The Climate Denier's Playbook

Dive into the bizarre parody film 'Fuel-less,' a satirical take on 'Clueless' created by the American Petroleum Institute. Discover its absurd plot and quirky humor as the hosts explore its themes around a world devoid of oil. They critique the low-budget madness and outrageous fashion choices, weaving in personal anecdotes and cinematic references. Enjoy a hilarious segment featuring exaggerated portrayals of fuel scarcity with a dance number, all while reflecting on the surreal influence of oil in pop culture.

Dive into the playful debate over the myth of global cooling as the hosts unpack this viral misconception with humor and scientific facts. They explore the role of greenhouse gases, historic climate predictions, and media misrepresentations that shaped public perception. A satirical take on urban planning and car culture adds flavor, while anecdotes highlight the ongoing battle against climate misinformation. Expect laughs and insights as they contrast the past fears of global cooling with today's pressing concerns about warming!

Bumper-to-bumper traffic: an American right? Unpacking the 'car brain' mentality reveals the complexities of congestion pricing. This strategy aims to reduce traffic while funding public transportation. Foot traffic brings economic perks to urban areas, yet car culture persists. Comedic tales intertwine with insights on how tolls affect commuting choices. Finally, the debate on NYC's congestion pricing highlights media narratives and political dynamics shaping public opinion. Can we overcome the challenges for a greener commute?

Matt Nelsen, co-writer and director for Climate Town, dives into the fascinating world of climate disinformation. He discusses the viral video clip that has ignited debates on climate narratives. The conversation highlights the misconceptions surrounding wind energy and critiques the hypocrisy of fossil fuel dependency. Nelsen also explores the motivations behind major oil companies shifting focus from renewables to traditional energy. With a blend of humor and serious insights, he emphasizes the need for better understanding of renewable technologies.

