We thought we were done talking about rats. Then your questions came in. From plague myths to poisoned predators, population growth and climate change to urban allotment gardens in Helsinki, this bonus episode follows the threads we couldn't fit in the first time around, and digs deeper into the surprisingly emotional world of humans versus rats.
15 May 2026, 10:00 am
28 minutes 58 seconds
Prescription for a superbug crisis
After a life-changing accident, Vanessa spent years fighting a dangerous infection that kept coming back. Eventually, doctors discovered why: the bacteria fueling it were resistant to antibiotics. Her story leads us far beyond the hospital, into waterways, soils, and a hidden world where the medicines meant to save us may be helping create the next superbugs.
8 May 2026, 9:30 am
30 minutes 20 seconds
The dirty truth about laundry (Rebroadcast)
Laundry seems harmless - but it’s not. Chemicals, microplastics, and energy use add up fast. Are we overwashing just to feel "clean”? Discover how to clean your clothes smarter - and greener.
1 May 2026, 9:00 am
31 minutes 57 seconds
War-proofing Ukraine's power grid with solar
When Russia targets Ukraine's energy system, it's not just turning off the lights — it's creating conditions for nuclear disaster. Each attack forces a rethink: more solar, more batteries, more distributed, harder-to-hit systems. For Ukrainians, this isn't about climate — it's about survival. What can the rest of the world learn from this?
24 April 2026, 9:30 am
29 minutes 41 seconds
Something is wrong in the Arctic – Narwhals can tell
Alex Ootowak grew up watching narwhals, the "unicorns of the sea", frolic in Canada’s Arctic waters. Then a nearby mine changed everything. In this episode, hear how underwater recordings reveal a decline in narwhals — and why scientists couldn't research these enigmatic creatures without the Inuit community.
17 April 2026, 9:15 am
30 minutes 29 seconds
Why cities keep losing the war on rats
In cities around the world, rats aren't just surviving; they're thriving. Despite decades of poison, traps and control, they keep coming back. So, what is it about modern city life that suits them so well? From Berlin to New York, this is a story about what happens when urban systems start feeding "the rat problem".
10 April 2026, 10:00 am
30 minutes
Pray or act? Churches at a crossroads
Climate change is reshaping the world - but inside many churches, it’s barely spoken about. So what’s behind the silence? One believer whose passion for God’s creation started as a kid surrounded by manatees and mangroves, is urging US churches to reconnect faith with stewardship of the land.
3 April 2026, 9:55 am
33 minutes 58 seconds
Geothermal could be huge, why isn't it?
Brock Yordy once helped extract fossil fuels; now, he’s using the same skills to tap the Earth’s heat for clean energy. His journey from oilfields to geothermal puts a new spotlight on a big question: can the industry that drove emissions now lead the way in reducing them? And if there’s so much power beneath our feet, what’s holding geothermal back?
27 March 2026, 11:00 am
29 minutes 18 seconds
Houston, we have a plastic problem!
Chemical recycling promises to transform plastic waste, and Houston is at the center of this big experiment in the US. While industry touts it as a breakthrough, activists are finding that much of the plastic doesn't get recycled after all. Is Houston leading the way to real change - or revealing the limits of the latest recycling fad?
20 March 2026, 11:00 am
34 minutes 9 seconds
Would the four-day work week kill productivity?
The four-day work week was a hot new trend not all that long ago, but amid stagnating economies, some countries are pushing for more work, not less. Even in Europe, the German chancellor is calling for an end to "lifestyle" part-time jobs. Living Planet's Jennifer Collins spoke with economists and manufacturers about the benefits of working less, both for us and the planet. Plus, could AI help?
13 March 2026, 10:00 am
35 minutes 4 seconds
Arctic farming: Climate fix or future problem?
As climate change reshapes the Arctic, Norwegian scientists are testing how far north farming can go. But is expanding Arctic agriculture a responsible answer to future food shortages, or a risky bet?