Sustainable Planet is a podcast hosted by Kimberly Weir and Jorden Dye. Kimberly has a PhD in political science and decades of experience as a university professor. Jorden is Director at a Canadian clean energy think tank.
Delivered to you twice a month, they examine the issues that impact the future of our planet and discuss ways we can live more sustainable lives. Their combined experience allows them to offer an in-depth take on the economic, political, sociocultural, and environmental aspects of sustainability and development, covering topics including consumerism, climate change, waste, and food, water, raw materials, and energy security and conservation.
Following the last episode’s general focus on pollinators, this episode zooms in on bees. From the ethics of beekeeping, why seedless watermelons make bees work overtime, and the unsettling nature of colony collapse disorder, Jorden and Kimberly consider the astonishing diversity of bees. In addition to the legislative acts that promote apiary conservation, individuals can do a lot that matters, including rewilding yards, reducing pesticides, leaving fallen wood, planting natives, supporting local honey, and even “adopting” a bee.
Recommended Resources
About bees
Bee stats
The 3D-printed beehive
Bee legislation
Bee fences
Kentucky bees
Kimberly’s Substack newsletter post
6 Nov 2025
Why Pollinators Matter More Than You Think
Pollinators do far more than keep our gardens blooming — these tiny workers support global food systems, sustaining a third of the world’s food supply. In this episode, Jorden and Kimberly dig into what’s threatening bees, bats, butterflies, and more — and how rethinking our landscaping choices could help.
The immense ecological and economic importance of pollination is worth over $230 billion in global production. The astonishing diversity of invertebrate and vertebrate pollinators range from bats to beetles to butterflies, yet climate change, habitat loss, pesticides, and cultural habits, like manicured lawns, threaten their survival. From planting clover or violets to creating “pollinator pathways” on balconies and rooftops, Jorden and Kimberly emphasize how small changes can make a big difference. Planting attracting plants, including buckwheat, canola, and sunflowers, is as important as cultural change
Recommended Resources
About pollinators
More about pollinators
Lots of 2024 stats
Threats from climate change
How we can help
Kimberly’s Substack newsletter post
23 Oct 2025
Rethinking the Quintessential Lawn
Lawns are cultural icons—but they’re also ecological dead zones. In this episode, Jordan Dye and Kimberly Weir explore how native planting, edible gardens, and rewilding can save water, cut emissions, support pollinators, and make neighborhoods more livable. From Nevada’s “Cash for Grass” program to backyard biodiversity, it’s time to rethink what a beautiful yard really looks like and how the cultural, ecological, and mental health benefits of reconnecting with nature right outside your door.
Recommended Resources
What Cambridge did
What Nevada did
What California did
Colorado, Minnesota, and Maryland passed “pollinator-friendly” laws
Lawn Alternatives for Dogs
Kimberly’s Substack newsletter post
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
636
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 57 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
68
Social presence
0
YouTube
64
Engagement
51
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