Energy & Technology Episodes

More Than Enough Light What is more addictive than fentanyl, cocaine, or heroin? Evan Jaqua’s answer is power. And once people have it, they will do almost anything to keep it. This is a solo episode, a short essay built around the ideas of Evan Jaqua and the Solutions Party, the political reform organization he founded. The interview tape didn’t meet the bar for broadcast, so I took his thinking and ran it through my own. I hope to have Evan back for a clean recording. For now, it’s just ...

Do We Need to Colonize Mars to Survive? A Book Review of Dr. Peter Solomon's 100 Years to Extinction In 2017, Stephen Hawking warned that humanity had just 100 years to move beyond Earth or face extinction. That bold prediction frames my Earthbound podcast conversation with Dr. Peter Solomon, physicist, serial entrepreneur, and author of 100 Years to Extinction. We dig into the triggers threatening our survival (climate change, AI, nuclear war, misinformation) and whether a Mars colony is rea...

What does it mean to build a civilization on extraction and call it moral? That’s the question at the heart of this episode of Earthbound, a podcast about what it means to be human on a warming planet. We begin with Venezuela. The Trump administration’s justifications for military intervention shift and dance, but the subtext is hard to miss: Venezuela holds the largest confirmed oil reserves of any nation on Earth. Energy Secretary Chris Wright calls the timing a coincidence. Trump is more direct. The intent is clear, and so is the pattern. When fossil fuel interests collide with foreign policy, the story we tell ourselves rarely matches the one playing out in the world. From there, we ask the harder question. What is the moral character of a society convinced that fossil fuel extraction is not just an economic strategy, but a birthright? This episode draws on the work of neurophilosopher Patricia Churchland, who argues that human morality is rooted not in religion or ideolo…

In this conversation with Bill McKibben, a world-renowned author, climate change advocate, and founder of 350.org, we discuss his latest book, “Here Comes the Sun.” We explore how the cost of renewable energy, especially solar power, has decreased to the point where it is now cheaper than fossil fuels. Additionally, we examine the reasons why solar energy has surpassed fossil fuels in terms of new power production.

How I Felt Ridiculous When I Ordered Same-Day Delivery In this short bonus episode, I briefly examine the complexities of modern consumerism and the often-overlooked hidden costs of our convenience-driven shopping habits. As we rush into another holiday shopping season, I revisit a 2018 article that explored the darker side of online shopping convenience, particularly during events like Cyber Monday. The rapid evolution of retail and escalating consumer expectations, from the demand for same-d...

The 1970s “Crying Indian” campaign, as it came to be known, with its poignant imagery and simple message about littering, has left an indelible mark on American culture. Yet, as we unpack the history and implications of this campaign, we discover that not all was as it appeared. It served as a brilliant marketing tactic by corporations to shift the onus of pollution onto individuals, effectively masking the real environmental damage caused by corporate practices. The origins of the Keep Americ...

Feed the inner duck Not with human news Or greedy things that suck, But give it quiet views; Comments from the moon. Opinions from the sky. The insights of a tune. The wisdom of a sigh. -Michael Leunig History Doesn’t Repeat, But It Rymes In a world hurtling toward what feels like an inevitable cliff, our daily algorithmically fed news cycles have evolved from continuous to relentless, reaching a brutal intensity that leaves many feeling shell-shocked and powerless. We may be shell-shocked...

Wildfire Days "Wildfire is actually a natural part of our ecosystems and our landscape, particularly in the American West. Fires had been burning naturally for millennia and keeping the forest healthy." "It's the most incredible job. It's so fulfilling and exciting and fascinating... just seeing how fire moves on the landscape and how we can use fire intentionally to stop wildfires." -Kelly Ramsey The historical context of wildfire management reveals a legacy of suppression dating back to ...

In this episode of the GlobalWarmingisReal podcast, we talk with Michael Mezzatesta, a prominent voice in climate economics, policy, and activism. Our conversation explores the complexities of climate action in the context of a second Trump administration. Host Tom Schueneman and Michael Mezzatesta dissect the multifaceted challenges climate change poses, particularly in the context of the Trump administration's ruinous policies. The conversation delves deep into the implications of withdrawin...