Our Top 10 Sustainability Podcasts for Business Leaders
In the spirit of making things easy for you, we’ve put together a carefully curated list of the top 10 most insightful and educational sustainability podcasts. With the wide range of work models, this is the perfect way to continue your professional development. Whether you work from home, have a hybrid work model, or you’re commuting to the office, here are some podcasts to keep your career growing.
#1: GreenBiz 350 Podcast
If it’s making headlines in sustainable news, you can be sure that GreenBiz 350 is dissecting it with an inimitable mix of wit, clarity, and vast industry knowledge. Hosts Joel Makower and Heather Clancy, both titans of the sustainability field, approach their topics with a fact-based optimism that can’t help but inspire hope.
Recommended Episodes: Perfecting imperfection, Talking climate resilience, tipping points, and ESG isn't going away anytime soon
Available On: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud
#2: ESG in Conversation
This podcast, hosted by different experts each episode, breaks down the latest research, analysis and insights on the relationships between environmental social and corporate governance issues and global business, finance and society. In each episode, experts share their insights on how institutional investors can identify and mitigate risks related to ESG factors, but also leverage opportunities in sustainable investment and debt capital markets.
Recommended episodes: Combatting Greenwashing in Financial Markets, and What Does It Take To Be a Sustainability Leader in 2023 and Beyond?
Available On: Spotify | Apple Podcasts
#3: Sustainability Defined
Sustainability is a relatively broad concept. Over at the Sustainability Defined podcast, they know this well. Hosts Jay Seigel and Scott Breen have a lofty goal: to push ambiguity out of the conversation.
Each episode, they break down an aspect of sustainability in clear, measured terms with the help of a guest expert. Whether you are a sustainability pro or are new to the topic, this podcast will help you learn something new!
Recommended episodes: Supply Chain Human Rights with Aruna Kashyap (Human Rights Watch) and Alex Silberman (U.S. Department of Labor), and The Energy Grid with Kristina Skierka (Power for All)
Available On: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify
#4: TED Climate
Overwhelmed by the topic of climate change and environmental issues like the rest of us? Join host Dan Kwartler as he unpacks the problems and solutions behind big systemic issues in bite-sized episodes. This podcast discusses the bleak parts of climate change while also promoting hope by providing tiny ways we can all make changes in our daily lives and at our workplaces to combat climate change.
Recommended episodes: How to provide cooling for everyone -- without warming the planet with Rachel Kyte, and A vision of sustainable housing for all of humanity with Vishaan Chakrabarti
Available On: Spotify | Apple Podcasts
#5: The Climate Question
We know climate change is happening, but how can we best respond to it? This A global programm reflects the variety of takes on climate change, how best to understand it and the world’s attempts to avert it, temper it or adapt to it. This is sharp-edged, analytical inquiry and where we can find it, hope. It includes stories from across the world on why we find it so hard to save our own planet, and how we might change that.
Recommended Episodes: Can Climate Change Ever be Funny?, Climate Review of the Year, and Why is 1.5 Degrees Important?
Available On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
#6: America Adapts
Hosted by Doug Parsons, America Adapts features scientists, activists, policymakers and journalists covering the latest topics in how people and industries are adapting to climate change. This podcast explores sustainability challenges we are currently facing, and different ways society is (or could be) tackling those challenges. This podcast covers a wide range of difficult topics in an educational and refreshingly optimistic way!
Recommended episode: Climate Risk and Insurance: Improving Equity, Enhancing Resilience, and Stabilizing Markets – Conference Podcast, and Trinidad and Tobago – Keeping History Above Water
Available on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts
#7 The Sustainability Agenda
The Sustainability Agenda podcast has Fergal Byrne hosting a killer lineup of sustainability experts and thought leaders to take on some of the biggest questions in the industry today. Discussions are piercing and tactical, yet manage to retain an accessible, down-to-earth quality that makes for great listening. Learn how some of the top sustainability professionals are devising innovative solutions to long-standing challenges.
Recommended Episodes: Net Zero: Beyond the hype. Professor Angel Hsu on the reality of Net Zero Pledges, and Discussion with Paula DiPerna of the pros and cons of a market based approach to our environmental problems
Available On: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify
#8: The Impact Report
The Impact Report is unique in that it brings students, alumni, and faculty in Bard College’s MBA in Sustainability Program together with leaders in business and social entrepreneurship. Most of the discussion centers on innovation in sustainability across the globe. Learn about novel strategies being implemented all over the world — they might just help you see your own challenges in a new light.
Recommended episodes: Leading the Change & Changing the Game, Investing in Climate Change Solutions with Collaborative Fund, and Ending Energy Poverty One Bboxx At A Time
Available On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
#9: Think: Sustainability
Think: Sustainability is a podcast that digs deep into the impact of consumption across all areas of life. Hosts pursue questions that cover the scope of industry, technology, and human life. Learn about innovative approaches and emerging tech that can help you work smarter.
Recommended Episodes: Why we Let Corporations Act Like Monsters, How to Make a New Carbon Tax that Sticks, and Dark Cloud: the True Cost of Data
Available On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
#10: The Sustainable Futures Report
Sustainability coach Anthony Day’s The Sustainable Futures Report is a well-researched podcast focusing on how you can handle being in the middle of resource depletion, a climate change emergency, and an energy crisis… and still find a way to be profitable. Learn how you can fine-tune your sustainability initiatives to be in true concert with your cash flow.
Recommended Episodes: Community Action to Combat Climate Change, How Businesses Can Fix the Future, and The Net Zero Transition
Available On: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify
Listen, Learn, Lead
That’s a wrap! We hope these resources offer you the motivation and knowledge to leverage the increased global focus on ESG and sustainability into an opportunity for your personal and professional growth.
Looking for more virtual learning opportunities? Check out our blog, “EHS & Sustainability Conferences You Don’t Want to Miss in 2022” and “Stay On Top of Energy Transition With These Top 10 Podcasts"
