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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 Question#67: Is Climate Change "Flippable"?
In Episode 67, Quinn & Brian ask: Is Climate Change "Flippable"? Our guest is Catherine Vaughan, CEO and Co-Founder of Flippable, an organization dedicated to…
The Most Important Question#66: So We Can’t Just Blow Up Asteroids, Then?
In Episode 66, Quinn & Brian want to know why the hell we can't -- and further -- shouldn’t just blow up asteroids. Our guest is the incredible Professor K.T…
The Most Important Question#65: Chernobyl: A Preventable and Rare Accident from the Past or a Vivid Picture of Our Hellish Nuclear Future?
In Episode 65, Quinn asks: Is Chernobyl a preventable and rare accident from the past or a vivid picture of our hellish nuclear future? Our guest is Craig…
The Most Important Question#64: Sunrise Movement Tour - Live (ish) in LA!
In a very special Episode 64, Quinn & Brian discuss (live! Kind of): everything that’s good at the Sunrise Movement Tour (and everything that’s not-so-good in…
The Most Important Question#63: Green Acres: Farming for Millennials and Other People Who Like Food
In Episode 63, Quinn & Brian discuss: Building a new pipeline of sustainable food growers. Our guest is Dena Leibman, the Executive Director of the Future…
The Most Important Question#62: Where Does Ebola Go From Here?
In Episode 62, Quinn & Brian ask: 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#61: How Do We Atone for Poisoning Generations of American Minorities?
In Episode 61, Quinn & Brian ask: How do we atone for poisoning generations of American minorities? Our guest is Dr. Michael Dorsey, a recognized expert on…
The Most Important Question#60: Why You Should Run For Something in 2020
In Episode 60, Quinn & Brian discuss: Why YOU should run for something in 2020! Our guest is Amanda Litman, the co-founder and Executive Director of Run For…
The Most Important Question#59: Is Florida the Harbinger of Doom? (Probably)
In Episode 59, Quinn & Brian ask: Is Florida the harbinger of doom? (Probably) Our guest is Dr. Salvador Almagro-Moreno, an Assistant Professor of Medicine at…
The Most Important Question#58: Is Faith Sustainable?
In Episode 58, Quinn & Brian ask: Is faith sustainable? Our guest is Dekila Chungyalpa, a trained scientist and Buddhist operating at the intersection of…
The Most Important QuestionBONUS REPLAY: Is Food Waste the Stupidest Thing We Do (& How Do We Cut it in Half)?
We’re digging into our vault and playing a hit this week because there’s big news for former guest Dr. James Rogers and his company Apeel Sciences: Fast…
The Most Important Question#57: Make Food Great (Nutritious) Again
In Episode 57, Quinn & Brian discuss: Why more food ≠ more nutrition. Our excellent guests are Professors Kristie Ebi and Irakli Loladze. Dr. Ebi is the Rohm &…
The Most Important Question#56: What’s It Feel Like To Be Asked To Save the World?
In Episode 56, Quinn & Brian ask: What’s it feel like to be asked to save the world? Our guest is Rhiana Gunn-Wright, who is writing policy and leading the…
The Most Important Question#55: What are the Energy Requirements of Well-being?
In Episode 55, Quinn & Brian ask: What are the energy requirements of well-being? Our guest is Julia Steinberger, a Professor of Social Ecology & Ecological…
The Most Important Question#54: The State That’s Not a State is a Hell of a Lot Greener Than Your State
In Episode 54, Quinn & Brian discuss: why the state that’s not a state is a hell of a lot greener than your state. Our guest is Jamie DeMarco, a State-Level…
The Most Important Question#53: How the Hell Do We Pull Clean Drinking Water Out of Thin Air?
In Episode 53, Quinn & Brian ask: How the hell do we pull clean drinking water out of thin air? Our guest is Dr. Shing-Chung “Josh” Wong, a professor of…
The Most Important Question#52: What’s the Deal With the Green New Deal?
In Episode 52, Quinn & Brian ask (using their best Seinfeld impression): What’s the deal with the Green New Deal? Our guest is Varshini Prakash, a founder of…
The Most Important Question#51: Are We Thinking About CRISPR All Wrong (& What the Hell is CRISPR)?
In Episode 51, Quinn & Brian ask: Are we thinking about CRISPR all wrong (and what the hell is CRISPR)? Our guest is C. Brandon Ogbunu, an evolutionary systems…
The Most Important QuestionBEST OF 2018: New Antibiotics in a Post-Antibiotic Era
Back in Episode 19, Quinn & Brian asked: What’s the future of antibiotics? To find out, we sat down with bowtie enthusiast and professor of pathology and…
The Most Important QuestionBEST OF 2018: He’s Given 200+ Climate Speeches to Congress. What’s Next?
