Erin Brockovich

**SPEAKER_1** (0:00)
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**Theo Von** (0:30)
Today's guest is an environmental activist and a consumer advocate. Her name is notorious with being for the people. She's known for leading some high profile cases over the years. Lately, she's focused on the rise of data centers and their effects on life around them. I'm thankful today to spend time with Ms. Erin Brockovich.
If you need to move this, Erin, you can. Let me open your water. Sometimes these are very...

**Erin Brockovich** (1:17)
I've learned that over at the hotel. I was like, my lord. And I work out, I was like, I can't get it open.

**Theo Von** (1:24)
That's the crazy thing about today, especially honestly with this Ascentia company. They, I just opened it for you, but you can't even get in their waters. It's like, that's how bad it's gotten.
They almost keep you locked out of clean water in this country.

**Erin Brockovich** (1:36)
That's what my daughter will carry. And I, boom, she'll go just like that.

**Theo Von** (1:40)
She's like that?

**Erin Brockovich** (1:41)
Oh, yeah. She's military police. She's hilarious.

**Theo Von** (1:43)
Oh, she's an MP?

**Erin Brockovich** (1:44)
She was, yes. They're both out now.
Matt was combat vet, yeah.

**Theo Von** (1:48)
You're someone's combat?

**Erin Brockovich** (1:49)
Yeah. My dad was Navy fighter pilot. So definitely, I'm a military mom and a military daughter.

**Theo Von** (1:56)
Oh, that's beautiful. Well, thank them for their service from us. And thank you for your service. I know you, as probably most of people, a lot of people do, I know you as an environmentalist, right?
Kind of a truth seeker, I guess I would say. And like an activist, I guess. Does that, how do you like to be?

**Erin Brockovich** (2:15)
Yeah, I never say activist because that's always like a connotation. I advocate for clearly people.

**Theo Von** (2:22)
What about the term like a consumer advocate? Is that fair to say kind of?

**Erin Brockovich** (2:25)
A people advocate.

**Theo Von** (2:26)
Okay, a people advocate. Me too. I feel like I try my best to be.

**Erin Brockovich** (2:30)
I do too.

**Theo Von** (2:31)
Yeah. And for our listeners that don't know, how did you get on this track, right? Take me through your journey.
You know, I know about the movie starring Julia Roberts that was made about your life, Erin Brockovich. But take us into the journey of like, what happened to create the story that led to the film? Like, how did your activism like lead to one of the largest settlements at the time that had ever been? I think it was like over $300 million.

**Erin Brockovich** (2:57)
$333 million.

**Theo Von** (2:59)
$333 million that was awarded at the time. At the time.

**Erin Brockovich** (3:02)
Now they're settling for like $33 billion.

**Theo Von** (3:04)
It's not to laugh at, but times have changed. Erin walked to the bank so they could run to it. That's for sure.
So take us, I want you to take us through that journey for our listeners that don't know. Obviously, you had to care for the outdoors. How did that start?

**Erin Brockovich** (3:18)
OK, well, I've always been an outdoor enthusiast. I was born and raised in Kansas and I love the outdoors. Everything about it spoke to me mostly because I hated school. I sucked at school and it took years before they really understood I have dyslexia.

**Theo Von** (3:38)
Oh, you do?

**Erin Brockovich** (3:39)
I do.

**Theo Von** (3:40)
Let's go do my friend has it.

**Erin Brockovich** (3:41)
I'm a dyslexic.

**Theo Von** (3:43)
Hell yeah. So you guys don't get any credit.
I know, you know, and some of you shouldn't. But a lot of you guys should do it.

**Erin Brockovich** (3:51)
You should, you know, interestingly enough, off topic, and I'll just say it really quick. So I'm ambassador for Made By Dyslexia run by Kate Griggs and Sir Richard Branson, who's also a dyslexic.

**Theo Von** (4:04)
No way.

**Erin Brockovich** (4:04)
Yeah.

**Theo Von** (4:05)
Dude, we got to get a good dyslexic on here.

**Erin Brockovich** (4:08)
You do. And they're everywhere.