In Episode 30, Quinn & Brian ask: what’s the business incentive for climate/clean energy action? In light of the Paris Agreement and all the bullshit that’s gone down since, we drafted Will Hackman to be our guest and explain it all. Will’s been a campaign manager for the House and Senate, he’s worked as a marine fisheries conservation advocate, he represented Georgetown University at the UN climate change conference, and he’s an author on various energy, environmental, and climate change to...
Aug 14, 2018•1 hr 15 min•Ep 30•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 29, Quinn & Brian ponder the fact that the Pope Has Decided to Defeat Climate Change With His Own Bare Hands. Our guest — Jose Aguto. Jose is the Associate Director of the Catholic Climate Covenant, where he works to lead Catholicism into climate action, which includes building and providing the tools to do so. We’re excited to continue our streak of talking to and hopefully not insulting the last segments of the population that we (desperately) need to get on board wi...
Aug 07, 2018•1 hr 15 min•Ep 29•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 28, Quinn & Brian ask: why the hell is space exploration important when the planet is literally on fire? To answer that, they’ve brought on The Space Gal, Emily Calandrelli. And boy does she set the record straight. Emily is an MIT-engineer turned Emmy-nominated science host on TV and online, and she’s also a children’s book author. Join us as we discuss the history of space exploration, what she’d do as NASA administrator/dictator, and her own upbringing in West Virginia. Want to...
Jul 31, 2018•1 hr 11 min•Ep 28•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 27, Quinn & Brian ask: what happens when the Atlantic Ocean invades the Arctic Ocean? Our guest: Julia Roberson, vice president of relations for the Ocean Conservancy in Washington D.C. Julia takes complex issues, like one ocean invading another, and makes them real and relevant to human beings, and finally (and most specific for us) helps us act on them. She’s damn funny and way smarter than us, but once again, a gentle reminder: it’s a low, low bar. Want to send us feedback? Twe...
Jul 24, 2018•54 min•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 26, Quinn & Brian ask: what drives a man to give 200 climate speeches to Congress? That's once a week since 2007. Our guest today: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, the junior senator from Rhode Island. We discuss his speeches, his future carbon bill, bi-partisanship, calling bullshit when we see it, Rhode Island’s fossil-fuel lawsuit, and so much more. Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message! Links: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on Twitter San...
Jul 17, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 25, Quinn & Brian ask: “Middle school physics: Lame, or the first step to being a SUPERHERO?” Our guest today is “The Physics Girl”, Dianna Cowern. She’s hunted for dark matter with MIT and Harvard, worked at GE, and is now one of the world’s most popular science communicators. And holy hell is her enthusiasm contagious. We talk her incredible YouTube channel, being frustrated and Hulking out, Shuri, Wonder Woman, Magic Hour, and more! Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us,...
Jul 10, 2018•1 hr 19 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 24, Quinn & Brian ask: when will San Francisco be underwater? On the mic today is the ever-intrepid Molly Peterson, a renowned reporter focusing on the environment and climate change. Molly’s worked at Southern California Public Radio, ISeeChange, funded by NASA, she's traveled to and reported from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a fellow for the International Women’s Media Foundation, and is now at Pactio, a super-cool new organization supporting in...
Jul 03, 2018•1 hr 8 min•Ep 24•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 23, Quinn & Brian ask: can we predict the next big earthquake? Pretty please? Joining us is Josh Bashioum, founder of Early Warning Labs, an earthquake early warning technology developer, whose mission is to improve, expand, and lower the costs of existing earthquake early warning systems. Listen in as we discuss San Francisco, the northwest, San Andreas, The Rock, other dreamy action stars, and how LA is (shockingly) more prepared than you think. Want to send us feedback? T...
Jun 26, 2018•1 hr 16 min•Ep 23•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 22, Quinn & Brian ask: how does your phone call become law? To help answer that question, they’ve got Andres Jimenez on the line. Andres is the Senior Director of Government Affairs for the Citizens Climate Lobby, working with both the House and Senate to expand the voice of citizens, as well as push relevant legislation through. He’s also a leading member of GreenLatinos. Andres has worked with the Ocean Conservancy and in Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office in New York. Want to send us...
Jun 19, 2018•1 hr 15 min•Ep 22•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 21, Quinn & Brian finally get to the heart of it: What’s the #1 thing YOU can do to affect climate change? On the mic and down the street, Peter Kalmus, an atmospheric scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Peter wrote a book called “Being the Change: Live Well and Spark a Climate Revolution” and also he’s got chickens and no longer a motorcycle (BRIAN). Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message! Links: Peter K...
Jun 12, 2018•1 hr 9 min•Ep 21•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 20, Quinn and Brian wonder: How the hell are we gonna feed 10 billion people? Enter Fred Iutzi of the Land Institute, where they’re focused on the incredibly modest goal of working to displace the predominant industrial, disruptive system of agriculture by providing staple foods without destroying or compromising the cultural and ecological systems upon which we so very much depend. Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message! Links: Fred Iutzi ...
Jun 05, 2018•1 hr 14 min•Ep 20•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 19, Quinn & Brian asks: What’s the future of antibiotics? To answer: the irrepressible Dr. Gautam Dantas, the professor of pathology and immunology and biomedical engineering at the Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis. He leads the Dantas Lab, where they work at the interface of microbial genomics, ecology, synthetic biology, and systems biology, to understand, harness, and engineer the biochemical processing potential of microbial communities. We have a ...
May 29, 2018•1 hr 11 min•Ep 19•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 18, Quinn & Brian try to build a more flexible, approachable, and fun new science foundation in America. But they don't know where to start. Enter the legendary Phil Plait, the “Bad Astronomer”. He's an astronomer (obviously), author, and science communicator extraordinaire and we chat about rebuilding the foundations of American science. And that, friends, starts with enthusiasm. Science — fuck yeah! Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice mess...
May 22, 2018•1 hr 26 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 17, Quinn & Brian ask: What’s the future of emergency medical systems in the age of climate change? Joining us: Jason Friesen, the founder and executive director of Trek Medics, a 501 c3 registered NGO dedicated to creating or improving emergency medical systems in communities without reliable access to emergency care through innovative mobile phone technologies. We talk about the current and future state of emergency medical systems in the age of climate change. Because...
May 15, 2018•1 hr 18 min•Ep 17•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 16, Quinn & Brian ask: what's the future of climate modeling? Also, what's a climate model? Enter Dr. Kate Marvel. She's a climate scientist and a writer. A theoretical physicist by training, she is now an associate research scientist at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Columbia University’s Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics. Because, sure. Dr. Marvel's research focuses on how human activities affect the climate and what we can expect in the ...
May 08, 2018•1 hr 9 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 15, Quinn and Brian dig deeper and ask: Can carbon capture be a building block in climate action, part II? On the mic: Akshat Rathi , a reporter for Quartz in London. He wrote a series last year called The Race to Zero Emissions about carbon capture, and we dig into that, and the next 10 years of CCS, today. Akshat’s resume: he’s previously worked at The Economist and The Conversation. His writing has appeared in Nature, The Guardian and The Hindu. He has a PhD in chemistry from...
May 01, 2018•1 hr 9 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 14, Quinn (Brian abandoned him) asks himself: How do we improve America’s agriculture system? On the mic, Emily Cassidy, the Sustainability Science Manager at the illustrious and beautiful California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, and a leading member of their new climate action initiative, Planet Vision. Emily's the co-author of a highly cited paper called “Solutions for a Cultivated Planet”, investigating how to sustainably feed 9 billion people. Today we put Emily...
Apr 24, 2018•1 hr 10 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 13, Quinn and Brian plot a blueprint for suing the pants off fossil fuel companies. Of course we don't know where to start, so we asked for help. Meet the mastermind: Mayor Serge Dedina of tiny Imperial Beach, California, one of the first cities to sue fossil fuel companies for climate change damages. We discuss what led to their suit, but more importantly, actions other cities should be taking to plan for the future, including their own legal action. Also: surfing, Nazis, a...
Apr 17, 2018•1 hr 11 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 12, Quinn and Brian ask: Can algorithms predict the next major pandemic? Pretty please? Joining us: Dr. Sam Scarpino, Assistant Professor of Marine & Environmental Sciences and Physics and a core faculty member in the Network Science Institute at Northeastern University. We discuss whether, and if so, how advanced algorithms and data science can help predict and prevent the next major pandemic. Also, the importance of a liberal arts education, bad wifi in 2018, and...
Apr 10, 2018•1 hr 22 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 11, Quinn & Brian ask with fingers crossed: Can carbon capture be a building block in climate action? On the mic: David Hawkins, director of the climate program at the National Resources Defense Council, and the man basically responsible for you breathing clean air most days. So, you’re welcome. We discuss David’s history of working to safeguard the planet, but more specifically, his thoughts on the futuristic but necessary technology that is carbon capture, and w...
Apr 03, 2018•1 hr 14 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 10 (we made it!), Quinn & Brian read a picture book. And a damn good one. Introducing The Tantrum That Saved The World. On the mic: Megan Herbert, Aussie co-author and illustrator of the popular new children’s book about climate change activism. We talk about the book, her co-author, esteemed climate scientist and science communicator Michael E, Mann, as well as modeling behavior for our kids, providing them with tools now and in the future to become agents of chang...
Mar 27, 2018•1 hr 14 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 9, Quinn and Brian cower under the desk and ask: How do we stay safe from infectious disease (zombies)? Please meet Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, an infectious diseases physician, Assistant Professor at Boston University, and the Director of Infection Control and Medical Response at National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory. Yeah. Exactly what you imagine. That's her job. You're welcome. We discuss historical pandemics, modern-day factors in the growth of new and return of old infec...
Mar 20, 2018•1 hr 24 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 8, Quinn and Brian ask: How do we safeguard science in American schools? Here to answer: Don Duggan-Haas, a lifetime advocate for science education standards (he literally wrote the textbook, and yes, this is the correct use of “literally”), as well as Therese Etoka and Jai Bansal, two immigrant high school students who fought to keep climate change science a part of the Boise, Idaho public school curriculum. Together, we form a game plan to ensure every American student gets a c...
Mar 13, 2018•1 hr 20 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 7, Brian and Quinn ask: How can we use the ocean without using it up? Meet Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, marine biologist, policy expert, and conservation strategist extraordinaire. And like a hundred other things, because her hobbies include saving the planet, what about you, punk? Find out how the ocean’s doing, who should be responsible for keeping it clean, how representation is a nightmare on ocean conservation boards just like everywhere else, and finally, the seafood you definit...
Mar 06, 2018•2 hr 30 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 6, Quinn and Brian meet the queer female volcanologist who wants to change Congress Today's guest is the one and only Jess Phoenix, volcanologist, geologist, and Congressional candidate for CA-25. We discuss her experience in the field, her unlikely move into politics, and the lessons she’s learned as a female scientist that might help others to come. Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message! Links: Jess Phoenix on Twitter Jess 2018 Blueprin...
Feb 27, 2018•1 hr 23 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 5, Quinn and Brian conclude (for now!) their conversations with conservative climate activists, asking: Is climate action worth getting kicked out of Congress? Uniquely qualified to answer is former Congressperson Bob Inglis of South Carolina. Bob’s the founder of RepublicEN.org, a small government, free-enterprise, "we need to save the world" climate action group. Hear how he’s trying to move the (very heavy) GOP needle, and what could possibly persuade current conservatives to risk ...
Feb 20, 2018•1 hr 8 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 4, Quinn and Brian continue with the second in their "trilogy" of conversations with conservative climate activists, and ask: What does the bible say about climate change? Here to answer: Reverend Mitch Hescox of the Environmental Evangelical Movement. Descended from generations of coal miners, Mitch helps us understand our role — or lack of one — in helping the religious right become green advocates. Because nobody wants the Sierra Club yelling at them all the time. Not even us....
Feb 13, 2018•1 hr 13 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 3, Quinn and Brian host the first of three conversations with conservative climate activists. In the first, a professional climate denier changes his mind. Meet Jerry Taylor, former professional climate denier turned good guy. Like Darth Vader, or The Terminator, or Severus Snape. Anyways. We discuss the moment Jerry knew he was wrong, and his ambitious plan to drag Republicans into sensible action — action they should actually be excited about, because it means throwing all...
Feb 09, 2018•1 hr 6 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #2, Quinn introduces his co-host, Brian Colbert Kennedy, the mad genius (ugh) behind IMNIM’s infographic game. Together, they ask the question: Can this boat full of women save the world? Join Quinn and Brian as they have a conversation with Dr. Heidi Steltzer and Anne Christianson, two female climate scientists who joined 74 others on a women-only trip to Antarctica. We catch them after their visit to Congress, and discuss ways to get more ladies involved in science, and finally...
Feb 06, 2018•1 hr 12 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast In this impromptu first episode of the Important, Not Important podcast, host Quinn Emmett is joined by childhood friend David Schmidt for a conversation about the longest thirty-eight minutes of David’s life — what he said, did, and feared the morning the Hawaii emergency alert system went very, very wrong. Want to send us feedback? Tweet us , email us , or leave us a voice message ! Links: David Schmidt at Ken Burns Media Hawaii Panics After Alert About Incoming Missile Is Sent in Error ...
Jan 17, 2018•36 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast 
