Water Talk: Recent Episodes
Drs. Mallika Nocco, Faith Kearns, Sam Sandoval
Water Talk is a podcast from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources about all things California Water hosted by Drs. Mallika Nocco, Faith Kearns, and Sam Sandoval
A conversation with Susana De Anda (Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Community Water Center) about the gaps between legislating and enacting the Human Right to Water including accountability, affordability, and leveraging related water policies. Released December 12, 2025.
A conversation with Jay Famiglietti (Global Futures Professor at Arizona State University and Director of the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative) about groundwater depletion, sea level rise, mega-drying regions, and increasing public awareness of groundwater. Released December 5, 2025.
A conversation with University of California Desert Research and Extension Center Director Dr. Jairo Diaz about water, agriculture, and border dynamics in the Imperial Valley spanning California, Arizona, and Mexico. Re-released on November 26, 2025 with original interview from April 16, 2021.
A conversation with Professor Samantha Montano (Massachusetts Maritime Academy, author of Disasterology) about the stages of emergency management, needs following different types of disasters, and the changing emergency management landscape across the United States. Released November 21, 2025.
A conversation with Professors Leslie Holland and Amaya Atucha (University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension) about cranberry production, water use, recycling, and enjoyment. Released November 14, 2025.
A conversation with Professor Tracy Perkins (Arizona State University) about the history of the environmental justice movement in California and different types of environmental action and activism. Released November 7, 2025.
A conversation with Brian Richter (Sustainable Waters) about budgeting water for the environment and water accounting for the future. Released October 31, 2025.
A conversation with Professor Sonali McDermid (New York University) about irrigation, evapotranspiration, and impacts on climate systems. Released October 24, 2025.
A conversation with Cora Tso (Senior Research Fellow, Tribal Water Policy, Kyl Center for Water Policy, Arizona State University) and Prof. Sam Sandoval (University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, UC Davis, Water Talk podcast co-host) about the complex system of water use agreements with Tribes and Mexico. Released October 17, 2025.
A conversation with Dr. Kathleen Schaefer about flood risk and new approaches for community-based flood insurance. Released October 10, 2025.
A conversation with Professor Michael Bogan (University of Arizona School of Natural Resources and the Environment) about data center water use, the concept of water neutral development, and community mobilization. Released October 3, 2025.
A conversation with Professor Melissa Scanlan (UW–Milwaukee Center for Water Policy and School of Freshwater Sciences) about data center water use, growth, and policy considerations. Released September 26, 2025.
Welcome to the sixth season of Water Talk! Cohosts Drs. Mallika Nocco, Faith Kearns, and Sam Sandoval talk about the new normal, our favorite bodies of water, all-time favorite episodes, and upcoming season. Released September 19, 2025
A conversation with Anecita Agustinez (state tribal policy advisor, California Department of Water Resources) about water governance and expertise around challenging policy issues. Released February 7, 2025.
A conversation with Nichole Morgan (civil engineer, California State Water Resources Control Board) about implementing programs and policies to steward water resources and infrastructure. Released January 31, 2025.
A conversation with Drs. Greg Pierce (UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation) and Faith Kearns (ASU Water Innovation Initiative) about water infrastructure before, during, and following wildfires. Released January 24, 2025.
A conversation with Drs. Caroline Gottschalk (University of Wisconsin–Madison) and Marty Holtgren (Encompass Socio-ecological Consulting) about the importance of restoration, oral histories, dams, and rivers. Released January 17, 2025.
A conversation with Drs. Alhelí Calderón Villareal (California State University San Marcos) and Georgia Kayser (University of California, San Diego) about the importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services for people experiencing housing instability. Released December 20, 2024.
A conversation with professor Sunaura Taylor (author, artist, UC Berkeley) about injured aquifers and reframing disability in a broader environmental context. Released December 13, 2024.
A conversation with California agave growers Ofelia Lichtenheld (East San Diego County) and Jordie Ricigliano (Central Coast) about opportunities and challenges for agave production. Released December 6, 2024.
