Best Food And Resource Economics Podcasts (2025)

1
Nutrients & Nuance: The Complications Behind Effective Water Science Communications 20:33

1d ago20:33

20:33

A Rose by any other name would smell as sweet - but does word choice impact our opinions? In this episode, Dr. Sadie Hundemer, assistant professor of Agricultural Education and Communication, discusses the study of human behavior, and how understanding mental models and trusted sources can improve the way we talk about water science issues. Send us…

1
Can the oceans solve our carbon removal problems? 29:10

1h ago29:10

29:10

There's been growing research and investment in projects that use the oceans to artificially remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Such techniques involve both a biological and a chemical approach. To date, carbon removal technologies have been largely land-based, using giant air-purification machines, or planting trees to consume and store ca…

1
YouTube turns 20; and the interesting side of boredom 28:34

7d ago28:34

28:34

YouTube is the second biggest website in the world, containing more than 14.8 billion videos. It's been a huge success, but its public image as a haven for influencers and digital monetisers belies its true character and role. Ryan McGrady from the University of Massachusetts takes us inside the online behemoth. Also, perspectives on boredom, its p…

1
095 Environmental Economics - Counting What Counts 1:26:13

11d ago1:26:13

1:26:13

A Sustainability Now Interview with Josh Farley What if our metrics for economic health are simply upside down? How can a “healthy” economy—measured by rising GDP—coexist with ecological collapse, mental health crises, and widening inequality? Josh Farley, ecological economist, isn’t just rethinking economics—he’s redesigning it. A professor at the…

1
Remember the Jevons Paradox! 28:38

17d ago28:38

28:38

We like to think that increases in efficiency lead to greater sustainability – to lower resource use. But from cars to computers to bitcoin, it seems the reverse is true – efficiency stimulates demand. It’s an oft forgotten rule of economics called the Jevons Paradox, and it might explain why the demand for almost everything keeps going up even whi…

1
The power and peril of the optimistic mind 28:38

24d ago28:38

28:38

Human beings have a bias toward optimism, says astrophysicist turned author and editor, Sumit Paul-Choudhury. While we may not always acknowledge it, the power of optimism is what drives our species forward. But beware of the modern craze for "Manifesting" — wishful thinking, no matter how intense, only has impact if it's married to action. Also, w…

1
094 Food Forward - Feeding Communities not Landfills 1:06:42

28d ago1:06:42

1:06:42

A Sustainability Now Interview with Food Forward Founder, Rick Nahmias In a world where millions go hungry while billions of pounds of food go to waste, Food Forward is proving that abundance, not scarcity, is the problem—and the solution. Founded in 2009 by our guest, Rick Nahmias, what started as a backyard fruit-picking effort has grown into one…

1
AI's "hidden labour" and the move toward a linkless internet 28:37

1M ago28:37

28:37

Artificial intelligence, it turns out, has a heavy human backend — they're called "data labellers"; they mostly live in developing countries, and there are ethical questions about their pay and work conditions. So, why aren't we talking more about them? Also, Google and other search companies have begun replacing hyperlinks with AI summaries. It's …

1
The roots of techno-authoritarianism 28:38

1M ago28:38

28:38

Does the spirit of the "Futurist" movement live on today in the likes of Elon Musk and America's intrigue of techno-oligarchs? The Italian poet and fantasist Flippo Tommaso Marinetti almost died in a car crash, and out of that experience was born the "Futurist" movement. It went on to inspire the fascism of Benito Mussolini with an energetic emphas…

1
093 Water Works - A Regenerative Climate Solution 1:01:33

1M ago1:01:33

1:01:33

A Sustainability Now Interview with Water Stories Founder, Zach Weiss What if the key to impacting climate change isn't as much about carbon as it is about water? In this episode, we are delighted to welcome back Zach Weiss, visionary water restoration expert and founder of Water Stories, for an exploration of how and why healing the water cycle ca…

1
Some challenges to conventional economic thinking 28:38

1M ago28:38

28:38

Does modern economic thinking act as a roadblock to change? Economists Kate Raworth and Rainer Kattel certainly think so. The alternatives they propose involve acknowledging limits not just obsessing about growth. And a caution from design and management expert Raz Godelink – it always pays to be skeptical when big business puts on the sustainabili…

1
The Soggy Sunshine State: Figuring Out Florida's Freshwater 22:43

2M ago22:43

22:43

From precipitation to perception, this season of FRE Lunch is all about the economics of fresh water! Today we are joined by podcast guest Dr. Matt Cohen, Director of the UF Water Institute to provide an overview of Florida's freshwater and the challenges associated with its management. The Water Institute brings together collaborators across disci…

1
Civility, trash talking and more sociable cities 28:38

2M ago28:38

28:38

It certainly feels like a very shouty world. But have we really reached a new low point in civility? And, if so, where to from here? We examine what civility really entails and how it can help foster cooperation but also lead to the submission of minorities. And did you know that even the design of our urban spaces can shape and limit acts of civil…

1
Season 2 Coming Soon! Join us for a Deep Dive into Freshwater Economics with the UF Water Institute 1:07

2M ago1:07

1:07

Known as the Sunshine State, Florida is also synonymous with water. And so, it’s no surprise that as our state’s flagship university, the University of Florida is renowned for its expertise in water-related research. That is why, we are excited to announce the launch of our second season of FRE Lunch – The Food and Resource Economics Podcast. This …

1
092 Solarrolla - Vehicles Powered Solely by the Sun 1:02:19

2M ago1:02:19

1:02:19

A Sustainability Now Interview with Solarrolla founders Brett and Kira Belan Join us for a conversation with Brett and Kira Belan of Solarrolla, a company reimagining transportation with fully solar-powered electric vehicles. Drawing on Brett’s mechanical engineering expertise from Ford and Jaguar, their journey began with a bold experiment—a solar…

1
Limitarianism — could a cap on wealth reduce inequality? 28:38

2M ago28:38

28:38

When a company CEO can be paid 1,000 times the average employee's salary it's probably time to take a long hard look at wealth inequality. And those calling for the rich to pay more aren't always the ones you'd expect – Patriotic Millionaires is a group of mega rich individuals demanding greater, not lesser taxation. Then there's the Dutch philosop…

1
Understanding attention and a craving for certainty 28:38

2M ago28:38

28:38

Are we really facing an attention crisis? Historian, Daniel Immerwahr, has his doubts. In fact, he says ours is an era of obsession as much as distraction and of zeal as much as indifference. Also, the paradox of certainty: we crave it, argues the University of Alberta's, Timothy Caulfield, even though it's so easy to fake. Guests Daniel Immerwahr …

1
091 Unraveling the Mysteries of Medically Mysterious Illness 1:06:30

2M ago1:06:30

1:06:30

A Sustainability Now interview with Dr. Kristin Reihman, MD Double board-certified physician Kristin Reihman invites us to rethink everything we know about healing. Drawing on her extensive expertise in integrative medicine and brain injury treatment—as well as her own remarkable recovery from chronic illness—she challenges conventional medicine’s …

1
Flow Batteries, windships, and a new approach to off-grid solar 28:38

2M ago28:38

28:38

They're cheaper and safer than their lithium counterparts, they're easier to scale-up, and they can hold power for much longer than conventional batteries, so why aren't flow batteries better known? The technology has been under development for decades, but enthusiasts now say they're finding their place in the sun. Also, why more and more cargo co…

1
Modern museums, accountability, and openness 28:38

3M ago28:38

28:38

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London is opening-up its storeroom, turning the back end of the operation into a public resource. It's about attracting new patrons, but it's also about accountability, the Museum's managers have declared. Across the Western world museums are having to reexamine their mission and redefine the relationship they have…

1
090 Pacha—Bread of Life: Nourishing People and Planet 12:55

3M ago12:55

12:55

A Sustainability Now interview with Co-Founder, Maddie Hamann. PACHA’s mission is centered around regenerative agriculture, leveraging the power of buckwheat—an adaptable, nutrient-dense crop—to provide delicious nutrition, enhance soil health and foster long-term ecological restoration. In contrast to conventional farming methods that rely heavily…

1
Nuclear tombs and the distant discourse of danger 28:38

3M ago28:38

28:38

A series of massive underground tombs for nuclear waste are currently under construction. They've taken decades to plan and build and they're designed to house the world's nuclear waste for millennia to come. So where are they being built? How safe will they be? And how to devise a toxic waste warning sign that will make sense to people living tens…

1
Love Your Leftovers: Tackling Food Waste on College Campuses 18:30

3M ago18:30

18:30

Happy Valentine’s Day from F.R.E. Lunch! Whether you're enjoying a romantic dinner out or cooking a meal at home, there’s one big question—where are your leftovers going? In part two of our first-ever two-part episode, we're diving deeper into the behavioral science behind efforts to reduce food waste on college campuses with guest expert Dr. Olesy…

1
The danger of generational labelling 28:38

3M ago28:38

28:38

Terms like "Gen Z", "Boomer" and "Millennial" are popular, but they have no basis in science. Demographers and social scientists are now pushing back. Generational labelling, they argue, is akin to Astrology and while politicians, journalists and media influencers find them irresistible, they actually promote pseudo-science, sew social division and…

1
AERTH Meets Earth - Mapping Our Planets Delicate Web 52:51

3M ago52:51

52:51

A Sustainability Now interview with Founder, Adina Popescu—a groundbreaking AI-driven predictive platform that integrates global oceanic and satellite data to map and monitor ocean health. Starting with the oceans, ÆRTH’s bold mission is to eventually build a real-time, dynamic digital twin of the planet—to uncover global ecosystem patterns, predic…

1
Scrapped Snacks - Exploring Food Waste Reduction on College Campuses 13:11

3M ago13:11

13:11

Did you know that, according to the National Resources Defense Council, 22 million pounds of food is wasted annually on college campuses? In today's episode, we'll discuss the economics of food waste, and some of the strategies such as composting, trayless dining, and educational efforts that are being used by the University of Florida to reduce fo…

1
Could Utopian thinking save democracy? 29:08

3M ago29:08

29:08

Why does Utopian thinking get such a bad rap? It’s often derided as delusional and dangerous. But what if that stereotype is designed to limit our imagination and choices? We hear often that people are tired of democracy and turned off by short-term political thinking. So, is it time to be much more adventurous and ambitious – dare we say utopian –…

1
How to ensure privatisation serves the public good 29:06

4M ago29:06

29:06

Privatising public services like trains, hospitals or prisons — is a proven vote loser. But governments of both the left and right continue to privatise — when it suits them. And it suits them, it seems, when large sums of money are needed to pay down debt, or when a government seeks to off load risk and liability to the private sector. So, what co…

1
The vicious cycle of fear and anger — and how it traps society 29:08

4M ago29:08

29:08

Authoritarians rule through fear. We can clearly see that from China to the Middle East to eastern Europe. But why do we constantly overlook the way in which fear also shapes democratic societies? It's fueling populism and distorting our future focus. Then there's anger. It's inspired generations to man the barricades and right society's wrongs. Bu…

1
Algorithms create a dull conformity — off and online 29:08

4M ago29:08

29:08

Algorithmic feeds are meant to personalise our online experiences, but increasingly they're flattening our culture and fostering a dull conformity, according to best-selling author Kyle Chayka. And the influence they exert on our lives is increasingly physical not just digital. Also, data scientist Gloria Mark who has crunched the numbers on how ou…

1
088 Sustainable Synergy - Where Ecology Meets Economy 1:22:44

4M ago1:22:44

1:22:44

Featuring Neal Spackman, Founder and CEO of Regenerative Resources Co. and globally recognized pioneer in ecological restoration and sustainable design. Through his work, Neal showcases the power of nature-based regenerative practices to restore ecosystems, revitalize economies and build cultural and environmental resilience. We discuss Neal’s grou…

1
The must-have skill for the future: Untangling unintended consequences 29:08

4M ago29:08

29:08

In our uber-connected world, the development and management of really anything is becoming increasingly complex. Planning for the future has to involve more than just grand ambitions, it also needs to be alert to unintended consequences. Otherwise things you didn't even dream about will go wrong and that can prove enormously costly. Part of the sol…

1
087 Green Growth - Citric Solutions and the Future of Farming 1:08:57

4M ago1:08:57

1:08:57

Featuring Nedo Bellucci, Phenom Biotech CEO Join us for a stimulating conversation with Phenom Biotech’s CEO, Nedo Bellucci, as he introduces us to an eco-innovation with potential to shake up agriculture as we know it. With their Energy Potential Technology (EPT), Phenom has crafted a way to boost crop yields and improve livestock health—all witho…

1
086 From Pews to Planet- Galvanizing the Churchs Resources for Global Good 1:52:08

4M ago1:52:08

1:52:08

Featuring Molly Burhans, environmental advocate and Founder of GoodLands Imagine harnessing the vast resources of one of the world’s largest landowners to combat climate change and promote social justice. This is precisely the visionary work of Molly Burhans, an American cartographer, data scientist, and environmental activist who is transforming h…

1
Nostalgia can make you vulnerable to manipulation 29:08

5M ago29:08

29:08

Nostalgia triggers our emotions and that in turn makes us vulnerable to manipulation. We speak with Richard King about the commodification and weaponisation of nostalgic sentiment. Also, New York Times critic-at-large, Jason Farago, on why he believes our cultural age might be the least innovative in half a millennium. Guests Richard King – author …

1
Forestry & Finance: The Economics of U.S. Christmas Tree Farms 17:05

5M ago17:05

17:05

As temperatures drop this December, we sat down with Dr. Jamie Dinkins Bookwalter and Dr. Will Kohlway, two Christmas tree specialists from North Carolina State Extension. Join us for the final episode of 2024 as we discuss the economic impacts of the forestry industry, the ecosystem services forests provide, the unique Christmas Tree farm industry…

1
The artificial secret behind "natural food" 29:08

5M ago29:08

29:08

Most people want to eat better. And many of us have embraced the trend toward "natural" foods and conscious eating. We equate "natural" with healthy, nutritious and virtuous, but that can often be way off the mark. New research shows many healthy alternatives are anything but. And our embrace of the term natural is more about expressing identity an…

1
The role genetics could play in bringing down Methane levels 29:07

5M ago29:07

29:07

Methane levels are going up — not down, despite decades spent trying to reduce emissions from agriculture and landfill. But some countries are bucking the trend, we find out who and how. Breeding sheep and cattle to burp less is one way to reduce methane emissions. ABC Top 5 Science Residency recipient Luisa Olmo talks us through a genetic selectio…

1
The cities that create rain; AI in warfare; and do carbon offsets really work? 29:08

5M ago29:08

29:08

The design of your city contributes to how much rain you get. Researchers have found a 'wet island effect' and it's likely to shape the future construction of our cities. Also, better understanding how Artificial Intelligence is used in conflict; and the major Australian study that calls into question the effectiveness of carbon trading. Guests Dr …

1
Small Businesses, Big Impact: Potential Futures for Clothing Production in Florida 14:05

5M ago14:05

14:05

November is National Entrepreneurship Month! To celebrate, we interview Food and Resource Undergraduate alumnus Emma Biggers about her small business, how she applies the lessons learned through her major to running it, and the research project it inspired where she sought to evaluate the economic feasibility of an entirely local cotton t-shirt sup…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Food And Resource Economics Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen