Podcasts are a powerful way to dive deep into environmental issues. They can make complex topics accessible and actionable for listeners everywhere. But, wow, the podcast landscape is cluttered. What to even listen to? Do you want some storytelling blended with analysis and solutions? Do you want to eavesdrop on conversations about climate change and sustainability? Are you someone who just feels better listening to climate solutions?
While there are seemingly zillions of options, we’d be remiss if we didn’t suggest two in particular that are well worth a listen: the Environmental Defense Fund’s Degrees, which dives into climate careers and how to get one, and Moms’ own podcast, A Plastic People, a five-episode series about the ubiquity of plastic and its harmful health impacts.
Tell Congress: Hold Zeldin Accountable for Corrupting EPA’s Mission
Beyond those—and to help you wade through the sea of choices—here are seven must-listen podcasts for anyone passionate about the planet and eager to turn awareness into action:
1. Outrage + Optimism
Hosted by Christina Figueres, a global leader in climate diplomacy and former Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Tom Rivett-Carnac, a political strategist and climate advocate, and Paul Dickinson, founder of the Carbon Disclosure Project, Outrage + Optimism is equal parts anger and hope. These three hosts do not shy away from the urgency of the climate crisis, but they also refuse to let it crush their spirits. Recent episodes like “Beyond the Oil Crisis: What’s Actually Blocking the Transition?” and “It’s in Our Blood: Communities vs. Forever Chemicals” fuel action by dissecting the barriers to systemic change and keep listeners engaged by highlighting the resistance to environmental injustice. Each week, they discuss tough topics such as policy battles, corporate accountability, and even the emotional toll of activism. This podcast is proof that outrage can spark change, and optimism keeps the fight alive.
2. The Good Neighbor Podcast
Hosted by Tish Taylor of Concerned Citizens of St. John, a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental justice in Louisiana, The Good Neighbor Podcast is committed to amplifying the voices of advocates. It features real stories of neighbors fighting for clean air, safer communities, and systemic change. New episodes drop every week on YouTube.
3. Future Ecologies
Want a podcast that treats nature like a symphony of sound and story? Future Ecologies is the ticket. Hosted by Adam Huggins, a musician and ecological restoration practitioner, and Mendel Skulski, a mycology enthusiast and former industrial designer, this show is an adventure. It’s part documentary, part sound collage, and always thought provoking. Each episode invites you to see the world differently and embrace the connection between humans and the planet, weaving together interviews with experts and immersive soundscapes. Recent episodes have explored cultural burning practices on Yurok territory and the ecological significance of peatlands near Vancouver. New episodes are released monthly.
4. The Climate Question
This podcast unpacks the big, messy questions everyone is asking: What is climate anxiety, and how can you cope with it? How hot could the planet get? Are there any quick fixes to the climate crisis? Hosted by a team of BBC journalists, each episode focuses on a specific burning question regarding the climate crisis. New episodes of The Climate Question drop weekly.
5. The HEATED Podcast
If climate news feels like a never-ending dumpster fire, The HEATED Podcast is here to light the way. Hosted by journalists Emily Atkin and Tracy Wholf, this show cuts through the noise of the biggest environmental stories of the day. Recent episodes have tackled the push for legal immunity from big oil, exposing how fossil fuel companies are attempting to evade accountability for climate deception, and have explored detoxing from plastic, where hosts discuss the challenges and realities of reducing plastic use. From corporate greenwashing to political scandals, Emily and Tracy break it all down in a way that’s informative, witty, and unapologetically real. New episodes are dropped weekly.
6. Earth Radio
Need a quick roundup of the week’s climate news? Earth Radio delivers it in five punchy minutes every Saturday. Hosted by multimedia journalist Rebecca Hendricks, it’s a digestible source for staying up to date on global environmental policy and the latest developments in adaptation and resilience. Each episode features scientists, activists, and experts leading the charge. It’s the perfect way to stay informed without feeling overwhelmed.
7. Climate Court Voices
What happens when climate meets the law? Climate Court Voices gives you a front-row seat to the legal battles shaping our planet’s future. Hosted by Lucy Maxwell, Co-Director of the Climate Litigation Network, each episode amplifies the voices of climate justice activists and legal experts who are holding governments and corporations accountable. In the most recent episode, “The Accountability Decade: Tracing the Evolution of Climate Litigation,” Lucy explores how a surge in climate lawsuits over the past decade has forced governments to strengthen climate action, influenced public opinion, and reshaped how investors and regulators perceive climate risks. New episodes drop monthly.
Tell Congress: Hold Zeldin Accountable for Corrupting EPA’s Mission