Living Planet
Episodes
Prescription for a superbug crisis
08 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
After a life-changing accident, Vanessa spent years fighting a dangerous infection that kept coming back. Eventually, doctors discovered why: the bact...
The dirty truth about laundry (Rebroadcast)
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Laundry seems harmless - but it’s not. Chemicals, microplastics, and energy use add up fast. Are we overwashing just to feel "clean”? Discover how...
Racing to war-proof Ukraine's power grid
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When Russia targets Ukraine's energy system, it's not just turning off the lights — it's creating conditions for nuclear disaster. Each attack force...
How the magic of underwater mics could save Arctic ‘unicorns’
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Ootowak grew up watching narwhals, the “unicorns of the sea”, frolic in Canada’s Arctic waters. Then a nearby mine changed everything. In t...
Why cities keep losing the war on rats
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In cities around the world, rats aren't just surviving; they're thriving. Despite decades of poison, traps and control, they keep coming back. So, wha...
Pray or act? Churches at a crossroads
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Climate change is reshaping the world - but inside many churches, it’s barely spoken about. So what’s behind the silence? One believer whose passi...
Unlimited energy? The heat beneath our feet
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Brock Yordy once helped extract fossil fuels. Now he’s using the same expertise to tap the Earth’s heat. His journey from oilfields to geothermal ...
Houston, we have a plastic problem!
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Chemical recycling promises to transform plastic waste, and Houston is at the center of this big experiment in the US. While industry touts it as a br...
Would the four-day work week kill productivity?
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The four-day work week was a hot new trend not all that long ago, but amid stagnating economies, some countries are pushing for more work, not less. E...
Arctic farming: Climate fix or future problem?
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As climate change reshapes the Arctic, Norwegian scientists are testing how far north farming can go. But is expanding Arctic agriculture a responsibl...
Rainforests’ invisible carbon problem
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The rainforests in northeast Australia are some of the most protected in the world – they haven't been logged in nearly 40 years. But after decades ...
Why some men tune out climate change
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Do men really care less about the environment than women or is the story more complicated? We unpack the “Green Gender Gap,” the politics and iden...
What are your shoes really made of? (Rebroadcast)
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Vegan leather. Faux leather. Synthetic leather. Call it what you want - it’s everywhere, especially in the shoes on our feet. For some shoppers, it’...
Boy Wasted: Episode 2
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we're featuring Episode 2 of Boy Wasted, a three-part environmental true crime series by Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor, co-produced by Adnan Kh...
BONUS – The great American protein push, what's at 'steak'?
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
US Health Secretary RFK Jr. released new dietary guidelines that have literally turned the food pyramid upside down. Beef is, quite literally, "what's...
The classroom with no walls
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Children today spend less time in nature than any generation before - and educators are sounding the alarm. But what if the outdoors becomes the class...
AI can unlock nature’s symphony, but can it save biodiversity?
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Bioacoustics is pretty niche, but now thanks to AI, it could turbocharge biodiversity research. Michel André calls it “the science of the sound of ...
Bacteria to the rescue?
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It started with a scoop of soil from an Arctic dump. Inside was a microbe scientists call a game-changer - able to live on air and pull methane, one o...
Let’s get quizzical!
02 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Time to ring in the New Year with something a little different, and fun! Host Neil King is joined by producers Jennifer Collins, Kathleen Schuster and...
And the award goes to...
26 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Before we say goodbye to 2025, Living Planet has some good news to share. Not only has the feedback from you, our listeners, been overwhelmingly posit...
The hidden toll of roadkill (Rebroadcast)
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Every year, countless animals meet their end on our roads - yet most of us barely notice. But this isn’t just a minor tragedy; the sheer scale is re...
What we get wrong about eating protein
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Protein obsession is reshaping our diets — and our planet. We lift the lid on the protein craze, what we truly need for good health, why animal prot...
Bill McKibben: One big thing is going right
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For 40 years, environmentalist and author Bill McKibben has chronicled the worsening climate crisis and politicians' failure to stop it. But now, for ...
Blackout: What's really breaking energy grids
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We're generating more solar and wind power than ever before, but somewhere between where it's made and where it's needed, the energy system can't keep...
Deserted: Why solar power fails where it should shine
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some of the places hardest hit by climate change are also home to one of the future's most powerful gifts: superabundant sunshine. If solar is now che...
