Advertise on podcast: How to Save a Planet

Hey there, Earthlings. Did you miss Ayana and Alex, your beloved How to Save a Planet co-hosts? Well, they reunited on Ayana’s new podcast, What If We Get It Right?, cracking up about how they met, reminiscing about the old show, and discussing Alex Blumberg’s new clean energy startup. (Alex, Ayana is so proud of you!) So, today we’re sharing an episode of What If We Get It Right? – a show about climate solutions, about what we need to do to address the climate crisis, and how to make those things happen — from changing laws, to electrifying buildings, to improving fashion and media. Each week an expert guest joins host Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson to break it down, delightfully, and help us all envision what getting right on climate looks like, so we can reel that vision into reality. If you liked How to Save a Planet, this show is definitely for you. Check out the back catalog and follow, then sign up for the What If We Get It Right? Substack newsletter for updates and bonus content.  Reunited and it feels so good. Earthlings, let’s get into it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the coming years, we'll need millions of batteries: batteries to store renewable electricity and power a massive fleet of electric vehicles. But those batteries will require certain metals, and those metals have to be mined. And the mining industry can be a mess, sometimes associated with deforestation, child labor, and deadly floods of toxic waste. Is there a better way? Today we journey to the bottom of the ocean to find out. Along the way, we discover a massive government conspiracy and meet an adorable octopus. Calls to Action: Keep up to date on deep-sea mining news with the Deep-Sea Mining Observer. Learn more about calls for a moratorium on deep-sea mining with the Deep-Sea Mining Science Statement. Check out the Ocean Forum's Ocean Justice Platform (shout-out to our former co-host, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever wondered if you were on the right side of an argument about climate change? Or just want to understand what everyday climate battles are worth fighting? A panel of expert climate judges take on the infamous Reddit thread ‘Am I The A**hole’ to issue judgments on climate-themed dilemmas. Along the way, we debate the ethics of roommate spats, office politics, baby showers and personal finances. Guests: Rollie Williams Calls to Action Better understand how much electricity the various appliances in your home are using. Check out this electricity calculator, to tell you how much electricity you’re using and how much it will cost you depending on where you are within the U.S. If you're in the market for a new heat pump, check out this Forbes article to get a better understanding of cost. Check out this video from This Old House to understand how heat pumps work. Also check out The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency. Check out our Calls to Action archive for all of the actions we've recommended on the show. Send us your ideas or feedback with our Listener Mail Form. Sign up for our newsletter here. And follow us on Twitter and Instagram. This episode was produced by Janae Morris. The rest of our reporting and producing team includes Anna Ladd, Kendra Pierre-Louis, Rachel Waldholz, and Daniel Ackerman. Our supervising producer is Matt Shilts. Our editor is Caitlin Kenney. Our intern is Janae Morris. Sound design and mixing by Hansdale Hsu with original music by Peter Leonard and Emma Munger. Our fact checker for this episode is James Gaines. Special thx to Climate ethicist William Lynn. Thanks to all of you for listening. See you next week! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we’re sharing an episode of The Carbon Copy, a climate change podcast produced by Canary Media. The topic is extremely timely: heat waves. This summer saw extreme heat blanketing almost every region of the northern hemisphere. And these heat waves aren’t just uncomfortable or inconvenient. They’re deadly. In most years, extreme heat kills more people in the U.S. than any other weather-related disaster. This episode asks: how can we better prepare for these heat waves? Some of the answers are surprisingly simple–and they could help address problems beyond extreme heat. Check out the rest of the series on Spotify or CanaryMedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s How to Save a Planet’s second birthday! To celebrate, we’re sharing stories of climate action taken by our very own listeners. We'll hear from a listener who ran for an unexpected office, a grandmother who helped save her county’s recycling program, a mom who was inspired to launch a whole new business, and a group of students who took on one of the biggest oil companies in the world – and won.  Calls to Action: Do your climate action Venn diagram! You can find a template and other resources here. Send us pictures of your Venn diagram – and when you take action, tell us about that too! Check out our Calls to Action archive for all of the actions we've recommended on the show. Send us your ideas or feedback with our Listener Mail Form. Sign up for our newsletter here. And follow us on Twitter and Instagram. This episode of How to Save a Planet was produced by Anna Ladd and Janae Morris. The rest of our reporting and producing team includes Kendra Pierre-Louis, Rachel Waldholz, and Daniel Ackerman. Our supervising producer is Matt Shilts. Our editor is Caitlin Kenney. Our intern is Janae Morris. Sound design and mixing by Hansdale Hsu with original music from Peter Leonard and Emma Munger. Our fact checker for this episode was Claudia Geib. Special thanks to Sarah Seidschlag and Soham Ray. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

