The Most Important Question

In Episode 34, Quinn & Brian discuss: Electrocuting the S#!t Out of Cancer.Our guest is Theo Roth, an MB/PhD student candidate at UCSF who spends his days running experiments in the Marson Lab, and contributing to kick-ass research like the development of new tools for efficient CRISPR genome engineering in human cells.The topic of this episode is extremely close to us and particularly relevant right now because September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Childhood cancer, unfortunately, only receives 5% of the total federal research funding, which means we need more people like us supporting cancer researchers and hospitals that are working to help children with cancer. So our goal with this episode is to not only explain all of the awesome work that Theo does and how in the hell he electrocutes cancer cells – although we definitely get all up in that – but also to identify some steps you can take RIGHT NOW to support people like Theo who are fighting the good fight and working to eliminate cancer.On that note: f#$k cancer in the face.Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message! Trump’s Book Club: The 8th Day of Creation by Horace Freeland Judson Links: Support Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Support Alex’s Lemonade Stand Learn more about Marson Lab: marsonlab.ucsf.edu The Emperor of All Maladies by by Siddhartha Mukherjee Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli Watch: The Knick Sign up for Nature’s email newsletter Sign up for STAT’s newsletters Read: "Why Daydreaming is Good for Us" Connect with us:

Our guests are Elsa Mengistu and Emelly Villa, two of the young people behind Zero Hour, a movement that is bringing the voices of diverse youth into the conversation on climate and environmental justice. They’re doing incredible things to make this the world they want to (and can) live in – and they’re only 17 and 18!Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!

Our guest is Shantha Ready Alonso, Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries, whose mission is to “educate, equip, and mobilize Christian communities and individuals to protect, restore, and rightly share God's Creation,” focusing on providing support to the vulnerable and marginalized.Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!

In Episode 31, Quinn & Brian ask: Can Texas Go (Clean Energy) Independent?Joining us this week is candidate for Texas district 21, Joseph Kopser. He’s a military vet and clean energy entrepreneur on the hunt for enemy of science Lamar Hunt’s seat.This is the first in our series of conversations with candidates supported by 314 Action, the largest pro-science advocacy organization committed to electing scientists and STEM professionals to public office. Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links: Joseph Kopser on Twitter Kopser for Congress 314 Action Town Hall Project Republicans for Carbon Tax, Fortune magazine Operation Free Rocky Mountain Institute Stealth Power Trump’s Book Club: How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie Quinn Emmett on Twitter Brian Colbert Kennedy on Twitter Intro/outro by Tim Blane Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com! Like and share us on Facebook! Check us on Instagram! Follow us on Twitter! Pin us on Pinterest! Tumble us or whatever the hell you do on Tumblr! Ok that’s enough good lord

In Episode 30, Quinn & Brian ask: what’s the business incentive for climate/clean energy action?In light of the Paris Agreement and all the bullshit that’s gone down since, we drafted Will Hackman to be our guest and explain it all. Will’s been a campaign manager for the House and Senate, he’s worked as a marine fisheries conservation advocate, he represented Georgetown University at the UN climate change conference, and he’s an author on various energy, environmental, and climate change topics. He’s also leaving immediately after this call to go to Alaska and potentially never come back. Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links: Will Hackman on Instagram Will on Medium US leading on carbon reduction The Paris Agreement Bank of America and Wells Fargo climate funding  McDonald’s reducing emissions COP24 America’s Pledge We Are Still In ITC tax credit Most effective steps to tackle climate change as an individual Quinn Emmett on Twitter Brian Colbert Kennedy on Twitter Intro/outro by Tim Blane Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com! Like and share us on Facebook! Check us on Instagram! Follow us on Twitter! Pin us on Pinterest! Tumble us or whatever the hell you do on Tumblr! Ok that’s enough good lord

