Season 5 (current)
Season 4
Season 3
Season 2
Season 1
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Season 5
Special Announcement (04 June 2013)
The producers of Generation Anthropocene – Mike Osborne, Miles Traer, and Leslie Chang – are making a special announcement about the future of this show. We’re going to be expanding the scope of our storytelling as well as the types of material available on our website.
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The mouse brain detective (28 May 2013)
Neuroscientist Nick Weiler discusses powerful new techniques used to map the brain at the molecular scale and how the manipulation of mouse whiskers can teach us how the brain changes as we learn. Nick also takes a moment to explain why the concept of consciousness is best left to the philosophers rather than the neuroscientists… but that won’t stop him from commenting on it too.
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Sandy, NOAA, and the woman in charge (21 May 2013)
Jane Lubchenco, the former head of NOAA, discusses what it’s like being asked to join the president’s “science team,” the tremendous breadth of research covered by NOAA, and what it’s like sitting in an airplane flying through hurricane Sandy.
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The dawn of de-extinction (14 May 2013)
Hank Greely and Jake Sherkow discuss the science, morals, and ethics of de-extinction: bringing extinct species back to life. As lawyers with an interest in biotechnologies, Hank and Jake explain how they first got involved with de-extinciton, how scientists propose to bring species back, and discuss the potential for de-extinction technology to help restore damaged ecosystems.
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The human cost of climate change (07 May 2013)
Expert on international law Andrew Guzman takes a step back from analyzing climate change in terms of degrees and meters of sea level rise and breaks down all the ways climate change will affect humanity. From environmental refugees to changing disease vectors to social conflict, Guzman illustrates how nearly all of our human systems interact with climate and therefore will feel the effects of even +2C.
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If Bilbo Baggins had an environmental school (30 April 2013)
After growing up in a remote corner of Alaska, marine biologist Zach Brown wants to start a school to teach future scientists about environmental sciences and sustainability. Zach tells producers Mike and Leslie about his vision for the Inian Islands Institute (nicknamed “The Hobbit Hole”) and how experiential education is the best way to clearly see the lost connections between human systems and the natural world.
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Anthropocene Borders (23 April 2013)
Geographer Reece Jones discusses his recent book “Border Walls,” examining the history of how and why societies have chosen to literally wall themselves apart. He gives a brief history of political maps, how international lines reshape landscapes, and how the trend towards increased border wall construction contrasts with the view of a “borderless” world under globalization.
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Tracing networks of disease (16 April 2013)
We revisit our conversation with biological anthropologist James Holland Jones, who explains how diseases typically spread from animal to human populations and how that might change as our planet continues to warm. He also discusses how we might prevent future epidemics with limited vaccines by looking to community structure and identifying the key bridge populations.
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Are you an environmentalist or do you work for a living? (09 April 2013)
We revisit one of our first interviews with environmental historian Richard White. He addresses the (mis)perceptions of the natural world, the ambiguities surrounding the Anthropocene boundary, and explains what he meant when he wrote the provocative essay “Are you an environmentalist or do you work for a living.”
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The (mad) science of geoengineering (02 April 2013)
Climate scientist Ken Caldeira begins with a discussion of ocean acidification, a term he helped coin. He follows with the story of how his name became attached to geoengineering, from his own skeptical beginnings to publishing a paper that basically said, “well, it works in the models but don’t try this at home.”
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Stop saving the planet! (26 March 2013)
Historian and author Jenny Price makes her case for throwing out the well-tread “save the planet” mantra in favor of a new environmental approach stemming from social justice, a re-contextualization of nature, and even satire.
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Extremophiles of the Anthropocene (19 March 2013)
Astrobiologist Dirk Schulze-Makuch examines the Anthropocene with thought experiments of bacteria throughout the solar system, using scientific principles documented on Earth. He discusses known extremophiles, asteroid impacts, and the importance of keeping an open mind when analyzing evolutionary trajectories on Earth.
