Best With Brian Czech Podcasts (2024)

1
The Hills Are Alive and Steady: Forced Growth in Beverly Hills 35:17

2+ y ago35:17

35:17

Beverly Hills isn’t the first place most people would think of harboring a steady-state government. Yet, led for three terms by past Mayor John Mirisch (who still serves on the city council), the enclave west of Hollywood has pushed back against the pro-growth strictures emanating out of the statehouse in Sacramento. This experience has turned Mr. …

1
Chris Matthews Uncut: Hard-Limits Hardball (Part 2) 27:52

2+ y ago27:52

27:52

In the second part of our conversation with Chris Matthews, the former Hardball host ponders the mixed legacies of Al Gore, George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, and FDR. He also shares his opinions on where to look for political support for the steady state economy, and which former president came closest to steady statesmanship.…

1
Chris Matthews Uncut: Hard-Limits Hardball (Part 1) 24:51

2+ y ago24:51

24:51

In the first part of a two-part special, Chris Matthews of MSNBC fame joins Brian to discuss the steady state economy. The CASSE signatory comments on his favorite episodes of Hardball, his recent book This Country: My Life in Politics and History, his insights as a speechwriter for Jimmy Carter, and the resource impacts of population growth. Tune …

1
Beat it Bitcoin, Here Comes Beetcoin! (with Woody Tasch) 33:52

2+ y ago33:52

33:52

For Woody Tasch, founder of Slow Money Institute, it’s all about balance. Every moonshot needs an Earthshot; diversity and efficiency; simplicity and complexity. That’s where the “deceptively simple” concept of Beetcoin comes in. Providing crowdfunded, 0% loans to organic and local food projects, Beetcoin is a challenge not just to the food system …

1
The Atlas of Disappearing Places: A View From 2050 (with Christina Conklin) 32:44

2+ y ago32:44

32:44

The future, as they say, is unwritten. But that didn’t stop authors Christina Conklin and Marina Psaros from speculating, in their acclaimed book The Atlas of Disappearing Places: Our Coasts and Oceans in the Climate Crisis. We spoke with Christina about some of the 20 locations covered, combining artistry with science, and seaweed. Can our culture…

1
In Memoriam — Steady Staters Who Left Us in 2021 19:49

2+ y ago19:49

19:49

In our first podcast episode of the year, Brian Czech takes a moment to remember some of the steady staters who left us in 2021: David Schindler, Valerius Geist, Mason Gaffney, Dick Lamm, Thomas Lovejoy, E.O. Wilson, and Lisa Vandemark. Brian lists their achievements, shares personal encounters, and reflects on life, death, and limits. Our conversa…

1
Extinction as Shakespearean Tragedy – The Romeo Error (with Chris Haney) 34:19

2+ y ago34:19

34:19

Heading into the holidays we take a rare optimistic detour in the world of conservation. Our guest is Dr. Chris Haney, President of Terra Med Applied Sciences, a public interest ecological research company. He and Brian discuss the fate of the ivory-billed woodpecker – the bird that keeps scientists guessing no matter how often it’s declared extinc…

1
Wetlands, Kitchens, and Abalone: No Steady States in Sight (with Ann Vileisis) 31:25

2+ y ago31:25

31:25

Ann Vileisis is an author and environmental historian, intrigued by stories of food, ecology, and the connections between the two. This week, Brian traverses his fond memories of Ann’s vivid wetlands book, Discovering the Unknown Landscape, as they discuss these often-misunderstood ecosystems. They also explore Ann’s other books on the loss of trad…

1
A Song for a Post-Growth Australia (with Michael Bayliss) 32:59

2+ y ago32:59

32:59

Michael Bayliss of the Post-Growth Australia Podcast likes all kinds of communication, whether it’s hosting thoughtful and conversational interviews, his communications role at Sustainable Population Australia, or spreading ecological messages with his band, Shock Octopus. This week, Brian puts Michael in the hotseat to discuss these projects, Bloc…

1
Divesting from Doom, Investing in Education (with Stephen Mulkey) 33:02

2+ y ago33:02

33:02

Stephen Mulkey from the University of Florida is known to some as “Dr. Doom.” Yet the “doom” is in the data; Mulkey is just exceptional at compiling and communicating it. A better title might be “Dr. Do.” Consider for example his pivotal role in the divestment movement. His vision for education in a sustainable world goes much further, too. Hear St…

