Give up your climate guilt. Sharpen your curiosity. Join Dr. Leah Stokes and Dr. Katharine Wilkinson as they tell stories about the powerful forces behind climate change — and the tools we have to fix it. This show makes sense of big climate questions and critical topics. Our episodes are filled with stories of bold climate leadership, groundbreaking campaigns, and people doing their best to be part of the solution. A Matter of Degrees is produced in partnership with FRQNCY Media, The 2035 I ...
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Jaesun, an heir to a Korean chaebol, and Ana, a Mexican American entrepreneur, fall in love in modern day LA. After months of innocent flirting and one passionate karaoke session later, Ana finds out that Jaesun must return to Korea for his two-year military service. And when her business hits an unexpected roadblock, miscommunications ensue. Ana must decide whether she's going to go at it alone or have some faith in her love. Will their relationship survive the distance? Love and Noraebang ...
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Thousands of people lost their homes in the Los Angeles wildfires. Now, they’re looking to their insurance companies to help them rebuild. But as the world warms, disasters like these are becoming more frequent and more severe, exposing an insurance system that isn’t equipped to cover the rising damages. In Los Angeles, people who lost everything w…
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Presenting: L.A. Wildfires: Rebuilding for a Hotter, Drier Future
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38:52This week we are sharing a special bonus episode from Boiling Point, a new podcast produced by the LA Times and hosted by climate columnist Sammy Roth. This new audio series explores how climate change is impacting California and the American West. The first episode focuses on the recent wildfires in Los Angeles and what they mean for the future of…
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In this episode of A Matter of Degrees, we partner with Climate One to share an inspiring conversation between Dr. Leah Stokes and Greg Dalton, the founder and co-host of Climate One, when Leah received the 2024 Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication in December. And as a double feature, this episode also includes …
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The industrial sector makes all of our physical stuff – the clothes we wear, the cars we drive, the buildings we live in, and much more. It’s also one of the biggest sources of U.S. climate pollution. In this episode of A Matter of Degrees, we bring on guest host Dr. Eric Masanet, world-leading industrial decarbonization expert, to break down how w…
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The Questions We Ask Matter with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
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39:15In this live episode of A Matter of Degrees, Dr. Katharine Wilkinson joined Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson for a conversation on Ayana’s new book, What If We Get It Right, Visions of Climate Futures. The need to build community and the imperative to imagine the futures we want are now more important than ever. These topics are at the heart of this dis…
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What the Election Means for Climate Policy
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58:08The election is over, but climate progress doesn’t have to be. How can we continue to push for equitable climate policies and defend current investments in clean energy? What are the state and local avenues for addressing the climate crisis? In this live episode of A Matter of Degrees, Dr. Leah Stokes is joined by Adrian Deveny, the Former Director…
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On this episode of A Matter of Degrees, we tell the story of how a powerful grassroots movement, ambitious lawmakers, and Governor Tim Walz turned Minnesota into a climate leader. Then, we talk about using the Minnesota blueprint to make change everywhere else. It’s election season, but the federal government isn’t the only venue for climate action…
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Project 2025 has been all over the news lately. But what exactly is this conservative playbook for the Federal government? And what does it mean for climate policy? This week, A Matter of Degrees dives into the Heritage Foundation's plan for the next conservative presidential administration. Just weeks away from a pivotal election, we lay out what …
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A Look Back at Vice President Kamala Harris on Climate Leadership, Justice, and Solutions
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53:28Welcome back for a special bonus episode of A Matter of Degrees! In this episode, we are taking a look back at our live conversation with Vice President Kamala Harris. Since we are once again at a pivotal moment for the climate, we wanted to kick off our new season by looking back at this incredible climate leader who has played a key role in getti…
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Live Episode: A Climate Book Talk with Rebecca Solnit
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59:03Welcome back for a bonus episode of A Matter of Degrees! We were lucky enough to sit down with Rebecca Solnit — author, historian, and climate activist — to talk about her newest climate anthology, Not Too Late. Leah and Nikayla Jefferson both wrote essays for the book and joined Rebecca onstage for this live episode. Not Too Late gets at the tough…
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The Tongass: A Way Forward For The Forest
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51:19In our season three finale, we’re transporting listeners to the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world and a vital carbon sink: the Tongass. Katharine and Leah investigate the impact of decades of industrial logging in Southeast Alaska and political debates pitting ecology against economy. We learn from the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian p…
