Best Radio Anthropocène Podcasts (2025)

1
How to start your own golden age 28:38

1h ago28:38

28:38

History has many lessons for how to develop a successful civilisation. The trick is to understand the patterns that lead to optimism and innovation. So, where do we rate in the 21st century? Also, why all history is revisionist and why a healthy sense of revisionism drives a deeper understanding of the past, present and future. Guests Johan Norberg…

1
Australia and Canada — Strategic partners, but near total strangers? 28:38

7d ago28:38

28:38

Australia and Canada share much in common, politically, historically and socially. Why then do we know so little about each other? In a time of global uncertainty does it make sense for Canada and Australia to build a closer bond? If the two prosperous liberal middle powers worked together more closely, could they be a greater force for positive ch…

1
Reassessing the laws of war; and why progress isn't always a straight line 28:39

14d ago28:39

28:39

The International commitment to ban landmines is wavering. Several European countries are reversing their opposition to using them. The shift comes as disarmament negotiators struggle to regulate the spread of "killer robots" — AI-controlled autonomous weapons. So, is the future of weapons containment and control under threat? And are treaties sign…

1
198: Waxing Gibbous 14:51

15d ago14:51

14:51

A reflective flute, the slow moving, the low bass rattles, the echoes, repeating, the slow draw of a bow over a cello. A time of great potential.By john wanzel

1
Beyond the cloud — storing data in space 29:10

21d ago29:10

29:10

Researchers and corporations are already working to relocate data servers beyond the Earth's atmosphere — on satellites. Data servers are essential to the functioning of the modern world, but they're both power and water hungry. When they're built, they often meet with community concern and environmental protest. So, why not build data centres in s…

1
Forgetting, not memory, moves us forward 28:38

28d ago28:38

28:38

Forgetting is the only safe response to the world's problems, from a geopolitical perspective, according to author and journalist David Rieff. Sometimes it’s too dangerous to remember. And forgetting is also a good thing in your personal life, say scientists. It moves us forward. The science of memory is giving way to the science of forgetting. For…

1
Bitcoin boom or digital deception? 28:38

1M ago28:38

28:38

Donald Trump is establishing a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. He wants it to rival the country's stockpile of gold. He boasts America will one day be the "Bitcoin superpower of the world", but what's his end game and what will it mean for future global finance? Questions are already being asked about why he's chosen to largely deregulate the cryptoc…

1
197: Left to Right – Right to Left 12:17

1M ago12:17

12:17

Thinking back, talking a walk, and moving stones between pockets, stopGOstop is proud to present episode 197, Left to Right – Right to Left. One rock shifts to the left, one rock shifts to the right. Still I walk, still I move them, there’s been times… A multivoice monologue.By john wanzel

1
Can the oceans solve our carbon removal problems? 29:10

1M ago29:10

29:10

There's been growing research and investment in projects that use the oceans to artificially remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Such techniques involve both a biological and a chemical approach. To date, carbon removal technologies have been largely land-based, using giant air-purification machines, or planting trees to consume and store ca…

1
196: Tending to 38:56

2M ago38:56

38:56

I woke up some years ago… and I ain’t sure I ever went back to sleep. Time got slippery. Lost its shape. Like water in your hands—no matter how tight you squeeze, it runs down the cracks, leaves you cold and wondering what you were trying to hold in the first place. Episode 196: Tending to. A monologue, a soundscape, a continuation of a story, and …

1
YouTube turns 20; and the interesting side of boredom 28:34

2M ago28:34

28:34

YouTube is the second biggest website in the world, containing more than 14.8 billion videos. It's been a huge success, but its public image as a haven for influencers and digital monetisers belies its true character and role. Ryan McGrady from the University of Massachusetts takes us inside the online behemoth. Also, perspectives on boredom, its p…

1
Remember the Jevons Paradox! 28:38

2M ago28:38

28:38

We like to think that increases in efficiency lead to greater sustainability – to lower resource use. But from cars to computers to bitcoin, it seems the reverse is true – efficiency stimulates demand. It’s an oft forgotten rule of economics called the Jevons Paradox, and it might explain why the demand for almost everything keeps going up even whi…

1
195: To remember summer 16:52

2M ago16:52

16:52

Episode 195, To remember summer. Not the first summer on a calendar, but the first summer in feeling. The one that seemed to stretch on forever. The one that felt full of joy, play, and discovery. Maybe it was real. Maybe it’s just a mix of memories, TV shows, and time. The clatter and rush of a roller coaster, the soft conversation of the crowd, t…

