The Sweaty Penguin

Latest Episodes:

123. Permitting Jul 21, 2023

Show notes

For 53 years, permitting has been a core tenet of environmental protection in the United States, requiring a variety of projects to receive environmental impact statements and public input. But as clean energy, electricity transition, and forest management projects have faced delays of several years due to this bureaucratic process, many have questioned if the current permitting system could be doing more harm than good. Last month, Congress took a first step by passing the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA), but permitting absolutely still has room to improve. Today, we explore the opportunities permitting presents, what challenges the process has created, and how the system could reach its full potential as an environmental solution. With special guest Danielle Stokes: Assistant Professor of Law at Richmond University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from 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.

CREDITS

Writers: Mikaela Gonzalez, Hallie Cordingley, Mo Polyak, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Ainsley Jane Tambling

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Owen Reith

Ad Voiceover: Maddie Salman

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Tip of the Iceberg E53: World’s hottest day Jul 14, 2023

Show notes

After a historically warm June and July 3, 4, 5, and 6 consecutively breaking records for the world’s hottest day, some headlines began to suggest these heat events were climate change run amuck. While climate change has driven the vast majority of this heat, a significant portion is also due to El Niño: a natural phenomenon in the tropical Pacific Ocean that impacts global weather patterns and slightly boosts temperatures. Ethan breaks down recent extreme heat events from around the world, explains the role of El Niño, and contemplates why neglecting to adequately cover El Niño’s influence is both disingenuous and could reduce enthusiasm for climate action in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg,” which also marks The Sweaty Penguin’s 200th episode!

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

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Velina Georgi, Emma Quarequio, Madeleine Salman

Fact Checker: Mikaela Gonzalez

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Owen Reith

Ad Voiceover: Madeleine Salman

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

122. The Bovanenkovo Gas Field Jul 07, 2023

Show notes

Last year, The Guardian did a five-month investigation into “carbon bombs,” or fossil fuel projects that would, over the course of their life, emit over one billion tons of carbon. They found that there are 195 planned oil and gas carbon bombs around the world, and if they proceed as planned, these projects alone would blow past internationally agreed upon climate targets. For our eleventh deep dive on carbon bombs, we take a look at the Bovanenkovo Gas Field: a major natural gas formation in Arctic Russia. The Bovanenkovo Gas Field holds 6.05 trillion cubic meters of natural gas, giving it the potential to emit 11.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide. But beyond climate and environmental issues, Bovanenkovo presents another major concern: revenue from that natural gas is funding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Today, we explore how Bovanenkovo gas affects the surrounding community, how it ties into the war in Ukraine, and what needs to happen for Russia, Ukraine, and NATO to achieve a more sustainable and peaceful future. With special guest Dr. Katarzyna Zysk: Professor of International Relations and Contemporary History at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies.

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

CREDITS

Writers: Emma Jones, Owen Reith, Velina Georgi, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Alia Bonanno

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Owen Reith

Ad Voiceover: Maddie Salman

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Tip of the Iceberg E52: Held v. Montana Jun 30, 2023

Show notes

The first constitutional climate case in U.S. history wrapped up in Montana last week, with sixteen plaintiffs aged 5-22 making the case that a provision in the Montana Environmental Policy Act violates the state constitution, which guarantees a right to a “clean and healthful environment” for “present and future generations.” The case made international headlines for the plaintiffs’ age and the historic nature of a constitutional climate case, but there was a lot more to the story. Ethan breaks down why the legal case from the plaintiffs was particularly effective, how the defense may have mishandled their argument, and why adults speaking about how “Gen-Z will be the ones to fix climate change” is really frustrating in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

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

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Mo Polyak, Emma Quarequio, Madeleine Salman

Fact Checker: Dare Fitzpatrick

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Owen Reith

Ad Voiceover: Madeleine Salman

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

121. Electric Vehicles Jun 25, 2023

Show notes

Between their cheaper operating costs, reduced air pollution, and major dent in greenhouse gas emissions, electric vehicles have often been the focus of the clean transportation transition. Leading auto manufacturers have set ambitious targets to transition sales to EVs, and policymakers have followed with regulations and tax incentives. But electric vehicles aren’t perfect yet — questions remain about environmental and human rights issues in metal mining, capacity of the electric grid, high sticker prices, charging infrastructure, and more. Today, we explore what possibilities electric vehicles present, what challenges stand in the way, and how those hurdles can be overcome. With special guest Dr. Al-Thaddeus Avestruz: Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan.

