The Re-Fresh Podcast is now an archived project of the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies. The podcast ran from April 2021 to March 2023 focusing on alumni of the PSEG ISS Green Teams internship program, sustainability experts and young professionals with non-linear paths into the field of sustainability.
The PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies (PSEG ISS) – in collaboration with WMSC, a non-commercial, alternative rock and talk college radio station located in New Jersey and owned by Montclair State University – developed The Re-Fresh in 2021. The Re-Fresh is a podcast radio series that shares stories and strategies of how corporations and communities are moving toward a more sustainable planet. This show is hosted by Brittney Portes, a Green Teams alumna, and is largely based on the experiences of present and past PSEG ISS Green Teams members.
How to Stream The Re-Fresh
- available via Soundcloud or Spotify
Episodes
- The Re-Fresh Episode 1: Introduction
- Emma Lavin, Program Coordinator for BHN, United Way of Greater Newark
- Dr. Amy Tuininga, Director of the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies
- The Re-Fresh Episode 2: Team New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Group
- Alex Tselepis, Corporate Responsibility Manager, AvalonBay Communities
- Emma Lavin, Program Coordinator for BHN, United Way of Greater Newark
- Lindsey Filo, Business Development Associate, TerraCycle
- Katelynn McGirkk, Investor Care Specialist, CrowdStreet
- The Re-Fresh Episode 3: Hackensack Meridian Health
- Amelia Miller, Research Assistant, PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies
- Chikwendu Nwachuku, Assistant Project Manager, PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies
- Dina Jones, Online Shopping Manager, ACME Markets
- The Re-Fresh Episode 4: Montclair State University Facilities
- Yvette Viasus, Community Solar Specialist, Solar Landscape
- Danielle DelPesce, Environmental Technician, Montrose Environmental Group
- The Re-Fresh Episode 5: Jersey City Green Team
- Saul Contreras, Research Assistant, PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies
- Miranda Muniz, Graduate Student in MA of Sustainability Program, Montclair State Universtiy
- The Re-Fresh Episode 6: Newark Community Leaders
- Tobias Fox, Managing Director, Newark Science and Sustainability
- Bilal Walker, Owner, Al-Munir
- Julia Flores, Graphic Designer, PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies
- The Re-Fresh Episode 7: Miranda Muniz
- Miranda Muniz, Graduate Student in MA of Sustainability Program, Montclair State Universtiy
- The Re-Fresh Episode 8: Green Teams Launch
- Dr. Amy Tuininga, Director of the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies
- Amelia Miller, Research Assistant, PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies
- The Re-Fresh Episode 9: The Intersectionality of Sustainability and Pageants
- Victoria Vespico, Miss Luzerne County 2020, Miss America Competitions
- The Re-Fresh Episode 10: Sustainability in Fashion
- Nicole Windram, Co-founder, Waste x Change
- The Re-Fresh Episode 11: Varied Positions in Agriculture
- Julia Preszler
- The Re-Fresh Episode 12: Climate Resilient Communities
- Scott Dvorak, NJ State Director of the New Jersey Trust for Public Land
- Brendan Shane, Climate Director, The Trust for Public Land
- The Re-Fresh Episode 13: Community Level Sustainability + Resiliency
- Gray Russell, Former Sustainability Officer, Township of Montclair
- The Re-Fresh Episode 14: Building a Resilient Community with Richard Lawton
- Richard Lawton, New Jersey Sustainable Business Council
- The Re-Fresh Episode 15: Environmental Planning with Yasemine Pessar
- Yasmine Pessar, Environmental Planner/Project Manager, City of Hoboken
- The Re-Fresh Episode 16: Sustainability and People with Peter Yacobellis
- Peter Yacobellis, Councilman at Large, Township of Montclair
- The Re-Fresh Episode 17: The 2019 NJNG RNG Green Team
- Anneliese Dyer, Energy Efficiency Analyst at New Jersey Natural Gas
- Brianna Chandra, EH&S Consultant at Triumvirate Environmental
- Juan Galindo, CEV Intern at New Jersey Resources
- The Re-Fresh Episode 18: The 2019 PGIM Green Team
- Tanner Melendez, Staff Environmental Planner at Dewberry
- Emily Davis, ESG Analyst at ZAIS Group
