Nature Breaking

World Wildlife Fund

Nature Breaking features interviews between host Seth Larson and experts on some of the biggest issues affecting people and nature, including climate change, habitat loss, endangered species, and more. Learn something new about nature and our planet in every episode. This podcast is produced by World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

  1. hace 5 días

    Living Planet Report: Wildlife Is Declining. But There's Hope.

    WWF's 2026 Living Planet Report finds that monitored wildlife populations have declined by an average of 73% since 1970. In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson sits down with Dr. Rebecca Shaw, WWF's Chief Scientist and editor-in-chief of this year's report, to unpack what that number really means — and why, despite the sobering data, this year's report is subtitled "The Science of Hope." Rebecca explains how the Living Planet Index works, why a global average can hide real bright spots (nearly half of all monitored populations are actually stable or increasing), and how species like tigers, bluefin tuna, Southern African elephants, and green sea turtles have rebounded thanks to decades of coordinated, global effort. She also introduces the report's concept of "positive tipping points" — using the global renewable energy transition as a real-world example of a system that has already tipped toward self-sustaining change — and explains why food systems and finance are still in an earlier "enabling phase," with tipping points potentially just years away. Links for More Info: Dr. Rebecca Shaw bio 2026 Living Planet Report  Chapters: 0:00 Teaser 0:42 Intro 2:19 What is the Living Planet Report? 3:57 This year's topline number: a 73% decline 6:12 Why "The Science of Hope"? 8:37 The green sea turtle recovery story 15:21 What are positive tipping points? 19:20 Renewable energy: a tipping point already underway 22:50 Food and finance: the next systems to tip 25:32 The $1.3 trillion nature finance gap 28:31 Why 2030 matters 31:23 Closing thoughts

  2. 1 oct

    Inside Climate Week: WWF's Panda House Recap

    Last week, WWF hosted its first-ever Panda House, a full day of panel sessions during Climate Week NYC — the annual gathering timed to coincide with the UN General Assembly, where leaders from across the climate and conservation world come together to debate ideas and push for action. In this special recap episode, host Seth Larson and WWF's Sarah Wilson bring you inside Panda House, with a series of short conversations recorded live between panel sessions. The day's discussions spanned carbon markets, tropical forest protection, and ocean conservation, but one theme ran through the day: finance. In other words, how do we raise the funds required to conserve nature at scale? In this episode you'll hear from: Andrew Deutz, WWF's Managing Director of Global Policy and Partnerships, about the newly released Financing Nature 2026 report that WWF co-released with The Nature Conservancy and the Paulson Institute; Stephanie Cappa, WWF's Director of Policy and Government Affairs, about the Tropical Forest Forever Facility; and John Morton, WWF's Executive Managing Director for Nature Finance & Investment, about carbon markets, how Climate Week has changed over the years, and what gives him hope for the future. Together, these conversations offer a snapshot of where the nature finance conversation stands today, and what it will take to close the gap between what's being spent and what's actually needed. Links for More Info: REPORT: Financing Nature 2026 Andrew Deutz bio Stephanie Cappa bio John Morton bio Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:04 Andrew Deutz on the Financing Nature 2026 report 4:23 Stephanie Cappa on the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) 8:06 John Morton on carbon markets and more 11:52 Outro

  3. 8 sep

    Unwrapped: The Plastic Crisis (Part 3) | Turning Awareness Into Action

    The plastic crisis isn't too big to solve — but solving it will take all of us. In the third and final episode of Unwrapped: The Plastic Crisis, our three-part miniseries from Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson and WWF plastics expert Erin Simon turn from the past and present to the future — exploring what it will actually take to build a world where plastic doesn't end up polluting our oceans, our communities, and even our own bodies. Joining the conversation is Carissa Cabrera, a marine biologist, climate activist, and CEO of FutureSwell, who has built a massive platform helping everyday people see themselves as part of the solution to ocean and climate issues. Carissa shares what she's learned building community around plastic pollution in Hawaii, why authentic messengers matter more than viral moments, and what gives her hope even when progress feels slow. This episode is about closing the gap between knowing there's a problem and believing you can be part of the solution. Links for More Info: Carissa Cabrera bio FutureSwell WWF Plastics page Chapters: 0:00 Can I recycle this? (cold open) 1:15 Seth and Erin explain the episode 4:26 Meet Carissa Cabrera of Future Swell 7:24 What stories resonate to drive action? 12:55 How to convey urgency and hope at once 17:02 Local versus global advocacy 22:43 Reaching people outside the environmental bubble 27:35 Envisioning a future without plastic pollution 41:49 Series wrap-up and closing thoughts

  4. 25 ago

    Unwrapped: The Plastic Crisis (Part 2) | Can Companies Fix Plastic Pollution?

