Best Matthew Matern Podcasts (2025)

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218: The Green Girl Changing Climate Activism with Leah Thomas 39:55

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20h ago39:55

39:55

Leah Thomas (aka Green Girl Leah) is an award-winning environmentalist, writer, and founder of the Intersectional Environmentalist nonprofit. She hosts the new season of As She Rises and writes the newsletter Earth Anxious. Leah also created an eco-friendly holiday guide to help people shop sustainably. A leading voice in climate justice, she blend…

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SNP46: Reviewing Six Key Insights from the Year's Conversations 9:40

3d ago9:40

9:40

This is a Premium-exclusive episode of the podcast. To listen to the full episode you need to be subscribed to Sigma Nutrition Premium. Each year, the conversations on Sigma Nutrition Radio aim to examine the ideas that shape how we understand nutrition, health, and human behavior. This episode brings together the key insights from those discussion…

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217: Stephen Lezak Challenges Bill Gates’s Climate Argument 58:14

8d ago58:14

58:14

In this episode, Matt speaks with climate writer and researcher Stephen Lezak about Bill Gates’s recent essay arguing that climate change is serious but will not lead to humanity’s demise and that global policy should focus more on poverty and disease. Lezak explains why he challenged that framing in his New York Times op-ed, noting that Gates down…

51
#585: Why We Think Poorly: Reason, Emotion, and Evidence-Based Reasoning 58:44

10d ago58:44

58:44

We take a look at critical thinking in science and healthcare, examining how we often fall prey to cognitive biases, emotional reasoning, and flawed thinking. Drawing from six different experts in their respective fields, the episode explores why we sometimes believe we are being rational when in fact our conclusions aren't truly evidence-based. Th…

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216: The Endangerment Battle and Why Climate Science Still Matters with Naomi Oreskes 42:34

15d ago42:34

42:34

Matt speaks with Harvard historian of science Naomi Oreskes about the long-standing scientific consensus on climate change and the political forces undermining it. Oreskes explains how Congress understood climate risks as early as the 1960s, why the EPA’s endangerment finding remains crucial, and how powerful interests have attacked science as clim…

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#584: EAT-Lancet: Does the Planetary Health Diet Improve Human Health? 59:19

17d ago59:19

59:19

How should we think about diets that claim to optimise both human and planetary health? Can a single "reference diet" really balance the complex trade-offs between nutrition adequacy, chronic disease prevention, and environmental sustainability? These questions have gained renewed attention with the release of the 2025 update to the EAT-Lancet Plan…

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#583: Ultra-Processed Foods & Fixing the Food Environment – Kevin Hall, PhD 54:33

24d ago54:33

54:33

Ultra-processed foods have become central to the way we eat and to many of the challenges we face in public health nutrition. They dominate supermarket shelves, shape population diets, and often appear as the prime suspect in rising obesity and metabolic disease rates. But beyond the label itself, what exactly makes these foods problematic? Is it t…

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215: Inside the News Cycle: Comedy, Policy, and Real-World Climate Choices with Bill Kessler 30:42

1M ago30:42

30:42

In this week’s episode of A Climate Change, host Matt Mattern welcomes comedian and writer Bill Kessler for a spirited, no-filter take on the intersection of climate politics, policy, and everyday life. Blending wit with insight, they dissect the week’s environmental headlines, from viral AI spectacles to the deeper economic and moral choices shapi…

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SNP45: Antioxidants – What You Need To Know 13:47

1M ago13:47

13:47

This is a Premium-exclusive episode of the podcast. To listen to the full episode you need to be subscribed to Sigma Nutrition Premium. What exactly are "antioxidants," and why do they get so much hype? We often hear that blueberries, dark chocolate, and red wine are healthy because they're packed with antioxidants – but is the story really as simp…

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214: Why Renewables Are Beating Fossil Fuels on Cost with Dr. Gernot Wagner 41:18

1M ago41:18

41:18

Fact: According to an IRENA report on Reuters from mid-July, over 90% of new renewable projects are now cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives. Solar is 41% cheaper, and onshore wind is 53% cheaper than fossil fuel energy. The consumers are speaking up, and market dynamics are pushing the growth of renewables. In this episode of A Climate Change, ho…

