at the Naval Yard in Washington DC uniformed officers pass me by with
uniformed officers pass me by with
uniformed officers pass me by with curiosity as my team sets up film
curiosity as my team sets up film
curiosity as my team sets up film equipment I’m a producer of a
equipment I’m a producer of a
equipment I’m a producer of a documentary about how climate change
documentary about how climate change
documentary about how climate change impacts national security and global
impacts national security and global
impacts national security and global stability and we’re about to conduct our
stability and we’re about to conduct our
stability and we’re about to conduct our first military interview with a Rear
first military interview with a Rear
first military interview with a Rear Admiral to say the least I’m feeling out
Admiral to say the least I’m feeling out
Admiral to say the least I’m feeling out of my league let me give you some
of my league let me give you some
of my league let me give you some context I grew up probably like most of
context I grew up probably like most of
context I grew up probably like most of you in this audience picking blueberries
you in this audience picking blueberries
you in this audience picking blueberries raspberries and strawberries off the
raspberries and strawberries off the
raspberries and strawberries off the bushes naked with a cape flowing behind
bushes naked with a cape flowing behind
bushes naked with a cape flowing behind me on my hundred acre organic Berry Farm
me on my hundred acre organic Berry Farm
me on my hundred acre organic Berry Farm okay maybe not so normal so it came as a
okay maybe not so normal so it came as a
okay maybe not so normal so it came as a surprise to no one when after college I
surprise to no one when after college I
surprise to no one when after college I became a grassroots climate change
became a grassroots climate change
became a grassroots climate change organizer and activist I was arrested
organizer and activist I was arrested
organizer and activist I was arrested three times for protesting oh here’s me
three times for protesting oh here’s me
three times for protesting oh here’s me as a kid there’s me protesting you can
as a kid there’s me protesting you can
as a kid there’s me protesting you can see the arrow so this was my world I was
see the arrow so this was my world I was
see the arrow so this was my world I was totally not in the world of the military
totally not in the world of the military
totally not in the world of the military whatsoever so when I became a
whatsoever so when I became a
whatsoever so when I became a documentary filmmaker and we wanted to
documentary filmmaker and we wanted to
documentary filmmaker and we wanted to make a bipartisan climate change film
make a bipartisan climate change film
make a bipartisan climate change film and take the angle of the national
and take the angle of the national
and take the angle of the national security I was really scared to to think
security I was really scared to to think
security I was really scared to to think that I would be seeking out the voices
that I would be seeking out the voices
that I would be seeking out the voices of a group I actively disliked I was
of a group I actively disliked I was
of a group I actively disliked I was cool with this kind of protesting put me
cool with this kind of protesting put me
cool with this kind of protesting put me in front of some cops and I was fine but
in front of some cops and I was fine but
in front of some cops and I was fine but this kind of marching that was enough to
this kind of marching that was enough to
this kind of marching that was enough to make me poop in my pants a little bit
make me poop in my pants a little bit
make me poop in my pants a little bit yeah I was just really scared to conduct
yeah I was just really scared to conduct
yeah I was just really scared to conduct the first interview with a Rear Admiral
the first interview with a Rear Admiral
the first interview with a Rear Admiral now I had done my due diligence on Rear
now I had done my due diligence on Rear
now I had done my due diligence on Rear Admiral David titli I knew he was a
Admiral David titli I knew he was a
Admiral David titli I knew he was a naval officer for 32 years and he rose
naval officer for 32 years and he rose
naval officer for 32 years and he rose and ranked to be the Navy’s chief
and ranked to be the Navy’s chief
and ranked to be the Navy’s chief oceanographer and a Rear Admiral which
oceanographer and a Rear Admiral which
oceanographer and a Rear Admiral which is really impressive and even though I
is really impressive and even though I
is really impressive and even though I had watched a lot of his interviews
had watched a lot of his interviews
had watched a lot of his interviews online and I had read his essays I did a
online and I had read his essays I did a
