At Magic Canoe, we listen to a lot of podcasts. It’s a wonderful way to be informed while out in the garden, going for a walk, in the kitchen, or on the morning bike commute. (Be safe!)
This summer, whether you’re hitting the road or staying home to tend your community garden, take a listen to these five compelling, well-produced podcasts below that we can’t get enough of. All of them have helped us sustain hope during these times, offering intellectual and creative inspiration for walking into a viable future together.
Beyond Ecological Grief is a six-part podcast, hosted by Amy Romer, investigating the emotional realities of living through a planetary health crisis. Guided by the five stages of grief, each episode follows a personal story — from scientists to land defenders and youth — whose ties to land and history shape how they respond to a rapidly changing world. Intimate interviews and in-depth reporting trace how eco-grief shows up as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. When the place that shaped you is threatened — or destroyed — what does it take to keep going and take action?
Tending Tides explores Oregon’s growing need for and interest in an emergent farming method called “mariculture.” To many, the Oregon Coast is an ideal place for mariculture because of its unique ecology; high winds are frequent along its shores. The result is a natural phenomenon known as “upwelling” that stirs up cold, nutrient rich water that saltwater organisms thrive in. Mariculture refers not only to the farming of marine life for food, but also to the restoration and conservation of essential marine habitats, and the preservation of Indigenous knowledge.
Tending Tides looks closely at how the “ocean farming” of oysters, urchins, and seaweed can help Oregon’s struggling coastal communities build a flourishing, “blue” economy.
On Capitalism, the world’s dominant economic system is on trial as it hasn’t been for at least half a century. This podcast tells the story of capitalism — how people with power built and shaped it over time. We’ll also explore what to do now that many people see capitalism as the problem, not the solution.
Salmon Wars is a 2024 podcast series from Oregon Public Radio (OPB), who teamed up with ProPublica to produce six episodes that tell the story of salmon in the Northwest through the voices of one Yakama Nation family, who have been fighting for salmon for generations. “Salmon Wars” is OPB’s follow-up to “Timber Wars” (2020), two podcasts that examine conflicts over resources in the Pacific Northwest.
The Great Simplification is a weekly podcast hosted by Dr. Nate Hagens, exploring the systemic intersections of energy, ecology, economics, and human behavior. The show features conversations with global experts to demystify complex socioeconomic and environmental challenges, helping society understand physical constraints and build future resilience.
