271 episodes

Face the climate crisis head on, but understand that we have the power to solve this. From former UN Chief Christiana Figueres and the team who brought you the Paris Agreement, this podcast about issues and politics will inform you, inspire you and help you realize that this is the most exciting time in history to be alive.

Outrage + Optimism Global Optimism

    • Science
    • 4.6 • 411 Ratings

Face the climate crisis head on, but understand that we have the power to solve this. From former UN Chief Christiana Figueres and the team who brought you the Paris Agreement, this podcast about issues and politics will inform you, inspire you and help you realize that this is the most exciting time in history to be alive.

    US Elections: Could Trump Surprise Us On Climate?

    US Elections: Could Trump Surprise Us On Climate?

    This week’s episode kicks off with Tom and Paul discussing the critical events shaping global democracy over the last week including Trump’s convictions, the first head to head debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer ahead of the July 4th UK elections and Modi’s unexpected election result. They provide thoughtful analysis of the question: how much is climate change impacting these global democratic events? 
    We also feature a brilliant conversation Christiana had with Ian Bremmer, President and Founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media where they discuss Trump and what his possible re-election could mean for climate action. Could a second Trump administration surprise us on climate? 
     
    NOTES AND RESOURCES
     
    GUEST
    Ian Bremmer, President and Founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media
    LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter (X) 
     
    Learn more about the Paris Agreement.
     
    It’s official, we’re a TED Audio Collective Podcast - Proof!
    Check out more podcasts from The TED Audio Collective
     
    Please follow us on social media!
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    • 46 min
    Cheaper, Faster, Better: How We'll Win the Climate War

    Cheaper, Faster, Better: How We'll Win the Climate War

    This week, Christiana, Tom and Paul bring the politics with a discussion on the upcoming UK election. Our hosts chat to Tom Steyer, Co-Executive Chair of Galvanize Climate Solutions, a mission-driven investment platform, about clean power S-curves, the Climate War and Texas. Christiana questions whether economic competitiveness will win over "political tentacles" in the urgent timeframe we face, particularly in the context of Trump's current position of advantage in the US electoral race. Tune in to hear what Tom Steyer and our co-hosts think.
    They also discuss Tom’s new book, Cheaper, Faster, Better: How We’ll Win the Climate War, in which he shares his own story and showcases the inspiring and innovative work of other climate leaders in the clean-energy transition. He shows us how capitalism can be used to scale climate progress, debunks many of the arguments made by fossil fuel companies, and calls on all of us to make stabilizing our planet part of our life's work. As green technology is fast becoming cleaner and cheaper, reshaping our planet's future--and our own--has never been more crucial or within our reach.
     
    NOTES AND RESOURCES
     
    GUEST
    Tom Steyer, Co-Executive Chair, Galvanize Climate Solutions and author of Cheaper, Faster, Better: How We’ll Win the Climate War
    Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter (X)
     
    Galvanize Climate Solutions
    Website | LinkedIn
     
    Proposition 23 Story on Wikipedia
     
    Leave us a Voicemail for our “How To Live A Good Life” Series
     
    Learn more about the Paris Agreement.
     
    It’s official, we’re a TED Audio Collective Podcast - Proof!
    Check out more podcasts from The TED Audio Collective
     
    Please follow us on social media!
    Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

    • 55 min
    The Pope’s Hope? Biden’s Tariffs and Jeremy Clarkson’s About-Turn

    The Pope’s Hope? Biden’s Tariffs and Jeremy Clarkson’s About-Turn

    On this week’s show….
    Christiana's Corner: Dive into the riveting insights from Christiana as she unpacks the recent CBS interview with the Pope where he declared "Climate change at this moment is a road to death." Discover why she believes stubborn optimism is our strongest ally in turbulent times.
    Paul's Perspective: Join Paul as he shines a spotlight on the pressing issue of green tariffs. Get ready for a deep dive into how these tariffs can revolutionize our approach to sustainability.
    Tom's Take: Brace yourself for a captivating argument from Tom as he advocates for the redemption of none other than Jeremy Clarkson. It seems his newfound role as a farmer has transformed his outlook on climate change…
    Tune in to this week's episode for a whirlwind of thought-provoking discussions and inspiring perspectives! 
     
    NOTES AND RESOURCES
     
    Learn more about the Paris Agreement.
     
    It’s official, we’re a TED Audio Collective Podcast - Proof!
    Check out more podcasts from The TED Audio Collective
     
    Please follow us on social media!
    Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

    • 41 min
    Trump's Oily Offer, Mobilizing Young Climate Voters and The State of Scientists

    Trump's Oily Offer, Mobilizing Young Climate Voters and The State of Scientists

    This week, with Tom away, our hosts are joined by Dr. Sweta Chakraborty, Climate Behavioural Scientist & CEO of North America, We Don't Have Time. Together they wrestle on the spectrum of outrage and optimism with the news of Trump's message to oil and gas executives, the part young people play in the climate vote and what impact the survey of IPCC scientists published in the Guardian had on the global community.
    Please remember to keep sending in your conundrums for our up and coming ‘How to Live a Good Life’ series. Email us at podcast@globaloptimism.com or send a voice message to Outrage + Optimism.
     
    NOTES AND RESOURCES
     
    GUEST
    Dr. Sweta Chakraborty, Climate Behavioural Scientist & CEO of North America, We Don't Have Time
    LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter (X)
     
    We Don’t Have Time
    Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter (X) | Instagram | YouTube
     
    Learn more about the Paris Agreement.
     
    It’s official, we’re a TED Audio Collective Podcast - Proof!
    Check out more podcasts from The TED Audio Collective
     
    Please follow us on social media!
    Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

    • 38 min
    Deceit, Small Thinking and Fiduciary Duty

    Deceit, Small Thinking and Fiduciary Duty

    This week, Christiana, Tom and Paul are back together and, as we continue to experiment with a new format, they each bring the topic they are feeling particularly outraged or optimistic about; listen in for discussions about deceitful campaigns by the oil and gas industry dating back to the 1960’s, small thinking in Europe and fiduciary duty with a capital F.
    And remember, we need your help. Be part of our new podcast series! We’ll be asking, ‘What does it mean to live a good life in a climate crisis?’ and we'd love to include questions and stories from you. While we are working to change systems, how do we also adapt our everyday lives - eating, traveling, parenting, working - to best fit with the demands of the times? Email us at podcast@globaloptimism.com or send a voice message to Outrage + Optimism.

     
    NOTES AND RESOURCES
     
    Learn more about the Paris Agreement.
     
    It’s official, we’re a TED Audio Collective Podcast - Proof!
    Check out more podcasts from The TED Audio Collective
     
    Please follow us on social media!
    Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

    • 40 min
    Movies, Mosses, and Stories to Change The World

    Movies, Mosses, and Stories to Change The World

    This week, Tom and Christiana are in Seattle recording in the Amazon studio where they are joined by special guest Kara Hurst, Chief Sustainability Officer at Amazon. Together they bring you an eclectic mix of topics of outrage and optimism ranging from the introduction of the Bechdel test for climate change, storytelling with the national geographic and mosses!
    The nature sounds that close the podcast come from One Square Inch located in the Hoh Rain Forest at Olympic National Park. Thanks goes to Quiet Parks International for allowing us to use the audio of this oasis of calm and quiet. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do! 
     
    NOTES AND RESOURCES
     
    GUEST
    Kara Hurst, Chief Sustainability Officer at Amazon
    LinkedIn | Twitter (X) 
     
    MUSIC / SOUND
    Gordon Hempton, Bioacoustician and Co-Founder of Quiet Parks International
    Instagram | Twitter (X) | Facebook
     
    Check out the full recording and more at One Square Inch.


     
    Learn more about the Paris Agreement.
     
    It’s official, we’re a TED Audio Collective Podcast - Proof!
    Check out more podcasts from The TED Audio Collective
     
    Please follow us on social media!
    Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

    • 50 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
411 Ratings

411 Ratings

Prairie Trixie ,

Informed AND Hopeful!

I’m a much much much more informed consumer of climate information because I listen to this podcast. And I’m a much much much more optimistic and thus active citizen because of its uplifting tone—great work!

Musing by Me ,

Thank you!

I just finished your book. Thanks, very scary but still a window of hope. Five stars for both the book and the podcast. I will try to share each. I am sure I have made a mistake. Please, know that the April 24th episode is the first in long time that felt something resembling optimism. Again.

JNU Mike ,

Favorite podcast

This is absolutely my favorite podcast. The expert hosts, Christiana, Tom, and Paul, interview a diverse set of change makers, and have a good analysis of the latest trends and news, and still have an emotional angle because there are reasons for outrage and optimism. Acknowledging both is crucial for our climate sanity. Thank you!

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