
What's That Smell?
04/20/22 • 54 min
Colleen and Janice welcome Jesse Kharbanda, the Outgoing Executive Director of the Hoosier Environmental Council. In this enlightening conversation, Kharbanda explains the challenges of pollution in Indiana (and across the country) and the actions addressing those challenges.
Jesse Kharbanda is the Outgoing Executive Director of the Hoosier Environmental Council, Indiana’s largest environmental policy organization. Jesse has focused HEC’s initiatives around environmental health & justice, land & water protection, and climate solutions. Jesse has been passionate about expanding the tent of people who care about the environment, and he has been personally involved in forging deeper connections with public health organizations, the business community, and faith-based groups, among other constituencies. Jesse’s leadership honors include being named to the “Forty Under 40′′ list by the Indianapolis Business Journal, being recognized as the sole Indianapolis-based community leader in his induction year named to Delta Omega, the national public health honorary, winning the Hulman Health Achievement Award for Public Policy Advocacy, and being awarded with an honorary degree by DePauw University. Jesse has graduate degrees from Oxford University and undergraduate degrees from the University of Chicago. On October 7th, 2021, Jesse announced that he will be beginning a new chapter in his career; after seven months helping with his organization's transition, he embarked on that new chapter on May 2, 2022.
Hosts: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez
Co-Producers: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez
Theme Music: Michael Miltenberger
Sound Editing: Michael Miltenberger
Stay in Touch with Defending Indiana
[email protected]
Defending Indiana Website
Defending Indiana on Facebook
Defending Indiana on Instagram
Defending Indiana on Twitter
Colleen and Janice welcome Jesse Kharbanda, the Outgoing Executive Director of the Hoosier Environmental Council. In this enlightening conversation, Kharbanda explains the challenges of pollution in Indiana (and across the country) and the actions addressing those challenges.
Jesse Kharbanda is the Outgoing Executive Director of the Hoosier Environmental Council, Indiana’s largest environmental policy organization. Jesse has focused HEC’s initiatives around environmental health & justice, land & water protection, and climate solutions. Jesse has been passionate about expanding the tent of people who care about the environment, and he has been personally involved in forging deeper connections with public health organizations, the business community, and faith-based groups, among other constituencies. Jesse’s leadership honors include being named to the “Forty Under 40′′ list by the Indianapolis Business Journal, being recognized as the sole Indianapolis-based community leader in his induction year named to Delta Omega, the national public health honorary, winning the Hulman Health Achievement Award for Public Policy Advocacy, and being awarded with an honorary degree by DePauw University. Jesse has graduate degrees from Oxford University and undergraduate degrees from the University of Chicago. On October 7th, 2021, Jesse announced that he will be beginning a new chapter in his career; after seven months helping with his organization's transition, he embarked on that new chapter on May 2, 2022.
Hosts: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez
Co-Producers: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez
Theme Music: Michael Miltenberger
Sound Editing: Michael Miltenberger
Stay in Touch with Defending Indiana
[email protected]
Defending Indiana Website
Defending Indiana on Facebook
Defending Indiana on Instagram
Defending Indiana on Twitter
Previous Episode

Is Indiana Funny...In A Good Way?
Joined by Jared Thompson, co-creator/co-director of the Limestone Comedy Festival and owner of The Comedy Attic in Bloomington, IN, Colleen and Janice discuss all things comedy in Indiana (and across the US).
Hosts: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez
Co-Producers: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez
Theme Music: Michael Miltenberger
Sound Editing: Michael Miltenberger
Stay in Touch with Defending Indiana
[email protected]
Defending Indiana Website
Defending Indiana on Facebook
Defending Indiana on Instagram
Defending Indiana on Twitter
Next Episode

Bourbon, It's Not Just From Kentucky Any More
Colleen and Janice share many laughs discussing sexy beverages, après ski and growing up in families who did and did not drink alcohol (can you guess which host grew up without?) Joining them for an interview and a lesson in Indiana bourbon is the man behind the wildly popular @indianabourbon Instagram page, Dirk Fentz.
Dirk Fentz is a bourbon enthusiast focused on bringing attention to Indiana spirits, Indiana farms, and Indiana families. Find him on Instagram @indianabourbon and discover the wide variety of high-quality bourbons made in Indiana.
Hosts: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez
Co-Producers: Colleen Brennan and Janice V. Rodriguez
Theme Music: Michael Miltenberger
Sound Editing: Michael Miltenberger
Stay in Touch with Defending Indiana
[email protected]
Defending Indiana Website
Defending Indiana on Facebook
Defending Indiana on Instagram
Defending Indiana on Twitter
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