.
• 40:54
  SPEAKER_03: It was both.
• 40:57
  SPEAKER_03: Something like that.
• 41:00
  SPEAKER_03: Give this man credit.
• 41:02
  SPEAKER_03: Holy cow.
• 41:04
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, obviously he's no more known more for his time with the Yankees, but uh he did serve.
• 41:09
  SPEAKER_00: So give him credit for that.
• 41:10
  SPEAKER_01: There you go.
• 41:11
  SPEAKER_01: There you go.
• 41:12
  SPEAKER_01: You just killed it.
• 41:13
  SPEAKER_01: Wow.
• 41:13
  SPEAKER_01: Well, that is our trivia.
• 41:19
  SPEAKER_01: And that is our show.
• 41:22
  SPEAKER_01: We will be back in about a month or so.
• 41:25
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, thank you all for a wonderful season and a wonderful 2025.
• 41:29
  SPEAKER_03: Enjoy your start to 2026.
• 41:32
  SPEAKER_01: See you soon.
• 41:33
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• 41:47
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• 41:51
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• 42:00
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you for listening.