online and I had read his essays I did a lot of research on him but in my mind I
lot of research on him but in my mind I
lot of research on him but in my mind I still thought that he was going to be
still thought that he was going to be
still thought that he was going to be kind of a military hard-ass kind of like
kind of a military hard-ass kind of like
kind of a military hard-ass kind of like a
a
a I don’t know like a Brad Pitt in a movie
I don’t know like a Brad Pitt in a movie
I don’t know like a Brad Pitt in a movie character or something no no and what
character or something no no and what
character or something no no and what was like you know tattooed flower girl
was like you know tattooed flower girl
was like you know tattooed flower girl hippy organic farmer climate activists
hippy organic farmer climate activists
hippy organic farmer climate activists gonna do with that but there was no time
gonna do with that but there was no time
gonna do with that but there was no time to second guess myself anymore because
to second guess myself anymore because
to second guess myself anymore because rear admiral david titli is walking
rear admiral david titli is walking
rear admiral david titli is walking toward me at the Naval Yard and that’s
toward me at the Naval Yard and that’s
toward me at the Naval Yard and that’s when I start to panic
when I start to panic
when I start to panic because I realized I don’t know what to
because I realized I don’t know what to
because I realized I don’t know what to call him
call him
call him is it Rear Admiral David titli the whole
is it Rear Admiral David titli the whole
is it Rear Admiral David titli the whole thing is it as it’s written out is that
thing is it as it’s written out is that
thing is it as it’s written out is that too long should it just be Admiral
too long should it just be Admiral
too long should it just be Admiral Titley doesn’t matter that he’s retired
Titley doesn’t matter that he’s retired
Titley doesn’t matter that he’s retired should it just being mr. titli then I
should it just being mr. titli then I
should it just being mr. titli then I don’t know he’s walking toward me he’s a
don’t know he’s walking toward me he’s a
don’t know he’s walking toward me he’s a few feet away and I’m panicking realize
few feet away and I’m panicking realize
few feet away and I’m panicking realize I don’t know what to call him and what
I don’t know what to call him and what
I don’t know what to call him and what if I say the wrong thing and then he’s
if I say the wrong thing and then he’s
if I say the wrong thing and then he’s gonna get mad and angry and stomp off
gonna get mad and angry and stomp off
gonna get mad and angry and stomp off and not do the interview because I said
and not do the interview because I said
and not do the interview because I said the wrong thing and I don’t know what
the wrong thing and I don’t know what
the wrong thing and I don’t know what I’m gonna do I’m shaking in my boots a
I’m gonna do I’m shaking in my boots a
I’m gonna do I’m shaking in my boots a little bit and he comes right up to me
little bit and he comes right up to me
little bit and he comes right up to me and he just reaches out his hand and he
and he just reaches out his hand and he
and he just reaches out his hand and he says hey call me Dave and in that moment
says hey call me Dave and in that moment
says hey call me Dave and in that moment my entire worldview changed so that’s
my entire worldview changed so that’s
my entire worldview changed so that’s who I thought he was gonna be this is
who I thought he was gonna be this is
who I thought he was gonna be this is who he was okay i standing next to a
who he was okay i standing next to a
who he was okay i standing next to a mascot this is his twitter profile pic
mascot this is his twitter profile pic
mascot this is his twitter profile pic by the way he’s not the dude in the
by the way he’s not the dude in the
by the way he’s not the dude in the mascot although knowing him I wouldn’t
mascot although knowing him I wouldn’t
mascot although knowing him I wouldn’t put it past them he’s a super sweet guy
put it past them he’s a super sweet guy
put it past them he’s a super sweet guy this is him during the interview naval
this is him during the interview naval
this is him during the interview naval ship in the background and he was naming
ship in the background and he was naming
ship in the background and he was naming bird species as they flew by he was like
bird species as they flew by he was like
bird species as they flew by he was like oh an osprey and after the interview he
oh an osprey and after the interview he
oh an osprey and after the interview he sent me a follow-up text with a smiley
sent me a follow-up text with a smiley
sent me a follow-up text with a smiley face emoji in it and I just like could
face emoji in it and I just like could
face emoji in it and I just like could not believe how down-to-earth and chill