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#582: GLP-1 Agonists: Side Effects, Management and Diet – Dr. Spencer Nadolsky 48:30

1M ago48:30

48:30

GLP-1 receptor agonists have emerged as a groundbreaking tool in obesity treatment. In this episode, Dr. Spencer Nadolsky (an obesity specialist) explains how these medications are now yielding unprecedented weight loss outcomes in people with obesity. The discussion centers on GLP-1 agonist drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide: how they work, ho…

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213: Small-Scale Fisheries Can Solve World Hunger with Andrew Zimmern 39:06

1M ago39:06

39:06

Every single person, regardless of vocation, can be a climate activist. Just ask Andrew Zimmern - world renowned chef, James Beard awardee and Emmy-winning TV personality, who's now leading the fight for ocean health. He joins us on the latest episode of A Climate Change with powerful insights from his PBS series "Hope in the Water," revealing why …

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#581: What Is Successful Public Nutrition Policy? And Why Is It So Hard to Achieve? – Emily Callahan, RD, MPH 1:05:38

2M ago1:05:38

1:05:38

Public nutrition policy plays a critical role in shaping population health through laws, guidelines, and programs that influence what people eat. In this episode, Emily Callahan, an expert in nutrition policy, talks about why public nutrition policies often fall short and what "success" looks like. They discuss how evidence-based nutrition interven…

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212: Inside the Global Treaty to End Fossil Fuels with Tzeporah Berman 45:00

2M ago45:00

45:00

Fact: According to a December 2024 report by WRI, 75% of greenhouse gases and 90% of CO2 emissions are linked to extracting and burning fossil fuels. While sustainability measures like emission control and renewables focus on the demand side of the equation, the real high-impact change lies in measures to control the supply side. This week, Matt si…

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#580: Sodium Bicarbonate for Sports Performance – Prof. Lewis Gough 1:02:45

2M ago1:02:45

1:02:45

Sodium bicarbonate is one of the most consistently supported ergogenic aids in sports nutrition research, yet its underlying mechanisms and real-world applications remain widely misunderstood. More recent developments have focused on how to optimise both the timing and formulation of supplementation. The "individualised ingestion timing" approach h…

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211: Why Heat is the #1 Climate Killer and How Cities Are Fighting Back with Dr. Sheila R Foster 34:38

2M ago34:38

34:38

Two birds, one stone is always a good approach, isn't it? Especially when it comes to climate action. So, what if cities could tackle climate change while building more equitable communities? Dr. Sheila R Foster, Professor at Columbia University and an expert in environmental justice, explores innovative urban governance models that combine climate…

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#579: Is Your Chronotype Hard-Wired or Modifiable? And What Does It Mean for Health? 59:28

2M ago59:28

59:28

In this episode, we explore the concept of chronotype, which reflects an individual's biological circadian timing and how it manifests in preferred sleep–wake patterns. Understanding chronotype is important because it differs from simple diurnal preference, which may be shaped by lifestyle or psychological factors rather than biology. We examine ho…

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210. Trump’s Environmental Manifesto (and Why It’s a Joke) 36:21

2M ago36:21

36:21

In this bonus episode, Matt is joined by comedian and writer Bill Kessler, to take a lighter look at President Trump’s infamous UN speech from last week. They dive into Trump’s climate denial on the world stage, his bizarre tangents about wind energy, and the sheer comedy gold of his word salads. This episode is meant to be more fun and less heavy …

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209: How One Executive Transformed Corporate Climate Strategy with Alexia Kelly 41:28

2M ago41:28

41:28

While corporate companies chase returns and profits, there are those few who chase sustainability, and even fewer who get it right. In this episode, we sit down with Alexia Kelly, Managing Director of the High Tide Foundation and former Netflix sustainability executive, to explore the complex world of greenhouse gas accounting and carbon credits. B…

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#578: Creatine For Brain Health: Overhyped Trend or Science-based Intervention? – Prof. Eric Rawson 52:30

2M ago52:30

52:30

Creatine is best known as a sports supplement for enhancing muscle strength and high-intensity performance. But could it also improve brain health and cognitive function? Or are such claims overhyped? If creatine can support brain health, it could have implications for aging, neurodegenerative diseases, concussion recovery, and mental fatigue. In t…

