
The Climate Pod
The Climate Pod is a wide-ranging conversation with leading experts on the politics, economics, activism, culture, science, and social justice issues at the heart of the climate crisis. Hear from guests like Jane Goodall, Bill McKibben, Al Roker, David Wallace-Wells, Katharine Hayhoe, Adam McKay, Bill Nye, Robert Bullard, Catherine Coleman Flowers, Ted Danson, Gina McCarthy, Paul Krugman, and many more. Hosted by Brock Benefiel and Ty Benefiel.
Latest episodes

Jul 29, 2020 • 1h 15min
Eric Holthaus On His Vision Of The Future Earth
This week, we're joined by Eric Holthaus, meteorologist and writer, to talk about his new book "The Future Earth." Eric shares his radical vision for what he expects in the coming decades, explains how the book came to be, and identifies what is most lacking right now. We also discuss how the future he lays out in the book seems even more relevant during the current pandemic. Co-hosts Ty Benefiel and Brock Benefiel also discuss Lisa Friedman's piece "E.P.A. Inspector General to Investigate Trump’s Biggest Climate Rollback" and a new report on climate sensitivity. 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 new YouTube channel! Thank you to our sponsor Hero Power. Learn more about Hero Power's nationwide Solar Share program. Buy "The Future Earth" by Eric Holthaus

Jul 22, 2020 • 1h 30min
Tom Steyer on Biden's Climate Plan and Voter Turnout | Dr. Johan Rockström on Concerning New Climate Data
This week, Tom Steyer joins the show again to talk about his new role as chairman of Joe Biden's Climate Engagement Advisory Council and get his thoughts on the vice president's new climate plan. We also discuss how to drive climate-concerned voters to the polls, what he's learned founding and working with NextGen America, and how he plans to help win down ballot races with GiveGreen. Then, world-renowned climate scientist Dr. Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, explains why he's deeply concerned with new climate modeling data that could suggest greater climate sensitivity to carbon emissions and faster global warming as a result. Dr. Rockström explains how we should react and why 2020 is still a super year for climate action. Co-hosts Ty Benefiel and Brock Benefiel also discuss their reaction to Biden's climate plan. 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 new YouTube channel! Thank you to our sponsor Hero Power. Learn more about Hero Power's nationwide Solar Share program. Further Reading: The Gap in Joe Biden's $2 Trillion Climate Plan Reveals the Biggest Fight to Come by Brian Kahn Joe Biden has endorsed the Green New Deal in all but name by Julian Brave NoiseCat

Jul 15, 2020 • 1h 34min
Bill Nye on the Importance of Science During COVID-19 and Climate Change | Wawa Gatheru on Black People's Erasure in Environmental Studies
This week, Bill Nye joins the podcast to talk about the importance of sticking to science when it comes to handling the current pandemic and understanding how to address the climate crisis. We discuss his podcast Science Rules! with Bill Nye, how he became passionate about climate issues, what he thinks of social media, battling science skeptics, and that amazing appearance on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Then, Wawu Gatheru joins the show to talk about her piece in VICE, "It's Time for Environmental Studies to Own Up to Erasing Black People." She tells us how environmental scholarship often excludes Black people, what a better climate and environmental movement need, and how we should fight against Black criminalization in nature. Co-hosts Ty Benefiel and Brock Benefiel also discuss Emily Atkin's conversation with Jamie Margolin and former Gov. John Kasich and Hiroko Tabuchi's piece "Fracking Firms Fail, Rewarding Executives and Raising Climate Fears." 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 new YouTube channel! Thank you to our sponsor Hero Power. Learn more about Hero Power's nationwide Solar Share program.

Jul 8, 2020 • 1h 5min
John Podesta on Trump's Climate Weakness and Facebook's Failure | Rep. Kathy Castor on House Dems' Climate Plan
This week, John Podesta, former White House Chief of Staff and founder of the Center for American Progress, joins the show to talk about Climate Power 2020's memo on President Trump's electoral weakness on climate change. We also discuss Facebook's failure to stop climate misinformation and the Democrats can win back power and pass meaningful legislation. Then, Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) , Chair of the House Committee on the Climate Crisis, joins the show to discuss the House Democrats' massive climate plan released last week. Co-hosts Ty Benefiel and Brock Benefiel also discuss the big pipeline defeats and what it could mean going forward. 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! Thank you to our sponsor Hero Power. Learn more about Hero Power's nationwide Solar Share program.

Jul 1, 2020 • 1h 17min
Climate Reality's William J. Barber III on Training Activists on Environmental Justice | UN Report on Gender, Climate, and Security
This week, Climate Reality's Strategic Partnerships Manager William J. Barber III joins the show to tell us about the organization's upcoming Leadership Corps' Global Training from July 18-26. Barber III explains how this year's event will provide a greater focus on environmental justice and discusses the piece he recently co-authored in The Nation with Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, "Racism and Covid-19 Are a Lethal Combination." Then, Silja Halle, Coordinator of Women, Natural Resources, Climate & Peace for the United Nations' Environment Programme, and Dr. Amiera Sawas, Senior Climate and Gender Justice Advisor at ActionAid UK, join the show to discuss the new UN report that highlights links between gender, climate, and security. Co-hosts Ty Benefiel and Brock Benefiel also discuss Dharna Noor's "Apparently It's Sue Big Oil Week" and "Climate Lawsuits Are Coming For Koch Industries" 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! Thank you to our sponsor Hero Power. Learn more about Hero Power's nationwide Solar Share program.

