Rephonic
Artwork for Planet: Critical

Planet: Critical

Rachel Donald
Climate Change
Capitalism
Climate Crisis
Fossil Fuels
Colonialism
Environmental Activism
Sustainability
Renewable Energy
Ecological Crisis
Nuclear Energy
Energy Transition
Neoliberalism
Agriculture
Environmental Justice
Climate Justice
Rights Of Nature
Artificial Intelligence
Violence
Plastic Pollution
Community Resilience

Planet: Critical is the podcast for a world in crisis. We face severe climate, energy, economic and political breakdown. Journalist Rachel Donald interviews those confronting the crisis, revealing what's really going on—and what needs to be done. Visit planetcritical.com

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes292Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Planet: Critical

Latest Episodes

Other worlds are possible. Not only that, they exist alongside ours already. This is a truth that's difficult to remember when we're confronted with the global shitshow that is our geopolitical, ecological and climactic collapse. But communities ever... more

FROM THE ARCHIVES:

When institutions fail—communities take back control.

Community organising has never been more important in a world where people are increasingly isolated from one another, competing in a deliberately precarious market, dislocated... more

Denise Utochkin was a postdoc researcher at the University of Copenhagen investigating how artificial intelligence could be used in the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. However, Denise was fired from their postdoc for starting a campaign that sought to ... more

FROM THE ARCHIVES:

How can we change an economic system that has a life of its own?

10,000 years ago, homo sapiens began farming a grain surplus. This surplus led to the creation of societal and cultural hierarchies which divorced our species from o... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Immy Kaur
Co-founder of the Impact Hub Birmingham; co-creator of Civic Square in Birmingham
Impact Hub Birmingham; Civic Square
Episode: P:C ARCHIVES: Immy Kaur on The Power of Community Imagination
Denise Utochkin
Postdoc researcher at the University of Copenhagen focused on AI in diabetes diagnosis
University of Copenhagen
Episode: Why We Must Abolish A.I. | Denise Utochkin
Lisi Krall
Professor of economics researching political economy, human ecology, and the evolution of economic systems; author of Bitter Harvest
State University of New York Cortland
Episode: P:C ARCHIVES: Lisi Krall on How Economics Overpowers Culture
Jane Van Dis
Practicing obstetrician-gynecologist and assistant professor, University of Rochester
University of Rochester
Episode: How Plastic is Corrupting Our Bodies and Our Institutions | Jane Van Dis
Fadhel Kaboub
Associate professor of economics at Denison University and president of the Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity
Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity; Denison University
Episode: P:C ARCHIVES: Fadhel Kaboub on Decolonise To Decarbonise
Starrlight Augustine
Director at the Institute of Ecotechnics; heads agroecology division at Synergy Ranch
Institute of Ecotechnics; Synergy Ranch
Episode: The Dynamic Energy Budget Theory | Starrlight Augustine
Nandita Bajaj
Executive Director of Population Balance; co-host of the Overpopulation Podcast; educator at the Institute for Humane Education at Antioch University
Population Balance; Overpopulation Podcast; Antioch University
Episode: P:C ARCHIVES: Nandita Bajaj on How Pronatalism Feeds The Economy
Philippe Bihouix
Engineer and author; advocate of low tech and systemic sobriety
Author, The Age of Low Tech
Episode: Low Tech Lives | Philippe Bihouix
Sally Goerner
Research director of the Planetary Health Lab at Edinburgh University; polymath and psychologist/intellectual
Edinburgh University, Planetary Health Lab
Episode: P:C ARCHIVES: Sally Goerner on Citizens vs Oligarchies

Host

Rachel Donald
Host of the podcast; engages guests in rigorous, critical conversations about climate, governance, and societal change

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 497 ratings
  • Rachael Donald not only interviews some of the most interesting people probing the planetary metacrisis, she comes up with illuminating questions, and pushes back on their answers when necessary.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    The Bird's-eye View
    6 days ago
  • ruth davidson is the best

    rebecca daniel is a prime example of what journalism should be and should have always been. also from new zealand, i agree with hannah's review from 2025.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    davey boy nz
    New Zealand7 months ago
  • Something must have gone wrong with the update mechanism (RSS feed?). The last episode that is visible in Podcast Addict or Podino is the one announcing the webpage update. All following episodes are visible in Spotify but not in the other apps. Not good.

