The Green Elephant

Podcast Index

Each highlighted link directs you to the podcast – OR – find it on your favorite pod-catcher

SEASON ONE

Episode One (22:30)

A Chat with the Planet: Telling a New Story about what a Positive Future would look like

The premise of this first episode emphasizes three points:

1. Can using human psychology to change human behavior save the planet?

2. We need a new story with new heroes — like you.

3. Like death — climate and environmental change is difficult to talk about.

Episode Two (26:42)

Five Words that will Save the Planet: Part 1

Ahhh, the automobile. Powerful, sleek, sexy. We do love our cars. Just one little problem though…

Episode Three (23:03)

Five Words that will Save the Planet: Part 2

Q:Eating a Burger or Driving a Car: Which Harms Planet More?

A: Like it or not, the global production of meat is the most destructive force on the planet today.

Episode Four (17:17) Food Waste: The Dumbest Problem in the World One of the most destructive environmental practices that you could fix three times a day, food waste is an appalling part of America's throw-away culture. It's costing us time, money, and our environment. We are wasting up to 40 percent of our food from farm to fork to face to landfill. It is time to stop biting off more than we can chew and clean our plates. And it's so easy to fix!

Episode Five (18:33)

Can One Person Make a Difference? YOU BET!

In the face of such huge global problems, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless, and to find ourselves asking, “What difference can one person make?” The answer is that one person can make all the difference in the world.

Episode Six (32:09)

Travel & Tourism & the Environment

Thanks to the application of the same industrial model developed for cars, houses and consumer goods, international tourism has exploded in size.

Episode Seven (29:16)

Is Recycling Working…or is the System Broken? It has long been an article of faith that recycling was the best proof that we were doing something good for the planet. Many people considered it their most valuable contribution for our environmental woes. But recycling isn’t working anymore. Listen in and find out why and better yet, what you can do about it.

Episode Eight (37:31)

It’s NOT Climate Change, Stupid!

The most pressing environmental problem facing us today? Habitat alteration. Habitat fragmentation. Habitat destruction.

Episode Nine (24:07)

Do we Live Better than Kings and Queens of Old?

Think of all the benefits of being a King or Queen of yore –

Giant castles, vast armies at your command, and unlimited wealth. What could be more appealing than the prestige and power that comes with royalty?

Episode Ten (34:57)

Climate Denial: Are you a Luke-Warmer?

Most people are not climate deniers. It is an unreasonable and frankly, a stupid position to take. Could Everyday Denial, the denial that virtually every one of us engages in multiple times a day, be even a greater threat than climate denial?

Episode Eleven (30:29)

Are We Living at "Peak" Civilization?

Do you think we owe something to our future descendants who will be painfully aware of our actions, or lack of action?

Episode Twelve (35:22)

At War with the Planet

How are speed limits in Germany like gun laws in the United States. Hey Global Warming, is one-degree of warming all 'ya got?
Time to bring back the milkman? The LOOP: A major systems approach to end consumer plastic waste. Wildlife populations cut in half

Episode Thirteen (27:28)

The Australian Apocalypse

Australia is the continent that is being the most impacted by the climate crisis. Fascinating.

Episode Fourteen (23:34)

GOLD: After the Shine

Gold is one of the most destructive social and environmental forces on the planet – and most find it easy to ignore.

Episode Fifteen (37:48)

Are we the Dinosaur...and the Asteroid? Extinction: Part 1

Episode Sixteen (23:36)

Are we the Dinosaur...and the Asteroid? Extinction: Part 2

SEASON TWO

Episode Seventeen (Solutions) (35:23)

The Eight Best Proven Ways to Stop Climate Change

How to get out the Green Vote
Planting a trillion trees
The solution to plastic straws

Episode Eighteen (21:41)

Kids Are So Over Cars
Why Are we Ignoring the Worst Warnings about Climate and Environmental Change?
Green Washing Your Laundry
Walking is Climate Action

Episode Nineteen (24:39)

Paper Towels, Tissues, and Napkins: Ease up and save a tree or twelve
Carrmageddon: A horror story with a happy ending
Can our government save us from our eco-issues? Can any government?
The outsized impact American consumers have on the environment and the rest of the world

Episode Twenty (23:34)

Who's Greener - Who's Meaner — Men or Women?
Will the Circular Economy (the re-using everything) save us?
Trump and his gang of Eco-terrorist in the White House
A/C: Cooling the world is heating up the planet

Episode Twenty-one (32:12)

