Shows / Saving the World From Bad Ideas
Saving the World From Bad Ideas
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, tribalism, or easy answers. Help us save the world from bad ideas. Because the future depends on…
Episodes
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #65 “Flint was poisoned” with Dr. Siddhartha Roy
In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, host Mark Lynas is joined by Dr. Siddhartha Roy, an environmental scientist who was among the first…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #64 “Krill Fishing in the Antarctic” with Olivia Boyd
In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, host Mark Lynas is joined by Olivia Boyd, Senior Engagement Lead at WePlanet, to discuss the campaign to…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #63 “Glaciers Are Forever” with Lonnie Thompson
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Professor Lonnie Thompson, a pioneering ice core paleoclimatologist whose life’s work has been key to…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #62 “Killing bluefin tuna” with George Monbiot
Episode summary In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, host Mark Lynas is joined by George Monbiot, columnist in The Guardian and environmental…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #61 “4 billion dead” with Roger Hallam
Episode summary In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, host Mark Lynas is joined by Roger Hallam, climate campaigner and co-founder of Extinction…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #60 “Trees are our only carbon offset”
Episode summary In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, host Mark Lynas is joined by Quico Toro, Director of Climate Repair at the Anthropocene…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #59 “Climate stabilisation is a moral hazard”
Episode summary In this inaugural episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas Season 4, host Mark Lynas is joined by scientist Joshua Elliott, director of…
- Saving the World From Bad Ideas
What's coming up in Season 4
Finally a new season is launching, and Mark is ready to tell us what season 04 of Saving the world from BAD IDEAS is going to be about.
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #58 “Environmentalists Are All the Same” with George Monbiot
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…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #57 “Hands off Mother Earth” with Anni Pokela
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…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #56 "Just leave it to the market" with Tom Crowther
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…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #55 "Life's only about competition" with Rowan Hooper
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…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #54 "Shut down the cobalt mines" with Nicholas Niarchos
In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas speaks with journalist and author Nicholas Niarchos about the dirty, dangerous, and politically…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #53 "History shows nuclear war will never happen.” with David Holloway
In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas speaks with Stanford historian David Holloway about one of the most dangerous assumptions of the…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #52 "Attenborough’s films ignore human impacts” with Colin Butfield
“Attenborough’s films ignore human impacts.” In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas speaks with filmmaker and environmental storyteller…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #51 "plenty of krill in the ocean" with Claire Christian
Antarctica is the least disturbed continent on Earth — and for some of the world's most powerful fishing nations, that's not a reason to protect it. It's a…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #50 "clean energy is too expensive for Africa" with Daan Walter
Clean energy won't work in the global south... right? At a moment when the fossil fueled economy is cracking under geopolitical pressure, Daan Walter of EMBER…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #49 "We can stop worrying about the climate" with Zeke Hausfather
“We can stop worrying about the climate.” In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas speaks with climate scientist Zeke Hausfather about a…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #48 "Vaccines are overrated" with Seth Berkley
Are vaccines overrated? In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas speaks with Dr Seth Berkley, infectious disease epidemiologist, former…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #47 "Geothermal energy is niche" with Terra Rogers
Geothermal energy isn't niche—it's everywhere. In this conversation, Mark Lynas speaks with Terra Rogers—program director for Superhot Rock Geothermal at Clean…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #46 "Conspiracy Theories" with Calum Matheson
Conspiracy theories are psychologically reassuring closed systems that are corroding democracy. In this conversation, Mark Lynas speaks with Calum…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #45 "Eating wildlife is more sustainable’" with Sylvia Earle
At 90 years old, Sylvia Earle has witnessed more ocean change than perhaps anyone alive. In this conversation, the legendary oceanographer delivers an urgent…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #44 "Vegi products are unhealthy’" with Nesli Sözer
Are ultra-processed foods really the enemy? In this conversation, Mark Lynas sits down with Nesli Sözer, research professor at VTT Technical Research Centre of…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #43 "Fishing in the Antarctic" with Matt Savoca, Ted Cheeseman, and Lucia Morillo
Should we be fishing for krill in the Antarctic? In this extraordinary episode, Mark Lynas connects via satellite with three researchers aboard a Sea Shepherd…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #42 "not enough land for renewables" with Tom Heap
Is there really not enough land for renewables? In this conversation, Mark Lynas sits down with Tom Heap—BBC Countryfile presenter, Radio 4's Rare Earth…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #41 "nature is fragile" with Fred Pearce
Is nature really as fragile as we've been led to believe? In this conversation, Mark Lynas sits down with veteran environmental journalist Fred Pearce, author…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #40 "the food system is fundamentally broken" with Jan Dutkiewicz
Is industrial food actually the villain — or one of humanity's greatest achievements? In this provocative episode, Mark Lynas sits down with Jan Dutkiewicz…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #39 "but that's just a technofix" with Adam Dorr
Can technology save us from environmental collapse — or is it just another false promise? In this epic conversation, Mark Lynas sits down with Adam Dorr…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #38 "Solving energy is enough for solving climate" with Bruce Friedrich
Can we really solve climate change just by fixing energy — and ignore food? In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas sits down with Bruce…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #37 "1.5 degrees" with Kwesi Quagraine and Erle Ellis
Is the 1.5°C temperature target helping or hindering climate action? In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas sits down with his…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #36 "No infinite growth on a finite planet" with Adam Dorr
