Podcast · Tech & Science

Climate Cast

by Minnesota Public Radio · English · Tech & Science

MPR News meteorologist Paul Huttner with the latest research on our changing climate.

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 5 min
Latest: 13 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026 · 5 minNew

Climate change is delaying Minnesota’s peak fall colors

The colors of fall foliage are important to many Minnesotans, and timing for peak colors is wrapping up in the northern portion of the state. But future generations may get to enjoy those vibrant colors later in the year. MPR Chief Meteorologist Ben Cathey spoke with Brian Schwingle, forest health program coordinator with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, to see how climate change is delaying when leaves change. “Peak color since the late ’60s up until 2025 has delayed about almost two weeks,” Schwingle said. “There are two main factors that control leaf color change: day length…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

6 Oct 2026 · 5 min
Climate Cast: Heat and humidity create havoc for local wines
29 Sep 2026 · 5 min
Climate change is reshaping marathon season in Minnesota
Runners can expect seasonably cool temperatures for the 2026 Twin Cities Marathon. But the early October tradition will be moving back a week starting next year. Race officials have stated health concerns due to heat as a reason for the change. Between 1961 and 1990, October temperatures never touched 90 degrees in the Twin Cities. But, since 2010, there has been two instances of 90-degree temperatures in October. And now it’s twice as likely to hit temperatures over 80 degrees than 50 years ago. MPR News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard spoke with distance runner Jeff Denney and Jacob Kastner,…
22 Sep 2026 · 5 min
How climate is changing the apples you buy
The University of Minnesota is recognized as one of the top apple breeding and genetics research programs in the country. It developed the Honeycrisp apple and other flavors like the Big Flirt and the SuperSnap. But a warming climate makes the university’s work more difficult. MPR News chief meteorologist Ben Cathey spoke with Matt Clark, the director of research at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and Sarah Kostick, a member of the University of Minnesota Apple Breeding Program, about how climate is changing apples and the way you buy them. Click play on the audio player above to listen…
14 Sep 2026 · 5 min
Climate Cast: As ships sit in Strait of Hormuz, invasive species hitch a ride
Invasive species play the long game. They travel well, dig in to survive wherever they’re dropped off and then start multiplying, making it nearly impossible to root them out. Scientists looking now at the current state of the Strait of Hormuz see a recipe for invasive species spread. Giant ships are stuck in the warm waters there amid the Iran War and they’re collecting critters in the ballast water and on their hulls. Those invasive creatures will end up in ports around the world once the ships start moving again, likely creating a global superspreader event, Mario Tamburri, a marine…
10 Aug 2026 · 5 min
When powerful windstorms become more common, wildlife feel the impact
Derechos are devastating, fast-moving bands of thunderstorms capable of producing destructive winds. Minnesota has experienced several, including the Boundary Waters blowdown in 1999 . But research suggests derechos could become twice as common in a warming climate. MPR News chief meteorologist Ben Cathey spoke with members of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota in Roseville about the impacts these storms can have on wildlife. He also spoke with Logan Bundy, a meteorologist at Northern Illinois University, about what derechos could look like in the future. Click play on the audio…
31 Jul 2026 · 5 min
On softball night, Minnesota climate experts feel the heat
If you’ve attended or played in a softball or baseball game this summer, you likely share something in common with a lot of Minnesotans. The intense heat, coupled with the high humidity, has led to delays and sweltering conditions for fans, players, and umpires alike. That comes at the end of July 2026, which will go down as the warmest month in American history. There are plenty of church leagues and beer leagues around the state, but one group that meets in the Midway neighborhood of St. Paul is a little different. They have team names like the Grand Slamphibians, Tree Huggers, and…
10 Jul 2026 · 4 min
Learning from deadliest disaster in Minnesota history
What would you guess is the deadliest disaster in Minnesota history? A wildfire? Blizzard? Tornado? It was none of those. In 1936, a long-term heat wave killed at least 900 across Minnesota . Heat is America’s top weather killer, even in the age of air conditioning and community pools. For the return of the long-running Climate Cast, we wanted to revisit the terrible cost of the 1936 heat wave that hit 90 years ago this month. On July 14, 1936, experts estimated a person was dying every three minutes in Minneapolis alone as a direct result of the heat. In this episode, MPR News chief…
1 May 2026 · 5 min
Paul Huttner signs off after 13 years of hosting Climate Cast
For years, Climate Cast has been a place to make sense of a changing planet — explaining the science, the solutions and the people behind the issue. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner sat down with Tom Crann during the Minnesota Climate Adaptation Awards to reflect on Climate Cast’s roughly 650 episodes and its focus on climate science, news and solutions. “Climate change is a huge problem. We are seeing it every day,” Huttner said. “But there are so many good people working on solutions, and the technology of those solutions is here now.” Plus, hear some former guests of Climate Cast…
17 Apr 2026 · 5 min
How resilience hubs are giving climate aid before, during, and after a crisis
With climate change exposing communities to more dangerous weather conditions and amplifying diseases, experts say more people need resources to adapt. The University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership is working on creating Climate Resilience Hubs to help give people community spaces that can give support both in everyday life and during emergencies. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Dr. Kent Boyd , a Climate Adaptation, Resilience, and Public Health Extension Educator at the University of Minnesota, who is leading this work. Click play on the audio player above…