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In his early days in office, President Biden took executive action to deliver environmental justice. Are those policies delivering justice in practice? This episode, we talk to EJ activists and federal policymakers about Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which directs 40% of the overall benefits of climate investments toward disadvantaged communities. …
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Electric utilities are falling short on climate action. To explain why, we’re bringing back our season one finale. This episode features former utilities regulator Kris Mayes, who recently won a nail-biting election to become the second woman and first openly LGBTQ attorney general of Arizona. Go, Kris! Since season one, Leah has been busy investig…
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In this episode, we explore the growing impact of heat on people and the planet. We talk to scientists and “climate detectives” trying to hold the perpetrators of this unprecedented global temperature increase accountable. Leah and Katharine speak with Neza Xiuhtecutli, executive director of the Farmworker Association of Florida; Kate Marvel, clima…
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New Year’s Reflections, Resolutions, and Inspiration from Sherri Mitchell
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55:31At the start of 2023, we’re reflecting on past progress and setting climate intentions, both small and large, for the year ahead. And we want to hear from you! Has A Matter of Degrees shifted your perspective or moved you to action? Do you have climate goals for 2023? Share your story with us. To inspire and ground us for the new year, we share a p…
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Petrochemicals and Plastics: A Fossil Fuel Lifeline?
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44:24The fossil fuel industry is banking its future on petrochemicals — the toxic precursor to plastics. In this episode, Katharine and Leah speak with activists who are fighting back against petrochemicals in “sacrifice zones” across America, from the Ohio River Valley to the Gulf Coast. Learn where petrochemicals come from, how they harm people, place…
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In this episode, we investigate corporate climate commitments and how to make them stronger. We get to the root of zero-emissions pledges and greenwashing — specifically in the oil and gas industry. Dr. Paasha Mahdavi, associate professor of political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara, joins us to report this story. Paasha talk…
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This episode delves into the murky world of cryptocurrency and its impact on our planet. Join Katharine and Leah as they discover how digital currencies are breathing new life into previously shuttered coal plants across the United States. This episode features Alex de Vries, data scientist and founder of Digiconimist, an online platform that track…
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This episode is all about feelings. You’ve heard the phrase “climate grief,” right? But how do we deal with what it does to our hearts, minds, and bodies? And how might it impact the climate action we take? This episode features Dr. Britt Wray, a Stanford-based author and researcher on climate and mental health; somatic coach and climate grief work…
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Live Episode: Vice President Kamala Harris on Climate Leadership, Justice, and Solutions
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47:11"We must understand that we are in a very specific moment in time, and this window is going to shut on us. But it doesn’t have to shut on us, if we act.” — Vice President Kamala Harris on A Matter of Degrees Ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, we had the honor of joining Vice President Harris live in San Francisco for a conversation about climate …
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The third and final installment of our miniseries considers the question “What can I do?” from a political perspective. Our expert guests share stories of nailbiter elections for local office and the victorious legislative campaign to ban gas in new buildings in New York City. We lay out a four-step guide to getting pro-climate candidates elected, …
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“What Can I Do?” Part 2 — The Professional
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49:39In this episode, we continue to unpack the question “What can I do?” The second installment of our miniseries zeroes in on our professional lives — ways to approach climate action within the workplace. We learn that almost any job can be a climate job. And, if need be, we can pursue “career divestment.” This episode features Amanda Suter Gallardo, …
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As climate people, we hear this question again and again: “What can I do?” Many of us are trying to figure out how to help address the climate crisis. So, we’re taking on that critical question in a three-part miniseries. The first episode is all about The Personal — key ways we can act on climate in our own lives and create meaningful, durable cha…
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Welcome back, climate-curious friends — it’s time for Season 3 of A Matter of Degrees. This season we’ll tackle some critical topics and big questions, starting with one we’re all asking when it comes to the climate crisis: “What can I do?” Season 3 kicks off (September 15!) with a three-part miniseries to answer that question. We’ll talk with some…
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This is a Big (Climate) Deal: What’s in the Inflation Reduction Act?
