4 episodes

For the first time in history, the activity of human civilization reaches into every corner of the globe. So significant is the role we play that our time has been dubbed the Anthropocene Epoch. This calls for self-examination at a new level. Conversation Earth presents insightful dialog with the leading thinkers of our time. Philosophy, ethics, science, psychology and economics, at a macro level, and all focused on humankind’s relationship with the planet.

Conversation Earth Citizen-Powered Media

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.8 • 10 Ratings

For the first time in history, the activity of human civilization reaches into every corner of the globe. So significant is the role we play that our time has been dubbed the Anthropocene Epoch. This calls for self-examination at a new level. Conversation Earth presents insightful dialog with the leading thinkers of our time. Philosophy, ethics, science, psychology and economics, at a macro level, and all focused on humankind’s relationship with the planet.

    Welcome to Overshoot: Have a Nice Day - 2020 Edition

    Welcome to Overshoot: Have a Nice Day - 2020 Edition

    The best scientific estimates tell us human civilization is in overshoot. Were you aware of this? Do you know what overshoot is? Earth Overshoot Day in 2020 is August 22.

    Computer modeling by a team of MIT scientists in 1972 estimated the scale of human activity on the planet would cause systems to fail within a hundred years. Such failure is expected when humanity’s footprint on the planet consistently exceeds its carrying capacity. Since 1972, study after study, and report after report, has warned we are in overshoot – the sum total of human activity is too much for the Earth’s ecosystems to bear.

    Since 2003, scientists at Global Footprint Network have been analyzing UN data and satellite imagery to estimate the planet’s capacity to meet our needs (biocapacity), and humankind’s footprint - or demand (ecological footprint) - on that capacity. Their analysis suggests we have been in overshoot since about 1970. Welcome to Overshoot explores overshoot’s causes, effects, and possible solutions, as well as some of the barriers to solving the problem.

    Reported by: Dave Gardner

    Interviews:

    William Catton, author of Overshoot: The Ecological Basis of Revolutionary Change
    Brian Czech, author of Supply Shock: Economic Growth at the Crossroads and the Steady State Solution, and executive director of the Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy
    Herman Daly, author of Beyond Growth: The Economics of Sustainable Development
    Paul Ehrlich, Stanford Biologist, author of The Population Bomb
    Kerryn Higgs, author of Collision Course: Endless Growth on a Finite Planet
    Ian Johnson, former World Bank vice president, former secretary general of Club of Rome
    Bill McKibben, environmental journalist, author of Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?, co-founder of 350.org.
    Dennis Meadows, lead scientist, The Limits to Growth
    Kate Raworth, author of Doughnut Economics: 7 Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist
    William Rees, co-originator of ecological footprint analysis
    Bill Ryerson, President of Population Media Center and Chair of Population Institute
    Juliet Schor, Professor of Sociology at Boston University and author of Plenitude: The New Economics of True Wealth
    John Seager, CEO of Population Connection
    Gus Speth, former chair, White House Council on Environmental Quality
    Mathis Wackernagel, founder of Global Footprint Network and co-author of Ecological Footprint: Managing Our Biocapacity Budget
    Rex Weyler, environmental journalist

    Links:

    Earth Overshoot Day
    https://www.overshootday.org/

    The Limits to Growth
    http://donellameadows.org/the-limits-to-growth-now-available-to-read-online/

    Conversation Earth
    http://www.conversationearth.org/episode-list

    GrowthBusters Podcast about sustainable living
    http://www.growthbusters.org/podcast

    • 51 min
    Welcome to Overshoot: Have a Nice Day

    Welcome to Overshoot: Have a Nice Day

    Since 1972, study after study, and report after report, has warned we are in overshoot – the sum total of human activity is too much for the Earth’s ecosystems to bear. Welcome to Overshoot explores overshoot’s causes, effects, and possible solutions, as well as some of the barriers to solving the problem. Featuring comments from William Catton (author of Overshoot), William Rees (co-originator of ecological footprint analysis), Kate Raworth (author of Doughnut Economics), Herman Daly, Paul Ehrlich and many more luminaries. (New episode 7/25/19)

    • 51 min
    End of Ponzi Economy: Jerry Mander (Encore)

    End of Ponzi Economy: Jerry Mander (Encore)

    Was globalization a temporary state that has run its course? That’s the case made by Jerry Mander, who believes there is plenty of evidence that the promises of capitalism, consumerism, individual wealth and never-ending growth are coming up empty. He’s founder of the International Forum on Globalization and author of The Case Against the Global Economy and for a Turn Toward the Local. He also wrote The Capitalism Papers: Fatal Flaws of an Obsolete System in 2012.

    Jerry Mander is in a unique position to understand the power of advertising to move us to act against our best interests. After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics, he ended up in the advertising business, eventually as a partner at a San Francisco ad agency. He managed several early ad campaigns for the Sierra Club, working with famed environmentalist David Brower. In 1971 he founded the first non-profit advertising agency in the United States, Public Interest Communications.

    Mander grew to realize the power of advertising was being used to preserve an unsustainable system that requires ever-increasing amounts of consumption. In response, he authored Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television in 1978. He founded the International Forum on Globalization in 1994 and continues to serve as a Distinguished Fellow.

    This conversation was recorded in Jerry Mander’s office in 2011.

    • 28 min
    Moral Revolution: Tom Shadyac Pt 2 (Encore)

    Moral Revolution: Tom Shadyac Pt 2 (Encore)

    Hollywood director Tom Shadyac traded a mansion and private jets for a mobile home and a bicycle. He had found the traditional trappings of success were not the key to happiness. After a successful Hollywood comedy career and a near-death bicycle accident, Tom eagerly shares his discoveries about life and happiness.

    In part two of a two-episode conversation, Shadyac discusses technology, morality, competition, success and politics.

    His documentary, I Am, explored what’s wrong with the world and what we can do about it. His book, Life’s Operating Manual, shares his observations about the true meaning of life.

    Learn more at http://www.conversationearth.org

    • 28 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
10 Ratings

10 Ratings

RoughWindOK ,

Over population

Most people in America are Homo terra-vorus. The rest of the small group of us are around some where near 5-15% of the population are Homo sapiens that truly care for nature and do active work to save the ecosystems and not purchasing crappy items that we do not use
and not have children or maybe one. I have given you at 61 age. I have tried to educate some many individuals but it’s like talking to a red clay brick. Jim Rodgers

Love my Community ,

Most thoughtful

Great to hear the thinking of some of the brightest minds. Should be required listening for every high school or college senior!

MattMcWilliams ,

GREAT JOB!

WOW… Conversation Earth Podcast is flat out awesome. Good production quality. Easy to listen. Very impressed. Keep bringing it.

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