3 Apr 2026 · 4 min
How a Minnesota research team finds carbon a home in retired croplands
Burning fossil fuels is one of the primary drivers of climate change, releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, causing changes including increased temperatures and extreme weather events here in the Midwest. But recent research took advantage of a 40-year ongoing experiment at the University of Minnesota’s Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve to study how this carbon is being stored in retired croplands. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Eric Seabloom , a professor at the University of Minnesota College of Biological Science who was an author on the…
26 Mar 2026 · 5 min
El Niño could affect Minnesota's weather this year
Warmer waters building in the tropical Pacific Ocean are suggesting an El Nino event developing late this year. Forecasts predict an event range from a moderate El Nino, to a so-called Super El Nino event, which could have dramatic effects on weather in Minnesota, the U.S. and the world. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Andrew Freedman, a Senior Reporter for Climate & Weather at CNN, who has reported on the event.
20 Mar 2026 · 5 min
How cover crops are creating renewable jet fuel
The transportation sector is a large contributor to climate change, accounting for about 28 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Within that sector, aviation accounts for around 2 percent of carbon dioxide global emissions, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Looking to reduce its carbon footprint, the aviation industry is seeking fuels from more renewable biological sources. At the University of Minnesota’s Forever Green Initiative , researchers are working to commercialize winter oilseed cover crops that can keep soil healthy and also be turned into aviation fuel . MPR…
13 Mar 2026 · 5 min
How a Minnesota startup is taking carbon out of the atmosphere
Fossil fuels are by far the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for nearly 90 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions. But there are people here in Minnesota working on solutions for managing those emissions. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Paul Dauenhauer, a Distinguished McKnight University Professor at the UM College of Science and Engineering, about the start-up company Carba, of which he is a cofounder. Through Carba, they have developed a proprietary process that converts plant-based waste material into biochar, a stable material that…
6 Mar 2026 · 10 min
What's the carbon 'hoofprint' of the American beef industry?
The United States is among the world’s largest beef producers, producing some 12 million tons in 2025. But cattle generate a lot of emissions. The beef industry alone is responsible for around 3 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Jennifer Schmitt , senior research scientist in sustainability at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment, about what’s currently being done to reduce emissions. Plus, a snippet from a recent episode of This Old House Radio Hour about climate preparation is reshaping…
27 Feb 2026 · 5 min
The impact of climate change on Earth's polar regions
Minnesota Arctic explorer Will Steger has trekked across thousands of miles of ice in both the north and South Poles, crossing the Larsen Ice Shelves a few years before they disintegrated and collapsed into the sea. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Steger about dramatic changes he’s seen in Arctic regions over the past several decades.
20 Feb 2026 · 5 min
What does ice on Lake Superior tell us about climate change?
The last time Lake Superior completely froze over was 30 years ago in 1996. Around that time, Lake Superior was consistently at least 75 percent frozen over. Now, 75 percent coverage is rare, only happening about once every four years. Ice on the Great Lakes, and Lake Superior specifically, is a great way to measure climate for our region. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with UMD professor Jay Austin, about what ice coverage can tell us about climate change. Click play on the audio player above to listen to this episode or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.
13 Feb 2026 · 5 min
What’s new in Minnesota’s revised climate action plan
In 2022, The State of Minnesota created their Climate Action Framework, a plan that sets a vision for how Minnesota will address and prepare for climate change. As of February 11th, the framework has been updated. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Heidi Roop, the Director of the University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership, which helped create the new framework, to talk about the new changes.
5 Feb 2026 · 5 min
Climate normals downplay just how fast Minnesota is warming
NOAA data shows that winters have warmed more than five degrees on average since 1970. And last two years were some of the warmest on record, dating back to the late 1880s. But as the climate warms over decades, so do the 30-year averages for climate variables like temperature and precipitation. These new normals can mask the true magnitude of just how fast Minnesota is warming up. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with MPR News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard to explain how these normals can be misleading.
30 Jan 2026 · 5 min
What impact does the American prairie have on our climate?
Minnesota’s prairie, in the southwestern part of the state, is a biodiverse ecosystem that’s home to buffalo, bees and tall grass. In the book, "Sea of Grass: The Conquest, Ruin and Redemption of Nature on the American Prairie," Josephine Marcotty and Dave Hage dig into the significance prairies have to the climate. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner talks with Hage in depth about the American prairie. The following has been edited for length and clarity. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. What drew you to write about the American prairie? The book grew out…
22 Jan 2026 · 5 min
How a program trains residents to take action on climate
