The Climate Pod

The climate crisis seems to be missing from the overwhelming majority of the popular culture that we consume. But is that really the case? In this compelling conversation Mark Bould, a distinguished professor of film and literature at the University of the West of England, explains how we might be able to uncover the crisis in TV, books, and film where it isn't obvious at first glance. Bould is the author of The Anthropocene Unconscious: Climate Catastrophe Culture, which challenges our conventional understanding of climate change narratives and encourages us to uncover the implicit climate themes woven into various forms of media. Bould explains in this conversation how science fiction especially can serve as a powerful lens through which we can examine the complexities of climate change and its cultural implications. Throughout this episode, we journey through a diverse array of media, including the Sharknado, Arrival, World War Z, The Edge of Tomorrow, The Purge, and the Fast & Furious franchise to examine how climate themes appear in unexpected plas. From the explosive rise of zombie films to the nuanced storytelling of literary novels, Bould shares his insights on how these narratives not only reflect societal anxieties but also shape our collective consciousness regarding the climate crisis. Whether you're a film nerd or a climate change champion, this episode offers a thought-provoking exploration of how fiction can illuminate the biggest challenges we face.  Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter/podcast, The Climate Weekly, to help support this show. Your contributions will make the continuation of this show possible.  Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and more! Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

This week, David Wallace-Wells is back on the show for a wide-ranging conversation on the climate crisis unfolding in 2025. I was struck by David’s recent essay, “We Can Adapt and Prepare for Floods. But Will We?” in the wake of the horrific flooding in Texas. As David explains, the climate disasters we face today are increasingly unpredictable and widespread, challenging our traditional understanding of what our climate risks are where they can happen. Despite the rising frequency and cost of these disasters, David notes that increasingly it appears that our most commons response is largely to normalize these events. He suggests that instead of being jolted into action, we are adapting to these new realities mostly by just accepting it as inevitable.  In this conversation, we also discuss a number of other recent events, from the repeal of major parts of the Inflation Reduction Act to budget cuts to federal services to China’s big clean energy in push in recent years. It’s wide-ranging and the kind of fascinating talk you can always expect when David joins the show. David Wallace-Wells is the New York Times essayist, best-selling science writer and author of The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming. His subscriber-only newsletter he explores climate change, technology, the future of the planet and how we live on it. His recent piece on the tragic floods in Texas “We Can Adapt and Prepare for Floods. But Will We?” Check out our past conversations with David, first in 2021 and later with Ty in 2023. He’s always an exceptional guest and a very considerate person. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter/podcast, The Climate Weekly, to help support this show. Your contributions will make the continuation of this show possible.  Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and more! Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Why were there so many serial killers in the US in the 1970s and 80s? Why were so many in the Pacific Northwest? This week, we explore the Lead Crime Hypothesis with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Caroline Fraser. In her new book, Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers, she explores the potential link between mid-20th century pollution from leaded gasoline and industrial smelters and the spike in violent crime. We also examine how the reduction of lead in the environment could explain the subsequent drop in crime rates since the 1990s, but how we still face a threat today. We discuss how lead pollution became such a problem, its known impacts on human behavior, and why our understanding of pollution can challenge some conventional crime reduction strategies and beliefs. Caroline grew up outside of Seattle in the 1970s, while Ted Bundy and other murderers were in the area. We talk about her personal history with the area and how it's driven her work on the topic.  Caroline Fraser is the author of Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder, which won the Pulitzer Prize as well as the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Heartland Prize, and the Plutarch Award for Best Biography of the Year. She is also the author of God’s Perfect Child: Living and Dying in the Christian Science Church, and her writing has appeared in the New York Review of Books, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, the Los Angeles Times, and the London Review of Books, among other publications. Check out Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter/podcast, The Climate Weekly, to help support this show. Your contributions will make the continuation of this show possible.  Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Subscribe to our YouTube channel.        

