MEER Podcast

47:23

MEER Podcast - 20. The Gargantuan Lie, Don't Look Up...

MEER Podcast ·

2026/10/01

DescriptionIn this episode of the MEER Podcast, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Adam McKay, the creator of The Big Short, Vice, Don't Look Up, and founder of Yellow Dot Studios, joins us to discuss how storytelling, climate communication, his latest essay The Gargantuan Lie That Is Collapsing the Climate, and why telling the truth about climate has become one of society's greatest challenges. Adam reflects on his transition from comedy into political and climate-focused filmmaking, and how

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60:01

MEER Podcast - 19. Deep Adaptation, Climate Risk, and...

MEER Podcast ·

2026/08/28

DescriptionIn this episode of The MEER Podcast, we are joined by Professor Jem Bendell, author, researcher, and originator of the influential Deep Adaptation framework, for a wide-ranging conversation about climate risk, societal disruption, and how our understanding of the climate crisis has evolved.Jem reflects on the ideas behind his consequential 2018 Deep Adaptation paper and revisits some of its most disputed arguments in light of what has happened since. We discuss what Deep Adaptation got

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42:57

18. Storytelling, Culture, and the Climate Narrative...

MEER Podcast ·

2026/07/16

In this episode of The MEER Podcast, we are joined by writer, director, and climate advocate Aria McKenna to explore the powerful role of storytelling in shaping public understanding of the climate crisis.The conversation examines how film, television, and culture influence climate narratives, the origins of the Healthy Planet Action Coalition, the concept of the "climate triad," and Aria's upcoming project Revolution Earth. Together, we discuss what today's climate storytelling gets right and where

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53:34

17. Beyond Carbon: Forest Cooling & Planetary...

MEER Podcast ·

2026/06/17

What if climate change cannot be understood through carbon emissions alone?In this episode of The MEER Podcast, we speak with Rob de Laet about planetary energy balance, forest cooling, biohydrology, latent heat transport, atmospheric moisture regulation, and the role of ecosystems in stabilizing Earth's climate.The conversation explores how forests, clouds, water cycles, and atmospheric processes interact within a connected Earth system, and whether climate science and policy may benefit from a

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49:19

16. The Green Mirage — Truth, Hope, and Survival with...

MEER Podcast ·

2026/05/27

In this episode of The MEER Podcast, we speak with physician, environmental filmmaker, and activist Dr. Sofia Pineda Ochoa, director of Endgame 2050 and Greenwashed. Together, we explore the links between human and planetary health, the psychology of climate denial, the rise of greenwashing, and the role of storytelling in confronting ecological collapse.Sofia reflects on her transition from medicine to filmmaking, the making of her documentaries, and why honest conversations about the climate

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51:12

15. Forests as the Beating Heart: The Biotic Pump...

MEER Podcast ·

2026/04/17

In this episode of The MEER Podcast, we speak with theoretical physicist Dr. Anastassia Makarieva, known for her work on the biotic pump theory — a framework that reexamines how forests influence Earth’s climate system.Rather than viewing forests solely as carbon sinks, Dr. Makarieva explains how they may actively drive atmospheric circulation and rainfall patterns across continents. Through the process of transpiration and condensation, forests can influence pressure systems, drawing moisture

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39:17

14. Brazil, the Amazon, and the Climate Story with...

MEER Podcast ·

2026/03/13

Brazilian journalist Monica Piccinini joins the MEER Podcast to discuss the Amazon rainforest and the complex environmental, political, and economic forces shaping Brazil today. Drawing on her reporting on deforestation, indigenous rights, agribusiness, and environmental policy, she offers a sobering look at the realities on the ground and explains why the future of the Amazon has global implications for climate, water systems, and communities far beyond Brazil.Medium:

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50:12

13. The Climate Acceleration Debate: Could 3°C Arrive...

MEER Podcast ·

2026/02/24

In this episode we’re joined by Dr. Klaus Richter, physicist and President of the German Physical Society. Dr. Richter recently co-authored a joint statement with the German Meteorological Society that drew global attention, warning that the Earth could warm by as much as 3°C by 2050 if current trends continue. The statement — and the DIE ZEIT article that followed — sparked widespread debate about how fast the climate is changing and how society should respond. Read the article discussed in this

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58:18

12. Building a Climate-Ready Majority with Rupert...

MEER Podcast ·

2026/01/20

In this episode of The MEER Podcast, we are joined by Rupert Read and Liam Kavanagh, co-directors of the Climate Majority Project and authors of the SAFER report. Together, they explore why climate adaptation must move from the margins to the center of climate action, how strategic adaptation can unite communities across political divides, and what it means to build a broad, inclusive “climate majority.” The conversation bridges science, psychology, policy, and practical examples of community-led

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52:06

11. A Climate Reality Check with Eliot Jacobson

MEER Podcast ·

2025/12/22

In this episode of The MEER Podcast, we speak with Dr. Eliot Jacobson about what the climate data actually shows behind global summits, temperature targets, and public narratives. The conversation moves from COP outcomes to Earth’s energy imbalance, declining planetary reflectivity, polar ice trends, and the risks of underestimating the pace of warming, with a focus on clarity, evidence, and physical reality over political optimism.Eliot Jacobson is a mathematician, retired professor, and widely

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53:41

10. The Nemesis of Planet A with Martin Palmer

MEER Podcast ·

2025/11/21

In this episode we’re joined by Martin Palmer, author of The Nemesis of Planet A: Is the Human Race Sleepwalking Towards Its Own Extinction? and founder of the Rotaract (Net Zero) initiative within Rotary International. Martin is a member of Rotary International and is helping launch a new wave of Rotaract Net Zero clubs, which place climate action at their core — Rotaract is a club format suited to young adults, ages 18 – 30 . Martin has partnered with MEER to help make this vision real.Link to

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36:15

9. IPCC Three Years Later with Kyle Kimball

MEER Podcast ·

2025/10/30

Kyle Kimball returns to MEER 3 years after his talk “Faster Than Expected: The IPCC’s Role In Exacerbating Climate Change”.In that talk he presented evidence indicating that the IPCC plays a significant role in downplaying the impacts of runaway climate change, a role which serves to manufacture consent for a “do nothing” approach by state governments and the corporations controlling them. Kyle has a BA in EU and International Law from Tallinn University of technology and an LLM in International

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43:38

8. Risk Realism: Cooling a Livable Planet w/ David...

MEER Podcast ·

2025/09/19

David Spratt joins hosts Arjana and Kathy to talk climate risk, tipping points, and the case for surface-based, reversible cooling alongside deep decarbonization. Practical, people-first strategies to cut heat stress now—no silver bullets, just grounded engineering.SynopsisWhy mainstream assessments underplay systemic risk; how optimism bias shapes policy; and a practical framework for surface reflectors & passive cooling as an urgent complement to decarbonization.Key points:Risk realism and

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38:22

7 Agriculture

MEER Podcast ·

2024/09/21

In this compelling seventh episode of the MEER Podcast, Dr. Ye Tao shares fascinating updates from his recent travels in China, delving into the state of climate, agricultural, and water resource research. Amidst exploring the potential for international collaboration, Dr. Tao sheds light on the challenges faced by Chinese researchers within the state-funded system and the implications for innovative climate solutions like MEER.The episode takes a deep dive into the impact of climate change on

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46:17

6 Water Resources in a Warming Climate

MEER Podcast ·

2024/07/22

Join Dr. Ye Tao with host Peter Dynes as they discuss groundbreaking research on evaporation suppression, climate change impacts on lakes, and our exciting new collaboration for field experiments in Sierra Leone! Discover how MEER's innovative solutions aim to combat global droughts and protect our precious water resources. Stay informed on the latest advancements in environmental science!

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42:59

5 Earthshine

MEER Podcast ·

2024/05/28

In this episode, we delve into Dr. Ye Tao's fascinating trip to Makeni, where he plans to embark on groundbreaking water evaporation suppression experiments. Additionally, we engage in an in-depth discussion about the critical issue of the loss of planetary albedo, also known as our Earthshine.

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44:33

4 Courting Controversy

MEER Podcast ·

2024/04/22

Dr. Ye Tao discusses the ongoing heat waves in West Africa, as well as the issues they are having with power cuts in Sierra Leone. In addition, we revisit one of Dr. Tao's early symposium presentations and delve into the controversial topics he discussed and information he shared in 2020. He provides more detailed explanation on topics including the aerosol masking paradox that our civilization currently faces.

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41:39

3 Coming to Africa

MEER Podcast ·

2024/03/20

In this episode, Dr. Tao discusses the challenges of finding the right community to conduct cooling experiments and the overall economic and housing situation in Crab Town and Aberdeen. We also delve into the impact of humidity as a crucial environmental factor, with potentially serious consequences, particularly for the elderly. We explore how a massive dust storm affected the mirrors in the short and long run. Finally, we discuss the latest heat adaptation plans in Freetown. We hope you find the

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49:52

2 Origins of MEER

MEER Podcast ·

2024/02/27

Welcome to the second episode of the MEER podcast, a show dedicated to science education that focuses on topics such as climate change, adaptation, and restoration. In this episode, Dr. Tao explains the origins of MEER and the framework he worked on with hundreds of students across the United States. He also talks about the framework's above other mitigation schemes. Additionally, he explains CROI (Cooling Return on Investment) and why it is so vital to factor in what is feasible in terms of

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42:35

1 Introduction to Dr. Ye Tao and MEER

MEER Podcast ·

2024/02/26

Welcome to the first episode of the MEER podcast, a show dedicated to science education that focuses on topics such as climate change, adaptation, and restoration. In this episode, we introduce Dr. Ye Tao, formerly of Harvard's Rowland Institute, as he shares his scientific background and how he unexpectedly found his way into the field of climate science. Dr. Tao explains the breadth of what is at stake in the climate crisis and discusses his motivations for changing career paths and founding the

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