A conversation with Deputy Director for Sustainable Water Management Paul Gosselin (CA Department of Water Resources) about California's groundwater governance and progress towards sustainability goals. Released November 22, 2024.
A conversation with professor Ryan Emanuel (hydrologist, Lumbee tribe member, Duke University) about Indigenous survival and resilience across swamps, plains, and blackwaters in Eastern North Carolina. Released November 15, 2024.
A conversation with John Fleck (author, journalist, University of New Mexico) and Kathryn Sorenson (Senior Global Futures Scientist, Kyl Center for Water Policy, Arizona State University) about the Colorado River Compact. Released November 8, 2024.
A conversation with Dr. Juliet Christian-Smith (Union of Concerned Scientists) about the role of scientists in politics and policy with a focus on Western water policy. Released November 1, 2024.
A conversation with environmental attorney and clinical law professor Oday Salim (National Wildlife Federation, University of Michigan Law School) about the Great Lakes Compact. Released October 25, 2024.
A conversation with soil microbial ecologist Dr. Joshua Garcia about farming in cities, composting, and regenerative agriculture. Released October 18, 2024.
A conversation with climate psychologist and author Leslie Davenport about eco-anxiety, eco-grief, and mental health strategies for coping with climate change. Released October 11, 2024.
Welcome back to the fifth season of Water Talk! Cohosts Drs. Mallika Nocco, Faith Kearns, and Sam Sandoval talk about some big changes and updates for Season 5. Released August 16, 2024
A conversation with Laurel Firestone (State Water Resources Control Board) about water governance, leadership, and policy implementation in CA. Released June 2, 2023.
A conversation with Dr. Safeeq Khan(UC Merced) about the Sierra Nevada Snowpack, snow-vegetation-fire interactions, and snow futures. Released May 19, 2023.
A conversation with Dr. Brittani Orona(San Diego State University) about visual sovereignty, Indigenous history, artistry, and advocacy on waters. Released May 12, 2023.
A conversation with Dr. Daniel O'Connell(Central Valley Partnership) about land, water, and community development in the CA Central Valley. Released May 5, 2023.
A conversation with Dr. Sharon Megdal (University of Arizona) about water governance in AZ and CA, recharge, transboundary aquifers, and science diplomacy. Released April 28, 2023.
A conversation with farmer and author David 'Mas' Masumoto about peaches, regenerative practices, soil, water, and intergenerational histories in the CA Central Valley. Rereleased April 20, 2023 with original recordings from October 2020.
A conversation with Dr. Traci Brynne Voyles(University of Oklahoma) about the environmental history of The Salton Sea as well as current and future challenges. Released April 14, 2023.
A conversation with Claire Bjork (Central Coast Regional Water Board) about groundwater nitrogen policy, water quality compliance, and the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program. Released April 7, 2023
A conversation with Nayamin Martinez (Central California Environmental Justice Network) about environmental public health issues and activism in the San Joaquin Valley. Released March 24, 2023.
A conversation with Dr. Katerina Gonzales (EPA Climate Adaptation Advisor) and Dr. Daniel Swain (UCLA) about atmospheric rivers, climate extremes and futures, and climate science communication. Rereleased March 17, 2023 with original recordings from June 30, 2020.
A conversation with Dr. Greg Pierce (UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation) about the Human Right to Water, the housing-water-fire nexus, wastewater equity, and green infrastructure. Released March 10, 2023.
A conversation with Leticia Gonzales (District 4 Supervisor, Madera County) and Victor Griego (Water Education for Latino Leaders) about representation in water governance, service through leadership, and action-oriented education for elected officials. Released March 3, 2023.
A conversation with UCCE Viticulture Advisor Dr. Chris Chen (Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino Counties) and soil scientist Noelymar Gonzalez-Maldonado (UC Davis) about regenerative viticulture, soils, and climate resilience in vineyards. Released February 24, 2023.
A conversation with historian Varsha Venkatasubramanian (UC Berkeley) about the history of dams in the Western United States and the world as it relates to foreign policy, policy history, and environmental movements. Released February 17, 2023.
