30+ Podcast recommendations on sustainability, activism, and more!

Have you listened to these podcasts yet?

Podcasts can be a great way to learn about sustainability, business ethics, conscious living, entrepreneurship, marketing, etc. Especially if, like me, you are more of an auditory or kinesthetic learner.

If you’re more of a visual learning, don’t worry! Whenever possible, I’ve linked to the websites of the podcasts mentioned below, instead of streaming platforms, and most of them have episode transcripts. I’ve also got you covered with this long list of book recommendations (most are available in paperback, ebook & audiobook form). ?

Feel free to click the links below to skip straight to a specific podcast (and email me your recommendations to add to this list!):

10 podcasts exploring the many facets of climate change, environmental issues, and activism:

Additional podcast recommendations:

Let’s dive in!

Green DreamerTM

“Dreaming up our paths to collective healing, biocultural revitalization, and true abundance & wellness for all…”. The Green DreamerTM features a thoughtful interview on a variety of topics around sustainability and beyond. One of my favorites was Kamea Chayne’s talk with Johann Hari on reclaiming our attention & our capacity for deep focus.

How to Save a Planet

Scientist Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and journalist Alex Blumberg dive into climate action’s big questions in an honest & humorous way. Their goal is to leave you feeling energized and ready to take action. They’ve even compiled their calls to action from each episode in a handy Google Doc.

A Sustainable Mind

What started out as Marjorie Alexander’s thesis project has turned into an ongoing podcast, featuring interviews with “the minds behind today’s most impactful environmental campaigns, organizations, and startups” from more diverse voices than are typically heard from in the sustainability movement.

Hot Take Pod

Climate essayist Mary Annaïse Heglar and climate reporter Amy Westervelt share their hot takes on different environmental issues. They also share a great set of links at the end of the episode recaps via the podcast Inherited that focuses on “Stories from, for, and by the youth climate movement” with a newly launched 2nd season). Amy Westervelt also hosts the podcast Drilled, “a true-crime podcast about climate change” and founded the Critical Frequency podcast network that features even more fascinating listens.

Sustainababble

Comedy & environmentalism? Yes please! ‘Professional tree huggers’ Ol & Dave dive into eco myths & climate issues with a fun, casual approach. “A weekly podcast about the environment, for and by the confused.”

All The Small Things

Well known for her strong stance on sustainable fashion on social media, Venetia La Manna talks to “inspiring people, thought leaders, writers, and activists about the rituals that help provide structure when we need it most” each week in this follow-up to her podcast Talking Tastebuds.

Brown Girl Green

If you’re not following Kristy Drutman on Instagram yet, then you’re in for a double treat! Her perspective and explorations through conversations with guests on racial equality, diversifying the outdoors, self-care in activism & a variety of other topics are always enlightening!

Practical(ly) Zero Waste

Elsbeth Callaghan’s goal with her podcast? Help make zero-waste living as practical as possible for everyone! Check out the podcasts Elsbeth has been a guest on for even more podcasts to discover and listen to.

The Bad Activist

The Bad Activist Collective is all about “connecting activists, justice seekers and change makers from all around the globe to combat systems of oppression and fight for a better future for people & the planet.” Through their podcast, they explore the many facets of social and environmental activism with a variety of guests, with the goal of learning & challenging the status quo, to become better activists.

TILclimate

Launched by MIT’s Environmental Solutions Initiative, TILclimate “breaks down the science, technologies, and politics behind climate change, how it’s impacting us, and what our society can do about it.”

For conscious business interviews and tips:

  • Getting in the Loop: Each week, designer Katie Whalen talks to a variety of expert guests, from entrepreneurs and investors to researchers, about the different facets of the circular economy.
  • GreenBiz 350: The GreenBiz media & events group’s weekly podcast featuring “the people and companies behind the headlines in sustainable business and clean technology”. Their podcast Center Stage also features interviews from GreenBiz events.
  • Sustainable Business Covered: The edie network’s bi-weekly podcast explores “the people and projects that are transforming business, for good”.
  • The Purpose & Progress Podcast: Where Values Spark Action. Launched by brand messaging expert, and business friend of mine, Ashlee Sang, this podcast features Ashlee and her guests sharing anecdotes and advice from their conscious entrepreneurial – and personal – journeys, creating a place “where smart, ambitious women lift up, learn from, and work with each other”.

To learn more about sustainable & ethical fashion:

  • Conscious Chatter: The tagline ‘100% Intentional Fashion. Unlearn, relearn, and repeat’ already gives us a delicious taste of what’s inside each episode. In Conscious Chatter, style maven Kestrel Jenkins dives into a variety of sustainable fashion-related topics, and beyond (like this episode on fashion psychology or this one on slow art)
  • Wardrobe Crisis: With close to 200 episodes to dive into since its launch in 2017, host Clare Press chats with “designers, change-makers, academics, creatives and fashion insiders about fashion, ethics, social justice and environmental sustainability”
  • Clotheshorse: What first won me over is Clotheshorse’s magical, vintage-inflused Instagram feed but the podcast itself is a treasure-trove of episodes aiming to decode “the fashion industry, its secret language, hidden strategies, and so much more”. Hosted by fashion professional Amanda Lee McCarty (she/they), the podcast positions itself as “the podcast that loves clothes but hates capitalism”. Need we say more?
  • Conscious Style: part of the mindful digital media platform Conscious Life & Style founded by Elizabeth Joy, the weekly podcast features interviews with sustainable fashion changemakers.

For a quick listen:

  • Earthwise (NPR): these daily 2-minute listens cover a variety of topics related to our changing environment, “from green business and new environmental legislation to how nature impacts our environment in ways never before considered”.
  • Yale Climate Connections: YCC is a “nonpartisan, multimedia service providing daily broadcast radio programming and original web-based reporting, commentary, and analysis on the issue of climate change”. The podcast episodes are 90 seconds, making them a perfect listen with your morning coffee or for a midday break.
  • 5 Minutes for Earth by the P.H.S. Environmental Club: the last episode aired in February 2022, but past episodes covered a variety of timeless topics related to the environment in 3-12 minutes, so don’t hesitate to give the backlog a look.

For a non-Western perspective:

  • The Art of Conservation dives into South African conservation news every week tackling a variety of topics including wildlife conservation, breeding of endangered species, the science of kindness…
  • Sustainable Asia’s podcast shows Trash Talk HK (waste-disposal tips), Green Bites (quick recaps on environmental news in Asia) & Sustainable Asia Podcast (conversations with fellow NGOs about environmental health in Asia) are a great way to learn more about what’s going on in Asia from an environmental perspective.

For a mindful, meditative pause:

  • On Being with Krista Tippett: Each week, Krista and a guest explore topics around how to live, be and interact, for “a new discovery about the immensity of our lives.” I highly recommend starting with the episode featuring Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson who cohosts the podcast How to Save a Planet mentioned above and co-edited the book All We Can Save that I mentioned in this article.
  • The Jane Goodall Hopecast: The iconic scientist and activist, Jane Goodall, delves into the many facets of humanity (and its impact on the natural world) with a variety of change-makers. The goal? To “get curious, grow compassion, and take action to build a better world for all”. A beautiful listen!
  • Gratitude Blooming: “Inspired by nature, art and gratitude, the Gratitude Blooming co-hosts Belinda Liu and Omar Brownson bring fresh and diverse perspectives to well-being. (…) Hear from culture keepers, creators, healers, leaders and so many others who share their emergent practices to build the beautiful world our hearts know is possible.” And for a calming, musical break, check out Gratitude Blooming’s albums with Window Seat, Garden of Healing & Garden of Joy, on your favorite music streaming platform.
  • Meditative Story mixes meditative prompts with storytelling in a unique way. Each episode features a guest sharing a meaningful moment in their life while the meditation prompts tied to that story help you stop, internalize the story and apply it to your own experiences. One episode I particularly enjoyed recently featured writer/artist Morgan Harper Nichols talking about “heading halfway around the world to find myself”.
  • Mindful in Minutes: Kelly Smith (aka Yoga For You Online) shares a variety of meditations, of varying lengths and around different topics. I particularly like this chakra meditation and this 12-minute morning energy meditation,
  • Meditation Oasis with Mary Maddux. While there are no new episodes being released, the backlog is still my go-to listen whenever I’m going through a rough moment or bout of insomnia.

BONUS LINKS

A little mushroom rain to help wash this long list down 😉

Let me know (via email or Instagram DM) if you have any podcast recommendations to add to this list or your thoughts if you give any of these a listen!

And, if you have a sustainable brand and are looking to outsource or get advice on your social media strategy, content and ad campaigns by an expert who shares your values, you can find out more about my services HERE and my values HERE.

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