Jun 24, 2020 • 1h 4min
How To Get To 90% Clean Energy By 2035 (w/ 2035: The Report's David Wooley and Energy Innovation's Sonia Aggarwal)
Happy 1st Anniversary to The Climate Pod! This week, co-hosts Ty Benefiel and Brock Benefiel talk to two clean energy policy experts about a new study, 2035: The Report, which outlines an economically beneficial path to transforming the electricity sector to 90% clean energy in the next 15 years. We speak to David Wooley, co-author of the report and visiting professor UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, about the report's findings. Later, we talk to Sonia Aggarwal, Vice President at Energy Innovation, who co-authored a policy memo that accompanies the report. Sonia tells us about the policies that necessary to make this change possible. Ty and Brock also discuss warming temperatures in Siberia, Russian government's approach to climate change, and memories from the first year of the podcast. 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! Thank you to our sponsor Hero Power. Learn more about Hero Power's nationwide Solar Share program.

Jun 19, 2020 • 1h 6min
Dr. Robert Bullard on the Past, Present, and Future of Environmental Justice| Plus, Brandi Colander on Research Connecting Climate Change to Pregnancy Complications
On this episode, we talk with Dr. Robert Bullard, who is often referred to as the "Father of Environmental Justice." We talk about the connection between COVID-19 and air pollution, how racial inequality is present during hurricane seasons and after flooding events, how racist housing practices have lead to environmental injustice, how he got involved in the movement, and where he thinks the movement is headed. Then, we speak with former Obama Administration official Brandi Colander about a disturbing new report that was published on Thursday that identifies how increased air pollution and heat exposure lead to pregnancy complications, especially for pregnant Black women. Co-hosts Ty Benefiel and Brock Benefiel also discuss May's record-setting temperature and the bizarre PR mishap by Chevron to sow mistrust in the Green New Deal. 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! Thank you to our sponsor Hero Power. Learn more about Hero Power's nationwide Solar Share program.

Jun 17, 2020 • 47min
How Do Americans Feel About Climate Justice Policies? (w/ Dr. Parrish Bergquist)
This week, Dr. Parrish Bergquist joins the show to talk about her new study with Dr. Leah Stokes and Dr. Matto Mildenberger about Americans attitudes toward linking climate policy with other social and economic considerations. Do Americans support the fundamental ideas behind the Green New Deal? She reveals the results. Co-hosts Ty Benefiel and Brock Benefiel also discuss Rebecca Leber's piece on Trump's new environmental brags, Lisa Friedman's article on the war against climate science, and David Roberts' piece on how air pollution impacts Black communities. 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! Thank you to our sponsor Hero Power. Learn more about Hero Power's nationwide Solar Share program. Follow Dr. Parrish Bergquist on Twitter

Jun 10, 2020 • 1h 9min
MN350's Sam Grant on Fighting Climate and Racial Injustice in Minneapolis | Plus, Data For Progress' Marcela Mulholland on How Joe Biden Can Win w/ Climate
This week, we talk to MN350 Executive Director Sam Grant about climate activism and racial justice in Minneapolis. What's the role of a climate organization in the city where the protests started? Sam tells us what he and MN350 plan to do to fight for a more just and safe society. Then, Data For Progress' Deputy Director for Climate Marcela Muholland on the opening Joe Biden has to win more younger voters. How can climate issues drive voter turnout? Marcela explains. 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! Thank you to our sponsor Hero Power. Learn more about Hero Power's nationwide Solar Share program. Follow MN350 on Twitter Follow Data For Progress on Twitter Follow Marcela Muholland on Twitter Articles Reference on The Show And Further Reading: Great Britain heads for record coal-free period during lockdown New bill would prohibit the president from nuking a hurricane

Jun 3, 2020 • 49min
350.org's Tamara Toles O'Laughlin on Fighting Racial Injustice in the Climate Movement | Plus, Director Josh Wakely Talks About Making Pearl Jam's "Retrograde" Video
Tamara Toles O'Laughlin, North American Director for 350.org, joins us again this week to discuss the importance of racial justice in the climate fight, how organizers should respond now, and how the movement can become more inclusive. Then, Josh Wakely, director of the new Pearl Jam "Retrograde" video, takes us behind the scenes of the making of the video. He explains why he wanted Greta Thunberg involved in the project and why he wanted to address the climate crisis in his art. 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! Thank you to our sponsor Hero Power. Learn more about Hero Power's nationwide Solar Share program. Follow 350.org on Twitter Follow Josh's production company Grace on Instagram Articles Reference on The Show And Further Reading: The climate movement's silence by Emily Atkin There Is No Climate Justice Without Defunding the Police by Brian Kahn