Planet: Critical

The podcast delves into the political and physical challenges of the energy transition, highlighting the psychological vulnerabilities hindering progress. It explores the intersection of various global crises, the risks of unchecked resource accumulation, and the need for collective well-being over individual success. Additionally, it discusses eco-fascism concerns, the notion of evil in society, and the importance of behavioral change and interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing climate change.

Laura Martin discusses the importance of collaborative ecological restoration over preservation. They explore the impact on caribou and human communities, advocate for slow, deliberate action, and critique reforestation for carbon offsetting. The podcast challenges systemic injustices, global environmental responsibilities in urban life, and modern society's disconnection due to industrialization and neoliberalism.

The podcast discusses the divisive views on nuclear energy, with Mark Nelson debunking myths and advocating for its benefits. Topics include nuclear's role in the energy crisis, safety concerns, and transforming fossil fuel infrastructure. The conversation explores public perceptions, uranium mining challenges, and the complexities of waste management in the nuclear sector.

Artist explores training AI model on octopus experience for more diverse perspectives. Discussing the role of art in resisting human-centric technology biases. Advocating for interdisciplinary collaboration, grassroots movements, and societal change through transformative art.

Investigative journalist Amy Westervelt reveals the sinister tactics of the fossil fuel industry and its allies, exposing the Atlas Network's global influence on climate policies. From manipulation to corporate sovereignty, she advocates for revolutionary change in activism and policy-making to combat right-wing extremism and corporate capture.

Paddy Loughman, an expert on healing societal trauma, discusses original trauma, the veneer of civilization, and the destruction of nature. They explore the concept of trauma and its relationship to healing, the desire for certainty, and the importance of adjusting narratives for change. They also discuss disconnecting from social media, mistranslation's impact on our relationship with nature, and the importance of storytelling and accountability in creating a new reality.

If they won’t get it done, then we’ll do it ourselves.Chaytan Inman is uninspired by politics. The computer science student was fed up or energy-blind and materials-blind promises made by big political names, promises of unlimited economic growth on a finite planet and infinitely available renewable energy, all tied up in the language of “Net Zero”. Chaytan didn’t see anyone running on a political platform which promised a liveable future. So he decided to run for Governor of Washington State.“We cannot consume our way out of an overconsumption problem.”Chaytan joined me to discuss his decision and his political platform: Enshrining the rights of nature in the state constitution. He aims to ensure the Pacific Northwest will “still have rain, trees, food and water” for the future, envisioning a radical shift in how natural resources are valued by giving nature the same rights as people, and embedding citizenship in the state’s natural ecosystem. He also reveals two other policies around taxation and agriculture, offering a true degrowth platform for Washington residents.Chaytan is young—and he says he truly does not want to have to run for governor—but his elders have failed his generation. It's truly heartbreaking to see how many young people are having to put themselves on the line because of this failure. We should have a society of elders that knows how to lead, that can use all of their life experience to seed their imagination with possibilities for the future. Elders know when it's time to move on. In such a society, young people should have the freedom to be idealists, not burdened with the pressure of being realists. But, in our world, we are led by no one, and run by idiots and ideologues. This crisis demands leadership. It may come from surprising places.© Rachel Donald Get full access to Planet: Critical at planetcritical.substack.com/subscribe

The podcast explores the psychological characteristics of people in WEIRD countries and how they shape beliefs. It discusses cognitive dissonance and the challenge of changing mindset. It challenges the fixation on a fixed self and explores the concept of letting go and adapting to the environment. The chapter discusses action-oriented approaches in psychology and the need for new actions to create positive change. It also explores the effectiveness of deep canvassing to shift perspectives. The podcast wraps up by discussing Sarah's upcoming book and course.

Did you know the government doesn’t spend your taxes?Welcome to the world of Modern Monetary Theory, a revolutionary way of decoding our monetary systems—and making them work better for us. I’m joined by Steven Hail, economist and lecturer, who explains, using MMT, what we get wrong about money, taxes, inflation and even currency. Steven reveals how the notion of states not being able to afford certain necessities—like education, health, the green transition—is nonsense, explaining how the supply of resources impacts our economy, not running a deficit. Alongside debunking a range of money myths, he also reveals the fascinating history of taxation as a means to create a citizenry and their dependence on a centralised state.This is a technical episode, but Steven’s explanations are clear and concise, and we successfully cover a lot of ground to uncover the real relationships between governments, markets and the monetary system they swear by.Episodes referenced include my interviews with Fadhel Kaboub, Jason Hickel and Kate Raworth.© Rachel DonaldPlanet: Critical investigates why the world is in crisis—and what to do about it. Support the project with a paid subscription. Get full access to Planet: Critical at planetcritical.substack.com/subscribe

Neoliberalism is the disease which keeps on killing.But did you know the neoliberal economic gospel we live under today is a deliberate misinterpretation of the original theory? In her new book, The Big Myth: How American Business Taught Us to Loathe Government and Love the Free Market, historian of science Naomi Oreskes shows how a group of American plutocrats distorted the the conservative teachings of Friedrich van Hayek’s theory of neoliberalism in order to plunder the world’s resource, unleash the markets, and undermine federal power. Naomi joins me today to give an incisive and brutal summary of why our world is in crisis, detailing the criminal avarice of these plutocrats; how institutions, lobbyists and corporations continue to undermine democracy; and why a renewable world threatens the powers that be. This phenomenal explanation shows why the climate crisis is not a scientific problem, but a political, economic and social issue, with Naomi revealing tactics civilians used throughout history against the destructive elite.© Rachel DonaldPlanet: Critical investigates why the world is in crisis—and what to do about it. Support the project with a paid subscription.‘It’s Not the End of the World’ book assumptions & omissions spark debateCheck out my latest episode on Mongabay’s Newscast in Hannah Ritchie and I go head-to-head about her book, It’s Not the End of the World, and the data omissions which paint a far rosier picture of the polycrisis than her backer, Bill Gates, would have us believe. Get full access to Planet: Critical at planetcritical.substack.com/subscribe