Jen Grace Productions, LLC

03/23/2023

Interviewing these two powerhouses, Shannon Dunn and Tina Basich this weekend at the Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame induction as part of a doc series on DEI pioneers. What do you want to know? Post your questions here!

06/06/2021

So much of our lives are convenience-centered but unsustainable. The plastics crisis is worse than ever and destroying our one livable planet. Its most impactful to reduce and hold corporations responsible. But us lower income consumers can only do so much. So thankfully, there's orgs like these to help find recycling drop off.

Find retail stores, municipal recycling centers and private recyclers in the US and Canada that accept plastic bags and film packaging.

05/27/2021

Growing up, no matter how much we had, my family always acted mindfully with both our personal and planetary resources.

Lately, I find myself even more engrossed in the function and art of care and repair my family's outdoors gear. Our gear is critical to keep us playing, working, exercising and connecting in the long Montana winters.

My son's hard playing hand me down snowpants, my 11 yo leather boots, my gore tex rain gear that keeps me alive and agile on field shoots. Not only are they critical and expensive, they are resource intensive.

I love the responsible initiatives of companies like Arc'teryx to evaluate, illuminate and implement more circular, sustainable systems.

To address waste, Arc’teryx introduces ReBird™, a nest for our circularity initiatives, to shape fashion’s linear take-make-waste economy into a loop of endless possibilities. ReBird™. Respecting nature by propelling circularity.

08/16/2020

THIS! As a conservation Biology technician, science communicator and mother who wants a livable world, I too wish for a paradigm shift that is based on interconnectedness.

The way we talk about contagion matters. It shapes how societies respond—and whether many of us will survive.

05/16/2020

This is the kind of thing I read when I write scripts. Its easy to write stories along polar ideology and conventional phrases into catchy narration. But storytellers must examine their ideology and language to help usher in the change we want to see in the world. This article has me reconsidering the term 'Nature Deficit Disorder.'

Abstract: Scholars have long argued that various modern, Western cultures have come to conceptualize “the environment” as a separate, ordered, and submissive entity. A problematic human–nature divide stems from this rational view, resulting in environmental degradation. Yet, humans and other-than-humans regularly interrupt these ordered, rational framings. Through a qualitative examination of a K–12 state forest conservation education program, I use a transhuman, materialist communication approach to illustrate how curriculum and the forest service problematically construct humanature relations. I then show how students, rangers, and other-than-humans disrupt and disorder these framings. Instead of using practices that worsen the problem, practitioners and researchers can create ecocultural conversations—connective communication practices that help bridge the human–nature divide. This article articulates how more sustainable environmental communication theories and practices can address dire
social and environmental problems.

Scholars have long argued that various modern, Western cultures have come to conceptualize " the environment " as a separate, ordered, and submissive entity. A problematic human–nature divide stems from this rational view, resulting in

05/14/2020

I take my clients' and contractors' data and privacy seriously and I keep up on the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape. I encourage anyone with a home network, WFH, or homeschool to implement these router security recommendations.

"When it comes to safeguarding your personal data, there may be no tool more important than your wireless router.

Because it transmits all the data that flows in and out of your home via WiFi—everything from emails to credit card numbers—the device has long been a target for hackers. And now, with many Americans working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, more sensitive data than ever before could be at risk.

Hackers can use malware or software design flaws to hide their identity, steal bandwidth, turn your devices into botnet slaves, or worse. They can be within range of your WiFi network, or they could be half a world away, launching an automated attack on millions of home networks at once."

Your WiFi router is critical for keeping your home network safe. Consumer Reports gives step-by-step instructions on how to boost your router security to keep intruders out.

05/11/2020

I spent my early career as a Biology technician and science writer in international labs and ecosystems. There, I was frustrated at the uphill battles scientists face publicly communicating their work and enacting polices to protect people and landscapes. That is why I joined the elite Science and Natural History MFA program at Montana State University.

At MSU, much or our curriculum was in Science Studies, contextualizing discovery, belief and knowledge in political, philosophical, psychological, historical frameworks. It's the foundation for communicating accurate, engaging, fair science. I've had the good fortune of applying this knowledge over the past decade with teams of colleagues from MSU on dozens of media projects and films that highlight solid science.

The current COVID 19 pandemic, technological and political climate is ripe for misinformation and using unscrupulous tactics. Taking a scientific stance, we can assess their epistemological mechanisms to help us be better communicate valid information.

If we understand how conspiracy theories spread online, we can help stop them.

05/11/2020

Hackers and spammers are taking advantage of people working and educating from home during COVID 19. Even if you are a low value target, they still can gain from hijacking various elements of your network and personal information.

Maintaining your cybersecurity protects you and your clients. It saves time, money and privacy which means more time for doing what you love. For JGP, that's serving our clients and community.

I'm writing a couple of posts with links that will hopefully empower beginners.

1. The first article I’m sharing is about keeping devices and software updated. In addition to updates, I recommend the free version of ‘malwarebytes.'

https://thewirecutter.com/blog/best-antivirus/

2. No amount of virus software will protect users from mistakes so here’s an article on healthy online habits

https://thewirecutter.com/blog/internet-security-layers/

(Caveat, I don’t recommend encrypting your hard drive unless you have highly valuable data and an IT department ((5th layer)) there’s too many problems recovering your data.)

Instead of needing a browser’ helper’ to block cookies, now most browsers have the option to opt out of third party cookies in their settings. Opting out helps protect your privacy.

2a https://www.digitalcitizen.life/how-disable-third-party-cookies-all-major-browsers

Passwords need to be complex and unique, which is hard to keep track of. Your best options are to write them on paper or use a password manager. Don't put them in a computer document because hackers who obtain your files can get access to them. I recommend Abine Blur, as a password manager. The paid version ($40/year) synchs with your phone. It also offers masked email, phone and credit card numbers.

2b https://www.pcmag.com/news/12-essential-apps-for-protecting-your-privacy-online

Make sure your phone number is registered with ‘do not call’ to reduce spam. These callers have successfully duped people into sharing valuable personal and financial information. If you do get a spam call, report it on the same site.

2c https://www.donotcall.gov/

2d Use 2 factor authentication. Don’t use 2fa that goes to phone text because you could be subject to SIM-jacking. I like google Authenticator.

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/new-phone-moving-google-authenticator-is-one-of-the-first-things-you-should-do/

Next, I'll write about router security and safe email and phone practices. Feel free to ask a related question and I can share what I know. Stay safe everyone!