About this Event
Join Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Edward Humes, author of Total Garbage: How We Can Fix Our Waste and Heal Our World, in conversation with Kathi King, Director of Outreach and Education at the Community Environmental Council (CEC), for a timely and eye-opening discussion on environmental journalism, consumer culture, and climate action.
Humes will explore the reporting behind Total Garbage, revealing the hidden systems that shape what we throw away—and the profound environmental, economic, and ethical consequences of our waste. Together, Humes and King will examine the critical role journalism plays in uncovering environmental truths, empowering communities, and driving meaningful change.
The conversation will also spotlight practical, actionable steps individuals, families, and communities can take to reduce waste, rethink consumption, and protect our planet for future generations.
Hosted at the CEC Hub, this event connects powerful storytelling with local leadership and real-world solutions—inviting audiences not only to learn, but to act.
A compelling program for
Edward Humes is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the author of “Total Garbage: How We Can Fix Our Waste and Heal Our World,” a current campus read selection and winner of the University of Pennsylvania Library’s 2025 Sustainability Prize. His latest book introduces innovators, grassroots leaders and everyday heroes who show us that our choices matter and how small changes add up.
Ed spends months embedded in the lives of his subjects to research stories about the justice system, science, nature, and sustainability. His seventeen books include the bestseller Mississippi Mud and the PEN Award–winning No Matter How Loud I Shout: A Year in the Life of Juvenile Court.
He lives in Santa Barbara and has taught narrative nonfiction writing at USC and Chapman University.
The Santa Barbara Literary Festival brings together readers and writers of every genre for a two day celebration of storytelling and inspiration. Engaging panels, enlightening workshops, pop-up events, and welcoming social gatherings, bring together established authors, emerging writers, and passionate readers in a uniquely intimate setting that fosters community centered around a shared love of the literary arts.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
CEC's Environmental Hub, 1219 State Street, Santa Barbara, United States
USD 5.00 to USD 35.90
