- 1 hour 3 minutesSen. Sheldon Whitehouse Won't Stop Talking About Climate
How should Democrats campaign on climate? Some are quietly shelving climate-specific language ahead of the midterms in favor of terms like “energy crisis” and “affordability.” But Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island has been talking about climate change on the Senate floor for more than a decade, and he has no plans to stop now.
“The most important thing that can be accomplished on the climate front is to end the pollute-for-free business model of the fossil fuel industry. It is morally wrong, it is economically wrong, it is an environmental sin, and there's literally no merit to it, which is why the fossil fuel industry has to prop it up with all this dark money and lies,” he says.
Plus, geothermal energy is having a moment – getting interest from data center developers and support from the Trump administration at a time when other renewable energy sources are getting the ax. What should we expect from the industry in the next five years?
Guests:
Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Senator (D-RI)
Jamie Beard, Founder and Executive Director, Project Innerspace
Highlights:
00:00 – Introduction
02:00 – Sen. Whitehouse on his “Time to Wake Up” speeches
05:40 – Influence of the Citizens United decision on bipartisan climate action
07:45 – Progress on permitting reform bill
12:50 – Climate hushing and its impact on the midtems
14:00 – People want to hear more about climate change
18:00 – Off-shore wind projects getting on the grid in Rhode Island
23:00 – Sen. Whitehouse on data centers and their impacts
27:30 – What’s possible if Democrats win big at midterms
34:40 – Jamie Beard gives update on the state of the geothermal energy industry
43:30 – The odd and complicated politics of Trump administration supporting geothermal
46:00 – Potential impact of Geothermal Energy Advancement Act
51:00 – Geothermal’s bigger price is heat, not electricity
58:00 – Climate One More Thing
For transcripts, show notes, and related links, visit our episode page.
***
Join Climate One for a town hall event on September 28 at 6 p.m. on navigating AI, climate, and the future of democracy. How do we ensure that AI and data centers serve the public good? How does a democracy function when AI is distorting our sense of shared truths? Tickets available at climateone.org/events
Also: We’ll be having an electric conversation on October 14 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor-owned utility model. Tickets available at climateone.org/events
On October 20th at 6 p.m. join us, in partnership with The Redford Center, for a screening of the short film In Earth We Trust, followed by a conversation with the filmmaker, the film’s central figure, and other faith leaders. Tickets available at climateone.org/events
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25 September 2026, 7:04 am - 55 minutes 15 secondsAs the Midterms Approach, What’s Electrifying the Electorate?
As the 2026 midterms approach, voters are contending with concerns around affordability, the AI boom, and climate disruption in their daily lives. AI data centers have become the wild card in energy politics, driving up energy demand and utility bills, and playing a large role in a battleground House primary. A year after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act rolled back key parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, many climate advocates assumed the energy transition was stalled out, but new research suggests otherwise.
How will climate and energy shape the ballot box this year? And what's it like to campaign on those issues in a swing state?
William Lawrence, Candidate, US Congress MI-07; Co-founder, Sunrise Movement
Leah Stokes, Associate Professor, UC Santa Barbara; Author, “The Carbon Wave”
Lily Bermel, Visiting Fellow, Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy.
For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org
Highlights:
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:25 William Lawrence on campaign messaging
00:05:48 William Lawrence on climate and data centers
00:08:05 William Lawrence on giving people more agency
00:13:21 William Lawrence on addressing decarbonization and affordability
00:16:41 Leah Stokes on rewriting narratives about having children in a climate crisis
00:18:55 Leah Stokes on what's driving climate hushing
00:26:36 Leah Stokes on working on climate policy and a high risk pregnancy
00:31:30 Leah Stokes on the trials and joys of working with others
00:36:17 Leah Stokes on what the future could hold after the midterms
00:39:42 Lily Bermel on the methodology of “Glass Half Full”
00:46:01 Lily Bermel on the other factors affecting solar and wind deployment
00:48:55 Lily Bermel on how energy could play into the midterm elections
***Join Climate One for a town hall event on September 28 at 6 p.m. on navigating AI, climate, and the future of democracy. How do we ensure that AI and data centers serve the public good? How does a democracy function when AI is distorting our sense of shared truths? Tickets available at climateone.org/events
***
Also: We’ll be having an electric conversation on October 14 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor-owned utility model. Tickets available at climateone.org/events
***
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18 September 2026, 8:47 am - 1 hour 2 minutesNew Nuclear, Old Challenges. What Now?
Growing power demands – coupled with increasingly frequent climate-driven disasters – have led even staunch environmentalists like NRDC head Manish Bapna to rethink their past opposition to nuclear power.
Three Mile Island didn't kill anyone or cause major public harm, but it fundamentally changed U.S. nuclear policy for 40 years. Why did an accident with a relatively contained consequence have such a chilling effect – and what’s really different today? With dozens of new, purportedly safer designs at various stages of development and construction around the world, is it time for all of us to give nuclear energy a fresh look?
Guests:
Manish Bapna, President and CEO, NRDC
Denia Djokić, Assistant Research Scientist, University of Michigan
Josh Freed, Senior Vice President for Climate and Energy, Third Way
Edwin Lyman, Director of Nuclear Power Safety, Union of Concerned Scientists
Highlights:
00:00 – Introduction
02:30 – Manish Bapna explains shift in posture on nuclear power
07:45 – Why permitting and transmission reforms are necessary
12:00 – Ed Lyman and Josh Freed share concerns about climate change but differ on the role of nuclear energy
16:15 – Ongoing risks of nuclear energy
20:30 – Supply chain concerns
25:00 – Discussion of radioactive waste handling
31:30 – Role of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and its independence under the current administration
40:00 – Where nuclear fits into carbon-free future
43:00 – Denia Djokić on how new advanced designs differ from older reactor designs
49:30 – SMRs are not plug-and-play
53:30 – New nuclear can’t meet the speed demands of AI
55:30 – Additional considerations around nuclear energy
57:30 – Climate One More Thing
For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org
***
Join Climate One for a town hall event on September 28 at 6 p.m. on navigating AI, climate, and the future of democracy. How do we ensure that AI and data centers serve the public good? How does a democracy function when AI is distorting our sense of shared truths? Tickets available at climateone.org/events
***
Also: We’ll be having an electric conversation on October 14 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor owned utility model. Tickets available at climateone.org/events
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11 September 2026, 7:15 am - 58 minutes 38 secondsThe Little EVs That Could Displace Big Oil
While most Americans think of a truck or a sedan when they hear “electric vehicle,” a quiet revolution is happening in other countries on two and three wheels. In China and India, the electric vehicles doing the most to push out oil aren't cars – they're scooters, mopeds, motorcycles and the three-wheeled rickshaws and tuk-tuks that move people and packages through some of the world's busiest cities.
According to BloombergNEF’s EV Outlook report, 46% of global sales of two- and three-wheelers were electric last year. Collectively, they’re displacing more oil than cars. Electric delivery vehicles are also starting to show up in bigger U.S. cities. How might even greater adoption of “other” EV types benefit decarbonization?
Guests:
Aleksandra O'Donovan, Head of Electrified Transport, BloombergNEF
Samhita Shiledar, Principal, RMI
David Zipper, Contributing Writer, Bloomberg; Co-host, Look Both Ways
Highlights:00:00 Introduction
02:37 Aleksandra O'Donovan on the BNEF 2026 EV Outlook
03:54 Aleksandra O'Donovan on adoption of electric two and three wheelers
08:40 Aleksandra O'Donovan on oil displacement from two and three wheelers
13:23 Aleksandra O'Donovan on what electric vehicle adoption means for emissions
18:36 Samhita Shiledar on the difference between US and Indian transportation
20:47 Samhita Shiledar on the reality of switching to electric vehicles for drivers
26:25 Samhita Shiledar on how the transition to EVs affects riders and consumers
33:04 Samhita Shiledar on the future of electric two and three wheelers
35:50 David Zipper on “car bloat”
41:37 David Zipper on what e-bike adoption rates in the US say about demand
47:47 David Zipper on golf cart adoption
For show notes, transcripts and related links, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org
Join Climate One for a town hall event on September 28 at 6 p.m. on navigating AI, climate, and the future of democracy. How do we ensure that AI and data centers serve the public good? How does a democracy function when AI is distorting our sense of shared truths? Tickets available at climateone.org/events***
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4 September 2026, 7:15 am - 53 minutes 50 secondsENCORE: Protest and Beyond: Annie Leonard On What You Can Do
Protest is the ultimate in equal-opportunity political action. As Annie Leonard, former executive director of Greenpeace USA says, “Making change is like laying a stone path across the garden. Peaceful protest may be every 4th or 8th or 200th stone; it helps us get where we want to go but also we need a lot of other stones too.” Leonard explores the history of protests in her book “Protest: Respect It. Defend It. Use It.”
And while protest is the loudest and most visible tool, it’s only one of many ways to take action. Through community building, civic engagement, elected office, corporate boardrooms, churches and nonprofit agencies, there are countless paths to exercising power and promoting positive change. In this episode we hear from three leaders working in three different arenas, all toward the same goal.
Guests:
Annie Leonard, Environmental Activist, Author of “Protest: Respect It, Defend It, Use It”
Danielle Lee, Founder, Climate Action Club
James Coleman, City Councilor, South San Francisco
Highlights:00:00 – Introduction
03:55 – Annie Leonard shares the story of the Section 504 sit-ins protest in San Francisco
06:30 – Different ways protest can be effective
08:30 – Leonard on why she puts her body on the line (gets arrested) during protests
16:00 – Leonard on the lawsuit Energy Transfer brought against Greenpeace USA over Standing Rock protests
22:00 – Protecting, defending, and using the right to protest
26:00 – Danielle Lee on organizing younger people around climate and environment
30:30 – Systemic versus personal action
37:00 – James Coleman on the decision to run for office as a tool for effective change
41:00 – Impact of local government
46:30 – How change actually happens
For show notes and related links, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org
Join Climate One for a town hall event on September 28 at 6 p.m. on navigating AI, climate, and the future of democracy. How do we ensure that AI and data centers serve the public good? How does a democracy function when AI is distorting our sense of shared truths? Tickets available at climateone.org/events
***
Also: We’ll be having an electric conversation on October 14 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor owned utility model. Tickets available at climateone.org/events
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28 August 2026, 7:15 am - 1 hour 5 minutesIt’s Too Damn Hot… So What Can We Do?
We all complain about the heat, yet it's a climate threat we routinely underestimate. In the U.S., extreme heat kills more people each year than floods, fires and hurricanes combined. About 16,000 excess deaths were recorded during Europe's June heatwave – a striking and tragic number. What does extreme heat do to our bodies, our wallets and our cities, and what can we actually do about it?
From creating insurance programs that pay out before the disaster to protecting workers who labor in the heat, many people are working on solutions. Cities are finding ways to prepare for temperatures they historically have never experienced. Plus, we hear about one woman’s “Grammy Ride” for the climate: a 3,000 mile bike journey raising climate awareness and funds for climate action.
Guests:
Donna Minter, Former forensic and neuropsychologist
Kathy Baughman McLeod, Founder and CEO of HERA
Juanita Constible, Senior Advocate, NRDC
00:00 - Introduction
03:14 - Donna Minter on coming up with the idea for the “Grammy Ride”
05:21 - Donna Minter on how friends and family reacted
11:54 - Donna Minter on reflecting on her faith
15:15 - Donna Minter on her Texas stay
21:50 - Kathy Baughman McLeod on what extreme heat does to the body
28:34 - Kathy Baughman McLeod on the effect of naming heatwaves
30:57 - Kathy Baughman McLeod on the first heat related insurance for pregnancies
38:16 - Kathy Baughman McLeod on a heat policy success story
43:21 - Juanita Constible on what it takes to keep workers safe
46:34 - Juanita Constible on where worker heat deaths happen
52:49 - Juanita Constible on OSHA heat protections
57:47 - Juanita Constible on state adoption of heat protections
For show notes, transcripts, and related links, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org***
Join Climate One for a town hall event on September 28 at 6 p.m. on navigating AI, climate, and the future of democracy. How do we ensure that AI and data centers serve the public good? How does a democracy function when AI is distorting our sense of shared truths? Tickets available at climateone.org/events
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21 August 2026, 7:15 am - 1 hour 2 minutesENCORE: Benji Backer and Katharine Hayhoe on Finding Common Ground
At a time when nearly everything feels polarized, Benji Backer is trying to carve out a different path, one where caring about the natural world isn’t a partisan issue. As the founder of Nature Is Nonpartisan, he’s bringing together voices from across the political spectrum who might disagree on climate policy, but still share a desire to preserve public lands, wildlife, and the outdoors.
Similarly, climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe firmly believes conversation – even with people you disagree with – can be one of the most powerful tools for climate action. And it starts from a place of respect.
