Hot Mess Part Two: Strange But True: Marshall Saunders, Paving Parking Lots to Climate Advocacy

Introduction

In this episode of Hot Mess: How Climate Consensus Turned Into Political Chaos, Peterson Toscano introduces us to Marshall Saunders, a man whose unexpected journey from a Texas businessman to a climate advocate sparked a powerful movement. Saunders, the founder of Citizens Climate Lobby, channeled his skills and personal growth into creating a grassroots organization that has inspired climate action across the political spectrum.

Hot Mess is a six-part series hosted by Peterson Toscano that uncovers the untold stories behind the rise and fall of bipartisan efforts to address climate change in the United States.

Key Themes

• The personal transformation of Marshall Saunders.
• The founding of Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL).
• Citizen-driven advocacy and bipartisan climate solutions.
• Using market-based approaches to address climate change.

Featured Guests

Marshall Saunders

Marshall was born in Waco, Texas and was the founder of Citizens’ Climate Lobby. He began his career as a businessman, and then became active in the microfinancing movement. His personal story of transformation from a business man to his focus on climate solutions has inspired hundreds of thousands of CCL volunteers. 

Chelsea Henderson
Chelsea, host of RepublicEn’s Eco Right Speaks podcast, returns to provide context on the importance of conservative involvement in climate action. She shares what she sees Conservatives bring to the table when it comes to climate change solutions. Chelsea wrote the book, Glacial: he Untold Story of Climate Politics. 

Standout Quotes

“Yes, he literally paved paradise and put in a parking lot. He was that guy.” – Peterson Toscano

“We trust that ordinary people can get the job done… It’s a trusting in ordinary people, not people who are powerful, but ordinary people.” – Marshall Saunders

Episode Highlights

• 00:03:45 – Marshall Saunders' early life as a businessman, paving parking lots and living a life of separateness.
• 00:10:15 – A transformative personal growth workshop that led Saunders to care deeply about the world around him.
• 00:18:30 – Founding Citizens Climate Lobby and the innovative, citizen-driven advocacy model Saunders championed.
• 00:24:50 – The “carbon fee and dividend” plan: a market-based approach to climate action with bipartisan appeal.
• 00:30:40 – The growth of CCL and its influence on climate policy, thanks to thousands of dedicated volunteers.

Call to Action

Want to learn how you can get involved in bipartisan climate solutions? Visit cclusa.org/action. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with friends or on social media. Every share helps inspire more people to take meaningful action on climate change.

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Tune in next month for more inspiring stories, expert insights, and actionable climate solutions. Together, we can make a difference, one story at a time.

We Want to Hear from You

• Email: radio @ citizensclimate.org
• Text/Voicemail: 619-512-9646 (+1 if calling from outside the USA.)

Credits

• Research: Horace Mo Mo, Lily Rushen, Peterson Toscano
• Editorial Assistance: Flannery Winchester, Elise Silvestri, Brett Cease
• Production: Peterson Toscano, Elise Silvestri

Music: Our theme music is Chasing Stories by Elise Silvestri. Other music byEpidemic Sound.