Best Special Menu Productions Podcasts (2024)

1
Decarbonizing our production 21:04

2d ago21:04

21:04

How do we manufacture our products? What energy sources do we use? How do we transport goods and how do we package them? All these questions need to be answered as we try to decarbonize the world's manufacturing industries and reach the Paris Agreement goals for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. In this episode we dive into the challenges f…

1
Democracy and dictatorship in a digital world 28:49

16d ago28:49

28:49

Internet, smartphones, and now artificial intelligence - the digital revolution has made us more connected, given us better access to information and led to greater transparency. Digital tools are used to promote international peace, security, and democracy, but at the same time, authoritarian regimes are becoming increasingly good at navigating th…

1
COP28-special: Reimagining food systems 23:04

2M ago23:04

23:04

The entrepreneur Ada Osakwe is the founder of the fastest-growing sustainable fast-food chain in Nigeria. She is also advising politicians and other decisionmakers on how to improve the infrastructure for food production in the Global South. Listen as Ada sits down with the Estonian Climate Youth Delegate, Anna Celine Kraus, to talk about the compl…

1
COP28-special: Achieving a gender just transition for all 33:50

3M ago33:50

33:50

Founder and CEO of Springs of ASAL, Mana Omar, has first-hand experience with gender inequality in climate vulnerable communities. In a sit-down with the Norwegian Youth Delegate, Amalie Holmefjord, she tells her story of growing up in a pastoralist community in Kenya and the challenges that came with it. Listen as Mana and Amalie talk about Mana's…

1
COP28-special: Climate justice for Rosa 30:55

3M ago30:55

30:55

Benjamin Van Bunderen Robberechts lost his friend Rosa in the floods in Belgium in 2021. After this tragedy, he founded the initiative "Climate Justice for Rosa", which has sparked worldwide attention and contributed to an EU Day for the Victims of the Global Climate Crisis. Listen as the 17-year-old Belgian sits down with Danish Youth Delegates, L…

1
COP28-special: Tackling the triple planetary crisis 33:28

3M ago33:28

33:28

As a child, Rose Kobusinge from Uganda experienced how longer and longer periods of drought affected her local community and their livelihoods. But it wasn't until she started university that she realized the severity of the climate crisis. Today she's a climate activist, pushing for the integration of the multiple planetary crisis into the curricu…

1
COP28-special: Collaborating for climate justice 26:11

3M ago26:11

26:11

Last year Agustín Ocaña from Ecuador quit his job to become a full-time advocator for the education of the world's youth as a way of fighting for the climate. Today, Agustín is head of the Global Youth Coalition – facilitating the collaboration between thousands of young people in the global North and South, teaching them to be changemakers. Listen…

1
Building with nature's help 24:51

4M ago24:51

24:51

Can lava from volcanoes be transformed into house walls? And can we use fungi to clean areas in our cities from toxic waste? The answer to both questions is yes – at least at some point in the future. These are just a few of the innovative ideas coming from the growing number of architects looking for alternative ways to build and design our cities…

1
The menu of tomorrow 28:10

5M ago28:10

28:10

A global shift to a more sustainable diet is needed to reduce the major impact that food production has on our planet. Right now the global food system is responsible for 30 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, while at the same time a third of all the food produced is wasted. Can we rethink what we eat and where it comes from? Can tech…

1
Earth-friendly fashion 19:09

5M ago19:09

19:09

Clothing production has doubled worldwide over the last 15 years and has today a huge negative environmental and social footprint. The global fashion industry is not only the third most polluting industry, responsible for 8-10 percent of the world’s carbon emissions, but it’s also notorious for low wages and poor working conditions. Without a signi…

1
Green gold rush on Indigenous land 22:02

8M ago22:02

22:02

Imagine a picture-perfect future where clean energy projects have replaced damaging non-renewable energy sources. With many of the new green projects being built all over the world, we are slowly approaching this goal. However, while massive wind farms and solar panel parks are being built, there is a pressing issue to be addressed. What about the …

1
Striving for gender equality in the media 20:04

8M ago20:04

20:04

Despite progress towards gender equality, women's voices remain underrepresented in the mainstream media, where male domination has been the norm for decades. But the tide is turning, and in this episode, we explore why fair gender representation in the media is vital for a more equitable society. We'll look at inspiring examples of how countries a…