1
The power and peril of the optimistic mind 28:38

2M ago28:38

28:38

Human beings have a bias toward optimism, says astrophysicist turned author and editor, Sumit Paul-Choudhury. While we may not always acknowledge it, the power of optimism is what drives our species forward. But beware of the modern craze for "Manifesting" — wishful thinking, no matter how intense, only has impact if it's married to action. Also, w…

1
194: From 32:26

2M ago32:26

32:26

It starts with just a few notes, a hum of a choir—soft, hesitant—and moves gently, the wind blowing in the distance, low, dark waves of sound roll through, like deep ocean currents under the surface. The calm is broken, light tapping, distant and unclear. Ocean waves roll in and out, soft and steady in the background, mixing with the low hum of a w…

1
AI's "hidden labour" and the move toward a linkless internet 28:37

2M ago28:37

28:37

Artificial intelligence, it turns out, has a heavy human backend — they're called "data labellers"; they mostly live in developing countries, and there are ethical questions about their pay and work conditions. So, why aren't we talking more about them? Also, Google and other search companies have begun replacing hyperlinks with AI summaries. It's …

1
193: Turn back now 26:47

2M ago26:47

26:47

Lunar Orbiter 4 Image of the Moon, NASA We return to the story of Jonas and Kellen, now millions of miles apart, sending messages to each other. A team in the endless emptiness, patching together their space stations, and finding more than they expect. Changes, rewritten, modified. THE START OF EVERYTHING.…

1
The roots of techno-authoritarianism 28:38

3M ago28:38

28:38

Does the spirit of the "Futurist" movement live on today in the likes of Elon Musk and America's intrigue of techno-oligarchs? The Italian poet and fantasist Flippo Tommaso Marinetti almost died in a car crash, and out of that experience was born the "Futurist" movement. It went on to inspire the fascism of Benito Mussolini with an energetic emphas…

1
Some challenges to conventional economic thinking 28:38

3M ago28:38

28:38

Does modern economic thinking act as a roadblock to change? Economists Kate Raworth and Rainer Kattel certainly think so. The alternatives they propose involve acknowledging limits not just obsessing about growth. And a caution from design and management expert Raz Godelink – it always pays to be skeptical when big business puts on the sustainabili…

1
Civility, trash talking and more sociable cities 28:38

3M ago28:38

28:38

It certainly feels like a very shouty world. But have we really reached a new low point in civility? And, if so, where to from here? We examine what civility really entails and how it can help foster cooperation but also lead to the submission of minorities. And did you know that even the design of our urban spaces can shape and limit acts of civil…

1
192: Motion, moving and no one owns it 34:11

3M ago34:11

34:11

It starts with a spark. A small thing, barely there. Just a flicker of heat, of energy, but it’s enough. Enough to ignite the mix of air and fuel waiting in the chamber. Enough to turn that tiny explosion into movement. Moving, moving, always moving, progress has a price. stopGOstop presents The Ones That Pay, a monologue series delving into labor,…

1
Limitarianism — could a cap on wealth reduce inequality? 28:38

3M ago28:38

28:38

When a company CEO can be paid 1,000 times the average employee's salary it's probably time to take a long hard look at wealth inequality. And those calling for the rich to pay more aren't always the ones you'd expect – Patriotic Millionaires is a group of mega rich individuals demanding greater, not lesser taxation. Then there's the Dutch philosop…

1
191: The quarter still spins 18:27

3M ago18:27

18:27

The work moves through my hands, at the end of the day they are empty. Who leaves here feeling insecure, the push and pull of deposits and debts, paycheck by paycheck, the machine hums, a life behind glass, counting, always counting. stopGOstop present The Ones That Pay, a series of monologues exploring labor, industry, and history. A mechanic refl…

1
Understanding attention and a craving for certainty 28:38

4M ago28:38

28:38

Are we really facing an attention crisis? Historian, Daniel Immerwahr, has his doubts. In fact, he says ours is an era of obsession as much as distraction and of zeal as much as indifference. Also, the paradox of certainty: we crave it, argues the University of Alberta's, Timothy Caulfield, even though it's so easy to fake. Guests Daniel Immerwahr …

1
190: Sitting with someone 26:49

4M ago26:49

26:49

When your past is too painful, you do what you can to carry it without letting it drown you. A life behind the counter, a life full of listening to others. stopGOstop present The Ones That Pay, a series of monologues exploring labor, industry, and history. A mechanic reflects on machines (ep. 192), a bank teller traces the life of money(ep. 191), a…

1
Flow Batteries, windships, and a new approach to off-grid solar 28:38

4M ago28:38

28:38

They're cheaper and safer than their lithium counterparts, they're easier to scale-up, and they can hold power for much longer than conventional batteries, so why aren't flow batteries better known? The technology has been under development for decades, but enthusiasts now say they're finding their place in the sun. Also, why more and more cargo co…

1
189: I used to walk faster 30:52

4M ago30:52

30:52

You pour a cup of coffee, you hand it to them and then its there’s. The neon hums, the coffee drips, a women turns a sugar packet in her hands. On a piece of paper in a court house somewhere the world shifts. You can’t just ignore things forever, but isn’t that what we do. stopGOstop present The Ones That Pay, a series of monologues exploring labor…

1
Modern museums, accountability, and openness 28:38

4M ago28:38

28:38

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London is opening-up its storeroom, turning the back end of the operation into a public resource. It's about attracting new patrons, but it's also about accountability, the Museum's managers have declared. Across the Western world museums are having to reexamine their mission and redefine the relationship they have…

1
188: I remember the line. 26:05

4M ago26:05

26:05

A voice in the dark, a man on a drive, the static of the radio… a diner at the edge of a highway, a cup of coffee. Driving, driving, always driving. When the moment becomes just another memory. The road hums. stopGOstop present The Ones That Pay, a series of monologues exploring labor, industry, and history. A mechanic reflects on machines (ep. 192…

1
Nuclear tombs and the distant discourse of danger 28:38

4M ago28:38

28:38

A series of massive underground tombs for nuclear waste are currently under construction. They've taken decades to plan and build and they're designed to house the world's nuclear waste for millennia to come. So where are they being built? How safe will they be? And how to devise a toxic waste warning sign that will make sense to people living tens…

1
The danger of generational labelling 28:38

4M ago28:38

28:38

Terms like "Gen Z", "Boomer" and "Millennial" are popular, but they have no basis in science. Demographers and social scientists are now pushing back. Generational labelling, they argue, is akin to Astrology and while politicians, journalists and media influencers find them irresistible, they actually promote pseudo-science, sew social division and…

1
187: A Thousand little promises 29:09

5M ago29:09

29:09

Tonight’s tale begins in the quiet hum of a clockmaker’s shop. A place where broken gears and forgotten hours find their second chance. But as you’ll soon discover, not all clocks are made to tell time. Some are built to trap it, twist it, or—if you’re not careful—bring it to a stop altogether. So, take a deep breath and listen closely. The gears a…

1
Could Utopian thinking save democracy? 29:08

5M ago29:08

29:08

Why does Utopian thinking get such a bad rap? It’s often derided as delusional and dangerous. But what if that stereotype is designed to limit our imagination and choices? We hear often that people are tired of democracy and turned off by short-term political thinking. So, is it time to be much more adventurous and ambitious – dare we say utopian –…

1
186: The Lights Out There 15:54

5M ago15:54

15:54

And then, there was the light. The fleeting, fragile light. A flicker at the edge of a memory, a dying sun at the end of a long shift. Ah, yes, the light—so stubborn, so fleeting, and yet it lingers in the cracks, doesn’t it? It reminds us that even in the moments we feel most lost, there’s a glow waiting for us. Not to save us, no—salvation is a l…

1
How to ensure privatisation serves the public good 29:06

5M ago29:06

29:06

Privatising public services like trains, hospitals or prisons — is a proven vote loser. But governments of both the left and right continue to privatise — when it suits them. And it suits them, it seems, when large sums of money are needed to pay down debt, or when a government seeks to off load risk and liability to the private sector. So, what co…

1
The vicious cycle of fear and anger — and how it traps society 29:08

5M ago29:08

29:08

Authoritarians rule through fear. We can clearly see that from China to the Middle East to eastern Europe. But why do we constantly overlook the way in which fear also shapes democratic societies? It's fueling populism and distorting our future focus. Then there's anger. It's inspired generations to man the barricades and right society's wrongs. Bu…

1
Algorithms create a dull conformity — off and online 29:08

5M ago29:08

29:08

Algorithmic feeds are meant to personalise our online experiences, but increasingly they're flattening our culture and fostering a dull conformity, according to best-selling author Kyle Chayka. And the influence they exert on our lives is increasingly physical not just digital. Also, data scientist Gloria Mark who has crunched the numbers on how ou…

1
The must-have skill for the future: Untangling unintended consequences 29:08

6M ago29:08

29:08

In our uber-connected world, the development and management of really anything is becoming increasingly complex. Planning for the future has to involve more than just grand ambitions, it also needs to be alert to unintended consequences. Otherwise things you didn't even dream about will go wrong and that can prove enormously costly. Part of the sol…

