The Meaning of Green
Episodes
S6 Bonus Episode: Thus Always to Tyrants
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
John Gaventa and Gabe Schwartzman on their provocative new book about power and a post-coal future in Appalachia, and Kathy Selvage, a coal miner's da...
S6 Episode 10: Scotland the Brave
04 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Green-minded Scots fight wind farm expansions, the UK's aggressive climate change program, Ralph Nader meets Al Gore, and a dog theft law
S6 Episode 9: Greed, Groupthink, and Carbon Inequality
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new exposé of corporate environmental lies, how the wealthy dump on the rest of us and what to do about it, and Democracy in America
S6 Episode 8: Trash and Power
01 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Of manatees and Mata Hari, happiness vs. stuff, George Carlin, Mt. Trashmore in Miami, reducing waste in Canada, the US, and the EU, and a controversi...
S6 Episode 7: Damming and Undamming
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Klamath River undammed, a dam proposal likened to flooding the Sistine Chapel, fighting to preserve the forests that feed the Panama Canal, and Br...
S6 Episode 6: Weapons of the Weak
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trembitas, community-based conservation in Ukraine, Europe's magnificent beech forests, and why we should care about biodiversity
S6 Episode 5: Germans Know How to Party
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trabis, asparagus fests, Germany's "two voices" elections, the Berlin Wall, Angela Merkel, the Greens, and climate/energy progress
S6 Episode 4: A Cruel Bargain
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Class, race, and leaf blowers, Monticello, strong vs. weak local powers, The Birds, and Cate Blanchett
S6 Episode 3: Janis and the Sea of Forested Hills
31 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brazil's singular Atlantic Forest, coffee, gold, a creature named Janis, and the intertwined histories of indigenous people, slaves, British railroads...
S6 Episode 2: Let Them Drink Lead
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Who could lose the most from overturning pollution standards for air pollution, toxic chemicals, and lead in drinking water, a box of chocolates, and ...
S6 Episode 1: All the President's Men
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The St. Valentine's Day Massacre of 2025, why we have the federal civil service, "ambition must be made to counter ambition", SpaceX threatens ocelots...
S5 Episode 10: The Great Rice Fiasco
11 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Japan's 2024 elections, sea turtles, rice prices, recycling rules, Japan's energy insecurity, and the proximity principle
S5 Episode 9: Behind the Curtain in Wonderland
30 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Trump voters on climate change, red state renewables, Republican tariffs that could lower our carbon footprints, and the March Hare's generous offer
S5 Episode 8: Will Climate Change Influence US Swing State Voters?
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The potential impacts on swing state elections of climate change, the Inflation Reduction Act's largesse, extreme weather, state demographics, and sur...
S5 Episode 7: "A Crisis Waiting to Occur"
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why swing states rule in the US's presidential elections, legal experts' fears about election stealing in 2024, and how direct popular election failed...
S5 Episode 6: Dear Rich White People
31 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Yachts, inequalities reminiscent of the robber barons, and why we must target the rich with climate policies
S5 Episode 5: The Silly Party Takes Westminster
28 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Labour's victory in the UK, aggressive climate plans, a famous lettuce, and an introduction to carbon inequality
S5 Episode 4: European or Italian First?
09 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A guide to the European Parliament elections, the EU's climate and energy "moonshot," bicycling in Denmark, and the 10-50 rule
S5 Episode 3: Will Panama Be Green?
05 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Panama's unprecedented elections, massive demonstrations over the environment and foreign influence, toucans, and a tragedy with echoes of the US's co...
S5 Episode 2: And Then There's Bhopal
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why politicians have (at times) taken strong environmental action in the US, the UK, Brazil, Germany, and Japan, and why those who were killed at Bhop...
S5 Episode 1: The Greens, Tasmania, and Tricky Dick
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Greens in Europe and in Australia, Lake Pedder, "Iron Pants" Muskie, the Clean Water Act, and excerpts from Nixon's secret Oval Office tapes
S5 Preview: Chain of Fools
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
2024 and elections worldwide, the states in the US's national elections, and carbon inequality (or, the rich vs. everyone else)
S4 Episode 10: The Devil's Hair Dryer
16 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Grass, leaf blowers, and environmental justice, with stops across the US and in Canada, Brazil, and the EU
S4 Episode 9: The Unicorn and the Lion
06 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Scotland and the rest of the UK leave coal behind, Net Zero, modern struggles between the unicorn and the lion, and my Scottish grandfather
S4 Episode 8: Smoke and Mirrors
01 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Smoky skies, hiking the Oregon desert, wolves, tightening an air pollution standard, Aristotle, and the gospel of GDP
S4 Episode 7: Mt. Mitchell, Zöbelboden, and the Taj Mahal
29 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Taj Mahal, forests in the US and Austria, an ecologist's lunch with coal executives, and a speech by Margaret Thatcher
S4 Episode 6: Everything Is a Size You Can't See
29 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Brazilian Amazon forest and the Cristalino River take us on an unforgettable journey, while the violence of history and politics of the present sh...
S4 Episode 5: The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg
31 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The most polluted city on earth, seeing Brazil's forests from many angles, the US government and Brazil's military coup, and George Santos's shoes
S4 Episode 4: Shotgun Marriage, Kittens
19 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
An historic African American school and a proposed mega-landfill, what happens when landfill protections fail, the proximity principle, and a fierce b...
S4 Episode 3: Shotgun Marriage, Cats
30 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Water wars in the American West, US Supreme Court cases on climate change, and state-level renewable energy achievements
S4 Episode 2: The Wings of a Butterfly
02 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The US's messy political system, the states, and a butterfly that affected the course of US climate politics
S4 Episode 1: Pilgrims and Progress 2022
28 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Stories of abundance that fall short, and the disconnect between well being and economic growth
S4 Preview: Déjà Vu and a New US Climate Law
06 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
August surprise: Why the US climate and renewable energy policy window slammed open now
S3 Episode 10: Dignity and Banditry
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Season 3's finale highlights common themes from places visited in the US, Ukraine, Panama, Kenya, and Brazil
S3 Episode 9: Elephants Grow Grasslands, Cows Grow Trees (Pt. 2)
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Wildlife as government cattle in Kenya, colonialism and conservation, experts Dr. Cynthia Moss, Dr. Winnie Kiiru, Dr. David Western, Dr. Paula Kahumbu...
S3 Episode 8: Elephants Grow Grasslands, Cows Grow Trees (Pt. 1)
24 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Elephant talk, populations decimated from ivory poaching, the Maasai as ecologists, and Waza
S3 Episode 7: Gems of Ukraine
18 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Community based management and biodiversity in Ukraine's Carpathian Mountains
S3 Episode 6: I Took the Isthmus
06 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Panama Canal's dependence on forests, a red phone, toucans, and US imperialism
S3 Episode 5: Garbage In, Garbage Out, and Charlottesville
01 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Race, catadores, garbage transport, and innovation in Italy and Maine
S3 Episode 4: Breaking Even With Nature
20 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Berlin Wall fall effect, German citizens as renewable energy investors, and a soy field
S3 Episode 3: Some Germans Wake Up Earlier
11 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Germany's energy transition, a pathbreaking court decision on intergenerational climate justice, and a coffee mug
S3 Episode 2: The Power Game
03 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Coal dust pollution, racism, and the many faces of power
S3 Episode 1: Coal Dust Is Black
26 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Vulnerable communities fight for clean air in Appalachia and in Norfolk, Virginia
S3 Preview: Flying Rivers
30 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Magical water delivery systems in Brazil and in the US.
Silver Bullet: Earth Day Bonus Episode
22 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Carbon taxes around the world and public skepticism about economists' claims
S2 Episode 10.1: Resistance
30 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Spillovers, farmers who resist, and the singing revolution
S2 Episode 10.0: Community
13 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Season finale, part 1: unequal burdens, democracy in America, Earth rules, and global connections
S2 Ep 10 Sneak Peek: Irish-Native American lifelines
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
S2 Ep 10 Sneak Peek: Irish-Native American lifelines by Dr. Vivian Thomson
Season 2 Episode 9: Pilgrims and Progress
20 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Reimagining Thanksgiving and progress, achieving the good life, COVID-19 and air pollution in India, and "stuff"
S2 Ep9 Sneak Peek: Consuming and the Good Life
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
S2 Ep9 Sneak Peek: Consuming and the Good Life by Dr. Vivian Thomson
Season 2 Episode 8: Citizen Power
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How citizens get control of their government in an age of polarization and over-promising, fall leaves and freedom, and moderates in America
S2 Ep8 Sneak Peek: Molly Ivins' cheerful take on US politics
08 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
S2 Ep8 Sneak Peek: Molly Ivins' cheerful take on US politics by Dr. Vivian Thomson
Season 2 Episode 7: "Adapt or Die" and Industrialized Agriculture
29 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wendell Berry on affection for the land, industrialized farming, Prof. Delia Grace Randolph on virus spillover, racism and the USDA, and the "Vietnam ...
S2 Ep7 Sneak Peek: Writer Wendell Berry on the "Farm Made Whole"
21 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
S2 Ep7 Sneak Peek: Writer Wendell Berry on the "Farm Made Whole" by Dr. Vivian Thomson
Season 2 Episode 6: Food's Cascading Impacts, and, Wildfires
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joel Salatin's diaper grass, wildfires on the Pacific coast, farming, the Lorax, and all of the biomass on Earth
S2 Ep6 Sneak Peek: Prof. Ron Milo on animals in children's puzzles
10 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
S2 Ep6 Sneak Peek: Prof. Ron Milo on animals in children's puzzles by Dr. Vivian Thomson
Season 2 Episode 5: Batty About Bats
30 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Bats, the fountain of youth, virus spillovers, and human disruption of natural areas
S2 Ep 5 Sneak Peek: Prof. Emma Teeling on bats and the fountain of youth
25 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
S2 Ep 5 Sneak Peek: Prof. Emma Teeling on bats and the fountain of youth by Dr. Vivian Thomson
S2 Ep 4 Sneak Peek: Prof. Kate Jones on habitat disruption and virus spillover
14 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A brief excerpt from Season 2 Episode 4, Lifeboat Earth.
S2 Ep 3 Sneak Peek: Nobel laureate Prof. Esther Duflo on dignity
14 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A brief excerpt from Season 2 Episode 3, Growing Out of Pollution or Wallowing in It?
S2 Ep 2 Sneak Peek: Prof. John Gaventa on invisible power
14 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A brief excerpt from Season 2 Episode 2, Power Wears Many Disguises.
S2 Ep 1 Sneak Peek: Prof. Francesca Dominici on Covid-19 and air pollution
14 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A brief excerpt from Season 2 Episode 1, Pollution and the Coronavirus vs. Prosperity
Season 2 Episode 4: Lifeboat Earth
06 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Carson on the concept of mastery, ecosystem degradation and its multiple impacts, bats, donuts, and, viruses that cross from animals to humans.
Season 2 Episode 3: Growing Out of Pollution or Wallowing in It?
20 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nobel Prize winning economists on why GDP fails to measure well-being and power, how affluence affects pollution and resource use, water use in Arizon...
Season 2 Episode 2: Power Wears Many Disguises
30 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How power's various disguises shaped efforts to reduce coal pollution in the US state of Virginia, and the implications of those lessons for the coron...
Season 2 Episode 1: Pollution and the Coronavirus vs. Prosperity
15 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Harry Potter, community trust, fine particle pollution, and race
Season 2 Preview: Big Earth Day Birthday in the Age of Covid-19
21 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Earth Day's 50th birthday, the coronavirus, Pogo, and Dr. Jane Goodall
Season 1 Episode 10: Throwing Open the Climate Change Policy Window
21 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A memorable landlord, a summary of lessons from previous episodes, and how the ideological rifts in the US could affect the climate change policy wind...
Season 1 Episode 9: Climate Change: Past Actions
12 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Bad housemates, the global commons, national policy reversals in the US, what the public is thinking, and bipartisan action at the state level.
Season 1 Episode 8: Rescuing Endangered Species
01 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Disappearing birds and oaks, disputes over the Endangered Species Act, the comeback of the endangered Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, and climate change'...
Season 1 Episode 7: Renewables and Nuclear Power: There is No Free Lunch
22 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Energy efficiency and renewables are unquestionably the waves of the present and future. But we must keep our eyes wide open to collateral impacts.
Season 1 Episode 6: The Legacies of Fossil Fuels
09 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Twists and turns in the US's dependence on coal, the ripple effects of oil crises, and a coal miner's daughter describes the devastation in her commun...
Season 1 Episode 5: Water: Undoing the Wrongs of Those Who Thought They Were Doing Right
20 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Forests, the Panama Canal, hydropower in Brazil, and the US's dam building frenzy in the 20th century.
Season 1 Episode 4: Trash Matters and Moves
03 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A stop sign with bullet holes, garbage wars, environmental justice, and Japan's proximity principle.
Season 1 Episode 3: 'Bad Mothers' and Bad Drivers: Getting the Lead Out of Gasoline
20 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Leaded gasoline and moms, mice, misfueling, and crime.
Season 1 Episode 2: Whatever Happened to Acid Rain?
14 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Acid rain was front and center on our nation's environmental agenda, but that issue seems to have dropped from sight. What's the story?
Season 1 Episode 1: Rachel Carson and Richard Nixon
07 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why and how environmental issues rose on the national political agenda in the 1960s and 70s.
Season 1 Preview
08 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this preview episode, Dr. Thomson introduces The Meaning of Green's Season 1, which asks: what forces aid or constrain environmental policy success...