Back in Episode 26, Quinn & Brian asked: what drives a man to give 200 climate speeches to Congress? Our guest was Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, the junior…
The Most Important QuestionBEST OF 2018: Is It Harder to Build Clean Power Plants or Play in a Reputable Cover Band?
Back in Episode 38, Quinn & Brian asked: Is it harder to build clean power plants or play in a reputable cover band? Our guest Sean Casten then went on to win…
The Most Important QuestionBEST OF 2018: Congress Got a Female Air Force Officer / Engineer / Chemistry Teacher / Mom
Back in Episode 37, Quinn & Brian asked: Why does Congress need a female Air Force Officer / Engineer / Chemistry Teacher / Mom among its ranks? We found out –…
The Most Important Question#50: It’s Getting Hot in Here & America’s Poor are (Not Surprisingly) Dying Fastest
In Episode 50, Quinn & Brian discuss: 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#49: How Can HUGE Food & Beverage Companies Contribute to a More Sustainable Future?
In Episode 49, Quinn & Brian ask: What can the HUGE food and beverage companies do, right now, to improve U.S. food systems and drive trends towards a more…
The Most Important Question#48: Why Does Childhood Cancer Exist & What Can We Do to Make It Go Away Forever?
In Episode 48, Quinn & Brian ask: Why the hell does childhood cancer exist, isn't the world effed up enough as it is, and what can we do to make it go away…
The Most Important Question#47: The Future of Digital Health, Part 2: America’s Data
In Episode 47, Quinn goes solo for a minute to discuss: America’s data and the future of digital health. Quinn sits down for a one-on-one chat with Dave…
The Most Important Question#46: Is There Nuclear Waste in the Ocean (& Can We Become Super Heroes if There Is)?
Dr. Claudia Benitez-Nelson is an Associate Dean and Distinguished Professor in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of South Carolina, and today…
The Most Important Question#45: Poop Vs. Cancer
Our guest is Dr. Diwakar Davar, a Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and a a medical oncologist/hematologist. Want to send us feedback?…
The Most Important Question#44: Is Food Waste the Stupidest Thing We Do (& How Do We Cut it in Half)?
Our guest is Dr. James Rogers, founder and CEO of Apeel Sciences and one of our most mind-blowing guests yet. Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or…
The Most Important Question#43: The Future of Digital Health, Part 1
Our guests are Dr. Indra Joshi & Maxine Mackintosh, the co-founders of One HealthTech. Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice…
The Most Important Question#42: What Happens When You’re Almost an Astronaut... And What Comes Next?
Dr. Sian Proctor tells us how we can all help get more women and more people of color into space, one way or another. Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email…
The Most Important Question#41: Outsmarting Cholera
Our guest is Dr. Minmin Yen, the CEO and co-founder of medical startup PhagePro, where she and her team are developing viruses specifically designed to kill…
The Most Important QuestionTrailer -- The Most Important Question
Science for people who give a sh*t. Want to feel better AND unf*ck the world? The 6-time Webby nominee delivers deep conversations with the world's smartest…
The Most Important QuestionBonus: The #1 thing you can do to fight climate change
Hi. So you read the IPCC climate change report. Not great, Bob. We get it. Now you want to do something about it. We get that, too. So here’s a re-run of one…
The Most Important Question#40: What Takes a Young Woman from Art School to NASA... & Why Might That Change Everything Forever, for Everyone?
Our guest is Ariel Waldman, the author of What's It Like in Space? Stories from Astronauts Who've Been There, the founder of Spacehack.org, the global director…
The Most Important Question#39: Is The Ocean Running Out of Oxygen? Is That Bad?
Our guest is Dawn “Deepsea Dawn” Wright, Ph.D., the Chief Scientist of the Environmental Systems Research Institute (AKA Esri) and a Professor of Geography and…
The Most Important Question#38: Is It Harder to Build Clean Power Plants or Play in a Reputable Cover Band?
Our guest is Sean Casten, a scientist, clean energy entrepreneur, and cover band member who is running for Congress in Illinois’ 6th district. Want to send us…
The Most Important Question#37: Why Does Congress Need a Female Air Force Officer / Engineer / Chemistry Teacher / Mom?
Our guest is Chrissy Houlahan, a candidate for Pennsylvania District 6 on Nov. 6th. Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!…
The Most Important Question#36: Can Latinos Save the Planet?
Our guest is Mark Magana, the Founding President & CEO of GreenLatinos, a national coalition of Latino environmental, natural resources, and conservation…
The Most Important Question#35: Can These Scientists Really Save Congress?
Our guest is Shaughnessy Naughton. She is the President & Founder of 314 Action, an organization founded by members of the STEM community; grassroots…
The Most Important Question#34: Electrocuting the S#!t Out of Cancer.
