Professor Sara Soderstrom was recently featured on Michigan Public’s “Stateside” radio program alongside former U-M football quarterback Brian Griese. The pair discussed the unique intersection of sports and sustainability ahead of their panel last Friday, as part of the University of Michigan’s Climate Week (September 27 - October 5, 2025).

During the segment, Professor Soderstrom explained the opportunities that sports organizations have to promote sustainable practices and engage wider communities. “[T]he platform that athletes have… allows them to connect with a broader group in the public in a way of being a role model around issues of sustainability,” Soderstrom noted. She explained how the communal nature of sporting events can “open the door for conversations around sustainability in a way that… sports can do uniquely and really powerfully.”

Professor Soderstrom also discussed ongoing efforts at U-M, such as student-athlete involvement in campus sustainability initiatives, as well as the potential for sports organizations to serve as leaders in community and environmental engagement.

Listen to the full Stateside episode.