A conversation with Drs. Sam Sandoval, Faith Kearns, and Mallika Nocco about the 2023 Water Year so far, weather whiplash, and what it means for California agriculture and communities. Released February 10, 2023.
A conversation with Erica Gies (Author, Reporter, National Geographic Explorer) about water detectives, slowing down the movement of water, controlling water, and giving water space. Released May 6, 2022.
A conversation with Dr. Michelle Leinfelder-Miles (University of California Cooperative Extension Delta Crops Resource Management Advisor) about different types of crops, soils, salinity, and water management in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region. Released April 29, 2022.
A conversation with Ian James (Los Angeles Times) about water journalism in the Western United States, developing stories, journalistic roles, sourcing data, and reporting on contentious water issues. Released April 22, 2022.
A conversation with Mark Battany (University of California Cooperative Extension Water Management and Biometeorology Advisor) about viticulture, water use, fog, salinity, and water use for frost protection in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. Released April 15, 2022.
A conversation with Dr. Michael Méndez (UC Irvine) about climate-induced disasters, planning, responses, and justice in the Los Angeles area. Released April 8, 2022.
A conversation with Dr. Beth Rose Middleton Manning (UC Davis) about water rights, hydroelectric infrastructure, easements, and conservation in California. Released April 1, 2022.
A conversation with Dr. Arturo Ramírez-Valdez (UC San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography & Universidad Autonoma de Baja California) about the iconic Pacific kelp forests, international management efforts, marine protected areas, giant sea bass, and coastal ecosystems. Released March 18, 2022.
A conversation with Joaquin Esquivel (CA State Water Resources Control Board) about intergenerational systems, water histories, and the future of CA water governance. Released March 11, 2022.
A conversation with Dr. Alyssa DeVincentis (Vitidore) and Dr. Ellen Bruno (UC Berkeley) about the costs and benefits of cover crops, SGMA, and drought resilience. Released March 4, 2022.
A conversation with Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe (UC Merced) about soil degradation & water quality, political conflicts, climate solutions, and the politics of geoscience. Released February 25, 2022. Find the transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-30
A conversation with Dr. Marisa Escobar (Stockholm Environmental Institute) and Dr. Belize Lane (Utah State University) about different California river ‘personalities’, how flowing water creates and sustains habitat, and flow diversions for cannabis cultivation. Released February 18, 2022.
A conversation with Dr. Faith Kearns about science communication around contentious issues, approaches for supporting science communicators, and relationships between water scientists and the public. Released February 11, 2022. Find the transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-28
Welcome back to the third season of Water Talk, a University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources podcast about all things California Water hosted by Drs. Mallika Nocco, Faith Kearns, and Sam Sandoval!
A conversation with Felicia Marcus (Stanford University) about facilitation, coalition building, innovation, and community partnerships in California. Released June 25, 2021
A conversation with Felicia Marcus (Stanford University) about community organizing, emergency response systems, and drought in California. Released June 18, 2021
A conversation with Dr. Joan Dudney (UC Davis) about drought, disease, and pest interactions on forest communities in California's Sierra Nevada. Released June 11, 2021
A conversation with Dr. Angel Fernandez-Bou (UC Merced) and Dr. Jose Pablo Ortize Partida (Union of Concerned Scientists) about water equity issues and opportunities for improvement in California's changing climate. Released June 4, 2021
A conversation with Glenn McGourty (University of California Cooperative Extension Viticulture & Plant Science Advisor Emeritus) about grape water use, wine production, and dryland viticulture in Mendocino and Lake Counties. Released May 28, 2021. Transcript and resources available at: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-22
A conversation with Janet Hartin (University of California Cooperative Extension Area Environmental Horticultural Advisor and Director for San Bernadino & Los Angeles Counties) and Dr. Amir Haghverdi (Assistant Cooperative Extension Professor of Water Management at University of California, Riverside) about watering turf grass, trees, and other urban vegetation as well as drought strategies. Released May 21, 2020. Transcript and resources available at: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-21
A conversation with Dr. Cutcha Risling Baldy (Humboldt State University) about land and water use futures, decolonization, and communities in California (Part 2/2). Released May 14, 2021. Transcript and resources available at: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-20
A conversation with Dr. Cutcha Risling Baldy (Humboldt State University) about land and water use futures, decolonization, and communities in California (Part 1/2). Released May 7, 2021. Transcript and resources available here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-19