- Caroline Lanfrank, Treasury and Trade Solutions Analyst at Citi
- The Re-Fresh Episode 19: Sustainability and Social Justice
- Ebony Jackson, Assistant Director, Social Justice and Diversity at Montclair State University
- The Re-Fresh Episode 20: Sustainable Transportation
- Zenobia Fields, Director of Government and Community Relations, New Jersey Department of Transportation
- The Re-Fresh Episode 21: Carbon Research with Shih Chieh-Chien
- Shih Chieh-Chien, PhD Candidate in Environmental Science and Management at Montclair State University
- The Re-Fresh Episode 22: 2021 Greens Do Goods Green Team
- Annabelle Simhon, GT 2021 Alum, Student at Rutgers University
- Morgan Nash, GT 2021 alum, Alum of Rider University
- Chloe Rodriguez
- Juan Arango
- The Re-Fresh Episode 23: Latinxs In Sustainability
- Cristina Garcia, Assistant Director, Building Electrification Institute
- Abraham Baca, Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise
- The Re-Fresh Episode 24: NJDEP Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner
- Shawn LaTourette, Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
- Olivia Glenn, Deputy Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
- The Re-Fresh Episode 25: The 2021 Newark Community Food System Green Team
- Jennifer Poroye, Newsletter and Content Writer, Al-Munir
- Jad Salloum, Intern at Hanini Group
- Subina Thapaliya, Undergraduate Student at Soka University of America
- The Re-Fresh Episode 26: Samantha Benjamin & Dr. Ying Cui
- Samantha Benjamin, Undergraduate Researcher at Montclair State University
- Dr. Ying Cui, Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Studies
- The Re-Fresh Episode 27: The 2022 Green Teams PMs and APMs
- Lauren Hope, Project Manager, PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies
- Jessica Parineet, Assistant Project Manager, PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies
- Bruce Wildermuth, Assistant Project Manager, PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies
- Maya Shah, Assistant Project Manager, PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies
- Lexie Seifert, Assistant Project Manager, PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies
- Peya Yousuf, Assistant Project Manager, PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies
- The Re-Fresh Episode 28: Meet the Re-Fresh Team!
- Brittney Portes, Host, The Re-Fresh Podcast
- Ari Demboski, Producer, The Re-Fresh Podcast and Research Associate at PSEG ISS
- Hailey Spinks, Writer/Media and Communications Coordinator, PSEG ISS
- Emma Nunez Perez, Assistant Director, PSEG ISS
- The Re-Fresh Episode 29: Electric Vehicles with George Koutsourdis
- George Koutsouradis, Sales Manager at Bryan Electric Co.
- The Re-Fresh Episode 30: Sustainability in State Government with Matt Rivas
- Matthew Rivas, Environmental Specialist, Bureau of Climate Change and Clean Energy at the NJ Department of Environmental Protection
- The Re-Fresh Episode 31: Sustainable Housing with Marc Rowell
- Marc Rowell, Project Manager at Solar States
- The Re-Fresh Episode 32: Solar Energy & Environmental Justice with Yvette Viasus
- Yvette Viasus, Community Solar Specialist, Solar Landscape
- The Re-Fresh Episode 33: Sustainable Agriculture & Education with Brian Wheat
- Brian Wheat, Sustainable Agriculture professor, Trident Tech College. Owner of Common Joy Luffa.
- The Re-Fresh Episode 34: Entrepreneurship in sustainability and Urban wood recycling
- Ben Patton, Founder of TreeCycle Canada.
- The Re-Fresh Episode 35: Art & Sustainability
- Melanie Schlosser, Student attorney & Law clerk
- The Re-Fresh Episode 36: Jenn Grimm
- Jenn Grimm, EPA Grants Coordinator at the Puget Sound Partnership
- The Re-Fresh Episode 37: 2022 Green Team Alumni
- Mauricio Calderon, Chidera Moghalu, Madison Braswell, 2022 Green Team Alum
- The Re-Fresh episode 38: Transferable skills and non-linear paths
- Dina Jones, Supplier Sustainability Program Coordinator
- The Re-Fresh episode 39: Sustainable Start-Ups & Podcasts
- William Cheshier, Talking Solutions Podcast
- The Re-Fresh episode 40: Sustainable fashion & the wedding industry
- Caitlin Macri, Owner of Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal
- The Re-Fresh episode 41: Small business with a big impact – sustainable swimwear with RBL swim.
- Livasey Ward, Designer and founder of RBL Swim
- The Re-Fresh episode 42: The power of confidence and networking
- Harrison Weis, Energy and Sustainability Coordinator
- The Re-Fresh episode 43: Navigating Undergrad with Josh Galster
- Josh Galster, Associate Professor at Montclair State University
- The Re-Fresh episode 44: Urban farming & food deserts
- Blake Greenawalt, Founder of Urban Farm Films
- The Re-Fresh episode 45: The Nature of Reading
- Hailey Brock, The Nature of Reading
Contributors
Brittney Portes
Host and Communications Specialist
- Phone
- 973-655-3720
- portesb@montclair.edu
- Location
- Center for Environmental & Life Sciences, 100
Biography
As a 2020 Green Team alumna, Brittney Portes is grateful to combine her passions for storytelling, food systems, and sustainability as the Communications Specialist for the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies and host for The Re-Fresh podcast radio series. As a sustainable agriculture enthusiast, Brittney also serves as the Project Coordinator at WWOOF USA. In her spare time, she loves to travel, visit farms, and build connections with communities which she documents on her YouTube channel: She’s So Rugged.
Anabella Poland
General Manager & Faculty Advisor of WMSC
- Phone
- 973-655-3135
- polanda@montclair.edu
- Location
- School of Communication and Media, 2031
Biography
Anabella Poland is the General Manager and Faculty Adviser of WMSC FM on the campus of Montclair State University where she also teaches Radio Production and Podcast Production. Poland is also currently serving her two-year term as President of College Radio Day where she organizes hundreds of college radio stations in six continents to celebrate Vinylthon in April and College Radio Day in October.
Before joining Montclair State University, Ms. Poland was Director of Talent and Industry Relations at SiriusXM Radio where she negotiated and managed interviews, events, and performances with A-level Hollywood actors, celebrities, and musicians for more than 135 SiriusXM channels. Prior to joining SiriusXM, she was a Segment Producer at ABC News Good Morning America where she booked and produced breaking news, cultural stories, entertainment, and the summer concert series. Her work has also appeared on ABC World News, 20/20, and Nightline. She often contributed stories to abcnews.com and to the first network initiative aimed at Hispanic audiences, ABC News Exclusiva.
Ms. Poland continues her work as a US correspondent for “El Exprimidor,” an award-winning news and current events radio show in Argentina. As an on-air talent since 2002, she has reported on five US Presidential Elections, the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, relevant breaking news, feature stories, and entertainment news. She served on the Community Advisory Board (CAB) for WFUV, the public radio station licensed to Fordham University, for five years.
Poland received a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a certification in Business Analytics at Montclair State University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media Studies from Fordham University. Ms. Poland brings to Montclair State a unique combination of extensive experience and knowledge in broadcast journalism, content development, programming, music discovery and production, social media, film, and professional contacts that span the globe.
Leslie Gallagher
Program Director of WMSC
Biography
Leslie Gallagher is a senior majoring in Communication and Media Arts with minors in Film and American Sign Language. As the Program Director of WMSC FM, she oversees current DJs and their shows as well as welcoming new faces and helping them find their place at the station. She previously was WMSC’s Office Assistant Manager, where she planned regular bonding events, co-edited the monthly newsletter, and wrote thorough meeting notes. She loves WMSC as it feels like another home to her and is happy to help the Re-fresh Podcast flourish as a show this year.
Hailey Spinks
Communications & Media Coordinator
- spinksh@montclair.edu
- Location
- Center for Environmental & Life Sciences, 100
Biography
Hailey Spinks works as the Communications and Media Coordinator for the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies. She is also a writer, both for the Institute and freelance. Hailey holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Montclair State University, with minors in Sustainability Science and Entrepreneurship. She plans to continue on the path of sustainability in her post-graduate studies
Ari Demboski
Research Assistant
- camayoa@montclair.edu
- Location
- Center for Environmental & Life Sciences, 100
Biography
Ari Demboski is a sustainability professional with roots starting at Montclair State University. Community engagement and education have been core values throughout Ari’s career. In her undergrad, she worked alongside the University’s campus facilities to promote proper recycling on campus. This led to becoming the recycling ambassador for PSEG ISS as well as working as a Honeywell Green Team member in 2017. Ari went on to register Montclair State University as the first four year institution on the Sustainable Business Registry during her senior year. After obtaining a BS in Sustainability Science, Ari spent time in science classrooms refining her education skills as a substitute teacher for grades K-12. Currently, Ari shares sustainable lifestyle tips and practices to local communities, businesses, organizations, and specifically brides in Charleston, South Carolina. Assisting on The Re-Fresh brings Ari’s career full circle and she is eager for young professionals to listen in and harness the tools needed for their career.