The Switch — coming soon
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Solar power is the cheapest energy source in history – and wind isn’t far behind. So why isn't the clean energy transition moving faster? In a new...
Breaking gold's toxic bond with mercury pollution
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When mercury pollution makes headlines, it's often linked to fish and human health. But there's another big source of mercury pollution that's affecti...
The resale illusion: Why second-hand isn't always better
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Your thrifted shirt might not be as green as you think. From Ghana's "dead white man's clothes" to the rise of resale, we uncover fashion's hidden imp...
Introducing: Boy Wasted
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Living Planet, we're sharing Boy Wasted - a gripping three-part environmental true crime series by Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor and co-produ...
Can a cancer hotspot be saved from our addiction to plastic?
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The harm of plastics on human health is well known, but what about their impact on the people living near the plants that produce them? In this episod...
What are students really learning about climate change?
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In classrooms across the US, fossil fuel interests and political pressure are shaping the science - and leaving key facts out. Meet two teachers fight...
The truly amazing world of fungi (Rebroadcast)
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Think fungi are just mushrooms and mold? Think again. Over 90% of fungal species are still unknown, and scientists are discovering new ones all the ti...
Norway's big green lie
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hydropower, heat pumps and EVs made Norway a climate darling. Oil and gas exports made it rich. When one Norwegian started to question his role in thi...
Message in a bottle: Saving Louisiana’s sinking coastline
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Louisiana loses a football field’s worth of land every 100 minutes to coastal erosion. Franziska Trautmann, co-founder of Glass of Full, tells the s...
Storms, science, and threats: The struggles of a local weatherman
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when science collides with conspiracy? When a weather forecast sparks hate mail and even death threats? In this episode, we follow the jo...
What’s really holding back train travel?
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Long-distance trips make up just a fraction of our journeys - yet they drive most of our travel emissions. Trains can cut that footprint by up to 75%,...
The forgotten children of hurricane Katrina
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, leaving behind a deadly path of destruction. It was the costliest disaster in US history. As E'...
Greener Living Ep 5 – Spilling the beans on tea vs. coffee
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tea and coffee. Millennia-old drinks that fuel our mornings and shape our cultures. But behind every steaming cup lies a journey across continents, a ...
Greener Living Ep 4 – The real cost of smelling clean
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We love the smell of fresh laundry – but at what cost? In Episode Four of our Greener Living series, we unpack how our quest for "clean" has been sh...
Greener Living Ep 3 – Pets: A mirror on our mess
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Who's a good boy? We love our pets (how could we not?) – and they love us back. But the way we care for our furry companions says a lot about how we...
Greener Living Ep 2 – What to look for in your sunscreen
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Decipher the back of your sunscreen bottle with the help of an ecotoxicologist in Episode Two of our Greener Living series. Craig Downs helps us under...
Greener Living Ep 1 – Should we all ditch our cars for EVs?
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Summer is here, vacation is calling, and Living Planet is out of the office. But not to worry, we’ve lined up five great episodes of our favorite ti...
Greener living with Living Planet
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Summer is here and the living is easy. Well, maybe not so easy when it comes to making environmentally friendly choices! From sunscreen to your next c...
Don't mention the climate!
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
By day Matt Winning works on climate policy. By night, he’s turning scientific data into jokes. Fusing razor-sharp research with dry Scottish wit, M...
Targeting indigenous land for nuclear waste
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nuclear power is making a comeback in Japan. But in Hokkaido, indigenous Ainu communities are being sidelined as their ancestral land is eyed for nucl...
Epilogue: The true cost of climate change
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Even in five episodes, we couldn’t cover everything. So in this bonus epilogue, Neil and Kathleen sit down with reporters Sam Baker and Charli Shiel...
Cold rush: The race to visit Antarctica
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's the trip of a lifetime. A journey to the end of the Earth, where icebergs groan and penguins shuffle. More tourists are flocking to Antarctica th...
Introducing: Boiling Point
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week we are sharing an episode from Boiling Point, a podcast by L.A. Times Studios that looks at the climate challenges facing California and the...
Breaking the chains of consumerism
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How does a person in advertising go from perpetuating consumerism one day to championing environment citizenship the next? In this episode, we explore...
Why are oceans getting darker? (Rebroadcast)
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the past 20 years more than a fifth of our oceans have been growing darker. What is causing this and how worried should we be? In this episode we t...
What do horses know that we don't?
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After cancer treatment, Suzanne was persuaded to join an animal-assisted therapy session with horses. She was skeptical at first, but the experience c...
The woman who ran toward wildfires and came out a hotshot
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Kelly Ramsey joined an elite unit of wildland firefighters called the "hotshots" in Northern California, she thought she knew what she was signin...
Part 5: What the economy gets wrong about nature
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What’s a forest really worth? Or a pollinator, or a reef? In this final episode of The Cost of Climate Change, we travel to Tasmania’s underwater ...
Part 4: Heatstroke economy — the rising cost of extreme heat
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Extreme heat is no longer a future threat. It's here, and it’s costing us. From hospitals pushed to the brink, to cities built for a cooler planet, ...
Part 3: Who should pay for climate action?
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do a German heat pump and a Canadian carbon price have in common? They're both flashpoints in a growing political battle over how to cut emission...
Part 2: Can we afford a transition to clean energy?
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sun, wind, water, and Earth’s heat — they’re abundant, carbon-free, and cheaper to harness than ever. But what’s the true price of overhauling...
Part 1: How much does a hurricane cost?
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the first episode of our series on The Cost of Climate Change, we head to Miami — where vibrant nightlife, sunshine, and storm surges collide. As...
Prologue: The true cost of climate change
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever notice how debates about the cost of climate change tend to focus on how green policies are too expensive — and less about the huge bill we’l...
Are PFAS affecting you? What you should know
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
PFAS, or "forever chemicals," are everywhere – in food packaging, water, and more. But what happens when they enter our bloodstream? One woman's fig...
Nature's healing touch: Fact or fiction?
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is our love for nature more than instinct? A look at the fascinating link between nature, mental health, and physical recovery.
Are your flowers bad for the environment? (Rebroadcast)
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Spring is in the air, and so are fresh blooms! With the US marking National Flower Day this week and flower season about to ramp up in the world's flo...
How far will governments go to stop climate protests?
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Governments are cracking down on climate protests. They say activists have crossed the line into extremism. But history shows resistance only adapts. ...
What does 1 ton of CO2 look like?
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Last year, the world pumped over 41 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. Hard to picture, isn’t it? In this episode, we explore different ways o...
Water, AI & the craic – Your questions answered
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is Ireland really running out of water? Is AI to blame? And where does Irish mythology fit in? In this special behind-the-scenes episode, we answer yo...
Who's scared of 15-minute cities?
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine a city where everything - work, shopping, schools, and parks - is just 15 minutes away. Is this the key to a greener, more convenient future o...
Growing food in the dark
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Scientists in the US have found a way to grow plants in complete darkness. Could this be the future of farming, reducing land use and environmental im...
A Pacific island starts packing for metaverse move – but what to take?
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What would you do to save your home from disappearing? As sea levels rise, the tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu mulls a permanent move to the meta...
Ireland's water dilemma: Protecting the River Shannon or powering the future?
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As Ireland's capital faces a growing water crisis, a controversial multibillion-euro pipeline threatens to reshape the fate of the mighty River Shanno...
Part 2: Light pollution – Rewilding the night
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We recently devoted an episode to exploring LED light pollution in one of Germany’s brightest cities. In part two, we hear from a motley team of res...
Telling landscapes: The Brontes, Stoker and Herriot
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Who doesn't love a good story? Even in the noise of today, some books keep on drawing new readers. Outdated in many ways, yet standing the test of tim...
The winter secrets of bees
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens to bees in winter? These busy creatures don't just vanish when the cold sets in. In this second episode of our Naturally Connected mini-s...
The call of the sea
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is it about the sea that draws us in? From rugged cliffs to sandy shores, Tamsin Walker explores the ocean’s magnetic pull and the mysteries of...
BONUS: Your questions answered, plus our favorite moments of 2024
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Before we ring in the New Year, Living Planet has some answers to your listener questions. Which is better for the environment: reusable or paper coff...
What's better – real Christmas trees or fake ones?
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered what's the greener, more sustainable choice between a chopped down live Christmas tree or an artificial plastic one? Join us as we find ...
