What it is
How to Save a Planet was co-hosted by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (marine biologist) and Alex Blumberg (Gimlet Media founder). Episodes investigate specific climate solutions: offshore wind, building electrification, meat alternatives, climate policy, and environmental justice. The podcast combines rigorous research with accessible storytelling, interviewing practitioners implementing solutions rather than just analysts describing them.
Why we picked this
How to Save a Planet made climate solutions genuinely engaging for a mainstream audience. Johnson's scientific expertise and Blumberg's storytelling craft produced episodes that were informative, specific, and actionable. The focus on solutions (not problems) and practitioners (not pundits) provided a model for optimistic climate media that others have since followed. Though no longer producing new episodes, the back catalog remains one of the best curated collections of climate solution deep-dives available.
Key takeaways
- The podcast investigated specific, implementable solutions rather than abstract climate concepts, providing actionable knowledge for listeners.
- Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson's Venn diagram framework (what are you good at, what brings you joy, what does the climate need) has become a widely used tool for finding one's role in climate action.
- Episodes consistently interview practitioners and implementers rather than commentators, providing ground-truth perspectives on what climate solutions look like in practice.