Tipping Point: The True Story of "The Limits to Growth"

This podcast, hosted by Katy Shields, is about the true story behind the groundbreaking 1972 study “The Limits to Growth”, and why the world ignored its message. Based on the late author's unpublished memoirs and featuring rare original audio recordings, this podcast accompanies Dana and Dennis Meadows and their team of scientists on their mission to tell the world about coming ecological crises and their solutions. Learn more at tippingpoint-podcast.com.

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Episodes

Where Are We Going, Really? (Part 3)

This episode explores Dana Meadows' enduring impact on environmental studies, from her post-'Limits to Growth' sustainable living experiments and academic advocacy to her updated warnings in 'Beyond the Limits'. It highlights the historical resistance from mainstream economists and interest groups, contrasting their views with today's scientific consensus on planetary boundaries and the rise of alternative economic models like Doughnut Economics and degrowth, championed by a new generation of scholars and cities.

May 27, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Maybe We Did Want to Save the World (Part 2)

This episode details the meteoric rise of "The Limits to Growth" from an internal report to a global sensation, highlighting the MIT team's struggle to convey their urgent message about finite planetary resources. Despite initial political endorsements, the book faced intense backlash from economists, scientists, and media, who rejected its conclusions and reinforced the ideology of endless growth. Ultimately, the team's work, though initially dismissed, laid crucial groundwork for a new wave of economic thinking focused on planetary limits.

May 19, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 2

The Problematique (Part 1)

The most important book you never read – here's how it came to be. The story begins with young scientists Dana and Dennis Meadows, embarking on an eye-opening trip across Asia, a journey that would ignite their interest in understanding global problems. What were the origins of their famous project? How did they come across the Club of Rome, and set out on their ambitious quest to develop a World model that could help identify the societal trends driving looming crises? Join us in this episode t...

May 15, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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