The Plant a Trillion Trees Podcast

At the intersection of power tools and creativity, John Mahoney found his niche – turning otherwise forgotten urban green waste into dazzling works of art. Born into a family of tree workers, arborists, and creatives, it was no mystery that Big John would find himself carving his own legacy into the Urban Forest just as his dad did before him. When he began chainsaw carving at the age of 22, John witnessed the emotional connection people had to his wood art pieces that could have otherwise so easily become mulch or firewood.

Covered in sawdust and immersed in the competitive beard world, John found himself at a crossroads between one-off artistic ventures and a desire for a greater purpose. He found himself itching to raise awareness for the importance and value of urban trees as a precious bioresource, from their carbon-capturing capabilities to their unique, unrivaled beauty. This practice has turned into a mission of salvaged wood stewardship.

Today he oversees Street Tree Revival, an Urban Wood Recycling program founded by West Coast Arborists, Inc. (WCA, Inc.) California’s leading tree maintenance and management company for communities who care about trees. His primary purpose is creating quality, one-of-a-kind lumber while making a lasting positive impact on our environment.

Tahia Devissher is a Banting Research and Teaching Fellow at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Faculty of Forestry. She studies how to manage forests and other greenspaces in and around cities to support human well-being and build social-ecological resilience to climate change. She is also interested in developing practical strategies to strengthen the relationship between urbanites and nature. In past work with the Stockholm Environment Institute, Tahia led research to support climate change adaptation working with local communities, NGOs, and governments in more than 20 countries across the Global South. In most of her projects, she applies interdisciplinary approaches by integrating methods from quantitative modelling to participatory mapping, and qualitative assessment. Tahia has a Ph.D. in ecosystems science from the University of Oxford.

Mike Toffan is the founder and Executive Director of Project Forest. In October of 2020, Project Forest launched with a mission to create a community of environmentally responsible businesses with a unified mission to Rewild the Canadian Landscape One Forest At A Time. Mike is passionate about restoring disturbed landscapes across Canada, specifically to restore ecological function to non-productive agricultural lands with Conservation groups and Indigenous communities.

An outdoor enthusiast and wildlife advocate, Mike knew early in life that he wanted a job that let him explore nature. As the founder of Project Forest and a Professional Forester, he’s contributed to the reforestation of tens of thousands of hectares across Western Canada during his career. Aside from earning his Bachelor of Science in Forest Business Management, Mike also has a Technical Diploma in Forest Technology from Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). His happiest moments are in the field, among the trees, where he gets to make an impactful difference every day where it matters the most, Our Environment!

Theo Hooker is a systems thinker and nature-based solutions champion based in Washington, DC. He is passionate about cultivating businesses that are both good for people and the planet while laying a roadmap for other businesses to follow. He believes that in order to create a just and sustainable future, we have to imagine a new way of interacting in the world. In 2020, he co-founded Cambium Carbon, a climate tech company that builds local supply chains across the country. Starting with urban wood, Cambium connects naturally fallen trees to primary and secondary processors (e.g. sawmills & wood shops) and then onto end buyers (e.g. furniture manufacturers, architects, designers...etc.) In his spare time, Theo trains for ultra-marathons, practices handstands, and enjoys good books.

Patricia Gallagher is Professor Emerita of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering at Drexel University. She earned bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering and geological sciences from Rutgers University, a master’s in civil engineering from Ohio State University, and a Ph.D. in civil engineering from Virginia Tech. Her research expertise centers on geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering and sustainability.

At Drexel, Trish taught courses in civil and environmental engineering, geology, and sustainability. Her course in sustainability, titled “Incorporating Sustainability Principles in Design” was inspired by her desire to teach design from a holistic, regenerative perspective that restores ecological balance and health in communities and ecosystems. The course explores how the concept of sustainability is fundamental to the planning, design, construction, operation, and renewal of resilient and sustainable infrastructure.

Trish believes we need to work in our own communities to restore functional ecosystems in urban and suburban areas. She began volunteering with the Abington Township Shade Tree Commission (STC) in 2019, became an acting commissioner in 2021 and was officially appointed to the STC in 2022. Currently, she co-chairs the STC. Trish is happiest in nature and spends her free time hiking and backpacking around the globe.

Since 2011 John Kennedy has been volunteering with the Abington Township Shade Tree Commission (STC) as an appointed commissioner and currently serves as co-chair. He has been an active Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Tree Tender since 2008. John regularly takes on a leadership role in formulating and delivering STC programs. His volunteer emphasis has been on park and public space tree planting with the Tree Vitalize - PHS Tree Tenders bare root tree program. Leading community volunteers to plant over 300 trees in parks and other public spaces in Abington Township.

John’s commitment to the treescapes around us has inspired him to educate others on the importance of trees in our environment. Conducting hands-on training through demonstration and coaching on how to plant, prune, and care for trees.

While employed full-time in the food service profession, John returned to school in 2006 as a part-time student to study horticulture. In 2015, he completed his degree at Temple University’s School of Environmental Design in Ambler, Pennsylvania.

He also holds a Certificate in Horticultural Therapy.