Listen and learn. Michael Bartz builds a life on his climate values
Michael Bartz interviewing a guest for his In Over My Head podcast. Photo by Emmy Schenk
Michael Bartz wants to save you from getting in over your head.
This 34-year-old Albertan decided to cut his carbon footprint, so he built his own off-grid tiny home, trades living on farmland for rent and keeps his consumer goods minimal. But getting to carbon zero is hard. Determined to keep learning, he set up In Over My Head podcast, now in its fifth season, so we can all benefit from his journey.
This piece is part of a series of profiles highlighting young people across the country who are addressing the climate crisis. These extraordinary humans give me hope. I write these stories to pay it forward.
Tell us about your podcast.
I knew I had a lot to learn and I wanted to scale up so others could benefit.
I received crucial funding and mentorship from the Telus STORYHIVE 2020 Podcast Edition and started close to home. For example, John Chief Calf, the co-ordinator of Indigenous education for Lethbridge School District 51, taught me about the importance of including Indigenous understandings of the environment in the educational curriculum, and that meaningful conversations between cultures can make a difference.