Earthbound Episodes

Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. -Gary Snyder When the world faces existential threats like climate change, how do we make ethical choices that matter? In this thought-provoking episode, host Tom Schueneman explores philosopher Thomas Rieder's groundbreaking book "Catastrophe Ethics: How to Choose Well in a World of Tough Choices." Opening with a powerful scene from Netflix's "Landman," this episode confronts the fundamental ethical dilemma of our time: w...

It's 3:00 AM. All is quiet, the world is asleep. But is it? In this illuminating episode, we journey into the darkness to explore the vibrant and often overlooked world of nocturnal creatures, guided by the passionate insights of naturalist Charles Hood. His book, Nature at Night, serves as our compass, leading us through a landscape where life thrives under the stars. Hood paints a vivid picture of the night as a time of transformation and activity, challenging the commonplace notion that al...

Taking It to the Streets Protests and social movements are often seen as spontaneous eruptions of public sentiment. What drives people to take to the streets? What motivates them to take their anger and frustration offline, out in the open? In this insightful conversation with sociologist Dana Fisher, we explore the motivations behind collective action, especially in today's political climate of rising authoritarianism under the Trump administration. Dr. Fisher, a leading voice in climate soc...

We live in turbulent times. Climate change, economic uncertainty, political upheaval. It can feel like forces beyond our control press in from all sides. And for millions of people, that pressure doesn't just weigh on the mind. It breaks through. In this episode, Tom Schueneman reflects on his own experience with depression, a period in 2014 when, despite a life he was grateful for, he found himself staring into what he calls a black hole every morning. He distinguishes between the blues, life’s natural melancholy, and the cold, one-dimensional grip of clinical depression. And he traces his path back: a walk along San Francisco Bay, the quiet healing of green space, and the decision to stop BSing a therapist and himself. This isn’t prescriptive advice. It's one person's story, told honestly. Because in a world that can feel increasingly untethered, the most courageous thing we can do may be to reach out, get outside, and keep going.

Green amendments are emerging as an effective and essential tool in the quest for environmental justice, ensuring that citizens have the constitutional right to a healthy environment, which is intricately linked to their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In our conversation with Maya Van Rossem, the founder of Green Amendments for the Generations, we discuss how these amendments provide the necessary legal framework to protect our natural resources from industrial harm and ...

Reviewing A City on Mars by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith The notion of colonizing Mars often sounds like a thrilling adventure, but let’s hit the brakes on that rocket ship for a moment. Right off the bat, we tackle the idea that Elon Musk’s vision of a bustling Martian colony is, to put it mildly, a touch delusional. As we delve into the complexities of what it would actually mean to settle on another planet, we confront the sobering reality that space isn't just a hop, skip, and jump away; it’...

A conversation with David Lipsky, author of The Parrot and the Igloo Global warming is a long history spent in the hall of ironies, a statement that resonates throughout our discussion today. We delve into the fascinating yet troubling journey of climate science, tracing back to Svante Arrhenius, who first calculated the impact of accumulating greenhouse gases over a century ago, to the alarming forecasts of the 1950s that continue to haunt us. Amidst this, we uncover the unsettling tactics of c...

Roy Scranton's Learning to Die in the Anthropocene: Reflections on the End of a Civilization invites us to confront a sobering truth: we cannot escape our fate. As we grapple with the challenges of our time, Scranton emphasizes the importance of facing our future with patience, reflection, and love rather than panic or denial. His reflections draw from a life steeped in experience, including his service in Iraq, where he learned that truly living often requires us to embrace the reality of mort...

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...

Read the article at GlobalWarmingisReal.com. Takeaways: Experiencing a health scare can profoundly alter our relationship with nature and ourselves. Solastalgia reflects the emotional distress tied to environmental changes affecting our sense of home. Healing from personal trauma and environmental loss requires acceptance, restoration, and defense of what remains. The connection between individual health crises and environmental degradation highlights our shared vulnerabilities and grief. ...

Takeaways: This podcast invites listeners to embark on a multimedia journey exploring climate change. Each episode features interviews with activists and experts dedicated to combating climate change. We confront the harsh realities of our environment while also discovering pathways to hope and action. Listeners will learn about the urgent need to protect our planet in this crucial decade. In a world increasingly defined by the impacts of climate change, the Global Warming is Real podcast s...