Podcast · News

A Matter of Degrees

by Dr. Leah Stokes, Dr. Katharine Wilkinson · English · News

New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 47 min
Latest: 25 Aug 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

25 Aug 2026 · 48 min

The Carbon Wave

Before the Inflation Reduction Act became the biggest climate bill in U.S. history, it was just a bunch of policy ideas with long odds. Turning those ideas into law took years of work by people who refused to let it die. Leah was one of those people, and she wrote a book about it. It's called The Carbon Wave: A Story of Democracy, Parenthood, and the Race to Protect Our Planet , which comes out on September 1st. Leah chronicles the turbulent path of the bill as it veered between breakthrough and collapse — from the hopeful beginnings of the Green New Deal in 2018, to the bill's near-certain…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

16 Apr 2026 · 34 min

Climate Wayfinding

Katharine wrote a book! It's called Climate Wayfinding: Healing Ourselves and the Planet We Call Home , and it's out on May 5th. Through journaling prompts, practical exercises, wisdom from climate leaders, and even art and song, the book takes readers from climate ache to action and from doubt to possibility. This week on A Matter of Degrees , Leah interviews Katharine on how our grief and fear can become fuel rather than paralysis, how to uncover the superpowers you already have to help heal the planet, and why joy is an essential strategy for staying in this work. And they reckon with a…
26 Mar 2026 · 34 min

The Long Arc of Climate Action with Gina McCarthy

Gina McCarthy has been at the center of nearly every federal climate fight of the last two decades. She led the EPA during the Obama years. Then, under President Biden, she became the first ever White House National Climate Advisor. In this episode of A Matter of Degrees , we sit down with Gina for a sweeping conversation about the victories, the setbacks, and why the climate story is much longer than any single administration. We cover the collapse of the Waxman-Markey Bill, the strange victory of a Clean Power Plan that was stayed before it started, the rollercoaster of getting the…
26 Feb 2026 · 52 min

Melting ICE: The Climate Movement Defends Democracy

Back in December, the Trump administration sent thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents into Minnesota. They terrorized communities, took people from their homes, and murdered two American citizens. Climate groups helped lead the resistance. In this episode of A Matter of Degrees , a city stands up to state violence. We bring on Aru Shiney-Ajay , the executive director of the Sunrise Movement, to tell us about leading on the frontlines in Minneapolis. Then we talk to Ben Passer , the McKnight Foundation's Midwest Climate Director, about how preserving democracy is key to…
9 Oct 2025 · 41 min

The Only Good Planet

Dr. Kate Marvel builds climate models — digital worlds that simulate our possible futures. They can tell us how hot it will get, how high the seas will rise, and which forests will burn. But they can't tell us what humans will do next — or how we'll feel as the planet transforms. In this episode of A Matter of Degrees , we talk with Kate about her new book, Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet. This conversation has it all: science, feelings, geoengineering, fossil fuel industry mischief, and even witches.
9 Sep 2025 · 48 min

The Sun Is Having Its Day

"In the midst of a lot of big, bad things happening, there's one big good thing happening on planet Earth right now." Today on A Matter of Degrees , we're bringing back the podcast's very first guest — legendary activist and author Bill McKibben . Bill's latest book, Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization , shows how clean energy can create a healthier, safer, more prosperous world. Bill is also organizing "Sun Day" – a national day of action on September 21st to celebrate the power of clean energy. You can get involved in an event in your area…
26 Aug 2025 · 37 min

Cash In On Clean Tech Incentives (Before It's Too Late)

Donald Trump's so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" took a sledgehammer to U.S. climate policy, including tax credits for clean cars and appliances. These incentives were helping people cut pollution, lower their energy bills, and make their homes more comfortable. Trump's bill eliminates the credits by the end of this year. Wait, don't change the channel—because these incentives haven't expired yet! So for the next few months, there is a federally-funded BLOWOUT SALE on clean tech. Shop until your energy bills drop! In this episode of A Matter of Degrees , we break down which credits are…
4 Apr 2025 · 36 min

The Climate Crisis Is Breaking Insurance

Thousands of people lost their homes in the Los Angeles wildfires. Now, they're looking to their insurance companies to help them rebuild. But as the world warms, disasters like these are becoming more frequent and more severe, exposing an insurance system that isn't equipped to cover the rising damages. In Los Angeles, people who lost everything were left to fend for themselves. This is just the latest example of how insurance is failing to keep up with climate change. In this episode of A Matter of Degrees , we're joined by Dave Jones , California's Insurance Commissioner from 2011 to 2018…
23 Jan 2025 · 39 min

