Planet: Critical

Christine Webb, a primatologist at Harvard University and author of 'The Arrogant Ape', challenges the idea of human superiority over nature. She discusses how our belief in exceptionalism fuels ecological crises and reveals that children inherently connect with the natural world before societal conditioning sets in. Exploring the legacy of Cartesian thought, she critiques outdated views on animal consciousness and advocates for deeper connections with non-human beings, highlighting their emotional healing power. A thought-provoking call to rethink our relationship with all living creatures!

Damien Williams, an Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Data Science at UNC, shares insights on the complexities of language and communication. He discusses how our personalized realities create barriers to mutual understanding, even on shared facts like science. The conversation dives into the impact of technology and misinformation on discourse, exploring how rhetoric shapes perceptions in politics. Damien emphasizes the need for tough, honest dialogues to bridge divides and build solidarity in our increasingly polarized society.

Sarah Stein Lubrano, a neuroscientist and political theorist, delves into the decline of meaningful political discourse and the breakdown of community ties. She argues that conventional debate fails to change minds and that personal relationships are key. Exploring the effectiveness of deep canvassing, Lubrano shares strategies for fostering empathetic dialogue. Additionally, she discusses how social connections can enhance political engagement and promote activism, suggesting grassroots movements as vital for reshaping political consciousness.

In this engaging conversation, Celine Semaan, a Lebanese-Canadian researcher and co-founder of Slow Factory, dives into the urgent need for change to combat climate crisis and colonial legacies. She highlights the challenges of traditional climate organizations and discusses Slow Factory's innovative, risk-centered approach to environmental activism. Celine emphasizes the importance of community empowerment and unlearning entrenched narratives, showing how accessible education can drive meaningful societal shifts. Join her transformative vision for a better future.

Willow Defebaugh, writer and co-founder of Atmos Magazine, explores our connection to nature and its designs. She discusses the importance of empathy and humble conversations to bridge societal divides. Highlighting the roots of ecological crises in historical injustices, Willow addresses moral clarity and the necessity of collaboration. The dialogue dives into identity politics and allyship, advocating for understanding beyond political labels. Ultimately, the conversation calls for collective action and a reimagining of how we perceive and engage with each other and the natural world.

Émile Torres, a philosopher of extinction and author of 'Human Extinction: A History of the Science and Ethics of Annihilation', dives deep into existential risks and the obsessions of today's tech billionaires. He explores contrasting historical and contemporary views on extinction, while critiquing the elitism in Silicon Valley that prioritizes survival over democratic ideals. Torres discusses the perils of artificial superintelligence, the moral complexities of long-termism, and highlights the urgent need for a proactive approach to our dire global crises.

Chumpi Washikiat, an Achuar leader and eco-tourism advocate, shares insights on the challenges facing his community. He discusses the impact of industrial encroachment and the fight for indigenous rights within Ecuador. Highlighting the importance of collective action, Chumpi emphasizes eco-tourism as a sustainable alternative to extraction. He also shares captivating stories of shamanism and traditional ceremonies, illustrating the deep spiritual connection the Achuar people have with the Amazon. Their narrative serves as a powerful reminder of the need to integrate indigenous wisdom into global environmental solutions.

Vanessa Machado de Oliveira, author of 'Hospicing Modernity' and 'Outgrowing Modernity', discusses how modern narratives can hinder our relationship with nature and lead to societal collapse. She emphasizes the need for a new story that fosters community, empathy, and emotional connection. The conversation explores the profound impacts of colonialism on indigenous communities and advocates for deeper engagement with the land. Vanessa also highlights the importance of amplifying diverse voices to effectively navigate the intertwined social and environmental crises we face.

Militarisation, isolationism, extractivism.It looks like we learned nothing from the 21st century, as the powers that be are approaching looming civilisational collapse by cranking up the gears on the very machine which caused it. We’re re-entering a period of dog-eat-dog in a resource scarce world, which could result in the return of serfdom.That’s the warning from Antonio Turiel,  physicist and a mathematician who works as an environmental scientist at the Institute of Marine Sciences at the CSIC in Spain. On this big picture episode, we cover everything from fossil fuel production to re-armament to male supremacy, with Antonio cutting through noisy data to reveal exactly how resource scarcity is driving the violent shift in global politics, and what we can expect to happen in the coming years including military colonisation, food shortages, oil crashes, and rampant inequality.Planet: Critical investigates why the world is in crisis. Choose a paid subscription to support independent, paywall-free journalism. Get full access to Planet: Critical at www.planetcritical.com/subscribe

I recently interviewed Paul Hawken for Mongabay and want to share the moving conversation with you here. Celebrated author, thinker and entrepreneur Paul Hawken joins Mongabay’s podcast to discuss his new book, Carbon: The Book of Life. He argues that the jargon and fear-based terms broadly used by the climate movement alienate the broader public and fail to communicate the nuance and complexity of the larger ecological crises that humans are causing.In this wide-ranging discussion, Hawken explains that carbon — the fourth most abundant element in the universe, and a fundamental building block of life — is being maligned in a way that distracts from the root causes of ecological destruction in favor of technological solutions that are not viable at scale, or international agreements that prioritize carbon accounting.Jargon is useful for communication of concepts within the scientific community, but when applied to messaging for the general public, it fails to communicate the problems humans face effectively: “We have to create a climate movement that is actually the human movement. And the human movement is humans that are not separate and distinct from nature.”Subscribe to or follow the Mongabay Newscast wherever you listen to podcasts, from Apple to Spotify, and you can also listen to all episodes here on the Mongabay website.Planet: Critical is 100% independent and community-powered. If you value it, and have the means, become a paid subscriber today. Get full access to Planet: Critical at www.planetcritical.com/subscribe