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The Most Important Question
The most important question in today's world of climate chaos, AI psychosis, and crumbling democracy is: what can I do? Your host, Quinn Emmett is completely unqualified to answer it, so he's calling the people that already are. If you've got the news, the analysis, the outrage, but still no plan — join us as we figure it out together with long-form conversations with amazing people working on the frontlines, and quick updates responding to today's most important headlines, and what you can do…
Episodes
The Most Important QuestionDo Better Better #3: This Is What Makes Us Exceptional
This essay was originally published in print August 2, 2020 Originally published to our community through our newsletter and blog, the Do Better Better essays…
The Most Important QuestionDo Better Better #2: Why Do We Exist?
This essay was originally published in print July 26, 2020 Originally published to our community through our newsletter and blog, the Do Better Better essays…
The Most Important QuestionDo Better Better #1: Who Do You Want To Be? And Why?
This essay was originally published in print July 19, 2020 This week, we’re introducing Do Better Better: essays to plan for the future, today. Originally…
The Most Important QuestionIssue #209: This is Definitely Important Probably, Guy Fieri Rescues the Restaurant Industry, When Water Meets Capitalism
This week: The 80-20 Rule works both ways; The incredibly timely importance of probably; We can learn a lot on how to think from a survey of 700…
The Most Important QuestionIssue #208: Something new
We’re moving the audio version of our Webby and Shorty-nominated newsletter into our main podcast feed and we can’t wait to share it with you today. If you’re…
The Most Important Question#101: Code Blue: Arizona Goes to The Emergency Room
In Episode 101, Quinn & Brian ask: How did all of America end up in the emergency room? Our guest is: Dr. Hiral Tipirneni. She is an emergency room physician…
The Most Important Question#100: A Conversation With (A) Future President of the United States
In Episode 100, Quinn & Brian discuss: Why state elections matter not just for your state but for the future of our planet. Our guests are: Aimy Steele &…
The Most Important Question#99: How You Doin’?
In Episode 99, Quinn & Brian, with help from Inverse.com, ask: how are YOU feeling? Our guest is: Ali Pattillo, a health and science reporter at Inverse.com…
The Most Important Question#98: How to Stop School Shootings in the USA
In Episode 98, Quinn & Brian discuss: common sense solutions to prevent gun deaths and destroy the gun lobby. Our guest is: Fred Guttenberg, a gun safety…
The Most Important Question#97: How Do We Rebuild Capitalism in a World on Fire?
In Episode #97, Quinn digs into how we can rebuild capitalism for the world, for your company, and for yourself. Our guest is: Rebecca Henderson, Harvard…
The Most Important Question#96: A Just Alternative to Climate Disaster *and* Gentrification
In Episode 96, Quinn & Brian ask: How do we orchestrate a just energy transition for frontline low- and middle-income communities — from the inside out? Our…
The Most Important Question#95: How to Upgrade Your Microbiome
In Episode 95, Quinn & Brian ask: how can we upgrade our microbiome (also, what’s a microbiome (also, why does it need upgrading))? Our guest is: Raja Dhir…
The Most Important Question#94: Wait. Is Climate Science...Fashionable? It Is With Allbirds!
In Episode 94, Quinn & Brian discuss: the most comfortable and sustainable shoes on the planet. Our guest is: Hana Kajimura, who leads the development and…
The Most Important Question#93: All The Fun Stuff (That Shouldn’t Be) in Your Drinking Water
In Episode 93, Quinn & Brian ask: What can we do about all of this not-water in our water? Our guest is: Imari Walker, who is quite possibly the world’s…
The Most Important Question#92: Your Invitation to Climate School at Terra.do
In Episode 92, we're headed off to climate school! Our guest is Anshuman Bapna, the creator (and headmaster) of Terra.do, which is like Hogwarts but for fixing…
The Most Important Question#91: Why is Drinking Water So Unaffordable for So Many Americans?
We’re back! In Episode 91, Quinn & Brian ask: Why is drinking water so unaffordable, or unavailable, or just filthy for so many people? Our guests are: Nina…
The Most Important QuestionGOOD NEWS: What The Hell Is CRISPR?
Back in Episode 51, Quinn & Brian asked: Are we thinking about CRISPR all wrong (and what the hell is it)? This is one of our most popular episodes, probably…
The Most Important QuestionBlack Lives Matter: A Letter to My Fellow White Men
We published our company statement on the Black Lives Matter protests on June 8th. This is an audio version of that statement, titled "A Letter to My Fellow…
The Most Important QuestionIssue #184: Climate Change Needs More Color, Asthma is Racist, Yakety Yak (MIT Tracks Back)
Please enjoy this preview of our weekly premium audio newsletter. Find out more at https://important.supportingcast.fm. This week: Racism is distracting us…
The Most Important QuestionGOOD NEWS: What's It Like To Almost Be An Astronaut?