Presenting: L.A. Wildfires: Rebuilding for a Hotter, Drier Future

This week we are sharing a special bonus episode from Boiling Point , a new podcast produced by the LA Times and hosted by climate columnist Sammy Roth . This new audio series explores how climate change is impacting California and the American West. The first episode focuses on the recent wildfires in Los Angeles and what they mean for the future of the city. Sammy talks with Kelly Sanders , an engineering professor at USC and former White House advisor on energy policy, about how Los Angeles can look at resilience as it builds back. Boiling Point is an LA Times Studios podcast and releases…
S4 · E6 · 10 Jan 2025 · 52 min

Leah Stokes: 2024 Schneider Award Winner

In this episode of A Matter of Degrees , we partner with Climate One to share an inspiring conversation between Dr. Leah Stokes and Greg Dalton , the founder and co-host of Climate One, when Leah received the 2024 Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication in December. And as a double feature, this episode also includes a conversation between writer, historian, and activist Rebecca Solnit and Climate One co-host Ariana Brocious from 2023. This episode was also released on the Climate One podcast.
S4 · E5 · 19 Dec 2024 · 36 min

Cleaning Up Industry

The industrial sector makes all of our physical stuff – the clothes we wear, the cars we drive, the buildings we live in, and much more. It's also one of the biggest sources of U.S. climate pollution. In this episode of A Matter of Degrees , we bring on guest host Dr. Eric Masanet , world-leading industrial decarbonization expert, to break down how we can clean up this sector. We are also joined by Rebecca Dell , the Senior Director of the Industry Program at the ClimateWorks Foundation, Nick Santero , the Sustainability Science Team Lead at Rivian, and Yinka Bode-George , the Founder,…
S4 · E4 · 5 Dec 2024 · 39 min

The Questions We Ask Matter with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

In this live episode of A Matter of Degrees , Dr. Katharine Wilkinson joined Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson for a conversation on Ayana's new book, What If We Get It Right, Visions of Climate Futures. The need to build community and the imperative to imagine the futures we want are now more important than ever. These topics are at the heart of this discussion, which took place before the election at the Carter Center in Atlanta. This episode was also released on the What If We Get It Right? podcast.
14 Nov 2024 · 58 min

What the Election Means for Climate Policy

The election is over, but climate progress doesn't have to be. How can we continue to push for equitable climate policies and defend current investments in clean energy? What are the state and local avenues for addressing the climate crisis? In this live episode of A Matter of Degrees , Dr. Leah Stokes is joined by Adrian Deveny , the Former Director of Energy and Environmental Policy for Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer. Leah and Adrian talk through what the results of the 2024 election mean for the future of our planet and how we can keep moving forward. Mentioned in this episode is…
24 Oct 2024 · 34 min

Minnesota's Climate Breakthrough

On this episode of A Matter of Degrees , we tell the story of how a powerful grassroots movement, ambitious lawmakers, and Governor Tim Walz turned Minnesota into a climate leader. Then, we talk about using the Minnesota blueprint to make change everywhere else. It's election season, but the federal government isn't the only venue for climate action. States also play a huge role in our path to healing the planet. Beyond just cutting pollution within their borders, states implement our big federal climate laws, test new innovative policy ideas, and build momentum for nationwide progress. And…
7 Oct 2024 · 30 min

Project 2025

Project 2025 has been all over the news lately. But what exactly is this conservative playbook for the Federal government? And what does it mean for climate policy? This week, A Matter of Degrees dives into the Heritage Foundation's plan for the next conservative presidential administration. Just weeks away from a pivotal election, we lay out what Project 2025 would mean for the climate movement and how it threatens to unwind all the progress we've made. This 900+ page document covers a lot of ground and, as we found out, the devil is in the details. In this episode, we walk through the…
26 Aug 2024 · 53 min

A Look Back at Vice President Kamala Harris on Climate Leadership, Justice, and Solutions

Welcome back for a special bonus episode of A Matter of Degrees ! In this episode, we are taking a look back at our live conversation with Vice President Kamala Harris. Since we are once again at a pivotal moment for the climate, we wanted to kick off our new season by looking back at this incredible climate leader who has played a key role in getting us where we are today. We are excited to share this inspiring conversation with you one more time… "We must understand that we are in a very specific moment in time, and this window is going to shut on us. But it doesn't have to shut on us, if…
S3 · E14 · 20 Jul 2023 · 59 min

