Futureverse Podcast

About Futureverse Podcast

Molly and Ramanan chat with cli-fi authors and imagine our climate-changed future www.futureverse.earth (https://www.futureverse.earth?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Molly Wood and Ramanan Raghavendran

Category

arts · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Apr 2023

Latest episode

28 Apr 2025

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Apr 2025

   Ep. 13. Sam J. Miller: Resilience In Dystopia

   In this episode of Futureverse, Molly Wood (https://www.mollywood.co/) and Ramanan Raghavendran (https://hoo.be/ramanan) sit down with acclaimed author Sam J. Miller (https://samjmiller.com/). They explore themes of dystopia, activism, and the intersection of technology and nature while reflecting on the realities of marginalized communities, the impact of AI governance, and the hopeful resilience of people in the face of adversity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.futureverse.earth (https://www.futureverse.earth?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   26 Feb 2025

   Ep. 12. Naomi Oreskes: Climate Science, Fiction, and the Fight Against Denialism

   In this episode of Futureverse, Molly Wood (https://www.mollywood.co/) and Ramanan Raghavendran (https://hoo.be/ramanan) sit down with acclaimed author and scientist, Naomi Oreskes. They delve into the world of climate communication, from historical turning points to the influence of money and ideology in climate denial. She also shares insights from her books and discusses the hurdles of addressing capitalism in the climate conversation and the power of fiction in tackling climate issues and the urgent need for effective science communication. 02:29 (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/naomi-sure-well-i-started-my-career-as-a-geologist-i-worked-as-an-exploration-and-mining-geologist-in-australia-but-when-i-was-in-graduate-school-i-got-interested-in-history-and-philosophies-of-science-as-a-way-to-explore-bigger-questions-about-the-role-of-science-in-society-and-i-did-that-work-for-about-about-a-decade-and-i-published-a-couple-of-pretty-serious-academic-books-on-the-development-of-scientific-knowledge-mostly-about-plate-tectonic-theory-and-continental-drift-theor)Historical Moments in Climate Change Response (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/naomi-sure-well-i-started-my-career-as-a-geologist-i-worked-as-an-exploration-and-mining-geologist-in-australia-but-when-i-was-in-graduate-school-i-got-interested-in-history-and-philosophies-of-science-as-a-way-to-explore-bigger-questions-about-the-role-of-science-in-society-and-i-did-that-work-for-about-about-a-decade-and-i-published-a-couple-of-pretty-serious-academic-books-on-the-development-of-scientific-knowledge-mostly-about-plate-tectonic-theory-and-continental-drift-theor) 07:19 (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/molly-right-and-i-wonder-sort-of-picking-up-on-this-idea-of-pivotal-moments-and-your-investigation-of-sort-of-who-was-coming-at-you-with-climate-denialism-i-often-wonder-if-one-of-the-failures-of-imagination-of-scientists-and-media-is-the-inability-to-understand-that-in-fact-sometimes-its-just-money-it-is-literally-about-the-money-and-that-is-an-animating-life-force-that-its-hard-for-a-scientist-or-a-journalist-to-really-believe)The Role of Money and Ideology in Climate Denial (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/molly-right-and-i-wonder-sort-of-picking-up-on-this-idea-of-pivotal-moments-and-your-investigation-of-sort-of-who-was-coming-at-you-with-climate-denialism-i-often-wonder-if-one-of-the-failures-of-imagination-of-scientists-and-media-is-the-inability-to-understand-that-in-fact-sometimes-its-just-money-it-is-literally-about-the-money-and-that-is-an-animating-life-force-that-its-hard-for-a-scientist-or-a-journalist-to-really-believe) 08:57 (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/ramanan-i-knew-coming-into-this-discussion-that-within-the-first-five-minutes-we-would-learn-new-things-that-we-want-to-take-an-entirely-different-directions-but-im-to-try-and-haul-us-back-to-our-main-thread-which-is-your-books-and-were-now-going-to-drill-into-the-collapse-of-western-civilization-so-molly-and-i-started-this-podcast-to-focus-on-climate-fiction-which-is-not-the-preponderance-of-your-work-but-this-one-is)Exploring Climate Fiction and Imagination (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/ramanan-i-knew-coming-into-this-discussion-that-within-the-first-five-minutes-we-would-learn-new-things-that-we-want-to-take-an-entirely-different-directions-but-im-to-try-and-haul-us-back-to-our-main-thread-which-is-your-books-and-were-now-going-to-drill-into-the-collapse-of-western-civilization-so-molly-and-i-started-this-podcast-to-focus-on-climate-fiction-which-is-not-the-preponderance-of-your-work-but-this-one-is) 12:01 (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/naomi-and-so-that-was-great-and-then-of-course-there-was-more-work-to-revise-it-and-all-of-that-but-now-i-think-i-mean-id-like-to-write-more-fiction-but-fictions-hard-fictions-really-hard-its-really-hard-i-feel-like-non-fictions-a-lot-easier-but-whats-great-about-fiction-i-think-is-this-imaginative-capacity-right-that-it-allows-us-to-go-beyond-our-immediate-experience-and-imagine-things-that-havent-happened-but-could-and-particularly-science-fiction-but-really-al)The Importance of Narrative in Science Communication (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/naomi-and-so-that-was-great-and-then-of-course-there-was-more-work-to-revise-it-and-all-of-that-but-now-i-think-i-mean-id-like-to-write-more-fiction-but-fictions-hard-fictions-really-hard-its-really-hard-i-feel-like-non-fictions-a-lot-easier-but-whats-great-about-fiction-i-think-is-this-imaginative-capacity-right-that-it-allows-us-to-go-beyond-our-immediate-experience-and-imagine-things-that-havent-happened-but-could-and-particularly-science-fiction-but-really-al) 16:37 (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/ramanan-we-can-but-you-know-i-mean-this-is-just-so-interesting-so-just-on-the-book-for-a-minute-we-just-were-touching-on-it-in-different-ways-that-climate-scientists-are-not-listened-to-anywhere-as-much-as-they-should-be-and-part-of-the-problem-lies-potentially-with-climate-scientists-can-you-you-expand-on-that-youve-touched-on-it-already-but-can-you-expand-on-that-a-little-bit)Challenges Faced by Climate Scientists in Communication (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/ramanan-we-can-but-you-know-i-mean-this-is-just-so-interesting-so-just-on-the-book-for-a-minute-we-just-were-touching-on-it-in-different-ways-that-climate-scientists-are-not-listened-to-anywhere-as-much-as-they-should-be-and-part-of-the-problem-lies-potentially-with-climate-scientists-can-you-you-expand-on-that-youve-touched-on-it-already-but-can-you-expand-on-that-a-little-bit) 19:50 (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/naomi-well-right-and-thats-such-a-complicated-issue-too-because-obviously-we-want-science-to-be-rigorous-and-robust-and-we-dont-want-scientists-to-make-claims-that-are-false-but-then-theres-this-question-of-you-know-whos-controlling-the-default-assumption-and-where-you-draw-the-line-and-what-is-your-standard-of-proof)The Arbitrary Nature of Scientific Standards (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/naomi-well-right-and-thats-such-a-complicated-issue-too-because-obviously-we-want-science-to-be-rigorous-and-robust-and-we-dont-want-scientists-to-make-claims-that-are-false-but-then-theres-this-question-of-you-know-whos-controlling-the-default-assumption-and-where-you-draw-the-line-and-what-is-your-standard-of-proof) 24:12 (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/ramanan-they-do-were-going-to-shift-to-another-book-and-this-is-not-quite-climate-far-from-it-but-the-concepts-are-interrelated-can-you-give-us-a-potted-summary-of-the-big-myth)The Big Myth: Unpacking Free Market Ideology (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/ramanan-they-do-were-going-to-shift-to-another-book-and-this-is-not-quite-climate-far-from-it-but-the-concepts-are-interrelated-can-you-give-us-a-potted-summary-of-the-big-myth) 27:16 (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/molly-yeah-yeah-yeah-but-you-know-its-interesting-a-little-so-we-have-been-lucky-enough-to-have-kim-stanley-robinson-on-this-podcast-who-you-mentioned-in-collapse-of-western-civilization-you-have-said-hes-an-influence-of-yours-and-also-an-early-adopter-of-some-of-these-ideas-right-like-he-is-hes-the-first-author-i-know-of-or-i-read-who-wrote-a-book-about-climate-change-and-capitalism-and-put-those-two-things-together-in-an-inextricable-kind-of-way)The Role of Fiction in Climate Discourse (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/molly-yeah-yeah-yeah-but-you-know-its-interesting-a-little-so-we-have-been-lucky-enough-to-have-kim-stanley-robinson-on-this-podcast-who-you-mentioned-in-collapse-of-western-civilization-you-have-said-hes-an-influence-of-yours-and-also-an-early-adopter-of-some-of-these-ideas-right-like-he-is-hes-the-first-author-i-know-of-or-i-read-who-wrote-a-book-about-climate-change-and-capitalism-and-put-those-two-things-together-in-an-inextricable-kind-of-way) 33:23 (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/molly-so-then-it-sounds-like-you-dont-think-and-i-feel-like-this-is-again-because-we-go-to-the-polls-this-is-sort-of-the-p-o-l-e-s-poles-this-comes-up-over-and-over-this-question-of-whether-capitalism-itself-know-ramanan-and-i-invest-in-climate-tech-startups)Capitalism and Climate Crisis: A Complex Relationship (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/molly-so-then-it-sounds-like-you-dont-think-and-i-feel-like-this-is-again-because-we-go-to-the-polls-this-is-sort-of-the-p-o-l-e-s-poles-this-comes-up-over-and-over-this-question-of-whether-capitalism-itself-know-ramanan-and-i-invest-in-climate-tech-startups) 35:39 (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/molly-speaking-of-imagining-the-alternatives-are-one-of-the-few-who-has-imagined-the-kind-of-like-collapse-of-western-civilization-and-for-people-who-havent-yet-read-this-what-does-that-look-like-and-how-should-that-galvanize-maybe-people-in-the-west-to-start-thinking-about-not-making-extinction-level-decisions-at-the-polls)Imagining the Collapse of Western Civilization (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/molly-speaking-of-imagining-the-alternatives-are-one-of-the-few-who-has-imagined-the-kind-of-like-collapse-of-western-civilization-and-for-people-who-havent-yet-read-this-what-does-that-look-like-and-how-should-that-galvanize-maybe-people-in-the-west-to-start-thinking-about-not-making-extinction-level-decisions-at-the-polls) 37:49 (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/naomi-well-thank-you-i-think-thats-yeah-i-get-asked-that-all-the-time-its-funny-so-with-the-completion-of-the-big-myth-for-the-first-time-in-my-entire-academic-career-i-finished-a-book-i-hadnt-actually-already-got-started-on-the-next-one-i-mean-ive-been-writing-book-continuously-for-years-so-im-taking-a-little-break-im-taking-a-breather-and-i-dont-know-whats-next-i-mean-i-know-im-sure-there-will-be-another-book)Future Endeavors: Naomi's Next Projects (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/153100432/naomi-well-thank-you-i-think-thats-yeah-i-get-asked-that-all-the-time-its-funny-so-with-the-completion-of-the-big-myth-for-the-first-time-in-my-entire-academic-career-i-finished-a-book-i-hadnt-actually-already-got-started-on-the-next-one-i-mean-ive-been-writing-book-continuously-for-years-so-im-taking-a-little-break-im-taking-a-breather-and-i-dont-know-whats-next-i-mean-i-know-im-sure-there-will-be-another-book) Time stamps and the full transcript are below. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/futureverse-podcast/id1683364412) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2CDIEfWk4iOXEobJi3TBae). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.futureverse.earth (https://www.futureverse.earth?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   24 Oct 2024

   Ep. 11. Jeff VanderMeer: Absolution — Return of the Southern Reach

   In this episode of Futureverse, Molly Wood (https://www.mollywood.co/) and Ramanan Raghavendran (https://hoo.be/ramanan) interview author Jeff VanderMeer (https://www.jeffvandermeer.com/) to discuss, among many things, his latest novel, Absolution, the unexpected fourth installment of the Southern Reach series. The conversation explores the tangled web of human-environment relationships and how novels can serve as testing grounds for exploring ecological and psychological ideas. VanderMeer also talks about why he challenges the very terminology of “climate fiction” — he’s quite convincing! Show Notes (00:07) Exploring the Concept of Climate Fiction (01:10) The Mysteries of Area X (03:02) Writing Absolution: A Journey (09:14) Interrogating Solutions in Climate Fiction (14:13) Hyperobjects and Their Impact (20:06) The Role of Non-Human Perspectives (24:38) Frustrations with Bureaucracy (33:12) Future Works and Adaptations Time stamps and the full transcript are below. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/futureverse-podcast/id1683364412) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2CDIEfWk4iOXEobJi3TBae). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.futureverse.earth (https://www.futureverse.earth?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

4. 

   6 Aug 2024

   Ep. 10. Stephen Markley: Diving into The Deluge

   In this episode of Futureverse, Molly Wood (https://www.mollywood.co/) and Ramanan Raghavendran (https://hoo.be/ramanan) interview author Stephen Markley (https://www.stephenmarkley.com/) to dive deep into his novel, The Deluge. Through a meticulous exploration of a progressively destabilizing world, Markley illustrates the possible futures we might face if we fail to act on climate now. They also discuss the American-centric narrative, climate denialism, surveillance capitalism, and the political dimensions of climate action. Time stamps and the full transcript are below. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/futureverse-podcast/id1683364412) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2CDIEfWk4iOXEobJi3TBae). Show Notes (00:10) Stephen Markley Discusses The Deluge (05:49) The Frightening Reality of Methane Hydrates and Climate Change (14:55) Crafting Climate Fiction to Emotionally Engage Readers (25:10) The Impact of Surveillance Capitalism on Society and Democracy (30:33) Influences and Inspirations Behind Stephen Markley's Writing Journey (32:44) Climate Fiction's Coastal Differences and Future Urban Resilience This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.futureverse.earth (https://www.futureverse.earth?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

5. 

   13 May 2024

   Ep. 9. Edan Lepucki: Navigating Climate Anxiety Through Fiction

   In this episode of Futureverse, Molly Wood (https://www.mollywood.co/) and Ramanan Raghavendran (https://hoo.be/ramanan) interview Edan Lepucki (https://www.edanlepucki.com/) about her works of climate fiction, including her novel California and her short story "There's No Place Like Home." Their discussion probes the intersections of climate fiction, personal relationships, and societal dynamics in a changing world. From fears of societal regression to the intricacies of world-building, Lepucki shares how climate change informs her narratives, seamlessly weaving environmental concerns into the fabric of her character-driven stories and challenges readers to confront the fragility of progress and the complexity of human nature amidst a backdrop of environmental catastrophes. Time stamps and the full transcript are below. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/futureverse-podcast/id1683364412) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2CDIEfWk4iOXEobJi3TBae). Show Notes (02:45) Reimagining Dystopian Fiction in the Face of Climate Change (07:10) Flawed Characters and the Myth of Apocalyptic Survival (14:25) Imagining Apocalyptic Worlds Through Sensory Experiences (16:06) Exploring Bleak Worlds as a Cathartic Writing Experience (21:16) Secrets, Storytelling, and Climate Change Challenges (26:29) Edan’s Literary Inspiration This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.futureverse.earth (https://www.futureverse.earth?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

6. 

   12 Mar 2024

   Ep. 8. T.C. Boyle: The Nature of Our Future

   In this episode of Futureverse, Molly Wood (https://www.mollywood.co/) and Ramanan Raghavendran (https://hoo.be/ramanan) interview acclaimed author, TC Boyle (https://www.tcboyle.com/). The conversation dives into the climatic and biological challenges facing our planet and how they provide both a warning and an invitation to consider the permanence of life amidst human-induced environmental changes. Time stamps and the full transcript are below. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/futureverse-podcast/id1683364412) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2CDIEfWk4iOXEobJi3TBae). Show Notes [01:33] Boyle's obsession with our relationship to the earth as an animal species [04:13] The current state of climate change and the need for hope [06:56] The evocative descriptions of weather and climate change in Blue Skies [10:40] The significance of bugs and their impact on the food chain [17:25] Using satire and humor in addressing climate change. [22:24] The role of love in motivating people to act on climate change [25:43] Boyle's motivation for writing: existential questions about life and meaning [26:43] The burden of consciousness and the impact of human actions on other species [28:13] Boyle’s upcoming novel with an environmental theme Subscribe for more episodes of Futureverse. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.futureverse.earth (https://www.futureverse.earth?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

7. 

   29 Jan 2024

   Ep. 7. Nathaniel Rich: Navigating the Moral Terrain: Climate Activism, Political Possibilities, and the Literary Landscape

   In the latest episode of Futureverse, Molly Wood (https://www.mollywood.co/) and Ramanan Raghavendran (https://hoo.be/ramanan) interview American novelist and essayist Nathaniel Rich (https://nathanielrich.com/). Listen as they delve into the complexities of climate activism, political challenges, and literary reflections on the environmental crisis through Rich’s climate-inflected fiction and nonfiction works. Discover how literature grapples with the post-natural world, offering narratives that challenge traditional views of wilderness and human impact. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on the urgent need for nuanced storytelling and meaningful policy responses in the face of environmental upheaval. [01:54] Nathaniel Rich's journey into focusing on climate change [08:59] Climate change and the importance of self-reflection [12:43] "Odds Against Tomorrow" and how climate change is portrayed in the book [15:15] Financial vultures in capitalizing off disaster [17:31] What is morally right in a capitalistic system? [20:34] Reaching solutions on climate change despite political consensus [24:32] The framing of hope versus despair is an oversimplification [27:31] How the language around climate change has shifted in the last five years [28:22] The concept of a post-natural world is a realistic view [31:39] Exploring the complexities and trade-offs of our current predicament This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/futureverse-podcast/id1683364412) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2CDIEfWk4iOXEobJi3TBae). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.futureverse.earth (https://www.futureverse.earth?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

8. 

   2 Oct 2023

   Ep. 6: Janice Pariat. Nature, Indigenous Perspectives, and Climate Hope

   In the latest episode of Futureverse, Molly Wood (https://www.mollywood.co/) and Ramanan Raghavendran (https://hoo.be/ramanan) interview poet and author Janice Pariat (https://janicepariat.com/). They chat about her latest novel, "Everything the Light Touches," and how her passion for nature and the environment has influenced her writing. Pariat reflects on the power of storytelling and hope in addressing climate change and emphasizes the importance of love, care, and taking a long-term approach in tackling the ecological crisis. Time stamps and the full transcript are available on the episode page. [02:10] Janice's Relationship with Nature and How it Influenced Her Writing (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/135400830/janice-pariat-well-i-wish-i-could-say-that-its-a-sustained-and-long-relationship-one-that-had-been-nurtured-in-my-childhood-and-one-that-stayed-throughout-and-emerged-passionately-in-a-book-like-this) [10:35] The Need for Love and Care in Conversations about Climate Change (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/135400830/janice-pariat-i-think-we-do-because-where-else-do-we-begin-to-heal-ourselves-and-the-world-if-not-from-care-and-love) [13:48] Resistance and Arbitrary Orders  (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/135400830/how-much-of-this-was-in-your-mind-as-you-were-writing-the-book-and-do-you-see-this-pushback-against-the-ordering-of-the-universe-the-order-of-things-as-it-were-do-you-see-that-as-being-a-thread-in-future) [15:07] Janice's Personal Experience of Belonging and Identity  (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/135400830/and-i-think-ive-spent-a-lot-of-my-life-trying-to-understand-where-do-i-fit-in-and-where-do-i-belong-and-who-really-am-i) [19:00] Janice’s Perspective on Climate Change and Deep Time  (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/135400830/janice-pariat-yeah-much-more-quickly-presently-well-to-be-very-honest-its-a-book-that-of-course-includes-and-embraces-climate-change-the-ecological-crisis-that-were-facing-at-the-moment-here-and-now) [23:37] Craft of Prose and Different Viewpoints When Writing (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/135400830/you-know-the-book-it-shifts-between-various-viewpoints-at-different-times-and-in-different-styles-and-its-a-bit-of-a-highwire-act-as-an-author-right-first-of-all-youve-got-these-incredibly-different-protagonists) [34:57] Writing as an Act of Hope, Resilience, and Transformation  (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/135400830/molly-one-last-question-about-the-novel-before-we-turn-to-some-fun-things-and-then-eventually-let-you-go-the-novel-i-would-argue-unquestionably-has-an-underlying-thread-of-hope-and-that-persists-through-these-generations-even-when-discussing-climate-change-uranium-mining-and-ecological-damage-can-you-talk-about-that-do-you-feel-that-same-sense-of-hope-is-that-something-you-want-people-to-take-away-from-the-book) [37:39] Importance of Indigenous Stories and Their Wisdom  (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/135400830/its-a-story-about-how-indigenous-cultures-act-from-a-space-of-collaboration-and-community-how-they-act-from-a-space-of-gratitude-and-humility) [39:33] Janice’s Book Recommendations  (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/135400830/the-question-is-what-books-would-you-recommend-to-readers-and-perhaps-people-you-teach-or-discourse-engage-in-discourse-with-to-learn-more-about-this-intersection-between-nature-with-a-capital-n-and-humanity) This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/futureverse-podcast/id1683364412) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2CDIEfWk4iOXEobJi3TBae). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.futureverse.earth (https://www.futureverse.earth?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

9. 

   29 Aug 2023

   Ep. 5. Kim Stanley Robinson (Part 2): Surviving the 21st Century: Unraveling Utopia

   In the latest episode of Futureverse, Molly Wood (https://www.mollywood.co/) and Ramanan Raghavendran (https://hoo.be/ramanan) continue the conversation with author and visionary Kim Stanley Robinson (https://www.facebook.com/kimstanleyrobinson/). In Part 2, they discuss utopia (!), with Robinson pointing out that surviving the 21st century without a mass extinction event is the first step toward a utopian future. Time stamps and the full transcript are available on the episode page. (00:01:28) What is Utopia? (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/136175220/kim-stanley-robinson-well-i-think-this-is-a-very-good-point-you-make-molly-utopia-implies-a-fresh-start-a-clean-slate-and-everything-going-right-and-all-these-are-so-hypothetical-because-were-never-gonna-get-a-fresh-start-so-utopia-also-means-the-thing-that-will-never-happen-or-the-idealism-that-is-unworldly) (00:05:50) Path to Improving Late Capitalism (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/136175220/ramanan-i-feel-that-having-touched-on-it-we-would-benefit-from-a-more-fulsome-discussion-on-capitalism-you-know-molly-and-i-work-within-that-framework-we-invest-for-a-living-but-we-are-maybe-less-blind-to-the-flaws-of-the-system-than-our-brethren-and-sisterhood-your-views-on-late-capitalism-and-is-there-a-path-to-making-it-even-marginally-better) (00:12:01) Capital Can Serve the People (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/136175220/in-other-words-there-are-legal-methods-within-the-already-existing-admittedly-capitalist-system-where-capital-begins-to-serve-the-people-rather-than-vice-versa) (00:15:11) Come-along Explained (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/136175220/kim-stanley-robinson-yeah-one-step-at-a-time-a-ratchet-or-like-in-maine-im-working-with-a-come-along-and-hopefully-she-wont-hear-this-podcast-but-my-wife-asked-me-like-whats-a-come-along-and-i-had-to-laugh-but-a-come-along-is-leverage-where-you-drag-something-heavier-than-you-can-move-by-way-of-small-ratcheting-of-some-leverage) (00:24:12) Individual Actions Can Make a Difference (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/136175220/kim-stanley-robinson-well-its-a-good-question-and-i-have-to-admit-i-came-back-from-cop-and-kind-of-stunned-and-reeling-id-never-been-to-a-cop-before-and-ive-never-had-been-consulted-as-if-i-were-an-expert-since-im-just-a-science-fiction-writer-and-a-novelist) (00:27:57) Entrepreneurship in the Airship Sphere (https://www.futureverse.earth/i/136175220/molly-im-gonna-ask-you-one-last-really-fun-question-because-a-subscriber-diana-little-sent-in-several-questions-for-you-and-i-love-this-one-she-said-what-do-you-think-about-the-current-airship-renaissance-since-airships-do-come-up-in-so-many-of-your-books) This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/futureverse-podcast/id1683364412) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2CDIEfWk4iOXEobJi3TBae). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.futureverse.earth (https://www.futureverse.earth?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

10. 

    17 Aug 2023

    Ep. 4. Kim Stanley Robinson (Part 1): Unveiling Climate Denial and the Power of Community

    In the latest episode of Futureverse, Molly Wood (https://www.mollywood.co/) and Ramanan Raghavendran (https://hoo.be/ramanan) interview Kim Stanley Robinson (https://www.facebook.com/kimstanleyrobinson/), known for his visionary works that explore themes of ecology, politics, and human interaction with the environment. In this episode, Robinson discusses the persistence of climate denial and skepticism, even after 30 years of scientific research and evidence, and emphasizes the importance of community in addressing climate change and finding solutions. Time stamps and the full transcript are on the episode page. [00:00:57] Kim Stanley Robinson’s Origins and Inspirations [00:10:52] The Decline of Climate Change Denial [00:14:10] Exploring the Intersection of Climate Change and Storytelling [00:17:45] Utopian Science Fiction Writers and Hope For the Future This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/futureverse-podcast/id1683364412) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2CDIEfWk4iOXEobJi3TBae). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.futureverse.earth (https://www.futureverse.earth?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

11. 

    19 Jul 2023

    Ep. 3. Omar El Akkad: A Story of Climate Change Refugees, Assimilation, and Identity

    In the latest episode of Futureverse, we interview Omar El Akkad (https://www.omarelakkad.com), an award-winning Egyptian-Canadian journalist and author. Omar’s most recent novel, What Strange Paradise, tells the story of those at the core of the refugee crisis. It explores themes including assimilation, identity, inequality, empathy, and the impact of climate change on society. In our conversation, Omar also delves into how his journalism career has influenced his fiction writing and the themes explored in What Strange Paradise. Time stamps and the full transcript are below. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/futureverse-podcast/id1683364412) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2CDIEfWk4iOXEobJi3TBae). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.futureverse.earth (https://www.futureverse.earth?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

12. 

    26 Jun 2023

    Ep. 2. Ruthanna Emrys: Lovecraftian Novels, Climate Change, and Challenging Bias

    In the latest episode of Futureverse, hosts Molly (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollywood/) and Ramanan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramananraghavendran/) interview Ruthanna Emrys (https://ruthannaemrys.com), an acclaimed author known for her thought-provoking Lovecraftian novels. We were so excited to talk to Emrys for our second episode. Her unique perspective about the future, the importance of parenthood and children, and how social justice intersects with climate change is incredibly enlightening and refreshing. Find more of her work here (https://bookshop.org/search?keywords=ruthanna+emrys). Like in all of her books, her latest novel A Half-Built Garden challenges inherent biases and explores themes of empathy, humanity, chosen family, and otherness in the context of climate change. During our conversation, Ruthanna emphasizes the importance of adapting to new problems and the idea that there is no utopian point where everything is solved. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.futureverse.earth (https://www.futureverse.earth?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

13. 

    10 Apr 2023

    Ep. 1. James Bradley: Clade, Capitalism, and Climate Disaster

    James Bradley is an essayist, novelist and critic, and the acclaimed author of several climate fiction novels including Clade, Ghost Species, and the young adult trilogy The Change. In this conversation, James, Molly and Ramanan discuss Clade, capitalism, and the importance of hope in the face of climate disaster. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.futureverse.earth (https://www.futureverse.earth?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

11 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 24 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

18

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

75

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Guest appearances

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.