In recent years the focus on sustainability has increased dramatically. From electric cars to sustainable power, the innovations are endless. With so many changes happening in the industry, it can be hard to stay on top of the most relevant innovations.
If you work in the sustainability field, plan to move forward with eco-friendly investments, or want to stay in the know, sustainability podcasts are a great way to stay informed.
In order to make things easier, we have put together a list of the best sustainability podcasts that you should have on your playlist today. Our list covers podcasts that promote sustainability that is insightful for regular people and podcasts to improve your professional knowledge base on environmental sustainability.
With many people working from home or looking to get their start in the field, this is an easy way to nature professional development passively while listening to sustainability podcasts.
Our Selection Criteria
Our list of podcasts for sustainability was selected due to their ease of listening, the speaker’s ability to engage with the audience, their comprehensive coverage of conscious living and sustainability, and their niche-specific coverage that targets those looking to become industry leaders.
One aspect each of these podcasts also feature is that they are fully understandable on an episode-by-episode basis.
Following these best sustainability podcasts from their start is a great way to cover all your bases. However, each podcast can be consumed independently.
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Our Top Picks For Podcasts That Promote Sustainability
#1 Sourcing Matters
Some of the best sustainability podcasts are the ones that target the average listener and not just those working in the field of sustainability. Sourcing Matters gets down into the nitty-gritty of how food is sourced worldwide and why the way we source food matters for the environment.
The podcast delivers information in a way that is non-judgmental but informational and easy to understand.
They get into different issues during each episode ranging from fisheries, organic sourcing, food chain sustainability, and even the importance of breaking down what is really in your kitchen. They often feature several guests, though they all tend to be CEO rather than grassroots-level sustainability influencers.
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#2 Stanford Social Innovation Review
When it comes to sustainability podcasts, some of the best information will be produced by the academic community. This podcast airs weekly and asks both community members and academics alike to come together to find solutions to various sustainability-related social problems.
The podcast gathers both professional and common person perspectives, which helps both sides better understand the problems being faced and how to create solutions that are actually effective.
Some of the more popular episodes, for example, were “Embracing emerging technology for social change” and “How big indicators can help solve global problems.” Though they often cover sustainability topics, they also cover other social issues that affect both the local and international communities.
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#3 Sustainable Business Fridays
Podcasts that promote sustainability in business are not as common as causal or even expert-level channels. This podcast, however, is run by the Students of the Bard MBA Sustainability program. They select subjects that matter for each episode and include a range of guests to speak on sustainability in business.
You will hear from start-up entrepreneurs, big business CEOs, and even those working at the grassroots level in non-profit organizations as they cover how sustainable practices can be applied to their respective fields.
The show gives an inside view of how each person moves towards sustainability, the challenges they face, and the breakthroughs they are making along the way. There are only two episodes per month, but they are certainly worth your time to tune in when they air.
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#4 Planet A – Talks on Climate Change
When you are looking for a dedicated podcast for improving the environment, Planet A should be one of your first picks. The show covers a range of topics that deal with climate change, its causes and effects, and how to find real solutions.
The host delivers information in a soothing format that is easy to listen to on the road, at home, or even during a study session. They speak with activists, policymakers, leading experts, and more.
All of their podcast covers topics relating to sustainability and gives listeners hope for a better future.
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#5 Sustainability Defined
This is a great podcast to follow if you are looking for general information about sustainability. There is an episode dedicated to breaking down specific points in the field with a slant on educational presentation. It covers a broad range of topics that pertain to sustainability on both the personal and global levels.
The great thing about these podcasts for sustainability is that they can help fill in spaces where your own knowledge base may be lacking. A drawback is that while presented in an easy-to-understand manner, you will have to go in with at least a minimal amount of prior knowledge in the field to grasp the topics discussed fully.
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#6 Greentech Media’s The Energy Gang
No list of sustainability podcasts is complete without this long-running addition. The Energy Gang is a weekly podcast covering everything there is to know about sustainable and green energy. There is a regular set of hosts, and they often will have a guest expert speak about emerging technology or programs in the energy field.
Every person on the panel features a background in energy research, academics, or works in the field. As such, a diverse range of perspectives is explored.
In addition to learning about how energy and sustainability are linked, they speak at length about current events and little talked about research in the field.