not believe how down-to-earth and chill
not believe how down-to-earth and chill he was he was just a sweet chill nerdy
he was he was just a sweet chill nerdy
he was he was just a sweet chill nerdy guy and I was so so entirely blown away
guy and I was so so entirely blown away
guy and I was so so entirely blown away I I couldn’t believe it and over the
I I couldn’t believe it and over the
I I couldn’t believe it and over the last couple of years that’s kind of been
last couple of years that’s kind of been
last couple of years that’s kind of been my experience with the film I what’s
my experience with the film I what’s
my experience with the film I what’s ironic is I set out to make a film to
ironic is I set out to make a film to
ironic is I set out to make a film to change people’s minds about climate
change people’s minds about climate
change people’s minds about climate change and what I did was make a
change and what I did was make a
change and what I did was make a that changed me you know I was an
that changed me you know I was an
that changed me you know I was an activist I didn’t understand the
activist I didn’t understand the
activist I didn’t understand the military I to be honest I didn’t really
military I to be honest I didn’t really
military I to be honest I didn’t really respect what they did and coming out of
respect what they did and coming out of
respect what they did and coming out of it over the past couple of years I have
it over the past couple of years I have
it over the past couple of years I have so much respect for the military and the
so much respect for the military and the
so much respect for the military and the people who serve and Dave and other
people who serve and Dave and other
people who serve and Dave and other people in the military are the ones who
people in the military are the ones who
people in the military are the ones who have really taught me all about how they
have really taught me all about how they
have really taught me all about how they actually think about climate change
actually think about climate change
actually think about climate change which is something I never really
which is something I never really
which is something I never really thought about before
thought about before
thought about before turns out they think about it a lot
turns out they think about it a lot
turns out they think about it a lot everything from humanitarian responses
everything from humanitarian responses
everything from humanitarian responses from the wildfires in California here to
from the wildfires in California here to
from the wildfires in California here to all of the storms and hurricanes and
all of the storms and hurricanes and
all of the storms and hurricanes and Texas and Florida and Puerto Rico New
Texas and Florida and Puerto Rico New
Texas and Florida and Puerto Rico New Orleans and you know all the sea level
Orleans and you know all the sea level
Orleans and you know all the sea level rise at the Naval Station in Norfolk
rise at the Naval Station in Norfolk
rise at the Naval Station in Norfolk which is the largest naval base in the
which is the largest naval base in the
which is the largest naval base in the world and they experience climate change
world and they experience climate change
world and they experience climate change in the form of sea-level rise and they
in the form of sea-level rise and they
in the form of sea-level rise and they have a lot of storm surges and they have
have a lot of storm surges and they have
have a lot of storm surges and they have to replace their peers of the ships
to replace their peers of the ships
to replace their peers of the ships because they’re getting inundated by
because they’re getting inundated by
because they’re getting inundated by floods and it’s billions of dollars
floods and it’s billions of dollars
floods and it’s billions of dollars takes a lot of money to do that but the
takes a lot of money to do that but the
takes a lot of money to do that but the main way that the Department of Defense
main way that the Department of Defense
main way that the Department of Defense thinks about climate change is as a
thinks about climate change is as a
thinks about climate change is as a threat multiplier which was kind of a
threat multiplier which was kind of a
threat multiplier which was kind of a wonky term but basically it means if you
wonky term but basically it means if you
wonky term but basically it means if you already have instability in a region
already have instability in a region
already have instability in a region that could be from poverty it could be
that could be from poverty it could be
that could be from poverty it could be from poor governance it could be you
from poor governance it could be you
from poor governance it could be you know from religious tensions and then
know from religious tensions and then