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Chasing Ice (12 March 2013)
Director Jeff Orlowski takes us behind the scenes of his widely praised documentary Chasing Ice, which captured stunning time lapse images of retreating and melting glaciers. He discusses the public reaction to his film, what it’s like working in harsh Arctic conditions, and his emotions witnessing firsthand glaciers the size of Manhattan fracturing and falling into the oceans.
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Ecocriticism & the intersection of faith and our environment (05 March 2013)
Literary ecocritic George Handley discusses how literature ranging from sacred texts like the Bible to Charles Dickens to Twilight shape our perceptions of environmental morality. He also discusses the influences of the Mormon faith on his environmental ethics, and why he feels “a Christian obligation to listen very carefully to science.”
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Season 4
Masters of the Anthropocene Boundary (26 February 2013)
It’s our 50th episode! To celebrate we sit down with four members of the Anthropocene Working Group. We discuss what makes the Anthropocene boundary different than all of the other boundaries in geologic history, how they deal with the increased public attention to this particular boundary, and some cultural ripple effects of the Anthropocene dealing with the Law of the Sea.
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Port response to sea level rise (19 February 2013)
Ship’s captain turned researcher, Austin Becker, looks to the future for how ports will respond to sea level rise. He explains the importance of ports for world trade, the time horizons for port planning, and the plans to brace for rising seas (or lack thereof)
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American Meat (12 February 2013)
Filmmaker Graham Meriwether discusses his new documentary American Meat: A Leave It Better Story that investigates the current condition of the meat production industry in the States. After the interview, we had to call Graham back to discuss an unusual situation that developed during a screening of his film on the Stanford University campus.
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Blizzards & climate change & the Anthropocene, oh my! (05 February 2013)
Mountaineer and social entrepreneur Tom Bowman starts us off with a story of survival. With some help from producers Miles Traer and Leslie Chang, Tom explains how survival literature can provide lessons for confronting some of the changes we’re experiencing in the Anthropocene.
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Welcome to the… Technosphere?
(29 January 2013)
Peter Haff studies the technosphere. What is that? He explains it to Mike and Mike sits down with Leslie to try to sort it all out. We learn that technology is emerging as a geologic force in the Anthropocene.
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The Apocalypse (or how I learned to stop worrying and love the Anthropocene) (22 January 2013)
One month after the Mayan apocalypse of 2012, the Generation Anthropocene team of Leslie Chang, Mike Osborne, and Miles Traer chat about the relations between the Anthropocene and apocalyptic pop-culture stories… including a crucial role zombies played in the creation of this podcast.
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What Would Jesus Do (about climate change)? (15 January 2013)
Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe discusses her Christianity in the context of her academic career… and her marriage to a one time climate skeptic. She also reflects on whether or not the Anthropocene might have begun with Adam & Eve’s exodus from the Garden of Eden.
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A cosmic twin study (08 January 2013)
Astrobiologist David Grinspoon takes the anthropocene off-planet to our nearest cosmic neighbor Venus and discusses what we learn about climate change here on Earth from Venus’ catastrophic green-house effect.
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Let’s get a little poetic (01 January 2013)
We start off 2013 with Kevin Hearle, who performs two poems from his collection Each Thing We Know Is Changed Because We Know It and Other Poems. His poems reflect on the rapid cultural and environmental changes that occurred in Southern California in the 20th century as the state was flooded with newcomers from the East coast and the Midwest.
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Gen Anthro 2012 Reflections: Producers’ Edition (25 December 2012)
It’s the end of 2012, and producers Mike Osborne, Leslie Chang, and Miles Traer get together to chat about the past year of Generation Anthropocene. We rehash some of our favorite interviews, off-mic moments, and Mike’s world-renowned dancing skills. Happy holidays everyone, and thank you so much for listening!
