
Episodes
Decolonizing America: Nick Tilsen
Nick Tilsen is the President and CEO of NDN Collective, an organization led by Indigenous People that builds Indigenous power and restores Indigenous self-determination. We discuss decolonization, revitalizing Indigenous cultures and languages, and creating sustainable solutions on Indigenous terms.
Post-Truth: Lee C. McIntyre
Lee C. McIntyre is the author of Post-Truth and a Research Fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University. We discuss what post-truth means and where it started, what the function of fake news is, and how propaganda plays a role in subordinating a population.
ExxonMobil’s Dirty Secret: Geoffrey Supran
Geoffrey Supran is a Research Associate at Harvard University, and co-author of Assessing ExxonMobil's Climate Change Communications (1977–2014). We discuss what ExxonMobil knew about climate change, its relentless campaign to deny the reality of climate science, and the importance of speaking truth to power.
Ending the Nuclear Era: Fred Pearce
Fred Pearce is the author of Fallout: Disasters, Lies, and the Legacy of the Nuclear Age, and has reported on environmental, science, and development issues from 88 countries over the past thirty years. We discuss the legacy of secrecy surrounding nuclear technology, the true cost of waste management, and whether we're nearing the end of the Nuclear Era.
Our Radioactive Ocean: Ken Buesseler
Ken Buesseler is a marine radiochemist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution who studies the fate and distribution of radioactive elements in the ocean. We discuss the safety of the Pacific Ocean, the natural occurence of radioactivity in our environment, and a citizen scientist project for oceanic testing.
A Renewable Future: Mark Z. Jacobson
Mark Z. Jacobson is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Senior Fellow of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. We discuss the various practical problems that make nuclear energy not a viable solution for decarbonization, which renewable sources work better, and why electrifying our lives is a big part of the solution.
A Nuclear Future: Joshua Goldstein
Joshua Goldstein is a political scientist, nuclear advocate, and co-author of Bright Future, How Some Countries Have Solved Climate Change and the Rest Can Follow. We discuss why we should be thinking of nuclear as a clean alternative to coal, and how nuclear energy could be the technology for rapid decarbonization and a green future.
Criminalizing Ecocide: Jojo Mehta
Jojo Mehta is the co-founder and director of Ecological Defense Integrity, a non-profit organization working to establish ecocide as a core international crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. We discuss the power of criminalizing ecocide in order to change the behavior of corporate perpetrators.
Climate Policy Failures: Leah Stokes
Leah Stokes is a professor at UCSB and the author of Short Circuiting Policy. She works on energy, climate and environmental politics. We talk about the successes and failures of clean energy policy in the US, and how energy companies are fighting back against decarbonizing the energy system.
Climate Justice: Julian Brave NoiseCat
Julian Brave NoiseCat is Vice President of Policy and Strategy at Data for Progress, Narrative Change Director of The Natural History Museum, author, and a First Nations member. We discuss the need for climate justice, what we can learn from our indigenous communities, and why durable clean energy policy is key to stopping climate change.
Writing Climate Policy: Jerry Taylor
Jerry Taylor is the President and co-founder of the Niskanen Center, a non-partisan think tank that works to promote an open society. We talk about his conversion from climate denier to climate advocate, working behind the scenes to persuade Republican lawmakers to act on climate change, and why a carbon tax is the most effective public policy to do so.
The Actual Cost of Fast Fashion: Jussara Lee
Jussara Lee is a renowned fashion designer living in New York City. She promotes ‘slow fashion’, hand-made garments, as well as reusing and recycling clothing. We talk about the high cost of fast fashion, our purchasing power as consumers, and the future of sustainable fashion.
The Future of Food: Lenore Newman
Lenore Newman holds the Canada Research Chair in Food Security and Environment at the University of the Fraser Valley. Her latest book is Lost Feast: Culinary Extinction and the Future of Food. We discuss achieving food security through better management of food supplies, which include eating lower on the food chain and using technology such as artificial meats.
Towards a Sustainable Future: Katherine Richardson
Katherine Richardson is the Leader of the Sustainability Science Centre at the University of Copenhagen and a Professor of Biological Oceanography. We discuss the needs of billions of people for food and energy, finding solutions within our finite resources, and tipping points in climate and in societal behavior.
The End of Welfare: Kathryn Edin (Rebroadcast)
Kathryn Edin is one of the nation’s leading poverty researchers, who works in the domains of welfare and low-wage work, family, and life, through direct, in-depth observations of the lives of low-income populations. We discuss the evisceration of welfare, the rise of destitution, and the absolute necessity of cash in an advanced capitalist society.
Protecting Free Speech: Suzanne Nossel
Suzanne Nossel is the CEO of PEN America, the world’s foremost human rights and free expression non-profit organization. We discuss the importance of the First Amendment for American democracy, Trump’s unprecedented attacks on the press, and the state of free expression around the world.
Reimagining Civic Learning: Louise Dubé
Louise Dubé is the Executive Director of iCivics, an organization whose mission is to cultivate a new generation of students for thoughtful and active citizenship. We discuss the critical importance of high-quality civics education, the role of iCivics games in effective learning, and the necessity for robust investment and legislation in this space.
The Three Dimensions of Freedom: Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg is an acclaimed songwriter, activist, and author. We recently sat down in front of a live audience at Columbia University's Holder Initiative to discuss his latest book, The Three Dimensions of Freedom, the current state of Western Democracy, how we got here, and what we can do to make it better.
The Time for Civic Engagement is Now: Mila Atmos
Mila Atmos is the Founder and Host of Future Hindsight, this very podcast whose mission is to spark civic engagement. In this mini episode with Associate Producer Myriam Zumbühl, we discuss how the podcast came to be and why we all need to participate in our democracy.
Achieving Tolerable Climate: Jonathan Lamontagne
Jonathan Lamontagne is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Tufts University School of Engineering. In his recent study, he finds that immediate global action is required for robust climate abatement. We discuss the narrow window that still remains for both a tolerable climate future and tolerable economic conditions.