
Free Daily Podcast Summary
by Climate One from The Commonwealth Club
We’re living through a climate emergency; addressing this crisis begins by talking about it. Co-Hosts Greg Dalton, Ariana Brocious and Kousha Navidar bring you empowering conversations that connect all aspects of the challenge — the scary and the exciting, the individual and the systemic.
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
As the 2026 midterms approach, voters are contending with concerns around affordability, the AI boom, and climate disruption in their daily lives. AI data centers have become the wild card in energy politics, driving up energy demand and utility bills, and playing a large role in a battleground House primary. A year after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act rolled back key parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, many climate advocates assumed the energy transition was stalled out, but new research suggests otherwise. How will climate and energy shape the ballot box this year? And what's it like to campaign on those issues in a swing state? William Lawrence, Candidate, US Congress MI-07; Co-founder, Sunrise Movement Leah Stokes, Associate Professor, UC Santa Barbara; Author, “The Carbon Wave” Lily Bermel, Visiting Fellow, Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy. For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org Highlights: 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:25 William Lawrence on campaign messaging 00:05:48 William Lawrence on climate and data centers 00:08:05 William Lawrence on giving people more agency 00:13:21 William Lawrence on addressing decarbonization and affordability 00:16:41 Leah Stokes on rewriting narratives about having children in a climate crisis 00:18:55 Leah Stokes on what's driving climate hushing 00:26:36 Leah Stokes on working on climate policy and a high risk pregnancy 00:31:30 Leah Stokes on the trials and joys of working with others 00:36:17 Leah Stokes on what the future could hold after the midterms 00:39:42 Lily Bermel on the methodology of “Glass Half Full” 00:46:01 Lily Bermel on the other factors affecting solar and wind deployment 00:48:55 Lily Bermel on how energy could play into the midterm elections *** Join Climate One for a town hall event on September 28 at 6 p.m. on navigating AI, climate, and the future of democracy. How do we ensure that AI and data centers serve the public good? How does a democracy function when AI is distorting our sense of shared truths? Tickets available at climateone.org/events *** Also: We’ll be having an electric conversation on October 14 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor-owned utility model. Tickets available at climateone.org/events *** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today. *** Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Growing power demands – coupled with increasingly frequent climate-driven disasters – have led even staunch environmentalists like NRDC head Manish Bapna to rethink their past opposition to nuclear power. Three Mile Island didn't kill anyone or cause major public harm, but it fundamentally changed U.S. nuclear policy for 40 years. Why did an accident with a relatively contained consequence have such a chilling effect – and what’s really different today? With dozens of new, purportedly safer designs at various stages of development and construction around the world, is it time for all of us to give nuclear energy a fresh look? Guests: Manish Bapna, President and CEO, NRDC Denia Djokić, Assistant Research Scientist, University of Michigan Josh Freed, Senior Vice President for Climate and Energy, Third Way Edwin Lyman, Director of Nuclear Power Safety, Union of Concerned Scientists Highlights: 00:00 – Introduction 02:30 – Manish Bapna explains shift in posture on nuclear power 07:45 – Why permitting and transmission reforms are necessary 12:00 – Ed Lyman and Josh Freed share concerns about climate change but differ on the role of nuclear energy 16:15 – Ongoing risks of nuclear energy 20:30 – Supply chain concerns 25:00 – Discussion of radioactive waste handling 31:30 – Role of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and its independence under the current administration 40:00 – Where nuclear fits into carbon-free future 43:00 – Denia Djokić on how new advanced designs differ from older reactor designs 49:30 – SMRs are not plug-and-play 53:30 – New nuclear can’t meet the speed demands of AI 55:30 – Additional considerations around nuclear energy 57:30 – Climate One More Thing For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org *** Join Climate One for a town hall event on September 28 at 6 p.m. on navigating AI, climate, and the future of democracy. How do we ensure that AI and data centers serve the public good? How does a democracy function when AI is distorting our sense of shared truths? Tickets available at climateone.org/events *** Also: We’ll be having an electric conversation on October 14 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor owned utility model. Tickets available at climateone.org/events *** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today. *** Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
While most Americans think of a truck or a sedan when they hear “electric vehicle,” a quiet revolution is happening in other countries on two and three wheels. In China and India, the electric vehicles doing the most to push out oil aren't cars – they're scooters, mopeds, motorcycles and the three-wheeled rickshaws and tuk-tuks that move people and packages through some of the world's busiest cities. According to BloombergNEF’s EV Outlook report, 46% of global sales of two- and three-wheelers were electric last year. Collectively, they’re displacing more oil than cars. Electric delivery vehicles are also starting to show up in bigger U.S. cities. How might even greater adoption of “other” EV types benefit decarbonization? Guests: Aleksandra O'Donovan, Head of Electrified Transport, BloombergNEF Samhita Shiledar, Principal, RMI David Zipper, Contributing Writer, Bloomberg; Co-host, Look Both Ways Highlights: 00:00 Introduction 02:37 Aleksandra O'Donovan on the BNEF 2026 EV Outlook 03:54 