Whether you are commuting to work or relaxing in the evening, podcasts are a great way to learn more about the world around you. These are 22 of the best environmental podcasts available in 2024, from environmental science podcasts to comedy podcasts about the climate crisis.
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23 Best Podcasts About the Environment
1. Outrage + Optimism
Co-hosted by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac, who oversaw the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change, and CDP founder, Paul Dickinson, Outrage + Optimism explores the stories behind the headlines on climate change, talking to the change-makers turning challenges into opportunities. They delight in progress, question greenwash and get to grips with the difficult issues – sharing it all with their listeners along the way.
2. Sustainababble
A self-proclaimed comedy podcast about the environment for and by the confused, Sutainababble is a lighthearted weekly chat that aren’t afraid to tackle big environmental issues. Hosts Oliver Hayes and David Powell conduct in-depth yet entertaining interviews with interesting people to untangle confusing environmental concepts and policies, while exposing examples of greenwashing and the incompetents. It’s topical, funny and hopefully listeners will walk away learning something new.
3. Big Closets Small Planet: Michael Schragger
It’s a well-known fact that fast fashion and the fashion industry as a whole have a detrimental effect on the environment. This environmental podcast dives into the problems that the industry currently faces and examines the strategies and solutions that we need to take on to transform it. From business leaders and activists to innovators and entrepreneurs, hear from a whole hosts of inspiring people who are trying to implement more sustainable solutions in the fashion world.
4. A Matter of Degrees
In A Matter of Degrees, Dr. Leah Stokes and Dr. Katharine Wilkinson tell stories about the powerful forces behind climate change — and the tools we have to fix it. With the help of dozens of climate leaders, they tell stories of bold solutions and groundbreaking campaigns, stories of misdeeds and corruption and efforts to stop them, and stories of people doing their best to be a part of the solution. Join us as we make sense of big climate questions.
5. Sustainable(ish)
Hosted by Jen Gale, this podcast is for those who want to learn about the ways their actions affect the planet and how they can live more sustainable lives. Gale chats to inspiring people to talk about the changes they’re making and the businesses and campaigns that they’re running. In recent episodes, Gale offers advice on weird weather and our disappearing seasons, reducing plastic waste in the oceans and sustainable parenting.
6. The Wild
A podcast about celebrating the world we live in and finding a connection with it in order to protect it, hosts Andy McDonald and Jonathan Carson chat to guest sportspeople, creatives and leaders who talk about their adventures and conservation efforts.
7. Wild Lens’ Eyes on Conservation
This podcast gives more information about global conservation efforts, more research about their impacts and more ways to be an advocate for the planet. An interview series, this podcast features top experts in conservation, wildlife and environmental justice.
8. Jane Goodall: The Hopecast
The Jane Goodall Institute is currently working with Dr. Goodall to produce a podcast series which includes fireside chat conversations with influencers, leaders from business, policy and NGO industries with topics related to Jane’s vision for making the world a better place for all. Each episode breaks down systems, ideas, and barriers to open the ability for every individual to act. The podcast will also highlight the work of the Jane Goodall Institute, including its community-led conservation work, captive welfare, and science & technology for conservation and youth empowerment.
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9. Think Sustainably
This environment podcast focuses on sustainability and the overall impact of consumption. While less of a story-driven podcast, there is a lot of information and recent research regarding environmental issues. At only 20-30 minutes, these episodes are perfect for those looking for bite-sized snippets of larger issues.
10. Global Goals Cast
This environmental podcast inspires and empowers listeners to make the world a better place by sharing the stories of individuals, companies and organisations working to achieve a more sustainable world.
11. Climate Rising
Climate Rising is a podcast about the impact of climate change on business. It brings business and policy leaders and Harvard Business School faculty together to share insights about what businesses are doing, can do, and should do to confront climate change. It explores the many challenges and opportunities that climate change raises for managers, such as decisions about where they choose to locate, the technologies they develop and use, their strategies with respect to products, marketing, customer engagement, and policy – in other words, the full spectrum of business concerns.
12. The Mother Earth News and Friends
This podcast shares the stories of leaders in sustainable and rural living. Topics range from permaculture to waterfowl conservation to soil revival and building with natural materials.
13. Yale Climate Connections
Hosted by Dr Anthony Leiserowitz of Yale University, this podcast is a daily 90-second investigative podcast detailing how the climate crisis is already shaping our lives and what we can do about it. From fossil fuels to extreme weather, clean energy to public health, and more, this is your daily dose of climate change reality- and hope. It seeks to help individuals, corporations, media, NGOs, government agencies, academics, artists, and more learn from each other about constructive “solutions” so many are undertaking to reduce climate-related risks and wasteful energy practices.
14. The Food Fight
In The Food Fight, one of the few food-related environmental podcasts on Earth.Org’s list, Matt Eastland and Lukxmi Balathasan examine the biggest challenges facing the food system, and the innovations and entrepreneurs looking to solve them. They ask some difficult questions including “Can we trust the food we eat?” and “Can we really feed 10 billion people by 2050?”
15. The Nature Podcast
Produced by Nature Journal, the last of these environmental podcasts on our list brings listeners the best stories from the world of science each week. Topics range from astronomy to zoology and highlight the most exciting research from each issue of Nature Journal. Featuring interviews with the scientists behind the results, the podcasts provide in-depth analysis from Nature’s journalists and editors.
16. So Hot Right Now
Though this podcast haven’t updated since 2020, it’s still a fantastic resource in understanding how we can survive in the era of climate change. Environmental journalist Lucy Siegle and wildlife filmmaker Tom Mustill spoke to those who have made it their mission to be vocal about how we are laying waste to our beautiful planet, including David Attenborough, former president of Ireland Mary Robinson, UN climate negotiator Christiana Figueres and Native American Veteran and Organizer Krystal Two-Bulls. This podcast is informal, personal and passionate and will provide you with the tools to communicate about the climate crisis to anyone, be it your dad or the UN.
17. The Climate Briefing
From the Energy, Environment and Resources Programme at Chatham House and hosted by Antony Froggatt and Anna Aberg, The Climate Briefing explores the major issues that shape UN climate negotiations and international climate politics, including the new Global Biodiversity Framework, the climate crisis in South Asia, and outcomes of UN conferences such as COP26 and COP27.
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18. Women Mind the Water
Hosted by Dr Pam Ferris-Olson and founder of Women Mind the Water, a platform that shares both issue-based stories and art related to ocean and conservation, the podcast sees Pam chat with varying activists and artists about their connection with the ocean and how it influences on their art. Often deeply personal, these engaging stories will inspire you and move you to take action to protect the ocean.
19. How to Save the Planet
The third of environmental podcasts on Earth.Org’s list is How to Save the Planet. Brought to you by environmental charity Friends of the Earth, this podcast discusses popular stories from the climate movement and breaks down often-complex issues, like environmental racism, eco-anxiety and fracking. Frank yet inspiring, the podcast explores solutions to the climate crisis, and how anyone can have an impact, big and small.
20. What Could Go Right?
What if instead of being on the brink of disaster, we were on the cusp of a better world? No one can deny the challenges the world faces, from pandemics to climate change to authoritarianism. But pessimism and despair are too easy a response. Each week on What Could Go Right?, Progress Network Founder Zachary Karabell and Executive Director Emma Varvaloucas convene a diverse panel of experts to discuss the central issues of our era, including sustainability, polarisation, work, and the economy, and make the case for a brighter future. They emerge from their conversations with a counterintuitive but informed take: progress is on its way.
21. Climate One
Since 2007, Climate One has been the premier platform for empowering conversations about the climate emergency. Through a weekly podcast, radio show, and in-person events Climate One provides a trusted place for in-depth conversations that connect diverse perspectives from across the climate community. Reaching 170,000 listeners a week, Climate One can be found on 60 public radio stations across the US, creating opportunities for dialogue and inspiring a more complete understanding of the current crisis.
22. Forces For Nature
In Forces for Nature, eco-podcast producer and host Crystal DiMiceli interviews people working successfully to create a healthier and more humane world, from big-name scientists to a 10-year-old with his own recycling company. The show celebrates people who are doing great things in sustainability, conservation, and animal-related issues. Each episode presents an issue being faced but then quickly pivots from the problem to the effective solution that the guest has found. And, finally, they leave the listener with actionable tips that they can do to help.
23. NASA’s Curious Universe Podcast
Curious Universe – an official NASA podcast hosted by astrophysicist and head of NASA’s Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics Laboratory Padi Boyd and audio producer Jacob Pinter – brings you mind-blowing science and space adventures you won’t find anywhere else. Explore the cosmos alongside astronauts, scientists, engineers, and other top NASA experts who are achieving remarkable feats in science, space exploration, and aeronautics. Learn something new about the wild and wonderful universe we share. All you need to get started is a little curiosity.
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