Best Fossil Vs Future Podcasts (2025)

1
WHAT ABOUT LAW? Too hard to enforce or our best line of defence? 48:25

11h ago48:25

48:25

Environmental law is the law relating to environmental problems – but these problems are anything but simple. Traditional legal systems weren’t designed with challenges like climate change or biodiversity loss in mind, making this one of the most diverse, evolving, and demanding areas of law today. In this episode, James and Daisy are joined by Phi…

1
To infinity – who's in charge of outer space? 46:56

20m ago46:56

46:56

How do nations work together to control access to our vast universe, negotiate who gets what resources, or even who gets to set up new colonies on far away planets? And how do we ensure that we don’t just export earthly conflicts on take-off? ‘Unlocking Cooperation: Space Diplomacy’ is a talk from the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Af…

1
Being Jewish after the destruction of Gaza — with Peter Beinart and Sarah Schwartz 55:06

19m ago55:06

55:06

What's happening in Gaza is horrifying and shocking. As the world watches on, how are different Jewish communities reckoning with a war being waged in their name by Israel, against Hamas and the Palestinian people? This event was recorded at The Wheeler Centre on 27 May 2025 in partnership with the Jewish Council of Australia. Speakers Peter Beinar…

1
COP30: Can Brazil deliver a global breakthrough? 59:17

1h ago59:17

59:17

This November, Brazil will host COP30 in Belém, on the edge of the Amazon rainforest, in what is bound to be a moment packed with symbolism, high expectations, and global significance. This week, Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, and Paul Dickinson explore what’s at stake, what Brazil wants to achieve, and whether the world is ready to move f…

1
We asked for workers and got people — inside the temporary visa scheme putting food on your plate 1:06:04

1d ago1:06:04

1:06:04

A workforce we rarely hear about, lives in limbo, and stories from the coalface. From economic gains and cultural exchanges to exploitation and absconding, what are the successes and problems of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme? Who picks and processes those yummy strawberries you're about to put in your shopping trolley, or the …

1
The unbearable intimacy of voicing someone’s words — with Forced Entertainment 1:00:01

9h ago1:00:01

1:00:01

Words can mean everything, or nothing at all: it all depends on how they're delivered. This relationship between writer, script, actor and audience creates a particular tension that lies at the heart of performance. Who gives meaning to the words, interprets the creative material, who holds the power? This is a lecture, but not as you know it, by m…

1
Gina Chick on what dark nights of the soul can teach us about life and living 55:06

1d ago55:06

55:06

Gina Chick made her name as the inaugural winner of Alone Australia, but her story begins a long time before that. It involves unimaginable hardship, death grief, illness and injury. How has she learnt to sit with all that life has thrown at her, and remain joyful and true to herself, in the face of adversity? This event was recorded at the Athenae…

1
Safe at home – who profits when you’re afraid of your neighbours? 54:04

5d ago54:04

54:04

Your personal safety is big business, so much so that it’s given rise to “security capitalism”, a phenomenon where attempts to buy personal safety shape the world around us. As security becomes just another status symbol, do these gadgets make us safer or do they create a whole new list of anxieties – a self-fulfilling prophecy of perceived threat …

1
Sovereignty and Survival: A Spotlight on Vanuatu 1:03:06

5d ago1:03:06

1:03:06

How far would you go to protect your home? In this week’s special episode, Christiana Figueres brings us a deeply personal and political dispatch from Vanuatu - a country on the frontlines of the climate crisis and at the heart of one of the most significant climate justice initiatives of our time. In conversations with voices from government (Mini…

1
The ghosts are here — Tasma Walton, Darren Rix, Craig Cormick, Anthony Sharwood with Natasha Mitchell 56:43

6d ago56:43

56:43

The ghost people arrived by boat. They never left. But the stories of first encounters and what came next live large, 250 years later, in First Nations families and communities. An ambitious journey to reclaim the names and stories disappeared by Captain James Cook, but never lost. A deeply personal excavation of herstories and the women wrenched f…