Aleksandra O'Donovan on adoption of electric two and three wheelers 08:40 Aleksandra O'Donovan on oil displacement from two and three wheelers 13:23 Aleksandra O'Donovan on what electric vehicle adoption means for emissions 18:36 Samhita Shiledar on the difference between US and Indian transportation 20:47 Samhita Shiledar on the reality of switching to electric vehicles for drivers 26:25 Samhita Shiledar on how the transition to EVs affects riders and consumers 33:04 Samhita Shiledar on the future of electric two and three wheelers 35:50 David Zipper on “car bloat” 41:37 David Zipper on what e-bike adoption rates in the US say about demand 47:47 David Zipper on golf cart adoption For show notes, transcripts and related links, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org Join Climate One for a town hall event on September 28 at 6 p.m. on navigating AI, climate, and the future of democracy. How do we ensure that AI and data centers serve the public good? How does a democracy function when AI is distorting our sense of shared truths? Tickets available at climateone.org/events *** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today. *** Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Protest is the ultimate in equal-opportunity political action. As Annie Leonard, former executive director of Greenpeace USA says, “Making change is like laying a stone path across the garden. Peaceful protest may be every 4th or 8th or 200th stone; it helps us get where we want to go but also we need a lot of other stones too.” Leonard explores the history of protests in her book “Protest: Respect It. Defend It. Use It.” And while protest is the loudest and most visible tool, it’s only one of many ways to take action. Through community building, civic engagement, elected office, corporate boardrooms, churches and nonprofit agencies, there are countless paths to exercising power and promoting positive change. In this episode we hear from three leaders working in three different arenas, all toward the same goal. Guests: Annie Leonard, Environmental Activist, Author of “Protest: Respect It, Defend It, Use It” Danielle Lee, Founder, Climate Action Club James Coleman, City Councilor, South San Francisco Highlights: 00:00 – Introduction 03:55 – Annie Leonard shares the story of the Section 504 sit-ins protest in San Francisco 06:30 – Different ways protest can be effective 08:30 – Leonard on why she puts her body on the line (gets arrested) during protests 16:00 – Leonard on the lawsuit Energy Transfer brought against Greenpeace USA over Standing Rock protests 22:00 – Protecting, defending, and using the right to protest 26:00 – Danielle Lee on organizing younger people around climate and environment 30:30 – Systemic versus personal action 37:00 – James Coleman on the decision to run for office as a tool for effective change 41:00 – Impact of local government 46:30 – How change actually happens For show notes and related links, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org Join Climate One for a town hall event on September 28 at 6 p.m. on navigating AI, climate, and the future of democracy. How do we ensure that AI and data centers serve the public good? How does a democracy function when AI is distorting our sense of shared truths? Tickets available at climateone.org/events *** Also: We’ll be having an electric conversation on October 14 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor owned utility model. Tickets available at climateone.org/events *** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today. *** Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We all complain about the heat, yet it's a climate threat we routinely underestimate. In the U.S., extreme heat kills more people each year than floods, fires and hurricanes combined. About 16,000 excess deaths were recorded during Europe's June heatwave – a striking and tragic number. What does extreme heat do to our bodies, our wallets and our cities, and what can we actually do about it? From creating insurance programs that pay out before the disaster to protecting workers who labor in the heat, many people are working on solutions. Cities are finding ways to prepare for temperatures they historically have never experienced. Plus, we hear about one woman’s “Grammy Ride” for the climate: a 3,000 mile bike journey raising climate awareness and funds for climate action. Guests: Donna Minter, Former forensic and neuropsychologist Kathy Baughman McLeod, Founder and CEO of HERA Juanita Constible, Senior Advocate, NRDC 00:00 - Introduction 03:14 - Donna Minter on coming up with the idea for the “Grammy Ride” 05:21 - Donna Minter on how friends and family reacted 11:54 - Donna Minter on reflecting on her faith 15:15 - Donna Minter on her Texas stay 21:50 - Kathy Baughman McLeod on what extreme heat does to the body 28:34 - Kathy Baughman McLeod on the effect of naming heatwaves 30:57 - Kathy Baughman McLeod on the first heat related insurance for pregnancies 38:16 - Kathy Baughman McLeod on a heat policy success story 43:21 - Juanita Constible on what it takes to keep workers safe 46:34 - Juanita Constible on where worker heat deaths happen 52:49 - Juanita Constible on OSHA heat protections 57:47 - Juanita Constible on state adoption of heat protections For show notes, transcripts, and related links, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org *** Join Climate One for a town hall event on September 28 at 6 p.m. on navigating AI, climate, and the future of democracy. How do we ensure that AI and data centers serve the public good? How does a democracy function when AI is distorting our sense of shared truths? Tickets available at climateone.org/events *** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today. *** Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
