Whether you’re on the road, at the gym or listening at home, podcasts are an increasingly convenient — and important — source of information, with deep dives into particular topics featuring conversations with SMEs, government officials, activists, thought leaders and more.
In fact, if you’re looking for the latest insights and news on combating the climate crisis, contributing to environmental justice or promoting sustainable investment and innovation, then you should be listening to podcasts. Most major media outlets fall far short of their duty to cover these issues. Thankfully, many thoughtful activists, educators and leaders are hosting their own podcasts to provide important perspectives that you’re not going to hear anywhere else.
In alphabetical order, here’s a list of our 15 top picks for podcasts that speak to environmental sustainability goals (ESG) and issues of social and community justice.
Described as the podcast “created for the earth-conscious individual, ecopreneur, environmental activist, sustainability enthusiast, grassroots organizer, minimalist, conscious consumer and the eco-curious,” A Sustainable Mind is meant to inspire and motivate its listeners through insightful interviews and actionable advice. Producer and host Marjorie Alexander interviews environmental changemakers and guests to talk about their “relationship with nature, their journey to a green career, light-bulb moments, sustainable habits, lessons from launching their projects, and much more.” Each episode ends with advice and resources for listeners to follow up on.
- Host: Marjorie Alexander, environmentalist, activist and change-maker
- Episode length: 30-60 minutes
- New episodes: Every week
- Why you should listen: Intelligent and well-thought out interviews covering a wide range of experiences that highlight actionable insights for all aspects of the environment, sustainability and more. Easy to listen to, even for those not necessarily educated on the topics.
- Noteworthy episodes:
- Available on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn
With its detailed stories and long-form seasonal structure, it’s easy to see why iHeart Radio named Broken Ground one of the nations top green podcasts in 2020. As part of the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), Broken Ground investigates environmental stories in the Southern U.S. and interviews people from all walks of life about how environmental issues have affected them — and what they’re doing about it. For more than 35 years, the lawyers, policy experts, community advocates and partners that make up the SELC have taken on the toughest environmental challenges facing the South and the country to defend the air, water, climate, wildlife, lands and the people who live there.
- Host: Leanna First-Aria, freelance journalist
- Episode length: 20-35 minutes
- New episodes: Seasonal
- Why you should listen: Compelling stories that are thoroughly researched. Highlights the impact of climate change and issues of equity on people and their communities.
- Noteworthy episodes:
- Available on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Though it has ceased producing new episodes, Breaking Green Ceilings remains an important sustainability podcast for anyone who wants to hear more from activists and environmentalists across historically underheard communities. In her weekly interviews, host Sapna Mulki sought to promote a better understanding of the earth’s resources through conversations with environmentalists from all walks of life — many of whom were part of the Disabled, Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous or Latinx communities.
- Host: Sapna Mulki, water equity and environmental justice advocate
- Episode length: 40-60 minutes
- New episodes: Last new episode was in November 2022
- Why you should listen: Episodes highlight a diversity of experiences, giving voice to many activists from underrepresented communities.
- Noteworthy episodes:
- Available on: Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Soundcloud, Amazon
Building Local Power is the official podcast of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR), which is a national research and advocacy organization that “partners with allies across the country to build an American economy driven by local priorities and accountable to people and the planet.” The ISLR works to fight corporate control and “break the chains of monopoly power in all sectors of our economy.” Each episode of Building Local Power offers interviews with lawmakers, scholars, business leaders and advocates as well as with the Institute’s own in-house experts. Listen to this podcast on sustainability and local development for research, reporting, conversations and ideas on how to expand the power of communities so they may better chart their own future.
- Hosts: Reggie Rucker, ILSR communications director
Luke Gannon, ILSR research and communications associate - Episode length: 30-50 minutes
- New episodes: Formerly biweekly, now seasonal
- Why you should listen: Each episode covers policies, research and topics central to ILSR’s work of promoting community self-reliance. Each episode page also includes resources for further reading.
- Noteworthy episodes:
- Available on: Apple Podcasts, YouTube
Climate Changers is the project of Ryan Flahive, an entrepreneur and climate activist who welcomes entrepreneurs, scientists, activists and educators to talk about the work they do to combat climate changes and build a more sustainable future. Many of the guests talk about their own initiatives, sharing their stories of being on the front lines of making a new and sustainable resource and energy economy.
- Host: Ryan Flahive, entrepreneur and climate activist
- Episode length: 15-25 minutes
- New episodes: Every month
- Why you should listen: To hear directly from innovators of sustainable development.
- Noteworthy episodes:
- Available on: Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Green Dreamer is a community-supported, independent podcast that positions sustainability as not one field of study, but a collective goal that encompasses all sectors and parts of society. Host Kamea Chayne looks at how centralized power and established hierarchies make our current approaches to sustainable development untenable. Drawing on her background, values and worldviews influenced by Taoist and Buddhist philosophies, Chayne welcomes a wide array of thought leaders to discuss matters of collective healing, biocultural revitalization and equitable wealth generation.
- Host: Kamea Chayne, writer and alternative media creator
- Episode length: 40-60 minutes
- New episodes: Every week
- Why you should listen: For a distinct perspective on regenerative health, encompassingmental and emotional health, biocentrism, Indigenous teachings and social justice.
- Noteworthy episodes:
- Available on: Deezer, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts
Hot Take, a podcast that focused on the climate crisis — and tearing into the industries, companies, systems and individuals that continue to make the problem worse — ended in December 2022. Each episode featured hosts Amy Westervelt and Mary Annaïse Heglar discussing climate with other journalists and storytellers. Amy currently hosts the podcast Drilled, an award-winning “true crime” podcast focused entirely on climate accountability and how the fossil fuel industry continues to obstruct the fight against climate change.
- Hosts: Amy Westervelt, journalist, writer, editor and podcaster
Mary Annaïse Heglar, writer - Episode length: Hot Take 60-90 minutes
Drilled 20-40 minutes - New episodes: Hot Take has ended, but Drilled runs weekly
- Why you should listen: If you’re looking for hard hitting content on the climate crises that is as insightful as it can be irreverent.
- Noteworthy episodes:
- Hot Take available on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Podchaser
- Drilled available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn
A prize-winning, weekly half hour podcast and radio show, Living Planet explores news stories from around the globe regarding climate change, the environment and sustainable development. Regular hosts Charli Shield and Sam Baker cover stories about developing green technologies, human interest stories and investigations into the human impact on the natural environment. Living Planet is a production of Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany’s international broadcaster dedicated to covering six focus topics: freedom and human rights, democracy and good governance, free trade and social justice, technology and innovation, health education, nutrition and environmental protection, and German and European culture.
- Hosts: Charli Shield, journalist Sam Baker, reporter and journalist
- Episode length: 30 minutes
- New episodes: Every week
- Why you should listen: You’re looking for shorter updates on the latest news regarding the environment, justice and sustainability.
- Noteworthy episodes:
- Available on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser
People Places Planet Podcast is the official podcast of the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), which is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to “ensure a healthy environment, prosperous economies, and vibrant communities, founded on the rule of law.” The People Places Planet Podcast is regularly hosted by ELI research associate Georgia Ray, who speaks with attorneys, lawyers, science fellows, government officials and other experts about the histories, agencies and communities involved in environmental justice and human security.
- Host: Georgia Ray, ELI research associate
- Episode length: 20-30 minutes
- New episodes: Weekly to biweekly
- Why you should listen: Provides a detailed and informed view of environmental law and how communities and governments should be working toward environmental justice.
- Noteworthy episodes:
- Available on: Audible, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts
Planetary Health Talks was a podcast presented by the Knowledge Centre Global Health in the Netherlands. Hosts Ashis Brahma and Renée Robbers welcomed local experts to discuss the importance of planetary health with healthcare and global health professionals. Topics include how the changes in our natural surroundings influence our health and positive ways that we can enact change.
- Host: Ashis Brahma, storyteller and forensic medical doctor
Renée Robbers, junior researcher and project officer at Knowledge Centre Global Health - Episode length: 40 minutes
- New episodes: Planetary Health Talks has ended
- Why you should listen: For a different perspective on global health with experts in the Netherlands.
- Noteworthy episodes:
- Available on: Spotify
Sustainability can be hard to define, so hosts Scott Breen and Jay Siegel have taken it upon themselves to explore topics of sustainability — one issue at a time. Comments consistently state that this is one of the easiest and best podcasts about sustainability to listen to. Each episode welcomes a field expert to discuss a sustainability concept that falls into one of seven sectors: Energy, Cities, Natural Environment, Transportation, Business, Policy and Social. That concept is introduced, explored and then placed within the organizational “Sustainability Tree” to help better define what sustainability is and drive it forward as a concept.
- Hosts: Jay Siegel, urbanist, environmentalist and humorist
Scott Breen, VP of Sustainability at Can Manufacturers Institute - Episode length: 30-60 minutes
- New episodes: Monthly
- Why you should listen: A great mix of light humor and banter with in-depth interviews on sustainability issues involving business, the economy and society.
- Noteworthy episodes:
- Available on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify
The Impact Report is an ESG podcast with a focus on business development. It brings together students and faculty from Bard College’s MBA in Sustainability Program to interview leaders in business, sustainability, finance and social entrepreneurship. Host and producer Katie Ellman welcomes innovative entrepreneurs, strategists and thought leaders in the sustainability space from around the world to discuss their initiatives and how they’re working to redefine our modern economy.
- Host: Katie Ellman, producer and non-profit director
- Episode length: 25-40 minutes
- New episodes: Biweekly (currently on hiatus)
- Why you should listen: You’re interested in stories focused on green businesses and the development of more sustainable economics, entrepreneurship and investment.
- Noteworthy episodes:
- Available on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts
Environmentalist Anthony Day welcomes expert guests to talk about reports on green technologies and other issues related to sustainability. Content takes a global perspective, covering all things “from energy to air pollution, water to waste, politics to plastic and comments on fracking, renewables, transport and food.” Episodes are a mix of news updates, interviews and book reviews.
- Host: Anthony Day, speaker, broadcaster and environmentalist
- Episode length: 15-30 minutes
- New episodes: Weekly
- Why you should listen: You’re looking for shorter, digestible updates along with book reviews and interviews. Each podcast includes a blog post with a transcription.
- Noteworthy episodes:
- Available on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audacy, Podchaser
TILclimate (Today I Learned: Climate) is an award-winning podcast presented by the Environmental Solutions Initiative (ESI) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. TILclimate is focused on short, informative coverage of “the science, technologies, and policies behind climate change, how it’s impacting us, and what we can do about it.” Each season is broken into themes, with every episode dedicated to a topic on that theme. Host Laur Hesse Fisher discusses these topics with scientists and experts to provide a quick overview and explanation for listeners and each episode page includes additional information for further reading.
- Host: Laur Hesse Fisher, ESI program director
- Episode length: 15 minutes
- New episodes: Monthly
- Why you should listen: You’re looking for short, informative reviews of important topics. Each episode page also includes a transcript, resources for further reading and an educator’s guide.
- Noteworthy episodes:
- Available on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Radio Public, PlayerFM
We hope this list of ESG podcasts connects you to new sources of information and communities dedicated to working toward a more sustainable future. If you’re interested in developing innovative solutions to help solve global health and wellness issues, or connecting with other like-minded professionals across industries who share your passions, then we invite you to explore the University of San Diego’s Master of Science in Engineering, Sustainability and Health.