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208: The Hidden Secrets Behind Profit-Driven Climate Action with Joel Makower 36:24

2M ago36:24

36:24

There’s a spectrum of ways to fight against climate change and smart, intentional business lies right in the middle of that spectrum. Joel Makower, Chairman of Trellis Group and a pioneering figure in green business practices takes us behind the scenes of the economics of climate action in this revealing episode of A Climate Change. Tune in for an …

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Is There a Limit to Energy Expenditure? And What Happens When We Push It? (SNP44) 14:09

2M ago14:09

14:09

Energy expenditure is one of the most fundamental yet often misunderstood aspects of human physiology. A central question is whether there is a ceiling to how many calories we can burn, and what happens when activity levels approach that limit. Grasping these dynamics is essential for health professionals and researchers, as energy balance directly…

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207: A Documentarian’s Duty to Climate Action with Olga Loginova 36:02

3M ago36:02

36:02

Film and writing have forever inspired change, pushing the masses into action. This applies to climate action, too. In this episode of A Climate Change, we speak with documentarian Olga Loginova about her groundbreaking work chronicling environmental and social justice issues. Listen in for a deep dive into her powerful three-part series on America…

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#577: Ultra-processed vs. Minimally Processed Diets: UPDATE Trial – Samuel Dicken, PhD 49:38

3M ago49:38

49:38

Recently a new trial was published in Nature Medicine comparing the effect of ultra-processed versus minimally processed diets. Specifically, the UPDATE trial compared these two diets in the context of a healthy dietary pattern (in line with the UK's EatWell Guide). This eight-week randomized, crossover trial generated a lot of discussion and was l…

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206: Everything We Can Learn From Indigenous Communities About Climate Action with James Fountain 26:33

3M ago26:33

26:33

When it comes to climate action, the West’s solutions are falling short by a mile; thousands of miles. It’s indigenous communities that have the knowledge to unlock the secret to successful climate action. In the latest episode of A Climate Change, we unpack all there is to learn from these communities, courtesy of James Fountain, an ESG expert, cu…

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#576: The Social Psychology of Health Beliefs and Misinformation – Matthew Facciani, PhD 53:52

3M ago53:52

53:52

In this episode, Dr. Matthew Facciani explores how social psychology influences health beliefs and the spread of misinformation. The conversation delves into why people adopt certain nutrition or health beliefs so strongly, how identity and group membership shape our interpretation of evidence, and what makes us susceptible to false or misleading h…

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205: Trump vs. EPA’s Endangerment Finding 57:07

3M ago57:07

57:07

In this episode of A Climate Change with Matt Matern, a panel of leading climate attorneys and advocates unpacks the Trump administration’s attempt to repeal the EPA’s Endangerment Finding - the legal cornerstone of federal climate regulation. They explain its scientific and legal foundations, the risks to public health, the economy, and U.S. clima…

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#575: How Does Dairy Impact Cardiometabolic Health? – Prof. Jean-Philippe Drouin-Chartier 46:12

3M ago46:12

46:12

Dairy is often treated as a single food group, yet milk, yogurt, cheese, and butter can have very different effects on health. Some evidence links yogurt to favourable outcomes, while butter is known to raise LDL cholesterol. And then there's the paradox of cheese: high in saturated fat, but not consistently associated with higher heart disease ris…

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204: Why Trump’s Wind Power Myths Are Hurting His Supporters the Most with Rob Verchick 35:52

3M ago35:52

35:52

In the fight against clean energy, who really wins? Trump supporters may think it’s them, but this episode of A Climate Change reveals another story altogether. In this eye-opening conversation with Rob Verchick, environmental law professor and former EPA deputy administrator, we explore critical developments in ocean conservation, renewable energy…

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#574: Microplastics & Health: What Do We Know? – Prof. Ian Mudway 50:53

3M ago50:53

50:53

They're in our oceans, our air, our food, and now even in our bodies. Microplastics, once a distant environmental issue, have become a topic of urgent relevance in medicine, public health, and nutrition. The idea that tiny plastic particles are circulating through the food chain and accumulating in human tissues has sparked headlines, speculation, …

