The Most Important Question

Important, Not Important
  • 4.7 (118)
  • 科学
  • 一周一更

Science for people who give a sh*t. Want to feel better AND unf*ck the world? The 6-time Webby nominee delivers deep conversations with the world's smartest people (scientists, doctors, CEO's, farmers, and more!), and digestible news updates every single week, to help you answer the world's most important question: What can I do? We're talkin' clean energy and coral reefs, COVID vaccines and pediatric cancer research, clean water and carbon capture tech, asteroid deflection and artificial intelligence ethics. "A vital service in an era where important truths, outright fiction and mere trivia all compete for your attention.” - Craig Mazin, creator, writer, and executive producer of HBO's Chernobyl Hosted by Quinn Emmett

  1. Running for Water (Because Shutoffs Are Immoral)

    11月3日

    Running for Water (Because Shutoffs Are Immoral)

    Chronically parched is not something anyone in this country or anywhere should ever have to feel, but here we are. So how are towns and states making clean water more affordable, reliable, and less controversial? 'cause remember, it's f*****g water. Look, you might feel like you're giving it all you got but when you look around things are a little dark out there. So you, our listeners and readers and viewers and users, whatever, across the world, want and demand more examples of fight and progress you can see and touch and feel, taste, and in these conversations, in this special series, in our partnership with our best friends that Run For Something, we're gonna do that. Each of these episodes features two guests both sourced from the Run For Something pipeline and graduating classes. First, I'll introduce one young elected official at the state or local level who has actually made real measurable progress on an issue facing more Americans than ever before, something that you'll notice. And then in the same episode, I'll introduce a bright-eyed candidate who's currently running for a state legislature for mayor, for city council, or for school board, who is similarly hellbent on attacking the same issue in their own hometown or their state. And for all you know, one of these could be in yours or near yours, or just have lessons that apply to yours. Today our topic: drinking water. You'd think it wouldn't be complicated or controversial, but remember folks, bad guys are real. Introducing our incumbent, State Rep Laurie Pohutsky is a Michigan born millennial microbiologist serving her fourth term in the Michigan House of Representatives where she serves on the Oversight Committee and is the Chair of the Progressive Women's Coalition. Laurie sponsored legislation that became Michigan's Clean Energy and Jobs Act of 2023. She's the co-sponsor of legislation to make polluters pay, which is always great, and to amend Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, which focuses on environmental cleanup standards and procedures, which would be stellar since, as you know, the EPA has, basically been abolished. Our candidate, Denzel McCampbell is a fine, young community advocate and native Detroiter, living and running for Detroit City Council District Seven. Denzel was born and raised in the east side and is a graduate of Michigan State University. He is dedicated to public service, to fighting day in and day out to increase access to democracy and representation for marginalized groups. He believes the Detroit city government should be a responsive government that uses its resources to ensure that every neighborhood is well resourced and that every resident is able to have the fundamentals. Two amazing humans fighting for water, and fighting for everything else. Let's find out what it means for their hometowns, for Michigan, and for yours. ----------- Have feedback or questions? Tweet us, or send a message to questions@importantnotimportant.com New here? Get started with our fan favorite episodes at podcast.importantnotimportant.com. Take Action at www.whatcanido.earth ----------- INI Book Club: a href="https://bookshop.org/a/8952/9781668054628" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    1 小时 2 分钟
  2. Running for School Meals (Because Learning Requires Eating)

    10月31日

    Running for School Meals (Because Learning Requires Eating)

    I think we can all agree that kids shouldn't go hungry ever really, but especially at school. You might feel right now like you are giving it everything you got, but when you look around, things feel kind of dark out there. So you, our listeners and readers and viewers across the country and across the world want, demand, need more examples of fight and real progress you can actually see and touch and feel and taste. And in these conversations, in partnership with our best friends at Run For Something, we're giving you exactly that. Each of these episodes features two guests both sourced from the Run For Something pipeline and graduating classes. They are the next generation of American leaders. First, I'll introduce one young elected official at the state or local level who's made real measurable progress on an issue facing more Americans than ever before, like food, and then in the same episode, I'll introduce a bright-eyed candidate currently running for state legislature, mayor, city council, or like today's guest, school board, who's similarly hellbent on attacking the same issue in their own hometown or state. And it matters because for all you know, it could be yours next. So first up again, today, our topic: school lunches. School breakfasts, after school meals for students and teachers and parents and caregivers and whoever needs it. Because without food teachers can't work. None of us can learn. Our incumbent, Jessica Spillers is a mom, a social worker, and an advocate with 12 years of experience in community mental health, the criminal justice system, and the government sector. She currently serves on the school board in Manchester, New Hampshire, and was named the New Hampshire Young Democrat of the Year in May, 2024. Jessica recently announced enough is enough and decided to run for Mayor of Manchester.  Our candidate, Talia Rodriguez is running for the Buffalo Board of Education West District to be the first Latina on the board. She's a mom, a nonprofit development professional, and community advocate. She holds a law degree from the University of Buffalo and a Master's in Public Policy. She has extensive experience advancing educational equity, food justice, and bilingual programs. Talia is committed to uplifting diverse families, supporting student-centered policies and creating safe inclusive schools that meet the needs of all children. I'm so excited to introduce you to these two amazing humans who are fighting for kids to have food. Let's find out what it means for their hometowns and for yours. ----------- Have feedback or questions? Tweet us, or send a message to questions@importantnotimportant.com New here? Get started with our fan favorite episodes at podcast.importantnotimportant.com. Take Action at www.whatcanido.earth ----------- INI Book Club: Creepy Pair of Underwear! by Aaron ReynoldsThe Bible and The Complete Poems of Anna AkhmatovaFind all of our guest recommendations at the INI Book Club: a...

    1 小时 9 分钟
  3. Running for Gun Control (In The Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens)

    10月30日

    Running for Gun Control (In The Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens)

    Maybe you feel like you're already giving it all you've got. You look around, and things are tough out there. You, our listeners and readers and viewers and users across the country and across the world, you're demanding more examples of fight and progress you can actually see and touch and feel, and in these conversations, in this series, in partnership with our very best friends at Run For Something, we're gonna give you exactly what you asked for. Each of these episodes features two guests, both sourced from the Run For Something pipeline and graduating classes, the next generation of leaders. In each episode, first, I'll introduce one young elected official at the state or local level who's made real measurable progress on an issue facing more Americans than ever before. And then in the same episode, I'll introduce a bright-eyed candidate currently running for a state legislature or Senate, governor, mayor, city council, or school board, who is similarly hellbent on attacking the same issue in their own hometown or state. First up today, our topic: gun control. As The Onion posts once a month, there's no way to prevent this, says the only nation where this regularly happens. But there are ways to prevent it. Not just school shootings or homicides or suicides or even accidental shootings in the home when a gun and ammo aren't stored safely or even fucking stored at all. We just need people in office who aren't cowards because we know what works. Our incumbent is Missouri State legislator, Ray Reed, endorsed by Run For Something in 2024. Ray was just in the news for a bold sit-in protest, refusing to leave the floor of the Missouri house for over a hundred hours after Republicans there attempted to convene a special session and push through redrawn legislative maps at the behest of Donald Trump. Ray is a St. Louis native, and he brings a wealth of experience in Missouri politics, having collaborated with notable democratic leaders like former Governor Jay Nixon and Senator Claire McCaskill. Next I'll talk to our candidate, Jazz Hampton. Jazz is running for Mayor of Minneapolis because he loves the city. It's not just where he lives. It is who he is. He is not only a lifelong Twin Cities resident, and a husband there, he's the father of three Minneapolis public school students. He has been an attorney there, an educator there, and a social justice entrepreneur. He has freed the wrongfully convicted. He has worked on advanced, affordable housing, protected civil rights, and created safer communities. Now he's ready to bring fresh leadership and unite Minneapolis after a hell of a decade. Two amazing humans fighting for gun control in very different places, in the only nation where this regularly happens. Let's find out what it means for their hometowns and yours. ----------- Have feedback or questions? Tweet us, or send a message to questions@importantnotimportant.com New here? Get started with our fan favorite episodes at podcast.importantnotimportant.com. Take Action at www.whatcanido.earth ----------- INI Book Club: 107 Days by Kamala HarrisDie With...

    1 小时 5 分钟
  4. Running for Transit (Because Your Commute Doesn't Have to Suck)

    10月24日

    Running for Transit (Because Your Commute Doesn't Have to Suck)

    Things are a little tough out there. So you, want, no need, more examples of fight and progress you can actually see and touch and feel. And in these series of conversations, in partnership with our best friends at Run for Something, we are giving you exactly what you asked for. Each episode features two guests, both sourced from the Run for Something pipeline and graduating classes, the next generation of American leaders. First, I'll introduce one young elected official at the state or local level who's made real, measurable progress on an issue facing more Americans than ever before. And then in the same conversation I'll introduce a bright-eyed candidate currently running for a state legislature, mayor, city council, or school board, who's similarly hell bent on attacking the very same issue in their own hometown or state. And for all you know, it could be yours. Or yours next, because you and I will find out together what they're working on and why, where they've made progress, where they've struggled, and how their exact tactics and strategies can be transferred to other schools, towns, cities, and states across the country. First up today our topic: transit. We need way more of it. We used to have more of it. We need it to be more reliable, and we need it to be more affordable. Our incumbent, New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes was born and raised in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Following Superstorm Sandy Andrew co-founded Bay Ridge Cares, an organization that prepared 25,000 hot meals for victims after the storm, and as a member of the Rider's Alliance, he organized and formed the Concerned R-Train Riders to fight for better service and demand handicapped accessible subway stations in South Brooklyn. Andrew also worked with Bay Ridge Advocates for Keeping Everyone Safe or BRAKES and successfully pressured lawmakers to allow speed cameras in school zones, a fight he continues to wage all the way to Albany.  Our candidate, Miranda Schubert is a candidate for Tucson City Council, Ward 6. Miranda works full-time as an operations manager, on-air DJ, producer, and youth broadcasting camp counselor at KXCI Community Radio. She serves on two City of Tucson Commissions, is the founder of Tucson for Everyone, a local housing and transit advocacy group, and helped form the transit for all coalition there. So you've got two amazing humans here fighting for more, more affordable, and safer transit, for more of our neighbors. Let's go find out what it means for their hometowns and yours. ----------- Have feedback or questions? Tweet us, or send a message to questions@importantnotimportant.com New here? Get started with our fan favorite episodes at podcast.importantnotimportant.com. Take Action at www.whatcanido.earth ----------- INI Book Club: The Power Broker and The Passage of Power by Robert A. CaroSaving Time by Jenny

    1 小时 9 分钟
  5. Running for Housing (Because Someone Has To)

    10月20日

    Running for Housing (Because Someone Has To)

    In a moment when the news out of Washington can seem untenably rough, when the gerontocracy that got us here won't give up their hold on power, when billionaires own every single media channel, when everything from housing to childcare to elderly care and healthcare have been made unaffordable, if accessible at all, and the question, what can I do? Can feel more fruitless than ever, I come bearing good news.  Look to the young people. Look to our school boards, our cities, and in many cases to our states, our country remains a promise unfulfilled on purpose. You need more examples of fight and progress you can actually see and touch and feel and beginning today in partnership with our best friends at Run For Something we are doing just that. Each episode of this new series will feature two guests, both sourced from the Run for Something pipeline and graduating classes, the next generation of American leaders.  First, I'll introduce one young elected official at the state or local level who's made real measurable progress on an issue facing more Americans than ever before. And then in the same conversation I'll introduce a bright-eyed candidate currently running for something like a state legislature, mayor, city council, or school board, who's similarly hellbent on attacking this same issue in their hometown or state. And for all you know, it could be yours. We'll find out together what they're working on and why. So first up today, our topic: more and more affordable homes for more of our neighbors. It’s a big one. It’s a complicated one. There are a million ways for us to chip away at being short 4 million affordable homes and good news, again, even if it doesn’t seem that way, there are a million incredible humans already doing the work in towns and states across the country. And I’m going to introduce you to two of them today. The first is our incumbent. Willie Burnley Jr. is a Run For Something alum who currently sits on the Somerville, Massachusetts City Council and because he is an overachiever, he is actually also running for Mayor of Somerville. Willie has firsthand experience with displacement, and he’s a fierce advocate for tenant rights and affordable housing initiatives, and he has made some real progress in Somerville. Next I’ll talk to our candidate. Kelsea Bond is a renter, community organizer, and union member running for Atlanta City Council. They’ve organized for everyone from Nabisco workers to Delta ramp workers, and they’re running on a platform to expand inclusionary zoning, abolish parking minimums, and among other stuff, to create an Office of the Tenant Advocate. Two amazing humans fighting more and more affordable homes for more of their neighbors, for our neighbors. Let’s find out what it means for their hometowns and for yours. ----------- Have feedback or questions? Tweet us, or send a message to questions@importantnotimportant.com New here? Get started with our fan favorite episodes at podcast.importantnotimportant.com. Take Action at www.whatcanido.earth ----------- INI Book Club: Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas a href="https://bookshop.org/a/8952/9781101972670"...

    1 小时 7 分钟

  6. 10月6日 · 附赠内容

    (Re)Introducing The Science of Fiction

    This week we're rerunning our 2024 episode with Maddie Stone, writer of The Science of Fiction blog, to celebrate the fact that Maddie has joined our team and The Science of Fiction now lives at Important, Not Important. The Science of Fiction explores the real-world science behind fictional monsters and alien planets, and stuff like that. Quinn and Maddie get into the reasons why The Science of Fiction was a perfect fit for Important, Not Important, and then we get into their conversation from last year. More on Maddie: Maddie is a prolific science journalist. She is a doctor of earth and environmental sciences. She's the former science editor of the technology website Gizmodo, and the founding editor of Earther, Gizmodo's climate-focused vertical. Maddie has edited articles for The Verge, Polygon, and Grist, and her original and award winning journalism has appeared in National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Grist, Vice, MIT Technology Room, Technology Review, and Drilled, and many other outlets we love and link to basically every day. ----------- Have feedback or questions? Tweet us, or send a message to questions@importantnotimportant.com New here? Get started with our fan favorite episodes at podcast.importantnotimportant.com. Take Action at www.whatcanido.earth ----------- INI Book Club: Not The End of The World by Hannah RitchieThe Right to Repair by Aaron PerzanowskiFind all of our guest recommendations at the INI Book Club: https://bookshop.org/lists/important-not-important-book-club Links: Subscribe to The Science of FictionKeep up with Maddie's writing, including her recent story holding Microsoft accountable to their sustainability pledgesCheck out the Climate Reality Check report from Good Energy Follow us: Subscribe to our newsletter at importantnotimportant.comSupport our work and become a Member at importantnotimportant.com/upgradeGet our a href="https://important-not-important.myshopify.com/"...

    1 小时 20 分钟
  7. The Answer is Always Run for Something

    8月18日

    The Answer is Always Run for Something

    Turns out it's our 200th episode. It has been a journey. The show is now called The Most Important Question, and I can't think of a better answer than just fucking run for something. What can I do about anything? Run for something. And so obviously the best guest to answer that question, is returning guest, Amanda Litman. If you are new here, she is the co-founder and president of Run For Something, which recruits and supports young, diverse progressives running for down-ballot office, state and local. Since launching in 2017, a hundred years ago, Run For Something has elected more than 1500 leaders across nearly 50 states, mostly women and people of color. She's also the president of Run for Something Civics, a 501C3 that works to end the gerontocracy. Shortly after launching Run for Something, Amanda wrote a book called Run for Something: A Real Talk Guide to Fixing the System Yourself, and she just published her second book called When We Are In Charge: The Next Generation's Guide to Leadership. It's wonderful. It's hugely instructive whether you are young or old and very brittle like me. It doesn't pull any punches at all because it's by Amanda. Anyone in any profession, in the year of our Lord 2025, whether this is the last year or not, will get something out of it, whether you are a leader or not yet. ----------- Have feedback or questions? Tweet us, or send a message to questions@importantnotimportant.com New here? Get started with our fan favorite episodes at podcast.importantnotimportant.com. Take Action at www.whatcanido.earth ----------- INI Book Club: When We're In Charge by Amanda LitmanFind all of our guest recommendations at the INI Book Club: https://bookshop.org/lists/important-not-important-book-club Links: Run, donate, or volunteer for democracy https://runforsomething.net/Subscribe to Run for Something's feel good updates https://rfsfeelgoodupdates.substack.com/ Follow us: Subscribe to our newsletter at importantnotimportant.comSupport our work and become a Member at importantnotimportant.com/upgradeGet our merchFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/ImportantNotImpFollow us on Threads: www.threads.net/@importantnotimportantSubscribe to our YouTube channelFollow Quinn: on Twitter - a href="http://twitter.com/quinnemmett" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    48 分钟
  8. Making Your Climate Dollars Count When Government Won't

    7月21日

    Making Your Climate Dollars Count When Government Won't

    Congress just jammed the brakes on America's clean energy boom, however short-lived it may have been. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law after a lot of debate in the House and the Senate and in public. It will wipe out most of the wind, solar, and EV tax credits. It's directing agencies to unwind renewable energy support, much less the mass electrification we need to do. These are changes the industry warns could kill new projects and spike electricity costs for homeowners and renters, and everyone. So what can I do to keep climate progress moving when federal policy just banged right into reverse? My guest today is Dr. Daniel Stein. He's the founder of Giving Green. Dan's team pours over mountains of evidence to steer every donated dollar toward the highest impact climate solutions. Exactly the kind of agile systemic work we'll need now that this brief shining window of federal support just got gutted. Stick around to learn how your strategic giving can still bend the carbon curve and how you can start actually multiplying your own impact today. ----------- Have feedback or questions? Tweet us, or send a message to questions@importantnotimportant.com New here? Get started with our fan favorite episodes at podcast.importantnotimportant.com. Take Action at www.whatcanido.earth ----------- INI Book Club: We Are Eating The Earth by Michael GrunwaldFind all of our guest recommendations at the INI Book Club: https://bookshop.org/lists/important-not-important-book-club Links: Find high-impact, strategic climate solutions to fund at Giving Green https://www.givinggreen.earth/ Follow us: Subscribe to our newsletter at importantnotimportant.comSupport our work and become a Member at importantnotimportant.com/upgradeGet our merchFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/ImportantNotImpFollow us on Threads: www.threads.net/@importantnotimportantSubscribe to our YouTube channelFollow Quinn: on Twitter - twitter.com/quinnemmett; Bluesky - bsky.app/profile/quinnemmett.bsky.social; Threads - www.threads.net/@quinnemmettProduced by a href="https://twitter.com/willowbeck_" rel="noopener...

    55 分钟
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Science for people who give a sh*t. Want to feel better AND unf*ck the world? The 6-time Webby nominee delivers deep conversations with the world's smartest people (scientists, doctors, CEO's, farmers, and more!), and digestible news updates every single week, to help you answer the world's most important question: What can I do? We're talkin' clean energy and coral reefs, COVID vaccines and pediatric cancer research, clean water and carbon capture tech, asteroid deflection and artificial intelligence ethics. "A vital service in an era where important truths, outright fiction and mere trivia all compete for your attention.” - Craig Mazin, creator, writer, and executive producer of HBO's Chernobyl Hosted by Quinn Emmett

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