America loves its lawns. Altogether, grass lawns in the U.S. cover an area the size of Georgia. So, what does that mean for the climate? And can we do better? To find out, we’re joined by lawn expert and social ecologist Dr. Peter Groffman. He shares some surprising findings from his 20 years studying lawns and the people who tend them. Plus, we address one listener's pet peeve: artificial turf. And we share tips on how to make your yard as climate-friendly as possible. Calls to Action: 1. Check out the Guide to Passing Wildlife-Friendly Property Maintenance Ordinances from the National Wildlife Federation. 2. Ready to tear out your grass lawn? Your state’s university extension service or a local non-profit probably have tips. See examples here from Maryland and Colorado. Check out our Calls to Action archive for all of the actions we've recommended on the show. Send us your ideas or feedback with our Listener Mail Form. Sign up for our newsletter here. And follow us on Twitter and Instagram. This episode of How to Save a Planet was produced by Daniel Ackerman. The rest of our reporting and producing team includes Kendra Pierre-Louis, Anna Ladd, and Rachel Waldholz. Our supervising producer is Matt Shilts. Our editor is Caitlin Kenney. Our intern is Janae Morris. Sound design and mixing by Peter Leonard with original music from Peter Leonard and Emma Munger. Our fact checker for this episode was Claudia Geib. Special thanks to Dr. Cristina Milesi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In recent years more and more people from Central America have tried to emigrate north to Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Many leave home not because they want to, but because they have to: Droughts, brought on by climate change, have forced many to choose between staying home – and risking starvation – or migrating. But a different way of farming could change that calculus. We look at how climate change is driving immigration, and how climate smart agriculture could help families stay on their land. Learn more about the work that Catholic Relief Services is doing on climate smart ag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we’re sharing an episode of Catalyst, a podcast hosted by Shayle Kann and produced by Canary Media. The topic is a controversial one: solar geoengineering — the idea that we can quickly cool the planet by blocking a small amount of sunlight from reaching Earth. Doing so could have uncertain ripple effects throughout the world’s ecosystems, so very few climate scientists advocate solar geoengineering. Still, learning about these ideas reminds us, for better or worse, how much power we humans have to radically reshape life on Earth. This episode dives into the science and ethics of it all. Check out the rest of the series on Spotify or canarymedia.com Check out our Calls to Action archive for all of the actions we've recommended on the show. Send us your ideas or feedback with our Listener Mail Form. Sign up for our newsletter here. And follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Work. School. The grocery store. We all need to get somewhere. But how we get there has huge implications for the climate. In the United States, transportation - mainly from cars - makes up roughly a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions. It's true, Electric vehicles help reduce emissions. But experts say that to truly give the climate (and humanity) a chance, we need fewer people reliant on cars of any kind. And that means using alternatives like mass transit, walking, and bicycles. But for a long time in the United States, cycling has gotten a bad rep. They're seen as toys and recreation - not transportation. So, we take a look at how cycling developed its dorky reputation. And, then, we counter it with some propaganda of our own. Because bicycling is not just better for the planet, it's fun, and freeing, and accessible for way more people than you might think.  If you like Peter's jingle from the episode, you can download it here. Guests Justin Gonzalez, Bike New York Chantal Hardy,Bike New York     Louis Quinones, Bike New York    Peter Leonard, Gimlet/Spotify   April Streeter, Author, Women on Wheels: The Scandalous Untold Histories of Women in Bicycling Anders Swanson, Plain Bicycle Project  Anna Zivarts, Disability Rights Washington Calls to Action: Go for a bike ride. if it's been awhile since you've ridden a bike, go ride a bike - it's ok to take it slow. If you can't ride a bike, Learn to Ride A Bike. In the United States,  The League of American Cyclists has resources on where you can find classes. Bike shops and a quick search through your favorite search engine are also great ways to find classes. For people with disabilities, iCan Bike an offshoot of the nonprofit iCanShine offers 5 day bike camps around the United States. If you're willing to try on your own, Bicycling Magazine has a guide. Push for better bike infrastructure. People for Bikes has an online "Advocacy Academy," on about on how to advocate for better bike infrastructure. The whole series is worth watching but we especially want to highlight two videos: Making a Better Bike Lane and Slow Streets are Safe Streets. The League of American Cyclists also has advocacy tools, Bicycling magazine also published this advocacy guide. Dig into your auto club. If you have an auto club membership, like AAA, make sure they are supporting cycling. According to news reports AAA has lobbied against public transit and cycling infrastructure. If you're a member, reach out to let them know you're pro cycling. If you're looking to jump ship altogether - there are alternatives. You can try contacting your auto insurance for roadside assistance or try a third party like Better World Club. They, like AAA, also offer roadside assistance for bikes. Further Reading and Listening The nonprofit AdaptAbility works to get adaptive bicycles in the hands of people with disabilities who could not otherwise afford them. The National Association of Transportation Officials has a guide on designing bicycle infrastructure for all ages and abilities.  