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Artwork for Planet: Critical

Planet: Critical

Rachel Donald
Climate Change
Capitalism
Climate Crisis
Fossil Fuels
Environmental Activism
Colonialism
Sustainability
Ecological Crisis
Nuclear Energy
Renewable Energy
Energy Transition
Environmental Justice
Climate Justice
Agriculture
Neoliberalism
Rights Of Nature
Community Resilience
Fossil Fuel Industry
Democracy
Animal Agriculture

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes267Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Planet: Critical

Latest Episodes

A flourishing human society doesn't have to cost the earth. In fact, our wellbeing and Earth's wellbeing hinge on the same thing: reducing inequality.

Julia Steinberger is a renowned degrowth scholar at the University of Lausanne where she and her c... more

Silicon Valley's robotic grip on the world is destroying our social fabric. "Artificial intelligence" models are now baked into our militaries, economies and political institutions—without there being a clear benefit yet as to why. a.i. is behind the... more

Capitalism was envisioned—and is still defended—as a vehicle for growth. This growth was meant to increase everyone's share of the pie. But one of the most opaque and unregulated finance sectors got its fingers into that pie—and built a mechanism to ... more

Andrés Velasco is the Dean of the School of Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Chile's former Minister of Finance. He and his colleagues at LSE recently released The London Consensus, a collection of economics ... more

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Recent Guests

Paris Marx
Tech critic, author of Hyperscale, host of Tech Won't Save Us
Disconnect newsletter; Tech Won't Save Us podcast
Episode: Tech Titans Won't Save Us | Paris Marx
Hettie O'Brien
Journalist at The Guardian, author of The Asset Class
The Guardian
Episode: How Finance Ruined Capitalism | Hettie O'Brien
Andrés Velasco
Dean of the School of Public Policy at the London School of Economics; former Minister of Finance of Chile
London School of Economics
Episode: Reform, Not Revolution | Andrés Velasco
Laura George
Executive Director of the Oracle Institute; Co-founder of the Founding Mothers Movement
Oracle Institute; Founding Mothers Movement
Episode: The Founding Mothers | Laura George
Ashwin Ravikumar
Professor of environmental studies, Amherst College; political and social organizer
Amherst College
Episode: How Mexico City Unleashed Its Political Imagination | Ashwin Ravikumar
Nicole Negowetti
Educator and lawyer; founder of Food For Us; author of Feeding The Future
Food For Us; author of Feeding The Future
Episode: Feeding The Future | Nicole Negowetti
Matt Broomfield
Freelance journalist, Ph.D. researcher, co-founder of the Rojava Information Center
Rojava Information Center
Episode: Rojava: The Feminist Resistance in the Heart of the Middle East | Matt Broomfield
Tatjana Schneider
Architect and member of Mould Collective
Mould Collective
Episode: Designing Liveable Futures | Tatjana Schneider & Jeremy Till
Jeremy Till
Architect and member of Mould Collective
Mould Collective
Episode: Designing Liveable Futures | Tatjana Schneider & Jeremy Till

Host

Rachel Donald
Climate corruption journalist and host focused on critical analysis of environmental policy, activism, and governance in crisis contexts.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 478 ratings
  • 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 Zealand19 days 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
    2 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 States4 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 States8 months ago
  • How critical is it?

    Is it super critical or just a little critical or what?

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    IFYTIT
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Thoughtful, rigorously argues with strong guest selections
Audience appreciates depth and breadth of topics across climate, policy, and activism
Healthy variety of guests keeps the discussions engaging
Reports on climate with a justice lens and challenging questions
Some listeners feel the critique can be harsh or one-sided at times

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#210
Brazil/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Finance Ruined Capitalism | Hettie O'Brien
Q: What is private equity?
Hettie explains that private equity is built on leveraged buyouts, using debt rather than equity to acquire companies, which places debt servicing on the acquired firms and can lead to reduced investment in core services and employment, while the private equity funds reap fees and profits.
The Founding Mothers | Laura George
Q: What organizational form supports their advocacy and operations?
A global coalition that includes a central Peace Room, ten geographic circles, and a delegate-based Congress, using sociocratic principles and quiet, consensus-based decision making.
The Founding Mothers | Laura George
Q: How is the Founding Mothers Proclamation structured and enforced?
It is a two-part document focusing on women's rights and war, informed by humanitarian laws and international instruments; they envision a world treaty with mandatory jurisdiction and an enforcement mechanism.
The Founding Mothers | Laura George
Q: What is the Founding Mothers Movement aiming to achieve on a global scale?
The movement seeks universal women's rights, an end to war, and a governance framework that treats every human as having inherent dignity, with a world court and a unified world law as core components.
How Mexico City Unleashed Its Political Imagination | Ashwin Ravikumar
Q: So, what is happening in Mexico under the socialist government that has excited you?
Ashwin outlines the UTOPIAs as a broad set of public-space–based social services transformed under state backing, rooted in decades of urban popular movements, and discusses how this blend of autonomy and state support has expanded political imagination while presenting tensions around tactics and autonomy.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Planet: Critical

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

Listeners tune in to explore the climate crisis through investigative interviews with researchers, activists, and practitioners who are directly shaping or critiquing climate policy, energy systems, and social justice. Episodes routinely blend historical context, governance, and practical critique—covering topics from feminist governance in crisis zones to extractivism, energy transitions, and the social implications of environmental policy. Notable strengths include a strong emphasis on systemic change, interdisciplinary perspectives, and authorship by a seasoned climate journalist who pushes guests to connect theory with real-world action. The show stands out for its willingness to challenge dominant narratives, foreground marginalized co... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Planet: Critical?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Planet: Critical:

1. The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens
2. Accidental Gods
3. Team Human with Douglas Rushkoff
4. Novara Media
5. Tech Won't Save Us

How many episodes of Planet: Critical are there?

Planet: Critical launched 5 years ago and published 267 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?

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What guests have appeared on Planet: Critical?

Recent guests on Planet: Critical include:

1. Paris Marx
2. Hettie O'Brien
3. Andrés Velasco
4. Laura George
5. Ashwin Ravikumar
6. Nicole Negowetti
7. Matt Broomfield
8. Tatjana Schneider

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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