Change Oracle

By Richard Matthews

Change Oracle Podcast offers solution-focused expert commentary on a wide range of prescient sustainability issues. The podcast is hosted by Richard Matthews, a consultant, writer, journalist, and cha... more

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FAQs about Change Oracle:

How many episodes does Change Oracle have?

The podcast currently has 31 episodes available.

Change Oracle episodes:

July 14, 2025 How Trump Won the 2024 Election
The latest Change Oracle Podcast episode is titled “Why Trump Won.” It confronts the deeply unsettling reality of Donald Trump’s return to the presidency in 2024. Despite a legacy defined by corruption, lies, insurrection, and environmental degradation, Trump prevailed. Why? This episode explores the powerful mix of disinformation, fear, and psychological manipulation that enabled his comeback. From the GOP’s war on truth to Trump’s manipulation of economic anxiety and masculine identity, the podcast unpacks how a twice-impeached, convicted criminal convinced millions to ignore reality. Voters’ craving for security, nostalgia, and authoritarian certainty triumphed over evidence, character, and democratic norms. “Why Trump Won” is a sobering look at how populism, propaganda, and power warped the will of a nation — and what that means for the future of democracy.
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17min
June 23, 2025 The Inequality Surge is Increasing
Inequality is surging globally, concentrating wealth among a small elite while the majority struggle with stagnating wages, limited access to resources, and declining social mobility. The Inequality Surge is Increasing by Change Oracle's Richard Matthews explores how this growing divide fuels global instability, undermines democracy, and worsens health and well-being. With data from the IMF, World Bank, and Oxfam, the podcast highlights the massive wealth transfer from the bottom 90% to the top 1%, particularly in the U.S., and examines how financial crises and globalization accelerate the trend. Listen now for a deep dive into today's most urgent economic and social crisis.
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29min
May 27, 2025 Understanding Societal Inequality: History, Types, Causes and Effects
Understanding Societal Inequality: History, Types, Causes & Effects: Dive into the deep roots and wide-reaching consequences of inequality in this powerful episode of Change Oracle. From prehistoric hierarchies to modern wealth gaps, explore how economic, social, and political disparities shape today’s global polycrisis. Discover the forces that sustain injustice—and what it will take to dismantle them. Essential listening for anyone seeking clarity in a world of compounding crises.
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28min
May 08, 2025 Economic Growth is an Unsustainable Monster that is Devouring Us from Within
In this episode, we challenge the deeply ingrained belief in limitless economic growth and expose how the growth-at-all-costs mindset drives ecological collapse, social inequality, and political dysfunction. Featuring insights from renowned economists and researchers, we dismantle myths like the Environmental Kuznets Curve and explore the destructive ideology of "growthism." If you're ready to question conventional economic wisdom and confront the harsh truths about sustainability, this episode is a must-listen.
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12min
April 23, 2025 Fossil Fuels as the Cause of the Global Polycrisis
In this powerful episode, we dive into the fossil fuel industry's pivotal role in what experts now call the polycrisis—the interwoven collapse of our environmental, economic, and social systems. Featuring insights from the Post Carbon Institute’s Richard Heinberg and Asher Miller, and political economist Adam Hanieh, we explore how our addiction to oil, gas, and coal is not only fueling climate chaos but blocking meaningful change through disinformation and political influence. Discover why fossil fuels are at the heart of the global unravelling—and what it will take to break free.
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22min
April 08, 2025 Psychological Barriers Preventing Us from Addressing the Global Polycrisis
In this podcast, we explore why, despite overwhelming evidence, action on the global polycrisis remains woefully insufficient. Psychological factors, such as susceptibility to misinformation and cognitive biases, are barriers to change that prevent us from effectively responding to serious threats including the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and social unrest. Tune in to discover why if we are serious about sustainability we need a fundamental rethink of our worldview.
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19min
March 03, 2025 Economic Incentives and the Polycrisis
This podcast summarizes the wide array of powerful financial inducements that are driving sustainability efforts. We also ask the crucial question: can these economic incentives tackle the complexities of the global polycrisis? Despite the prodigious growth of sustainable investments and multi-trillion dollar opportunities, market-driven solutions have proven to be grossly inadequate. Tune in to explore why financial incentives will not augur the radical change needed to address global challenges and confront interconnected crises.
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12min
January 30, 2025 Special Edition: Introducing Change Oracle’s Polycrisis Project (Part 2)
In this the second of two episodes, Tom Schuneman and Richard Matthews examine the relationship between the polycrisis, and the flawed economic assumptions derived from a broken system. They discuss how feedback loops create vicious cycles and why policymakers struggle to make data intelligible. They also explore how the fossil fuel industry manipulates public perception with disinformaton.

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39min
January 13, 2025 Top Environmental Good News Stories of 2024
In 2024, environmental news was often bleak, but there were important victories that deserve recognition. Despite setbacks, significant progress was made in protecting nature, with new legal protections, conservation efforts, and reforestation projects gaining ground. Clean energy also surged, with renewables like solar, and wind leading the way, alongside innovations in energy storage and electric vehicles. This is a human story of resilience and action. From groundbreaking carbon capture technologies to global efforts in biodiversity protection, people are coming together to build a more sustainable future. In this episode, we highlight the positive environmental shifts missed by doomscrolling.
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1h 14min
December 09, 2024 COP 29 in Context: Climate Finance, Carbon Trading, and Fossil Fuel Influence
In this episode, we dive deep into the key moments of COP 29, the 2024 UN Climate Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. From climate finance and carbon trading to the dominance of fossil fuel interests, we explore the controversies, challenges, and what this all means for global climate action and the Paris Agreement.

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39min

FAQs about Change Oracle:

How many episodes does Change Oracle have?

The podcast currently has 31 episodes available.