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
10 Qualities That Could Change the Future: The Seeds of New Cultural Mitochondria | Frankly 98 20:21

8h ago20:21

20:21

Living in a period increasingly fraught by various crises and risks, it is more necessary than ever to be able to metabolize anxiety into something useful. But what about at a cultural level? The behaviors that the current economic superstructure rewards cannot form the basis of what emerges from its ashes…we require new ways of thinking and living…

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
AI’s Unseen Risks: How Artificial Intelligence Could Harm Future Generations with Zak Stein 1:49:55

5h ago1:49:55

1:49:55

While most industries are embracing artificial intelligence, citing profit and efficiency, the tech industry is pushing AI into education under the guise of ‘inevitability’. But the focus on its potential benefits for academia eclipses the pressing (and often invisible) risks that AI poses to children – including the decline of critical thinking, t…

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
Why the World Feels Like It’s Falling Apart: The Superorganism Explained in 7 Minutes | Frankly 97 14:46

5d ago14:46

14:46

In a world grappling with converging crises, we often look outward – for new tech, new markets, new distractions. But the deeper issue lies within: our relationship with energy, nature, and each other. What if we step back far enough to see human civilization itself as an organism that is growing without a plan? In this week’s Frankly — adapted fro…

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 Fish are Fleeing: How Shifting Marine Ecosystems are Upending Life with Malin Pinsky 1:05:05

6d ago1:05:05

1:05:05

For all of human history, the oceans and the life within them have remained a stable and fundamental part of Earth as we know it. Yet, for the past few decades, fisheries and scientists alike have observed massive migrations in marine ecosystems unlike anything we’ve ever witnessed. What is driving these unprecedented movements, and how are they ri…

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
The 8 Faces of AI: Who Will You Become As AI Accelerates? | Frankly 96 13:01

12d ago13:01

13:01

In a world increasingly mediated by machines, the boundaries between human identity and artificial intelligence are beginning to blur. While some embrace the tools of the future, others quietly resist, preserving ways of being that have endured for millennia. What happens when AI becomes not just a tool but a mirror? In this week’s Frankly, Nate in…

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
Restoring Global Ecology: The Great Green Wall and Large-Scale Permaculture in Action with Andrew Millison 1:03:14

14d ago1:03:14

1:03:14

It’s no secret that massive change is needed to restore our planet’s vital ecosystems. Permaculture offers practices to restore local environments by focusing on creating sustainable agricultural systems that mimic patterns found in nature. But how might permaculture initiatives go beyond agriculture to transform some of our largest-scale problems,…

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
The Parent and the Pendulum | Frankly 95 14:31

21d ago14:31

14:31

In a culture driven by achievement, autonomy, and digital distraction, our sense of identity is often shaped by performance and external validation. Yet beneath this surface, many carry unseen psychological imprints from childhood and culture alike. What happens when we begin to examine these layers and imagine healthier ones? In this week’s Frankl…

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
No Economies Without Biodiversity: Why Our Markets Rely on the Complexity of Nature with Thomas Crowther 1:11:59

20d ago1:11:59

1:11:59

There is only one known planet in the universe capable of meeting humanity's needs – Earth. And yet, our understanding and appreciation of the underlying complexity that makes it function remains limited. If we were able to grasp the transformative potential of biodiversity – specifically how it relates to biocomplexity – how might we change our be…

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
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
Social Overshoot? Dunbar’s Number, Real Relationships, and Musical Chairs | Frankly 94 15:13

28d ago15:13

15:13

With more people on the planet than ever before – with most having constant digital access to one another – there is an abundance of potential relationships available to us. Despite this, there is also an increasing loneliness crisis across global society. What can evolutionary psychology teach us about this lack of meaningful relationships at a ti…

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
Fragile Electric Grids: Did Renewables Cause the Blackout in Spain? with Pedro Prieto 57:06

29d ago57:06

57:06

Last week, Europe experienced its worst blackout in living memory, which plunged tens of millions of people across Spain and Portugal into darkness for up to 18 hours. Life screeched to a halt, with trains, traffic lights, ATMs, phone connections, and internet access failing. In the aftermath, many important questions have arisen, including: what c…