1
Nostalgia can make you vulnerable to manipulation 29:08

6M ago29:08

29:08

Nostalgia triggers our emotions and that in turn makes us vulnerable to manipulation. We speak with Richard King about the commodification and weaponisation of nostalgic sentiment. Also, New York Times critic-at-large, Jason Farago, on why he believes our cultural age might be the least innovative in half a millennium. Guests Richard King – author …

1
The artificial secret behind "natural food" 29:08

6M ago29:08

29:08

Most people want to eat better. And many of us have embraced the trend toward "natural" foods and conscious eating. We equate "natural" with healthy, nutritious and virtuous, but that can often be way off the mark. New research shows many healthy alternatives are anything but. And our embrace of the term natural is more about expressing identity an…

1
The role genetics could play in bringing down Methane levels 29:07

6M ago29:07

29:07

Methane levels are going up — not down, despite decades spent trying to reduce emissions from agriculture and landfill. But some countries are bucking the trend, we find out who and how. Breeding sheep and cattle to burp less is one way to reduce methane emissions. ABC Top 5 Science Residency recipient Luisa Olmo talks us through a genetic selectio…

1
185: You will never see the end of the road 15:27

6M ago15:27

15:27

Lunar Orbiter 4 Image of the Moon, NASA beyond the known, beyond the realms of Earth and its tethered horizons, maybe even beyond your comfort zone, to the silent reaches of the cosmos, stopGOstop is proud to present YOU WILL NEVER SEE THE END OF THE ROAD. This is a story of two brothers, twins, bound by more than blood and who have chosen to be di…

1
The cities that create rain; AI in warfare; and do carbon offsets really work? 29:08

7M ago29:08

29:08

The design of your city contributes to how much rain you get. Researchers have found a 'wet island effect' and it's likely to shape the future construction of our cities. Also, better understanding how Artificial Intelligence is used in conflict; and the major Australian study that calls into question the effectiveness of carbon trading. Guests Dr …

1
Do we need new rules of war as conflict takes on a cyber dimension? 29:08

7M ago29:08

29:08

Military spending around the world has reached a new peak, and it's still going up. All eyes are on Ukraine and the Middle East as new strategies and weapons are being put to the test. But are the traditional international rules of warfare too focussed on old technologies? Can they be adjusted to encompass cyber hacking and the use of online civili…

1
Whatever happened to...? 29:08

7M ago29:08

29:08

Sometimes, despite the hype, despite extensive funding, and despite clever and ingenious thinking, good ideas fail. Or at least don’t live up to their initial promise. There are lessons to be learnt and interesting anecdotes to be told. In this episode we look at four future-focused projects that have never really taken off: Google Glass, solar roa…

1
A declaration on future generations 29:08

7M ago29:08

29:08

The UN General Assembly has passed a Declaration on Future Generations. It’s designed to ensure the generations of tomorrow aren’t disadvantaged by the decisions we make today. But is it more than feel good symbolism? Could it one day be as powerful as the Declaration on Human Rights? Also, how a focus on the here and now restricts visionary thinki…

1
Robots in the home – friend or foe? 29:08

7M ago29:08

29:08

Robot vacuum cleaners are so innocuous, many people treat them almost like pets. But they're also potential portals into our private life. Story Lab journalist, Julian Fell, learns how to hack a robot vacuum cleaner and uncovers some disturbing facts about the security of connected household appliances. Also, acts of aggression and abuse committed …

1
Melting brains and climate anxiety 29:08

8M ago29:08

29:08

The heating climate is now recognised as a threat to our inner world – to brain health and rationality. Extreme temperatures not only impact our ability to think and our decision-making they also increase the presence of neurotoxins in the environment. And that can lead to disease and mental degeneration. We speak with the head of the newly formed …

1
Frozen frogs, tissues and cells — the health and environmental benefits of keeping it chill 29:08

8M ago29:08

29:08

Rana Sylvatica is an unassuming wood frog with an extraordinary gift. In the depths of winter, it can slow down its metabolism, flood its cells with ice and remain in a state of suspended animation for months. But it's what it might be able to teach us about preserving human organs for transplant that has scientists really excited. Also, the menage…

1
184: An interlude 6:04

8M ago6:04

6:04

I have been sitting here, longer than I can say. It started as just a pause to my day, but slowly, I stayed seated. the bugs at my window seem to be trying to reach the jade plants just inside. as I try to breathe the air. just outside. the light changes, my eyes adjust. the winds shift. I can see it in the trees. maybe tomorrow I will stand on the…

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Radio Anthropocène Podcasts

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