logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2020
33m 50s

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
Jun 2024
How To Move Past Your Toxic Ex
After Lin met Dave, their lives quickly became entangled. Lin joined Dave’s small business, made much-needed improvements, and charmed Dave’s family. The two also began a romantic relationship that lasted years. When it fizzled, Lin continued working at the company—and eventually ... Show More
44m 59s
Jun 2024
How To Be Lonely
Paula has a big family, lots of friends, and a girlfriend she adores. For most of her life, however, she has experienced an underlying and unshakeable sense of loneliness. On this episode of How To!, Courtney Martin brings on Kristen Radtke, the writer and illustrator behind Seek ... Show More
42m 30s
May 2024
How To Take a Gap Year
Leo is a high-achieving high school senior on the cusp of graduation. Growing up in a rigorous school environment he faced endless pressure to follow the expected track of attending an elite university and eventually securing a good job. Yet, Leo feels slightly unfulfilled and is ... Show More
44m 28s
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
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
53m 13s
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
Aug 2023
Your carbon footprint should bring you joy
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 question we k ... 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
Sep 2020
How New Tech Can Save The Planet From Global Warming - Tom Chi
“Sophisticated things don't happen by accident.” The exponential growth of technology has come with a hefty price tag! Global warming is one of the greatest threats to human health. Although we still haven’t caught up with these rapid changes, the future can still be bright. Our ... Show More
41m 47s
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