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What We’re Listening To: Our Favourite Environmental Podcasts

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Podcasts have been a staple of my news input during 2020, and Covid-19 seems to have created more opportunities for listening to them. With the increasing prevalence of fake news in other corners of the news and media landscape, it’s helpful to have a reliable sources of interesting information. The environmental news hasn’t always been positive in 2020, but many of the podcasters highlighted below are managing to find ways of highlighting positive developments, while dealing unflinchingly with the setbacks.

The topic of podcasts came up at a recent Hub meeting, and I was delighted to find out that other members of Helston Climate Action are enjoying shows I was yet to discover. Between us we’ve come up with a list of nine we really enjoy, and hope you’ll find entertaining, educational, and inspiring! If you’ve discovered other podcasts we should check out, please do let us know.


Sustainababble

This is a personal favourite, an irreverent weekly look at the environment by two UK based presenters, Ol and Dave, whose day jobs are in the environmental world. They inject a lot of humour into what can sometimes seem a dispiriting topic. My 2020 highlight was episode #155, when Sustainababble visited the Cornwall Beaver Project and met the wonderful Chris Jones.


What Planet Are We On?

A relatively new podcast (started in October), this BBC offering features host Liz Bonnin offering solutions and practical tips as well as hearing from experts, campaigners and well-known names (David Attenborough and Christiana Figueres feature). A great place to start is this episode on the importance of trees and tree planting, from November.


The Energy Gang

A great listen if you ever find yourself disheartened at the seemingly small scale or slow place of some climate action. This podcast, hosted by Stephen Lacey, Katherine Hamilton, and Jigar Shah focuses on corporate-scale developments in energy, cleantech, renewables, and the environment. Check out this recent episode on Google’s commitment to 24/7 clean energy at their data centres.


How To Save A Planet

Journalist Alex Blumberg and scientist and policy nerd Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson ask the big questions: What do we need to do to solve the climate crisis, and how do we get it done? Another fairly recent addition to the world of environmental podcasts, How To Save A Planet manages to maintain a sense of humour while still tackling difficult topics, such as this recent episode on the debate around nuclear energy. Is it a part of the solution, or a continuation of the problem? Whichever side of the debate you’re on, you’ll take something new away from this episode.


Drilled

One of the few narrative podcasts about climate change, Drilled began in 2018 when journalist Amy Westervelt had the idea to put the story of climate change (and climate denial) into a true-crime framework. Season 1 (November 2018) focused on the climate research conducted by oil companies and when and how they shifted from studying the problem to denying it. Season 2 (April 2019) followed a community of crab fishermen as they became the first industry to sue Big Oil. Season 3 (January 2020) chronicles the 100-year history of fossil fuel P.R. campaigns and ties them to the propaganda we still see today. At least four more seasons are planned for 2020 and 2021.


Accidental Gods

Hosted by Manda Scott, Accidental Gods offers a more spiritual approach to the climate crisis. Manda believes that scientific progress alone won’t get us out of our situation, and that conscious evolution will be key in bringing forward the ideas that society needs. Consequently, her conversations with the likes of Rob Hopkins and Rupert Read take us down avenues you won’t hear explored in more mainstream interviews. Do check out Manda’s interview with local activist Sophie Miller in episode #49.


52Hz: The Lonely Whale Podcast

Somewhere deep in the ocean, a mysterious whale calls out at an unusual frequency of 52 Hertz. A pitch so unique that it’s believed to belong to the only whale of its kind. They call him the world’s loneliest whale.

52 Hertz is a podcast inspired by that same whale who dared to call out at his own frequency. Each week, host Petrice Jones explores the topic of plastic pollution with entrepreneurs, environmental activists, and youth leaders who are disrupting their industries, challenging the status quo, and going against the current—all to rethink our approach to plastics on a global scale.


Outrage + Optimism

In terms of climate credentials, it’s difficult to imagine a podcast host better qualified that Christiana Figueres (until Greta Thunberg inevitably hosts one!). Figueres was Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change until 2016 and helped bring the Paris Agreement together. Here, with co-hosts Tom Rivett-Carnac and Paul Dickinson, Outrage + Optimism tries to channel the outrage we see on the streets (and online) about incremental actions in the face of the climate crisis, toward the stubborn optimism needed to forge ahead with ambition.

Each episode starts with a topical round-up, followed by an in-depth interview with guests that, to date, have included David Attenborough, Ellie Goulding, Jane Goodall, Greta Thunberg, Richard Branson, Wanjira Mathai, John Kerry, David Miliband and many more.


Extinction Rebellion Podcast

The Extinction Rebellion Podcast combines interviews with leading climate activists, on the ground reporting from XR actions, and investigative journalism. Recent episodes have featured Kate Raworth on Doughnut Economics, the Writers Rebel action in Tufton Street (including speeches by Zadie Smith, George Monbiot, Caroline Lucas and others), and the legal action taken by three young people against the British Government.


Time to Explore!

While researching the links and bios for this list, I came across several other environmental podcasts, some recommended by the podcasters above. Other than ‘Futurenauts’, I’ve yet to properly explore them, so will try to review some of them in the new year. Note that some of these podcasts aren’t focused entirely on climate change, but will have featured the issue in one or more episodes.

Jon Richardson and the Futurenauts. Featuring the notably pessimistic comedian Jon Richardson, along with the more optimistic co-hosts Ed Gillespie and Mark Stevenson (aka ‘The Futurenauts’), this podcast explores the future of food, politics, sex, automation, and of course, climate change. While not entirely focused on the climate crisis (but do check out episode 8), this is an entertaining reminder of just how interconnected the various challenges ahead really can be.

Upstream, hosted by Della Duncan. From the About page: “Founded in 2016, Upstream is a radio documentary and interview series offering themed episodes that explore a wide variety of topics pertaining to our tumultuous and thrilling 21st-century economy. Through a mixture of heartfelt stories, expert interviews, and rich sound design, we challenge traditional assumptions and invite our listeners to imagine what a democratic, just, and sustainable economy might look like.” I will be checking out the three part mini-series on Frome, which includes a look at Flatpack Democracy, and initiatives like their ‘Share Shop’ and ‘community fridge’.

The Hive, hosted by Nathalie Nahai. The latest episode features Della Duncan and Manda Scott, which gives you some idea on the interplay between podcasts in a specific genre. However, there is clearly a lot of unique content here, with material on resilience, creativity, technology, attention and mindfulness.

The Sustainable Futures Report, by Anthony Day. A weekly round-up of climate news, and occasional interviews with industry figures in the renewable sector.

Regenerative Agriculture Podcast, by John Kempf. The nitty gritty on soil regeneration and crop yield.

Farm Gate, hosted by ffinlo Costain. Also focused on regenerative agriculture, this podcast is targeted on farmers and policy-makers, but definitely worth an explore. A good place to start might be the October Q&A, when ffinlo hosted a panel answering questions on regenerative agriculture submitted from farmers and other listeners.

Impact Everywhere, with Ben Von Wong. Eclectic mix of episodes, from kelp burgers to nuclear energy.

Threshold Conversations. Public radio show and podcast that tackles one pressing environmental issue each season, reporting each story where it’s happening through a range of voices and perspectives. Season 3 is a Peabody Prize winning dive into the controversial debate over drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Think 100%: The Coolest Show. Describing itself as the coolest podcast on climate change, this podcast looks to be aimed at a slightly younger audience. I really should check it out, as it features a lot of people I haven’t heard of in other podcasts, and recently interviewed John Podesta (former Hillary Clinton campaign manager and subject of that massive email leak) on what incoming president Joe Biden might focus his climate agenda on in the first 100 days of his presidency.

Green Dreamer, with Kamea Chayne. A lot to explore here too, with almost 300 episodes. There is so much to choose from that they provide a series of ten weekly emails in their ‘Embark!’ program, with three recommended episodes in each email; you can sign up for this here.

Generation GND, with Sam Eilertsen. Tied to the documentary of the same name, this series of podcasts tells the story of the youth movement that has pushed the climate crisis to the centre of American politics.

Mama Earth Talk, with Mariska Nell. Over 100 interviews, including a recent episode with Anthony Day of The Sustainable Futures Report (see above). Very eclectic mix, with a focus (at first glance) on zero-waste, and entrepreneurs in the sustainable economy. Mariska has a useful ‘start here’ page with links to episodes full of tips on reducing waste.