They say the wind is driving the whales crazy. BONUS EPISODES available on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/deniersplaybook) SOCIALS & MORE (https://linktr.ee/deniersplaybook) WANT TO ADVERTISE WITH US? Please contact climatetownsponsorships@gmail.comDISCLAIMER: Some media clips have been edited for length and clarity. CREDITS Created by: Rollie Williams, Nicole Conlan & Ben BoultHosts: Rollie Williams & Nicole ConlanExecutive Producer: Ben Boult Editors: Ben Boult & Laura ConteProducers: Irene Plagianos, Daniella PhilipsonAssociate Producer: Miranda Manganaro Archival Producer: Margaux SaxAdditional Research and Fact Checking: Carly Rizzuto & Canute HaroldsonMusic: Tony Domenick Art: Jordan Doll Special Thanks: The Civil Liberties Defense CenterSOURCESAnderson, D. (2023, October 23). Fossil fuel money lurks behind anti-offshore wind power political ads in New Jersey. Energy and Policy Institute. Anderson, D. (2024). Fueling the Opposition. Energy and Policy Institute. Axelrod, J. (2024, June 26). Whales Are Dying but Not from Offshore Wind. Scientific American.BGNews. (2023, May 3). JFarage: The Trump Interview | Wednesday 3rd May. YouTube. Berger, I. (2025, February 4). Years of falsehoods from Fox News helped solidify offshore wind as a prime target for Trump. Media Matters for America. Berke, B. (2025, January 22). Prysmian abandons plans for offshore wind cable factory in Somerset. The Public’s Radio; Rhode Island PBS. Chapman, M. (2025, January 8). Are Offshore Wind Farms Actually Harming Whales? IFLScience. Choma, R. (2020, August 4). The biggest Trump financial mystery? Where he came up with the cash for his Scottish resorts. Mother Jones. Daly, M. (2018, November 30). Trump admin approves seismic surveys for Atlantic drilling. AP News. Farrell, R. (2024, December 11). Too hot for humpbacks: The race to protect Pacific whales. BBC. Fox News. (2023, February 1). Tucker examines what's behind the deaths of humpback whales. YouTube. Fox Business. (2023, February 23). Are wind turbines killing whales? YouTubeFrequent Questions—Offshore Wind and Whales. (2024, March 14). NOAA Fisheries. Griffiths, B. (2016, November 22). Trump tweeted about Scottish wind farm 60 times. POLITICO. Hardach, S. (2025, January 30). Which is worse for wildlife, wind farms or oil drilling? BBC. Lewis, A. S. (2023, March 8). The East Coast Whale Die-Offs: Unraveling the Causes. Yale E360; Yale School of the Environment. Lutz, M., & Rowland-Shea, J. (2023, December 11). The Oil and Gas Industry Is Behind Offshore Wind Misinformation. Center for American Progress. Machette, T. L., & Lemonick, M. D. (2020, October 4). When Whales Stop Calling. Scientific American. Mathis, W., & Ferman, M. (2025, January 30). Shell Takes $1 Billion Hit on Wind Farm Trump Wants ‘Dead.’ Bloomberg. PowerfulJRE. (2024, October 25). Joe Rogan Experience #2219 - Donald Trump. YouTube. Roadmap and Implementation. (2017). Ocean Noise Strategy; NOAA. Seismic Airgun Blasting in the Atlantic Ocean. (2021, May 21). Earthjustice. Slevin, I., Kattrup, W., & Roberts, T. (2023). Against the Wind: A Map of the Anti-Offshore Wind Network in the Eastern United States. Brown University Climate and Development Lab. Silva, M., & Horton, J. (2023, September 26). Fact-checking Donald Trump’s claim that wind  turbines kill whales. BBC. Spring, J. (2025, February 16). Trump’s war on wind seems to be winning, experts say. The Washington Post. Stevens, A. P. (2024, May 9). Are offshore wind farms harming right whales? Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The White House. (2025, January 2). Temporary Withdrawal of All Areas on the Outer Continental Shelf from Offshore Wind Leasing and Review of the Federal Government’s Leasing and Permitting Practices for Wind Projects. Understanding Sound in the Ocean | NOAA Fisheries. (n.d.). NOAA Fisheries. White, S. (2024, March 1). Fossil Fuel Interests and Dark Money Donors Are Behind Opposition to Offshore Wind. Conservation Law Foundation. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Donald Trump, the former U.S. president, shares insights on Project 2025 and its significant impact on climate policy. The discussion delves into the project’s controversial recommendations from the Heritage Foundation, linking it to radical Republican ideology. They analyze its implications for the presidential race, reveal contradictions within Project 2025, and critique its approach to environmental regulations. With a mix of humor and serious commentary, Trump’s ties to skepticism and disinformation around climate change are also explored.

Is planting a trillion trees really the solution to climate change? The hosts dive into the humor and hype surrounding this popular idea, examining its genuine merits and pitfalls. They debate corporate greenwashing versus authentic eco-efforts, revealing the complexities of tree planting initiatives. The conversation also takes a sharp turn to critique monoculture practices and emphasizes the necessity of local involvement in reforestation. With laughs and thoughtful insights, they advocate for a multi-faceted approach to climate solutions beyond just trees.

Why do America’s trains lag behind? The hosts tackle listener questions with humor, diving into the intricacies of U.S. transportation policies and climate anxiety. They weigh the pros and cons of nuclear energy while sharing comedic insights on climate activism. Personal anecdotes add charm as they discuss urban planning and the environmental impacts of the Olympics. With playful banter, they also reflect on their sketch comedy memories, offering a light-hearted take on serious topics worth considering.

The podcast explores the impact of global population growth on climate change, discussing immigration, environmental concerns, population density in cities, historical figures' views on overpopulation, and the framing of overpopulation as an environmental issue. It challenges misconceptions about migration and systemic inequality, critiques flawed predictions of overpopulation leading to food scarcity, and advocates for better resource utilization and equitable distribution to address environmental challenges.

A review of the movie 'Climate: The Movie' discusses themes of mass consumption and challenges in climate change denial. The podcast analyzes disinformation techniques in a documentary and delves into the psychology of climate deniers. It also addresses debunked climate change arguments and the influence of physicists in the climate debate.