Possibly Podcast - podcast cover

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.
Last refreshed:
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

What did the young people who testified in the Montana climate lawsuit have to say?

A group of young people in Montana sued the state for violating their constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment. They brought in all sorts of climate science and policy experts to help prove their case, but most of these young people also testified at the trial. What did they have to say? The post What did the young people who testified in the Montana climate lawsuit have to say? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Oct 31, 20232 min

How can I get involved with Public Utilities Commissions?

In another episode we talked about a state agency that can play a big role in helping us get more of our energy from renewable sources. Here in Rhode Island, it’s called the Public Utilities Commission. But how do everyday people influence how these commissions work? The post How can I get involved with Public Utilities Commissions? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Oct 17, 20234 min

What does a Public Utilities Commission have to do with climate change?

If we want to avoid the worst of climate change, it’s pretty clear that we need to start getting our energy from sources that don’t create greenhouse gasses, like solar and wind power. But how do we get there? One powerful partner is a state agency you’ve probably never heard of. The post What does a Public Utilities Commission have to do with climate change? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Oct 10, 20231 min

After the wildfires, what has life been like on Maui?

Lahaina, Maui has experienced the deadliest wildfire the country has seen in the last century. Reporter Emily Tom spoke with a survivor about the challenges ahead — and hopes for the future. The post After the wildfires, what has life been like on Maui? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Oct 03, 20231 min

Why did we see so many beach closures this year?

The Possibly team noticed that beaches have been closed more than they're used to. The post Why did we see so many beach closures this year? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Sep 19, 20231 min

What’s happening to the world’s glaciers?

Today, we have a question from one of our reporters, Kolya Shields. They keep seeing time-lapse photos showing ice sheets shrinking faster and faster. That made them curious about the impacts of this melting, and what we might be able to do about it. The post What’s happening to the world’s glaciers? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Sep 12, 20231 min

How much energy does it take to run ChatGPT?

Everybody is talking about ChatGPT, the new machine-learning tool for answering questions. These giant computer models need a whole lot of computing power to run, so we were curious about just how much energy they use. The post How much energy does it take to run ChatGPT? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Sep 05, 20231 min

How will we deal with oil spills in the future?

Today, we’re talking about oil spills. You might remember big spills like Exxon Valdez in 1989 and Deepwater Horizon in 2010, but even today, oil spills still happen. That makes us wonder: what have we learned from them over time? The post How will we deal with oil spills in the future? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Aug 29, 20231 min

Why are some neighborhoods more vulnerable to climate change?

We talk a lot about climate change and what we can do to slow down or prevent the worst outcomes at a global scale. But the impacts of climate change can be completely different from state to state or even neighborhood to neighborhood. Why? Naomi Deokule and Ashley Junger from our Possibly team looked into one explanation: racism. The post Why are some neighborhoods more vulnerable to climate change? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Aug 22, 20237 min

What’s it like to own an electric car?

We did it. My family finally bought an electric car. What’s it like? Should you get one too? Here to help me explain is my husband, Ryan T Conaty. The post What’s it like to own an electric car? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Aug 15, 20231 min

Why are we breaking records for the hottest day on record?

When people talk about climate change, it’s often described as something that might happen in the future. But, we’ve been breaking records for the hottest day on earth all summer. Here to explain what all of this means is our founder and the provost for sustainability at Brown University, Stephen Porder. The post Why are we breaking records for the hottest day on record? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Aug 08, 20231 min

What makes something ‘better’ for the environment?

In this episode, we’re going to be looking at what it really means for something to be “better” for the environment. To find out, we’re going to talk about an instance where it’s not so clear. The post What makes something ‘better’ for the environment? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Aug 01, 20231 min

Should I take an e-scooter or an Uber?

The other day our reporter Iman Khanbhai was heading to the mall to buy some jeans and I wondered- what would create more emissions- taking an electric scooter or getting an Uber? So, she and reporter Malia Honda decided to look into it. The post Should I take an e-scooter or an Uber? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Jul 25, 20231 min

What’s the big deal about the high seas?

Ever wanted to be a pirate and sail the high seas? Well, you can, but it's about to get a little harder. Here to tell us more are Anna Amha and Riley Stevenson from our Possibly Team. The post What’s the big deal about the high seas? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Jul 18, 20231 min

What’s the environmental impact of shaving?

he other day while I was shaving in the shower, I wondered- what’s the environmental impact of keeping my legs hair free? To find out, we had Malia Honda and Iman Khanbhai from our Possibly Team look into this question. The post What’s the environmental impact of shaving? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Jul 11, 202357 sec

Why is it getting harder to harvest local maple syrup?

Earlier this year, one of our Possibly reporters, Will Malloy, visited a maple syrup farm. And he was surprised to learn that those farmers weren’t harvesting as much maple syrup as they have in the past. He was curious if climate change had anything to do with it, so he joined up with reporter Grace Samaha to find out. The post Why is it getting harder to harvest local maple syrup? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Jul 04, 20231 min

How are other cities responding to rising waters? Part 2

In the last few weeks, we’ve talked about towns that are creating plans to prepare for rising waters. Today, we’re taking a look at an example of what can happen when that planning is too slow. What should cities do when people want to leave because of climate-related disasters? The post How are other cities responding to rising waters? Part 2 appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Jun 27, 20231 min

How are other cities responding to rising waters?

Today, we’re talking about how cities and towns are preparing for rising waters. Right here in Rhode Island, the town of Warren is developing a plan to relocate residents who live in an area that’s prone to flooding. But Warren isn’t the only place that is threatened by rising sea levels. In order to get some perspective, we looked at other communities that are grappling with the same issue. The post How are other cities responding to rising waters? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Jun 20, 20231 min

Should I bring a reusable mug to the coffee shop?

If you’re a coffee drinker like me, you might feel a little guilty about all those paper cups you end up tossing out when you visit a café. But now that the pandemic is winding down, coffee shops like Starbucks are starting to let customers use their own cups again. So is it time for all of us to make the switch over to reusable coffee cups? The post Should I bring a reusable mug to the coffee shop? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

Jun 13, 20231 min

What’s the most energy efficient way to make my coffee?

There are a lot of ways to make your morning coffee. You could use a french press, a drip machine, a machine with coffee pods…the list goes on and on. But which way creates the fewest greenhouse gas emissions? The post What’s the most energy efficient way to make my coffee? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Jun 06, 20231 min

How can we get more energy from heat in the ground?

We’ve used the Earth’s heat as an industrial energy source for over a century, but geothermal power only plays a minor role in our energy grid. Why? And is that about to change? The post How can we get more energy from heat in the ground? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

May 30, 20231 min

Should I idle my car or stop and restart?

Today we’re taking on a question from listener Megan Heinz. She often picks up her son at his school in the car pickup line. And she's wondering if it’s better for her to turn the car on and off again as the line moves forward, or if she should let the car idle. The post Should I idle my car or stop and restart? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

May 23, 202359 sec

There’s no evidence offshore wind kills whales

Rhode Island is the first state in the country to build an offshore wind farm, and there are plans for many more. But recently, opponents of wind energy have claimed offshore wind is harming whales and other marine mammals. The post There’s no evidence offshore wind kills whales appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

May 16, 20231 min

What’s a lifestyle change that could cancel out your emissions from a plane ride?

Today, we have a question from a member of our Possibly team- Meg Talikoff. She's from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, but she goes to school here in Providence. That means she usually has to take a flight to go back home. She was feeling guilty about that, and I wanted to figure out a way to offset the emissions she creates by taking that trip. The post What’s a lifestyle change that could cancel out your emissions from a plane ride? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....

May 09, 202357 sec

How do fungi help combat climate change?

You’ve probably heard of fungi, whether it’s mold in your bathroom or mushrooms on your favorite hiking trail, but recently, I’ve been hearing that fungi also play an underappreciated role in our climate. What’s that about? The post How do fungi help combat climate change? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

May 02, 202359 sec

What do we do about methane leaks in our neighborhoods?

We know methane is a really potent greenhouse gas, and in other episodes, we’ve talked about what the federal government is doing to crack down on industrial methane leaks. Today we’re bringing it closer to home. The post What do we do about methane leaks in our neighborhoods? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Apr 25, 20231 min

Can art help fight climate change?

Today, we have a question from one of our reporters, Kolya Shields. They're an artist, and they want to know: can art help fight climate change? The post Can art help fight climate change? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Apr 18, 202359 sec

What’s a passive house?

Recently, Rhode Island certified its first “Passive House.” What does that mean? And will we all live in one someday? The post What’s a passive house? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .

Apr 04, 202354 sec
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android