At a time when nearly everything feels polarized, Benji Backer is trying to carve out a different path, one where caring about the natural world isn’t a partisan issue. As the founder of Nature Is Nonpartisan, he’s bringing together voices from across the political spectrum who might disagree on climate policy, but still share a desire to preserve public lands, wildlife, and the outdoors. Similarly, climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe firmly believes conversation – even with people you disagree with – can be one of the most powerful tools for climate action. And it starts from a place of respect. “If we begin a conversation by esteeming the other person rather than implicitly judging them, that conversation starts off with so much potential and can end in an incredibly surprising place,” Hayhoe says. Can conservation still serve as common ground in a divided country? What does it take to make environmentalism resonate beyond traditional audiences? Is a bipartisan movement possible in today’s political climate? Guests: Benji Backer, Founder and CEO, Nature is Nonpartisan Katharine Hayhoe, Climate scientist; Chief Scientist, The Nature Conservancy; Distinguished Professor, Texas Tech University For show notes and related links, visit ClimateOne.org. Highlights: 00:00 – Introduction 05:50 – Benji Backer on the origin of Nature is Nonpartisan 09:30 – Making an organization that’s culturally relevant 13:24 – Backer’s work on the Make America Beautiful Again Conservation Commission 21:00 – Working to undo polarization in conversations around climate and environment 24:50 – Backer on avoiding the word “climate” in certain conversations 32:00 – How Katharine Hayhoe deals with hateful messages online 33:30 – How Hayhoe talked about climate change to a Rotary Club in Texas 40:00 – Should scientists be more emotionally open when discussing climate? 45:00 – Hayhoe on what Bible teachings say about caring for the environment 48:15 – Hayhoe on how her Christian faith intersects with her climate research 54:45 – The power of taking action and starting conversations about climate change For show notes, transcripts, and related links, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org Join Climate One for an electric conversation on October 14 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor owned utility model. Tickets available at climateone.org/events *** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today. *** Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Atmospheric scientist Ben Santer pioneered the research that connects human activity to specific climate events. Now, pursuing treatment for a rare type of lymphoma, he sees his own diagnosis and his climate science as the same kind of detective work: using essential and basic science to conduct tests, read complex markers, and rule out every other cause. Even while ill, he's calling out efforts by the Trump administration to reject, defund and ignore the science we all depend on. “If we leave basic science behind because the administration doesn't like the results of the science, then as Americans, we're not gonna thrive, and the planet isn't gonna thrive either,” Santer says. Guests: Ben Santer, Atmospheric Scientist, University of East Anglia Rachel Rothschild, Assistant Professor, University of Michigan Law School Highlights: 00:00 – Introduction 2:24 – Ben Santer on how he’s doing amidst his health issues 6:43 – Ben Santer on having the motivation to keep going 11:21 – Ben Santer on what it means to find human fingerprints on climate disruption 16:52 – Ben Santer on the importance of climate measuring 20:23 – Ben Santer on persevering through personal attacks and credible death threats 31:01 – Ben Santer on the effect of Trump administration funding cuts 33:43 – Ben Santer dealing with grief 38:54 – Rachel Rothschild on how state superfund laws work 42:26 – Rachel Rothschild on having her personal communication targeted 47:40 – Rachel Rothschild on the personal tax of doing her work 51:45 – Rachel Rothschild on what surprised her For show notes and related links, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org *** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today. *** Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
When it comes to climate, we have the facts, but we aren’t moving fast enough. So we need to get climate education and solutions into the places where people already spend their time. Pop culture offers endless opportunities to influence audiences – your favorite movie or TV character can feel like a friend whose views on climate might affect your own. In this episode, we connect moments like this to the broader media environment shaping how we understand the world. Can you be masculine and care about the climate? Can watching a character take charge of the future onscreen actually change what people believe they can do in real life? And can the stories we consume ultimately shape public attitudes and even policy outcomes? Guests: Allison Begalman, Co-founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Context Collaborative; Co-founder, Hollywood Climate Summit Michael P. Haselhuhn, Associate Professor of Management, University of California, Riverside Brent Suter, Baseball player, Los Angeles Angels; EcoAthletes Climate Champion Highlights: 00:00 – Introduction 5:00 – Allison Begalman on why it’s important for climate to show up in popular culture 8:45 – Unpacking a climate-themed scene from the show “Hacks” 13:00 – Unpacking a climate-themed scene from “The Morning Show” 16:30 – Bringing new people in at the Hollywood Climate Summit 23:15 – Michael P. Haselhuhn on how men’s views on masculinity and climate change are linked 33:25 – Masculinity is multifaceted 34:30 – Kousha goes to an MMA cage fight to ask guys about their views on masculinity 40:15 – Brent Suter on where he got his nickname, “The Raptor” 42:00 – His reaction to seeing “An Inconvenient Truth” as a young person 44:00 – Speaking out against fossil fuel endorsements for pro sports 49:20 – Suter on how his faith drives his climate activism 54:30 – How Suter talks to his teammates about climate and the environment 57:40 – Climate One More ThingFor show notes and related links, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org *** Join Climate One for an electric conversation on September 1 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor owned utility model. Tickets available at climateone.org/events *** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today. *** Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Listeners also like.

A Matter of Degrees
Experts explore the systems driving climate change and highlight solutions, leadership, and movements shaping the path to a livable future.

Drilled
Investigates corporate and political efforts to spread climate disinformation and block environmental action.

Unf*cking the Future
A scientist explores environmental crises and practical solutions to secure a sustainable future.

The Ezra Klein Show
Conversations on pressing political, social, and cultural issues with experts and thinkers.

Heroes, Action, Adventure, Extreme Sports - Profiles in Courage - The Creative Process
Interviews with adventurers, athletes, and activists exploring courage, resilience, and creativity through extreme sports, exploration, and social change.

It Could Happen Here
A daily chronicle of societal collapse and the search for a better future amid the ruins of the old world.

Intelligence Squared: Business
Discusses the future of capitalism and major economic trends with business leaders, authors, and economists.
Left, Right & Center
A political podcast that examines ideological differences through balanced, in-depth conversations between left and right perspectives.

Power: Limits and Prospects for Human Survival
Explores how humanity's pursuit and misuse of power drives ecological and social crises, and why rethinking power is key to survival.

Next Question with Katie Couric
Katie Couric interviews political insiders and journalists to cut through the noise and highlight what truly matters in current events.

Inquiring Minds
Explores the intersection of science and society through critical thinking and in-depth analysis.

Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast
A journalist explores pressing global issues with writers and experts to understand the forces shaping our world.
We’re living through a climate emergency; addressing this crisis begins by talking about it. Co-Hosts Greg Dalton, Ariana Brocious and Kousha Navidar bring you empowering conversations that connect all aspects of the challenge — the scary and the exciting, the individual and the systemic.
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Get key takeaways from Climate One in a 5-minute read.
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Climate One as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Climate One from The Commonwealth Club.
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
Climate One publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
Climate One covers topics including Science, News, Commentary. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.