Living Planet
Looking to reconnect with nature? Want to make better decisions for the health of the planet? Every Friday, Living Planet brings you the stories, facts and debates on the key environmental issues of our time.
Episodes
July 26, 2024 • 32 mins
Coastal waters are darkening, with drastic consequences for marine life and the fishing industry. We explore what’s causing our once clear coastal waters to go murky.
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July 19, 2024 • 33 mins
Scrapping the classic five-day workweek sounds great when it comes to a better work-life balance. But could less time at work also benefit the environment?
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July 12, 2024 • 26 mins
Hawaii and other tourist hot spots have banned some UV filters found in sunscreen, in part thanks to a fateful snack run for Oreos that put one ecotoxicologist on the trail of unsuspected coral killer in the ocean. Twenty years later, his search continues amid a cacophony of misinformation about sun protection.
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July 5, 2024 • 17 mins
With over 2 billion dollars in expected revenue and a projected carbon footprint of 500,000 tons of CO2, we're diving into whether this "most sustainable European Championship" is hitting its eco-friendly targets. From discounted train rides to plant-based snacks, discover the real impact of this soccer fest as business interests clash with sustainability goals.
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June 28, 2024 • 32 mins
We're obsessed with our pooches, our kitty cats and our cockatiels – how could we not be? They're cute as heck! So, it's easy to turn off to news of how they might be hurting the environment and putting their own health in danger. But don't worry, pets can help us too – if we let them.
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June 21, 2024 • 39 mins
Sugar has changed the world. In this episode, we hear how this ubiquitous commodity reshaped economies, fueled the slave trade and influenced global health trends. And our desire for sugary foods has also left a mark on the environment. Is it time to question the sustainability of our sweet tooth? Or can we have our cake and eat it too?
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June 14, 2024 • 31 mins
A handful of sea water contains more than 50 million viruses. But they’re nothing to be afraid of, at least where human health is concerned. In fact, some scientists wonder if they can be geoengineered into a weapon against climate change.
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June 7, 2024 • 31 mins
Roses are red, cornflowers are blue. Most flowers are grown on a different continent, what's it to you? There’s nothing quite like the gift of cut flowers – a special little piece of nature’s bounty in your hands. But the thing about flowers is, they've gotta be fresh and we want them year round. So, how do we grow them and how do they get to us?
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June 5, 2024 • 9 mins
We've been busy behind the scenes tweaking and updating the Living Planet podcast and we're finally ready to let you in on a few of our secrets!
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May 30, 2024 • 17 mins
We generate so much e-waste per year that we could easily fill enough garbage trucks to circle the globe. In this episode we learn about innovative solutions to our growing e-waste problem, the EU's new right-to-repair legislation, and how this shift is challenging our throwaway mindset. Can we fix our way to a more sustainable future?
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May 23, 2024 • 29 mins
On the road to a carbon-free future, a lot of drivers are facing a tough dilemma: Is it worth switching to an electric car if the gas-powered car I have can still run a few more years? Is the environmental footprint of an EV really that much better? We spoke to several experts about the upsides and downside of e-mobility from range anxiety to charging infrastructure and more. Click here to listen.
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May 16, 2024 • 29 mins
This week we are sharing an episode from Feet in 2 Worlds — a project that brings the work of immigrant journalists to online news sites, podcasts, and public radio. This story was produced as part of Home, Interrupted, a podcast series by Feet in 2 Worlds that explores how the climate crisis affects immigrants across the US.
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May 9, 2024 • 11 mins
It's no secret that humans have a deep and abiding relationship with water. Whether the ocean, lakes or rivers, we often go in search of, and take great delight in, the experience of bold bodies of water. And perhaps that means sometimes we overlook the smaller ones. Like the streams that have trickled along the same routes for hundreds and thousands of years. Time for a closer look.
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May 2, 2024 • 35 mins
For some species being hit by a car is the number one cause of death above hunting and disease. What does this mean for wildlife populations and endangered species? How do we make roads safer for animals?
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April 25, 2024 • 29 mins
Plastics have only been around for a little over a century. But in that time, they've become a huge part of our lives and a growing burden for the environment. Each year, the world produces over 430 million tons of plastics, and that figure is set to triple by 2060. A binding global plastics treaty is key to solving the problem. But just how did we get here in the first place?
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April 18, 2024 • 27 mins
Mercury’s a known pollutant in fish, but did you know one of the biggest mercury emitters is actually small-scale gold mining? From sunken ships to shihuahuaco trees, we take a deep dive into the astounding history and science of mercury and the solutions that could break its toxic cycle.
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April 11, 2024 • 29 mins
From customs clashes to biodiversity threats and cultural cravings, the illegal bushmeat trade is affecting health and wildlife conservation across continents. But just how widespread is it and why is it so hard to contain?
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April 4, 2024 • 15 mins
Are you torn over your clothing's environmental impact? From resource-intensive production methods to consumer behaviors, explore the complexities shaping our fashion choices and their ecological footprints.
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March 28, 2024 • 11 mins
A familiar bird that is as clever as it is cunning, sadly the crow is often dismissed as merely a ruthless menace or an unwelcome alarm clock. But if you look closer, there's beauty in this scavenger's ways.
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March 21, 2024 • 20 mins
It seems like glasses would be the obvious eco-friendly choice, but not so fast! The answer is both fascinating and a bit mind boggling. Get ready for some eye-opening facts that could make you rethink your eyewear habits.
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