We’re living through a time of extraordinary change to the US energy landscape. As Robbie Orvis, Senior Director of Modeling and Analysis at Energy Innovation argues, the combination of surging demand for electricity with new policies designed to slow the build out of cheaper, cleaner, faster energy sources like wind, solar, and batteries will result in higher utility bills, fewer jobs, and slower economic growth. And that will impact everyone, likely in more ways than you’d expect. Orvis joins The Climate Pod this week for an in-depth examination of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. How much less clean energy will actually be built in the coming years? How much could it increase energy costs? What will be the economic losses suffered as a result? Will international momentum towards clean energy continue in absence of the United States’ leadership? Orvis answers all these questions and more as we get into the weeds of the new energy environment. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter/podcast, The Climate Weekly, to help support this show. Your contributions will make the continuation of this show possible.  Check out more of Robbie's work at Energy Innovation here. Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

David Roberts, a renowned journalist and author of the 'Volts' newsletter, shares his insights on recent setbacks in climate policy, particularly regarding the Inflation Reduction Act. He discusses the intertwining of politics and climate action, reflecting on pivotal legislative moments. The conversation dives into the complex U.S.-China dynamic in the global energy transition and the crucial role of public perception in shaping policy outcomes. Roberts advocates for innovative communication strategies to engage wider audiences in climate solutions.

Hey, it's been quite a while since we last posted an episode. What is going on? We explain what's been happening and what to expect now.  Please consider becoming a supporter of our show by signing up for a paid membership to our Substack, The Climate Weekly. This will give you exclusive member content and much, much more. https://theclimateweekly.substack.com/  

Prior to the New Deal, millions of rural Americans were quite literally living in the dark. Though electricity had been available for decades, it was out of reach for most living in America's  countryside post-World War I. That all changed within a decade. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's approach to the power sector during the Great Depression transformed electrification and public utilities on rural life and dramatically modernized the American home throught the nation. In his new book, Democracy In Power, A History of Electrification in the United States, Sandeep Vaheesan explores the rapid economic and social changes brought about by the New Deal through initiatives like the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Rural Electrification Act and argues that many lessons from the era are relevant today's push for climate action. Sandeep joins the show this week to explain how public competition in the 20th century stimulated power consumption and improved living standards in America. He explains why Americans were ready for change during the New Deal era, how federal initiatives would later power wartime efforts, and how decisions during FDR's presidency still impact the current landscape of public and cooperative utilities. We also explore the racial and gender inequality of the era and how many New Deal programs exacerbated injustices. Finally, Sandeep argues for public leadership in achieving decarbonization targets while ensuring democratic principles in power management. Sandeep Vaheesan is the legal director at the Open Markets Institute. He leads their legal research and advocacy, including the amicus program.  Read Democracy In Power, A History of Electrification in the United States. As always, follow us @climatepod on Twitter and email us at theclimatepod@gmail.com. Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Subscribe to our YouTube channel and our Substack, The Climate Weekly. 

Evlondo Cooper, a senior writer with Media Matters, returns to discuss the year’s climate change coverage. He emphasizes the necessity of linking extreme weather to climate narratives, highlighting ongoing media gaps. Cooper critiques the commercialization of Earth Day and the lack of coverage around COP29. He calls for year-round focus on extreme weather and accountability in climate reporting. The conversation underscores the growing role of independent media in shaping public understanding and the need for a more investigative approach to climate journalism.

David Spratt, a climate and policy analyst and Research Director at Breakthrough National Centre for Climate Restoration, reveals chilling insights from his book, Collision Course. He discusses the catastrophic implications of reaching 3 degrees Celsius of warming, including the risk of tipping points and threats to food security and social stability. Spratt highlights the urgency for honest discourse on climate risks, the limitations of current responses, and the need for swift, collective action to combat escalating crises and global challenges.

The discussion dives into the vital role of critical metals in the renewable energy transition. Vince Beiser highlights the dangers of mining practices and the human rights issues entwined with metal extraction. China's dominance in the supply chain presents geopolitical challenges. The conversation also covers the urgent need for sustainable mining and recycling solutions, alongside the potential of deep sea mining. Additionally, the growing right to repair movement is identified as crucial for reducing waste and improving ethical practices.