Outside/In
A show about the natural world and how we use it. We explore science, energy, environmentalism, and reflections on how we think about and depict nature, and always leave time for plenty of goofing off. Outside/In is a production of NHPR. Learn more at outsideinradio.org
Is Biden a good climate president?
As a candidate, Joe Biden called himself a climate change pioneer. He promised a green energy revolution. More renewables, way less fossil fuels, and a carbon-neutral economy by 2050. So two years in, how’s he doing?Outside/In host Nate Hegyi speaks with a political scientist and an environmental activist to figure out where Biden has pushed his climate agenda, where he hasn’t, and whether he’s an octopus or a bighorn sheep. Featuring: Aseem Prakash, Jean Su SUPPORTOutside/In is made possible with …
Just try not to breathe
There are few physical challenges more uncomfortable than holding your breath underwater as long as you can. But if your duty is to pull downed military personnel from waters all over the world, you need to prove your ability to perform in the most hostile and unforgiving conditions. That’s why the Air Force has long made breath holds part of its training programs for parajumpers, or parachute rescue specialists. This week, we’re featuring an episode from our friends at the …
A tale of two deserts: Are Saudi cows to blame for Arizona's water crisis?
While the taps are running dry and reservoirs are disappearing in Arizona, a corporate farm from Saudi Arabia is pumping massive amounts of groundwater to grow alfalfa for cows back in the Middle East. Now, after years of inaction, Arizonans are pointing the finger at what they see as a foreign invader slurping up the last gulps of a diminishing water supply.But the truth is more complicated. In this episode, we dig deep into the history of Arizona’s water crisis …
It's not easy being evergreen
The team peers into the Outside/Inbox to answer listener questions on the theme of “green,” a prompt which sends us exploring the hanging gardens of Babylon, xeriscaping, and the evolution of the human eye.1: What’s the benefit of being evergreen?2: How water-friendly is my lawn?3: How many city buildings have green roofs?4: Why did we evolve to see so many different shades of green?Featuring Georgia Silvera Seamans, Rubab Saher, Kate England, Abraham Wu, and Adriana Briscoe.Special thanks to Steven Peck. …
The city inside a glacier
In the late 1950s, engineer Herb Ueda Sr. traveled to a remote Arctic military base. His mission? To drill through nearly a mile of ice, and extract the world’s first complete ice core.To finish the job, he and his team would endure sub-zero weather, toxic chemicals, and life inside a military base… which was slowly being crushed by the glacier from which it was carved. Producer Daniel Ackerman takes us inside Camp Century, and explains how a foundational moment in …
The Race to Net Zero: building a car-free future
Right now, we’re investing billions of dollars into charging infrastructure in order to speed up the transition to electric cars and decarbonize transportation. But there are all sorts of problems that EVs won’t solve: bumper-to-bumper traffic, extractive metal mining, and car collisions that kill tens of thousands of drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians every year in the US. That’s why transit activists say we need to rethink the way we get around. Because learning to drive less isn’t just about …
The Race to Net Zero: will EVs get us there fast enough?
Transitioning to electric vehicles is essential to meeting our climate goals. But there are so many barriers to overcome – from expanding EV charging infrastructure, to updating the power grid, to mining the metals that make batteries go.In the first of a two-part series on decarbonizing transportation, we try to answer the critical question: is it all happening fast enough to avoid the worst climate impacts?Featuring: Craig Bentley, Nora Naughton, Sara Baldwin, Thea RiofrancosIf you’ve got a question for the …
The Underdogs Ep3: You sell your soul
The Underdogs Ep3: You sell your soulWhat caused the Peranos to abandon their dogs and screw so many people over? Nate enlists the help of a New Zealand journalist to find out. More about Outside/In presents The Underdogs: A few months ago, Outside/In host Nate Hegyi got a tip from the highest levels of the dog sledding community. It was about the first team from New Zealand to complete the Iditarod, a 1,000-mile race across some of Alaska’s harshest terrain. …
The Underdogs Ep 2: 'It has to be earned'
The Underdogs Ep2: It has to be earnedNate flies to Minnesota to follow a new lead about the New Zealand racing team.Advisory: This episode contains brief descriptions of injured animals and animal abuse that may be disturbing to some listeners. More about Outside/In presents The Underdogs: A few months ago, Outside/In host Nate Hegyi got a tip from the highest levels of the dog sledding community. It was about the first team from New Zealand to complete the Iditarod, a …
The Underdogs Ep1: Honey and vinegar
The Underdogs Ep1: Honey and vinegarOutside/In host Nate Hegyi gets a surprising tip that leads him into the frozen and tight-knit world of competitive sled dog racing in Alaska.More about Outside/In presents The Underdogs: A few months ago, Outside/In host Nate Hegyi got a tip from the highest levels of the dog sledding community. It was about the first team from New Zealand to complete the Iditarod, a 1,000-mile race across some of Alaska’s harshest terrain. Over the past decade, …