Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast

Justine Norton-Kertson

THE PRESENT Our newly renamed podcast, Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast is all about radical hope and resistance in the age of climate disaster. This newest iteration of Solarpunk Magazine's podcast will launch it's first episode on Monday, January 27, 2025. On Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast, host Justine Norton-Kertson (founder and co-editor-in-chief of Solarpunk Magazine) envisions a world where humanity thrives in harmony with nature, equity and justice guide our communities, and creativity fuels solutions to our shared challenges. By imagining brighter futures and confronting current crises with resilience, we aim to cultivate hope and empower individuals to co-create a sustainable, inclusive, and thriving planet. Our mission is to inspire hope and action by exploring solarpunk ideas, sharing grassroots solutions, and amplifying the voices of change-makers who challenge dystopian realities. Through critical analysis, meaningful conversations, and creative storytelling, we provide listeners with the tools and inspiration to build a more just, equitable, and sustainable world while nurturing optimism in the face of adversity. THE PAST Our podcast began with the title Solarpunk Futures and has gone through a few different iterations. Starting in the fall of 2021, the original podcast ran for seven monthly episodes. Then beginning in fall 2022, the podcast was rebranded as Solarpunk Presents. That iteration was hosted by our then non-fiction co-editors Ariel Kroon and Christina De La Rocha. In January of 2023, Solarpunk Presents branched off on its own as a separate podcast, and in the spring of 2024 Solarpunk Futures came back briefly for a few episodes before going on hiatus for a reworking and rebranding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. The Heat Index is a Labor Standard

    17 hrs ago

    The Heat Index is a Labor Standard

    On this episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast from Solarpunk Magazine, host Justine Norton-Kertson looks how extreme heat is changing the way World Cup matches are played, and asked why those same protections aren't afforded to all working people. Website: https://solarpunkmagazine.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkmag Our Social Media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/solarpunklitmag.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarpunklitmag TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solarpunklitmag Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solarpunklitmag News Articles and Other Sources Study warns of dangerous heat at 2026 World Cup as climate risks grow https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/study-warns-dangerous-heat-2026-world-cup-climate-risks-grow-2026-05-14 World Cup puts urban heat risk in the spotlight https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/world-cup-puts-urban-heat-risk-spotlight--ecmii-2026-06-16 Mexico, Italy and others see up to two more months of heat stress than in the 1970s, study says https://apnews.com/article/climate-heat-stress-feelslike-temperatures-50-days-daae5fb348e8cb587bccdf770e842611 Two World Cup matches were played in ‘severe heat’, analysis finds https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/19/world-cup-matches-severe-heat-level-analysis Hydration breaks affect game more than I initially thought, says England's Tuchel https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/hydration-breaks-affect-game-more-than-i-initially-thought-says-englands-tuchel-2026-06-22/ Heat at work: Implications for safety and health https://www.ilo.org/publications/heat-work-implications-safety-and-health Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24 min
  2. Hurricane Season and the Myth of the Evacuation Order

    2d ago

    Hurricane Season and the Myth of the Evacuation Order

    On this episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast from Solarpunk Magazine, we have part 3 of our series on Disaster Prep as Community Care. We’re talking about hurricanes, flooding, storm surge, power outages, the myth of the evacuation order, and we continue our conversation about what solarpunk disaster prep and response look like. Website: https://solarpunkmagazine.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkmag Our Social Media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/solarpunklitmag.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarpunklitmag TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solarpunklitmag Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solarpunklitmag Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min
  3. The Data Center Revolt

    5d ago

    The Data Center Revolt

    On this episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast from Solarpunk Magazine, host Justine Norton-Kertson dives into the data center revolt with three examples of communities fighting back and saying no, including Illinois, La Pine, Oregon, and Monterey Park, California. Then, Justine outlines a solarpunk standard for data center approval. Website: https://solarpunkmagazine.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkmag Our Social Media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/solarpunklitmag.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarpunklitmag TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solarpunklitmag Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solarpunklitmag News Articles and Other Sources Americans wary of AI-driven data center boom, Reuters/Ipsos poll shows https://www.reuters.com/world/us/americans-wary-ai-driven-data-center-boom-reutersipsos-poll-shows-2026-06-11 US power use to beat record highs in 2026 and 2027 as AI use surges, EIA says https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-power-use-beat-record-highs-2026-2027-ai-use-surges-eia-says-2026-06-09 Gov. Pritzker slows down data center development https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/06/09/gov-pritzker-slows-down-data-center-development A small Central Oregon town shoots down data center development https://www.opb.org/article/2026/05/28/la-pine-rejects-data-center-central-oregon In first, California city overwhelmingly votes to permanently ban datacenters https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/03/california-monterey-park-datacenters-ban Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    16 min
  4. Clean Air Is Climate Infrastructure

    Jun 17

    Clean Air Is Climate Infrastructure

    On this episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast from Solarpunk Magazine, host Justine Norton-Kertson continues the discussion about wildfire and smoke from earlier this week, but from the angle of clean air as public infrastructure rather than from the perspective of small community disaster preparedness. Website: https://solarpunkmagazine.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkmag Our Social Media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/solarpunklitmag.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarpunklitmag TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solarpunklitmag Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solarpunklitmag News Articles and Other Sources Wildfires are making the US smoggy again, reversing progress on cleaner air, study finds https://apnews.com/article/smog-wildfires-climate-change-ozone-artificial-intelligence-bc9cde6da8ae4019cc07b800c70106ad Fires reverse progress toward ozone air quality standards in the United States https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aed3197 NASA-Funded Study Shows Wildfire Smoke’s Hidden Ozone Toll https://science.nasa.gov/earth/nasa-funded-study-shows-wildfire-smokes-hidden-ozone-toll Wildfire smoke has reversed US progress toward ozone air quality, study finds https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/04/wildfire-smoke-air-quality-ozone The Clean Air Act 101 https://www.nrdc.org/stories/clean-air-act-101 American Lung Association State of the Air Report https://www.lung.org/research/sota Science in Action: How to Build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box https://engineering.ucdavis.edu/news/science-action-how-build-corsi-rosenthal-box Monitor the Air Quality Index Near You https://www.iqair.com/usa Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    21 min
  5. Fire Season is a Social Event

    Jun 15

    Fire Season is a Social Event

    On this episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast from Solarpunk Magazine, host Justine Norton-Kertson brings you part 2 of our series of disaster prep as community care, and this episode is all about wildfire season. How do we prepare for the smoke, the evacuation orders, and fire? And how to ensure that those who need help aren't left behind to fend for themselves? Website: https://solarpunkmagazine.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkmag Our Social Media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/solarpunklitmag.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarpunklitmag TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solarpunklitmag Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solarpunklitmag Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min
  6. Radio Free Luna, Signing Off by Sylvie Althoff

    Jun 10

    Radio Free Luna, Signing Off by Sylvie Althoff

    On this episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast from Solarpunk Magazine, host Justine Norton-Kertson reads a short story from our most recent issue, Solarpunk Magazine Issue #27. This story was written by Sylvie Althoff, and is titled, "Radio Free Luna, Signing Off." Website: https://solarpunkmagazine.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkmag Our Social Media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/solarpunklitmag.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarpunklitmag TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solarpunklitmag Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solarpunklitmag You can learn more about Sylvie Althoff and her work on her website, and you can connect with her on Bluesky @sylvie-althoff.bsky.social. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  7. No One Survives Alone

    Jun 8

    No One Survives Alone

    On this episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast from Solarpunk Magazine, we’re launching our series on disaster prep, not as a hyper-individualist apocalyptic fantasy, but as mutual aid and community resilience. We're calling this series "Disaster Prep is Community Care: An Anti-Prepper Survival Guide." Each Monday for the next eight weeks, we'll explore how real disaster preparedness isn't about hoarding supplies and hiding in a bunker, but is an organizing tool for building stronger communities and ensuring that when systems fail, no one is left behind. Website: https://solarpunkmagazine.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkmag Our Social Media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/solarpunklitmag.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarpunklitmag TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solarpunklitmag Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solarpunklitmag Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min
  8. Solar Is About to Win, So Why Are We Still Paying So Much?

    May 29

    Solar Is About to Win, So Why Are We Still Paying So Much?

    On this episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast from Solarpunk Magazine, host Justine Norton-Kertson looks at the rise of solar power and examines the systems that keep us paying so much for electricity when sunlight is so abundant. Website: https://solarpunkmagazine.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkmag Our Social Media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/solarpunklitmag.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarpunklitmag TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solarpunklitmag Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solarpunklitmag SOURCES AND LINKS Solar’s day in the sun is rapidly approaching https://www.ft.com/content/2d78227e-d74d-43f0-ba92-13543e22b1d3 New Energy Outlook 2026 https://about.bnef.com/insights/clean-energy/new-energy-outlook/#row-6a19c1eed9b5a CORRECTION: In the episode, it's stated that battery storage deployment could rise from 223 GW in 2025 to 3.8 TW by 2035, but that was said incorrectly. BloombergNEF’s executive summary says storage rises from 223 GW in 2025 to 3.8 TW by 2050, not 2035. Our apologies for the mistake. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    23 min
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About

THE PRESENT Our newly renamed podcast, Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast is all about radical hope and resistance in the age of climate disaster. This newest iteration of Solarpunk Magazine's podcast will launch it's first episode on Monday, January 27, 2025. On Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast, host Justine Norton-Kertson (founder and co-editor-in-chief of Solarpunk Magazine) envisions a world where humanity thrives in harmony with nature, equity and justice guide our communities, and creativity fuels solutions to our shared challenges. By imagining brighter futures and confronting current crises with resilience, we aim to cultivate hope and empower individuals to co-create a sustainable, inclusive, and thriving planet. Our mission is to inspire hope and action by exploring solarpunk ideas, sharing grassroots solutions, and amplifying the voices of change-makers who challenge dystopian realities. Through critical analysis, meaningful conversations, and creative storytelling, we provide listeners with the tools and inspiration to build a more just, equitable, and sustainable world while nurturing optimism in the face of adversity. THE PAST Our podcast began with the title Solarpunk Futures and has gone through a few different iterations. Starting in the fall of 2021, the original podcast ran for seven monthly episodes. Then beginning in fall 2022, the podcast was rebranded as Solarpunk Presents. That iteration was hosted by our then non-fiction co-editors Ariel Kroon and Christina De La Rocha. In January of 2023, Solarpunk Presents branched off on its own as a separate podcast, and in the spring of 2024 Solarpunk Futures came back briefly for a few episodes before going on hiatus for a reworking and rebranding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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