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1:03:04Welcome back to A Matter of Degrees! While we’ve been hard at work producing season three of the show, the climate movement has been going through a lot of twists and turns. Most recently, after announcing he would not support climate investments in a budget reconciliation deal, Senator Joe Manchin abruptly made a historic climate deal with Senate …
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Ana and Jaesun have the heart to heart they’ve been waiting months to have. And we find ourselves back where it all started — the noraebang. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Sonoro | The Mash-Up Americans
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Chloe shows the girls around Seoul, and Ana gains a deeper understanding of the man she loves while Valentina lives her kpop fantasies. Jaesun returns home from the army to the biggest surprise of his life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Sonoro | The Mash-Up Americans
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Ana, Valentina, and Mark say goodbye to Don Dago’s, and Mark says goodbye to Ana. Sookmin reveals the villain that has been masterminding things all along. Chloe presents the sisters with an opportunity of a lifetime — and the Campos sisters head to Seoul. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…
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Ana attempts to clear the air with Chloe, who learns something that may change everything for the future of Don Dago’s — and the future of Ana and Jaesun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Sonoro | The Mash-Up Americans
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Mark confesses his lifelong love for Ana. Chloe shares what she’s seen with Jaesun. Jaesun confronts Ana, and all the truths they’ve been holding back tumble out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Sonoro | The Mash-Up Americans
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You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me - Episode 5
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12:52Ana finally faces up to the devastating news that Don Dago’s is closing down and breaks the news to her restaurant family. Later, Chloe sees Ana and Mark … in a kiss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Sonoro | The Mash-Up Americans
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Jaesun struggles to escape his rich kid reputation in the military. Ana struggles with business debts piling up at home. Neither of them communicate, and the tension threatens to unravel their long distance romance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Sonoro | The Mash-Up Americans
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You Can’t Always Get What You Want - Episode 3
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21:14Jaesun reunites with his billionaire business magnate father, Sookmin, who reminds him that their enemies are always watching, especially after his big victory in LA. Meanwhile, Ana gets some confusing and disturbing news about her own business, but she, Valentina and Mark resolve to figure it out together, as they always have. Learn more about you…
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Jaesun and Ana’s whirlwind romance takes them across all the most delicious spots in LA and Mexico City, and Ana finds herself, despite her best efforts, falling in love. Unfortunately, Jaesun’s time in LA is up, and it’s time for him to return to Korea for his military service. Ana leans on her sister, Valentina, and her bestie, Mark, for comfort.…
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You are listening to the first episode of our new series Love and Noraebang, available today wherever you are listening. | Jaesun Choi, heir to a Korean chaebol, celebrates a huge work win with his cousin Chloe and his besties at Don Dago’s, his favorite Mexican restaurant in LA, where he fancies the cocktails, the mole, AND the owner, the gorgeous…
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Sonoro and The Mash-Up Americans present Love and Noraebang - Trailer
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2:12Presenting Love and Noraebang... A Korean chaebol and a Mexican American entrepreneur fall in love in LA, but he must return to Korea for his military service. Will their love survive the distance? Available today exclusively on Apple Podcasts and July 19th on all platforms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…
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This episode is a collaboration between A Matter Of Degrees and the Gimlet podcast How To Save A Planet. Take a look at many of the spaces where climate-related decisions are being made — from government to business to media — and you'll notice a numbers problem. Despite being roughly half the people on the planet, women rarely have equal represent…
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In the jungles of the Brazilian Amazon, groups of farmers and their families get by on what they can grow with the land beneath their feet. They're known in Brazil as “landless workers,” a social movement with the goal of increasing land access and ownership for the country’s rural poor. These landless workers -- sometimes called land guardians or …
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The ‘Win-Win-Win’ Strategy To Retire Coal