Introducing: Don’t Drink the Milk — The curious history of the lawn
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What can a well-manicured lawn reveal about social status, our relationship to the Earth and the American Dream? A surprising amount. From fancy Frenc...
Part 1: Light pollution – Bright lights, big, LED cities
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
More and more cities are switching to LEDs to save money and, ultimately, the planet. But ecologists are worried about this trend. Dr. Chris Kyba expl...
Why woodpeckers are choosing the city over the forest
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the heart of Berlin, woodpeckers are turning the city into their playground. From drumming on trees to carving out homes, these master carpenters a...
One country's shock solar revolution
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Not long ago, energy analysts noticed something weird in the data they were tracking. The anomaly centered on Pakistan. All of a sudden, the country s...
The ticking time bombs at the bottom of the ocean
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Thousands of ships loaded with oil were sunk during the fierce sea battles of the Second World War. That means they’ve been sitting underwater for e...
Introducing: Up from Dust
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week we are sharing an episode from Up From Dust – a podcast from the NPR stations of Kansas. "Healing the ground we broke" takes us to the maj...
Can planting trees really offset my flight emissions?
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever been in this situation? You want to fly, but when you start looking at carbon offset websites, you can’t tell what’s real? Then this episode’...
What wild geese teach us about teamwork
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Wild geese migrate with remarkable success. They navigate thousands of miles thanks to their unique social structure and provide valuable lessons on t...
How eco-friendly funerals are changing traditions
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As traditional funerals take a toll on the environment, a new wave of eco-friendly options is emerging. This episode reveals the surprising choices fo...
The battle to ban fossil fuel advertising
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's so common it's easy to overlook. But what if advertising has more power to shape our choices, our world and our climate than we realize? For deca...
What’s better – leather or vegan leather?
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Vegan leather, synthetic leather, faux leather. Whatever you want to call it, demand for this non-animal-based leather alternative is on the rise, esp...
Chirping from the crypt
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There are an estimated 50 to 430 billion birds worldwide. They're everywhere, but few of us take the time to listen. In this episode, our reporter Ben...
Introducing: What on Earth
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week we are sharing an episode from What On Earth — a CBC Podcast dedicated to bringing you a world of climate solutions. “Ghosts in their fi...
When ants invade
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Which creatures tend their own gardens, keep livestock, wage wars and have been around since the dinosaurs? We’re talking about ants of course. Tiny...
Suck, bury, store – Denmark wants your CO2, but why?
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you can't beat CO2 pollution, then bury it? That's basically the thought behind carbon capture and storage. Denmark wants to become a leader in the...
The dirty truth about laundry
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our laundry routine impacts the environment with chemicals, microplastics, and energy use. Is our fear of being viewed as dirty making us overwash our...
What’s better – dairy or plant-based milk?
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you're an almond or soy milk enthusiast, or just curious about the latest trend in plant-based alternatives, find out which milk is the best c...
The fox's tale
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Foxes have thrived alongside us for centuries. Despite facing numerous threats, they continue to adapt and survive in our ever-changing world. But how...
Finding humanity beneath the Arches
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
America's iconic national parks are a great place to reconnect with nature. But are the crowds killing the vibe? Among the red rocks and tourists of A...
The lost art of foraging
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
An urban park in the heart of Berlin might not seem like an ideal place to forage for hidden food treasures. But it's actually blessed with richer bio...
Murky waters - what's stealing the light from our oceans?
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Coastal waters are darkening, with drastic consequences for marine life and the fishing industry. We explore what’s causing our once clear coastal w...
What's better - the 4 or 5 day workweek?
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Scrapping the classic five-day workweek sounds great when it comes to a better work-life balance. But could less time at work also benefit the environ...
Why you’d better check the sunscreen you use
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hawaii and other tourist hot spots have banned some UV filters found in sunscreen, in part thanks to a fateful snack run for Oreos that put one ecotox...
Can soccer go green?
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With over 2 billion dollars in expected revenue and a projected carbon footprint of 500,000 tons of CO2, do the 2024 Euros deserve being called the "m...
Are we blind to our pets’ climate crimes?
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're obsessed with our pooches, our kitty cats and our cockatiels – how could we not be? They're cute as heck! So, it's easy to turn off to news of...
The true cost of sugar
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sugar has changed the world. In this episode, we hear how this ubiquitous commodity reshaped economies, fueled the slave trade and influenced global h...