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203: How Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill is The Undoing of Climate Progress 37:39

4M ago37:39

37:39

The Trump administration's "One Big Beautiful Bill" threatens to reverse years of clean energy progress and environmental protections, raising urgent concerns about climate policy and public health. In this special livestream episode of Climate Change with Matt Mattern, host Matt brings together a powerhouse panel including Dr. Gernot Wagner (Clima…

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202: Global Warming Solutions Need Multiple Winners with Beth Sawin 30:34

4M ago30:34

30:34

We’ve all heard the phrase “two birds, one stone,” and most of us love it. Now, what if this approach could be applied to large-scale climate action? In the latest episode of A Climate Change, we sit down with Beth Sawin - a trailblazing climate activist, a PhD in Biology from MIT and Founder and Director of the Multisolving Institute - to talk abo…

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#573: A Philosophy of Elite Performance Nutrition – Daniel Davey 55:03

4M ago55:03

55:03

In this episode, performance nutritionist Daniel Davey discusses how his approach to elite sports nutrition has evolved over his career. Davey reflects on his decade working with top Irish teams (Dublin GAA/football and Leinster Rugby) and how stepping away from those environments led him to rethink the role of a nutrition practitioner. The central…

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201: Patricia Lee on Embedding Sustainability in Higher Education 35:26

4M ago35:26

35:26

Global environmental change begins with a university that thoroughly understands sustainability. In this episode of A Climate Change, we speak with Patricia Lee, Sustainability Project Officer at Griffith University in Australia. Patricia shares how Griffith became a global leader in sustainability through cross-campus collaboration, Indigenous kno…

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200: CELEBRATING 200 EPISODES: A Look Back 50:35

4M ago50:35

50:35

We made it to Episode 200! Today, we look back at four and a half years of meaningful conversations with some of the brightest minds in the climate movement - scientists, policymakers, activists, and visionaries who are shaping our future. We reflect on the challenges we've explored, the progress we've witnessed, and the urgent work still ahead. Th…

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#572: Can You Trust Industry-Funded Nutrition Studies? Here's How to Tell 1:09:40

4M ago1:09:40

1:09:40

Nutrition science plays a pivotal role in shaping public health advice, but the influence of industry funding on research has become a pressing concern. In this episode we want to examine whether we can trust nutrition studies funded by food and beverage companies, and how you can discern study credibility. The discussion is highly relevant in toda…

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#571: Is Zone 2 Training Actually Best for Health? – Prof. Brendon Gurd 38:27

4M ago38:27

38:27

In recent years "Zone 2 training" has gained immense popularity in fitness and health circles, often being proclaimed the "best" cardiovascular training for metabolic health. Zone 2 training is sustained, low-intensity exercise below the lactate threshold that is commonly employed by many elite level endurance athletes, with a variety of proposed p…

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199: Daniel Farber on How Technology Will Outpace Climate Denial 40:10

5M ago40:10

40:10

Legal expertise meets environmental activism in this revealing discussion about fighting back against anti-environmental policies through strategic litigation and state-level action. In this episode of A Climate Change, we speak with Daniel Farber from UC Berkeley Law School, a constitutional and environmental law expert, to explore effective strat…

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#570: Fructose: Metabolism, Claims & Context for Risk – Scott Harding, PhD 56:52

5M ago56:52

56:52

Fructose has often been labeled a uniquely damaging nutrient, blamed for obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic diseases. But does fructose truly have unique harmful effects or are the risks associated with it related to context and quantity? The episode explores how fructose is metabolized in the body, why it gained a reputation for being problema…

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198: How a Plane Crash Inspired a Lifelong Mission to Defend the Ocean with Dr. Deborah Brosnan 38:57

5M ago38:57

38:57

What happens when the ocean - which covers over 70% of the planet - reaches its breaking point? Today we’re joined by Dr. Deborah Brosnan, a pioneering marine scientist and climate resilience expert, for a deep dive into nature-based solutions for coastal protection. Dr. Deborah Brosnan shares how surviving a plane crash became a pivotal moment tha…

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SNP42: Is Vitamin A Good or Bad for Bone Health? 8:52

5M ago8:52

8:52

Vitamin A is often one of the less-discussed micronutrients in relation to bone health, taking a back seat to nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. Yet this fat-soluble vitamin plays a fundamental role in skeletal development, remodeling, and mineral homeostasis. It influences gene expression in both osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and contributes to …

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197: How LA’s Mega-Fires Created a 100-Mile Chemical Disaster with Tracy Quinn 34:44

5M ago34:44

34:44

We’ve tested the limits of our planet plenty, and the water war has officially begun. But what if there was an antidote to the toxins polluting the dominant color of the globe? In this compelling episode of A Climate Change, host Matt Matern sits down with Tracy Quinn, President and CEO of Heal the Bay, to explore the devastating impacts of recent …

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#569: The History of Fat, Cholesterol & Heart Disease 1:16:29

5M ago1:16:29

1:16:29

The idea that saturated fat might be harmful to our health has sparked controversy for decades. In recent years, counter-narratives have surged: suggesting that concerns over saturated fat were overblown, that LDL cholesterol doesn't matter, or that the original diet-heart hypothesis has been debunked. These claims have become especially popular in…

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196: Why Health Must Be at the Heart of Climate Action with Shweta Narayan 39:24

5M ago39:24

39:24

What if health could be the key to driving climate action? In this episode of A Climate Change, we sit down with Shweta Narayan, Campaign Lead at the Global Climate Health Alliance, about how public health is a powerful lever for global climate action. Drawing from her childhood in an industrial town in India, Shweta explores the climate health imp…

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#568: Does the Maternal Diet Impact Risk of ADHD & Autism? – David Horner, PhD 45:01

5M ago45:01

45:01

To what extent can maternal nutrition during pregnancy influence a child's later cognitive or behavioural development? While genetic and environmental factors are known to contribute to neurodevelopmental outcomes such as ADHD and autism, growing attention is being paid to the potential role of prenatal exposures, including dietary patterns. Yet, e…

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195: Peter Waggonner Explains Why Louisiana’s Coastal Future Matters to Us All 36:56

5M ago36:56

36:56

Can bold policy and innovative engineering reverse one of the world’s worst land loss crises? In this episode of A Climate Change, we speak with Peter Waggonner, Senior Policy Adviser for Greater New Orleans Inc., about Louisiana’s urgent battle to stop coastal erosion, and how a $50 billion restoration plan is reshaping environmental policy. Peter…

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#567: Did Big Sugar Hijack the Food Pyramid? Were Low-fat Diets a Scam that Damaged Our Health? 1:09:29

5M ago1:09:29

1:09:29

For decades, dietary guidelines—and the Food Pyramid in particular—have been at the center of heated debates and considerable controversy. These guidelines have often been accused of being influenced by industry interests, oversimplifying nutritional nuance, or even directly contributing to rising obesity and metabolic disease rates. In this episod…

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194: Apocalyptic Optimism and Climate Action with Dr. Dana R. Fisher 24:43

6M ago24:43

24:43

Can our current social movements overcome political inertia to save us from the climate crisis, or is apocalyptic optimism our best path forward? In this episode of A Climate Change, we speak with Dr. Dana R. Fisher, Director at the Center for Environment, Community and Equity, Professor at the School of International Service, and author of Saving …

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SNP41: Do Certain Foods Really Cause Inflammation – And Are Anti-Inflammatory Diets the Answer? 16:19

6M ago16:19

16:19

Inflammation has become a nutrition buzzword, often used in extreme or misleading ways. This episode aims to clarify what inflammation is, how it relates to diet and health, and whether specific foods truly provoke inflammatory responses in the body. The episode provides a nuanced, evidence-based look at inflammation and diet. It explains the diffe…

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193: How Antoinette Vermilye Fights for Oceans and Environmental Justice 33:18

6M ago33:18

33:18

Antoinette Vermilye Bio: Antoinette Vermilye is the co-founder of the Gallifrey Foundation and a passionate advocate for ocean conservation, plastic pollution reduction, and gender equity in climate leadership. With a background spanning marketing, design, and social impact, she connects people and ideas to create action-oriented solutions. Known f…