In this episode, we dig into the origins of the modern environmental movement and then shift to the spark that became Earth Day as we know it today. We explore the powerful ripple effects of that first Earth Day: landmark legislation like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act, and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). But not all progress stays protected—we’ll also touch on more recent rollbacks and challenges the environmental movement is facing today.
From 1990’s global expansion to the internet-powered movements of the 2000s, and Earth Day’s billion-person impact in 2010 and 2020, we reflect on how this day continues to evolve. And finally, we look ahead: Earth Day 2025’s theme, Our Power, Our Planet, calls for individual action, especially around renewable energy and sustainability.
Whether you're a longtime environmentalist or just curious where it all began, this episode is your Earth Day deep dive.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Dateline NBC
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