The University of Minnesota’s Community Climate Leaders program connects students with actionable climate science, impact strategies, and a local network of peers. Christy Marsden, who oversees the program, joined Climate Cast to explain how community members can get involved in climate action.
16 Jan 2026 · 5 min
How warmer ocean temperatures cause stronger and wetter storms, even in Minnesota
Earth’s oceans continued to reach record-high temperatures in 2025. And those hotter oceans are fueling stronger and wetter storms. St. Thomas University researcher John Abraham, who reported these findings with his colleagues in the journal “Advances in Atmospheric Sciences,” joined Climate Cast to talk about how the latest research on Earth’s warmer oceans affects the people of Minnesota.
9 Jan 2026 · 5 min
Minnesota researchers drill for million-year-old ice in Antarctica
Beneath the harsh winds and temperature of Antarctica, scientists have identified ice cores that give new insights into Earth’s past. Martin Froger Silva works with the National Science Foundation Center for Oldest Ice Exploration. He and a team of researchers have been drilling in Antarctica for ice millions of years old. Silva talked to Climate Cast host Paul Huttner about their research.
19 Dec 2025 · 5 min
How climate change is driving up the cost of home insurance
It’s not your imagination — the cost of your home insurance is going up . Weather-related extreme events have sent homeowners’ insurance rates skyrocketing. Federal budget cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency will exacerbate these issues, particularly affecting state budgets and risk reduction efforts. In Minnesota, homeowners insurance rates increased the last decade due to hail damage, leading to non-renewals and some companies leaving the market. Jordan Haedtler, a climate financial policy strategist with Climate Cabinet, based in Duluth, talks with MPR News Chief Meteorologist…
12 Dec 2025 · 5 min
AI tool may improve flood forecasting for Mississippi and other rivers
Climate change has amplified the hydrologic cycle in Minnesota. Our more erratic precipitation patterns are driving faster transitions from drought to floods. So, can AI-driven forecasts help predict floods on rivers like the Mississippi? “We need to make innovations in these sorts of models and in our flood forecasting in general,” said Zac McEachran, a research hydrologist from the University of Minnesota. McEachran talked with MPR News meteorologist Paul Huttner about a new flood forecasting model that uses AI to improve local flood predictions. Click play on the audio player above to…
5 Dec 2025 · 5 min
Climate change is reshaping Minnesota winters
Weather data suggests Minnesota has warmed more than three degrees in the past 150 years, and the state’s winters have warmed more than five degrees since 1970. So how are Minnesotans seeing and feeling these climate changes? “Here in Minnesota, we are experiencing climate change predominantly in the winter,” said Kristoffer Tigue, a reporter for the Minnesota Star Tribune. “We base a lot of our culture around our winters, and so to have our winters being the season that's changing the most, I think it tells a narrative of the direction we’re going as a state.” Tigue explained that the state…
21 Nov 2025 · 5 min
For Minnesota, warmer winters do not mean the end of snow
Minnesota winters are not what they used to be. The bone-chilling season has warmed more than 5 degrees on average since 1970. Those warmer temps have contributed to another weather phenomenon: more snow — even if it doesn’t seem that way. How do we explain that paradox? Climatologist Kenneth Blumenfeld tracks snowfall trends for the Minnesota State Climate Office. He explained the connection between snowfall rates and higher global temperatures on Climate Cast. Click play on the audio player above to listen to this episode or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.
14 Nov 2025 · 5 min
Itasca County looks toward a coal-free economy
Minnesota has a goal to move toward 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2040. That will have significant impacts on certain parts of the state where coal plays a major part in the economy — like Itasca County. So, how are people in this part of northern Minnesota adapting? Itasca County Commissioner John Johnson spoke about how the county is planning for the transition. Click play on the audio player above to listen to this episode or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.
6 Nov 2025 · 5 min
Want healthy trees? Pay attention to microclimates
It was another beautiful fall color season in Minnesota, and we know seasonal temperature change is what drives our fall color show. But did you know those trees can react to more subtle microclimates around the state and even within your yard? Tyler Hesseltine is an arborist who works with trees all year long. He talked to Climate Cast host Paul Huttner about how even small landscaping decisions can have a big impact on tree health. Click play on the audio player above to listen to this episode or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.
6 Nov 2025 · 5 min
New cookbook offers tips for sustainable seafood
Minnesota may be a long way from the ocean, but we have great seafood options. So, how can we choose and prepare seafood that’s delicious and climate sustainable? A new cookbook called “The Blue Food Cookbook: Delicious Seafood Recipes for a Sustainable Future” has some ideas. Minnesota native and four-time James Beard award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern co-wrote the book with seafood expert Barton Seaver. Zimmern shared tips and recipe ideas with Climate Cast host Paul Huttner. Click play on the audio player above to listen to this episode or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

About Climate Cast

MPR News meteorologist Paul Huttner with the latest research on our changing climate.

Climate Cast is a English tech & science podcast from Minnesota Public Radio. 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: Minnesota Public Radio
Language: English
Category: Tech & Science
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 5 min
Latest episode: 13 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id628455920

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