The question is – what does all this mean? What can we learn from it? Is it worth doing?
How do we talk about what is happening to our planet?
When no airplanes flew in US skies for three days and what happen
How many people can the earth support?
Confession: My name is Rico and I am a….consumer

Episode Twenty-two (24:55)

Micro-Plastics-Micro-Fibers-Micro-Bits: Plastic is everywhere — more than you might ever imagine
Eco-Activism: Do Something – Do Something Now

Episode Twenty-three (27:14)

Busting four eco-myths
The art of avoiding awkward moments of ethical dilemmas
Companion animals and respect for nature
The electric car’s future may depend on deep sea mining of COLBALT.
When Timing is Everything: Migratory Bird Phenology in a Changing Climate

Episode Twenty-four (33:56)

The Pentagon believes in Climate Change: Shouldn't you?
The US military is preparing for a warming world
Companion Animals:
Skiing - winter is going away and so is the snow. The ski industry's battle with climate change.
Innocent native wildlife populations are being ravaged.

Episode Twenty-five (33:06)

Military impact on the environment
Myths and realities of the American wild west
Threat to Public Lands
Overcrowding of National Parks
Welfare Ranching
Living with Wolves
Grasslands : Carbon sink

Episode Twenty-six (33:42)

Are you a two-faced Eco-hypocrite? (Don’t worry – we all are):

Are you two-faced in your eco-efforts?

News of the Future

Students using different textbooks in different states
Eco-Food Labels – your time has come
Coal use is down – emissions are rising: what's with that?

Episode Twenty-seven (36:24)

A Change of Heart

The author of “Jaws”, Loggers, Fishermen, and others who had a change of heart and became eco and human rights activists

Episode Twenty-eight (37:48)

The New Green Real Deal

o Origins of the New Green Deal

o The Euro-Green Deal

Energy Slaves
Human Climate Migration, including American domestic
Future News
Heat and premature births
Heat and trouble conceiving
PM 2.5 air pollution particulates
Australian denial

Episode Twenty-nine (32:34)

Animal and Plant Exceptionalism

Some creatures are truly remarkable

Arctic Swift * Monarch * Butterfly Migrations

Octopus * Crows * Plants and Trees

After water, Sand is our most used commodity: Our civilization is built on it

Episode Thirty (32:40)

Why is it so hard to quit Fossil Fuels?
Survivalists are heading to the Land Down-under.
The surprisingly strong link between rising temperatures and violence — and other News of the Future.

Episode Thirty-one (31:19)

Coronavirus - Climate Change - The Extinction Crisis and Lessons to be Learned

Episode Thirty-two (37:28)

Resilience against Coronavirus and Climate Change
Women, Girls, Coronavirus, Climate Change and the assault on Feminism
Fighting Rollbacks on Environmental Regulations
Why 3.5% is a Magic Number
The Future of Children

Episode Thirty-three (34:31) Through some celestial fortune, there is a perfect storm coalescing that could sweep humanity and the rest of creation into a spectacular transformation. The pandemic is a gut-wrenching reality check. The coronavirus has put humanity at a crossroads. Join Eco-Rico for a very special Green Elephant as we explore solutions to the unparalleled developments unfolding right in front of our eyes.

Also, don't you think it's time we upgraded PATRIOTISM for the 21st century?

Episode Thirty- four

The Urban Heat Island effect and warm summer nights.
How we are experiencing concurrent climate disasters and will have more unless we wake it and shake it
How do we live with wildlife after COVID?

Episode Thirty-five

One of the great pleasures of life, swimming in the ocean and how to do it safely.
Earthquakes and Tsunamis are grand geological forces - you may be surprised to hear that we humans are actually powerful enough to generate these massive planetary shocks.
A fascinating look at one of the most immutable planetary processes, everything ends up in the ocean – we mean everything.

Episode Thirty-six (15:49)

The one thing that the rich do that uses so much energy.
With so many changes happening in our world, maybe we should give the planet a break, and not travel so much? (!)

Episode Thirty-seven (23:19)

You Bug Me: The Little Creatures that Run the World

The evidence is clear that we are losing insects at an alarming rate. What we are witnessing is a "biological annihilation."

The good news is that insects can be helped to be rescued and you have a role to play by letting go of control a little bit. Still, there are major challenges ahead, but they can be overcome. Tune in and let's solve this ultimate enigma.

SEASON THREE

Episode Thirty-eight (29:55) Join Rico on one of his bicycle-touring journeys through the Cascade Mountains of Washington State.

