Climate Curious

Josie Colter

Are you Climate Curious? If you care about the world, but find the current conversation about climate change confusing, scary or boring – then this might be the podcast for you. Join TEDxLondon and co-hosts Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst as we lift the lid on the climate emergency by speaking to the world’s leading and most relatable climate pioneers. Find out why cities are key to the climate fight, why we need to tackle systemic problems (and not just plastic straws), and why we’re all a bit crap at sustainability.

  • 9 minutes 4 seconds
    Why time’s up for pollution promoters

    Polluters rely on the social license created by advertising. From airlines on billboards, to SUVs on social media ads, polluters and their promoters work hard to make sure their image is tip-top! To reveal this pollution promotion ‘special relationship’, Climate Curious spoke to activist and artist Francesca Willow from the ‘Badvertising’ campaign’s first-of-its-kind action challenging the world’s largest ad firm, WPP, over their work promoting the world’s worst polluters.


    Created by TEDxLondon

    Executive produced by Josie Colter

    Produced by Ben Beheshty

    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst

    Communications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    6 March 2025, 6:00 am
  • 5 minutes 32 seconds
    How oil executives use slavery’s playbook

    Fossil fuel CEOs are pulling from slavery’s playbook. Whilst witnessing the CEO of Shell on stage advocating for continued investment in oil, today’s guest couldn’t help but be reminded of similar arguments from 200 years ago regarding the existence of slavery. On why looking back can help us ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself, here’s social philosopher Roman Krznaric on Climate Curious. 


    If you enjoyed this short, listen the full Climate Curious episode with Roman Krznaric, How history unlocks climate solutions for today.

    Watch Roman's TED Talk here.


    Created by TEDxLondon

    Executive produced by Josie Colter

    Produced by Ben Beheshty

    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst

    Communications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 February 2025, 7:27 am
  • 51 minutes 11 seconds
    How history unlocks climate solutions for today

    “We need to look in the rear view mirror of history and see what we can learn from the past to help us make decisions today.” Social philosopher and author, Roman Krznaric, spells out the importance of using history as a way to find climate solutions that exist in the past, not just the future. Recorded live in Oxford, Roman connects the dots between the role of radical movements across history and the climate movement, why stories told by oil execs today echo those told by slave owners in the past, why cities are great places for climate action, and a climate confession involving a sneaky kebab...


    If you enjoyed this episode of Climate Curious, watch Roman's TED Talk, Lessons from history for a better future.


    Created by TEDxLondon

    Executive produced by Josie Colter

    Produced by Ben Beheshty

    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst

    Communications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 February 2025, 5:00 am
  • 11 minutes 6 seconds
    Why haven't power lines changed since 1908?

    Is the technology for our power grid outdated? With 20 years experience in material science, co-founder of TS Conductor, Jason Huang thinks so. We hear how modern technology can double or even triple the capacity of power grids, which is crucial to modernise the grid and accelerate the green energy transition.


    Created by TEDxLondon

    Executive produced by Josie Colter

    Produced by Ben Beheshty

    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst

    Communications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    21 February 2025, 8:11 am
  • 5 minutes 58 seconds
    How satellites spy on rainforests, for good

    Can satellites save the rainforest? (Spoiler: yes!) Satellite data can help keep rainforests healthy, says Associate Professor Dr. Jesús Aguirre Gutiérrez from the University of Oxford, on Climate Curious. Using satellite imagery to track biodiversity patterns and thus how resilient trees and animals are to a hotter and drier climate, Jesús shares some juicy insights on rainforest realities in the tropics.


    Created by TEDxLondon

    Executive produced by Josie Colter

    Produced by Ben Beheshty

    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst

    Communications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    14 February 2025, 5:00 am
  • 44 minutes 22 seconds
    How satellites are secret superheroes for rainforests

    The rainforest has some unexpected guardians—satellites! Associate professor Dr. Jesús Aguirre Gutiérrez from the University of Oxford joins Climate Curious to reveal how satellite data is revealing hidden biodiversity patterns in rainforests, informing more effective conservation efforts, and offering fresh insights into the health of the planet’s lushest landscapes––the tropics. 


    Created by TEDxLondon

    Executive produced by Josie Colter

    Produced by Ben Beheshty

    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst

    Communications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    13 February 2025, 5:00 am
  • 5 minutes 9 seconds
    What are transition minerals?

    Copper, cobalt, nickel and lithium - all essential ingredients for the green transition – but what are they? And why do we need them? Joining Climate Curious to explain is a member of an Indigenous group in Siberia; the Buryat peoples, Galina Angarova.


    Listen to the full episode with Galina – The inequality of mineral mining – and how to fix it.


    Created by TEDxLondon

    Executive produced by Josie Colter

    Produced by Ben Beheshty

    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst

    Communications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    6 February 2025, 5:00 am
  • 10 minutes 15 seconds
    Why we need new climate stories

    “We need new stories to live by,” says ecolinguist Arran Stibbe on the Climate Curious podcast. Current narratives based on growth and consumerism are leading us down the wrong road. Instead, let’s focus on new stories that show nature as not something to be exploited, but as a home for all life. Tune in to learn how your metaphors might just save the world! 


    Learn how to analyse the stories we live by in Arran’s free online course, ‘Stories We Live By’.


    Created by TEDxLondon

    Executive produced by Josie Colter

    Produced by Ben Beheshty

    Curated by Deesha Chandra

    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst

    Communications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 January 2025, 10:38 am
  • 49 minutes 41 seconds
    The inequality of mineral mining – and how to fix it

    Is critical mineral mining at risk of creating new harms as it solves old ones? Yes, if we don't course correct now. Lithium, cobalt, and nickel are essential for the energy transition, but their extraction often leaves destruction behind. Galina Angarova, a member of an Indigenous group in Siberia; the Buryat peoples, joins Climate Curious to unpack the dilemmas of critical mineral mining and how to fix it. As Galina says, “we need to start from ourselves. We have to start with our human transformation.”


    Further resources:

    What are transition minerals? With Galina Angarova

    How to live with fire, Oral McGuire


    Timestamps:

    00:55 Introduction to Indigenous rights and their role in biodiversity

    01:56 Meet Galina Angarova

    03:02 Galina's background and heritage

    09:24 Early activism as a member of an Indigenous group in Siberia; the Buryat peoples

    11:51 The role of Indigenous People in the green transition 

    16:04 Systemic issues in mining minerals

    22:04 The solution: human transformation 

    26:54 Understanding Indigenous legal frameworks

    28:02 The right to free, prior, and informed consent

    29:18 The need for communication

    31:11 Indigenous solutions for climate action!

    32:07 Traditional fire management techniques

    36:12 Soil management practices

    41:42 The power of mangroves

    43:58 Climate confessions

    48:47 Final thoughts


    Created by TEDxLondon

    Executive produced by Josie Colter

    Produced by Ben Beheshty

    Curated by Deesha Chandra

    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst

    Communications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 January 2025, 6:00 am
  • 9 minutes 49 seconds
    Why parents are taking a love-led approach to climate action

    Climate action is the new five-a-day for your kids, says Maya Mailer on TEDxLondon’s Climate Curious. The co-founder of Mothers Rise Up and co-director of Our Kids’ Climate shares how parent-led groups are bringing fresh creativity to the climate movement. From Mary Poppins-themed flash mobs to subverted Father’s Day cards and stilt walkers symbolising oil derricks, parents are getting inventive in ways that unite families — kids, grandparents, and loved ones — to take a stand. The love-led creativity is endless, and parents are leading the charge!


    Get involved:

    Parents letter to world leaders

    Check out the #OurOtherMother illustrations

    Mothers Rise Up

    Our Kids’ Climate 


    Created by TEDxLondon

    Executive produced by Josie Colter

    Produced by Ben Beheshty

    Curated by Deesha Chandra

    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst

    Communications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    23 January 2025, 6:00 am
  • 11 minutes 44 seconds
    Climate Mixtape: 2025 vision board

    What’s on your 2025 climate vision board? To get you started, we asked some of our favourite climate peeps what’s on theirs. From protecting indigenous rights, to furthering the global adoption of renewable energy, and strengthening democracy, take a beat to think about what different parts of the movement are doing and what climate progress looks like.


    Featuring: 

    Anand Gopal

    Daze Aghaji

    Galina Angarova

    Jonathan Foley

    Maya Mailer

    Neil Vora

    Kumi Naidoo

    Kalpana Arias


    Created by TEDxLondon

    Executive produced by Josie Colter

    Produced by Ben Beheshty

    Curated by Deesha Chandra

    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst

    Communications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    16 January 2025, 6:00 am
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