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To deal with the climate crisis, we need to deal with ourselves. How to live well and be happy -- these are timeless questions -- but they're putting us to the ultimate test in this century of radical change. We are called upon to marshal the full force of our humanity, if we expect the energy and…

John Heil


    • Aug 12, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 26m AVG DURATION
    • 70 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Good Energy

    The Foxfire Book & Some Distillations

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2020


    An American classic, the first volume of “The Foxfire Book”. Also some discussion of plastic and atmospheric geo-engineering (both bad), the right to repair and growing up green (both good).

    The Foxfire Book & Some Distillations

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2020 24:52


    An American classic, the first volume of “The Foxfire Book”. Also some discussion of plastic and atmospheric geo-engineering (both bad), the right to repair and growing up green (both good).

    Love Is In The Air

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2020


    Though the virus is still very much in the air, we can celebrate the end of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, and the beginning of a national climate plan in the US House. Also, a couple tips on how to keep your air healthy at home these days. Then, we turn to “The Honorable Art of … Continue reading Love Is In The Air →

    Love Is In The Air

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2020 22:00


    Though the virus is still very much in the air, we can celebrate the end of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, and the beginning of a national climate plan in the US House. Also, a couple tips on how to keep your air healthy at home these days. Then, we turn to “The Honorable Art of … Continue reading Love Is In The Air →

    Soil, Trees, and other Dithyrambs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2020 24:46


    New voter polls on the environment, an Arctic update, The Nature Conservancy’s Family Forest initiative, and soil scientist Rattan Lal’s World Food Prize. Friedrich Nietzsche’s “Birth of Tragedy”, the Apollonian-Dionysian duality, and a new poem, “My Closest Neighbors”.

    Soil, Trees, and other Dithyrambs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2020


    New voter polls on the environment, an Arctic update, The Nature Conservancy’s Family Forest initiative, and soil scientist Rattan Lal’s World Food Prize. Friedrich Nietzsche’s “Birth of Tragedy”, the Apollonian-Dionysian duality, and a new poem, “My Closest Neighbors”.

    Summer With Epictetus

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2020 26:59


    Reason and freedom in the opening lines of Epictetus’s “Discourses”. / Sizzling summer energy tips. / Poem “How Do You Sound?” / Art and moral education (e.g. “The Wreck of the Old 97”). / In the news: the EIA releases numbers to support the milestone announced last year – renewables surpass coal in electricity generation … Continue reading Summer With Epictetus →

    Summer With Epictetus

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2020


    Reason and freedom in the opening lines of Epictetus’s “Discourses”. / Sizzling summer energy tips. / Poem “How Do You Sound?” / Art and moral education (e.g. “The Wreck of the Old 97”). / In the news: the EIA releases numbers to support the milestone announced last year – renewables surpass coal in electricity generation … Continue reading Summer With Epictetus →

    Virulence

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2020 26:51


    Good to be back after a two-month quarantine from the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to some news, we look at dying in America, the “Man of Empty Words”, and the difficulty in understanding human motivation. Also, a reading of the opening lines of Pope Francis’ 2015 Laudato Si’, “On Care For Our Common Home.” Finally, … Continue reading Virulence →

    Virulence

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2020


    Good to be back after a two-month quarantine from the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to some news, we look at dying in America, the “Man of Empty Words”, and the difficulty in understanding human motivation. Also, a reading of the opening lines of Pope Francis’ 2015 Laudato Si’, “On Care For Our Common Home.” Finally, … Continue reading Virulence →

    Courage

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2020 20:56


    Special edition on the nature of courage. So, take heart and let’s start thinking. We also say goodbye to “winter” and hello to “shoulder season”. Also, test your word game skill on our featured word “brave”.

    Courage

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2020


    Special edition on the nature of courage. So, take heart and let’s start thinking. We also say goodbye to “winter” and hello to “shoulder season”. Also, test your word game skill on our featured word “brave”.