Live Episode: A Climate Book Talk with Rebecca Solnit

Welcome back for a bonus episode of A Matter of Degrees ! We were lucky enough to sit down with Rebecca Solnit — author, historian, and climate activist — to talk about her newest climate anthology, Not Too Late . Leah and Nikayla Jefferson both wrote essays for the book and joined Rebecca onstage for this live episode. Not Too Late gets at the tough, vital work of culture change and features diverse climate voices from around the world. In this episode, Leah, Nikayla, and Rebecca hold an expansive conversation about hope, love, and how to stay engaged in the climate movement. Rebecca has…
S3 · E10 · 2 Mar 2023 · 49 min

The Tongass: A Way Forward For The Forest

In our season three finale, we're transporting listeners to the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world and a vital carbon sink: the Tongass. Katharine and Leah investigate the impact of decades of industrial logging in Southeast Alaska and political debates pitting ecology against economy. We learn from the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people, who have lived on and with these lands for more than 10,000 years. And we discover how a new chapter for the Tongass is taking root. This episode features Marina Anderson , deputy director of the Sustainable Southeast Partnership , and…
S3 · E9 · 16 Feb 2023 · 46 min

The Journey of Justice40

In his early days in office, President Biden took executive action to deliver environmental justice. Are those policies delivering justice in practice? This episode, we talk to EJ activists and federal policymakers about Biden's Justice40 Initiative, which directs 40% of the overall benefits of climate investments toward disadvantaged communities. We explore the decades of organizing that led to this moment, and what it will take now to fulfill the promise of the Justice40 Initiative. Our special guest host Nikayla Jefferson is back for this episode! She speaks with former People United for…
S3 · 2 Feb 2023 · 58 min

The 'Darth Vader' of Electric Utilities

Electric utilities are falling short on climate action. To explain why, we're bringing back our season one finale. This episode features former utilities regulator Kris Mayes, who recently won a nail-biting election to become the second woman and first openly LGBTQ attorney general of Arizona. Go, Kris! Since season one, Leah has been busy investigating utilities' past and present role spreading climate denial, doubt, and delay. You can read the paper she co-wrote on the topic last fall, and discover the dirty truth about your electric utility and their climate plans in the report she…
S3 · E8 · 19 Jan 2023 · 49 min

The Case of the Killer Heat

In this episode, we explore the growing impact of heat on people and the planet. We talk to scientists and "climate detectives" trying to hold the perpetrators of this unprecedented global temperature increase accountable. Leah and Katharine speak with Neza Xiuhtecutli , executive director of the Farmworker Association of Florida ; Kate Marvel , climate science writer and physicist at Columbia University and NASA ; and Richard Heede , co-founder and director of the Climate Accountability Institute . Kate mentions the very first climate attribution study , which links human activity to the…
S3 · 5 Jan 2023 · 56 min

New Year's Reflections, Resolutions, and Inspiration from Sherri Mitchell

At the start of 2023, we're reflecting on past progress and setting climate intentions, both small and large, for the year ahead. And we want to hear from you! Has A Matter of Degrees shifted your perspective or moved you to action? Do you have climate goals for 2023? Share your story with us. To inspire and ground us for the new year, we share a powerful audio essay from the bestselling anthology All We Can Save : "Indigenous Prophecy and Mother Earth" by Sherri Mitchell, Weh'na Ha'mu Kwasset. Sherri points humanity back toward life in this powerful piece, read by Alfre Woodard. Sherri…
S3 · E7 · 15 Dec 2022 · 43 min

Petrochemicals and Plastics: A Fossil Fuel Lifeline?

The fossil fuel industry is banking its future on petrochemicals — the toxic precursor to plastics. In this episode, Katharine and Leah speak with activists who are fighting back against petrochemicals in "sacrifice zones" across America, from the Ohio River Valley to the Gulf Coast. Learn where petrochemicals come from, how they harm people, places, and the climate, and why the fossil fuel industry wants them as a lifeline. We hear from three guests who are leading us to a world beyond petrochemicals and plastics: Michele Fetting , program director at the Breathe Project in Pittsburgh;…
S3 · E6 · 1 Dec 2022 · 37 min

Bold vs. BS in Corporate Climate Pledges

In this episode, we investigate corporate climate commitments and how to make them stronger. We get to the root of zero-emissions pledges and greenwashing — specifically in the oil and gas industry. Dr. Paasha Mahdavi , associate professor of political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara, joins us to report this story. Paasha talks with Louise Rouse , a consultant who teams up with investors to push corporations for climate accountability. He also speaks with The Science Based Targets Initiative 's head of standards, Emma Watson , and Jill Courtenay , director of…
S3 · E5 · 17 Nov 2022 · 46 min

