Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast

Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast

THE PRESENT Our newly renamed podcast, Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast is all about radical hope and resistance in the age of climate disaster. This newest iteration of Solarpunk Magazine's podcast will launch it's first episode on Monday, January 27, 2025. On Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast, host Justine Norton-Kertson (founder and co-editor-in-chief of Solarpunk Magazine) envisions a world where humanity thrives in harmony with nature, equity and justice guide our communities, and creativity fuels solutions to our shared challenges. By imagining brighter futures and confronting current crises with resilience, we aim to cultivate hope and empower individuals to co-create a sustainable, inclusive, and thriving planet. Our mission is to inspire hope and action by exploring solarpunk ideas, sharing grassroots solutions, and amplifying the voices of change-makers who challenge dystopian realities. Through critical analysis, meaningful conversations, and creative storytelling, we provide listeners with the tools and inspiration to build a more just, equitable, and sustainable world while nurturing optimism in the face of adversity. THE PAST Our podcast began with the title Solarpunk Futures and has gone through a few different iterations. Starting in the fall of 2021, the original podcast ran for seven monthly episodes. Then beginning in fall 2022, the podcast was rebranded as Solarpunk Presents. That iteration was hosted by our then non-fiction co-editors Ariel Kroon and Christina De La Rocha. In January of 2023, Solarpunk Presents branched off on its own as a separate podcast, and in the spring of 2024 Solarpunk Futures came back briefly for a few episodes before going on hiatus for a reworking and rebranding. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

April 27, 2025 30 mins
On this episode of Demand Utopia, host Justine Norton-Kertson talks about the history and purpose of borders, then does a thought experiment imagining what a solarpunk future without borders—with freedom of movement—might look like.

Get bonus content on Patreon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played
On this episode, our host Justine Norton-Kertson imagines what Los Angeles might look in a more hopeful, solarpunk future.

Get bonus content on Patreon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played
March 24, 2025 29 mins
In this episode we examine the current attempts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and how DEI is at the center of those attacks. Then, we imagine what decentralizing education might look like from a solarpunk perspective instead.

Get bonus content on Patreon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played
In this episode we introduce our new climate news segment. Then we examine the U.S. social security system, how it's funded and distributed, as well as the current attacks and drive to privatize this century old system of public, collective care. Then we pivot and imagine what elder care and aging with dignity might look like in a more compassionate and decentralized solarpunk future.

Get bonus content on Patreon

Mark as Played
March 11, 2025 43 mins
A war on protest has been declared, with promises to expel, arrest, imprison, and deport student protesters. But resisting dictatorship and dystopia is key to building utopia. That's why on this episode, we're breaking down the current war on protest, its connection to past state crackdowns on movements, and how solarpunk offers a different vision. We also talk about various ways people can engage in resistance even if they can't o...

Mark as Played
March 2, 2025 33 mins
In part 2 of our episode on the rise of a new, more overt brand of imperialism in the U.S. under the second Trump administration, we dive into alternatives to imperialism through solarpunk values and practices.

Get bonus content on Patreon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played
February 23, 2025 44 mins
This week, in the first of a two part episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast, we look at the brazen imperialist moves Trump has made so far in his first month back in the White House, and we discuss his actions within the historical context of U.S. imperialism specifically, and western imperialism in general. Next week in part 2, we'll dive into the solarpunk response to imperialism and look at real life examples of the stru...

Mark as Played
February 18, 2025 33 mins
On our first episode back after a nine month hiatus, host Justine Norton-Kertson reflects on the current political landscape, imagines a solarpunk future, and looks at some recent grassroots victories to inspire us for the struggle ahead.

Get bonus content on Patreon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played
April 25, 2024 55 mins

In this second episode of Solarpunk Magazine's newly relaunched podcast, Solarpunk Futures: Demand Utopia!, host Justine Norton-Kertson looks at different characteristics, ideas, and alternative systems that have been proposed as part of various utopian visions. And we'll think about how we can apply these lessons to the collective solarpunk world-building project Solarpunk Magazine is launching on May 1st. You can make sure you ge...

Mark as Played
April 19, 2024 61 mins
Host Justine Norton-Kertson takes us on a tour of utopian visions through time from Plato to More, and from Indigenous cultures to today's post-utopian shift.

Get bonus content on Patreon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played
It's been a minute since we've posted a podcast episode, but we're excited to get back at it with a regular monthly schedule. In this episode, we take a step back and look at solarpunk's origins and evolution over the years.

Get bonus content on Patreon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played
Justine Norton-Kertson talks with author and editor Phoebe Wagner about past work, as well as their recently published solarpunk novella, When We Hold Each Other Up (2023, Android Press)

Get bonus content on Patreon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

In the finale of Solarpunk Presents' first-ever season, Ariel and Christina sit down to chat together about the Winter Solstice - Christina brings the scientific knowledge, Ariel brings a few book recommendations, and we discuss traditions of celebrating the return of the sun (as we've experienced them in the northern hemisphere). What are your favourite solstice traditions? Do you have recommendations of good solarpunk solstice st...

Mark as Played

As the changing climate increasingly disrupts our ways of life, we have three choices: do nothing, attempt to stop or even reverse climate change, and/or figure out how to withstand it. Option one is a terrible idea and the ship has (mostly) sailed on option two. But option three is how we learn to live—and maybe even thrive—in our changing world. Part of this is figuring out how to convey the information that climate researchers h...

Mark as Played

In today’s episode, Ariel chats with Heather MacKenzie, Executive Director of Solar Alberta, about transitioning to renewable energy deep in the heart of oil and gas country - in a just and sustainable way. Join us to learn about the history of the Solar Alberta organization, from its grassroots beginnings in neighbourhood solar projects, to dealing with (government-funded!) trolls online, all the way up to being the leading non-pr...

Mark as Played

You don't have to be a solarpunk—or a lunarpunk—to dream of bioluminescence, from twinkling phytoplankton to glowing lamps, phosphorescent fungi, and jellyfish lit up like space ships. To honor those dreams, we talked to Dr. Steve Haddock, Senior Scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and leading expert on the things that glow, flash, and train headlights through the dark waters of the deep sea. ...

Mark as Played

On this episode, Ariel sits down with Justine Norton-Kertson, editor of the forthcoming BIOLUMINESCENT: A LUNARPUNK ANTHOLOGY. They discuss what lunarpunk is in contrast to solarpunk, what inspired Justine to put together an anthology of lunarpunk fiction, and a sneak peek at some of the participating authors and the content that fans can expect to encounter!



Sign up for the BIOLUMINESCENT Kickstarter here, and follow Androi...

Mark as Played

Solarpunk is all about vibrant, beautiful, livable cities filled with plants, public transportation, and solar panels—in other words, nothing like the congested, polluted, inhospitable messes we live in today. How do we start making the great transformation? Simply by starting. Join us for a conversation with Dr Jayde Lin Roberts about having a voice in the development (or redevelopment) of your neighborhood or city.


Connect wit...

Mark as Played

In this episode of Solarpunk Presents, nonfiction co-editor Ariel Kroon sits down for a virtual chat with Gabrielle Gelderman, an Edmonton, Alberta-based climate grief chaplain and climate justice organizer. They talk about what climate grief chaplaincy even is, the necessity of holding communal safe spaces for grieving especially for organizers, the necessity of feeling grief in order to feel more positive emotions, and climate de...

Mark as Played

In this episode, Christina De La Rocha talks to Dr Hélène Jacot Des Combes, Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation Advisor to the National Disaster Management Office of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. They discuss sea level rise, infrastructure that can adapt to climate change, and land reclamation and protection. Dr Des Combes speaks passionately about reparations (for decades of colonialism, the US’s testing...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Have you ever wondered what life might be like if you stopped worrying about being wanted, and focused on understanding what you actually want? That was the question Hope Woodard asked herself after a string of situationships inspired her to take a break from sex and dating. She went "boysober," a personal concept that sparked a global movement among women looking to prioritize themselves over men. Now, Hope is looking to expand the ways we explore our relationship to relationships. Taking a bold, unfiltered look into modern love, romance, and self-discovery, Boysober will dive into messy stories about dating, sex, love, friendship, and breaking generational patterns—all with humor, vulnerability, and a fresh perspective.

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    Post Run High

    The perfect companion to Kate Mackz's popular online series The Running Interview Show, Post Run High captures the feel-good energy and real, unfiltered conversations that flow after a great run. Each episode dives into stories, insights, and candid moments with inspiring guests—from entrepreneurs to well-known public figures. Tune in for conversations that get real when the endorphins kick in.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.