    Maude the Moderate

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2020 22:47


    Virginia is about to pass moderate, but historic and long-overdue, climate and energy legislation. “Maude the Moderate” is someone the Democratic party knows well. Insect populations are dropping as groups struggle to respond to E.O. Wilson’s call for us to save half the earth for … life. Bristol, England (different from Bristol, Virginia in almost … Continue reading Maude the Moderate →

    Maude the Moderate

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2020


    Virginia is about to pass moderate, but historic and long-overdue, climate and energy legislation. “Maude the Moderate” is someone the Democratic party knows well. Insect populations are dropping as groups struggle to respond to E.O. Wilson’s call for us to save half the earth for … life. Bristol, England (different from Bristol, Virginia in almost … Continue reading Maude the Moderate →

    “I’m not relying on evidence!”

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2020 24:28


    The now infamous Jim Molan kicks off the show by kicking his fellow Australians when they’re down. On the upside, jobs in the energy storage industry are expected to boom, the “worst case scenario” has probably (slightly) improved, renewables are about to surpass coal and nuclear on US grids, and some hybrids get a big … Continue reading “I’m not relying on evidence!” →

    “I’m not relying on evidence!”

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2020


    The now infamous Jim Molan kicks off the show by kicking his fellow Australians when they’re down. On the upside, jobs in the energy storage industry are expected to boom, the “worst case scenario” has probably (slightly) improved, renewables are about to surpass coal and nuclear on US grids, and some hybrids get a big … Continue reading “I’m not relying on evidence!” →

    Dreams, Resolutions, Opportunities and Risks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2020 22:51


    An incredible opportunity to help remote Equadorian villagers protect their corner of the Amazon from oil drilling … by teaching their kids English. The WEF’s recent global risk report is all about the environment. Financial giant, Blackrock, fires a warning shot to businesses and investors. 2020 brings an uptick in renewables, along with a jump … Continue reading Dreams, Resolutions, Opportunities and Risks →

    Dreams, Resolutions, Opportunities and Risks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2020


    An incredible opportunity to help remote Equadorian villagers protect their corner of the Amazon from oil drilling … by teaching their kids English. The WEF’s recent global risk report is all about the environment. Financial giant, Blackrock, fires a warning shot to businesses and investors. 2020 brings an uptick in renewables, along with a jump … Continue reading Dreams, Resolutions, Opportunities and Risks →

    Anthony Flaccavento on the Green New Deal

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2019 28:13


    Rural America’s political guru talks about the economics of the Green New Deal initiative, and how tackling issues of wealth inequality also solves environmental problems. Anthony and his organization S.C.A.L.E. (Sequestering Carbon, Accelerating Local Economies) are currently working with other state leaders on a blueprint for Virginia’s version of the G.N.D. – with the expectation … Continue reading Anthony Flaccavento on the Green New Deal →

    Anthony Flaccavento on the Green New Deal

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2019


    Rural America’s political guru talks about the economics of the Green New Deal initiative, and how tackling issues of wealth inequality also solves environmental problems. Anthony and his organization S.C.A.L.E. (Sequestering Carbon, Accelerating Local Economies) are currently working with other state leaders on a blueprint for Virginia’s version of the G.N.D. – with the expectation … Continue reading Anthony Flaccavento on the Green New Deal →

    Holiday Edition

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2019 22:59


    This was the year of Greta, so let’s enjoy a smorgasbord of topics – thankfulness, wind power in Wyoming, the new MarinaTex plastic-substitute material invented by Lucy Hughes, the importance of music and the muses, the electrical nature of the human nervous system, and how we can save energy over the holidays.

    Holiday Edition

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2019


    This was the year of Greta, so let’s enjoy a smorgasbord of topics – thankfulness, wind power in Wyoming, the new MarinaTex plastic-substitute material invented by Lucy Hughes, the importance of music and the muses, the electrical nature of the human nervous system, and how we can save energy over the holidays.

    Poe’s “Shadow – A Parable”

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2019 19:09


    Edgar Allan Poe’s “Shadow – A Parable”, published in 1833 and set in the ancient past, is nonetheless frightfully relevant to the specter of our modern climate crisis. Some of us may feel shielded. But, the more we try to look away and distract ourselves, the more surely we’ll be visited by the shadow of … Continue reading Poe’s “Shadow – A Parable” →

    Poe’s “Shadow – A Parable”

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2019


    Edgar Allan Poe’s “Shadow – A Parable”, published in 1833 and set in the ancient past, is nonetheless frightfully relevant to the specter of our modern climate crisis. Some of us may feel shielded. But, the more we try to look away and distract ourselves, the more surely we’ll be visited by the shadow of … Continue reading Poe’s “Shadow – A Parable” →

    Old Mountains, New Economies – Adam Wells of Appalachian Voices

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2019 21:59


    Adam Wells, Regional Director of Community & Economic Development for Appalachian Voices, is working to bring new energy to the local economies of Southwest Virginia, a region once sustained by the coal industry. There are now promising opportunities for solar power to be a catalyst for growth, attracting 21st Century business looking for low-cost, locally-generated … Continue reading Old Mountains, New Economies – Adam Wells of Appalachian Voices →

    Old Mountains, New Economies – Adam Wells of Appalachian Voices

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2019


    Adam Wells, Regional Director of Community & Economic Development for Appalachian Voices, is working to bring new energy to the local economies of Southwest Virginia, a region once sustained by the coal industry. There are now promising opportunities for solar power to be a catalyst for growth, attracting 21st Century business looking for low-cost, locally-generated … Continue reading Old Mountains, New Economies – Adam Wells of Appalachian Voices →

    Against Franzen – For the Birds – In the heat

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2019 21:36


    In “What If We Stopped Pretending” Jonathan Franzen tells us that we need to get real: we’re doomed. It’s worth thinking through the reasons he’s wrong. We also look at the new temperature trends, illustrated by the heatwave last week. Finally, some things we can do for the birds, whose populations are plummeting. Word of … Continue reading Against Franzen – For the Birds – In the heat →

    Against Franzen – For the Birds – In the heat

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2019


    In “What If We Stopped Pretending” Jonathan Franzen tells us that we need to get real: we’re doomed. It’s worth thinking through the reasons he’s wrong. We also look at the new temperature trends, illustrated by the heatwave last week. Finally, some things we can do for the birds, whose populations are plummeting. Word of … Continue reading Against Franzen – For the Birds – In the heat →

    Sunny Days Ahead – Karla Loeb of Sigora Solar

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2019 29:43


    When it comes to clean energy, Virginia is a hard regulatory and financial environment. But, Karla Loeb has been chipping away at it, and getting results.

    Sunny Days Ahead – Karla Loeb of Sigora Solar

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2019


    When it comes to clean energy, Virginia is a hard regulatory and financial environment. But, Karla Loeb has been chipping away at it, and getting results.

    Climate Strike! – The Global Protest Hits Home in SW Virginia

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2019 23:45


    On Friday, September 20, some 4 million people in 163 countries joined the global climate strike led by Greta Thunberg. Students at Emory & Henry College in rural Southwest Virginia held a coordinated rally to add their voices to the growing chorus of protest against the inaction of our leaders.

    Climate Strike! – The Global Protest Hits Home in SW Virginia

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2019


    On Friday, September 20, some 4 million people in 163 countries joined the global climate strike led by Greta Thunberg. Students at Emory & Henry College in rural Southwest Virginia held a coordinated rally to add their voices to the growing chorus of protest against the inaction of our leaders.

    Vox Populi – Tom Cormons of Appalachian Voices

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2019 30:50


    Tom discusses the Virginia Energy Reform Coalition, and why people from across the ideological spectrum support the effort to replace the old utility monopoly system with an energy market. Competition and consumer choice encourage efficiencies on the production side that translate into substantial economic and environmental benefits for the whole community. Later in the show, … Continue reading Vox Populi – Tom Cormons of Appalachian Voices →

    Vox Populi – Tom Cormons of Appalachian Voices

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2019


    Tom discusses the Virginia Energy Reform Coalition, and why people from across the ideological spectrum support the effort to replace the old utility monopoly system with an energy market. Competition and consumer choice encourage efficiencies on the production side that translate into substantial economic and environmental benefits for the whole community. Later in the show, … Continue reading Vox Populi – Tom Cormons of Appalachian Voices →

    Katherine Hamilton on the Political and the Personal

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2019 33:16


    Katherine Hamilton, a leading voice on energy and climate solutions, talks about the change of climate in Congress, a national green bank, grid readiness, eco-depression, and more. — Also, a thought-experiment about why the willful destruction of great art would be morally wrong, even if it violated no laws and infringed on no rights. Is … Continue reading Katherine Hamilton on the Political and the Personal →