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Balance of evidence revisited (18 December 2012)
Climate scientist and MacArthur genius Ben Santer takes us back in time to 1995 to a key turning point in the history of climate change science. He also discusses the origin of the historic statement, “The balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence on global climate.”
Wrapping our heads around geoengineering (12 December 2012)
Environmental engineer Granger Morgan explains how to use aerosols to control climate change, why it’s a “Faustian bargain,” all building to the terrifying realization that even a rogue individual with a few billion dollars can do this.
Genetic evolution & the antiquated concept of race (04 December 2012)
From early human migration out of Africa to covering the continents, Marcus Feldman uses DNA to tell the story of how our genes have evolved, and why people still don’t “have it in their heads” just how similar we all are.
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Season 3
Dateline Mars: First news from Curiosity (27 November 2012)
Planetary geologist Ken Herkenhoff recounts the Curiosity rover’s “seven minutes of terror” descent, discusses what she has seen so far during her brief time on Mars, and explains why team members at both NASA and the USGS refer to Curiosity as “she.”
From startup to your dinner table (20 November 2012)
Co-founder of the Local Food Lab Krysia Zajonc makes her case for the crucial role of business within the sustainable food movement, including examples of startups her business has helped off the ground.
Critical Mass: A documentary on global population (13 November 2012)
Filmmaker Mike Freedman discusses his debut documentary, Critical Mass where he explores how the growing population alters the social and psychological environment.
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Life in the Post Natural World (06 November 2012)
The curator for the Museum of PostNatural History describes a new way for us to view how humans control the evolutionary path of other organisms.
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Earth’s tipping points & abrupt climate change (30 October 2012)
Climate researcher and host of PBS’s Earth: The Operators’ Manual Richard Alley discusses rapid changes in Earth’s climate through history and how this relates to our impacts today. Does the Earth’s climate have dials, or switches?
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Are you afraid of climate change? (23 October 2012)
Michael Shellenberger addresses climate change through the eyes of his Breakthrough Institute and offers up some ideas that some see as controversial.
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Whiskey is for drinkin’ and water is for fightin’ over (16 October 2012)
Dive into water security and policy with Buzz Thompson, leading expert in environmental and natural resources law. From his grandfather’s farm to the US Supreme Court, Buzz has water issues covered. And he even finds a little time for tennis with Chief Justice William Rehnquist.
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The elephant in the warming room: food & climate (09 October 2012)
In this interview on food security and the environment, Dave Lobell explains the global food system, the monkey-wrench of climate change, and the prospects for creating a sustainable food system for the future.
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An entrepreneur’s approach to the Anthropocene (02 October 2012)
Former HP executive Debra Dunn discusses the power of entrepreneurship, the changing culture of business and what she learned on a recent trip to Cuba.
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Emerging infectious disease in the Anthropocene (25 September 2012)
In this interview we learn how diseases emerge and spread as humans encroach into the wilderness and how the patterns will change in our warming world… hemorrhagic fever hopefully not included.
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Sustainability and the Green Revolution (18 September 2012)
We sit down with MacArthur “genius” and Stanford University’s Dean of the School of Earth Sciences and tackle the politics of sustainable agriculture and how we might go about feeding 9 billion people.
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F**cking science: the science of shale gas (11 September 2012)
Geophysicist and US Energy Council advisor Mark Zoback clarifies the misunderstood science of hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking.
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Season 2
Conserving culture through biodiversity (04 September 2012)
Luis Zambrano discusses preserving Aztec culture through a rare salamander in the Mexico City wetlands and compares emerging conservation battles in Mexico to those already fought in the States.
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The pragmatic conservationist (28 August 2012)
The chief scientist for The Nature Conservancy discusses his definition of nature, partnering with multi-national corporations and challenges the assertion that nature is fragile.
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Nitrogen: The element behind all your food (21 August 2012)
Peter Vitousek puts the global nitrogen cycle in the spotlight and discusses its intricate connection to the modern food production system. That includes that sandwich you ate for lunch.
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Conservation in the Anthropocene (14 August 2012)
In our second compilation, we bring together voices from the Leopold Leadership Program to investigate the changing nature and changing goals of conservation in the Anthropocene.
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The law of climate change (14 August 2012)
Climate scientist-turned-legal scholar Michael Wara steps back from looking for international, silver-bullet solutions to the climate crisis in favor of local-scale experimentation.
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Revisit a classic: Save the whales 2.0 (31 July 2012)
Marine biologist Leah Gerber catches hell from all sides on the issue of whaling as she proposes solutions that break the “save the whales” mold.
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Yogurt & the apocalypse: The narratives of environmentalism (24 July 2012)
Literary critic and pop culture enthusiast Ursula Heise dissects environmental storytelling and its relation to science… both real and fiction.
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A view from the treetops (17 July 2012)
“Canopy” Meg gives us a different perspective on forest ecology.
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Massive changes under the Arctic ice (10 July 2012)
A former NASA scientist and polar oceanographer discusses a stunning and unexpected biological discovery in the Arctic… hint: it’s alive!
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Building a sustainable future through business (03 July 2012)
University of Michigan business school professor shares examples of the integration of environmental issues into corporate culture.
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Heading to Hell in a handbasket (27 June 2012)
44 years after publishing The Population Bomb, the iconic professor and MacArthur “genius” reflects on the history of environmentalism and his gloomy outlook for the future.
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Western religion and the environment (27 June 2012)
Religious studies scholar Brent Sockness discusses the interplay of science and faith over the history of western cultures.
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Season 1
The terms of life: Looking at the Anthropocene through history (22 April 2012)
MacArthur “genius” and author of Are you an environmentalist or do you work for a living? explains how our notions of wilderness are fantasy and critiques the conception of the Anthropocene.
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We can’t save everything: The road to triage (22 April 2012)
Conservation biologist Terry Root discusses her somewhat controversial approach to saving species in the face of climate change.
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The rock hard truth of mass extinctions (22 April 2012)
We discuss the largest extinction in history (where Earth lost over 90% of life) and just how we measure such events using the rock record.
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Delicious, nutritious, sustainable food (22 April 2012)
Stanford University School of Medicine nutritionist discusses the health impacts of everything we cram into our bellies… but still finds a way to keep pizza.
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Our evolving understanding of tropical biodiversity (22 April 2012)
MacArthur winning ecologist Bill Durham takes us to the Galapagos Islands and his love of evolution and takes us to his front lawn to tell us a story involving his parents’ lawn mower.
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The Anthropocene frontier! (22 April 2012)
Former journalist and environmental historian Jon Christensen deconstructs the mythos of the American frontier and makes his case for the placement of the Anthropocene boundary.
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Tropical ecology in the Anthropocene (22 April 2012)
Spirited biologist Rodolfo Dirzo discusses the complex interplay of climate change with other systems and his personal relation to the Anthropocene.
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Australian anthropology and how humans control their environment (22 April 2012)
Field anthropologist Doug Bird discusses landscape manipulation through the lens of the native Martu peoples of Australia’s unforgiving western desert.
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The (slow) rise of sustainable energy (22 April 2012)
The director of Stanford’s Global Climate and Energy Project discusses recent innovations in solar technology and our transition to carbon-free energy.
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Renewable energy as nothing more than efficiency (22 April 2012)
This environmental engineer tells us of an often overlooked renewable resource: energy efficiency.
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The social justice of food (22 April 2012)
Agroecologist and the new head of the Stanford Farm Project talks about fresh ways of looking at our food system.
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Engineering ourselves for the climate crisis (22 April 2012)
Environmental engineer Leonard Ortolano laments the dwindling impact of the States’ global water policy.
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Welcome to Generation Anthropocene! (22 April 2012)
In our pilot episode, we combine voices from our entire first season to explore the boundaries of the Anthropocene.