A conversation with Dr. Erik Porse (Sacramento State University & UCLA Institute of the Environment) about urban water resources, energy, conservation, and engineering economics in California. Released April 30, 2021. Find the transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-18
A conversation with researchers Darcy Bostic (Pacific Institute) and Kristin Dobbin (UC Davis) about the legislated human right to drinking water, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, sustainability, and participation in California. Find the transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-17
A conversation with University of California Desert Research & Extension Center Director Dr. Jairo Diaz about agriculture across the California/Mexico/Arizona Borderlands irrigated by Colorado River waters. Released April 16, 2021. Find the episode transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-16
A conversation with University of California Cooperative Extension Advisor Laura Snell about her work studying the lives of wild horses and water in Modoc County, CA as well as strategies for managing wild horses . Released April 9, 2021. Find the episode transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-15
A conversation with farmer and author David 'Mas' Masumoto about peaches, organic practices, soil, water, and histories in the CA Central Valley. Released April 2, 2021. Find the episode transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-14
Welcome back to the second season of Water Talk, a University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources podcast about all things California Water hosted by Drs. Mallika Nocco, Faith Kearns, and Sam Sandoval!
A conversation with UC Davis doctoral researchers Linda Estelí Méndez Barrientos and Jess Rudnick about water governance, institutional reforms, equity, justice, and participation in California. Note: The CA Water Code referenced in this episode is § 10721, (j). Recorded July 7, 2020. Find the episode transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-12
A conversation with Stanford doctoral researcher Katerina Gonzales and UCLA climate scientist Dr. Daniel Swain about atmospheric rivers, climate extremes and futures, and climate science communication. Recorded June 30, 2020. Find the episode transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-11
A conversation with Dr. Doug Parker about climate-smart agriculture, nitrogen & water management, the paradox of irrigation efficiency, and the current/future role of CA extension in water policy and management. Recorded June 23, 2020. Find the episode transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-10
A conversation with Dr. Ruth Dahlquist-Willard about crops, irrigation, drought, groundwater management, and water policy on diverse small farms in the CA Central Valley. Recorded June 16, 2020. Find the episode transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-09
A conversation with California State University-Chico Professor Don Hankins about his work integrating ecohydrology with Indigenous water and fire management practices and policy. Find the episode transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-08
A conversation with California State University-Channel Islands Professor Emily Fairfax about her work studying the lives of beavers and their impacts on droughts, fires, and water quality as well as some strategies for beaver management. Find the episode transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-07
A conversation with University of California Davis School of Law Professor Karrigan Börk about the CA Water Rights, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, drinking water, and federal vs. CA controls over water. Find the episode transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-06
A conversation with University of California Cooperative Extension Sustainable Food Systems advisors for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, Drs. Rachel Surls and Rose Hayden-Smith about the victory garden movement, urban farming, community gardens, the Master Gardener program, and drought strategies for those interested in growing food. Recorded May 12, 2020. Find the episode transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-05
A conversation with 4H Youth Development Advisors Marianne Bird and Claudia Diaz Carrasco about different youth development programs that focus on water education and public engagement with science in California's cities. Recorded May 5, 2020. Find the episode transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-04
A conversation with Dr. Erin DiCaprio about basic virology, virus transmission in food and water systems, COVID-19 + food safety, and canning/preservation at home. Recorded April 28, 2020. Find the episode transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-03
A conversation with Dr. Leslie Roche and Dan Macon about livestock, water use, drought, and ranching communities in California. Recorded April 21, 2020. Find the episode transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-02
Welcome to Water Talk, a new University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources podcast about all things California Water hosted by Drs. Mallika Nocco, Faith Kearns, and Sam Sandoval! Listen to our pilot episode to learn more about us! Find the episode transcript here: https://www.watertalkpodcast.com/episodes/episode-01