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41:32This episode is a collaboration between A Matter Of Degrees and the Gimlet podcast How To Save A Planet. Coal-fired power plants are closing at record rates. But many are still scheduled to remain operational for the foreseeable future -- despite losing lots of money every year. How do we shut these uneconomic coal plants down faster? One answer: c…
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The ‘Bond Vigilante’ Exposing Fossil Fuel Risk
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42:37Since the Paris Climate Agreement was signed in 2015, banks and large investors have dumped $3.8 trillion into fossil fuels. It's a staggering number. This is why writer and activist Bill McKibben calls money the "oxygen" that fuels the fire of global warming. While the wildfires burning around the world are getting worse each year, it’s like the w…
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The Devious Plan to Keep Us Hooked on Gas
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57:10Advocates are turning their attention to a new front in the climate war: the fossil-gas hookups in our homes that fuel burners, boilers, and other household appliances. If we want to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, we need to electrify the hundreds of millions of machines inside our homes and buildings as fast as possible. But the gas industr…
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A Farming Solution for a Hotter, Less Stable World
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42:29When Hurricanes Maria and Irma hit Puerto Rico in 2017, they destroyed the island’s fragile food system. Farms of all sizes were battered, with around 80 percent of the island's crop value wiped out. But a group of Puerto Rican farmers practicing an old way of farming, called agroecology, saw their operations bounce back much faster than convention…
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President Biden’s American Jobs Plan promises big investments in the clean-energy economy, including clean energy workforce and education programs. Economic progress and clean climate action are inextricably linked. But how can we make sure that those dollars go to communities of color who have already been most impacted by climate change and consi…
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Abuse of soil, the atmosphere, and communities of color have gone hand in hand. Through reclaiming ancestral connection to the soil, Black farmers are healing the entangled harms of colonization, capitalism, and White supremacy and moving agricultural climate solutions forward in the process. In this episode, we feature an audio essay that wrestles…
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‘Let’s Go Get Us A Clean Electricity Standard’
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57:46Baked into the American Jobs Plan is an ambitious proposal to set a federally-mandated Clean Electricity Standard of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035. It would put the US on track to get emissions under control and avoid the worst impacts of climate change. That is, if it gets through Congress. In this episode, Co-host Leah Stokes speaks with a…
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The ‘Prestige Problem’ Making Fossil Fuels Powerful
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49:21Fossil fuel companies are tapping into America’s “best and brightest” at top banks, public relations and advertising firms, law firms, and strategy consulting firms. These organizations supply critical services to keep the fossil fuel industry humming: creative work, strategy, legal representation, financing. They’re services that oil and gas compa…
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Biden's Climate Plan Could Reshape America (Live w/ Julian NoiseCat)
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43:15We're back with another live edition of the show! So much is happening in the Biden era. We didn't want to wait until our second season to unpack all the activity. This week, we feature a conversation with Julian Brave NoiseCat that we recorded at the Crosscut Festival. Julian is a writer, activist, and policy expert with a deep understanding of Wa…
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The State of Global Climate Talks (Live w/ Mary Robinson)
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30:57As we work on season 2, we're sharing a live episode of the show that we just recorded at the Bloomberg Green Summit. The conversation is all about where things stand in the lead-up to global climate talks in the fall. We were fortunate to get Mary Robinson, the former President of Ireland, to talk about this topic with us. Mary served as the Presi…
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In 2013, a series of attack ads blitzed television sets across Arizona. They warned of a dire threat to senior citizens. Who was the villain? Solar energy. These ads came from front groups funded by Arizona Public Service, the state’s largest utility. It was part of a years-long fight against rooftop solar that turned ugly. “I mean, for Star Wars f…
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We're pleased to introduce an episode of "How to Save a Planet," produced by our friends at Gimlet and Spotify. The show is co-hosted by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Alex Blumberg. "How to Save a Planet" has a lot of similarities to our own, so we think our listeners will like the stories they tell. In this week's episode: a story about the Black Li…
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