This podcast is ideal for those with a casual interest in addition to sustainable energy enthusiasts.
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#7 Sustainable
Who says that talking about saving the planet and sustainability has to be boring. One of the best sustainability podcasts on our list is actually also one of the most entertaining. This podcast features creative episodes that are well-researched and completely focused on sustainability.
The twist is that it is also a combination of comedy and improvement at the same time. If you tend to get bored listening to people talks about facts, this podcast is a great way to stay entertained while also learning about building a better future at the same time.
The show covers a range of current topics about the environment and goes behind the scenes of common green-washing that you will find on traditional news channels today.
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#8 The Guardian’s 12-part Sustainability Series
For those looking for sustainability podcasts that follow a planned arc, this 12 part series may be just what you are looking for. There are 12 parts that cover the adventures of the editor-in-chief of the Guardian and how he and his team are battling climate change.
They take you with them on the journey, which allows you to see, or rather hear in real-time, what can be done to create change on a personal and community level. In addition, they make a point of using their positions to spur change on a larger scale.
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#9 Direct Current
When you think about sustainability and the U.S. Department of Energy, we guarantee this podcast is not what you had in mind. The U.S. Department of Energy takes its sustainability kick to a wildly creative level.
With sound effects, clips, and reams of humor, you will see how the government is spending your dollars on the environment, what energy dilemmas we face, and much more. The podcast is delivered in an audible storytelling format rich with scenes and characters that reflect reality.
Topics range from the mundane such as the antics you can get into installing your own solar panels, to the downright tragic tales of people who lived through Hurricane Sandy. The DOE places a human touch on sustainability and how the government is making things better in every episode.
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#10 Podcast For Improving Environment – The Sustainability Agenda
True sustainability requires participation from all sectors. This means the common person, retailers, government bodies, big corp, and beyond. This podcast offers a unique perspective by placing the spotlight on a single guest each episode.
During each podcast, one guest will take one question and explore it in-depth in a way that both academics, professionals, and laymen can understand. The interviews feature NGO leaders, sustainability researchers, those working in the sustainable business field, policymakers, and more.
The topics range everything starting from ethical sourcing and clean mining to sustainable food sourcing and clean manufacturing, and more.
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#11 Climate One
Sustainability is not only for older people. It is also great for the younger generations to get actively involved in their future. If you are looking for podcasts for sustainability engaging enough to keep things interesting, this is a great one to check out.
There are both guest and audience members from diverse backgrounds that keep the conversation going. They will pick a topic and involve decision-makers in the process, which allows for an in-depth look at what needs to be done, current programs, and suggestions for moving forward.
Topics such as extreme weather, animal migrations, and renewable energy are just a few that you will find on this channel.
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#12 – Bioneers
Not every podcast about sustainability is full of figures and big-name guests. This show gets down to the personal level and tells sustainable stories full of compassion and empathy. This is different from most mainstream eco-based podcasts, but it works in a way that other shows cannot capture.
While facts and figures are important, a segment of the population is more moved by creative storytelling, and that exactly what you will find with the Bioneers. The focus is always on creating a better future and finding actionable solutions. The delivery is engaging and will keep you tuning in every episode.
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#13 Think: Sustainability
This is a mix of a radio show and a podcast. If you are already knee-deep in sustainability and want to take a closer look at specifics, this is the podcast for you.
Podcasts that promote sustainability are numerous, but those that really get down into the weeds and get information on experts’ specifics are few and far between.
This podcast is suitable for professionals and other experts in the field as it dives deep into the more complex areas of sustainability.
One downside is that unless you have a substantial degree of prior knowledge, chances are you will quickly be left behind in the conversation. However, this will be a form of mind candy for professionals and industry leaders that keeps you coming back for each new episode.
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#14 Energy Transition Show
When it comes to the sustainability podcast, there are hundreds of shows dedicated to energy. However, for professionals looking for effective ways to transition toward renewable forms of energy, this is the place to be. The host Chris Nelder uses this podcast to educates listeners during its hour-long run.
The topics range from oil prices, smart grids, the use of coal in Asia, global market trends and changes, storage technologies, and so much more.
The podcast goes over just about every point you can think of when transitioning from finite sources of energy to renewable fuels. While the information is provided concisely, the deep dives do have a tendency to get technical.
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