Crypto Has a Climate Problem

This episode delves into the murky world of cryptocurrency and its impact on our planet. Join Katharine and Leah as they discover how digital currencies are breathing new life into previously shuttered coal plants across the United States. This episode features Alex de Vries , data scientist and founder of Digiconimist , an online platform that tracks Bitcoin's energy consumption; Anne Hedges , the director of policy and legislative affairs at watchdog organization Montana Environmental Information Center ; and New York State Assemblymember Anna Kelles , who sponsored a bill to establish a…
S3 · E4 · 3 Nov 2022 · 1 hr

How To Cope with All the Climate Feels

This episode is all about feelings. You've heard the phrase "climate grief," right? But how do we deal with what it does to our hearts, minds, and bodies? And how might it impact the climate action we take? This episode features Dr. Britt Wray , a Stanford-based author and researcher on climate and mental health; somatic coach and climate grief worker, Selin Nurgün ; and Zen priest and Environmental Defense Fund senior scientist, Dr. Kritee Kanko . Check out Britt's weekly newsletter Gen Dread and her recent book Generation Dread . And learn more about the grief rituals Kritee facilitates…
S3 · 20 Oct 2022 · 47 min

Live Episode: Vice President Kamala Harris on Climate Leadership, Justice, and Solutions

"We must understand that we are in a very specific moment in time, and this window is going to shut on us. But it doesn't have to shut on us, if we act." — Vice President Kamala Harris on A Matter of Degrees Ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, we had the honor of joining Vice President Harris live in San Francisco for a conversation about climate leadership, justice, and solutions. She underlined the critical importance of the current moment, and the need to act with urgency in service of what's still possible. This episode covers a lot of ground, from electric school buses and job creation…
S3 · E3 · 13 Oct 2022 · 47 min

"What Can I Do?" Part 3 — The Political

The third and final installment of our miniseries considers the question "What can I do?" from a political perspective. Our expert guests share stories of nailbiter elections for local office and the victorious legislative campaign to ban gas in new buildings in New York City. We lay out a four-step guide to getting pro-climate candidates elected, supporting them in office, and keeping them accountable. This episode features Caroline Spears , founder and executive director of Climate Cabinet , which helps local leaders run, win, and legislate on the climate crisis, and Sonal Jessel , the…
S3 · E2 · 29 Sep 2022 · 50 min

"What Can I Do?" Part 2 — The Professional

In this episode, we continue to unpack the question "What can I do?" The second installment of our miniseries zeroes in on our professional lives — ways to approach climate action within the workplace. We learn that almost any job can be a climate job. And, if need be, we can pursue "career divestment." This episode features Amanda Suter Gallardo , deputy petroleum administrator for the City of Los Angeles and former Terra.do fellow, and Jamie Alexander , founding director of Drawdown Labs at the climate solutions nonprofit Project Drawdown. For more info on the online climate school Amanda…
S3 · E1 · 15 Sep 2022 · 55 min

"What Can I Do?" Part 1 — The Personal

As climate people, we hear this question again and again: "What can I do?" Many of us are trying to figure out how to help address the climate crisis. So, we're taking on that critical question in a three-part miniseries. The first episode is all about The Personal — key ways we can act on climate in our own lives and create meaningful, durable change. Hint: it involves stoves and cash. This episode features Sarah Lazarovic, artist, writer, and head of communications and brand at Rewiring America , and Marilyn Waite, managing director of the Climate Finance Fund and author of Sustainability…

About A Matter of Degrees

Give up your climate guilt. Sharpen your curiosity. Join Dr. Leah Stokes and Dr. Katharine Wilkinson as they tell stories about the powerful forces behind climate change — and the tools we have to fix it. This show makes sense of big climate questions and critical topics. Our episodes are filled with stories of bold climate leadership, groundbreaking campaigns, and people doing their best to be part of the solution. A Matter of Degrees is produced in partnership with The 2035 Initiative at UC Santa Barbara and The All We Can Save Project.

A Matter of Degrees is a English news podcast from Dr. Leah Stokes, Dr. Katharine Wilkinson. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Dr. Leah Stokes, Dr. Katharine Wilkinson
Language: English
Category: News
New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 47 min
Latest episode: 25 Aug 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1534829787

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