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The BREAK—DOWN

The Break—Down
Climate Change
Capitalism
Climate Crisis
Attribution Science
Extreme Weather
Renewable Energy
Global Inequality
Injustice
Oil
Climate Litigation
Decarbonization
Inflation Reduction Act
Fossil Fuels
Oil Industry
Vulnerabilities
Human Rights
Gaza
Palestine
Liberalism
Yasuní Region

The BREAK—DOWN is a not-for-profit media project publishing new writing and conversations on capitalism, nature and the climate. Our work is made possible by our listeners and readers—to support us, go to www.break-down.org/subscribe-now/

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes29Founded2 years ago
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Society & Culture

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Latest Episodes

Last night, after more than 100 days since the US and Israel went to war against Iran, the US and Iran reached a partial framework for peace. When the war began at the end of February, it was all but impossible to make sense of the irrational explosi... more

We're celebrating the launch of The BREAK—DOWN's spring issue, Airborne! On May 6th, we hosted a live podcast where Adrienne Buller was joined by Geoff Mann, Daniela Gabor and Oliver Eagleton to discuss climate crisis through and beyond the contents ... more

You may never have heard of private equity firms like Blackstone, KKR, Bain Capital or the Carlyle Group, but in recent decades they have quietly become some of the most powerful companies in the world. They own your hospitals, your nurseries, your e... more

In the mid-20th century, nuclear energy was seen as the technology of the future. Then, questions about its environmental impact and waste, alongside crises like Chernobyl and Three Mile Island, created a major public backlash, and the construction o... more

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Recent Guests

Hettie O'Brien
Guardian journalist and author of Asset Class
The Guardian
Episode: The Billionaire Machine w/ Hettie O'Brien
M. V. Ramana
Physicist and Professor, University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
Episode: Nuclear is Not the Solution w/M.V. Ramana
Ann Pettifor
Director of Policy Research in Macro Economics (PRIME); author of The Global Casino
Policy Research in Microeconomics (PRIME) / Author
Episode: How Wall St. Gambles on Your Future w/Ann Pettifor
David Edgerton
Historian and author
Episode: Beyond Techno-Optimism w/ David Edgerton
Alyssa Battistoni
Author of Free Gifts, Capitalism and the Politics of Nature
Author / Scholar
Episode: Free Gifts w/Alyssa Battistoni
Amir Lebdioui
Associate Professor in Political Economy at the University of Oxford; author of Survival of the Greenest
University of Oxford
Episode: Survival of the Greenest w/Amir Lebdioui
Sabrina Fernandes
Economic sociologist and head of research at the Alameda Institute
Alameda Institute
Episode: Lula’s Dilemma w/ Sabrina Fernandes
Kojo Koram
Legal scholar and author of 'Uncommon Wealth'
Episode: Legacies of Empire w/ Kojo Koram
Hans Stegeman
Chief Economist at Triodos Bank, leading writer on post-growth economics
Triodos Bank
Episode: Capitalism Without Growth? w/ Hans Stegeman

Host

Adrienne Buller
Host of The Breakdown, with focus on climate economics, political economy, and public policy.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 87 ratings
  • A Must-listen

    I’ve listened to two episodes of the Breakdown now - Ann Pettifor and Hettie O’Brien. Super interesting and informative. Look forward to hearing more! 🙌

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Podcast Addict Cath
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Essential listening

    There are lots of pods that do great, in-depth but also focused interviews, but I haven’t encountered another that is so thoughtfully considered in terms of scope and topics. Each episode dives deep into questions I’ve had for a long time about aspects of the political economy in a time of planetary crises and provides insights I haven’t encountered before. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tammeri
    United Statesa year ago
  • This is good. Really, really good.

    Brilliant podcast. Follow it to unlearn what you thought you knew, and learn anew what the global climate struggle is actually about.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    public4jbh
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests and hosts push beyond superficial takes to actionable insights.
Listeners praise the depth and breadth of climate-economy coverage.
High-quality, thoughtful discussions that challenge established narratives.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Billionaire Machine w/ Hettie O'Brien
Q: So you're the writer of a new book, The Asset Class. I wonder if you could tell the breakdown listeners, first of all, what the book is about, and also introduce yourself and your work.
The book explores private equity, tracing its history from leveraged buyouts to its current dominance in essential services, and it argues that private capital operates with a level of secrecy and political influence that reshapes economies and democratic life.
Free Gifts w/Alyssa Battistoni
Q: Could you unpack the idea of the externality and its significance in your work?
Externalities are not just technical costs; they reveal the power relations in production and challenge the traditional economics view by showing how harm is distributed and who bears the costs, which requires political analysis and action beyond simple pricing.
Free Gifts w/Alyssa Battistoni
Q: Could you just start by introducing yourself to us very briefly and the focus of your work?
I teach political theory at Barnard College, focusing on climate and environmental politics from a Marxist and feminist perspective, and I explore how capitalism shapes our understanding of nature and social life.
How Wall St. Gambles on Your Future w/Ann Pettifor
Q: What reforms could reduce fossil fuel financing via the financial system?
Implement green collateral standards, prevent brown collateral from being accepted by central banks, and pursue regional clearing unions to reduce dependency on a single currency and curb capital flight that funds fossil fuel extraction.
How Wall St. Gambles on Your Future w/Ann Pettifor
Q: How should governments respond to climate investment without crippling debt?
Invest in labor-intensive, climate-friendly sectors to generate income and tax revenue, use fiscal policy alongside monetary policy, and consider tools like capital controls or Tobin taxes to manage capital flows and keep financial markets aligned with public goals.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The BREAK—DOWN

What is The BREAK—DOWN about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A rigorous, debate-forward show exploring capitalism, climate policy, and the political economy behind energy transitions. Episodes often center on how finance, state capacity, and global geopolitics shape decarbonization, with deep dives into topics like private equity, green industrial policy, and the limits of techno-optimism. Notable for hosting dense, policy-focused conversations with scholars, journalists, and practitioners, the program frequently challenges mainstream narratives and proposes reformist paths for a more just, sustainable economy.

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Which podcasts are similar to The BREAK—DOWN?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The BREAK—DOWN:

1. Macrodose
2. Politics Theory Other
3. Ones and Tooze
4. Jacobin Radio
5. Planet: Critical

How many episodes of The BREAK—DOWN are there?

The BREAK—DOWN launched 2 years ago and published 29 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 The BREAK—DOWN?

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 The BREAK—DOWN?

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What guests have appeared on The BREAK—DOWN?

Recent guests on The BREAK—DOWN include:

1. Hettie O'Brien
2. M. V. Ramana
3. Ann Pettifor
4. David Edgerton
5. Alyssa Battistoni
6. Amir Lebdioui
7. Sabrina Fernandes
8. Kojo Koram

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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