know from religious tensions and then you add the layer of climate change on
you add the layer of climate change on
you add the layer of climate change on top of that you could go from an
top of that you could go from an
top of that you could go from an unstable situation to one of conflict
unstable situation to one of conflict
unstable situation to one of conflict and potentially civil war which has
and potentially civil war which has
and potentially civil war which has happened in our past so that’s really
happened in our past so that’s really
happened in our past so that’s really scary in a way of thinking about climate
scary in a way of thinking about climate
scary in a way of thinking about climate change that I hadn’t really thought of
change that I hadn’t really thought of
change that I hadn’t really thought of before and over the past couple of years
before and over the past couple of years
before and over the past couple of years it’s just been an incredible experience
it’s just been an incredible experience
it’s just been an incredible experience to get to know Dave and some other folks
to get to know Dave and some other folks
to get to know Dave and some other folks who have been in our film and we’ve been
who have been in our film and we’ve been
who have been in our film and we’ve been on panels together we’ve we were in a
on panels together we’ve we were in a
on panels together we’ve we were in a panel together this fall on Capitol Hill
panel together this fall on Capitol Hill
panel together this fall on Capitol Hill he’s been to the festivals with us he
he’s been to the festivals with us he
he’s been to the festivals with us he came to our world premiere this is how
came to our world premiere this is how
came to our world premiere this is how dedicated he is he came to our world
dedicated he is he came to our world
dedicated he is he came to our world premiere in Canada never having seen the
premiere in Canada never having seen the
premiere in Canada never having seen the film before I mean it just shows like
film before I mean it just shows like
film before I mean it just shows like what a humble and passionate guy he is
what a humble and passionate guy he is
what a humble and passionate guy he is and
and
and just been cool like his work has helped
just been cool like his work has helped
just been cool like his work has helped our work and our work has helped his
our work and our work has helped his
our work and our work has helped his work we’ve really come together and not
work we’ve really come together and not
work we’ve really come together and not only have we become friends in real life
only have we become friends in real life
only have we become friends in real life but as a millennial I have to brag about
but as a millennial I have to brag about
but as a millennial I have to brag about this for a second we’re friends on
this for a second we’re friends on
this for a second we’re friends on Facebook and no big deal this cat selfie
Facebook and no big deal this cat selfie
Facebook and no big deal this cat selfie got a thumbs up from a Rear Admiral the
got a thumbs up from a Rear Admiral the
got a thumbs up from a Rear Admiral the saying kind of cool but here’s us just
saying kind of cool but here’s us just
saying kind of cool but here’s us just you know at an event together having a
you know at an event together having a
you know at an event together having a little cheers little beer on those buds
little cheers little beer on those buds
little cheers little beer on those buds my hope for all of you in the audience
my hope for all of you in the audience
my hope for all of you in the audience is that when you’re meeting someone
is that when you’re meeting someone
is that when you’re meeting someone someone new that you can meet them
someone new that you can meet them
someone new that you can meet them without the unnecessary stereotypes and
without the unnecessary stereotypes and
without the unnecessary stereotypes and you can just see them for their full
you can just see them for their full
you can just see them for their full beautiful humanity because if an admiral
beautiful humanity because if an admiral
beautiful humanity because if an admiral a Rear Admiral and an activist can be
a Rear Admiral and an activist can be
a Rear Admiral and an activist can be friends so too can you be friends with
friends so too can you be friends with
friends so too can you be friends with someone you consider your complete
someone you consider your complete
someone you consider your complete opposite you just have to give them the
opposite you just have to give them the
opposite you just have to give them the chance to stick out their hand and say
chance to stick out their hand and say
chance to stick out their hand and say hey call me Dave thank you
hey call me Dave thank you
hey call me Dave thank you [Applause]
”
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