Tuning in to Climate Podcasts!
- Jina Song
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
How do you kill time without tiring your eyes—and manage to learn how to not kill our planet?
The answer might be in podcasts. Podcasts are rising as Gen-Z’s most craved media outlets. They provide a forum for raw, unfiltered communication for authentic coverage on niche issues often not offered by mainstream sources. From true crime podcasts, advocacy pieces, and life advice channels to direct listener engagement, there’s a podcast for any passion. Over 50% of all Americans have listened to podcasts, with numbers skewed towards Gen Z (Pew Research Center). This January, the first-ever podcast was formally recognized by the Golden Globes. As one of the world’s most renowned entertainment awards, the Golden Globes established an award that recognizes "the extraordinary and diverse talents in podcasting" for the first time.
Climate-Conscious Production
Evidently, podcasts are taking the spotlight. And environmental advocacy is riding this high wave too. Think of it as climate literacy—just minus the blue light headache.
Environmental knowledge transfer and optimism are tailored to podcasts’ intimate, conversational format. Hosts often answer questions posed directly by their listeners—for instance, the Ask MIT podcast is entirely centered on this interactive dynamic. Podcasts also have a relatively low climate footprint. Podcast production doesn’t require complex sets or much traveling, and can even have remotely conducted interviews. Moreover, storing audio drains less energy than most video outlets. According to The Conversation, audio streaming releases 50 times less CO2 than video streaming.
Why Podcasts?
Personally, I first tried tuning into a podcast during a long flight. It’s less storage-hogging than downloading videos. There’s no need to flick on the overhead light to annoy everyone sleeping next to you. You don’t even get dizzy during turbulence. Best yet, you can close your eyes, cozy up, and even fall half-asleep while learning. Well, for most environmental podcasts I’ve downloaded, sleeping may have been the last thing they could have induced. Laced with striking soundscapes, poignant interviews, shocking statistics, and vivid sound effects for dramatic crescendos, these podcasts were anything but a lullaby. They’ve opened corners of climate learning I hadn’t encountered elsewhere.
Which Podcast Fits You?
Some short, some long. Others are scientific, while some are more narrative. Below are some of my favorite podcasts. Read on to see which one suits your style! Click on the names, and give it a listen!
Is your attention span microscopic? Or watch even normal videos at 2X speed? Then this podcast is built for you. At only 90 seconds, it’s roughly half the length of most songs—but manages to pack a whole lot of new information into it. Hosted by Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz, this podcast delves into snippets of climate change—some small and others large. It aims to confront reality and share inspiring stories of hope. My personal favorites include the climate stories behind Christmas trees and a story behind how twisted food labels have exacerbated food waste. If you’re a Christmas-maniac (like me) or a picky eater, these episodes might give you new insights.
Chart-topping and multi-award-winning show, PBS Going Wild strikes the balance between science and policy. You’ll hear directly from wildlife ecologist and host Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant as he speaks with nature advocates. From the “paleoanthropologist who hunts fossils in conflict zones to a former butterfly technician who saved an endangered species while incarcerated,” each episode will be quite the journey! PBS Going Wild might surprise you with its immersive soundscapes and insights. Try tuning in if you’re ready for a comprehensive dive into the environmental agendas in both natural and human communities.
If you’re more of a scientific person, this might be heaven for you. With eight seasons available to date, you can check out each facet in depth with numerous guests. Ask MIT Climate (formerly TILclimate) is also an award-winning podcast for its avant-garde approach to condensing science, technologies, and policies behind climate change into an accessible listen. My favorite episode delves into the story behind why our global climate mantra is 1.5 degrees instead of 2.0. Don’t worry, it’s all jargon-free. Through stories and interviews, you’ll learn all about the “what, why, and how of climate change” and how it takes flight in real life!
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. Listen up if you want an inside glimpse into their exchange—from questioning greenwashing and interrogating seemingly unsolvable climate issues—you’ll hear about it all in their comprehensive episodes.
So if you’re curious or want to learn without the hassle, try tuning into one of the podcasts above! Of course, there are so many other podcasts you could listen to. Check out this blog for 25 more podcasts worth exploring.