Climate Curious

“We walked out of his office, to the first bar, had a couple shots of tequila, and then got to work”, says environmental lawyer Bruce Nilles on stage as our guest at ‘Climate Curious Live: Climate Impossible?’ in London, June 2026. In conversation with co-hosts Ben Hurst and Maryam Pasha, Bruce shares the surreal situation he found himself in when shutting down coal plants with the ex-mayor of New...

"I love doing it and I'll be doing it for a while, 'cause we ain't done yet," says the legendary lawyer who spurred a global campaign that led to the closing of 390 U.S. coal plants, forever: Bruce Nilles. Live on stage at Climate Curious Live 'Climate Impossible?', he shares the story of an epic climate win — combining grassroots grandmas, courtroom clashes, and a $50 million philanthropic gift —...

Could you protect your city through an extreme weather event? ‘The Future For Beginners’ is a game exploring climate risk and decision-making under uncertainty. Working together over 80 minutes, 30 players negotiate challenges and make decisions to create an unforgettable cultural event in the face of catastrophe. Having just played the simulation, Climate Curious’s Maryam Pasha sits down with the...

Break the system, don’t just tweak it. That’s what sociologist and professor Dana R. Fisher says on this week’s Climate Curious. Tune in with co-host Maryam Pasha to learn about incrementalists: people who think cleaning up a broken system leads to a sanitised version of the status quo – not real systemic change. From how institutions have used and jaded the youth movement for optics, whilst...

“The deal is, we're gonna get the revolution we deserve,” says sociologist, author, and apocalyptic optimist, Dana R. Fisher. Having spent 26 years studying and documenting activism, Climate Curious host Maryam Pasha hears what it takes to forge unstoppable solidarity in the collective climate movement. We look at how turning to big tech’s quick fixes is not the answer, how the youth movement has...

“A glacier is full of one single snowflake holding hands with the next snowflake,” says glaciologist and Nat Geo explorer, Dr. M Jackson. “Billions and trillions of snowflakes become the most powerful force on this planet, shaping the landscapes, lives, and futures of almost every person on this planet.” In conversation with Climate Curious co-host Maryam Pasha, M explains what these moving rivers...

“The solution is right at our fingertips,” says doctor and disease detective Dr. Neil Vora, talking about why ebola and hantavirus are also climate warnings on the Climate Curious podcast. From halting deforestation, to safeguarding animal farms, and cracking down on commercial wildlife trafficking, Neil shares the solutions we already have that could help us halt these devastating diseases. Read...

Speculative fiction – the latest tool for imagining what’s possible on climate? Author of ‘Hum’ and winner of the 2026 Climate Fiction Prize, Helen Phillips, joins Climate Curious to share the personal trigger that got her started in writing climate fiction, breaks down the genre of ‘speculative fiction’ and how it can be used to process eco-distress, and why the AI robots at the centre of th...

Our glaciers are starving, but there’s a solution! Says glaciologist, National Geographic Explorer and TED Fellow Dr. M Jackson on the Climate Curious podcast. In conversation with Maryam Pasha, M breaks down why our glaciers are currently starving and how they have the remarkable ability to grow back, if we give them the right conditions! From the “isostatic rebound” of the springing Earth, to 40...

“The river heals, the river's free, the salmon are free, and so are the people,” says Yurok Tribe attorney and devoted advocate for Indigenous rights and environmental restoration Amy Bowers Cordalis on the Climate Curious podcast. In conversation with Maryam Pasha, Amy breaks down how exactly she won the right to release the Klamath River and restore salmon populations from the brink of extinctio...

“My colleague looks at me [on my birthday] and is like, do you wanna blow up a dam!?” Native Yurok attorney and Indigenous advocate Amy Bowers Cordalis campaigned with her community for 20 years before getting the go ahead to remove the dams that had blocked the Klamath River and infamously killed 70,000+ salmon in 2002. Amy speaks with Climate Curious co-host Maryam Pasha to share the remarkable...

Chemistry is the new frontier of conservation, says professor of medicinal chemistry, Tim Cernak, on Climate Curious. Unable to ignore sick sea turtles washed up on the beach, Tim turned to the laboratory to apply medicinal solutions to nature. From fungal frogs to seal pups with avian flu – Tim’s fascination has spawned a new approach to conservation through chemistry, transforming chemists...

Eco-anxious – rejoice! This week’s episode is a salve for the eco-shaken, (i.e. all of us!?). Katharine K. Wilkinson returns to share her new framework for navigating eco-anxiety with Climate Curious co-hosts Ben Hurst and Maryam Pasha – and it starts by getting honest about the emotional weight of caring. We dig into why grief, fear, and exhaustion aren't obstacles to climate action, but par...

Stingless bees have been around since the dinosaurs, but until recently ignored by mainstream scientific studies From her lab in the heart of the Amazon, scientist Rosa Vásquez Espinoza has been busy proving that these insects are medicinal and agricultural superbugs that require respect – both socially and legally! In conversation with Climate Curious’ Ben Hurst and Maryam Pasha, Rosa breaks down...

In Nigeria’s Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, a rare short-tailed roundleaf bat whose global population is less than 1500, is trying to survive – and their biggest threat is wildfire. Nigerian tropical ecologist, conservationist and 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize for Africa winner Iroro Tanshi joins Climate Curious to share how farmers are transforming into frontline fire brigades, what com...

The “Finch ruling” case started small – with £20 donations from people that cared – but the eventual wins were big. What’s less well known, is the legal rollercoaster Sarah Finch and the Weald Action Group faced. After a failed High Court case and a failed Court of Appeal case, Sarah faced a major crossroads: keep going or call it a day? Sarah joins Climate Curious’s Ben Hurst to share w...

What does it really take to challenge the UK government on climate – and win? Enter climate winner – Sarah Finch of the legendary UK “Finch ruling”. From Surrey oil well to the Supreme Court, Sarah Finch and the Weald Action Group took the government to task – forcing it to rewrite how it assesses the environmental impact of new oil and gas projects, forever! And now she’s sharing the st...

This conservation will be televised! “ Live streaming meant the animals could reach way more people without having to meet any of them,” says YouTube and Twitch conservationist streamer Maya Higa. Since her rise to over a million livestream followers, Maya has used her platform to fund the creation of the Alveus Sanctuary. A purpose built virtual conservation centre raising funds to fuel even more...

We’ve all heard the language: “fight,” “tackle,” “combat” the climate crisis, right? But what if the “warrior mindset” wasn’t just a battle cry, but actually part of the problem? According to OG environmentalist Paul Hawken, it is, because it “others” nature. Paul joins Climate Curious to share why it’s time to stop trying to “fix” the Earth, and remember instead that we are a part of it. Enjoyed...

“Grief is a blessing. It's a guide. It's a signal. It's us being our best self when we feel grief, because it's our heart,” says OG environmentalist Paul Hawken on the Climate Curious podcast. In conversation with co-hosts Ben Hurst and Maryam Pasha, Paul invites us to reframe fear as grief,  take courage over hope (particularly in regards to the Iran war), and even has a poignant message for...

“[Stingless bees] pollinate more than 80% of Amazonian flora, from your coffee, chocolate, and the avocado on your toast,” says Peruvian scientist and conservationist Rosa Vásquez Espinoza. These harmless and often overlooked buzzy fluffers play a large and often forgotten role in the World’s richest ecosystem. From providing medicinal honey to communities, to empowering women to become stingless...

The world is not going to stop changing. So what do we do with that? Katharine K. Wilkinson, author, climate strategist, and two-decade veteran of the climate movement, tells Climate Curious that resilience isn't about having answers. It's about building the navigational muscles to keep moving when the answers don't exist yet. Tune in to explore the practice of climate wayfinding, learn how to loo...

“Grief is a blessing, a guide; it's us being our best self when we feel grief,” says climate OG Paul Hawken on Climate Curious. With the rise of global conflict, Climate Curious co-hosts Ben Hurst and Maryam Pasha turn to environmental juggernaut Paul Hawken for a much needed pep talk. He shares tips for navigating the modern media landscape, how grief can help us tap into ideas and solutions, and...

“Nature is a deep form of technology,” says nature campaigner, Kalpana Arias, on Climate Curious. It sometimes feels like“big tech” is coming to get us, from its roots in military structures, and an overall drive to replace human connection with convenience, but what if we could “glitch” the system? From hacking Tamagotchi’s into garden sensors, to how guerilla gardening can reclaim our cities, an...

Embrace the “glitch” to unlock more sustainable, collective and joyful futures, says nature campaigner Kalpana Arias on the Climate Curious podcast. In conversation with Ben Hurst and Maryam Pasha, Kalpana explores the surprising nature/tech overlap, and how “Glitch Feminism” can help us take back power in our digital spaces, and in turn, reclaim our relationship with tech as a key step in acceler...