Back in Episode 42, Quinn & Brian asked: What happens when you’re almost an astronaut... and what comes next? Our guest is Dr. Sian Proctor, an explorer…
The Most Important QuestionGOOD NEWS: Food Waste is the Stupidest Thing We Do
In Episode 44, Quinn & Brian discussed: Why food waste is the stupidest thing we do and how can we cut it in half. Our guest was Dr. James Rogers, founder and…
The Most Important QuestionGOOD NEWS: How to Be A Better Ancestor
To continue our Good News series, we’re looking back to Episode 78, when Quinn & Brian discussed: Planning for chaos. (Cheery, right?) For real, though. This…
The Most Important QuestionGOOD NEWS: Can Zebrafish Beat Childhood Cancer?
In Episode 75, Quinn & Brian discussed: Beating the crap out of childhood cancer with science and... zebrafish? Our guests are Dr. Jaclyn Taroni and Dr…
The Most Important QuestionWEBBY NOMINEE: "Who's Fixing The People Fixing The Planet?"
If you haven’t already heard, we received a Webby nomination for Best Podcast Episode in the Science & Education category. We’re really proud to be nominated…
The Most Important QuestionHoly Cow We're Nominated For Two Webbys
That's right, we are now a four-time Webby-nominated podcast! But what we really want is to be a Webby-winning podcast. So, please, go vote! It's free and you…
The Most Important QuestionGOOD NEWS: Did A.I. Just Make My Life’s Work Obsolete?
In Episode 73, Quinn & Brian asked: Did A.I. take our jobs? Of course, we aren’t talking about our jobs. If A.I. took our jobs, the show would have won that…
The Most Important QuestionGOOD NEWS: So We Can’t Just Blow Up Asteroids, Then?
Our “Good News” series of replays begins today with Episode 66, when Quinn & Brian hosted a delightfully important discussion: Why, apparently, we shouldn’t…
The Most Important Question#90: What It’s Like to be a COVID-19 Lab Rat
In Episode 90, Quinn & Brian discuss: What it’s like to be a COVID-19 Lab Rat. Our guest is: Allie Broas, an almost-MBA and one of Quinn’s many, many cousins…
The Most Important QuestionBEST OF THE BEST: Air Pollution: The Low Hanging Fruit of Our Hellish Future
Cast your mind back to Episode 79, when Quinn & Brian discussed: Optimism in the air (can it be?). Our guest is: Beth Gardiner, an environmental journalist and…
The Most Important QuestionBEST OF THE BEST: Is COVID-19 America’s Chernobyl?
Way back in Episode 65, Quinn asked: Was Chernobyl a preventable and rare accident from the past, or a vivid picture of what happens when the government…
The Most Important QuestionSpecial Edition: How You Can Help — And (Mostly) Still Stay Home
If you've been wondering how else you can help fight coronavirus besides staying at home in sweatpants, this episode is for you. Please share widely. You can…
The Most Important Question#89: Why Does It Require a PhD in Neuroscience Just to Support a Green New Deal?
In Episode 89, Quinn & Brian discuss: Taking down the white guy who politically stabbed you (and the planet) in the back. Our guest is: Dr. Arati Kreibich. She…
The Most Important Question#88: You Voted for Clean Energy… So Where The Hell Is it?
In Episode 88, Quinn & Brian ask: You voted for clean energy… so why hasn’t it become a thing yet? Our guest is: Dr. Leah Stokes, author of the new book Short…
The Most Important Question#87: What's In Your Moisturizer, Anyways?
In Episode 87, Quinn & Brian ask: What, exactly, are we putting on our bodies (and why aren’t more people asking questions about it)? Our guest is: Gregg…
The Most Important QuestionSpecial Edition: How to Survive the Coronavirus (With Your Sanity Intact)
In this special episode, Quinn (with some help from our friends at the CDC and elsewhere) talks you through everything you need to know about the coronavirus…
The Most Important Question#86: Farming While Black: The Past and The Future
In Episode 86, Quinn & Brian ask: What can we do to support the black farmers who have the ancient answers to rebuilding our soil, farms, and food system? Our…
The Most Important Question#85: A Blueprint for Fighting Food Waste in Your Community
In Episode 85, Quinn asks: Is there a blueprint for fighting food waste in your city? Our guest is: Rick Nahmias. As Founder and Executive Director of Food…
The Most Important Question#84: How is Climate Change (Already) Affecting Immigration to the USA?
We’re back! In Episode 84, Quinn & Brian ask: Is the USA responsible for climate refugees (and then turning them away)? Our guest is: Jessica Cisneros, a…
The Most Important QuestionSPECIAL PREVIEW: Issue #169: CRISPR’ing Cancer, BP Oil, & Democrats Campaigning on Soil
This is a special preview of our new weekly audio newsletter. It's all the most vital science news you missed, with action steps you can take to fight back…
The Most Important QuestionIntroducing the Important, Not Important: Sh*t-Giver Edition!
We’re very excited to announce the launch of our new premium podcast feed — The Shit-Giver Edition! Our main feed (this one) will always be free, and will…
The Most Important Question#83: Knock Knock. Who’s There? Climate Change. Climate Change Who? Climate Change Pooped On Your Head. (A Conversation About Mangroves)
In Episode 83, Quinn & Brian discuss: Blue carbon, the patriarchy, and how one of those two things has ruined the other (we’ll give you three guesses). Our…
The Most Important QuestionBONUS: Help Dr. Ghazala Hashmi Flip Virginia
We’re interrupting your normally scheduled programming with a Special Election Report! So, today, Quinn & Brian ask: Will You Help Us Flip Virginia? Our guest…
The Most Important Question#82: Sustainable Trees + Death Metal = Climate Progress
In Episode 82, Quinn & Brian discuss: How to fix our somewhat pressing land reconfiguration issues -- from 30,000 feet down to the soil under your feet. Our…
The Most Important Question#81: Legalizing the Other Weed
In Episode 81, Quinn & Brian discuss: Legalizing the weed of the sea. Our guests are Bren Smith and Tom Ford, two fine, clean-living gentleman who are out on…
The Most Important Question#80: Mosquitoes. The Serial Killers of Nature. Should We Make Them Go Away?
In Episode 80, Quinn & Brian discuss Quinn’s wife’s least favorite thing: Mosquitoes! Our guest is Dr. Natalie Kofler, a trained scientist and the founding…
The Most Important Question#79: Air Pollution: The Low Hanging Fruit of Our Hellish Future
In Episode 79, Quinn & Brian are back to discuss: Optimism in the air (wait... that doesn’t sound like us). Our guest is Beth Gardiner, an environmental…
The Most Important Question#78: How to Be A Better Ancestor
In Episode 78, Quinn & Brian discuss: Planning for chaos. Our guest is Bina Venkataraman, author of the upcoming book The Optimist's Telescope: Thinking Ahead…
The Most Important QuestionBEST OF THE BEST: Where Does Ebola Go From Here?
In Episode 62, Quinn & Brian asked: Where does Ebola go from here? Our guest is Karin Huster, a Field Coordinator at Doctors Without Borders, where she is…
The Most Important Question#77: Please, Please, Please Do A Good Job, Colorado
In Episode 77, Quinn & Brian discuss: How Colorado can fix this wholllllle thing with one little election. Our guest is Mike Johnston, a Democratic candidate…
The Most Important Question#76: Save the Corals, Save the World
In Episode 76, Quinn & Brian discuss: What you don’t see (any more) when you snorkel. Our guest is Dr. Kim Cobb, a professor in the School of Earth and…
The Most Important QuestionBEST OF THE BEST: It’s Getting Hot in Here, and America’s Poor Are Dying Faster Than Everyone Else
In Episode 50, Quinn & Brian discussed: How D.C. and LA are dealing with urban heat issues. Our guests are Yesim Sayin Taylor and Molly Peterson. Yesim is the…
The Most Important Question#75: Can Zebrafish Beat Childhood Cancer?
In Episode 75, Quinn & Brian discuss: Beating the crap out of childhood cancer with science and... zebrafish? We’re getting really nerdy about beating…
The Most Important Question#74: Incentivizing Those Dirty Capitalists to Solve Climate Change for Us
In Episode 74, Quinn & Brian discuss: Making carbon capture suck more (but this time, with carrots). Our guest is Henry Elkus, the frustratingly young and…
The Most Important QuestionBEST OF THE BEST: What’s It Feel Like To Be Asked To Save the World?
Today’s episode is a rerun of Episode 56, where Quinn & Brian asked: What’s it feel like to be asked to save the world? Our guest is Rhiana Gunn-Wright, who is…
The Most Important Question#73: Did A.I. Just Make My Life’s Work Obsolete?
In Episode 73, Quinn & Brian ask: Hold On A Minute -- Did A.I. Just Take Our Jobs? Of course, we aren’t talking about our jobs. If A.I. took our jobs, the show…
The Most Important Question#72: The Monsoon Is 11 Days Late
In Episode 72, Quinn & Brian discuss: Monsoons, food, and people. Our guest is Dr. Deepti Singh, an Assistant Professor in the School of the Environment at…
The Most Important Question#71: Why Raising the Status of Girls Can Change Everything
In Episode 71, Quinn & Brian discuss: Why raising the status of girls can help change everything. Our guest is Dr. Katharine Wilkinson, a Vice President at…
The Most Important Question#70: Who’s Fixing the People Fixing Our Planet?
In Episode 70, Quinn & Brian discuss: When things are broken, when the people who are working on those things are also broken, and why we need to help them…
The Most Important Question#69: Rebuilding Los Angeles & L.A.’s Green New Deal
In Episode 69, Quinn & Brian discuss: Rebuilding Los Angeles and L.A.’s Green New Deal. Our guest is Jeanalee Obergfell, who works just down the street from…
The Most Important Question#68: Let’s Send Our Homework into Space
In Episode 68, Quinn & Brian discuss: Sending our homework to space. Our guest is Michelle Lucas, an actual rocket scientist and the founder of Higher Orbits…