“If we begin a conversation by esteeming the other person rather than implicitly judging them, that conversation starts off with so much potential and can end in an incredibly surprising place,” Hayhoe says.
Can conservation still serve as common ground in a divided country? What does it take to make environmentalism resonate beyond traditional audiences? Is a bipartisan movement possible in today’s political climate?
Guests:
Benji Backer, Founder and CEO, Nature is Nonpartisan
Katharine Hayhoe, Climate scientist; Chief Scientist, The Nature Conservancy; Distinguished Professor, Texas Tech University
For show notes and related links, visit ClimateOne.org.
Highlights:00:00 – Introduction
05:50 – Benji Backer on the origin of Nature is Nonpartisan
09:30 – Making an organization that’s culturally relevant
13:24 – Backer’s work on the Make America Beautiful Again Conservation Commission
21:00 – Working to undo polarization in conversations around climate and environment
24:50 – Backer on avoiding the word “climate” in certain conversations
32:00 – How Katharine Hayhoe deals with hateful messages online
33:30 – How Hayhoe talked about climate change to a Rotary Club in Texas
40:00 – Should scientists be more emotionally open when discussing climate?
45:00 – Hayhoe on what Bible teachings say about caring for the environment
48:15 – Hayhoe on how her Christian faith intersects with her climate research
54:45 – The power of taking action and starting conversations about climate change
For show notes, transcripts, and related links, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org
Join Climate One for an electric conversation on October 14 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor owned utility model. Tickets available at climateone.org/events***
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14 August 2026, 7:15 am - 1 hour 40 secondsA Cancer Diagnosis Reframed How Ben Santer Thinks About Climate Science
Atmospheric scientist Ben Santer pioneered the research that connects human activity to specific climate events. Now, pursuing treatment for a rare type of lymphoma, he sees his own diagnosis and his climate science as the same kind of detective work: using essential and basic science to conduct tests, read complex markers, and rule out every other cause. Even while ill, he's calling out efforts by the Trump administration to reject, defund and ignore the science we all depend on.
“If we leave basic science behind because the administration doesn't like the results of the science, then as Americans, we're not gonna thrive, and the planet isn't gonna thrive either,” Santer says.
Guests:
Ben Santer, Atmospheric Scientist, University of East Anglia
Rachel Rothschild, Assistant Professor, University of Michigan Law School
Highlights:
00:00 – Introduction
2:24 – Ben Santer on how he’s doing amidst his health issues
6:43 – Ben Santer on having the motivation to keep going
11:21 – Ben Santer on what it means to find human fingerprints on climate disruption
16:52 – Ben Santer on the importance of climate measuring
20:23 – Ben Santer on persevering through personal attacks and credible death threats
31:01 – Ben Santer on the effect of Trump administration funding cuts
33:43 – Ben Santer dealing with grief
38:54 – Rachel Rothschild on how state superfund laws work
42:26 – Rachel Rothschild on having her personal communication targeted
47:40 – Rachel Rothschild on the personal tax of doing her work
51:45 – Rachel Rothschild on what surprised her
For show notes and related links, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org
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7 August 2026, 7:15 am - 1 hour 3 minutesHollywood, Baseball, Cage Fights, and… Climate
When it comes to climate, we have the facts, but we aren’t moving fast enough. So we need to get climate education and solutions into the places where people already spend their time. Pop culture offers endless opportunities to influence audiences – your favorite movie or TV character can feel like a friend whose views on climate might affect your own.
In this episode, we connect moments like this to the broader media environment shaping how we understand the world. Can you be masculine and care about the climate? Can watching a character take charge of the future onscreen actually change what people believe they can do in real life? And can the stories we consume ultimately shape public attitudes and even policy outcomes?
