Shows
Your Planet, Your HealthUnsung Climate VictoriesIn this episode, Ralph and Luc take a respite from the US' current denialist frenzy and step back to celebrate recent global victories in the fight to preserve our environment.Since the climate does not follow national borders, we spotlight some news from around the world that gives us hope: the popular clamor for governments to tackle climate change, the newly favourable economics of renewable energy, alongside initiatives by cities, states and nations to foster a more livable planet.You can also watch this episode on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07...
2025-08-1928 min
Your Planet, Your HealthThe Lawn Con: Manufactured ConformityIn this episode, Ralph and Luc unpack how Americans got so obsessed with maintaining square green carpets on their front yards. We dive into the history to trace back the origins and dissemination of this artificial aesthetic. We also look into solutions, ranging from bans on gas leaf blowers to cash schemes to encourage people to quit their lawn.We read a poem about the lunacy of leaf blowers, and highlight ways in which manicured suburban imported lawn grass is a synecdoche for colonialism. You can also watch this episode on YouTube at: https://www...
2024-06-031h 17
Your Planet, Your HealthHow Diplomacy Closed The Ozone HoleIn this episode, Ralph and Luc spotlight an environmental success story: the Montreal Protocol's role in healing the ozone layer. We draw comparisons to the pitfalls of the IPCC's COP process and try to derive a diplomatic blueprint for climate policy. We look into the science of how ozone and chlorine works in the stratosphere, the history of the activist scientists (Sherwood Roland and Mario Molina) who first sounded the alarm about CFC's destruction of the ozone layer, and the work of technocrats in devising their replacement. We also examine the geopolitical dynamics that were foundational to t...
2024-04-141h 48
Your Planet, Your HealthTalking Climate with ConservativesIn this episode, Ralph and Luc chat with Michael Jefferies, Regional Conservative Outreach Coordinator for the Citizens' Climate Lobby. Together, we get out of our filter bubbles and find some common ground.We discuss Michael's faith-based journey on climate issues, bipartisan proposals on issues ranging from a carbon tax ("Carbon Fees and Dividends") and import tariffs, along with strategies to communicate about the environment to conservatives.We also listen to excerpts from former Senator Bob Inglis talking about his experience as a pro-climate Republican.We hear a political advertisement recorded by Newt Gingrich...
2024-02-121h 10
Your Planet, Your HealthGaslighting (Big Oil Knew)In this episode, Ralph and Luc spotlight what the oil companies knew about CO2’s impact on the climate, and how they lied to you to sustain their fossilized business model – even if it risks drilling us into oblivion… This argument will soon be heard in court as part of a series of lawsuits against Big Oil.We start by looking into the history of scholarship on this issue, dating back to the 19th Century.We highlight the record of what the oil companies such as Exxon and the American Petroleum Institute were saying behind closed doors...
2023-11-141h 39
Your Planet, Your HealthRainforest RestitutionIn this episode, Ralph and Luc venture into the thorny discussions of what to do about the rainforest’s impact on the globe. In the aftermath of Lula's conference in Belem, Brazil, in August 2023, we spotlight some good news: great strides are being made against deforestation, and South American leaders are keen to protect the Amazonian rainforest. We also unpack criticisms and highlight pragmatic perspectives from Colombia and Ecuador, such as debt for nature swaps.Sources:• We sample a quote from climate scientist Stephen Schneider from this 1981 British TV documentary by Thames Television call...
2023-08-2946 min
Your Planet, Your HealthSave the Earth? (ft. George Carlin)In this episode, Ralph and Luc listen to a stand-up routine by comedian George Carlin about environmentalists. We engage with Carlin’s pontifications and his ingenious framing by providing context from a scientific perspective. We also gesture at disarming some of his cynicism while steering clear of fully explaining away what made his take comedic in the first place.This episode contains 4 brief excerpts from George Carlin's "Jammin' in New York" special.Erratum: we said microplastics were found in the blood of 99% of people tested – in fact, plastic was found in the blood of 17 of 22 subj...
2023-04-1922 min
Your Planet, Your HealthGreenwashingOn this inaugural episode, Ralph and Luc briefly describe the practice of greenwashing, with examples ranging from:BP's popularisation of the carbon footprint, to the labels on water bottles, to Volkswagen evading emissions tests, and the practice of carbon offsets…
2023-03-1623 min