logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2020
32m 4s

How To Save the Planet (And Still Use a ...

Slate Podcasts
About this episode

Caleb tries to be good to the planet by recycling, biking to work and living a minimalist lifestyle in his small Ohio town. But he still feels guilty about using disposable diapers and buying a minivan for his growing family. How can he fight climate change without driving himself crazy? In this episode of How To!, Emma Marris, an environmental writer and author of Rambunctious Garden, warns us not to fall into the trap of individual guilt. In other words, don't feel too bad about using that plastic straw. Emma says that plays into the hands of the fossil fuel industry. Instead, reallocate your time and energy toward collective action that works to make large-scale systems more eco-friendly. 

What are your toughest challenges during the pandemic? And what have you found is working for you? Leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001. We're collecting your problems and solutions for our recurring Quarantine Q&A.

Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence. Sign up now to listen and support our work.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Apr 14
How To Solve a Mystery
Brett has spent her career in foreign policy — shaping strategy, advising governments, moving pieces on a board whose outcomes she may never live to fully see. It's meaningful work. It just never feels finished. So she's started thinking about a different kind of problem: the kin ... Show More
39m 45s
Apr 7
How To Communicate with Your Pet
Living with a cat often feels like a game of high-stakes interpretation, especially when an 18-pound Maine Coon is performing a 4:30 AM tap dance on your head. Today on How To!, Mike Pesca is joined by cat owner Steve, who shares the reality of navigating the vocal demands of his ... Show More
37m 6s
Mar 31
How to Not Say "Um"
Relying on filler words like "um," "like," and "you know" is a universal habit that clutters our speech and betrays our nerves, but simply willing yourself to stop only makes the problem worse. Today on How To!, Mike Pesca is joined by renowned data journalist and author Nate Sil ... Show More
44m 18s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2020
Introducing How to Save a Planet
Does climate change freak you out? Want to know what we, collectively, can do about it? Us too. How to Save a Planet is a podcast that asks the big questions: what do we need to do to solve the climate crisis, and how do we get it done? Join us, journalist Alex Blumberg and scien ... Show More
12m 26s
Jul 2020
Introducing How to Save a Planet
Does climate change freak you out? Want to know what we, collectively, can do about it? Us too. How to Save a Planet is a podcast that asks the big questions: what do we need to do to solve the climate crisis, and how do we get it done? Join us, journalist Alex Blumberg and scien ... Show More
30s
Apr 2021
Proven Ways to Be More Persuasive & The Surprising Truth About Recycling
If you saw someone walking down the street and they were not swinging their arms, you would think it looks a little weird. Yet, humans don’t have to swing their arms to walk - we can walk fine with it. This episode begins with an explanation as to why most of us swing our arms wh ... Show More
50m 43s
Jul 2023
Sustainable Decluttering (#256)
Join me, Shelina, in this episode of the Get Organised with Decluttr Me podcast, as I explore the benefits of decluttering sustainably and provide valuable tips for responsible disposal, recycling, and upcycling. I'll shed light on the intersection between decluttering and sustai ... Show More
9m 38s
Jan 2021
Recycling! Is it BS?
The recycling bin — many of us have learned to view this humble container as an environmental superhero. It is, after all, the critical first step in turning our trash into… well, not treasure, but at least more stuff. Or is it? In this episode, we take a look at the science, hel ... Show More
48m 46s
Aug 2023
Your carbon footprint should bring you joy
<ul></ul> <p>The concept of a “carbon footprint” began as a distraction from Big Oil: get people to focus on their own actions rather than the impact of large emitters. Oil companies come up with PR campaigns all the time, but the carbon footprint took off because it taps into a ... Show More
34m 57s
Mar 2021
Plastic Pollution - with Steve Backshall and Georgia May Jagger
“If you’ve eaten seafood, you’ve eaten plastic” It’s time to talk plastics. Every piece of plastic we consume stays in the environment for up to hundreds of years. The sheer scale of plastics in the environment are dramatically impacting ocean wildlife and human health. For this ... Show More
27m 8s
Nov 2019
Ep 78. Climate Change, the Environment and What We Can Do W/ Dr Emily Lines
Dr Emily Lines is a Lecturer in environmental science at Queen Mary University in London (she's also one of my best friends!).In today's podcast we discuss:* What we can do to make things better when it comes to the planet* Why we shouldn’t beat ourselves up or take on board too ... Show More
54m 23s