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
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
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
Information Burnout: Are We Past Peak Sensemaking? | Frankly 93 12:33

1M ago12:33

12:33

Each morning, people around the world wake up to more troubling headlines – from power outages in Spain and Portugal to intensifying drone attacks in Ukraine. For some people, diving into the facts and data behind these types of crises provides an increase in knowledge resulting in agency and response. On the other hand, a growing number of people …

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…

1
Beyond the ‘Climate Wars’?: Australia heads to the polls 44:22

1M ago44:22

44:22

Australia heads to the polls this weekend - with climate firmly on the ballot. Is the country ready to lose its reputation as the battleground of the climate wars? And are we about to see a lasting shift in a nation that has for years been torn between its sunlight and its coal? As a pivotal election looms, Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac an…

1
Sobriété vs Poverty: Preparing for a New Cultural Paradigm with Jean-Marc Jancovici 1:11:13

1M ago1:11:13

1:11:13

As economic, political, and environmental pressures continue to reshape our daily choices, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the era of hyper-consumption that defined the past century is no longer sustainable. Recognizing and adapting to this reality represents one of the most profound cultural shifts of our time – requiring collective reflecti…

1
Has the world lost the plot? John Lyons, Greg Sheridan, Emma Shortis, Josh Taylor with Natasha Mitchell 56:11

1M ago56:11

56:11

Are we living through a key turning point in world history? How do we make sense of this present moment, and what's on the horizon?Trump's trade wars, long-held alliances dismantled, the deadly conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, the rise and rise of AI, the tech oligarch takeover, China's military build-up, NATO's demise, and much more. It's a confusin…

1
The painting that changed Australia — the story of Blue Poles 56:03

1M ago56:03

56:03

It's been called a coming-of-age story for a nation. The Whitlam Government's purchase of Jackson Pollock's Blue Poles in 1973 helped to bring down the government. So how did this abstract expressionist masterpiece become the most famous, most controversial artwork in Australia? Then: how does political portraiture affect how we feel about politici…

1
Are Donald Trump and US politics bringing global health to its knees? 54:04

1M ago54:04

54:04

Until recently, the USA provided about 30% of global health funding. It was dominant in supplying HIV/AIDS medication and funded a major part of medical research. Much of this has now stopped with Donald Trump restricting gender affirming care, withdrawing from the WHO and holding funds from USAID - and the list goes on. What are the impacts on pan…

1
Artificial Intelligence - In Service of Life? | Frankly 92 27:49

1M ago27:49

27:49

What if the most powerful tool humanity has ever created could either help heal the Earth — or accelerate its unraveling? In this special Earth Week edition of Frankly, Nate delves into what it truly means for a technology or project to be “in service of Life,” using the rapidly evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence as an example. Like any …

1
Sir Simon Schama — On antisemitism 49:51

1M ago49:51

49:51

Acclaimed British historian Sir Simon Schama reflects on the history of antisemitism, the Holocaust and contemporary culture. He says that for millennia Jewish people have been "the other of convenience. We are the dark mirror in which the wish fulfilment of other societies takes it out on people who are said to represent its opposite." Presented a…

1
The End of Oil? Inside the Hidden Decline of Fossil Fuels | Earth Day Special 54:35

1M ago54:35

54:35

Are we witnessing the beginning of the end for fossil fuels? This Earth Day, Outrage + Optimism explores a seismic shift in global energy: the possibility that major oil and gas companies are entering a self-managed decline. Have fossil fuel companies been overvalued for decades? And are they now quietly winding themselves down? For years, analysts…

1
The Neuroscience of Good Journalism: How Constructive Journalism Uses Information to Empower with Maren Urner 1:24:04

1M ago1:24:04

1:24:04

The psychological effects of media consumption and keeping up with the 24-hour news cycle are vast. It can sometimes feel impossible to stay educated on current events without also feeling hopeless, disempowered, or even enraged. Worse, the incentives and structures of modern media outlets seem more and more geared towards capturing our attention a…

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Fossil Vs Future Podcasts

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