Have you ever seen flowers in the desert? One of the most curious climate phenomena worldwide is El Niño, which is the irregular warming of sea surface temperatures, which leads to a cascade of effects on weather patterns and ecosystems. In this episode, we talk about what it involves, how it affects the lives of animals and human beings in Latin America, ... Show More
Nov 18
José Antonio Páez, The Peasant Who Became President (José Antonio Páez, El Peón Que Se Volvió Presidente)
<p>Though controversial, it would be plausible to say that Venezuela has always had controversial leaders, with some bringing glory to the nation, and others bringing sorrow and pain.</p><p><br/>In the case of José Antonio Páez, both things were simultaneously true, and this stro ... Show More
30m 18s
Nov 4
Guaraní, Paraguay's Hidden Heart (Guaraníes, El Corazón Escondido de Paraguay)
<p>There is a country in South America that is particularly "different" from its neighbors in many ways, but the most interesting is its language and culture: I'm talking about Paraguay.<br/><br/><br/>Not only is the only nation where the most-spoken language is an ... Show More
31m 6s
Apr 2023
The Science Behind La Niña and El Niño Explained!
As you may know, La Nina is over! It might not all be good news though, with news that it's hotter, drier cousin El Nino may be hitting Australia soon. But what does that all mean? And how do meteorologists predict weather so far in the future?See omnystudio.com/listener for priv ... Show More
8m 29s
Nov 2024
Upper-intermediate | Into the Sandstorm
<p>For anyone who has ever woken up to find their car covered in sand, the situation covered in today's lesson will be a familiar one. In some parts of the world, like Italy, France, and northern China, sandstorms are a part of the weather, even if the nearest desert lies hundred ... Show More
18m 20s
Oct 2024
How to gain perspective in a climate crisis (w/ David Finnigan)
<p>When it comes to a controversial topic like climate change represented in art, is the conversation its sparks more significant than the art itself? In this episode, Chris talks with David Finnigan, a playwright and climate activist who knew what he was doing when he titled his ... Show More
37m 1s
Jan 2025
How to turn climate anxiety into action (w/ Luisa Neubauer) (re-release)
<p>Amidst the multiple devastating fires in Los Angeles, where Chris lives, extreme weather events and shifting climate patterns are occurring across the globe, making our everyday lives all the more unpredictable. Today we are re-airing this episode from the very first season of ... Show More
31m 29s
Jul 2023
What an El Niño summer would mean for Australia
With fires raging through the northern hemisphere and record-breaking global temperatures, experts are warning Australia may be in for a dry, hot El Niño summer, with the threat of bushfires returning. Science writer Donna Lu explains to Laura Murphy-Oates what the summer ahead c ... Show More
18m 8s
Feb 2025
William A. Selby, "The California Sky Watcher: Understanding Weather Patterns and What Comes Next" (Heyday Books, 2024)
Often stereotyped as the land of unflaggingly perfect weather, California has a world-renowned reputation for sunny blue skies and infinitely even-keeled temperatures. But the real story of the Golden State's weather is vastly more complex. From the scorching heat of Death Valley ... Show More
48m 57s