Is “degrowth” a noble environmental solution — or one of history’s truly terrible ideas? In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas sits…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #35 "THIS is the Future" with David Wallace Wells
Welcome to season three of Saving The World From BAD IDEAS Bad Idea #35: ‘THIS is the Future’ Why Forecasts Fail – with David Wallace-Wells In the season three…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #34 “Nuclear? No Thanks!" With Bryony Worthington
Is nuclear power too slow, too expensive, or too essential to ignore? In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas sits down with Baroness…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #33 "Ultra Processed Foods are killing us’" with Sarah Berry
🔍 Episode Summary: Is the food industry slowly killing us? Is processing of food the problem? Do we really need personalized nutrition? In this episode of…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #32 "We don’t need nuclear" with Julia Pyke
Is a world powered by clean energy possible without nuclear power? In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas sits down with Julia Pyke…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #31 "Climate crisis? It’s China that’s the problem!" with Lauri Myllyvirta
Is China secretly saving the world from climate catastrophe? In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas is joined by Lauri Myllyvirta, Lead…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #30 "It can’t happen here" with Susan Stokes
Could democracy really die in America? In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas speaks with Susan Stokes, Professor of Political Science…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #29 "The Green transition is failing" with Michael Liebreich
Is net zero possible — and what’s really holding us back? In this second part of his conversation with Mark Lynas, clean energy expert Michael Liebreich dives…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #28 “JAWS- aka sharks are dangerous” with Arzucan -Zuzu- Askin
Are sharks really the monsters we’ve been taught to fear — or the ocean’s misunderstood guardians? In this episode, Mark Lynas sits down with Arzucan “Zuzu”…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #27 “There’s no hope for humanity” with Dr SJ Beard
Can thinking about the end of the world make us better people? In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas sits down with philosopher and…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #26 “Facts will beat Misinformation” with Professor Sander vanderLinden
Can we inoculate society against misinformation? In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas sits down with Professor Sander Vanderlinden —…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #25 "Climate catastrophism" with Ted NordHaus
🔍 Episode Summary: Is “climate catastrophism” itself a bad idea? In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas is joined by longtime…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #24 "We’ll just use Hydrogen!" with Michael Liebreich
🔍 Episode Summary: Is green hydrogen the silver bullet for decarbonisation — or a trillion-dollar distraction? In this episode of Saving the World from Bad…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #23 "These are the best of times" with Luke Kemp
🔍 Episode Summary Is civilisation inherently self-destructive? In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas is joined by political scientist…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #22 "Solar can’t power the world" with Bill McKibben
🔍 Episode Summary Can the sun save civilization? In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas sits down with legendary climate author and…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #21 "We can’t solve climate change" with Hannah Ritchie
🔍 Episode Summary Is it too late to stop climate change — or do we still have reasons for hope? In this episode, Mark Lynas talks with data scientist and…
- Saving the World From Bad Ideas
Saving the world from BAD IDEAS season two is coming!
We’re back. Season 2 of Saving the World from Bad Ideas is coming — and it’s bigger, bolder, and maybe even more controversial. This time once more , we’re…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBookend episode: looking back at season 1 of Saving The World From Bad Ideas
In this special season finale of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, host Mark Lynas flips the script by inviting producer Rob on mic for the first time…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #19 "greens are anti-science" with Tea Törmänen
🔍 Episode Summary Can Greens support nuclear power? Finnish environmentalist and WePlaneteer Tea Törmänen joins Mark Lynas to dismantle Bad Idea #19: “greens…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #18 "we’re addicted to fossil fuels" with Maarten Boudry
🔍 Episode Summary Are we addicted to fossil fuels and can we just go cold turkey? Philosopher of science Maarten Boudry joins Mark Lynas to tackle Bad Idea…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #17 "rewilding VS the people" with Rebecca Wrigley
🔍 Episode Summary Is rewilding just about wolves and wilderness, headset against farmers and rural communities, or something much more hopeful and human? In…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #16 "let's ditch intensive farming" with Michael Grunwald
🔍 Episode Summary: Is industrial agriculture the villain it's made out to be? In this episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas sits down with…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasSPECIAL: Bad Idea #15 "Just Stop Cooking" with Patricia Nanteza
SPECIAL: This episode dives into our new campaign, JUST STOP COOKING with WePlanet Africa lead, Patricia Nanteza. 🔍 Episode Summary: What happens when climate…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #14 "increasing disaster costs show extreme weather is getting worse" with Roger Pielke Jr
🔍 Episode Summary: Hurricanes. Floods. Fires. Tornadoes. Are extreme weather disasters getting worse because of climate change — or is that just the story we…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #13 "The Energiewende" with Noah Rettberg
🔍 Episode Summary: Energiewende — is Germany a shining example of how to lead the global energy transition, or a cautionary tale of how not to do it? In this…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #12 "There’s nothing down there" with Callum Roberts
🔍 Episode Summary: What if the largest living space on Earth was being plundered before we even understood it? In this timely episode, Mark Lynas speaks with…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #11 "No such thing as planetary boundaries" with Johan Rockström
🔍 Episode Summary: What if Earth came with a dashboard warning light — and it just started flashing red? In this pivotal episode, Mark Lynas sits down with…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #10 "Everyone hates nuclear" with Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow
🔍 Episode Summary: In this revealing and deeply reflective conversation, Mark Lynas sits down with journalist and essayist Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow, whose new book…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #9 "Dimming the Sun?!" with Cynthia Scharf
In this timely and far-reaching episode, Mark Lynas sits down with Cynthia Scharf — senior fellow at the Center for Future Generations and former UN climate…
Saving the World From Bad IdeasBad Idea #8 "We need nuclear weapons to stop nuclear war" with Alan Robock
🔍 Episode Summary: In this urgent and wide-ranging conversation, Mark Lynas is joined by leading climate scientist and nuclear winter expert Alan Robock to…