    The world's plastic problem won't be solved by good intentions alone. In part two of Unwrapped: The Plastic Crisis, our special three-part miniseries from Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson and WWF plastics expert Erin Simon shift from the past to the present—digging into what's actually being done right now to tackle plastic pollution, and where those efforts are falling short. Joining the conversation is Jeff Bezzo of SC Johnson, one of the world's largest household product companies, who works at the intersection of sustainability and business strategy. Jeff pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes for a 130-year-old company to rethink packaging at scale, and why voluntary corporate action can only go so far without policy to back it up. Together, they explore: The hidden reasons some plastic gets recycled and some doesn't How Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) works, and why it's gaining momentum across the US What SC Johnson has learned from real-world experiments with refill and reuse systems Why global companies are increasingly asking for consistent policy, not just goodwill The honest tensions between sustainability goals and business realities This episode is about the messy middle of solving a global crisis—where companies, policymakers, and consumers all have a role to play, and where progress depends on getting the incentives right. Links for More Info: Jeff Bezzo bio WWF Plastics page ACT: Tell Global Leaders You Want a Future With Less Plastic Chapters: 0:00 Can I recycle this? (cold open) 0:51 Intro 1:23 Episode overview 4:10 Jeff Bezzo on SC Johnson's sustainability journey 8:28 How SC Johnson is rethinking plastic packaging 13:28 What makes a product "worth" recycling? 17:10 What is EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility)? 19:56 Recycling alternatives: reuse/refill, concentrates, etc. 27:05 Balancing sustainability goals with cost pressures 35:02 Jeff's reasons for hope 37:07 Closing thoughts from Seth and Erin

  5. 11 ago

    Unwrapped: The Plastic Crisis (Part 1) | The Origins of Plastic Pollution

    Plastic pollution didn't happen overnight. In the first episode of Unwrapped: The Plastic Crisis, a special three-part miniseries from Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson and WWF plastics expert Erin Simon take a step back to examine how we got here—and why solving this crisis requires understanding the decisions that shaped it. Joining the conversation is Dr. Jenna Jambeck, the University of Georgia researcher whose landmark 2015 study was the first to quantify how much plastic enters the ocean each year. Her work transformed our understanding of plastic pollution and helped shift the conversation from cleanup to prevention.  Together, they explore: Where plastic comes from and why it became so ubiquitous The surprising history of recycling—and why it can't keep up How plastic pollution became a global environmental challenge What Jenna's groundbreaking research revealed about plastic entering the ocean Why scientists, policymakers, businesses, and communities are increasingly focused on the root causes of the problem This episode is about more than plastic—it's about how societies make decisions, how systems evolve, and what we can learn from the past as we work toward a future with less waste and healthier ecosystems. Links for More Info: Dr. Jenna Jambeck bio WWF Plastics page ACT: Tell Global Leaders You Want a Future With Less Plastic Chapters: 0:00 Can I recycle… a plastic grocery bag? 0:42 Intro 1:52 What is plastic? 3:52 Why are so many products made from plastic? 5:11 How big is the plastic crisis today? 6:32 Miniseries overview 9:00 Dr. Jenna Jambeck explains her landmark 2015 report 14:03 What prompted Dr. Jambeck's research? 17:00 Why is plastic so hard to recycle? 24:56 What mistakes led to our current crisis? 28:44 The Marine Debris Tracker app 34:26 Dr. Jambeck's key lessons 38:08 Closing thoughts from Seth and Erin

  6. 14 jul

    What Animal Names Reveal About Humanity

    Why do we call an elephant an elephant? Why did the narwhal become known as the "unicorn of the sea"? How did the praying mantis help to inspire kung fu in ancient China? And what can the names we give to animals tell us about ourselves as people? In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson sits down with bestselling author, conservationist, and WWF board member T.A. Barron to discuss his new book, Naming Nature. Drawing on languages, folklore, mythology, and cultural traditions from around the world, the book explores the fascinating stories behind the names of plants, animals, and landscapes—and what those names reveal about humanity's relationship with the natural world. Tune in to hear how an oak tree near Oxford, England helped inspire T.A.'s passion for writing, how he developed the concept for Naming Nature, and how a run-in with a former NFL quarterback prompted him to reflect on what really matters in life. Links for More Info: T.A. Barron bio Naming Nature Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:22 Intro 1:29 T.A. Barron on the power of storytelling 4:05 How an Oak Tree near Oxford inspired his writing career 8:27 How T.A.'s mother influenced his career 9:53 What inspired T.A. to write Naming Nature 15:03 How elephants got their name 22:06 How narwhals got their name 26:37 How hummingbirds got their name 29:11 How naming an animal can lead to its conservation 33:04 Meeting NFL quarterback Andrew Luck 36:40 Life advice from T.A. 41:22 Outro

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Nature Breaking features interviews between host Seth Larson and experts on some of the biggest issues affecting people and nature, including climate change, habitat loss, endangered species, and more. Learn something new about nature and our planet in every episode. This podcast is produced by World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

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