Rephonic
Artwork for Cultures of Energy
Climate Change
Lithium
Energy Transition
Colonialism
Capitalism
Intergenerational Climate Crimes
Climate Justice
Extractivism
Oil
Intimacy
Law and Politics
Art and Activism
Indigenous Rights
Caribbean
Sexuality
Rights Of Nature
Mining
Electric Vehicles
Anthropocene
Extraction

Cultures of Energy brings writers, artists and scholars together to talk, think and feel their way into the Anthropocene. We cover serious issues like climate change, species extinction and energy transition. But we also try to confront seemingly huge and insurmountable problems with insight, creativity and laughter. We believe in the possibility of personal and cultural change. And we believe tha... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes256Founded10 years ago
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Social SciencesArtsScience

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Artwork for Cultures of Energy

Latest Episodes

Cymene goes shopping with Beyoncé in this episode's dream sequence and if that weren't dreamy enough your co-hosts also break down the new film, Backrooms. Then (17:01) we welcome Elizabeth Monoian and Robert Ferry to the podcast to talk about their ... more

Dominic and Cymene eat crepes, share limericks and wonder whether dogs and rabbits might hold the secret to world peace on this week's episode. Then (13:09) we welcome Ciruce Mohavedi-Lankarani to the pod to talk about his new book Accelerant: Energy... more

Cymene and Dominic talk about shrinky dinks, tiny sweaters, miniaturized submarines and elemental ethnography during this week's intro segment. Then (12:12) we welcome Fernando Ortiz-Moya to the conversation to talk about his excellent new book We'r... more

Dominic and Cymene marvel at April snow and the ice cream stylings of Ben and Jerry. Then (8:28) we welcome Dan Sosna to the podcast to discuss his new book, Europe's Disappearing Waste (Berghahn, 2026). We dive into his background in archaeology and... more

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Recent Guests

Ciruce Mohavedi-Lankarani
From the University of Southern California, author of Accelerant: Energy Infrastructures and the Natural World in Making Modern Iran
University of Southern California
Episode: 255 - Accelerant (feat. Ciruce Mohavedi-Lankarani)
Fernando Ortiz-Moya
Academic author focused on shrinking cities; author of We're Still Here, Regenerating Shrinking Cities from the Ground Up
University/Research (contextual in episode)
Episode: 254 - Shrinking Cities (feat. Fernando Ortiz-Moya)
Dan Sosna
Researcher based in Prague; author of Europe's Disappearing Waste
Berghahn Books
Episode: 253 - Disappearing Waste (feat. Dan Sosna)
Casper Bruun Jensen
Guest expert on infrastructure, ontology, and STS
Professor/Researcher (varies by appearance)
Episode: 252 - Southern Anthropocenes (feat. Casper Bruun Jensen)
Zina Saro-Wiwa
Artist and researcher focusing on Niger Delta culture, oil, and environmental justice
Mangrove Arts Foundation / Ken Saro-Wiwa Rooms project
Episode: 251 - Deep Listening (feat. Zina Saro-Wiwa)
Nikki Luke
Author of Electric Life, MIT Press
University of Tennessee, Knoxville; MIT Press (Electric Life)
Episode: 250 - Energy Democracy (feat. Nikki Luke)
Astrida Neimanis
Co-author of How to Weather Together, feminist scholar
Episode: 249 - Weathering (feat. Astrida Neimanis and Jennifer Mae Hamilton)
Jennifer Mae Hamilton
Co-author of How to Weather Together, feminist scholar
Episode: 249 - Weathering (feat. Astrida Neimanis and Jennifer Mae Hamilton)
David Pontille
Scholar and co-author
Episode: 248 - Maintenance & Repair (feat. Jérôme Denis & David Pontille)

Hosts

Cymene Howe
Co-host of Cultures of Energy; researcher and writer focusing on energy humanities, culture, and infrastructure.
Dominic Boyer
Co-host of Cultures of Energy; host and scholar specializing in energy humanities and cultural analysis.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 104 ratings
  • Maybe with new hosts

    I’ve listened to a handful of episodes; interesting topics, but the hosts are too unlikable for me to continue with it.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    5eeeeeeee
    United Statesa year ago
  • Brings enviro research to life

