Popular Reviews of Future Ecologies

This podcasts ticks a number of boxes for me. It covers nature, indigenous life, and science. The presenters are pleasant, considerate and educated. They ask pertinent questions and explain things well.

Best of the best.

Magical and Life-Changing: my favourite podcastWith a chatty, accessible style, Future Ecologies explores the interface of the social and the ecological, with a great deal of creativity. The hosts and producers dive into this well of complexity, resurfacing with compelling stories and new critical angles on our world(s). What Future Ecologies gives me is not only fresh, thoughtful perspectives on 'nature', society, community, 'activism' – but also regenerative experiences of beauty and a sense of possibility. Achieving that while confronting ecology in our time of climate crisis is no mean feat. From season 1 episode 1, the producers put their cards on the table: this is a real effort to 'decolonise' the topic of North American ecology (to wade through muck instead of skirting around), take seriously indigenous knowledge, and collaborate respectfully as science writers and journalists. The effect is as enriching as you might hope: FE sheds light (kaleidoscopic, luminous, multifaceted) on stories obscure or familiar, attuning our ears to unaccustomed sounds and dampened voices. Future Ecologies stages encounters between indigenous experts, scientists, more-than-human beings, live social movements, myth, social history and its spectres... and all in a way that helps listeners listen deeply and relate to the subject. One season (Scales of Change) focusses on Climate Change with capital C's, sensitively and with a practical focus - but I'd recommend starting with seasons 1, 2 or 4. These are unlike any 'climate podcast' I know, and have sustained and broadened my engagement with ecology, environmentalism, gardens, and ecopoetics. Getting to grips with ecology is as much about history, worldmaking and justice as it is about science: Mendel Skulski and Adam Huggins take all these human elements in hand to do science journalism, with each episode grounded in thorough research and botanical/ecological details. Complete with beautiful pieces of audio art, and transparent, purposeful journalism, this is the podcast I give as an example of good practice and take as a role model for my own creation. Much love and gratitude to the creators and supporters of Future Ecologies!!