In Episode 29, Quinn & Brian ponder the fact that the Pope Has Decided to Defeat Climate Change With His Own Bare Hands. Our guest — Jose Aguto. Jose is the Associate Director of the Catholic Climate Covenant, where he works to lead Catholicism into climate action, which includes building and providing the tools to do so. We’re excited to continue our streak of talking to and hopefully not insulting the last segments of the population that we (desperately) need to get on board with climate action — whatever their beliefs. Cracking this little problem is gonna take every single last one of us, and yes that means you too, Steve.Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links: Jose on Twitter (j/k he’s not on Twitter because he’s smart) Catholic Climate Covenant Catholic Energies Care for Creation Catholic Climate Declaration Pope Francis’ fresh new mixtape aka Laudato Si Trump’s Book Club: The Imitation of Christ Quinn Emmett on Twitter Brian Colbert Kennedy on Twitter Intro/outro by Tim Blane Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com! Like and share us on Facebook! Check us on Instagram! Follow us on Twitter! Pin us on Pinterest! Tumble us or whatever the hell you do on Tumblr! Ok that’s enough good lord

In Episode 28, Quinn & Brian ask: why the hell is space exploration important when the planet is literally on fire?To answer that, they’ve brought on The Space Gal, Emily Calandrelli. And boy does she set the record straight.Emily is an MIT-engineer turned Emmy-nominated science host on TV and online, and she’s also a children’s book author.Join us as we discuss the history of space exploration, what she’d do as NASA administrator/dictator, and her own upbringing in West Virginia.Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links: Emily Calandrelli “The Space Gal” on Twitter NASA Space Grant Ada Lace Bill Nye Saves The World Trump’s Book Club: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie Quinn Emmett on Twitter Brian Colbert Kennedy on Twitter Intro/outro by Tim Blane Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com! Like and share us on Facebook! Check us on Instagram! Follow us on Twitter! Pin us on Pinterest! Tumble us or whatever the hell you do on Tumblr! Ok that’s enough good lord

In Episode 27, Quinn & Brian ask: what happens when the Atlantic Ocean invades the Arctic Ocean?Our guest: Julia Roberson, vice president of relations for the Ocean Conservancy in Washington D.C. Julia takes complex issues, like one ocean invading another, and makes them real and relevant to human beings, and finally (and most specific for us) helps us act on them. She’s damn funny and way smarter than us, but once again, a gentle reminder: it’s a low, low bar.Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links: Julia Roberson on Twitter Ocean Conservancy on Twitter Tuskfish use TOOLS Bye, lobsters! The Atlantic Ocean is Invading the Arctic Ocean Ocean acidification The great Pacific garbage patch Straws are no bueno Trump Book Club: The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison Quinn Emmett on Twitter Brian Colbert Kennedy on Twitter Intro/outro by Tim Blane Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com! Like and share us on Facebook! Check us on Instagram! Follow us on Twitter! Pin us on Pinterest! Tumble us or whatever the hell you do on Tumblr! Ok that’s enough good lord

In Episode 26, Quinn & Brian ask: what drives a man to give 200 climate speeches to Congress? That's once a week since 2007.Our guest today: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, the junior senator from Rhode Island. We discuss his speeches, his future carbon bill, bi-partisanship, calling bullshit when we see it, Rhode Island’s fossil-fuel lawsuit, and so much more. Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links:  Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on Twitter Sandra Thornton Whitehouse Republicans for Carbon Tax Resilient Rhody Trump’s Book Club: Silent Spring by Rachel Carson Quinn Emmett on Twitter Brian Colbert Kennedy on Twitter Intro/outro by Tim Blane Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com! Like and share us on Facebook! Check us on Instagram! Follow us on Twitter! Pin us on Pinterest! Tumble us or whatever the hell you do on Tumblr! Ok that’s enough good lord

In Episode 25, Quinn & Brian ask: “Middle school physics: Lame, or the first step to being a SUPERHERO?”Our guest today is “The Physics Girl”, Dianna Cowern. She’s hunted for dark matter with MIT and Harvard, worked at GE, and is now one of the world’s most popular science communicators. And holy hell is her enthusiasm contagious.We talk her incredible YouTube channel, being frustrated and Hulking out, Shuri, Wonder Woman, Magic Hour, and more!Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links: The Physics Girl on YouTube The Scully Effect Simone Giertz Tiny Bop Donors Choose Girls Who Code Black Girls Code Geek Dad Trump’s Book Club: Harry Potter Fun Experiments for Kids, from Mommy Poppins (a seriously great parenting resource) Quinn Emmett on Twitter Brian Colbert Kennedy on Twitter Intro/outro by Tim Blane Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com! Like and share us on Facebook! Check us on Instagram! Follow us on Twitter! Pin us on Pinterest! Tumble us or whatever the hell you do on Tumblr! Ok that’s enough good lord