1
2030: A deadline for sustainable change 23:15

10M ago23:15

23:15

Do you sometimes wonder if the world is making progress on reaching the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? Are we succeeding in securing a better and more sustainable future for the planet and future generations? Now is a good time for a status update - the goals were agreed in 2015, so we are already halfway to the deadline of 2030. In this …

1
Energy security in a new geopolitical reality 21:03

10M ago21:03

21:03

The war in Ukraine and the resulting energy crisis shocked Europe into realizing the risks of relying on imported gas and oil. As a result, many countries, including the Nordics, are asking themselves how they can become more self-sufficient and speed up the transition to locally produced renewable energy. In this episode, we take a closer look at …

1
Civil defense and resilient societies 18:47

11M ago18:47

18:47

What happens when a country that has lived in peace for decades needs to defend itself? While governments may be able to obtain military hardware quickly, many forget the equally vital role played by civil defense. In this episode, we examine the importance of involving civil society in resisting threats – whether there is a military threat or thre…

1
Finding common ground in diverse cities 27:55

12M ago27:55

27:55

The different neighborhoods, and their unique atmosphere, is what makes cities across the world so interesting. However, there is a pitfall to this uniqueness, as it can end up creating further division between neighborhoods. Especially when residents have less and less contact with others due to the physical infrastructure of the city. In this epi…

1
Skills of tomorrow – what should children learn? 16:03

1y ago16:03

16:03

Reading, writing, and arithmetic. These are the essential skills that children learn in schools around the globe. But the world is changing rapidly and children will need additional skills to help them tackle pressing issues such as inequality and the climate crisis. In this episode, we explore how we best can equip and prepare our children for the…

1
Compensating for climate damage 23:47

1y ago23:47

23:47

Hurricanes, floods, and drought. These extreme weather events are hitting the world's poorer countries more and more often due to climate change - much of which is caused by richer countries. But in the future, developing countries will receive compensation for this damage. Work is under way to set up a worldwide fund to provide financial assistanc…

1
Ukraine-special: Voices of the future 29:30

1y ago29:30

29:30

Has Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine destroyed any hope of dialogue between Russians and Ukrainians? Or is there still an opportunity for peace, understanding, and trust through dialogue in the future? In three special episodes of the Nordic Talks podcast, we let people talk to people. Can we create dialogue? How can we facil…

1
Ukraine-special: The difficult dialogue 29:24

1y ago29:24

29:24

Has Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine destroyed any hope of dialogue between Russians and Ukrainians? Or is there still an opportunity for peace, understanding, and trust through dialogue in the future? In three special episodes of the Nordic Talks podcast, we let people talk to people. Can we create dialogue? How can we facil…

1
Ukraine-special: People to people – in the time of war 28:47

1y ago28:47

28:47

Has Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine destroyed any hope of dialogue between Russians and Ukrainians? Or is there still an opportunity for peace, understanding, and trust through dialogue in the future? In three special episodes of the Nordic Talks podcast, we let people talk to people. Can we create dialogue? How can we facil…

1
All aboard the digital train 18:53

1+ y ago18:53

18:53

Did anyone ever tell you that the future is digital? It's a phrase you've probably heard many times over. But what happens in reality when governments around the world try to kickstart the digital transformation of their societies? How do we make sure no one is left behind? And how do you make people feel safe entrusting sensitive data to the autho…

1
COP27-special: Now what? 44:12

1+ y ago44:12

44:12

We came to COP27 with a sense of urgency, as we know from science that we are already running out of time. Technological fixes are certainly not enough - we need deep systemic change within every sector. Recently the pandemic showed us that it is possible to respond rapidly to a worldwide crisis. So, can we use this ability to fight the climate cri…

1
COP27-special: Paving the way for behavioral change 28:51

1+ y ago28:51

28:51

Is the fight against climate change now seen as so urgent, that it will move humanity towards a more sustainable and just world? Or will we continue to head towards further destruction of biodiversity and natural resources, which are both so important for peace and prosperity? Are today’s parliamentarians able to make the decisions needed to pave t…

1
COP27-special: Arctic societies in transistion 32:05

1+ y ago32:05

32:05

The Arctic has warmed three times quicker than the planet as a whole, and up North the effects of the climate changes are visible already today. How can Arctic societies be agents of change in the green transition? How do Arctic societies adapt to climate change? And what pathways are possible for sparsely inhabited areas with vast distances and a …

1
COP27-special: Clean cooking 21:42

1+ y ago21:42

21:42

How do we improve people's health by decreasing exposure to black carbon, reduce carbon emissions, prevent deforestation, and promote gender equality by empowering women? Well, it's actually all about clean cooking. But more than 4 billion people globally, including almost 900 million people in Sub-Saharan African countries, lack access to modern a…

1
COP27-special: Regenerative cities 29:34

1+ y ago29:34

29:34

How can we reimagine our cities for a regenerative transformation? To regenerate means not only to do less harm, but to become a positive force that restores, renews, and regrows. In this special episode of the Nordic Talks podcast, recorded at COP27 in Egypt, we will explore how we can create a regenerative world that works within the planetary bo…

1
COP27-special: Purpose finance 29:28

1+ y ago29:28

29:28

How can we accelerate our fight for the climate through climate finance and market mechanisms? Can we succeed in changing the way we think, create, and invest in new projects? And how can purpose investments from the private sector and voluntary compensation work as new ways of accelerating the change? This is discussed by Jon Johnsen, CEO of the p…

1
Art, culture & sustainable minds 21:45

1+ y ago21:45

21:45

It turns out that building social cohesion in your local community can in itself have a significant impact on levels of climate action. This is one of the findings from the Nordics, where several experiments are taking place using art and culture to trigger new ways of thinking and create change. In this episode, we look at how artists, grassroots …

1
Happiness at work 23:17

1+ y ago23:17

23:17

How can I be happy at work? It seems that more and more people worldwide are asking themselves precisely this question. The COVID-19 pandemic especially made many of us reflect on the work-life balance and ask whether there is more to life than work. In this episode, we look at important questions surrounding working life today. How to improve your…

1
Sailing green from port to port 19:53

1+ y ago19:53

19:53

Did you know that over 80 percent of goods traded internationally are transported by sea? This makes the shipping sector a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, but efforts to reduce its carbon footprint are under way. Green shipping corridors - routes between ports where all transport is emission-free - are part of the new wa…

1
Black rights on the global agenda 23:29

1+ y ago23:29

23:29

The Black Lives Matter movement was propelled into the global spotlight as protests spread following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. Having started as a grassroots movement protesting racially motivated violence and police brutality in the United States, Black Lives Matter has now grown into an international soci…

1
Can green be fair? 24:16

1+ y ago24:16

24:16

The world urgently needs to move to green energy for the sake of the climate. But what if scrapping fossil fuels means that you lose your job or face rising living costs? Tradeoffs like these pose a major dilemma for the politicians, activists, and businesses leading the green transition, who are now asking how the switch to cleaner energy can be m…

1
Undoing digital abuse of women 21:19

2y ago21:19

21:19

Women are increasingly bearing the brunt of digital abuse. The rise of social media platforms has created greater opportunities for hate against women to make its way online. This abuse can be devastating for those targeted and it also has direct negative consequences for women's democratic participation. In this episode, we'll examine what's behin…

1
Library evolution 24:47

2y ago24:47

24:47

What do you think of when you hear the word library? Maybe you think of a building full of books - a place to explore other worlds and perspectives. But in the 21st century libraries have become much more than that. They mirror society and reflect the developments occurring in the surrounding world. In some libraries, you can now even borrow a so-c…

1
Saving the Arctic 32:45

2y ago32:45

32:45

The ice is melting, the flora and fauna are changing, and people's ways of life are at risk. In the Arctic's, inhabitants have first-hand experience of the consequences of climate change. This is one of the reasons why the Nordic countries have stepped up to the plate to address the climate crisis and why they are working hard to persuade other cou…

1
The rural way 24:42

2y ago24:42

24:42

When COVID-19 hit with its lockdowns and foreign travel restrictions, did you suddenly feel drawn to life somewhere more remote? If so, you weren't alone. Rural areas around the world suddenly found themselves overwhelmed with visitors, and in some cases, this influx even overpowered the infrastructure. But on the other side, as people got more ope…

