World Is Burning

This week we’re diving into some interesting (and relevant) ideas: the Overton window of political possibility and the use of artificial intelligence in the fight against climate change. We explore how an idea from a libertarian think tank caught the imagination of both conservative and progressive political leaders, how scientists are using artificial intelligence to map El Yunque national forest, and why we should joke more about the things we wish would come true.

Subscribe/follow/press the button to keep up with new episodes every Wednesday! You can also follow us @worldisburnin on Instagram and Twitter, and check out our website worldisburning.com for extended show notes including sources and photos.

World Is Burning is hosted by Olivia Hamilton and Elise Nye. Our theme music is by Kaycie Satterfield, and our logo was made by Sonja Katanic.

(P.S. It’s page 133 in It’s Not That Radical where Mikaela Loach talks about the Overton Window, I found it after the episode! - Olivia)

As we approach the 13th anniversary of the BP oil spill, Olivia tells the story of the Deepwater Horizon disaster and the 87 days that helped it earn its title as the largest marine oil spill in human history. Then Elise tells the amazing origin story of Alice Berkner, the veterinarian founder of International Bird Rescue, and what she did when she found herself in a room with thousands of oil-slicked birds. Plus, Dawn dish soap’s dirty little secret. Other topics include mixed feelings on Mark Wahlberg, a fake documentary about jury duty, and a literal shitshow.

Subscribe/follow/press the button to keep up with new episodes every Wednesday! You can also follow us @worldisburnin on Instagram and Twitter, and check out our website worldisburning.com for extended show notes including sources and photos.

World Is Burning is hosted by Olivia Hamilton and Elise Nye. Our theme music is by Kaycie Satterfield, and our logo was made by Sonja Katanic.

We’re diving in deep! In this episode Elise traces the unconventional path taken by Jacques Cousteau to become the beloved adventurer, inventor, and prolific documentarian we all know. Then Olivia shares the story of the trailblazing oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, who has navigated the deep sea and male-dominated spaces with vigor and curiosity for decades. Other topics include hope spots, exploitation of the ocean, and a musical about corn.

Subscribe/follow/press the button to keep up with new episodes every Wednesday! You can also follow us @worldisburnin on Instagram and Twitter, and check out our website worldisburning.com for extended show notes including sources and photos.

World Is Burning is hosted by Olivia Hamilton and Elise Nye. Our theme music is by Kaycie Satterfield, and our logo was made by Sonja Katanic.

This week we’re digging deep on why we maybe shouldn't be digging into the depths of the ocean. Olivia covers the basics of deep sea mining, the potential "climate bomb" that could be set in July, and how we can amplify the work of activists and experts calling for a moratorium. Check the blog for this episode on worldisburning.com for action items and ways to learn more.

Subscribe/follow/press the button to keep up with new episodes every other Wednesday! You can also follow us @worldisburnin on Instagram and Twitter, and check out our website worldisburning.com for extended show notes including sources and photos.

World Is Burning is hosted by Olivia Hamilton and Elise Nye. Our theme music is by Kaycie Satterfield, and our logo was made by Sonja Katanic.

This week we’re back with a minisode all about the sharing economy, or as they used to call it: sharing! Elise explains how community building can escalate quickly (in the best way) –– one day you’re bringing your wheelbarrow to the communal mulch pile, and next thing you know you’re on a free transatlantic trip with your neighbor.

Subscribe/follow/press the button to keep up with new episodes every other Wednesday! You can also follow us @worldisburnin on Instagram and Twitter, and check out our website worldisburning.com for extended show notes including sources and photos.

World Is Burning is hosted by Olivia Hamilton and Elise Nye. Our theme music is by Kaycie Satterfield, and our logo was made by Sonja Katanic.

Today we’re dedicating an episode to Octavia E. Butler, the visionary writer and mother of Afrofuturism who transformed the way we think about climate stories. Olivia tells us about Octavia’s childhood, her days as a young daydreaming outsider, her early ambition to write, and the struggles of coming into her own as the first Black female science fiction writer. Then, Elise takes us through her favorite Butler stories (with minimal but very enthusiastic spoilers) and how they’ve changed how she thinks about social issues in the real world. A worthwhile episode for lovers of Octavia’s work and newbies alike!

Subscribe/follow/press the button to keep up with new episodes every other Wednesday (or on the rare occasion Friday as is the case with this episode)! You can also follow us @worldisburnin on Instagram and Twitter and @worldisburning on TikTok, and check out our website worldisburning.com for extended show notes including sources and photos.

World Is Burning is hosted by Olivia Hamilton and Elise Nye. Our theme music is by Kaycie Satterfield, and our logo was made by Sonja Katanic.

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We’re bringing the punk spirit to our climate activism in 2023! Elise brings us through the rebellious history of fashion icon Vivienne Westwood and the politics of punk. Then Olivia covers David Byrne’s journey from new wave icon to bike enthusiast to climate optimist. Other topics include psychogeography, the seduction of pessimism, and (not) being the only person with a plan.

Subscribe/follow/press the button to keep up with new episodes every Wednesday! You can also follow us @worldisburnin on Instagram and Twitter, and check out our website worldisburning.com for extended show notes including sources and photos.

World Is Burning is hosted by Olivia Hamilton and Elise Nye. Our theme music is by Kaycie Satterfield, and our logo was made by Sonja Katanic.

It’s the end of the year and we’re in a reflective mood! In this episode we take a look back at the climate wins of the year, updates on stories we’ve covered, and share what we’re looking forward to in 2023.

Subscribe/follow/press the button to keep up with new episodes every Wednesday! You can also follow us @worldisburnin on Instagram and Twitter, and check out our website worldisburning.com for extended show notes including sources and photos.

World Is Burning is hosted by Olivia Hamilton and Elise Nye. Our theme music is by Kaycie Satterfield, and our logo was made by Sonja Katanic.

This week we're going deep on a controversial topic: human population growth. We talk about the roots of the overpopulation myth, the truths we can glean from it, and the scary ways that both eco-fascists and seemingly centrist figures have joined the population conversation. We take a closer look at the ways we talk about consumption and give tips on how to talk to your social circle when they bring up population fears. Because we don't have to live our lives from the scarcity-minded "lifeboat ethics" perspective! But a climate-just future will take work from all of us.

World Is Burning is hosted by Olivia Hamilton and Elise Nye. Our theme music is by Kaycie Satterfield, and our logo was made by Sonja Katanic.

This week we’re taking a closer look at the idea that “capitalism breeds innovation.” Does it? Elise digs into our troubling corporate track record of stifling competition and creating mega-monopolies, including the co-opting of a beloved board game. She tells us how the Sherman Antitrust Act came to be and why it’s more necessary than ever today. Other topics include retro-futurism, ghost comedies, and closing the wealth gap.

Subscribe/follow/press the button to keep up with new episodes every Wednesday! You can also follow us @worldisburnin on Instagram and Twitter, and check out our website worldisburning.com for extended show notes including sources and photos.

World Is Burning is hosted by Olivia Hamilton and Elise Nye. Our theme music is by Kaycie Satterfield, and our logo was made by Sonja Katanic.