1
Shrink Globally, Act Locally (with Helena Norberg-Hodge) 35:47

2+ y ago35:47

35:47

How should the past inform the future? How should the global inform the local? To get an idea, Brian chats with Helena Norberg-Hodge, founder and director of the long-running non-profit Local Futures. They discuss all manner of topics from the Economics of Happiness and the urbanization of India, to Noam Chomsky and the Localization Action Guide. T…

1
Sensible Scientists, Stable Planet (with Phoebe Barnard) 31:46

2+ y ago31:46

31:46

Our guest this week is Dr. Phoebe Barnard, CEO and Executive Director of Stable Planet Alliance, a new organization working to "bend the curve" on population and hyper-consumption. Brian and Phoebe discuss this budding alliance, the World Scientists’ Warning Into Action, and GirlPlanet.Earth, among other topics. If you want to know what forward-thi…

1
Catching Up with CASSE and a Book Review Bonus (50th Episode Special) 33:15

3y ago33:15

33:15

This week The Steady Stater podcast reaches its milestone 50th episode. To celebrate we’re doing something a little different: going behind the scenes of CASSE’s history, meeting its staff, and looking to the projects of the future. Plus, Brian shares some of his thoughts on a new biography of Herman Daly. Warning: The review is not entirely positi…

1
Sea-Level, Shorelines, and SLAMM (with Jonathan Clough) 35:47

3y ago35:47

35:47

This week Brian is joined by Jonathan Clough, one of the nation’s foremost experts on sea-level rise and its effects on ecosystems. Jonathan and Brian discuss the different methods for observing sea-level rise, the sophisticated SLAMM model, and the potential rates of sea-level rise we might expect. If you’re interested in how these important calcu…

1
Policy Design for Degrowth (with Timothée Parrique) 38:48

3y ago38:48

38:48

Timothée Parrique joins us for a record third appearance on The Steady Stater! Following previous discussions exploring the social limits to growth and the European degrowth movement, Tim and Brian discuss the final part of his dissertation "The Political Economy of Degrowth,” which focuses on policy design. That includes property, work, money and …

1
Observations of an Independent Sustainability Operator (with Sandy Irvine) 27:09

3y ago27:09

27:09

Sandy Irvine was a prominent figure in the early days of the Green Party of England and Wales and an Associate Editor at The Ecologist magazine. This week on The Steady Stater, Sandy joins Brian to discuss everything from supergrids to soccer, and Green New Deals to green old people. Sandy Irvine's Green Blog: https://sandyirvineblog.wordpress.com/…

1
Silent Sting (with Dave Goulson) 34:38

3y ago34:38

34:38

Our episode this week covers the delightful (and occasionally dark) world of insects with Professor Dave Goulson, author of the new book Silent Earth. Brian and Dave discuss fireflies, glow-worms, bumblebees and butterflies. They also discuss eating insects, cleaning up cow pies and what can be done to assist our tiny friends. Plus, is Dave the new…

1
Overpowered (with Richard Heinberg) 34:58

3y ago34:58

34:58

Richard Heinberg has written a lot of powerful (and power-themed) books throughout his career. But his recent release — simply titled 'Power' — is the one that he hopes to be remembered for. Brian talks with the Senior Fellow of the Post Carbon Institute about the role of power in shaping human history, the pathology of power, and whether we as a s…

1
Days of Possibility (with Laurel Hanscom) 35:54

3y ago35:54

35:54

The Steady Stater podcast returns for Season 2! Our first episode also sees the return of our very first guest Laurel Hanscom, CEO of the Global Footprint Network. Laurel and Brian discuss the 2021 rebound of Earth Overshoot Day, the #100DaysOfPossibility campaign in the run up to COP26, acknowledgements of limits to growth creeping into government…

1
Two Peas in a Podcast (with Dave Rollo and Heather Reynolds) 29:31

3y ago29:31

29:31

In a first for the Steady Stater, Brian hosts two guests at once. These guests have a lot in common: scientists, civic-minded citizens, organic farmers, and certainly steady staters. As a bonus, they happen to be married, which makes for a smoothly flowing episode. If you want to hear how steady statesmanship percolates at the local government leve…

1
Roaming the Halls of History (with Adam Rome) 26:03

3y ago26:03

26:03

Can we learn from history? It depends on the historian! Hear the erudite Adam Rome reflect upon the roots of American conservation (interesting take), the Progressive Movement, the Dust Bowl, FDR, the Great Suburbanization, Earth Day and more. Adam and Brian emerge from the halls of history to reflect upon the steady-state prospects for the 21st ce…

1
Food Hubs for Thought (with Sabine O’Hara) 26:31

3+ y ago26:31

26:31

Sabine O’Hara occupies a unique niche in ecological economics, with numerous titles to show for it. She’s also developed a dynamic research program at the only urban land-grant university in the USA. Listen to Sabine discuss with Brian her theory of production, urban food hubs, capitalism, and input:output analysis. Learn too about CAUSES, the Coll…

1
Geoff Molson and Brian Gionta on leadership, learning from the past, and how to win in Montreal 44:28

3+ y ago44:28

44:28

0:00 Intro 7:53 Interview with Geoff Molson and Brian Gionta begins 9:00 How the pandemic has changed Geoff Molson personally and professionally 10:30 What Geoff learned from former Molson owners of the Habs 11:00 Brian on learning from Hall of Famers and winning a Stanley Cup as a rookie 14:00 Geoff on buying the Canadiens as a 39-year-old and his…

1
The Population Balancing Act (with David Paxson) 29:11

3+ y ago29:11

29:11

The balance of nature. Balancing resources among nations. Balancing politics with the raw facts of overpopulation. Working in the population education field is a constant balancing act, and David Paxson has been on the tightrope ever since establishing World Population Balance in 1991. Listen to him discuss his voluminous insights with Brian Czech …

1
Backtracking the Ecological Footprint (with Bill Rees) 28:59

3+ y ago28:59

28:59

This week’s guest at the Steady Stater is a renaissance man in sustainability studies. Bill Rees conceived the ecological footprint concept, and helped develop the footprinting methodology thereafter. In this episode we explore the concept and do some “backtracking,” too, all the way back to Bill’s original thoughts. Brian and Bill also entertain t…

1
Chris Chelios on Stanley Cups, his time as a Hab, the Malibu Mob and bobsledding 1:02:30

3+ y ago1:02:30

1:02:30

Chris Chelios took a break from the beach to join Breezer and Chantal in The Alumni Lounge. The three-time Stanley Cup champ and Hockey Hall of Famer chatted away about his career in Montreal, reminisced about his former teammates and coaches, and the Stanley Cup parade in 1986. Chelios had stories for days and spoke about founding the Malibu Mob w…

1
Holey Bags, McMansions, and Other American Mysteries 18:27

3+ y ago18:27

18:27

Ever wonder why 50% of plastic bags have holes—and always near the bottom? What about Hummers; how in heck did those happen? Then we have McMansions, the NRA’s special Kuznets Curve, and “20 % off” everything, all the time! Let Brian Czech guide you through these mysteries of American life, as a bit of comedic relief inches the steady state economy…

1
Rolling Out the Doughnut Economy (with Kate Raworth) 32:10

3+ y ago32:10

32:10

Kate Raworth may be the most effective economic reformer today. Her vision of a “doughnut economy”—between the hole of poverty and the outer darkness of planetary overshoot—has rolled into Amsterdam and it’s not stopping there. If we roll it out into a “breadstick”—poverty below and overshoot above—does it amount to a steady state economy? Brian an…

1
Tomas Plekanec on turtlenecks, being a Hab and playing in the Czech Republic 50:08

3+ y ago50:08

50:08

0:00 Introduction 7:47 Plekanec on his turtlenecks 9:43 Raising his daughter 11:00 His sons love sports 12:39 Plekanec loses to partner and former WTA superstar Lucie Safarova on the tennis court 14:06 Living with a retired pro athlete 14:48 Playing hockey during the pandemic 16:12 Missing fans 16:30 Thoughts on playing pro hockey next season 16:58…

1
What Herman Daly Really Thinks About Markets and Capitalism 30:18

3+ y ago30:18

30:18

Herman Daly’s well-developed thoughts on markets and capitalism have been misunderstood and misrepresented among Marxists and undiscerning muckrakers. It’s time to set the record straight! Don’t miss this clarifying conversation between Brian and Herman. In addition to fascinating discussion about markets, market failures, and models of political e…

1
Why the CASSE Position Is So Important (with Madeline Baker) 11:30

3+ y ago11:30

11:30

Why such a fuss about a signable position calling for a steady state economy? Let us count the reasons. Follow along with Brian and guest Madeline Baker until you get to 10—you’ll probably think of even more!By Brian Czech

1
Alex Kovalev on acting, playing in Montreal, and living life to the fullest 57:42

3+ y ago57:42

57:42

0:00 Introduction 7:20 Beginning of interview 7:33 Kovy on his many nicknames 8:51 Living in Moscow 9:20 Transition to coaching 11:58 Turning to acting after retiring 14:54 Racing around the tracks with Breezer 17:00 Being a pilot 18:15 Being traded to Montreal 24:37 Favorite memories of being a Habs 29:45 Leaving home at age 14 34:43 Style of play…

1
CASSE's Position on Economic Growth (with Rick Tibbetts) 16:44

3+ y ago16:44

16:44

What’s a simple step anyone can take to support the steady state economy? Take a position! The CASSE position, that is. In this episode, producer Rick Tibbetts runs through the clauses of the CASSE position, while Brian “reads between the lines.”By Brian Czech

1
Exploring the European Degrowth Movement (with Timothée Parrique) 26:16

3+ y ago26:16

26:16

In this eventful episode, guest Timothée Parrique describes how his voluminous thoughts on degrowth are evolving, and Brian notes how the CASSE position on economic growth has adapted to include degrowth. As degrowthers and steady staters develop a unified front, the prospects for people and planet are palpably uplifted.…

1
Sheldon Souray on regrets, Habs fans, and life after hockey 52:44

3+ y ago52:44

52:44

0:00 Intro 3:15 Breezer on playing in two separate eras in Montreal 4:11 Boos and ovations from the Bell Centre crowd 7:20 Guy Carbonneau as a roommate 9:35 Sheldon Souray interview begins 11:39 Post-hockey life 14:48 Being traded to Montreal 17:20 Habs veterans lending a helping hand 19:17 Changing the course of his career and getting on …

1
Barriers to the Steady State Economy in the Media (with Tom Horton) 19:16

3+ y ago19:16

19:16

Why the glaring absence, in the media, of limits to growth? Why do we hear nothing about the steady state economy? The answers might surprise you. Listen to Tom Horton — long-time newspaper journalist and steady stater — discuss with Brian the Barriers to the Steady State Economy in the Media.By Brian Czech

1
The Hidden Cost of Suburbanization (with Ray Suarez) 24:36

3+ y ago24:36

24:36

"They paved paradise to put up a parking lot." From Joni Mitchell to Counting Crows — and of course CASSE — steady staters have lamented the surge of suburbanization. As Americans settle ever farther from urban centers, they significantly increase their carbon footprint and denigrate once-cherished pillars of community. In this episode, famed broad…

1
All Our Children: Soap Operas for Stabilizing Population (with Bill Ryerson) 26:52

3+ y ago26:52

26:52

Population growth is a tough nut to crack. Gender dynamics, religious beliefs, education systems, and cultural values have to be grappled with. Undaunted by this challenge, Bill Reyerson, founder and president of the Population Media Center, has dedicated over 45 years of his professional life to doing just that. In this episode, Brian and Bill tal…

1
Who You Gonna Call? Growthbusters! (with Dave Gardner) 22:39

3+ y ago22:39

22:39

If there's something strange in your economy, who you gonna call? Growthbusters! And that's exactly what we did. In this episode, Brian chats with renowned podcaster, conservationist, and director of the movie Growthbusters: Hooked on Growth, Dave Gardner, about advancing the steady state economy, his forays into local politics, and his laudable, a…

1
A Unified Theory of Biodiversity Conservation 24:19

3+ y ago24:19

24:19

Steady staters have something to say about biodiversity conservation. Brian Czech is a case in point, if not in spades. In this episode, Czech presents a “unified theory” of biodiversity conservation encompassing aspects of conservation biology, evolutionary ecology, ecological economics, and political science. Even the philosophy of science is not…

1
The Small Nation Solution (with John Bodley) 20:47

3+ y ago20:47

20:47

We've said it before and we'll say it again: Bigger is not always better. In fact, we would argue that smaller is often a better option, especially in terms of national economies! Renowned anthropologist and Regent's Professor John Bodley arrived at the same conclusion, and even wrote a groundbreaking book on the topic, The Small Nation Solution. I…

1
The Overpopulation Problem (with Leon Kolankiewicz) 24:40

3+ y ago24:40

24:40

Population stabilization was once a bipartisan goal that featured prominently in the environmental movement. Today, thanks to unfounded criticism and irrational politicization, population topics are taboo and serious discussion has been silenced. Luckily, iron-willed individuals like Leon Kolankiewicz remain vocal about the threat of overpopulation…

1
Is Money What You Think It Is? (with Ann Pettifor) 31:04

3+ y ago31:04

31:04

Money: Means of exchange? Unit of account? Store of value? In the 21st century, there’s way, way more to the story. Some of it might shock you; much might dismay you. But steady staters (and sound citizens) need to grasp the basics of modern money and the monetary system. Get a great start with Brian’s guest, Ann Pettifor, the steady staters moneta…

1
Exploring the Social Limits to Growth (with Timothée Parrique) 32:26

3+ y ago32:26

32:26

Degrowth toward a steady state economy requires an overhaul of our mental infrastructure. Few understand this concept better than Timothée Parrique, author of the groundbreaking dissertation, "The Political Economy of Degrowth." In this episode, Brian chats with Timothée about his revolutionary research, focusing on "growthism," social limits TO gr…

1
Special Episode: CASSE’s Take on the Insurrection at the Capitol 8:12

3+ y ago8:12

8:12

On Wednesday, January 6, 2021, a group of far-right radicals stormed the U.S. Capitol to prevent the congressional certification of Joseph R. Biden as president. At first glance, the insurrection had nothing to do with GDP growth, right? Yet further reflection leads us to connect some overlooked dots. A Trump-like obsession with growth is part of a…

1
Happy Holidays! Steady-Stater Style 12:48

3+ y ago12:48

12:48

2020 has been a trying year for us all. A global pandemic, racial reckoning, and presidential election barely scratch the tumultuous surface. Thankfully, 2020 didn’t only deliver duds. There is much to be thankful for! In this episode, Brian Czech gives an uplifting rundown of CASSE projects, initiatives, and organizational growth from the past yea…

1
Uncommon Sense: an Unconventional Book for Unprecedented Challenges 20:16

3+ y ago20:16

20:16

The time has come to reject the fuzzy notions that "everything will be okay" while populations grow and economies expand. Humankind is headed for misery and collapse if we fail to take unprecedented action to stabilize our footprint. Unfortunately, our brains didn’t evolve to deal with the 21st century. Frankly we need some “uncommon sense.” In thi…

1
Killer Chemicals and the Careless Economy (with Steve Sheffield) 23:28

3+ y ago23:28

23:28

How is our chemical-laden economy impacting wild animals and wildlife populations? To answer this question, Brian chats with renowned biologist, ecologist, and Professor Steven R. Sheffield. The two offer a rousing discussion on the detrimental effects that man-made toxins are having on innocent animals and how the runaway economy is fueling this i…

1
Deadbeat Dams: Saving the Colorado River (with Gary Wockner) 25:05

3+ y ago25:05

25:05

At some point in our lives, we've all received the patient advice, "go with the flow." But what happens when that flow is obstructed by dastardly diversions and deadbeat dams? In Gary Wockner's case, he gets a Ph.D. in environmental geography, writes countless articles, a book, and founds an advocacy organization, Save the Colorado, to help protect…

1
Six Policies for a Steady State Economy 18:00

3+ y ago18:00

18:00

You can't have a steady state economy without a smartly designed policy infrastructure. In this episode, Brian explains six policies that would bring any nation closer to a steady state: (1) the Full and Sustainable Employment Act, (2) cap-auction-trade systems, (3) luxury taxes, (4) salary caps, (5) population stabilization incentives, (6) phase-o…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

With Brian Czech Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide