If you’re anything like me, you see the headlines about plastic in the oceans and you feel overwhelmed by the stats (and the horrific images that accompany them).
The headlines, research, and documentaries—while super important for raising awareness about our growing plastic problem—can make it difficult for the average person to wrap their head around the issue.
My problem with most of these shows and articles is that they’re heavy on facts, but light on relating it all to my real life.
I think that’s part of the reason that I went sooooo long without realizing that I was producing a ton of plastic waste at home.
Much as I love the Planet Earth series and Sir David Attenborough (“killer whales!”), it’s not like he flat out says, “You might be part of the problem if you’re flossing with single use plastic flossers every night.”
Thankfully, there’s another great source of information that’s accessible to just about everyone and feels a little more personal: podcasts.
RELATED: The Most Surprising Single Use Plastic Items I Found in my Home
Why Podcasts About Plastic Waste Are Different
I’m a bit of a podcast junkie. I’ve written a blog about podcasts for almost three years, and I could talk about podcasts all day, every day.
I actually listen to podcasts at a faster speed (a setting that’s available in most podcast players) so that I can squeeze in more podcast episodes every day.
Podcasts are usually shorter than documentaries, more to the point than the average article, and easily accessible no matter what kind of device you use.
In short, podcasts are the opposite of overwhelming. And many are made in a way that makes the information relatable to every-day life.
Some of the eco-friendly podcasts that I’ve selected will give you examples about single use plastic in your daily life, and ideas about how you can make changes to reduce plastic waste.
Others share inspirational ways in which individuals and organizations are doing their part to clean up the planet.
I don’t expect you to listen to every podcast about plastic that I’ve listed below, but I do think that each shares a different perspective and lesson that you shouldn’t miss.
PRO TIP If you’re new to podcasts, I recommend downloading the PocketCasts app (available for iOS and Android). The app is free, and is easier to use than most podcast apps that come on your phone, tablet, or computer.
Listen to These 7 Podcasts About Plastic ASAP
The Age of Plastic Podcast
Episode 2: Recycling hieroglyphics & polymer coasters (October 17, 2018)
I subscribe to this podcast so that every time a new episode is released, I know about it right away.
Host Andrea Fox is super funny and sarcastic, which you need in your life when you’re constantly trying to avoid the plastic traps all around you.
I’m recommending that you start with Episode 2 because it’s short (15 minutes) and it echoes everything that confused and frustrated me when I started to switch from plastic to more sustainable products.
Once you’ve finished that one, try the January 27, 2019 episode titled Everyday Plastic. How much plastic do we use in a year? (January 27, 2019). It features a fantastic interview with Daniel Webb from the Everyday Plastic Project (in which he cataloged all the plastic waste he produced for an entire YEAR).
Listen to the Age of Plastic podcast
Other People’s Lives Podcast
Episode Title: The Zero Waste Lifestyle (October 17, 2019)
I listened to this episode when I was only a few months into my own journey to using less plastic.
If you’re a total newbie to being eco-friendly and reducing plastic waste, this episode is for you.
The co-hosts of Other People’s Lives interview a woman who has adopted a zero waste lifestyle. Their minds are blown as they learn all the things she’s stopped using and what she does instead.
Your mind will probably be blown too, and I’m not suggesting that you need to aim to live “zero waste”. As the guest explains, it was about a two-year process for her, and she took small steps along the way.
Bonus about this episode: they talk about not shaming people about their waste, making mistakes, and legit tips for changes you can start working into your daily life immediately.
Listen to Other People’s Lives
RELATED: How to Reduce Plastic Waste: A Beginner’s Guide
Plastisphere Podcast
Episode 4: Plastic vs. The Climate?
I really love this podcast, so much so that I’m having trouble gathering all my thoughts into coherent sentences!
Plastisphere is reported by German journalist Anja Krieger, and she presents a very serious, science-y topic in a style that’s still accessible to the average person (me, probably you).
While listening to episodes of this show, I’ll find myself asking a question in my head, and then before I know it, Anja has addressed them.
Although I recommend listening to the entire 7-episode series, you can listen out of order, and Episode 4 is great for anyone who wonders what plastic pollution has to do with climate change, and if one issue is more important than the other.
Listen to the Plastisphere podcast episode
PRO TIP If you’re like me and you listen to podcasts on a higher speed, you’ll want to slow it down for Plastisphere. While I find Anja perfectly understandable, some of her guests can be tricky to understand at higher speeds (especially when they’re throwing out scientific terminology).
Travel Fuels Life Podcast
Episode Title: Traveling Jackie | Responsible and Sustainable Travel (January 12, 2020)
This podcast episode isn’t just about plastic, but about being a responsible traveler—and human—in general.
Travel blogger and podcast host Drew Hannush interviews Jackie Nourse (another travel blogger and podcaster) about eco-friendly travel and tourism.
Whether you spend your weekends camping somewhere local, or you love to hop on a plane and explore far-flung destinations, you’ll want to think ahead about how to do it responsibly, and this episode can help.
Late in the episode, Drew mentions how a 60 Minutes report about plastic killing birds on Midway Island opened his eyes to plastic waste. This is literally the same report that I saw in August 2019 that opened MY eyes!
Listen to the Travel Fuels Life podcast episode
Read more about my story, and see the video clips from 60 Minutes on the About page.
GrowthBusters Podcast
Episode Title: Sustainable New Year’s Resolutions (January 7, 2020)
It doesn’t matter when you’re reading this article; you have my permission to listen to this podcast episode about sustainable New Year’s resolutions at any time of the year.
The GrowthBusters podcast is all about saving the planet through shattering the idea that we need more people, more products, more companies, and more wealth. It’s about less growth, and that includes reducing plastic waste.
This episode is perfect if you’ve already adopted a mindset to reduce waste or make more sustainable choices in your daily life. Hosts Erika and Dave talk about ways to actually follow through with these resolutions.
There’s another episode of GrowthBusters that I found really interesting: in Trashing the Planet is Macho, they discuss a study about men and eco-friendliness. (Spoiler: the study that they discuss wasn’t conducted all that well, but I like that someone is considering how gender plays into being eco-friendly).
Listen to the GrowthBusters podcast
Only Here Podcast
Episode Title: Slowing The Flow (December 4, 2019)
I love this podcast episode about the trash problem at the US-Mexico border near Tijuana. It’s smart and inspirational, but I know that some people might listen to it and think that it’s a sad story about an isolated problem.
What I hope you’ll take away from this episode is that this story is just a deep dive into one particular pollution problem and the interesting way in which a few people are trying to solve it.
There are stories like this from all around the world (some probably closer to home than you realize). But there probably aren’t savvy environmentalists dedicated to fixing all those problems (while also helping the local people effected by them).
I really hope you’ll listen to this podcast about plastic and be inspired to curb your own plastic usage and to spread the word to those around you!
Costing the Earth Podcast
Episode Title: Plasticphobia (October 23, 2018)
Before you think that I’m only focused on one side of the argument about single use plastic, here’s a podcast episode that I think is important to listen to.
In this BBC Radio podcast episode about plastic, the idea of “demonizing” plastic is turned on its head.
I actually agree with a lot of the opinions in this podcast episode. Plastic products have made our lives much better over the last 30+ years, and some research suggests that plastic stops humans from using other important natural resources.
Everyone in this episode seems to agree that the problem with plastic is that we don’t have a good way of disposing of it or recycling it efficiently. For me, this is the reason to cut back on my own plastic use.
I hope you enjoy these podcasts about plastic as much as I do! I love listening to podcasts when I’m doing mundane household tasks, or on a road trip with my husband. Do yourself a favor and squeeze in some time to listen to these eco-friendly shows.