1
Words to sing the world alive — waking up First Nations languages 54:05

7d ago54:05

54:05

At the time of colonisation, there were more than 250 Indigenous languages spoken in Australia, but these days, all are considered endangered. Many First Nations people are working hard to revive and reclaim their mother tongues. In the anthology, Words to Sing the World Alive: Celebrating First Nations Languages, 40 Indigenous Australians share wo…

1
From vulture bone flutes to ‘organised sound’— Andrew Ford's short history of music 52:45

8d ago52:45

52:45

Music has been around for at least as long as humans, and possibly even longer. How have forces like religion, the economy, society and technology, shaped music over time? And why, in lullabies and concert halls, songlines and streaming services, have humans always been irresistibly drawn to making it? This event was recorded at Sydney's Gleebooks.…

1
BCIs for Paralysis: Hope vs. Hype in Medical Tech. 25:33

9d ago25:33

25:33

This podcast epiosde discusses Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), highlighting their potential to transform the lives of individuals with paralysis by restoring communication and motor control through the translation of neural signals. While acknowledging significant advancements, such as achieving near-naturalistic speech decoding and precise robot…

1
Neuralink’s First Human Trials: Breakthrough or PR Stunt? 28:30

12d ago28:30

28:30

This podcast episode examines Neuralink's initial human trials, analyzing whether they represent a genuine breakthrough in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology or are primarily a public relations (PR) maneuver. It explores Neuralink's vision and technology, detailing the implant and robotic surgical system, and discusses the ambitious long-ter…

1
If it bleeds it leads – Bruce Shapiro on documenting the violence of modern life 54:39

12d ago54:39

54:39

From wars with global consequences to violent crimes in the suburbs, trauma underpins so much of the news cycle. It’s something award-winning journalist Bruce Shapiro came to understand intimately when, as a young crime reporter, he was stabbed. It changed his whole perspective on his profession, dedicating a large part of his career to the questio…

1
When Business Is Political: Climate commitments in an age of backlash 53:57

13d ago53:57

53:57

As the US federal government drifts further into anti-climate rhetoric and abandons its national and international commitments, can non-state actors hold the line? With Christiana Figueres away in Vanuatu, Tom Rivett-Carnac and Paul Dickinson take the reins to explore how climate progress is increasingly being driven by - or being left to - busines…

1
Live to 150? David Sinclair on why we age — and why he thinks we don't have to 1:07:03

15d ago1:07:03

1:07:03

What if we could turn back time on our biological clock and slow down — even reverse — aging? High profile Harvard scientist David Sinclair is co-author of the New York Times bestseller Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don’t Have To. His lab’s work is as ambitious as it is controversial. He wants to radically change the way we live our lives — and p…

1
WHAT ABOUT INSURANCE? An industry under pressure or the key to a more resilient future? 37:10

14d ago37:10

37:10

Climate change is increasing the risk of damage from unexpected events such as extreme weather and natural disasters. While steps can be taken to reduce the risk, they can’t eliminate it entirely – that’s where insurance comes in. It allows people to transfer financial risk and protect themselves from financial losses. In this episode, James and Da…

1
WHAT ABOUT POPULISM? PART TWO! 21:38

14d ago21:38

21:38

Shortly after we recorded our episode on populism, two major developments in the UK prompted us to do this follow-up. First, former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair called for a major rethink of the UK’s net zero policy. Then, the right-wing populist party Reform UK made significant gains in the English local elections. In this episode, James and Dais…

1
Australia and the spectre of war — from Vietnam to today 1:00:04

14d ago1:00:04

1:00:04

It's been 60 years since then Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies sent Australians to fight in the Vietnam War. Since that time, the defence force has been involved in many armed conflicts and peace keeping missions around the world — but with varying degrees of public support. So how have successive Australian governments managed public conse…

