What makes heat extreme, and who is really at risk? In this episode of People, Places, Planet, host Natalie Triana speaks with Ashley Ward, Director of Duke University’s Heat Policy Innovation Hub, about why extreme heat is one of the most dangerous and underestimated hazards facing communities across the United States —and why responding to it requires thinking beyond temperature alone.
From increasingly warm nights and rising cooling costs to strains on energy, agriculture, and infrastructure, the conversation explores why heat is more than a weather event and just how far its risks extend. Dr. Ward challenges common assumptions about who is really at risk, why hot nights and cumulative exposure matter, and whether air conditioning is enough to keep people safe. She also examines the current policy landscape, including growing state and local action, gaps in federal coordination, and the need for stronger collaboration among governments, businesses, and communities. This episode provides a broader understanding of extreme heat as a cross-cutting, growing risk that touches nearly every part of daily life.