If you take an action we recommend in one of our episodes, do us a favor and tell us about it! We’d love to hear how it went. Record a short voice memo on your phone and send it to us via our Listener Mail Form.  We might use it in an upcoming episode. You can find all the actions we’ve recommended on our show here! How to Save a Planet is a Spotify original podcast and Gimlet production. It's hosted by Alex Blumberg, and this week by me, Kendra Pierre-Louis. This episode was produced by Kendra Pierre-Louis. The rest of our reporting and producing team includesDaniel Ackerman, Anna Ladd, and Rachel Waldholz. Our supervising producer is Matt Shilts. Our editor is Caitlin Kenney. Our intern is Janae Morris. Sound design and mixing by Hansdale Hsu(“she”)with original music by Peter Leonard, and Emma Munger. Our fact checker this episode is James Gaines.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Well, wow. Congress is on the verge of passing the most ambitious climate legislation in U.S. history! Don’t be fooled by its name: the Inflation Reduction Act is a massive investment in clean energy and climate initiatives, aimed at boosting the transition to a low-carbon economy. It also includes some profound compromises. So we called up the smartest climate experts and activists we know to break down this plan – what’s good, what’s not and what’s next?  Guests:  Dr. Leah Stokes, Professor of Environmental Politics, UC Santa Barbara Rhiana Gunn-Wright, Director of Climate Policy, The Roosevelt Institute John Paul Mejia, National Spokesperson, the Sunrise Movement Calls to Action: If you’re listening to this before the House of Representatives has passed the Inflation Reduction Act - call your member of Congress! You can find information on how to call and sample scripts at Call4Climate.com Interested in the Sunrise Movement? You can check them out at sunrisemovement.org. They’re training organizers this fall for two new campaigns: The Green New Deal for Communities, and the Green New Deal for Schools. If your politics lean more conservative and you’re thinking, “Hang on, why did zero Republicans vote for major climate action?” check out the American Conservation Coalition. They’re focused on convincing Republican office-holders to take climate change seriously. A little older? Maybe headed towards retirement? Check out the new group Third Act started by the journalist and activist Bill McKibben.  Look around in your community! Who’s running for town council or the state legislature – or the public utility commission? Ask them where they stand on climate. And if you like what they stand for – get involved!  Further Reading & Listening: Check out our episodes How 2020 Became a Climate Election and The Green Wave for more on the Green New Deal and the climate movement  Take a listen to Party Like It’s 2035 to nerd out on what it would take to build a zero-carbon power system Want to dig into the details on the Inflation Reduction Act? You can find reports from Energy Innovation, the Rhodium Group and the REPEAT Project, who modeled the emissions impact of the bill Check out our Calls to Action archive for all of the actions we've recommended on the show. Send us your ideas or feedback with our Listener Mail Form. Sign up for our newsletter here. And follow us on Twitter and Instagram. This episode of How to Save a Planet was produced by Rachel Waldholz. The rest of our reporting and producing team includes Kendra Pierre-Louis, Anna Ladd and Daniel Ackerman. Our supervising producer is Matt Shilts. Our editor is Caitlin Kenney. Our intern is Janae Morris. Sound design and mixing by Hansdale Hsu and Peter Leonard with original music by Peter Leonard, Catherine Anderson, and Emma Munger. Our fact checker this episode is Claudia Geib.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WSJ’s Fashion Director Rory Satran explains how Shein-- now valued at $100 billion-- rose to dominate the fast-fashion industry via social media, and why it's now facing intense criticism from sustainable shoppers. To learn more about the climate impacts of fast fashion and ways to mitigate them, be sure to check out our episode Fast Fashion’s Dirty Little Secret (Hint: It’s Oil). Check out our Calls to Action archive for all of the actions we've recommended on the show. Send us your ideas or feedback with our Listener Mail Form. Sign up for our newsletter here. And follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A listener called in with a dilemma: What's the most climate-friendly thing she can do with her family farm? Her family owns 126 acres of land in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, which she’s going to inherit one day. And she wondered…should I put up solar panels? Try climate-smart ag? Plant trees? So we flew out to investigate, and found people doing some amazing work – from a regenerative bee ranch to reforesting 400 acres of farmland. Tag along on the very first How to Save a Planet House Call. Guests: John Herman from Lazy Z Ranch, Claire Fox from Greenbelt Land Trust, Paul West from Project Drawdown Calls to Action If you want to learn more about regenerative agriculture, check out the Soil Health Institute, this blog post from the World Resources Institute, and our episode Soil: The Dirty Climate Solution The Farm Bill (the big bill that lays out agricultural subsidies in the US) is up for a new version in 2023. If you think the US should offer more incentives to encourage regenerative agriculture, reach out to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees and let them know! If you’re interested in conservation, get to know your local land trust, watershed council, or other conservation organizations and find a way to get involved! They likely have volunteer opportunities, educational programming, activities like tours and hikes, and exciting conservation projects that need your help. Check out our Calls to Action archive for all of the actions we've recommended on the show. Send us your ideas or feedback with our Listener Mail Form. Sign up for our newsletter here. And follow us on Twitter and Instagram. This episode of How to Save a Planet was produced by Anna Ladd and Rachel Waldholz. The rest of our reporting and producing team includes Kendra Pierre-Louis and Daniel Ackerman. Our supervising producer is Matt Shilts. Our editor is Caitlin Kenney. Our intern is Janae Morris. Sound design and mixing by Peter Leonard with original music from Emma Munger. Our fact checker for this episode was Claudia Geib. Special thanks to Laurie Hutchinson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’re sharing an episode from another Gimlet podcast called Science Vs. When a little girl, Ella Kissi-Debrah, suddenly got sick and landed in the hospital, doctors were stumped. In this episode, her mom, Rosamund, takes on the fight to find out what exactly happened to Ella. And the answer has BIG implications — for us all. We’ll hear from Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah and Professor Stephen Holgate. Check out GreenRoots to learn more about fighting for clean air. Check the air quality where you live. Check out our Calls to Action archive for all of the actions we've recommended on the show. Send us your ideas or feedback with our Listener Mail Form. Sign up for our newsletter here. And follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Look inside your retirement savings and you may find some surprises: oil and gas companies, pipeline operators, utilities with coal-fired power plants. It can feel like no matter what you’re doing to combat climate change in your daily life, your money is working against you. So how do you invest without wrecking the planet? Is there such a thing as green investing? And why isn’t this easier to figure out? This week we ask: What does it mean to try to put your money where your values are? Calls to Action First, if you do have a retirement account — find out what you’re invested in! You can go to FossilFreeFunds.org and plug in the names of the funds in your portfolio. They’ll give you a breakdown of the fossil fuel exposure you have right now.  Then: Demand better! If you want to go fossil fuel free and you have a retirement account at work that doesn’t offer good options, tell your HR department that you want climate-friendly or fossil fuel free funds added to your retirement plan. The shareholder advocacy group As You Sow put together a 401(k) Toolkit with advice for getting fossil fuel free options added to your retirement plan, and Green Century also created a handy guide.  You can do the same if you have an individual retirement account. Tell your asset manager you want high-quality fossil fuel free investing options. The more they hear from their customers, the more seriously they take these things! If you take an action we recommend in one of our episodes, do us a favor and tell us about it! We’d love to hear how it went. Record a short voice memo on your phone and send it to us via our Listener Mail Form.  We might use it in an upcoming episode. You can find all the actions we’ve recommended on our show here! This episode of How to Save a Planet was produced by Rachel Waldholz. The rest of our reporting and producing team includes Kendra Pierre-Louis, Anna Ladd, and Daniel Ackerman. Our supervising producer is Matt Shilts. Our editor is Caitlin Kenney. Our intern is Janae Morris. Sound design and mixing by Peter Leonard with original music from Emma Munger and Peter Leonard. Our fact checker for this episode was Claudia Geib.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More than a million soccer fans will travel to Qatar this fall for one of the biggest sporting events on Earth: The FIFA World Cup. The event sounds like it will be a climate nightmare, thanks to all the flights, air conditioned outdoor fields, docked cruise ships and brand new stadiums. But despite all this – the organizers claim this month-long event will be carbon neutral. How can they say that? Thanks to carbon offset credits. On this episode we dive deep into the murky world of carbon offset credits to find out how they work, who makes the rules and what all this means for the World Cup. Guests Suzi Kerr, Chief Economist, Environmental Defense Fund Danny Cullenward, Policy Director, (carbon)plan Derik Broekhoff, Senior Scientist, Stockholm Environment Institute Calls to Action Check out the Carbon Credit Quality Initiative’s handy guide to carbon offsets Curious about the carbon offsets offered by airlines these days? Find out more about where that money is actually going with these guides from Business Traveller and The Points Guy. Check out our Calls to Action archive for all of the actions we've recommended on the show. Send us your ideas or feedback with our Listener Mail Form. Sign up for our newsletter here. And follow us on Twitter and Instagram. This episode of How to Save a Planet was produced by Lonnie Ro. The rest of our reporting and producing team includes Kendra Pierre-Louis, Rachel Waldholz, Anna Ladd, and Daniel Ackerman. Our supervising producer is Lauren Silverman. Our editor is Caitlin Kenney. Our intern is Janae Morris. Sound design and mixing by Peter Leonard with original music from Emma Munger. Our fact checker for this episode was Claudia Geib.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices