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The Sweaty Penguin — Nature
The Sweaty Penguin

Sometimes, climate change IS a laughing matter. Every week, The Sweaty Penguin cuts through the noise and the doom-and-gloom of the climate conversation with late-night-comedy-style monologues and in-depth conversations with leading global experts on a variety of environmental issues. Through a nonpartisan approach, The Sweaty Penguin makes environmental issues less overwhelming and politicized and more accessible and fun. In partnership with Peril and Promise, a PBS/WNET public media initiative on climate change, The Sweaty Penguin invites you to join the hottest conversation in town.

Copyright: © Ethan Brown

Latest Episodes:

49. Chicken Jun 18, 2021

Show notes

Chickens might not burp and fart methane like cows do, but raising and feeding them still has a significant impact on the climate. And on top of that, chicken production currently faces issues ranging from waste management to antibiotic resistance to a business model that impedes free market competition and places huge burdens on farmers often driving them to bankruptcy. Today, we take a look at the environmental, economic, and health impacts of chicken, and consider where America’s most-consumed meat could go from here. With special guest Dr. Zdravka Tzankova: Associate Professor of Sociology at Vanderbilt University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from PBS flagship station The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

Bonus: Alligator on an Airplane Jun 11, 2021

Show notes

After some of the latest environmental news updates, Ethan sits down with Christian Alberga and Matt Grottkau for a bipartisan conversation on episode 37: “Corn.”

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

48. Ultraviolet Radiation Jun 04, 2021

Show notes

Ultraviolet radiation has a few upsides in small quantities, but too much can cause a slew of health effects from sunburns to skin aging to even skin and eye cancer. Luckily, due to an unprecedented international treaty called the Montreal Protocol, the issue is improving, but as climate change worsens, there are still some reasons to be concerned. Today, we discuss where we’re at now with UV, what issues we still need to think about, and where we might go from here. With special guest Dr. Cédric Fichot: Assistant Professor of Earth & Environment at Boston University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from PBS flagship station The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

47. Seagrass May 28, 2021

Show notes

Though we might not think about it much, seagrass is really important. It provides food and shelter for many fish and crustaceans, a source of oxygen for the ocean, and a special ability to absorb carbon that makes it an even more efficient carbon sink than forests. But due to temperature changes, extreme weather, agricultural runoff, and other human activities, seagrass populations are declining fast, which could exacerbate climate change, cost the economy, and destroy marine ecosystems. Today, we discuss what issues seagrass faces, why seagrass is so important, and what we can do to protect it. With special guest Dr. Lina Mtwana Nordlund: Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development at Uppsala University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from PBS flagship station The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

46. The World Bank May 21, 2021

Show notes

As one of the world’s largest international organizations, the World Bank’s economic development activities have far reaching implications for the environment. Of course, the World Bank has done plenty to help the environment, but they also fund projects that contribute to fossil fuel growth, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, all while preaching a steadfast commitment to climate change mitigation and sustainable development. Today, we go over what the World Bank is, why some of their work has led to environmental problems, and how they can improve moving forward. With special guest Dr. Teresa Kramarz: Associate Professor of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto and author of Forgotten Values: The World Bank and Environmental Partnerships.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from PBS flagship station The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

45. Tea May 14, 2021

Show notes

There isn’t anything inherently bad about tea, but the current tea agriculture system faces a number of issues, from excessive pesticide use to deforestation to extremely inhumane working conditions. And as climate change progresses, tea flavor and antioxidant content is worsening, tea yields themselves are decreasing, and the aforementioned environmental and human rights issues are poised to worsen. Today, we discuss all these problems, and consider how we can improve the production of the world’s second-most consumed beverage. With special guest Dr. Yixian Sun: Assistant Professor of International Development at the University of Bath.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from PBS flagship station The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

Bonus: Cicada Coachella May 07, 2021

Show notes

After some of the latest environmental news updates, Ethan sits down with Christian Alberga and Matt Grottkau for a bipartisan conversation on episode 30: “International Accountability.”

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

44. Jellyfish Apr 30, 2021

Show notes

While climate change threatens most marine species, jellyfish could be poised to come out stronger than ever. Research remains ongoing, but many scientists suggest the populations of certain species of jellyfish could be increasing, which could lead to more harmful stings, impeded tourism and fishing industries, and disrupted marine ecosystems. Today, we explore what we know about jellyfish so far, why we may have cause for concern, and how we might adapt moving forward. With special guest Dr. Kylie Pitt: Discipline Head of Marine Science at Griffith University and the leader of the Griffith Sea Jellies Research Laboratory.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from PBS flagship station The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

43. NGOs Apr 23, 2021

Show notes

Happy belated Earth Day, and happy almost one year anniversary of The Sweaty Penguin! Earth Day is a special holiday for many reasons, one of which being that it is organized by an NGO, or nongovernmental organization. And there are an estimated 10 million NGOs around the world working on a range of causes, with a prime one being climate change. However, on top of a long list of documented successes, when we look at many NGOs’ strategic decision making, accountability, and fundraising, there are a lot of questions about if environmental NGOs are actually living up to their full potential. Today, we discuss how NGOs create impact, discuss a few of these challenges, and contemplate how NGOs might be able to improve. With special guest Dr. Cristina Balboa: Associate Professor in the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from PBS flagship station The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

42. Brownfields and Superfund Sites Apr 16, 2021

Show notes

From old petroleum sites to chemical dumping grounds, toxic waste sites are disproportionately located in low income and minority communities, and carry lots of adverse health and environmental impacts. And today, climate change threatens to make it even worse, with floods, hurricanes, and wildfires ravaging brownfields and spreading toxins into these communities. Today, we cover what brownfields and Superfund sites are, what problems they create, and some strategies for how to clean them up. With special guest Dr. Lemir Teron: Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. This episode is part of Covering Climate Now’s Living Through the Climate Emergency joint coverage week, reporting on the realities of climate change and its solutions through the week leading up to Earth Day 2021.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from PBS flagship station The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

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