PODCAST · news
What on Earth?
by CBC
It’s a wild ride these days on our planet. Buckle up, because scientist (and actual pilot) Johanna Wagstaffe is here to help you make sense of our changing world, where the climate is warming just as everything else can feel like a hot mess. Every week, Jo and our team of journalists illuminate the ways humans are transforming Earth, and reveal a little wonder along the way. Our podcast, videos and radio show deliver science-backed answers to your questions, and help you understand what’s a real solution and what’s screwing things up.
Episodes
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The seaweed invasion so big you can see it from space
Mountains of sargassum seaweed are choking Caribbean beaches. It’s so dangerous it’s shut down a school. Scientists point the finger at climate change, but solutions are on the horizon. We head to the tropics to learn about a WALL-E inspired robot vacuum and a seaweed-powered car Guests: Chuanmin...
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Is Alberta separatism fueling Ottawa’s pipeline plans?
Alberta has the country on tenterhooks as the province votes on whether to consider splitting from Canada. At least one separatist leader says the threat to leave is serving as leverage for the oil industry. Others in the province say investment in renewable energy is already taking a hit. This...
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Can AI save the planet before it kills us all?
Depending on who you ask, AI could usher in a green utopia – or the apocalypse. Between those two extremes is a much less hypothetical reality: the technology’s huge impact on our environment now. But tech leaders like NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang suggest it's all worth it, because AI can solve climate...
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The weatherman who spoke the truth – and paid the price
When a meteorologist took a job in Iowa, he was excited to make his forecasts matter to viewers by bringing in climate impacts that were relevant to their lives, like rising costs and energy independence. But then the backlash began, escalating to a death threat. He's not the only one. At climate...
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There's a lot on Carney's plate. Is our climate plan cooked?
As parliament gets back in session, there’s a lot going on: a trade war, talk of Alberta separation, and international alliances being redrawn. Prime Minister Mark Carney has been clear: he doesn’t think the old climate plan he inherited from the Trudeau government holds up to Canada’s new…
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Is this Super El Niño a peek into forever weather?
It’s gonna be a record-breaking few months of weather. A natural surge of warm ocean water is colliding with a planet hotter than at any point in human history – meaning more heat, more floods, more droughts. Some think this Super El Niño offers a window into what climate change will bring, and...
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Introducing our new host, Johanna Wagstaffe
She's a CBC science journalist, meteorologist and seismologist. Now she’s taking the helm as the host of your favourite climate change podcast. All summer long, Jo and the team have been cooking up new ideas and stories to help you make sense of our changing world, at a time when the climate is...
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Heat killed his friend. Now his community is saving lives
Stephen Nelson tried to keep his friend Mario safe in the 2021 heat dome. But tragically, his friend died – in an old building that wasn’t designed for our warming world. This galvanized Stephen to do more to keep his community safe during extreme heat. We visit Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside to...
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More heat, more rats, more problems
From the best of What On Earth: A warmer world is great for rats. (Not so much for us). That’s why cities are seeing a climate-linked rise in rodents. Can birth control reverse that? Producer Molly Segal finds out how Chicago, Manhattan and Vancouver are all trying to make things a little less...
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The disaster in Nepal as a ‘wake-up call from Mother Nature’
The search for survivors is underway after deadly flooding in Nepal and Tibet. But experts around the world are also unpacking what role climate change played in the disaster. We hear from two experts who know the region well, who say people have been warning that something like this was coming…
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Bats are dying in wind turbines. Here’s how to stop it
From the best of What On Earth: Bats and wind turbines are both climate darlings. But after Cori Lausen saw a turbine reduce a bat to a "black banana peel," she set out to find another solution. That experience unlocked a years-long search to understand what was happening and how to fix it. The...
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Will Alberta data centres really curb their water use?
There was booing and calls of bullsh*t during a recent government town hall in Sturgeon County. It’s where tech giant Meta is building its largest data centre outside of the U.S. Locals have a variety of concerns; we’re zooming in on the promise that this facility will use less water. Can the…
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Fed up with broken stuff? Join the Buy it for Life movement
From the best of What on Earth - Online communities are hunting for items that last. At #BI4L, members crowdsource reviews and recommendations to try to find the “best” version of, well, everything – from blenders to husbands (really). It’s all in an effort to save money, AND the climate.
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Why wildfires have some people furious about fossil fuels
If you’ve breathed in smoke, or worse, had to flee your home this summer, you might be thinking more about our warming world. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip hopes this season of fire translates to climate action. As wildfire tears through his territory, the First Nations leader is calling on Mark...
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Want a climate-friendly burial? Mushrooms may be the answer!
It’s made of mycelium and hemp, it’s better for the earth and it’s now available in Canada. CBC’s Anand Ram introduces us to an American woman who laid her father to rest in one of these biodegradable coffins. And we hear how innovations in green burials are comforting options for those who want…
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A quick, low-cost DIY solution to improve indoor air quality
From the Best of What On Earth – Wildfire smoke has choked Canadians across the country this summer. Air purifiers are expensive, but there’s a cheaper way to clean your air indoors. We visit a workshop teaching seniors in Vancouver’s Chinatown to build DIY air cleaners, and get some tips for how...
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How to turn your climate gloom into action
From the best of What On Earth – You’ve got climate questions, Hannah Ritchie has answers. She’s “Clearing the Air” in her new book, drawing on her expertise as a data scientist to delve into some of the common — and not so common — queries that come up in climate conversations. Her goal isn’t…
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What if your home could float when a flood hits?
Flood-prone communities are doing everything to keep water out. But as climate-fuelled storms become more severe, some architects say we need to work with water, not fight it. We learn how amphibious engineering kept Bangladeshi kids in school and allowed a Louisiana community to stay afloat.
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Mother Nature’s angry. But why does she sound like Iggy Pop?
From the Best of What On Earth – Mother Nature is a real wild child and has a bone to pick with us humans when it comes to how we’ve treated the planet. Punk rock legend Iggy Pop voices her whiskey-soaked rage in the climate podcast “Sweet Little Human.” Its producers hope a little dark humour…
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Americans want payback for smoky skies. Are they right?
People on both sides of the Canada - U.S. border have been choking on smoke in recent weeks, much of it coming from fires burning in Canada's forests. Now, U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening new, fire-related tariffs in retaliation. Climate scientists like Zeke Hausfather say wildfires in...
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Doc Martens? Nice. Why this teen thrifts for climate
Sixteen-year-old Evon Murphy loves thrift shopping. Partly because she enjoys fashion and likes to save money. But also because buying secondhand is one way to reduce the impact of the fashion industry on the climate. We meet up with Evon at a Vancouver thrift store to talk about the stories…
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This program teaches kids to survive smoky skies
From the Best of What On Earth – Carter Vigh died when wildfire smoke brought on a severe asthma attack. Now his mom is part of an effort to teach other kids about the risks of smoky days and poor air quality. We hear the case for having these kinds of lessons in classrooms everywhere, as the...
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Why this climate solution is meeting Indigenous resistance
From the Best of What On Earth – Electric vehicles need lithium for their batteries. But Indigenous communities in Northern Argentina say extracting this critical mineral is harming their water supply. We head down to South America’s 'lithium triangle’ to find out how mining for this important EV...
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Lessons learned from Canada’s gnarliest wildfires
Jesse Winter became a photojournalist so he could be out covering stories. He got more than he bargained for, including documenting the aftermath of a young firefighter’s death. His new book, Wildfire: Dispatches from a Country Ablaze details how climate change, along with decades of poor forest...
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Why your flight feels more like a rollercoaster these days
From the Best of What On Earth – If you're a frequent flier, you may have noticed flights have been getting rockier lately. The potential culprit? Climate change. CBC producer Julia Pagel finds out how warming temperatures are making air turbulence worse, and what can be done about it. But first,...
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Heat is killing us. Is air conditioning the only fix?
As Europe tallies thousands of deaths, there are calls for way more AC. In North America, where a heat dome is disrupting holidays, air conditioning is common — but it can also contribute to inequity and emissions. As a Chief Heat Ambassador, Jane Gilbert is grappling with this paradox. She…
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Farewell to Laura Lynch, who’s had one helluva career
What On Earth will continue, but host Laura Lynch is moving on. For the last six years, Laura has brought you climate solutions stories, and before that she covered world events for decades, including the 9/11 attacks and the Arab Spring. Now, Laura is retiring (although she prefers to say…
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Face to face with the disappearing whales
Laura heads out on a boat, searching for grey whales. Plot twist: they find her. We hear why scientists are sounding the alarm about the fate of these massive mammals, and why they think climate change is part of the problem. But researchers and communities on Canada’s west coast have solutions…
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Five years after the deadly heat dome, are we any safer?
Cindy MacDougall calls herself a climate change casualty. If it wasn’t for her husband’s quick action during the 2021 Western Canada heat dome, she might not have survived the disaster. Still, her heart is permanently damaged. We hear what happened, and how she’s working to share the stories of...
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How to protect wildland firefighters from cancer risk
Years after working in smoky, sooty conditions controlling fires, workers can experience the adverse health effects of the job. Proving the link can be difficult. But now in British Columbia, wildland firefighters are getting early cancer screening and expanded workers compensation coverage for...
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Can movie magic move the needle on climate change?
Our youth climate action columnist Aishwarya Puttur says yes it can. She’s seen young people in the entertainment industry taking up the climate cause lately – from local film festivals to the United Nations – and shares stories about how she’s seen this type of storytelling make a difference.
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Should you tattle on your neighbour in the name of climate?
As Vancouverites see people watering their lawns during a drought, it’s a question they’re asking themselves. While cities in British Columbia take drastic measures to limit water use, Laura heads to the watershed to learn how conservation can help keep the taps on. But it’s not the only approach...
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This footballer wants fossil fuels out of the World Cup
Tessel Middag wants her sport to be a force for good. But she says that’s hard to imagine when FIFA’s “Major Worldwide Partner” for the 2026 World Cup is Saudi state oil company, Aramco. And it’s not just Tessel. Advocates like Frank Huisingh feel uneasy watching athletes compete in extreme heat...
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Here’s your fire season forecast
Can a weekly fire weather outlook help Canadian communities learn to live with fire? Mike Flannigan, wildfire forecaster and professor at Thompson Rivers University, thinks so. A weekly forecast is one of the things that gives him hope that people across Canada can be better prepared to respond…
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Is lightning in a box a climate solution for farmers?
Farmers are using an old trick as a new way to grow food and reduce emissions. Lightning sparked inside a box helps create fertilizer with less cost to the planet. But it’s controversial, with critics calling it “snake oil.” Those who love it say the proof is in the plants they harvest. Story...
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Is Ottawa backsliding on Indigenous clean energy promises?
Indigenous communities across the country are charging ahead with renewables. Melina Laboucan-Massimo brings news from Indigenous Clean Energy’s training program, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. But even as young leaders learn about solar and wind power, there are growing...
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Who killed the 21st century milkman?
A system from another era was the inspiration for a modern-day solution to the pileup of plastic in the world. The milkman once delivered cold bottles of milk to the doorsteps of homes and took the empty ones away. So what happened to the idea? CBC producer Peter Mitton delivers the (non-plastic)...
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Trump is wrong. Climate action is working
Donald Trump claimed on social media that climate scientists were “WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!” about their global warming projections. But climate scientist Zeke Hausfather says the experts were not wrong, and the new projections are not entirely bad news. The world has made some progress in reducing...
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How kids can save themselves from climate anxiety
Twelve-year-old Kiké Dueck once had such bad climate anxiety that they didn’t want to eat or go to school. But then they found a solution. Kiké got involved in lobbying Regina city hall for greener transit and even joined a legal case to try to stop Saskatchewan’s support of coal plants. Kiké is...
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Why more trees - not fewer - could save a city from fire
Ten years ago this month the Horse River Wildfire burned through Fort McMurray and into the Canadian consciousness. We hear why experts say it’s the fire that taught us nowhere is safe, even busy urban centres. And, from the best of What On Earth: The Yukon government is betting on a...
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Why can’t more Canadian kids ride electric school buses?
Hop on board an electric school bus in Richmond B.C. and meet a driver who says “once you start driving them, you don’t want to go back.” So why aren’t more kids across Canada riding to school on these quieter and cleaner buses? Producer Nick Logan takes a spin through the successes and ongoing...
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Here’s how it feels to get caught in an avalanche
Backcountry skier Hannah Hughes realized she couldn’t fight the wall of snow when it hit her. She survived but the experience has her rethinking her relationship with risk, and she isn’t alone. The 2025-2026 ski season has been a brutal year for avalanche-related deaths in parts of the world.…
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Goodbye, dystopia. Hello, 'thrutopia'
Tired of stories about bleak, hopeless futures? You’re not alone. Writers are ditching dystopian narratives for a fresh take on climate fiction. Enter ‘thrutopia,’ a new genre that aims to chart a middle path through the worst impacts of climate change. And maybe even envision a future where...
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A ‘breath of hope’ in the climate fight
Nations gathered in Colombia to chart a path to a cleaner future. Many say this ‘coalition of the willing’ could speed the transition away from fossil fuels. But there are those who say that Canada’s lack of ambition will mean we’re left behind in the switch to renewables. And others who say…
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Suzanne Simard says it’s time for a fresh look at forestry
She became famous for her work that said trees communicate through a forest web. But Suzanne Simard’s research also faced backlash. Not only is she defending her work as a scientist, she’s back with a new book expanding on it. Together with Tsimshian scientist Teresa Ryan, Kwakwaka’wakw artist…
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Critics say the math isn’t mathing on Ottawa’s climate plans
After a year in office, climate minister Julie Dabrusin says she’s proud of her record. But critics say more pipelines, less progress on emissions cuts and other moves overshadow efforts to protect nature and boost renewable energy. We challenge the minister’s claims that her government is making...
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Can baby coral nurseries rescue reefs from climate change?
Coral reefs support marine life — and livelihoods. But bleaching caused by warming oceans is putting both under threat. Fishing communities in Mauritius and Seychelles are feeling it more than almost anywhere else. But there are ambitious efforts underway in these island nations to restore some…
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Outdoor skating rinks are on thin ice
Climate change is melting away winter, but a new documentary summons the magic of the most Canadian of frozen delights: the outdoor skating rink. For Earth Day, we speak with the filmmaker behind Icemakers about why he was driven to share stories about the people who spend hours each winter…
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Big Oil is banking on plastic
And Beth Gardiner says industry hopes you won’t notice. So what does it take to fight back? That’s the number one question the journalist asks in her new book, Plastic Inc.: The Secret History and Shocking Future of Big Oil’s Biggest Bet. She traces the history of how and why the industry has...
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Are leaky, old oil wells poisoning people and the planet?
“What’s there to worry about?” That’s what Alberta rancher Teresa Patry thought when her family agreed to oil wells on their property. But that changed when she, her family and her animals started experiencing a variety of health issues. And she says the province’s energy regulator is not doing...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
It’s a wild ride these days on our planet. Buckle up, because scientist (and actual pilot) Johanna Wagstaffe is here to help you make sense of our changing world, where the climate is warming just as everything else can feel like a hot mess. Every week, Jo and our team of journalists illuminate the ways humans are transforming Earth, and reveal a little wonder along the way. Our podcast, videos and radio show deliver science-backed answers to your questions, and help you understand what’s a real solution and what’s screwing things up.
HOSTED BY
CBC
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does What on Earth? have?
What on Earth? currently has 406 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is What on Earth? about?
It’s a wild ride these days on our planet. Buckle up, because scientist (and actual pilot) Johanna Wagstaffe is here to help you make sense of our changing world, where the climate is warming just as everything else can feel like a hot mess. Every week, Jo and our team of journalists illuminate the...
How often does What on Earth? release new episodes?
What on Earth? publishes regularly with 406 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to What on Earth??
You can listen to What on Earth? on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts What on Earth??
What on Earth? is created and hosted by CBC.
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