    One of the best scholarly podcasts out there. Dominic and Cymene bring cutting edge research across the environmental humanities to life through meaty, entertaining, idea-driven conversations with authors, artists, activists, and more.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Midwestern Exile
    United States7 years ago
  • Great podcast on energy

    Wonderful and informed podcast. Great interviews and discussions. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lolabaird
    United States7 years ago
  • The best podcast on air

    The best podcast on air, for all those interested in Environmental humanities, Anthropology, Media and cultural Studies

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gionidelaparis
    France8 years ago
  • A pleasure

    Unlike most academic podcasts, Cultures of Energy captures some of the actual joy of talking about ideas. Also unlike most academic podcasts, this show has hosts with a personal touch, a strong point of view, and real rapport. Strongly recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sei Babi
    United States8 years ago

Listeners Say

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Listeners praise the approachable yet rigorous treatment of complex topics.
Guests and conversations are described as thoughtful, engaging, and capable of making hard concepts accessible.
The show is lauded for bringing scholarly energy studies to life with authors, artists, and activists.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

255 - Accelerant (feat. Ciruce Mohavedi-Lankarani)
Q: How does the book connect Iran's gas development to broader regional dynamics?
By tracing ties with neighboring economies (e.g., regional petrochemicals networks, Iran-India and Iran-China linkages) and showing how gas fuels regional industrialization, the book argues for a regional energy politics lens rather than a purely national narrative.
255 - Accelerant (feat. Ciruce Mohavedi-Lankarani)
Q: Why was natural gas, historically, treated as a 'waste product' by oil interests, and how did that perception change?
Gas was difficult to move and assimilate into markets via pipelines, making it less valuable to oil majors like BP; Iran's state capitalized on gas's domestic availability to industrialize, while later geopolitics and globalization (LNG) changed its value, turning a previously underutilized resource into a strategic asset.
255 - Accelerant (feat. Ciruce Mohavedi-Lankarani)
Q: What drew you to title Accelerant and how does it reflect the book's argument?
The title is a deliberate riff on the Great Acceleration and signals both the speed of Iran's industrialization and the developmentalist orientation that used cheap energy, especially natural gas, to push modernization, while also emphasizing energy as a central, transformative social force.
253 - Disappearing Waste (feat. Dan Sosna)
Q: Can you explain the concept of underflow and how it helps us understand the waste system beyond formal/informal binaries?
Underflow captures the idea that waste flows are dynamic and interconnected with official regimes, where informal salvaging persists and adapts within a broader system, challenging binary categorizations and highlighting agency at the margins.
253 - Disappearing Waste (feat. Dan Sosna)
Q: How did you become involved with landfills in your research, and what did your early fieldwork look like?
He describes starting in archaeology and anthropology, then moving to a landfill-centered project that exposed him to the daily labor of workers and the transformative potential of salvaging, repair, and material reuse.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Cultures of Energy

What is Cultures of Energy about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Scholarly and cross-disciplinary discussions around energy, climate, infrastructure, and culture, with a strong emphasis on the humanities, social sciences, and critical theory. Conversations feature authors, artists, and researchers who examine how energy systems shape politics, labor, justice, and everyday life, often weaving historical analysis with contemporary policy and cultural critique. Noteworthy is the blend of rigorous intellect, fieldwork anecdotes, and creative storytelling that makes complex topics accessible and navigable for listeners who want both depth and imagination in energy humanities. The show tends to spotlight energy transitions, environmental justice, and the cultural meanings of technology, while maintaining a war... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Cultures of Energy?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Cultures of Energy:

1. New Books in Critical Theory
2. Tech Won't Save Us
3. Know Your Enemy
4. Jacobin Radio
5. Acid Horizon

How many episodes of Cultures of Energy are there?

Cultures of Energy launched 10 years ago and published 256 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Cultures of Energy?

Recent guests on Cultures of Energy include:

1. Ciruce Mohavedi-Lankarani
2. Fernando Ortiz-Moya
3. Dan Sosna
4. Casper Bruun Jensen
5. Zina Saro-Wiwa
6. Nikki Luke
7. Astrida Neimanis
8. Jennifer Mae Hamilton

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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