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Possibly Podcast

The Public's Radiothepublicsradio.org
Sick and tired of environmental gloom and doom? Want to know what you can do? Listen to Possibly, where we take on huge problems, like the future of our planet, and break them down into small questions with unexpected answers. New episodes are released every Tuesday. Subscribe today wherever you get your podcasts, and leave a rating and review: it helps others find the show. Click here to learn more about Possibly or ask a question.
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Episodes

What’s an important climate change issue that nobody’s talking about?

Here at Possibly, we usually talk about the little things you can do to chip away at climate change. But of course, we need to do big things too. To talk about that, we’re turning to our friends at the Trending Globally podcast- Sarah Baldwin and Dan Richards. They wanted to know- what's a burning climate change issue that nobody's talking about? The post What’s an important climate change issue that nobody’s talking about? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

May 24, 20211 min

Are white roofs really “cool”?

Today, we’re going to talk about painting roofs white. Some experts say white shingles could lower electricity bills and cool down hot cities. So, should you make the switch? The post Are white roofs really “cool”? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

May 17, 20211 min

Do you need to separate your recycling?

Today we're answering a question from listener Liz Lee. She lives in Warwick, RI, and wants to know whether she is supposed to separate her paper and plastic recycling. The post Do you need to separate your recycling? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

May 10, 202156 sec

How is climate change affecting the flavor of our wine?

When we talk about climate change, we often think about the big issues- sea levels rising, extreme weather, melting polar ice caps. But climate change has small, intimate consequences too. It turns out, our warming planet is even affecting the flavor of our wine. The post How is climate change affecting the flavor of our wine? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

May 03, 202153 sec

Can you really compost compostable plastics?

Some take-out food containers, cups, and utensils are called “certified compostable.” What does that really mean? The post Can you really compost compostable plastics? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Apr 26, 20211 min

Can we address climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?

On our show, we talk a lot about how to reduce our carbon dioxide, or CO2, emissions. But some scientists are developing another approach to climate change — techniques to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. The post Can we address climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Apr 19, 20211 min

Is it worth it to pay more for organic meat?

These days, it seems like there’s an organic option for every type of food out there, including meat. But organic usually means more expensive. That made us wonder, is it worth it to pay more for organic meat? And does it create fewer greenhouse gas emissions? The post Is it worth it to pay more for organic meat? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Apr 05, 20211 min

Using Art to Unpack Climate Change

On our show, we tell stories to make climate change seem less overwhelming. We know that our episodes are no replacement for massive policy changes, but we hope that they help to shift your perspective or at least make the path forward seem a little clearer. Today, we’re going to talk to an artist who also tries to unpack climate change using a very different medium. The post Using Art to Unpack Climate Change appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Mar 29, 20211 min

How do I get renewable energy for my home?

How would you like to get all of your electricity from renewable sources? It turns out, you can, and you don’t even need to put panels on your roof to do it. Harrison Katz and Fatima Husain from our Possibly team are going to walk us through our options. The post How do I get renewable energy for my home? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Mar 22, 202156 sec

Take out battles: Rhode Island vs France

I order a lot of takeout food these days. And I often cringe when I see the packaging, especially when I get all of those little soy sauce packets. I mentioned this to our founder, Stephen Porder. And he says, it doesn't have to be that way. Stephen is in Paris this year on sabbatical, and he says his take-out has way less packaging. So, we tried a little experiment to see if his claims stack up. The post Take out battles: Rhode Island vs France appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Mar 15, 20211 min

What’s happening to all of the insects?

There are about 5.5 million different species of bugs and they make up nearly 80% of all animals on Earth. But all is not well with the world’s most abundant critters. What’s happening to insects? And why should we care? The post What’s happening to all of the insects? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Mar 08, 20211 min

What kind of water heater should I buy?

Today, we have a question from listener Tom Chun. Recently, his water heater stopped working. Tom didn’t have time to spare, so he just went with the water heater his plumber recommended. But now, he’s wondering if he should have bought something else. Are there more efficient water heaters out there that are worth the price? The post What kind of water heater should I buy? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Mar 01, 20211 min

How does the color of the ground affect climate change?

Take a look out your window. What color is the ground? It turns out that what you see plays a big role in the speed of climate change. The post How does the color of the ground affect climate change? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Feb 15, 202158 sec

What does ‘Net Zero’ really mean?

If you follow the news about climate change, you’ve probably heard the phrase “net zero.” But what does “net zero” really mean? The post What does ‘Net Zero’ really mean? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Feb 08, 202159 sec

Do my clothes release harmful particles when I wash them?

Today we have a question from Natalie Herbermann. She’s heard that when you put your clothes in the washing machine, they can leave behind harmful particles... And she’s wondering if there’s anything she can do about that. The post Do my clothes release harmful particles when I wash them? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Feb 01, 20211 min

Is It Worth It To Buy A Hybrid Car?

Taking into account the energy that goes into making a whole new car, is it more energy efficient to keep the gas car you already have, or to get a new hybrid car? (This episode originally aired in September, 2019). The post Is It Worth It To Buy A Hybrid Car? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Jan 25, 202143 sec

What’s the best way to get solar power?

Today, we have a question from listener David Kellogg. He’s a big fan of solar power, but he wants to know, is it better to put solar panels on your roof, or to put your money towards large scale solar installations? The post What’s the best way to get solar power? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Jan 19, 20211 min

What’s one thing kids can do to fight climate change?

Today, we’re answering a question from Ada, a student from Bristol, Rhode Island. She wants to know the best thing kids can do at home to help stop climate change. The post What’s one thing kids can do to fight climate change? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Jan 11, 202158 sec

Our 2021 resolutions

Twenty-twenty was quite a year, and we're guessing that most people are hoping 2021 will be better. So, our Possibly team got together to think about some New Year’s Resolutions that fit with the themes of our show. Here’s what everyone had to say… The post Our 2021 resolutions appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Jan 04, 20211 min

Oil-Burning Furnace Or Wood-Burning Stove?

Is an oil furnace or wood stove better to heat a home during the winter? The post Oil-Burning Furnace Or Wood-Burning Stove? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Dec 30, 202034 sec

Space Heater For One Room Or Furnace For The House?

Is it better to heat one room with a space heater or use a furnace to heat your entire house? The post Space Heater For One Room Or Furnace For The House? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Dec 21, 202019 sec

How does hydropower work?

Hydroelectric power is the most widely-used renewable energy source in the world. It creates about one-sixth of the world’s electricity. But how exactly does it work, and how does it fit into our energy future? The post How does hydropower work? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Dec 08, 20201 min

What would happen if we stopped creating greenhouse gas emissions right now?

Today, we have a thought experiment on our minds. What would happen if we stopped creating greenhouse gas emissions right now? Would climate change be over? The post What would happen if we stopped creating greenhouse gas emissions right now? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Nov 16, 20201 min

What happens to wind turbines when they wear out?

Wind turbines have been popping up across the world as a more sustainable way to create electricity. But these turbines can’t last forever, and not all of their parts can be recycled. In this episode, we look into what happens to wind turbines when they wear out. The post What happens to wind turbines when they wear out? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Nov 09, 20201 min

What’s the energy cost of using the internet?

Over the last few months, many of us have turned to digital devices to stay connected. We wondered: how much energy are we using with all of this time online? The post What’s the energy cost of using the internet? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Nov 03, 20201 min

What really happens when you recycle paper?

Today we have a question about paper recycling. What happens after you throw paper into the blue bin? How much of that paper actually gets reused? And is it worth the energy it takes to process it? The post What really happens when you recycle paper? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Oct 26, 20201 min

Is driving an RV across the country worse than flying? Part 2

Earlier this year, we did an episode comparing emissions for flying versus driving the same distance. But what if you're driving an RV? Megan runs the number with Stephen after she finishes her own cross-country trip. The post Is driving an RV across the country worse than flying? Part 2 appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Oct 13, 20201 min

Is driving an RV across the country worse than flying?

Earlier this year, we did an episode comparing emissions for flying versus driving the same distance. But what if you're driving an RV? The post Is driving an RV across the country worse than flying? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Oct 05, 20201 min

Is it worth it to buy environmentally-friendly feminine hygiene products?

If you flip through magazines or social media today, you might come across advertisements for environmentally-friendly feminine hygiene products. We wondered if they were worth the investment. The post Is it worth it to buy environmentally-friendly feminine hygiene products? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Sep 29, 202057 sec

Nuts for sustainability

Tree nuts like almonds, walnuts, and pistachios have taken off as a nutrient-dense snack. But all that snacking comes at a price — tree nuts are notorious for requiring a lot of water to grow. In this episode, we’ll unpack whether all that water usage makes a difference. The post Nuts for sustainability appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Sep 21, 202059 sec
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