A Climate Change with Matt Matern

Today, Matt speaks with Micah Loewinger, co-host of WNYC’s On the Media and the reporter behind the new four-part series American Emergency: The Movement to Kill FEMA, about how the agency built to respond to America’s worst disasters became one of its least trusted institutions. Micah explains how he came to FEMA through years of covering far-right militias, why the “FEMA camps” conspiracy theory traces back to the Cold War, and how it disturbingly echoes in today’s migrant detention programs. They dig into the contrast between Hurricane Katrina - a genuine failure that defined FEMA’s reputation - and Hurricane Helene, where the agency performed well but was buried under an unprecedented wave of misinformation. They also cover the political fight over the agency’s future, the strange story of Cameron Hamilton (fired from FEMA, then nominated to lead it), and what it means to head into disaster season with the agency hollowed out. Listen to American Emergency: The Movement to Kill FEMA here. Learn more about On the Media: wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. GUEST BIO Micah Loewinger is co-host of WNYC’s On the Media, a nationally syndicated public radio show heard on more than 400 stations across the country. He joined the show in 2016, first as a producer and then as its first staff reporter, and his work focuses on political extremism, internet culture, and the changing news industry. His investigation into the walkie-talkie app Zello, used by far-right militias ahead of January 6th, won the John M. Higgins Award and was featured on 60 Minutes. His latest project is American Emergency: The Movement to Kill FEMA, a four-part investigation into how the federal agency tasked with disaster response became distrusted, despised, and defunded. EPISODE RESOURCES American Emergency: The Movement to Kill FEMA: wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/american-emergency-movement-kill-fema On the Media: wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm Matt Matern on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ACClinkedin A Climate Change on Apple: https://bit.ly/accapplepodcast A Climate Change on Spotify: https://bit.ly/accspotifypodcast A Climate Change on YouTube: https://bit.ly/ACCvids

Matt Matern speaks with Jonathan Criss, CEO and co-founder of Vital Lyfe, about portable desalination and rethinking the global water crisis. Drawing on 13 years at SpaceX, Criss explains why clean water is an infrastructure problem, not a scarcity one - and how decentralized technology could change that.

Climate investor Dan Miller joins Matt to discuss why renewables are now cheaper than fossil fuels, the hidden death toll of fossil fuel pollution, the EV revolution, and why he’s endorsing Tom Steyer for California Governor.

Matt speaks with Brett Jenks, CEO of Rare, about why community-led conservation is the most powerful response to climate change. Brett explains how behavioral science, micro-insurance, and sustainable fisheries are helping frontline communities build the resilience to stay - and thrive - as the climate crisis intensifies.

Annie Leonard and André Carothers, co-authors of Protest: Respect It, Defend It, Use It, join Matt to discuss why the right to protest is under unprecedented attack — and why defending it is inseparable from the fight against climate change.

Peter Reinhardt sold his data company Segment to Twilio for $3.2 billion — then turned his attention to the climate crisis. Now, as CEO of Charm Industrial, he’s converting wildfire waste into a liquid that gets injected permanently underground. Matt and Peter dig into the science, the scale challenge, and why the carbon offset market was broken from the start.

Investigative climate journalist Miranda Green breaks down the fossil fuel politics behind the U.S.-Iran conflict — and what rising gas prices, blocked oil shipping lanes, and a chaotic energy policy mean for the clean energy transition.

Katie Surma, reporter at Inside Climate News, joins Matt to break down the rights of nature movement — a fast-growing legal framework granting rivers, forests, and even whales legal standing — and what it means for the future of environmental protection.

Matt Matern speaks with Jennifer Pitt, Colorado River Program Director at the National Audubon Society, about the urgent water crisis facing the American West — from shrinking reservoirs and agriculture water rights to a 2026 governance deadline that could determine the future of water for 35 million people.

Professor Michael Gerrard discusses the legal fight against climate change, the role of federal and state action, and how climate litigation is shaping policy. He explains why law remains one of the most powerful tools for advancing meaningful environmental progress.

Today, Matt is joined by environmental filmmaker Matt Podolsky, co-founder of Wild Lens Collective. They discuss the power of storytelling in the climate and conservation movement. Podolsky reflects on his Sundance-winning documentary Sea of Shadows, which chronicles the near-extinction of the vaquita due to illegal fishing, and his more recent work on bat populations threatened by white-nose syndrome. He also shares how conservation media can influence policy, protect ecosystems, and make invisible crises tangible to the public. Check out Matt Podolsky’s’ work at www.wildlensinc.org Want to boast to your friends about trees named after you? Help us plant 30k trees? Only a few trees left! Visit aclimatechange.com/trees to learn more Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Episode Resources Matt Podolsky website: https://www.matthewpodolsky.com/ Wild Lens Collective website: https://www.wildlensinc.org/ Matt Matern on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ACClinkedin A Climate Change on Apple: https://bit.ly/accapplepodcast A Climate Change on Spotify: https://bit.ly/accspotifypodcast A Climate Change on YouTube: https://bit.ly/ACCvids

Today, Matt speaks with Dr. Marcius Extavour about the role of innovation in addressing climate change, drawing on his background in physics, energy systems, and climate-focused technology. They explore why solar energy has become economically dominant, how carbon removal technologies can reduce long-term climate risk, and how data, design, and AI can empower communities and policymakers to act. Dr. Extavour also emphasizes practical solutions, systems thinking, and making climate tools accessible and engaging for real-world impact. Want to boast to your friends about trees named after you? Help us plant 30k trees? Only a few trees left! Visit aclimatechange.com/trees to learn more Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Marcius' Bio: Dr. Marcius Extavour is an executive and innovator working at the intersection of deep tech, business, capital, and storytelling. As Senior Partner at Ode, he builds digital products that combine award-winning UI/UX design with data engineering, machine learning, and AI that create commercial and social opportunities in decarbonization, energy, and tackling climate risk. Episode Resources Matt Matern on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ACClinkedin A Climate Change on Apple: https://bit.ly/accapplepodcast A Climate Change on Spotify: https://bit.ly/accspotifypodcast A Climate Change on YouTube: https://bit.ly/ACCvids Curated List of Episodes If you enjoyed this episode of A Climate Change, here is a list of some recent episodes curated especially for you: Simulating the Future: How Climate Models Shape Policy Decisions with Andrew Jones [Link] How Personal Change Sparks Global Impact: Joshua Spodek's Sustainability Secrets [Link] Bill McKibben on Renewable Energy, Political Battles & Hope for the Planet [Link]