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

CREDITS

Writers: Emma Jones, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Mikaela Gonzalez

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Owen Reith

Ad Voiceover: Maddie Salman

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Tip of the Iceberg E51: Wildfires have solutions Jun 16, 2023

Show notes

Weeks of unprecedented wildfires across Canada have scorched millions of hectares, displaced over 100,000 people, and pushed the nation into a crisis as crews fight hundreds of blazes. Smoke from the fires also crossed the U.S. border into cities such as New York City and Detroit, and on June 7, New York City registered the worst air quality in the world. While orange skies and unbreathable air appeared nothing short of apocalyptic to many New Yorkers already anxious about climate change, it is essential to not lose sight of the fact that there are ways we can significantly reduce the risk of wildfires. Ethan gives a reprieve from the doom-and-gloom wildfire conversation and explores the many causes of wildfires, what solutions are in our toolbox, and how those solutions could be implemented politically in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

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

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Velina Georgi, Madeleine Salman, Mo Polyak

Fact Checker: Emma Jones

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Owen Reith

Ad Voiceover: Madeleine Salman

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Bonus: Take Your Kahootzpah Jun 09, 2023

Show notes

For the first time, Ethan welcomes to the show our Associate Producer Madeleine Salman, Social Media Manager Sabrina Rollings, and Researcher Emma Jones. They’ll discuss what they do behind the scenes, share some details on our new projects around TikTok and creating educational resources for classrooms, and then face off in a Sweaty Penguin Kahoot recapping season 6. See how much you remember from the program and find out who will be the next Sweaty Penguin Kahoot champion.

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

CREDITS

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Owen Reith

Ad Voiceover: Madeleine Salman

Music: Brett Sawka

120. Environmental Art Jun 05, 2023

Show notes

In 2022, climate activists around the world engaged in a string of protests throwing food at famous artworks such as Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers,” Monet’s “Grainstacks,” and da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.” The protests received their fair share of criticism for failing to engage new people in the climate movement, but what may have been overshadowed was the actual environmental messages hidden in these pieces of artwork. In fact, from today’s prolific environmental artists to famous Renaissance figures to Mayas who didn’t even use the word “artist” to cry magnons 20,000 years ago etching animal reproductive cycles onto caves, so many pieces of art tell an environmental story and teach us something about the survival and resilience of humanity. Today, we explore what it might mean to be “environmental art,” some of the environmental impacts of art, and how we can appreciate a connection between environment and art that goes beyond throwing mashed potatoes on famous paintings. With special guest Geraldina Wise: Artist in Residence at the University of Houston Cullen School of Engineering.

This episode is the fourth in our four-part series collaborating with the Gulf Climate Listening Project covering environmental issues on the Gulf Coast. If you are interested in learning about stopping LNG exports and creating a better future on the Gulf Coast, visit GulfCoastMurals.com.

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

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Emma Jones

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Owen Reith

Ad Voiceover: Madeleine Salman

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Tip of the Iceberg E50: Sued if you do, sued if you don’t May 28, 2023

Show notes

On April 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced vehicle emissions standards that would require auto companies to lower the average carbon dioxide emissions from their tailpipes to 82 grams per mile by 2032. Then, on May 11, the EPA announced emissions standards for coal and natural gas power plants, requiring that natural gas plants capture 90 percent of their emissions by 2035 and coal plants capture 90 percent by 2030 unless they plan to retire the plant. Both of these emissions standards came with major announcements from the EPA, followed by news stories stressing their historic significance. But while these new rules are important, the EPA was less so trailblazing and more so just doing their job. And since they did their job and nothing more or less, it feels unlikely that any court challenge against these standards would find success. Ethan explores what the EPA’s legal obligations are with regard to carbon emissions, the pros and cons of these new regulations, and why it would be strange for them to be struck down in court in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

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

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Velina Georgi, Mo Polyak, Madeleine Salman

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Megan Antone

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

119. The Eagle Ford Shale May 26, 2023

Show notes

A few months ago, The Guardian did a five-month investigation into “carbon bombs,” or fossil fuel projects that would, over the course of their life, emit over one billion tons of carbon. They found that there are 195 planned oil and gas carbon bombs around the world, and if they proceed as planned, these projects alone would blow past internationally agreed upon climate targets. For our tenth deep dive on carbon bombs, we take a look at the Eagle Ford Shale: an oil and gas formation near the Gulf Coast of Texas. The U.S. portion contains 6.5 billion barrels of oil, 5.7 billion barrels of natural gas liquids, and 1.3 trillion cubic meters of natural gas, which together would have the potential to emit 5.9 billion tons of carbon dioxide. Beyond the global climate impact, Eagle Ford has run into several local issues, from water shortages to highly polluting flaring systems to economic inefficiencies that have driven several companies that explored Eagle Ford into bankruptcy. Today, we’ll explore what problems the Eagle Ford Shale presents, how climate change impacts the Gulf Coast of Texas, and how the region can move forward in an environmentally and economically sustainable way. With special guest Dr. Rabi Mohtar: Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Texas A&M University.

This episode is the third in our four-part series collaborating with the Gulf Climate Listening Project covering environmental issues on the Gulf Coast. If you are interested in learning about stopping LNG exports and creating a better future on the Gulf Coast, visit GulfCoastMurals.com.

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

CREDITS

Writers: Hallie Cordingley, Mo Polyak, Ethan Brown, Velina Georgi, Madeleine Salman

Fact Checker: Owen Reith

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Megan Antone

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected