World Is Burning

Nov 29 2023 94 ep. 67 mins 9
World Is Burning Podcast artwork

The world is burning and we should all give a crap! Join us every other Wednesday while we tell each other wild stories from the environmental movement – corporate scams, ghost towns on fire, and underrated activists with amazing tales – and find ways we can all douse the fire. Hosted by Elise Nye and Olivia Hamilton.

  Society & Culture
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Ep. 82 - Cheese Caves and Banana Republics

Nov 29 2023 70 mins  
We’re digging into America’s deepest darkest secrets — when it comes to food, that is. Elise tells us how one president’s cheese became the next president’s problem, which might lead you to Google “American government 1.4 billion pounds of cheese in caves.” We explore how the cheese caves of yesteryear became the weird milk ads of our present. Then Olivia gives us a b

Ep. 81 - Navigating Anger & Disinformation in Times of Conflict

Oct 30 2023 76 mins  
The experience of the last few weeks since the conflict escalated in Gaza has brought out a lot of emotions: grief, shock, fear, confusion, and prominently, anger. For many experiencing civil unrest from afar, it’s challenging to know how to respond, especially in the age of social media. In this episode, we focus on the constructive and destructive power of anger and sharing inf

Ep. 80 - Something in the Water - Hurricane Sandy & Flint Michigan

Oct 11 2023 72 mins  
In this episode, Elise examines what we’ve learned (and what we still need to learn) from the impact of natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy, including pathways to climate resilience, advancements in attribution studies, and what makes for a healthier city. Then Olivia tells the story of the Flint water crisis, tracing back to a time when Vehicle City flourished and what happen

Ep. 79 - Disability & Climate: Greyhound fights the ADA and Lyme Disease

Sep 20 2023 86 mins  
As Rosalynn Carter said, there are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers; those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers. In this episode, Olivia dives into the pivotal ways that disability justice ties into climate, the Capitol Crawl, and the well-known bus company that tried to block the ADA. T

Ep. 78 - Labor & Leisure - The First Strike & A Depression-Era Prediction

Aug 30 2023 89 mins  
The strength of the labor movement has become undeniable in the last few years, with everyone from Starbucks employees to UPS drivers to Hollywood writers and actors making headlines with their demands. But what does this have to do with climate change? Turns out, a lot. In this pre-Labor Day episode, Olivia brings us through a brief history of general strikes in the US and how the

Ep. 77 - What Is El Niño Anyway?

Aug 09 2023 34 mins  
El Niño this, El Niño that! El Niño seems to be a weather buzzword these days, but what is it and what does it have to do with us? And how does it change the height of the Pacific Ocean? You're about to find out baby! Other topics include interstate moves, Hank Green, and letting go.

Ep 76 - Eco-fascism And The Unabomber

Jul 05 2023 79 mins  
We’re covering a big topic this week: eco-fascism, an extreme far-right ideology that combines environmental concern with fascist viewpoints. In this episode, Olivia takes us through a brief history of eco-fascism, its ties to the U.S. conservation movement, and the surprising story of conservationist-turned-eugenicist Madison Grant. Then Elise tells the story of arguably one of

Ep. 75 - Queer Mycology and LGBTQ+ Environmentalists

Jun 21 2023 69 mins  
It’s Pride month and nature is gaaaaay! In this episode, Olivia dives into the wonderful world of queer mycology (the study of fungi), how we’re taught to fear what we don’t know, and how mushrooms have fascinated and confounded scientists for thousands of years. Then Elise spotlights the story of queer conservationist Kelly Fuller, who has led powerful actions, challenged es

Ep. 74 - Burning Questions Part II

Jun 07 2023 41 mins  
Can you believe we've gone 2 1/2 years without creating our very own game show about us? Neither can we! Test your climate knowledge alongside us as we ask ourselves the burning questions: Where are tumbleweeds from? What are our favorite climate activists' favorite insects? and How do you do fractions again? Subscribe/follow/press the button to keep up with new episodes e

Ep 73 - Burning Questions

May 24 2023 24 mins  
This week we’re having some fun with a trivia episode! Test your climate story knowledge (and your World Is Burning fan level). Topics include an unexpected TIME Person of the Year, favorite gorillas, and reminiscing on the worst year in human history. Subscribe/follow/press the button to keep up with new episodes every Wednesday! You can also follow us @worldisburnin on Instagr