1
Australia votes — what message should we take from this election result? 54:57

15d ago54:57

54:57

If democracy is the will of the people, what does this federal election result say about Australia? In his election night victory speech, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australians had voted for Australian values, claiming these were fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all. But is this right message we should take from the election resul…

1
What are you wearing? Why we aren’t buying Australian made fashion 54:11

19d ago54:11

54:11

Australians are now the biggest consumers per capita of clothes in the world. But just three per cent of clothing is made here in Australia. So is it time for a fashion rethink? This event was held at the Melbourne Museum as part of Melbourne Fashion Festival's Fashion Talks program on 4 March 2025. Speakers Tara MosesChief Operating Officer, RM Wi…

1
The Spanish Grid Goes Down: Are renewables really to blame? 44:31

20d ago44:31

44:31

On April 28th, millions of people across Spain, Portugal and beyond were plunged into darkness in one of Europe’s most severe blackouts in decades. Was it a cyberattack? A renewables failure? Or might things be a little more complex? This week, Tom Rivett-Carnac, Christiana Figueres, and Paul Dickinson dig into what we know, what we don’t, and ask …

1
Mark Zuckerberg claims corporations are culturally neutered — are they? Men, women, work, and the manosphere 54:03

20d ago54:03

54:03

Meta's Mark Zuckerberg has said “a lot of the corporate world has become culturally neutered” and that it needs more “masculine energy”? Has it and does it? At Meta, he recently shut down initiatives that promote equity and diversity in his workplace. In the USA, so has Ford, Mcdonalds, Walmart, and the Trump administration. But in Australia, less …

1
Enhanced Weathering: Grinding Rocks to Absorb CO2 14:10

21d ago14:10

14:10

Can crushed rocks help solve climate change? In this episode, we dive into Enhanced Weathering—a natural carbon removal strategy that speeds up Earth’s rock cycle. Learn how spreading ground basalt on farmland could boost soil health, absorb CO₂, and even fight ocean acidification. We break down the science, the benefits, and the big challenges of …

1
Biochar vs. BECCS: Which Negative Emissions Tech Wins? 16:19

21d ago16:19

16:19

In this episode, we compare two major biomass-based carbon removal solutions: Biochar and BECCS. From net energy gains to water efficiency, co-benefits, and economic trade-offs, we break down how each technology stacks up. Plus, could a hybrid approach be the smartest path forward? Tune in to find out which solution (or combo) could help us meet cl…

1
History lessons — historians Orlando Figes, Bettany Hughes, Matthew Longo and Dava Sobel with Annabelle Quince 55:53

23d ago55:53

55:53

Democracies in retreat, attacks on science, border disputes, death and destruction. It can feel like we are living in unprecedented times - but here's the thing: world history has a habit of repeating itself. So what lessons does history teach us about this moment in which we find ourselves? Do we humans learn anything from the past, or are we dest…

1
Chatting with 2025 Grammy winner Ruthie Foster 53:49

22d ago53:49

53:49

After five nominations, Ruthie Foster has taken home the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album - affirming her status as an American music legend. In this intimate conversation, she shares what made her want to be a singer; the roles of her grandmother and mother in her life; why faith is so important to her and why she wants to sing …

1
Ocean Fertilization: Dumping Iron to Save the Climate? 23:15

26d ago23:15

23:15

This podcast episode explores ocean iron fertilization as a potential climate change mitigation strategy, detailing its basis in stimulating phytoplankton growth to absorb atmospheric CO2. It discusses experimental findings, noting that while iron addition increases phytoplankton, sustained, substantial carbon export to the deep ocean remains uncer…

1
Direct Air Capture Plants: Climeworks’ $1,000/Ton Problem 28:32

27d ago28:32

28:32

This podcast episode discuss Direct Air Capture (DAC), a technology that removes carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere, as a crucial tool in combating climate change. They explain how DAC systems, such as liquid solvent and solid sorbent methods, operate and highlight Climeworks, a company that has pioneered this field with operational plants…

