Elliot Kirschner: “The Work In Progress”

Riding the Blue Tsunami of 2026 was a new generation of progressive politicians, steeped in optimism, immune to cynicism, and representing some of the best things about this country. This week on Sea Change Radio, we speak to journalist and filmmaker Elliot Kirschner about his recent film entitled “The Work In Progress.” It is Kirschner’s second collaboration with former Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich, and it features face-to-face conversations across generational, political, and economic difference. We discuss the film, talk about the role the news media has played in sowing political division, and reflect on the midterm election results.

Many of us think of child labor as a Dickensian problem squarely situated in the distant past, or perhaps in some far-off land in South Asia or Africa. But the reality is that children still comprise an alarming portion of the workforce here in this country: According to the US Department of Labor, the number of minors employed in violation of child labor increased by 283% between 2015 and 2022. This year alone, 13 states have introduced bills weakening child labor protections, and four have enacted them. And the US is the only United Nations member that refuses to sign on to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. This week on Sea Change Radio, we speak with occupational health and safety expert Richard Hirsh about the problem of child labor in the US. We discuss the white paper on child labor issues that he co-authored, examine the associated educational deprivation, and look at some of the big moneyed interests that are pushing to allow more and more children to enter the American workforce.

With the clock ticking down to the midterms, we continue our election coverage on Sea Change Radio by speaking with two very astute political analysts. First, we finish up our conversation with Democratic strategist Tom Bonier of TargetSmart as we take a closer look at some of the Senate races and discuss how unfettered SuperPAC money is influencing this election. Then, we talk to Daniel Nichanian of Bolts Magazine as we take a peek at some under-the-radar races in key battleground states that will have a resounding impact on 2028 and beyond.

It’s hard to look at the stream of corruption pouring out of this White House, news that makes Watergate look quaint, and not think to yourself that the Blue Wave is coming but after the surprises of the 2016 and 2024 elections, Democrats should take nothing for granted. This week on Sea Change Radio, the first part of our discussion with Democratic Strategist Tom Bonier as we try to make heads or tails of what to expect in the upcoming midterm elections. We look at the strengths and weaknesses of polling data, talk about how his firm, TargetSmart, tries to incorporate other variables beyond the polls, and examine the conundrum that Republican candidates find themselves in when it comes to tying themselves to the current president.

As we approach the midterm elections, the increasingly desperate, despotic, and diminished President of the United States is more unhinged than ever – saying he can do whatever he wants and repeatedly suggesting that Iran bomb San Diego and Los Angeles. This week on Sea Change Radio, we speak with opinion journalist John Stoehr of The Editorial Board to get his insights into the decomposing brain of Donald Trump and to contemplate what it means for this country. We discuss the role of the press in enabling the current state of affairs at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., examine options for Democrats if they’re able to regain power in November, and speculate on what lies ahead for the Republican Party after the Donald has gone.

Developing countries around the world are finding themselves in a vicious cycle. As global emissions rise, climate disasters accelerate, hitting the developing world hardest. These countries then take out high-interest loans, sinking deeper into debt, which forces them to shelve climate change mitigation strategies. This week on Sea Change Radio, we welcome Niranjali Amerasinghe of ActionAid USA to discuss the work of her organization. We look at how debt in the Global South severely hampers the ability of those countries to fight the devastating impacts of climate change, and talk about the harms of the Trump administration’s drastic aid cuts on the earth’s most vulnerable populations.

This week on Sea Change Radio, we circle back with the leaders of two nonprofits trying to make a difference in two very different ways. First, we speak with Shannon Fernando, the founder and CEO of Alabaster International, as she describes her organization’s business model and tells us about the promising African staple crop enset. Then, we hear from the Executive Director of Vote Solar, Sachu Constantine, to learn more about all things energy-related under the sun. We discuss the harm inflicted upon the solar industry by the current administration, look at some encouraging developments in both residential and commercial solar, and examine what we can do to keep lowering costs and get away from fossil fuels.

This week on Sea Change Radio, we revisit two conversations focused on renewable energy technology. First, we speak with Umair Irfan, a Climate Reporter from Vox.com, to examine air conditioning and how some of the planet’s hottest cities are trying to survive in the face of consistent, record-breaking high temperatures. We talk about how breakthroughs in the battery storage sector provide some hope that the renewable energy market will continue to grow. Then, we hear from University of Southern California Business Professor Shon Hiatt to learn more about the lithium industry – how this mineral is mined, its importance to the energy and transportation sectors, and why lithium’s market price has collapsed over the past few years.

As we are reminded by the popular children’s picture book by Taro Gomi, everyone poops. But not everyone disposes of that poop in the same way. In many countries, waste is carried away by potable drinking water, while in other places the scarcity of water has prompted different approaches. This week on Sea Change Radio, we speak with Nick Kawa, an anthropology professor at Ohio State University and the author of “After the Flush: Rethinking the Future of Human Waste.” We take a look at how modern sewage systems evolved, learn about the potential regenerative effects of incorporating bio-solids into agriculture, and look at some new waste solutions for the estimated 3.5 billion people who lack access to safe sanitation systems.

Copper and steel were pivotal to the industrial revolution. But these days, it’s clear that continued reliance on these substances as our key building materials has devastating environmental implications, including habitat destruction from open-pit mining, water toxification from acid mine drainage, and air pollution from sulfur dioxide emissions. Fortunately there’s an emerging array of cutting-edge materials that hold promise for eco-conscious developers. A company named DexMat has developed a material called Galvorn, which is fantastical stuff right out of Spider-Man. This week on Sea Change Radio, we speak with Bryan Guido Hassin, the CEO of the Houston-based DexMat, to learn more about Galvorn. Hassin explains how Galvorn is made, what makes it different from conventional materials, and the many exciting potential applications of this futuristic stuff that could get your radioactive blood pumping.