The Most Important Question

#93: All The Fun Stuff (That Shouldn’t Be) in Your Drinking Water

Listen Later

 In Episode 93, Quinn & Brian ask: What can we do about all of this not-water in our water?

Our guest is: Imari Walker, who is quite possibly the world’s preeminent Microplastics Bae. Imari is an Environmental Engineer, a Microplastics Researcher, a SciComm YouTuber, a Duke PhD candidate, and a true revelation to talk to.

Here’s some fun facts: in 2018, there were ~359 million metric tons of plastic produced worldwide, and if current trends continue, roughly 12 BILLION metric tons of plastic waste will be in landfills or the natural environment by 2050. Also, to stay relevant, there are now almost as many disposable masks in the ocean as there are jellyfish. So where does all this waste come from (spoiler: check yo’ stretchy pants), why is it all just being thrown around willy nilly, and how can we get people to stop doing that?

Have feedback or questions? Tweet us, or send a message to [email protected]

New here? Get started with our fan favorite episodes at podcast.importantnotimportant.com.

INI Book Club: 

  • "Emotional Intelligence 2.0" by Jean Greaves and Travis Bradberry

  • INI Book Club: https://bookshop.org/lists/important-not-important-book-club

    • Links:

    • www.imariwalker.com

    • YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/imariwalker100

    • Instagram: instagram.com/calimari93/

    • Twitter: twitter.com/calimari93

    • Take the Pesky Plastics Quiz

    • Plastic Free July

      • Connect with us:

      • Subscribe to our newsletter at newsletter.importantnotimportant.com

      • Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/ImportantNotImp

      • Follow Quinn: twitter.com/quinnemmett

      • Follow Brian: twitter.com/beansaight

      • Like and share us on Facebook: facebook.com/ImportantNotImportant

      • Intro/outro by Tim Blane: timblane.com

      • Artwork by Amrit Pal

        • Important, Not Important is produced by Crate Media

        ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store
        The Most Important QuestionBy Important, Not Important
        • 4.7
        • 4.7
        • 4.7
        • 4.7
        • 4.7

        4.7

        118 ratings

        More shows like The Most Important Question

        View all
        The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

        The New Yorker Radio Hour

        6,808 Listeners

        On the Media by WNYC Studios

        On the Media

        9,201 Listeners

        The Gray Area with Sean Illing by Vox

        The Gray Area with Sean Illing

        10,744 Listeners

        Reveal by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX

        Reveal

        8,463 Listeners

        Living on Earth by World Media Foundation

        Living on Earth

        462 Listeners

        Pivot by New York Magazine

        Pivot

        9,668 Listeners

        This Week in Virology by Vincent Racaniello

        This Week in Virology

        2,057 Listeners

        Pod Save America by Pod Save America

        Pod Save America

        87,560 Listeners

        The Daily by The New York Times

        The Daily

        112,326 Listeners

        Lovett or Leave It by Lovett or Leave It

        Lovett or Leave It

        25,144 Listeners

        Today, Explained by Vox

        Today, Explained

        10,279 Listeners

        Consider This from NPR by NPR

        Consider This from NPR

        6,411 Listeners

        The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

        The Ezra Klein Show

        16,321 Listeners

        On with Kara Swisher by Vox Media

        On with Kara Swisher

        3,519 Listeners

        Better Offline by Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts

        Better Offline

        606 Listeners

        Not Right Now by Important, Not Important

        Not Right Now

        51 Listeners