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

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 monthlyEpisodes259Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Social SciencesArtsScience

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Artwork for Cultures of Energy

Latest Episodes

The China adventure continues for your two co-hosts. Cymene and Dominic report from Zhangzhou, a small city of five million in Fujian province, and talk about party hotel life and what might have been the first energy humanities workshop in the count... more

Cymene and Dominic report from the first week of their trip to China. And then (11:22) we welcome legal scholar Ann Carlson to the podcast to talk to us about battling smog in one of our favorite cities, Los Angeles. Ann has just published a new book... more

It's World Cup season and so your co-hosts deliver their first ever sports corner. And then (9:38) drum roll please, we welcome the one and only Tim Mitchell back to the podcast to talk about his latest masterpiece, The Alibi of Capital: How We Brok... more

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

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Recent Guests

Ann Carlson
Author of Smog and Sunshine; scholar in environmental law and policy
University of California, Los Angeles (Professor of Law)
Episode: 258 - Smog (feat. Ann Carlson)
Timothy Mitchell
Professor, author of The Alibi of Capital
Episode: 257 - The Alibi of Capital (feat. Timothy Mitchell)
Elizabeth Monoian
Founding director of Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI)
Land Art Generator Initiative
Episode: 256 - Land Art Generator (feat. Robert Ferry and Elizabeth Monoian)
Robert Ferry
Founding director of Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI)
Land Art Generator Initiative
Episode: 256 - Land Art Generator (feat. Robert Ferry and Elizabeth Monoian)
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)

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 105 ratings
  • One ep in…

    And I’m blown away. The Energy Democracy conversation was so comprehensive and concise at the same time. Awesome guest, who was on point and extremely knowledgeable. Beautiful work - can’t wait to hear the rest of the 254 episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Matty4300
    United States2 months ago
  • 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
    France9 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

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.

258 - Smog (feat. Ann Carlson)
Q: What lessons from the LA smog era are relevant to today's climate policy?
A key lesson is that durable progress requires long-term, bipartisan support, strong regulatory frameworks, and continued pressure from journalists, NGOs, and activists to hold policy actors accountable while embracing technological innovation and the economics of clean energy.
258 - Smog (feat. Ann Carlson)
Q: How did the government shape the trajectory of air quality improvements in Los Angeles and beyond?
The government facilitated progress through standards, funding, and enforcement, notably with the Clean Air Act, federal-state cooperation, and the catalysis of industry-wide changes such as emissions controls, which required cross-agency collaboration and sustained political will.
258 - Smog (feat. Ann Carlson)
Q: What inspired Ann Carlson to write Smog and Sunshine, and what keeps the public misperceptions about LA air alive?
Carlson explains that longstanding misconceptions about LA air persist because people remember the worst days, while the long arc of regulation and technology that improved air quality is less visible; the book also emphasizes the central role of government and collective action.
257 - The Alibi of Capital (feat. Timothy Mitchell)
Q: How do you conceptualize growth as an alibi rather than a necessary feature of capitalism, and what alternative frameworks might help us rethink the economy?
Mitchell emphasizes that growth is a contingent, imposed regime tied to living at the expense of the future. He suggests rethinking growth through everyday examples (housing, mortgage, ride-sharing) and through a political program that questions the terms of the economy itself rather than simply opposing growth per se. This entails understanding the formal mechanisms that monetize the future and exploring ways to undermine or reframe those mechanisms.
257 - The Alibi of Capital (feat. Timothy Mitchell)
Q: Could you talk about the major threads of argument in The Alibi of Capital and how they connect to your previous work, Carbon Democracy?
Tim Mitchell explains that the book expands on the idea that the shareholder corporation and finance—and not just material growth—shape what we consider progress. He argues growth functions as an alibi to justify extracting value from the future, and discusses how durable infrastructures and financial innovations enable this extraction across long time horizons, tying it to climate implications and historical crises.

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. Politics Theory Other
2. The LRB Podcast
3. Jacobin Radio
4. Planet: Critical
5. Past Present Future

How many episodes of Cultures of Energy are there?

Cultures of Energy launched 11 years ago and published 259 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. Ann Carlson
2. Timothy Mitchell
3. Elizabeth Monoian
4. Robert Ferry
5. Ciruce Mohavedi-Lankarani
6. Fernando Ortiz-Moya
7. Dan Sosna
8. Casper Bruun Jensen

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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