Guests:
Allison Begalman, Co-founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Context Collaborative; Co-founder, Hollywood Climate Summit
Michael P. Haselhuhn, Associate Professor of Management, University of California, Riverside
Brent Suter, Baseball player, Los Angeles Angels; EcoAthletes Climate Champion
Highlights:
00:00 – Introduction
5:00 – Allison Begalman on why it’s important for climate to show up in popular culture
8:45 – Unpacking a climate-themed scene from the show “Hacks”
13:00 – Unpacking a climate-themed scene from “The Morning Show”
16:30 – Bringing new people in at the Hollywood Climate Summit
23:15 – Michael P. Haselhuhn on how men’s views on masculinity and climate change are linked
33:25 – Masculinity is multifaceted
34:30 – Kousha goes to an MMA cage fight to ask guys about their views on masculinity
40:15 – Brent Suter on where he got his nickname, “The Raptor”
42:00 – His reaction to seeing “An Inconvenient Truth” as a young person
44:00 – Speaking out against fossil fuel endorsements for pro sports
49:20 – Suter on how his faith drives his climate activism
54:30 – How Suter talks to his teammates about climate and the environment
57:40 – Climate One More Thing
For show notes and related links, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org***
Join Climate One for an electric conversation on September 1 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor owned utility model. Tickets available at climateone.org/events
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31 July 2026, 7:15 am - 54 minutes 22 secondsHow Do I Say This…
It’s becoming increasingly clear that how we talk about climate change matters as much as the science or policy itself. The words we use carry weight, and climate communicator Susan Joy Hassol says specific word choices, like “heat-trapping pollution” rather than “greenhouse gases,” can cut through polarization and help messages resonate with a wider range of people. Equally important is listening to what people and communities need to better handle the impacts from climate disruption.
And different audiences need different approaches. For example: adults can help children process climate fear and grief without overwhelming them by offering age-appropriate honesty paired with validation of their emotions. Good communication can be one of the most effective forms of climate action.
Guests:
Robin Cooper, Co-Founder and President, Climate Psychiatry Alliance
Elizabeth Yeampierre, Attorney; Executive Director, UPROSE
Susan Joy Hassol, Director, Climate Communication
Highlights:
00:00 Introduction
2:14 Robin Cooper on climate related mental health issues young people have
5:16 Robin Cooper on how adults can help young people in their lives
12:22 Robin Cooper on having multiple conversations with young people about climate
15:57 Robin Cooper on next steps after identifying climate anxieties in young people
19:46 Elizabeth Yeampierre on what it took to get Sunset Park Solar going
29:33 Elizabeth Yeampierre on building community trust and listening
31:40 Elizabeth Yeampierre on working with other communities
36:11 Susan Joy Hassol on not using the phrase “climate change”
39:52 Susan Joy Hassol on the phrase “natural disasters”
46:11 Susan Joy Hassol on dealing with hostility when discussing climate
For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our episode page at climateone.org
***
Join Climate One for an electric conversation on September 1 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor owned utility model. Tickets available at climateone.org/events
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24 July 2026, 7:15 am - 56 minutes 28 secondsCleaner Steel is Coming. Will the Communities That Built the Industry Benefit?
Making steel accounts for around 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. But the industry could reduce that number by removing coal from the steel-making process entirely. Three of the U.S.’s last seven coal-based steel mills are situated along Lake Michigan. Together, these facilities produce nearly half of the steel made in the U.S., supplying skyscraper beams, car doors, and appliances across the country. And right now, in Northwest Indiana, a once-in-a-generation decision is on the table.
Nippon Steel, the owners of the Gary Works steel mill, can either extend the life of their aging blast furnaces for another 20 years and continuing coal-based production, or invest in cleaner, next-generation steelmaking. Other steelmakers have already moved towards decarbonization. Will Nippon switch to cleaner steelmaking for the next generation, or double-down on coal?
Guests:
Terry Steagall, Retired Steelworker, United Steelworker Union activist
Hilary Lewis, Steel Director, Industrious Labs
Roger Smith, Asia Lead, SteelWatch
Highlights:00:00 – Introduction
1:55 Terry Steagall on the importance of the steel industry in northwest Indiana
4:31 Terry Steagall on relining blast furnaces
11:16 Terry Steagall on cleaner steel for the next generation
14:27 Hilary Lewis on steel industry emissions
19:36 Hilary Lewis on the realistic path to decarbonizing the steel industry
23:03 Hilary Lewis on the pressure facing the industry to make cleaner steel
27:57 Hilary Lewis on the industry’s move to southern states
34:01 Roger Smith on the scale of US Steel’s acquisition by Nippon Steel
36:58 Roger Smith on the “golden share” the Trump administration received
46:33 Roger Smith on the viable technology for cleaner steel
For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our episode page at climateone.org
***
Join Climate One for an induction cooking demonstration night on July 21, at 6 p.m. at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. Come enjoy delicious food and wine, and learn about why cooking with magnets beats cooking with gas. Tickets available at climateone.org/events
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