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Saving the World From Bad Ideas

WePlanet
Climate Change
Nuclear Energy
Geoengineering
Renewable Energy
Nuclear Weapons
Nuclear Power
Progress
Fossil Fuels
Wolves
Energy Transition
Artificial Intelligence
Human Flourishing
Solar Energy
Solar Geoengineering
Paris Agreement
Inequality
Population Growth
Hydrogen Economy
Civilization
Existential Risk

The world is shaped by ideas—some good, some bad, and some that seemed good at the time. This is a podcast about rethinking the things we take for granted, challenging sacred cows, and admitting when we’ve been wrong. With your host, awarded environmental author and activist Mark Lynas, we take a deep dive into the environmental, political, and social debates shaping our future—without the outrage... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes60Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for Saving the World From Bad Ideas

Latest Episodes

In this season-ending episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, host Mark Lynas is joined by environmental journalist and author George Monbiot to explore a new framework for understanding environmentalism. George argues that what is often treated ... more

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In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas speaks with Anni Pokela of Operaatio Arktis about why “Hands off Mother Earth” is no longer a serious response to the climate crisis. The conversation explores how humans are already deep... more

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In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas speaks with global ecologist Tom Crowther about a seductive but dangerous assumption: just leave it to the market. While part of the conversation focuses directly on capitalism, inequalit... more

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In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas speaks with science writer Rowan Hooper about one of the deepest misconceptions in biology: that life is only about competition. Drawing on Hooper’s new book Togetherness, they explore ho... more

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Recent Guests

Nicholas Niarchos
Author of The Elements of Power
Author, The Elements of Power
Episode: Bad Idea #54 "Shut down the cobalt mines" with Nicholas Niarchos
Colin Butfield
Co-founder and director of Open Planet Studios; filmmaker who worked on Attenborough projects
Open Planet Studios
Episode: Bad Idea #52 "Attenborough’s films ignore human impacts” with Colin Butfield
Claire Christian
Executive Director of ASOC ( Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition )
ASOC
Episode: Bad Idea #51 "plenty of krill in the ocean" with Claire Christian
Dan Walter
Principal at Ember, energy strategy and policy expert
Ember
Episode: Bad Idea #50 "clean energy is too expensive for Africa" with Daan Walter
Zeke Hausfather
Climate researcher and writer; Stripe climate lead; IPCC author
Stripe; Carbon Brief; IPCC
Episode: Bad Idea #49 "We can stop worrying about the climate" with Zeke Hausfather
Seth Berkley
Infectious disease epidemiologist; adjunct professor at the Pandemic Center, Brown University
Brown University; formerly CEO of Gavi; co-founder Covax
Episode: Bad Idea #48 "Vaccines are overrated" with Seth Berkley
Terra Rogers
Program Director for Superhot Rock Geothermal at Clean Air Task Force
Clean Air Task Force
Episode: Bad Idea #47 "Geothermal energy is niche" with Terra Rogers
Calum Matheson
Associate professor and chair of the Department of Communication at the University of Pittsburgh; on the faculty of the Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Center
University of Pittsburgh
Episode: Bad Idea #46 "Conspiracy Theories" with Calum Matheson
Sylvia Earle
Oceanographer, explorer, and founder of Mission Blue
Mission Blue / Oceanographer at large
Episode: Bad Idea #45 "Eating wildlife is more sustainable’" with Sylvia Earle

Host

Mark Lynas
Host of Saving the World From Bad Ideas and environmental author/activist

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#40
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#29
Ireland/Science
Apple Podcasts
#38
Norway/Science
Apple Podcasts
#89
Sweden/Science
Apple Podcasts
#93
Switzerland/Science
Apple Podcasts
#180
South Africa/Science
Apple Podcasts
#221
Belgium/Science
Apple Podcasts
#250
Denmark/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Bad Idea #52 "Attenborough’s films ignore human impacts” with Colin Butfield
Q: Where did the idea of making Ocean come from, and how does it relate to the film's narrative around human impacts on the ocean?
The project grew from identifying climate and ocean changes within a human timeline; Ocean weaves scientific discovery with real-world impacts and restoration stories, showing that humans can influence the ocean positively through policy, conservation, and responsible practices.
Bad Idea #52 "Attenborough’s films ignore human impacts” with Colin Butfield
Q: Working with David Attenborough, how long were you involved in making films with him?
Colin explains a long, multi-faceted collaboration spanning around two decades in various capacities, from conservation work to on-set filming and co-creating content, highlighting how Attenborough functions as a director, producer, and field storyteller who can improvise powerful lines.
Bad Idea #54 "Shut down the cobalt mines" with Nicholas Niarchos
Q: How did the lithium-ion battery evolve from early research to the mass-market product we see today, and what role did major players play in that trajectory?
Exxon Enterprises helped kick off early battery-related research in the 1970s as part of energy diversification, but the project shifted away; later, innovations in cobalt cathodes and graphite anodes by researchers in Oxford and Japan, among others, enabled the practical, scalable batteries that powered phones and EVs, with large-scale manufacturing driven by a mix of industrial and state-backed players, especially in China.
Bad Idea #54 "Shut down the cobalt mines" with Nicholas Niarchos
Q: What do you see as the basic elements that go into a lithium-ion battery, and how do they connect to where the materials come from?
The core elements are copper, cobalt, lithium, nickel, and phosphates, with cobalt in particular linked to the DRC; these materials come from places with different geopolitical risks, and the way they're mined affects both the environment and local communities. The discussion explains how historical developments and market forces shaped where and how these minerals are produced.
Bad Idea #43 "Fishing in the Antarctic" with Matt Savoca, Ted Cheeseman, and Lucia Morillo
Q: What are the potential conservation actions discussed on the voyage?
Proposals include creating marine protected areas, especially no-take zones around critical regions like the South Orkney Islands, and ensuring governance that accounts for ecosystem-level sustainability rather than just krill stock alone.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Saving the World From Bad Ideas

What is Saving the World From Bad Ideas about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show actively challenges conventional wisdom around environmental, political, and social issues by inviting researchers, journalists, policymakers, and thought leaders to reassess widely held beliefs. Conversations span energy transitions, climate policy, food systems, ocean health, and science communication, with an emphasis on evidence-based thinking, long-term impacts, and avoiding tribalism. A notable strength is hosting a diverse mix of scientists, authors, and NGO voices who bring technical depth and practical perspectives, making complex debates accessible and solution-focused for decision-makers exploring policy, investment, and communications strategies.

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Which podcasts are similar to Saving the World From Bad Ideas?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Saving the World From Bad Ideas:

1. Cleaning Up: Leadership in an Age of Climate Change
2. The News Agents
3. The Rest Is Politics
4. Everything Electric Podcast
5. More or Less

How many episodes of Saving the World From Bad Ideas are there?

Saving the World From Bad Ideas launched a year ago and published 60 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 Saving the World From Bad Ideas?

Recent guests on Saving the World From Bad Ideas include:

1. Nicholas Niarchos
2. Colin Butfield
3. Claire Christian
4. Dan Walter
5. Zeke Hausfather
6. Seth Berkley
7. Terra Rogers
8. Calum Matheson

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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