New podcasts about our warming planet are popping up right and left, expanding an already overwhelming list of programs. Donât believe us? Just search âclimate change podcastsâ on Spotify and start scrolling. But youâre probably craving a palate cleanser once youâve worked through the dayâs news of shrinking sea ice, expanding deserts, and politicians who refuse to face reality â a climate podcast that wonât incite further rage and terror, but will make you feel like something can be done to actually solve the problem.
Such shows exist, and many of them debuted in 2020, a year that too often felt devoid of hope. Weâve done the hard work of sifting through them to highlight five refreshingly entertaining shows that identify solutions already at work, the leaders behind them, and all the ways you (yes, you!) can take action.
If youâre craving some culture
Temperature Check: We swear this list isnât an excuse to promote Gristâs own podcast! But weâd be remiss if we didnât include Temperature Check, which dives deeply into the intersection of race, culture, and climate. Host Andrew Simon, director of leadership programming here at Grist, interviews big thinkers about standard solutions like sustainable food and community solar. But his guests, from Kendra Pierre-Louis (a senior reporter for How to Save a Planet, another favorite of ours) to scholar Chelsea Frazier, also dip into more unconventional (for a climate podcast, anyway) takes, like why BeyoncĂ© is an environmental leader and how movies like Black Panther present a vision of a better society. Who said the climate conversation has to be boring?
If youâre into stories
How to Save a Planet: Each episode of How to Save a Planet guides listeners through a complex problem, from wildfires to environmental racism, and highlights the experts, activists and even YouTubers spearheading the solutions. Hosts Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (a 2018 Grist 50 Fixer) and Alex Blumberg sprinkle witty banter throughout each show as they share guestsâ stories instead of simply throwing questions at them. The resulting narratives are as compelling as they are informative. Johnson, a marine biologist and self-described policy nerd, offers her climate expertise, while veteran producer-reporter Blumberg brings his storytelling know-how. The cherry on top: Johnson and Blumberg provide calls to action at the end of each episode and resources thatâll help you do your part.
If you love the ocean â and British accents
52 Hertz: Lonely Whale, a nonprofit dedicated to ocean conservation, just wrapped the first season of 52 Hertz. The show, hosted by English actor and activist Petrice Jones, explores solutions to the overlapping crises of plastic pollution and climate change. Guests have included ocean-loving entrepreneurs, youth activists, and musicians youâve likely never heard of. Our favorite eps: âPutting Your Boots On,â a conversation with drag queen and environmental influencer Pattie Gonia, and âEnvironmental Justice & Racism,â starring 2020 Grist 50 Fixer and Rhodes Scholar Wanjiku âWawaâ Gatheru.
If youâre a climate philosopher
A Matter of Degrees: With hosts as fabulous as policy expert Leah Stokes (of the 2020 Grist 50) and writer Katharine Wilkinson*, how could we not shout out A Matter of Degrees? This show tackles the big questions around climate change, with an emphasis on identifying solutions. Are you pondering whether individual action really matters in comparison to structural change? Or wondering if the climate movement is at a breakthrough moment â or a breaking point? This show offers plenty of interviews and prioritizes the voices of women and BIPOC figures. But itâs at its best when the hosts (who are friends IRL) shoot the breeze about wrestling with eco-guilt or the experiences that inspired their own climate awakenings.
If you want to step up your activism
Inherited: Podcasts love to feature youth climate activists. Inherited may be the first made by and for them. In this showâs debut season, each episode follows young leaders as they pressure politicians, cope with despair, and look toward a brighter future. But as tempting as it may be to sit back, comforted by the knowledge that these activists are fighting the good fight, they have a message for you: We donât want to carry the world on our shoulders, so help us out. Theyâve got plenty of specific suggestions for doing just that.
If youâre dreaming of a better world while stuck indoors, these shows will give you plenty to look forward to. They might also make you regret not starting your own podcast in quarantine. Either way, give them a listen! What else are you doing?
*We misspelled âKatharineâ in an earlier version of this post. Fix regrets the error.
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