    Podcast Addict
    1
    Dimi
    8 months ago
  • Guest request

    Please have Elina Xenophontos on the show, she is an excellent geopolitical analyst based in Cyprus!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    O0bah
    United States9 months ago
  • New favorite podcast

    I’m new to the pod, but I’ve been very impressed with the quality and content of the interviews so far. Delighted by the extensive and diverse back catalogue I’ll get to work thru!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SophTofe
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners feel the critiques are strong and not always optimistic, but deeply informative.
Thoughtful, challenging conversations that connect climate with governance and society.
High-quality, diverse range of guests and topics; probing interviewer.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

The Builders
The BuildersiHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope
METRO with Sarah Koenig
METRO with Sarah KoenigSerial Productions & The New York Times
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
Notes from the Edge
Notes from the EdgeGamut Podcast Network
Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should KnowiHeartPodcasts
Sold a Story
Sold a StoryAPM Reports
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics RadioFreakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

P:C ARCHIVES: Immy Kaur on The Power of Community Imagination
Q: What lessons did you learn about funding and sustainability for community spaces?
Crowdfunded engagement and modest initial funding can seed long-term infrastructure, but growth can push spaces toward exclusive models unless there are deliberate designs to preserve openness and accessibility.
P:C ARCHIVES: Immy Kaur on The Power of Community Imagination
Q: How did your early experiences, like TEDxBrum, shape your approach to Civic Square?
They showed the power of a diverse, volunteer-driven coalition and a space that could convene voices on the edge of society, which inspired the shift toward a city-wide civic infrastructure rather than traditional co-working.
How Plastic is Corrupting Our Bodies and Our Institutions | Jane Van Dis
Q: Jane, could you explain briefly what the Chevron Doctrine is and why its status matters for environmental policy?
The Chevron Doctrine allowed executive agencies to rely on expert opinions when proposing legislation, helping agencies like the EPA interpret complex environmental data; its overturn reduces reliance on those experts and increases judicial scrutiny, which can hinder regulatory action on pollutants like PFAS and plastics.
P:C ARCHIVES: Fadhel Kaboub on Decolonise To Decarbonise
Q: What structural reforms are essential for a just transition in the Global South?
Reforms include food and energy sovereignty, a shift to non-austerity policies, reimagining industrial policy, and building endogenous development through technology partnerships and regional cooperation.
P:C ARCHIVES: Nandita Bajaj on How Pronatalism Feeds The Economy
Q: What policies or approaches could help balance population, consumption, and ecological limits without coercion?
Autonomy-enhancing policies—comprehensive sexuality education, accessible reproductive healthcare, and empowerment through education and equality—combined with reducing consumption, can lower fertility choices while improving human rights and ecological outcomes.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Planet: Critical

What is Planet: Critical about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A hard-hitting interview series focused on climate, governance, and systemic risk, featuring guests who critique mainstream narratives and explore transformative solutions. Episodes typically examine how political economy, ecological crises, and social inequities intersect, with in-depth discussions on energy systems, policy reform, activism, and cultural change. A standout trait is the host's willingness to challenge established frames, spotlight underrepresented perspectives, and push for practical pathways toward democratic, resilient futures.

Where can I find podcast stats for Planet: Critical?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Planet: Critical. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Planet: Critical and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Planet: Critical get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Planet: Critical, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Planet: Critical?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Planet: Critical, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Planet: Critical have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Planet: Critical has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Planet: Critical?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Planet: Critical:

1. The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens
2. Breaking Down: Collapse
3. Accidental Gods - The Thrutopian Podcast
4. Better Future with Michael Mezz
5. Emergence Magazine Podcast

How many episodes of Planet: Critical are there?

Planet: Critical launched 6 years ago and published 292 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Planet: Critical?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Planet: Critical?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Planet: Critical from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Planet: Critical?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Planet: Critical. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Planet: Critical?

Recent guests on Planet: Critical include:

1. Immy Kaur
2. Denise Utochkin
3. Lisi Krall
4. Jane Van Dis
5. Fadhel Kaboub
6. Starrlight Augustine
7. Nandita Bajaj
8. Philippe Bihouix

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days