April 28, 2025

NAILD Partners with Softlights Foundation to Lead Restoring Darkness Podcast

SAINT PAUL, Minnesota — The National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors (NAILD) is proud to announce a landmark collaboration with the Softlights Foundation to co-lead its acclaimed Restoring Darkness podcast. This partnership combines NAILD's industry-leading platform with the Softlights Foundation's expertise on the devastating effects of the continued mass adoption of LED lighting and the resulting darkness pollution.

"Other associations do a great job advocating for the preservation of our celestial heritage and working to protect it," said Matt Hanson, President of NAILD. "The Restoring Darkness podcast is NAILD's way of looking down at the pollution we've created and exploring ways to mitigate and eliminate it. If partnering with Softlights Foundation makes Restoring Darkness LED alarmist, so be it-maybe it's time to sound the alarm."

Mark Baker, President of the Softlights Foundation, added, "Before I reviewed the history of NAILD's Restoring Darkness podcast, I thought the entire lighting industry was in denial about the real harms caused by LED lighting. Discovering that NAILD launched light-pollution abatement committees in 2019 and issued multiple open letters warning the industry back then confirmed we share a common mission."

Since its launch, Restoring Darkness has become a cornerstone for dialogue on darkness pollution, featuring experts and advocates who examine the ecological, cultural, and human-health impacts of excessive artificial lighting. Under this new co-leadership, upcoming episodes will dive deeper into solutions that balance illumination needs with environmental stewardship and public well-being.