This is not a travelogue, but a revelatory look at how cowboys and capitalism are impacting some of our last great natural environments and open spaces. Learn how we can put the wild back into the wilderness.

Episode Thirty-nine (28:29)

China / Paris : Urban Innovations. –Lakes are Increasing in number and size - while curiously decreasing at the same time. — The definitive answer on recycling pizza boxes – maybe. — Mining Copper and our not so bright alternative energy future. — Teen create a Bee-Byway – so can you. — and "A Little Bit of Outrage"

Episode Forty (33:53)

Golf And Golf Courses: A Waste Of Land And Resources.
Fence Post To Fence Post Farming: Hyper Farming Practices And The Impact On
Re-wilding The Planet: From A Flowerpot To Half The Earth: What You Can Do To He
Fly Less Travel More: Alternative Travel Opportunities — Instead Of Flying

Episode Forty-one (35:49)

Almost One-Half The Planet's Plants Are Endangered — It's Not Just Animals!
The Chicks In The Mail: The Misery Of Mailing Animals
Air Pollution: Is It Worse In The Car, Or Out?
Deleting Pollution Control Devices On Vehicles — For The Worst Outcome
Save The Earth And Win A Prize!
The Silliness Of Climate Polling: Concern Is Up Two-Points!
The Most Viable And Immediate Solution For Climate: Electrify Everything

Episode Forty-two (37:48)

In this Episode we Address Politics, the Pandemic, Climate and Corresponding Environmental Issues — and How They Relate to the Past Four Years, The Coming Four Years, and The Next 40,000 Years. What is our Biggest Climate Problem? In a Word — Republicans. Maybe Donald Trump has Done us a Favor? We Need to Battle the Climate Crisis like COVID. What can President-Elect Biden do on Day One? Day One-Hundred? If the Climate and Extinction Crises are so Big and Overwhelming – Why Don’t we Care More?

Episode Forty-three (37:48)

New Zealand Declares a Climate Emergency. Shouldn’t You?
Cultivated Lab Grown Meat goes on Sale in Singapore
It’s Official — No New Natural Gas Hook-ups in New Buildings
Low Traffic Neighborhoods — Thank You Covid
Tasmania Has a Toxic Leak — It’s Not What You Think…
The Top Plastic Polluters Just Keep Winning
Promising News for (our namesake) Elephants

Episode Forty-four

The Summation of Climate Change in Six Words: Too Much Water or not Enough
All the stuff that humans make and is now heavier than all the combined like on Earth
Mega-Tropical Resorts: Trouble in Paradise

Episode Forty-five (16:29)

- - The first step in preventing climate and ecological change is recognizing them as the threat they are.
  - Covid delivers a record drop in CO2 emissions. Is it a drop in the bucket?
  - Even with the drop in CO2, the massive forest fires brought it back up.
  - Rivers are changing color — and we’re not sure why.
  - Manatees for Trump — start of a sick cycle?
  - The Michelin Restaurant Guide goes vegan.
  - Work for the Future — Your guide to Green Jobs
  - How old are you in CO2?
  - When it comes to climate and environment, the single most effective thing you can do.

Episode Forty-six (24:46)

News of the Future 2.0 - Now even Futurier!

When it comes to the climate, tipping points can be bad…or we can create our own positive tipping points. It’s within our power.
Germans are eating less meat! In the land of pork knuckles and schnitzel, consumption of animals is dropping rapidly.
Schools are not teaching students about future environmental impacts, so students are taking their future into their own hands.
States are now quietly outlawing fossil fuel protests with stiff penalties.
Meet The Girls: The life affirming story of the last two Northern White Rhinos in the world.

Episode Forty-seven (31:25)

First Anniversary of the Devastating Australian Fire Storm. One of the greatest climate catastrophes ever, and their government says, “meh.”
The Fix is in: The Cost of Climate Inaction. Or, a better way to put it, with climate action we could save trillions of dollars and the planet to boot!
Bitcoin: An Unimaginable Energy Suck.
News of the Future
Warnings at the Gas Pump
SnowDrought
Empire State Building goes Green(er)
Our Favorite Senatorial Climate Hawk

Episode Forty-eight (40:28)

Whales — the Greatest Creature that ever lived is even Greater
A Love Letter to your Lungs
A Couple of Things You Could Do One Day a Week to Help Yourself and the Planet
NEWS OF THE FUTURE
Hollywood — How are They Going to Depict Covid – or Better Yet, Climate?
An Endangered Species Creates their own Protest Movement
Why France’s New Tech ‘Repairability Index’ is a Big Deal
Run for Something: Instead of Reading about the Future, You Could be Making It

Episode Forty-nine (37:06)

We Are Rulers of the Universe — One Species Dominates the Planet

(Unfortunately, we are not very good at it)

News of the Future

Two Simple Tricks to Keep your Cat from Killing Everything that Moves
Which part of the world is heating faster than any other part of the world.
Which part of the US is?
How SUVs and Cowboy Trucks Won the Pandemic It’s a Man’s World: Coal Mining, Fracking, Oil Drilling and Petro-Masculinity
Can Planting a Trillion Trees make a Difference?
The World’s Best Sustainable Living Resource; Connecting Lifestyle and System Change

Episode Fifty (36:12)

Two stories that encapsulate our climate predicament and human nature. One is an uplifting tale of survival through cooperation, and the other a dark story of blind loyalty that led to tragic results. See if you can tell which is which.

News of the Future

Elephants on the brink
States banning sunblock
Sculpture garden
Plastic fills our Lives and Animals Stomachs
Some Companies Attempts at
Eliminating Plastics, and Why They Failed
City Bans New Gas Stations

SEASON FOUR

Episode Fifty-one

Travel, Tourism, and the Environment: (Rebroadcast)

Episode Fifty-two

Can One Person Make a Difference? You Bet! (Rebroadcast)

Episode Fifty-three Part 1: Five Words that will Save the Planet (Rebroadcast)

This rebroadcast episode covers two of those words - that's because it is a big topic and very dear to most of us. Also, there are big changes happening, and we have updated the end of this episode.

Next week the remaining three words on another beloved, but conflictual topic that may have a happy meal ending.

Episode Fifty-four

2. Five Words that will Save the Planet: Part 2 (Rebroadcast)

Episode Fifty-five

The Climate, The Environment, and The Media (Part 1)

You will be shocked to learn about how little time broadcast news gives to climate and environmental stories. And, as low as that is, they give virtually no time to explain what we should be doing about it!

Episode Fifty-six

The Climate, The Environment, and The Media (Part 2)

Taylor Swift's Legs and Climate Change
Remember when Climate Change use to be Funny?

Episode Fifty-seven

Covid and Climate: Comparisons and Contrasts with Our Twin Threats

Episode Fifty-eight

Introducing: The Future Of...

Predicting the future has always been problematic. This is often because humans are so unpredictable.

Guaranteed accurate information about the future is impossible, but reliable forecasting is possible. Trends present themselves, and that can be evaluated.

Yes, the future can look bleak, and it would be easy to focus on the worse aspects of our climate and ecological issues that are facing us. However, there is so much that can be done, and we hope to stimulate some thinking and conversation with this endeavor.

It’s a remarkable time to be alive. The future is not determined. The future is in our hands. What we do between 2020-2030 is going to be the most decisive decade for humanity on Earth. You can learn about a world that hasn’t happened yet.

This episode we look at - The future of the daily weather forecast - The future of business travel - The future of clean air and the benefit to birds.

Episode Fifty-nine

How To Talk to Others About What Is Happening To The Planet and Life On Earth
The Future of Denial: Big Oil's New Denialism
Green Washing: The Next Big Wave - Don't get sucked in
The Future of Plant- Based Meats
The Future of Food Waste
The Future of Climate Pledges

Episode Sixty

What if Fossil Fuels Never Existed?
How Are We Going to Keep the Lights On?
Sound in Air. Sound in Water.
Ocean Noise Pollution Solutions
Electric Cars: The Shift from Pump to Plug

Episode Sixty-one

The Intersection Between Population Growth, Economic Growth, and the Climate And Environment

The intersection between population growth, economic growth, and the climate and environment is complex. We simplify it for you.

News of the Future

THE FUTURE of The Human Climate Niche
THE FUTURE of Air Pollution Laws That Help Wildlife
THE FUTURE of PETROLEUM FACILITIES: Little Guys Fight Big Oil and Win
THE FUTURE of PLASTIC: Proposed Tax on Virgin Single Use Plastic

Episode Sixty-two

The Great Climate Solution: Are You a Chosen One? The 3.5% Climate Solution (1 of 3)

Nonviolent Peaceful Protest is Our Secret Weapon
Civil Disobedience
News of the Future: Are nations of the world going to be able to work together to solve global warming?

Episode Sixty-three

Climate Hope: The 3.5% Rule of Nonviolent Protest (Part 2 of 3)

This Podcast Episode Answers Two Questions:

1. Who is best qualified to lead us in peaceful nonviolent climate protest?

2. Which group of people is causing the most environmental damage?

Who's Greener — Men or Women?
Climate Leadership and Women
The History of Wealth...and Poverty
The Gap between the Rich and Poor is...Obscene
What’s your “Fair Share” of carbon emissions? (You’re probably blowing way past it)
What can be Done to Reign in the Rich?
The Worst of The Worst

Episode Sixty-four This Could be the Key to Climate and Ecological Success (Part 3 of 3)is Could be the Key to Climate and Ecological Success (Part 3 of 3)

Protest – Civil Disobedience vs. Peaceful Nonviolent Protest
Climate and Extreme Weather and Human Perceptions
Organization Tracker Restrictive Laws Against Protesting
Student led Climate Protest Organizations
Extinction Rebellion
The Top Proven Ways of Saving the Planet…and Ourselves
Effective Methods of Sustainable Peaceful Protest

Episode Sixty-five

Tipping Points: Local - Global – Social - Personal – Political and Hopefully, a Tipping Point of the Human Heart.

Planetary Tipping Points Cascading
Local / Regional Environmental Tipping Points
The 3.5% Rule Tips to the 25% which Sparks a Social Revolution
The only way we can effectively manage climate change is through government intervention
Even if You Have been Impacted by Extreme Weather - You Will Still Stick with Your Tribe The Key Element: Advocating for Action
Republicans are Crazy - but not Stupid
"We're going to make you suffer" Violence is Mainstream in the Republican Party
Armed and Lame
Green is the New Red
Believe it or Not: Right-Wingers Position Themselves as the New Eco-Warriors
Anti-Protest Laws Growing

Episode Sixty-six

The Great Climate and Environmental Solutions — Nothing more, nothing less.

Who is Really to Blame for Climate Change?
Individual Actions vs. Corporate and Government Action
CITIZEN ASSEMBLIES: A new form of Democracy that has been around 2,000 years
Carbon Tax: Is the best solution misunderstood?
Carbon Clubs/Climate Clubs
Remaking Democracy in the time of Climate Change
What Federal Governments Can and Should do in the Climate Fight
The Real Heroes in the Climate Fight: State and Local Governments
What Can Governments Do: Buildings
What Can Governments Do: Transportation
What Can Governments Do: Wildlife Corridors
What Can Governments Do: Resiliency

SEASON FIVE

Episode Sixty-seven

Population: 8 Billion People – One Humanity (Part 1)

Population Clocks (mesmerizing must see)
To accommodate the 2.4 billion humans that will join us by 2100, we will have to build the equivalent of a New York City every month for the next 40 years (!)
Elon Musk's Cloudy Crystal Ball
Population Growth and the Economy
Population Growth Cancelling Out Climate Change Progress.
The Effects of Over-Population

Episode Sixty-eight

Population: 8 Billion People – One Humanity (Part 2)

8, 000 Million People + One
Why do we Find Babies Cute?
Child Less or Child Free?
Child-Free Celebrities
GINK's: Green Inclinations, No Kids
Forced Sterilization is More Common Than You Think

Children, Your Greatest [carbon] Legacy

Population: Never Part of the Discussion
Ideas for Stabilizing Human Population
Female Education and Empowerment
Growing up in the Age of Climate and Environmental Change

Episode Sixty-nine

Don't Despair – The Climate Fight is Far From Over

Taking action is the best way to live in conditions of crisis and disruption
It is suggested there are two approaches to climate action – changing consumption and changing production
The single most important thing people can do is come together to form movements – or join existing groups – that can “push for changes big enough to matter

Episode Seventy Our Sweet Future Lives After we Solve Climate Change How should we think about a world that doesn’t yet exist?

Can you Imagine what a Post-carbon Future would look like? For decades, visions of possible climate futures have been thought of, on the one hand, Pollyanna-like faith that normality would endure, and on the other, an ecological end of days, during which perhaps billions of lives would be devastated or destroyed.
It’s difficult to know where you are going if you don't have a clear vision of what the future should look like, in particular, a positive vision that you could get excited about and motivated to really make a transformative change.
Polling suggests that people are much more likely to act when future scenarios are placed in a positive light, emphasizing terms such as “resilience,” “sustainability,” and “nature-based solutions”.