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PODCAST

The Most Important Question

Important, Not Important

Science for people who give a sh*t. Want to feel better AND unf*ck the world? The 6-time Webby nominee delivers deep conversations with the world"s smartest people (scientists, doctors, CEO"s, farmers, and more!), and digestible news updates every single week, to help you answer the world"s most important question: What can I do? We"re talkin" clean energy and coral reefs, COVID vaccines and pediatric cancer research, clean water and carbon capture tech, asteroid deflection and artificial

science documentary

All Episodes

01:00:35

#26: He's Given 200 Climate Speeches to Congress....

The Most Important Question ·

2018/07/17

In Episode 26, Quinn & Brian ask: what drives a man to give 200 climate speeches to Congress? That's once a week since 2007.Our guest today: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, the junior senator from Rhode Island. We discuss his speeches, his future carbon bill, bi-partisanship, calling bullshit when we see it, Rhode Island’s fossil-fuel lawsuit, and so much more.Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on Twitter Sandra Thornton

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01:18:40

#25: Middle School Physics: Lame, or the First Step...

The Most Important Question ·

2018/07/10

In Episode 25, Quinn & Brian ask: “Middle school physics: Lame, or the first step to being a SUPERHERO?”Our guest today is “The Physics Girl”, Dianna Cowern. She’s hunted for dark matter with MIT and Harvard, worked at GE, and is now one of the world’s most popular science communicators. And holy hell is her enthusiasm contagious.We talk her incredible YouTube channel, being frustrated and Hulking out, Shuri, Wonder Woman, Magic Hour, and more!Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or

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01:07:00

#24: When Will San Francisco Be Underwater?

The Most Important Question ·

2018/07/03

In Episode 24, Quinn & Brian ask: when will San Francisco be underwater?On the mic today is the ever-intrepid Molly Peterson, a renowned reporter focusing on the environment and climate change.Molly’s worked at Southern California Public Radio, ISeeChange, funded by NASA, she's traveled to and reported from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a fellow for the International Women’s Media Foundation, and is now at Pactio, a super-cool new organization supporting independent

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01:15:25

#23: Can We Predict the Next Big Earthquake?

The Most Important Question ·

2018/06/26

In Episode 23, Quinn & Brian ask: can we predict the next big earthquake? Pretty please?Joining us is Josh Bashioum, founder of Early Warning Labs, an earthquake early warning technology developer, whose mission is to improve, expand, and lower the costs of existing earthquake early warning systems.Listen in as we discuss San Francisco, the northwest, San Andreas, The Rock, other dreamy action stars, and how LA is (shockingly) more prepared than you think.Want to send us feedback? Tweet us,

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01:13:59

#22: How Does Your Phone Call Become Law?

The Most Important Question ·

2018/06/19

In Episode 22, Quinn & Brian ask: how does your phone call become law? To help answer that question, they’ve got Andres Jimenez on the line. Andres is the Senior Director of Government Affairs for the Citizens Climate Lobby, working with both the House and Senate to expand the voice of citizens, as well as push relevant legislation through. He’s also a leading member of GreenLatinos. Andres has worked with the Ocean Conservancy and in Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office in New York. Want to send us

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01:08:41

#21: The #1 thing you can do to fight climate change

The Most Important Question ·

2018/06/12

In Episode 21, Quinn & Brian finally get to the heart of it: What’s the #1 thing YOU can do to affect climate change?On the mic and down the street,Peter Kalmus,an atmospheric scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.Peter wrote a book called “Being the Change: Live Well and Spark a Climate Revolution” and also he’s got chickens and no longer a motorcycle (BRIAN).Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links: Peter Kalmus on Twitter

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01:13:24

#20: How the hell are we gonna feed 10 billion people?

The Most Important Question ·

2018/06/05

In Episode 20, Quinn and Brian wonder: How the hell are we gonna feed 10 billion people?EnterFred Iutzi of the Land Institute,where they’re focused on the incredibly modest goal of working to displace the predominant industrial, disruptive system of agriculture by providing staple foods without destroying or compromising the cultural and ecological systems upon which we so very much depend.Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links: Fred Iutzi on Twitter The Land

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01:10:33

#19: What’s the future of antibiotics?

The Most Important Question ·

2018/05/29

In Episode 19, Quinn & Brian asks: What’s the future of antibiotics?To answer: the irrepressibleDr. Gautam Dantas,the professor of pathology and immunology and biomedical engineering at the Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis. He leads the Dantas Lab, where they work at the interface of microbial genomics, ecology, synthetic biology, and systems biology, to understand, harness, and engineer the biochemical processing potential of microbial communities.We have a lovely, not

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01:25:35

#18: A new science foundation in America

The Most Important Question ·

2018/05/22

In Episode 18, Quinn & Brian try to build a moreflexible, approachable, and fun new science foundation in America. But they don't know where to start.Enter the legendaryPhil Plait, the “Bad Astronomer”. He's an astronomer (obviously), author, and science communicator extraordinaire and we chat about rebuilding the foundations of American science.And that, friends, starts with enthusiasm. Science — fuck yeah!Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links: Phil

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01:17:47

#17: What’s the future of emergency medical systems...

The Most Important Question ·

2018/05/15

In Episode 17, Quinn & Brian ask: What’s the future of emergency medical systems in the age of climate change?Joining us:Jason Friesen,the founder and executive director of Trek Medics, a 501 c3 registered NGO dedicated to creating or improving emergency medical systems in communities without reliable access to emergency care through innovative mobile phone technologies.We talk about the current and future state of emergency medical systems in the age of climate change. Because the big one's

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01:08:01

#16: Clouds ruin EVERYTHING

The Most Important Question ·

2018/05/08

In Episode 16, Quinn & Brian ask: what's the future of climate modeling?Also, what's a climate model?Enter Dr. Kate Marvel. She's a climate scientist and a writer. A theoretical physicist by training, she is now an associate research scientist at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Columbia University’s Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics. Because, sure.Dr. Marvel's research focuses on how human activities affect the climate and what we can expect in the future,

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01:08:36

#15: Can carbon capture be a building block in...

The Most Important Question ·

2018/05/01

In Episode 15, Quinn and Brian dig deeper and ask: Can carbon capture be a building block in climate action, part II?On the mic:Akshat Rathi, a reporter for Quartz in London. He wrote a series last year called The Race to Zero Emissions about carbon capture, and we dig into that, and the next 10 years of CCS, today.Akshat’s resume: he’s previously worked at The Economist and The Conversation. His writing has appeared in Nature, The Guardian and The Hindu. He has a PhD in chemistry from Oxford

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01:09:45

#14: How do we improve America’s agriculture system?

The Most Important Question ·

2018/04/24

In Episode 14, Quinn (Brian abandoned him) asks himself: How do we improve America’s agriculture system?On the mic,Emily Cassidy, the Sustainability Science Manager at the illustrious and beautiful California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, and a leading member of their new climate action initiative, Planet Vision.Emily's the co-author of a highly cited paper called “Solutions for a Cultivated Planet”, investigating how to sustainably feed 9 billion people.Today we put Emily’s long background

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01:10:32

#13: A blueprint for suing the pants off fossil fuel...

The Most Important Question ·

2018/04/17

In Episode 13, Quinn and Brian plot ablueprint for suing the pants off fossil fuel companies. Of course we don't know where to start, so we asked for help.Meet the mastermind:Mayor Serge Dedina of tiny Imperial Beach, California, one of the first cities to sue fossil fuel companies for climate change damages.We discuss what led to their suit, but more importantly, actions other cities should be taking to plan for the future, including their own legal action. Also: surfing, Nazis, and grandmas.Want

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01:21:26

#12: Can algorithms predict the next major pandemic?

The Most Important Question ·

2018/04/10

In Episode 12, Quinn and Brian ask:Can algorithms predict the next major pandemic? Pretty please?Joining us:Dr. Sam Scarpino, Assistant Professor of Marine & Environmental Sciences and Physics and a core faculty member in the Network Science Institute at Northeastern University.We discuss whether, and if so, how advanced algorithms and data science can help predict and prevent the next major pandemic.Also, the importance of a liberal arts education, bad wifi in 2018, and my wife’s iPhone.Want to

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01:13:24

#11: Can carbon capture be a building block in...

The Most Important Question ·

2018/04/03

In Episode 11, Quinn & Brian ask with fingers crossed: Can carbon capture be a building block in climate action?On the mic:David Hawkins, director of the climate program at the National Resources Defense Council, and the man basically responsible for you breathing clean air most days. So, you’re welcome.We discuss David’s history of working to safeguard the planet, but more specifically, his thoughts on the futuristic but necessary technology that is carbon capture, and whether we can pin our

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01:13:13

#10: The Tantrum That Saved The World

The Most Important Question ·

2018/03/27

In Episode 10 (we made it!), Quinn & Brian read a picture book. And a damn good one. Introducing The Tantrum That Saved The World.On the mic:Megan Herbert,Aussie co-authorand illustrator of the popular new children’s book about climate change activism. We talk about the book, her co-author, esteemed climate scientist and science communicator Michael E, Mann, as well as modeling behavior for our kids, providing them with tools now and in the future to become agents of change, and also

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01:23:55

#9: How do we stay safe from infectious disease...

The Most Important Question ·

2018/03/20

In Episode 9, Quinn and Brian cower under the desk and ask: How do we stay safe from infectious disease (zombies)?Please meetDr. Nahid Bhadelia, an infectious diseases physician, Assistant Professor at Boston University, and the Director of Infection Control and Medical Response at National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory. Yeah. Exactly what you imagine. That's her job. You're welcome.We discuss historical pandemics, modern-day factors in the growth of new and return of old infectious

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01:19:46

#8: How do we safeguard science in American schools?

The Most Important Question ·

2018/03/13

In Episode 8, Quinn and Brian ask: How do we safeguard science in American schools?Here to answer:Don Duggan-Haas, a lifetime advocate for science education standards (he literally wrote the textbook, and yes, this is the correct use of “literally”), as well as Therese Etoka and Jai Bansal, two immigrant high school students who fought to keep climate change science a part of the Boise, Idaho public school curriculum.Together, we form a game plan to ensure every American student gets a comprehensive

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01:29:13

#7: How can we use the ocean without using it up?

The Most Important Question ·

2018/03/06

In Episode 7, Brian and Quinn ask: How can we use the ocean without using it up? Meet Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, marine biologist, policy expert, and conservation strategist extraordinaire. And like a hundred other things, because her hobbies include saving the planet, what about you, punk? Find out how the ocean’s doing, who should be responsible for keeping it clean, how representation is a nightmare on ocean conservation boards just like everywhere else, and finally, the seafood you definitely

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146 results

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