The summer, Erik Fyfe and Albert Thrower are traveling across the Northeast by motorcycle, talking with a wide range of people whose livelihoods have been influenced by climate change. Their aim is to spark conversations about climate change and collect stories about its impacts on small-town America.

In this episode of Slow Ride Stories, Erik and Albert talk to the crew of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater -- a historic, educational ship -- who teach school kids about climate change -- or try to, anyway. Turns out it’s something of a (ahem) hot topic.

The climate is a-changin’ -- but the debate on climate change isn’t. As a result, climate scientists and environmental advocates appear to be fighting a losing battle: A recent poll of American attitudes toward climate change, put out in March by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, revealed that the number of climate skeptics in America is growing, and fewer voters view climate change as a scientifically affirmed or politically important issue.

With this news in mind, a two-man film crew has hit the back roads of America to, in their words, kick-start a new national conversation about climate change -- one that might circumvent heated politics by focusing on local perspectives.