1
Vladimir Putin’s Russia — with exiled journalist and author Mikhail Zygar 52:17

26d ago52:17

52:17

The exiled founder of Russia's only independent television news channel, Mikhail Zygar, takes us inside Vladimir Putin's Russia, with a firsthand account of how the President has successfully silenced the media, opposition and Kremlin critics, to cement his hold on power. The 2025 AN Smith Lecture: Journalism against autocracy: Putin, Trump and the…

1
Technology vs Transition?: What Tony Blair gets right - and wrong - about net zero 52:45

27d ago52:45

52:45

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair says that net zero is politically unachievable without radical rethinking: a shift away from reducing consumption and toward technologies that can remove carbon both at the source and from the atmosphere. So, are carbon capture and carbon removal really viable - and more palatable - alternatives to a rapid fossil…

1
Aluminum-Air Batteries: 1,000-Mile EV Range… If They Don’t Explode 13:27

27d ago13:27

13:27

This podcast episode discusses aluminum-air batteries and their potential role in powering electric vehicles, particularly their capability for extended driving ranges of around 1,000 miles due to their high energy density. The sources explain the working principle of these batteries, which use aluminum as an anode and oxygen from the air as a cath…

1
Rituals, rats, and reeded vertebrae! The mysteries of Machu Picchu and Ancient Peru revealed 53:24

27d ago53:24

53:24

A story of continents crashing and cleaving apart, the making of a civilisation, the language of the dead, and ... a mummified rat makes a cameo too. The Incan empire was vast and sophisticated. It built the stunning citadel in the clouds of Machu Picchu in the Andes mountains. But within a century its people were catastrophically wiped out by the …

1
Fusion Startup Backlash: Are Investors Being Scammed? 20:09

28d ago20:09

20:09

This podcast episode discusses the burgeoning fusion energy startup landscape, which is attracting significant private investment despite the historical challenges and complexities of achieving practical fusion power. The text explores the diverse technological approaches being pursued by companies like Helion Energy and Commonwealth Fusion Systems…

1
WHAT ABOUT POPULISM? A reason to stall climate action or a chance to reframe the narrative? 36:33

1M ago36:33

36:33

Populism is a political approach that claims to speak for “ordinary people” – those who feel ignored or left behind established elite groups. Around the world, populist movements frequently frame environmental action as elitist, out of touch with the priorities of “real people.” In this episode, James and Daisy discuss the rise of populism. What ex…

1
Mental ill-health and the power of words 53:28

28d ago53:28

53:28

The language used to talk about mental ill-health can play a key role in reducing or enforcing stigma. And it's constantly evolving. But what terms should be used and when? And by whom? The wrong word can not only deeply hurt a person's feelings. It can end careers, destroy relationships, cut access to support systems. This special World Mental Hea…

1
Piezoelectric Roads: Can We Generate Power from Traffic? 14:40

30d ago14:40

14:40

This podcast episode discusses piezoelectric roads, an innovative technology that aims to generate electricity from the mechanical stress of passing vehicles. It explains the science behind piezoelectricity, where certain materials produce an electrical charge when deformed. The document outlines how these materials are embedded in roads and the pr…

1
Geothermal Fracking: Clean Energy or Earthquake Maker? 15:29

30d ago15:29

15:29

This podcast episode examines enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), a technology also known as geothermal fracking that aims to increase access to geothermal energy beyond naturally occurring sites by creating underground reservoirs. It highlights the potential of EGS as a reliable and clean energy source that can provide continuous power, unlike inte…

1
Perovskite Solar Cells: The Silicon Panel Killer Stuck in Lab Purgatory 26:33

1M ago26:33

26:33

In this podcast episode, we examine the potential and challenges of perovskite solar cells as a rival to dominant silicon-based solar technology. Initially hailed for their high efficiency and low-cost production potential, perovskite cells have faced significant hurdles, primarily concerning stability and lifespan compared to established silicon p…