1
Reinventing trust 30:30

2y ago30:30

30:30

The world is suffering from a second worrying pandemic – not COVID-19, but a major outbreak of distrust: Accusations of fake news and lies, general disregard for the facts, and freely circulating conspiracy theories. All this doubt makes it difficult to implement policies for the common good needed, for example, in the fight against COVID-19. Here …

1
Growing liveable cities in Africa 23:01

2y ago23:01

23:01

Africa's total population is expected to almost double to nearly 2.5 billion by 2050, where roughly half will be living in urban areas. Urbanization is at the heart of development on the African continent, where currently 17 of the world's 20 fastest-growing cities are located. While urbanization comes with many challenges, it also offers great opp…

1
The green pension pot 32:06

2y ago32:06

32:06

Did you know that your pension can be a powerful weapon in the fight against climate change? However small your pension pot, when pooled together with the savings of hundreds of thousands of other people, it can have a major impact. And the impact is growing as large amounts of money from both private and public funds are increasingly invested in g…

1
Let’s talk about sex 29:21

2+ y ago29:21

29:21

A woman’s right to decide over her own body is a cornerstone of gender equality and sustainable development but remains a battlefield across the globe. Even discussing issues related to sex and reproductive health is often taboo. What will it take to get to a point where all women have control of their own lives and bodies? In this episode, we hear…

1
Branding the middle of nowhere 20:09

2+ y ago20:09

20:09

Darkness, lousy weather, and a sleepover in the middle of nowhere. Sound fun? Apparently yes! The Nordic countries have successfully branded their remoter edges as desirable tourist destinations. Is it luck because the far north is 'in' right now? Or does it reflect a growing longing for alternatives to well-known, popular destinations? In this epi…

1
Is there a Plan Bee? 20:52

2+ y ago20:52

20:52

Bees are dying out and that’s a big problem for us human beings. If bees and other pollinators disappeared altogether, we would lose a third of our food supply. Half of all the fruit and vegetables on our supermarket shelves would vanish. And the impact on our planet's biodiversity would be catastrophic. So what's our Plan Bee? How do we save the w…

1
Ringing the bell for free education

2+ y ago

—

Education is a fundamental human right, yet only 70 percent of children worldwide are in school. How can we bridge this gap to reach the goal of free quality education for all by 2030? The Nordic countries are among the world leaders when it comes to supporting education in low- and middle-income countries globally. They also have the most experien…

1
Women, equality and economic power 25:55

2+ y ago25:55

25:55

Achieving gender equality in all aspects of society isn't just ethically right, it's also economically smart. Numerous studies show that increasing gender equality increases economic growth, making it a win-win situation. Women make up half the global population and half the workforce, meaning that society is missing out on a lot of valuable ideas …

1
The future of work 25:42

2+ y ago25:42

25:42

More short-term or freelance work. Less steady employment with fixed pay. The labor market is undergoing massive changes, creating uncertainty for millions of people. Why is this happening? And is it possible to reverse this trend? In this episode we examine possible solutions to the global increase in job insecurity, looking at Nordic experiments …

1
Better air in the city 24:23

2+ y ago24:23

24:23

You can't see it, but you still breathe it in: Air pollution is an invisible threat to millions of people living in urban areas, and many lives are lost prematurely because of it. Increased efforts are being made, not the least in the Nordics, to tackle this health issue through urban design. Researchers are cooperating with urban developers to cha…

1
Can 5G enable social change? 20:37

2+ y ago20:37

20:37

The rollout of 5G, the superfast fifth generation mobile internet network, is underway. But will it mean more than just better networks and faster downloads? Can this more accessible technology be used to change society for the better and improve our everyday lives? In this episode, we hear from three female leaders working with technology and 5G, …

1
Return to wood 14:40

3y ago14:40

14:40

Should more houses be built from wood? Yes, say some urban planners and architects. They believe the construction industry could drastically reduce its environmental footprint by using wood as a building material instead of concrete. This is already a trend in the Nordics, driven partly by concern for the climate, but also thanks to a long traditio…

1
Consuming in a circle 24:49

3y ago24:49

24:49

Can we change our economic behavior? With the planet's resources being increasingly overstretched, the warnings are coming loud and clear that the old, linear economic model must go. Experts want us to switch to a circular economy. This means ending the drive to produce and sell as many products as possible, while encouraging consumers to buy secon…

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