Kate Marvel spends her days playing with climate models, which she says are “like a very expensive version of The Sims.” As a physicist she gets tired of being asked to weigh in on economics, geopolitics, and despair — but she still defends the right of scientists to have strong feelings about the planet.
May 9
21. Pete Docter: “What If Monsters Really Do Exist?”
He’s the chief creative officer of Pixar, and the Academy Award-winning director of Soul, Inside Out, Up, and Monsters, Inc. Pete Docter and Steve talk about Pixar’s scrappy beginnings, why it costs $200 million to make an animated film, and the movie moment that changed Steve’s ... Show More
43m 16s
May 2
20. John Donohue: “I'm Frequently Called a Treasonous Enemy of the Constitution.”
He’s a law professor with a Ph.D. in economics and a tendency for getting into fervid academic debates. Over 20 years ago, he and Steve began studying the impact of legalized abortion on crime. John and Steve talk about guns, the death penalty, the heat they took from their joint ... Show More
36m 53s
Apr 25
19. Marina Nitze: “If You Googled ‘Business Efficiency Consultant,’ I Was the Only Result.”
At 27— and without a college degree — she was named chief technology officer of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Today, Marina Nitze is trying to reform the foster care system. She tells Steve how she hacked the V.A.’s bureaucracy, opens up about her struggle with Type 1 diabe ... Show More
37m 38s
Sep 2025
Will climate change make your home uninsurable? | Amy Barnes
Insurance is the hidden engine that keeps the economy churning, but climate change is making home insurance unaffordable for many people, says climate risk advisor Amy Barnes. She reveals why soaring premiums aren't just bad news for homeowners, but also a flashing red signal for ... Show More
10m 19s
Nov 2025
Will We Artificially Cool the Planet? The Science and Politics of Geoengineering with Ted Parson
Global heating continues, despite the increased use of renewable energy sources and international policies attempting otherwise. Even as emissions reduction efforts continue, our world faces more extreme weather, sea level rise, and human health impacts, all of which are projecte ... Show More
1h 21m
Feb 2025
Have we surrendered to climate breakdown?
In 2015, a vigorous response to climate change seemed possible: even fossil fuel companies talked about transitioning to cleaner energy. But exploration and exploitation of oil and gas reserves have continued unabated, and in 2024, annual temperatures surpassed the 1.5ºC limit se ... Show More
51m 34s
Jul 2021
154- The economics of climate change, the coming resource wars and what we can do about it.
Economists are dangerous, so says this week's guest iconoclastic economist,Professor Steve Keen and this is particularly the case if we think about climate change. What can we do to avoid a climate catastrophe? Carbon credits could be the answer, but we have to act quickly. ... Show More
34m 12s
Jun 2021
The Myth of Climate Apocalypse with Michael Shellenberger [S2 Ep.18]
I'm pleased to announce that supporters of the show will be able to interact with me through text messages. If you are considering joining our community, you can sign up at colemanhughes.org/ Today's guest is Michael Shellenberger. Michael is a journalist, author, environmental a ... Show More
1 h
Mar 2025
Why climate matters this election - and how to make sure you vote like it, with Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie
There is no bigger issue this election than climate change. And who we put into power today will make a crucial difference tomorrow. That's the clear message from Amanda McKenzie, co-founder and CEO of the Climate Council - Australia's leading organisation for independent climat ... Show More
1h 5m