We're honored to welcome Assemblymember Tasha Burner, who represents California's 77th Assembly District, encompassing coastal communities from Carlsbad and Encinitas south through La Jolla to Coronado.

Assemblymember Boerner has served in the State Assembly since 2018 and currently chairs both the Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee and the Assembly Select Committee on Sea Level Rise and the California Economy—a committee to address the urgent threats facing California's coastline.

Her environmental leadership is evident in her successful legislation, including AB 823, which unanimously passed to ban plastic microbeads in leave-on personal care and cleaning products, and groundbreaking work to address plastic glitter pollution. Before her legislative career, she served on the Encinitas City Council and Planning Commission, where her advocacy began with a simple goal: getting a stop sign installed near her children's school.

Assemblymember Boerner holds a Master's degree in International Studies from Claremont Graduate University and a Bachelor's in Political Science from UC Berkeley. She brings a blend of local government experience, business acumen, and passionate advocacy for coastal resilience, environmental protection, and community-centered policy to her work in Sacramento.

Join us as we discuss her approach to environmental leadership, coastal adaptation, and shaping California's environmental future.

And to learn more about the work the Assemblymember is doing, check the video series, Tea Time with Tasha.

In this episode, we feature Anne Middleton, a conservation professional whose career has taken her from Montana to Cameroon and now to California, bridging the nonprofit, public, and private sectors. From investigating international wildlife crime with the Environmental Investigation Agency to procuring sustainable ebony wood in Cameroon for Taylor Guitars, Anne's journey reflects her commitment to collaborative environmental solutions. In the fall of 2025, Anne was invited to present at TEDx – check out her talk on wildfire prevention, which is linked in the show notes.

Currently with WILDCOAST, Anne previously served as Executive Director at ECOLIFE Conservation and held positions with the San Diego County Water Authority and Sustainability Matters. With degrees in biology from Oberlin College and Environmental Science and Management from UC Santa Barbara's Bren School, Anne believes that business can be a powerful instrument for positive change.

We explore her perspective on coastal and marine conservation, public-private partnerships, and what it takes to create lasting solutions to our planet's most pressing environmental challenges.

In this episode, we feature Xela Brainin Godinez, a student at CSU Channel Islands studying Environmental Science and Resource Management with a marine and coastal emphasis. Having served as a AEP Student Council Member and participant on the People & Culture Committee, Xela brings a fresh perspective on entering the environmental profession.

From hands-on conservation work with white abalone at the Aquarium of the Pacific to presenting before California's Lieutenant Governor about the Santa Rosa Island Research Station, Xela has already made meaningful contributions to marine science and student outreach. Her journey from studying horticulture at Long Beach City College to specializing in marine and coastal science reflects both personal growth and an evolving passion for environmental stewardship.

As an advocate for diversity in environmental spaces, Xela is passionate about expanding representation in our profession. Join us as she shares her experiences working alongside seasoned professionals on AEP's People & Culture Committee, what draws her to marine conservation, and what gives her hope as she prepares to launch her career.