In Episode 34, Quinn & Brian discuss: Electrocuting the S#!t Out of Cancer. Our guest is Theo Roth, an MB/PhD student candidate at UCSF who spends his days…
The Most Important Question#33: This is Zero Hour... So What The Hell Are You Doing?
Our guests are Elsa Mengistu and Emelly Villa, two of the young people behind Zero Hour, a movement that is bringing the voices of diverse youth into the…
The Most Important Question#32: Are You Ready for Some Radical Environmental Justice?
Our guest is Shantha Ready Alonso, Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries, whose mission is to “educate, equip, and mobilize Christian communities…
The Most Important Question#31: Can Texas Go (Clean Energy) Independent?
In Episode 31, Quinn & Brian ask: Can Texas Go (Clean Energy) Independent? Joining us this week is candidate for Texas district 21, Joseph Kopser. He’s a…
The Most Important Question#30: What’s the Business Incentive for Climate/Clean Energy Action?
In Episode 30, Quinn & Brian ask: what’s the business incentive for climate/clean energy action? In light of the Paris Agreement and all the bullshit that’s…
The Most Important Question#29: The Pope Has Decided to Defeat Climate Change with His Own Bare Hands.
In Episode 29, Quinn & Brian ponder the fact that the Pope Has Decided to Defeat Climate Change With His Own Bare Hands. Our guest — Jose Aguto. Jose is the…
The Most Important Question#28: Why the Hell is Space Exploration Important When the Planet is Literally on Fire?
In Episode 28, Quinn & Brian ask: why the hell is space exploration important when the planet is literally on fire? To answer that, they’ve brought on The…
The Most Important Question#27: What Happens When the Atlantic Ocean Invades the Arctic Ocean?
In Episode 27, Quinn & Brian ask: what happens when the Atlantic Ocean invades the Arctic Ocean? Our guest: Julia Roberson, vice president of relations for the…
The Most Important Question#26: He's Given 200 Climate Speeches to Congress. What's Next?
In Episode 26, Quinn & Brian ask: what drives a man to give 200 climate speeches to Congress? That's once a week since 2007. Our guest today: Senator Sheldon…
The Most Important Question#25: Middle School Physics: Lame, or the First Step to Being an Superhero?
In Episode 25, Quinn & Brian ask: “Middle school physics: Lame, or the first step to being a SUPERHERO?” Our guest today is “The Physics Girl”, Dianna Cowern…
The Most Important Question#24: When Will San Francisco Be Underwater?
In Episode 24, Quinn & Brian ask: when will San Francisco be underwater? On the mic today is the ever-intrepid Molly Peterson, a renowned reporter focusing on…
The Most Important Question#23: Can We Predict the Next Big Earthquake?
In Episode 23, Quinn & Brian ask: can we predict the next big earthquake? Pretty please? Joining us is Josh Bashioum, founder of Early Warning Labs, an…
The Most Important Question#22: How Does Your Phone Call Become Law?
In Episode 22, Quinn & Brian ask: how does your phone call become law? To help answer that question, they’ve got Andres Jimenez on the line. Andres is the…
The Most Important Question#21: The #1 thing you can do to fight climate change
In Episode 21, Quinn & Brian finally get to the heart of it: What’s the #1 thing YOU can do to affect climate change? On the mic and down the street, Peter…
The Most Important Question#20: How the hell are we gonna feed 10 billion people?
In Episode 20, Quinn and Brian wonder: How the hell are we gonna feed 10 billion people? Enter Fred Iutzi of the Land Institute, where they’re focused on the…
The Most Important Question#19: What’s the future of antibiotics?
In Episode 19, Quinn & Brian asks: What’s the future of antibiotics? To answer: the irrepressible Dr. Gautam Dantas, the professor of pathology and immunology…
The Most Important Question#18: A new science foundation in America
In Episode 18, Quinn & Brian try to build a more flexible, approachable, and fun new science foundation in America. But they don't know where to start. Enter…
The Most Important Question#17: What’s the future of emergency medical systems in the age of climate change?
In Episode 17, Quinn & Brian ask: What’s the future of emergency medical systems in the age of climate change? Joining us: Jason Friesen, the founder and…
The Most Important Question#16: Clouds ruin EVERYTHING
In Episode 16, Quinn & Brian ask: what's the future of climate modeling? Also, what's a climate model? Enter Dr. Kate Marvel. She's a climate scientist and a…
The Most Important Question#15: Can carbon capture be a building block in climate action, Part II?
In Episode 15, Quinn and Brian dig deeper and ask: Can carbon capture be a building block in climate action, part II? On the mic: Akshat Rathi, a reporter for…