1
Worried about the future? A mosquito could help you to live in the present 54:05

29d ago54:05

54:05

What can a mosquito teach us about time? Noone likes a mosquito bite — but for a brief moment when it stings you, you know you are alive. Humans are temporal beings, but across cultures, our concepts of time are vastly different. This event explores what we can learn from science, philosophy and Indigenous perspectives that can alter experiences of…

1
Kite-Powered Cargo Ships: Maersk’s 21st-Century Sailors 14:57

1M ago14:57

14:57

This podcast episode discuss the increasing need for the maritime shipping industry, responsible for a significant portion of global carbon emissions, to transition towards decarbonisation, driven by ambitious targets from bodies like the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Maersk, a major shipping company, is highlighted for its strong comm…

1
Plasma Gasification: Turning Trash Into Clean Energy or Toxic Risk? 50:54

1M ago50:54

50:54

This podcast episode discusses plasma gasification, a technology that uses extremely high temperatures to convert waste into a usable synthesis gas (syngas) and inert solid byproducts. It outlines the scientific principles of plasma, the process of gasification, and the components of a plasma gasification plant. The sources explore the potential be…

1
AI-Optimized Nuclear Reactors: Bill Gates’ TerraPower Breakthrough 15:04

1M ago15:04

15:04

The podcast episode discusses Bill Gates' TerraPower Natrium reactor project, an advanced nuclear energy initiative aiming to provide clean and reliable power by merging nuclear engineering with artificial intelligence. The source details the reactor's innovative design, featuring liquid sodium cooling and molten salt energy storage, highlighting i…

1
Sand Batteries: Finland’s Weird Solution to Seasonal Energy Storage 14:49

1M ago14:49

14:49

This podcast episode examines Finland's innovative use of sand batteries as a solution for seasonal energy storage, particularly for heating purposes. These systems function as thermal energy storage, converting surplus renewable electricity into heat stored in large volumes of sand. The text highlights the advantages of sand, such as its low cost,…

1
Solid-State Batteries: Will They Kill Gasoline Cars by 2030? 14:24

1M ago14:24

14:24

This episode examines solid-state battery technology as a potential advancement for electric vehicles, noting its promise for increased energy density, enhanced safety, faster charging, longer lifespan, and wider operating temperature range compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. However, the source also highlights significant challenges to …

1
AI-Powered Exoskeletons: Restoring Mobility or Military Tool? 26:22

1M ago26:22

26:22

AI-powered rehabilitation exoskeletons help users retrain their muscles, correct posture, and gradually rebuild strength, reducing the risk of long-term mobility issues. Robotic rehabilitation systems also provide real-time feedback, allowing therapists to track progress and customize recovery plans.…

1
Robot Teachers in Classrooms: Japan’s Experiment. 18:23

1M ago18:23

18:23

The Japanese government has announced plans to use robots in school classrooms as part of a new approach to improve its population's English proficiency, and take advantage of an expected increase in tourism.

1
Sex Robots: Ethical Implications and Societal Impact. 17:45

1M ago17:45

17:45

Critics argue that sex robots present a clear risk to real persons and a social degradation that will increase sexual violence, objectify women, encourage pedophilia, reinforce negative body images, increase forms of sexual dysfunction, and pass on sexually transmitted disease.

1
Australia votes— are our political parties on the nose? 54:05

1M ago54:05

54:05

This election has been described as a boring campaign, but with some fascinating contests. So just what is going on in the minds of voters as Australia heads to the polls this weekend? This event was recorded at the Sorrento Writers Festival on 27 May 2025. Speakers Frank BongiornoProfessor of History, Australian National UniversityPresident, Counc…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Fossil Vs Future Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen