The EcoPolitics Podcast

In this episode, host Peter Andrée and co-host Kaleigh McIntosh explore how collective action and governance can drive sustainability transitions, using food systems as a central lens. Drawing on interviews with food movement elders, Dr. Harriet Friedmann and Dr. Rod MacRae, the episode examines how change emerges through the interaction of community organizing, institutional strategy, and policy advocacy. The discussion highlights the fragmented nature of food governance in Canada, the importance of participatory and inclusive policymaking, and the role of institutions like the Toronto Food Policy Council in bridging civil society and government. Drawing on the experience of Rod and Harriet, we see how sustainable change depends not only on structures and policies but on people, those who build relationships, recognize opportunities, and mobilize collective action across differences.

In this episode, host Peter Andrée and guests Leah Penniman and Jan Hania explore how inner spiritual work and personal transformation are inextricably linked to the outer work of social and environmental change. At a time when reactionary, right-wing parties or coalitions are in power in both their countries, they discuss the value of moving beyond anger toward non-violent resistance based in compassion. Building Episode 4.8 themes (“Mindful Approaches to Ecopolitics”), they also explore the importance of "hope as a practice," and how grounding oneself in awe of the earth can support the long-game work of environmental activism in the Anthropocene. 

In this episode, host Peter Andrée revisits the roots of The Ecopolitics Podcast by examining the dynamics of Canadian environmental politics in the mid-2020s. Joined by Dr. Rosalind Warner (Okanagan College), Dr. Will Greaves (University of Victoria), and Dr. Peter Stoett (Ontario Tech University), the conversation explores themes from their new co-authored book, Canadian Ecopolitics (University of Toronto Press, 2025).

Together, they unpack how the politics of resource extraction, federalism, and settler colonialism continue to shape Canada’s environmental landscape. They also reflect on sources of hope, including the rise of civil society movements, Indigenous environmental leadership, and the growing recognition of the rights of nature. The guests offer candid insights on bridging activism and policymaking, listening across divides, and inspiring new generations to think long-term about sustainability in an era of planetary limits.

This episode is our second installment on the Living Relations partnership, focusing on transnational collaboration between Indigenous and settler partners from Canada and Aotearoa (New Zealand). Hosts Peter Andrée and Tehya Quachegan are joined by project co-director John Reid to share insights from members of its Indigenous Advisory Circle and Research Circle.

Building on the themes introduced in part 1, this conversation turns to the connections between land, water, and language; the role of Indigenous rights and governance in shaping climate-resilient futures; and the revitalization of food systems rooted in Indigenous values and knowledge. Together, the voices in this episode reflect on what it means to revitalize food systems through Indigenous governance, community-led research, and cross-cultural partnerships — and why revitalizing Indigenous food systems matters not only for Indigenous peoples but for all of us navigating the challenges of the Anthropocene.

In this episode, Peter Andrée and guest host Tehya Quachegan (Lakehead University) introduce listeners to the Living Relations Project, a collaboration between Indigenous and settler partners in Aotearoa New Zealand and Canada. The project brings together researchers, community activists, and Indigenous leaders to strengthen food sovereignty, address colonial legacies, and build resilience in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss. 

Through stories and reflections from members of its Indigenous Advisory Circle and Research Circle, the episode delves into relationship-based research, intergenerational knowledge sharing, and the exchange of solutions across two similar yet distinct settler-colonial contexts.

In this powerful and personal episode, host Peter Andrée is joined by Dr. Jeff Ganohalidoh Corntassel (University of Victoria, Cherokee Nation) and Dr. James Rowe (University of Victoria, author of Radical Mindfulness) to explore how mindfulness, ceremony, and heart-centred practices offer resources for witnessing and metabolizing the emotional grief associated with environmental and social injustice.

Together, they discuss how inner awareness, land-based ritual, and work with psychedelic medicine can support healing and resilience in the face of climate anxiety, ecological grief, and systemic injustice. Drawing on Indigenous teachings, contemplative practice, and personal experience, this episode invites listeners to reflect on what it means to walk with feeling in ecopolitical spaces—and how relational and embodied approaches can help us build a more grounded, compassionate politics in the Anthropocene.

 In this second half of our two-part series on The Growth-Environment Debate, Ryan and Peter explore two of the more provocative discourses in the debate over sustainability and economic growth. What if growth is the problem? And what if it's already too late?

First, they examine the “Overthrow Growth” discourse through the work of Indigenous activist and economist Winona LaDuke, the principles of degrowth, and the rise of eco-Marxist critiques of capitalism. Then, they delve into a final, sobering discourse: “The Damage of Growth is Done,” featuring voices like Jem Bendell, who argues that societal collapse is already underway, and that the focus should now be on adaptation and resilience.

This episode continues to unpack the diverse, and at times conflicting, visions for ecological sustainability and economic futures in the Anthropocene. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, we recommend starting there.

In this episode, host Peter Andrée sits down with two doctoral students and a postdoc on the path to becoming ecopolitical researchers: Devon Cantwell-Chavez, Kaleigh McIntosh, and Obed Asamoah. They talk about their unique projects, how they came to pursue this work, and unexpected lessons learned in graduate school. This episode explores the importance of relationships, humility, and a commitment to social and environmental justice for anyone seeking to become an ecopolitical researcher.

In the first of a two-part series, co-hosts Ryan Katz-Rosene and Peter Andrée dive deep into the complex and often controversial relationship between economic growth and environmental sustainability - the subject of Ryan’s recently published book! Kicking off with the story of Dennis and Dana Meadows and their landmark 1972 report, The Limits to Growth, the episode sets the stage for the "Growth-Environmental Debate" by exploring three major discourses: Growth is Green, Growth Can Be Green, and Growth Misses the Point. Through compelling storytelling and archival audio clips, Ryan shares with us the histories and intellectual trajectories of key figures such as Julian Simon, Mostafa Tolba, and Kate Raworth. From debates over population and scarcity to global environmental diplomacy and reimagining economics through the lens of doughnuts, this episode challenges listeners to reconsider how growth is understood, valued, and contested in environmental politics.

In this episode, we delve into the world of climate intervention and geoengineering, specifically focusing on solar geoengineering, also known as solar radiation modification (SRM). Host Ryan Katz-Rosene as he explores the complexities of this technology with two leading experts. First, we hear from Dr. Pete Irvine, as he breaks down the science behind SRM, particularly stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), and discusses the potential benefits and risks, and addresses the current state of research and the ongoing debate surrounding field experiments. Then, we shift gears to hear from Dr. Aarti Gupta, who provides a crucial counterpoint, highlighting the voices of many in the academic community and beyond who are deeply concerned about the potential deployment of solar geoengineering. She emphasizes the growing opposition from the Global South, the disproportionate impact concerning vulnerable nations and Indigenous communities, and the governance challenges that this technology presents.