    Katherine Hamilton on the Political and the Personal

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2019


    Katherine Hamilton, a leading voice on energy and climate solutions, talks about the change of climate in Congress, a national green bank, grid readiness, eco-depression, and more. — Also, a thought-experiment about why the willful destruction of great art would be morally wrong, even if it violated no laws and infringed on no rights. Is … Continue reading Katherine Hamilton on the Political and the Personal →

    Building the Future: Monica Rokicki-Guajardo

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2019 29:56


    As part of our series on Leaders in Energy and Climate Solutions, we talk to architect and building scientist Monica Rokicki-Guajardo, founder and CEO of Better Building Works. Later in the show, we think about beauty and goodness, and how they’re related. Perhaps some evil things are also attractive, but are they beautiful?

    Building the Future: Monica Rokicki-Guajardo

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2019


    As part of our series on Leaders in Energy and Climate Solutions, we talk to architect and building scientist Monica Rokicki-Guajardo, founder and CEO of Better Building Works. Later in the show, we think about beauty and goodness, and how they’re related. Perhaps some evil things are also attractive, but are they beautiful?

    REAP-ing What We Sow

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2019 23:08


    The USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program announces the recipients of this year’s awards – seeds well sown in this case. Chesterfield County, Virginia wants to build a 30 MW solar farm. But, the dead zone of toxic algae along the Gulf Coast keeps growing – while back East refineries explode and coal trains wreck. … Continue reading REAP-ing What We Sow →

    REAP-ing What We Sow

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2019


    The USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program announces the recipients of this year’s awards – seeds well sown in this case. Chesterfield County, Virginia wants to build a 30 MW solar farm. But, the dead zone of toxic algae along the Gulf Coast keeps growing – while back East refineries explode and coal trains wreck. … Continue reading REAP-ing What We Sow →

    Who We Really Are – Sameness and Difference

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2019 30:13


    A single individual is a multiplicity of types and relations. I am one thing and many things. How I understand my sameness and difference in regard to other beings in the biosphere has profound moral implications – just as a society’s understanding of its unity and diversity has deep political implications. News: the American medical … Continue reading Who We Really Are – Sameness and Difference →

    Who We Really Are – Sameness and Difference

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2019


    A single individual is a multiplicity of types and relations. I am one thing and many things. How I understand my sameness and difference in regard to other beings in the biosphere has profound moral implications – just as a society’s understanding of its unity and diversity has deep political implications. News: the American medical … Continue reading Who We Really Are – Sameness and Difference →

    The In’s and Out’s of “Control”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2019 26:45


    Life puts a constant demand on us to make decisions about control. It’s sometimes good to control things and sometimes bad. When it comes to other people, our respect for their autonomy requires “persuasion” rather than coercion, threat, or force. But, persuasion might still be a form of control, if it’s pushing buttons inside people … Continue reading The In’s and Out’s of “Control” →

    The In’s and Out’s of “Control”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2019


    Life puts a constant demand on us to make decisions about control. It’s sometimes good to control things and sometimes bad. When it comes to other people, our respect for their autonomy requires “persuasion” rather than coercion, threat, or force. But, persuasion might still be a form of control, if it’s pushing buttons inside people … Continue reading The In’s and Out’s of “Control” →

    The Cruelty Aesthetic, Pride, and Solar in Danville

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2019 30:03


    Moral mistakes can happen when we let an emotion slide from one object to another. How close is our enjoyment of cruelty in fiction to our acceptance of it in reality? Pride too can slip from a love of good things to a desire for superiority. Rick Steves hopes to make his high-impact travel business … Continue reading The Cruelty Aesthetic, Pride, and Solar in Danville →

    The Cruelty Aesthetic, Pride, and Solar in Danville

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2019


    Moral mistakes can happen when we let an emotion slide from one object to another. How close is our enjoyment of cruelty in fiction to our acceptance of it in reality? Pride too can slip from a love of good things to a desire for superiority. Rick Steves hopes to make his high-impact travel business … Continue reading The Cruelty Aesthetic, Pride, and Solar in Danville →

    Boaty Mc-Stoic-Face

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2019 29:55


    Boaty McBoatface – the unmanned submersible research vessel – makes his first big contribution to climate science, while the Stoics teach us about the emotions. Also, some info on wave energy and the vampire power wasted by your electronics. Our cardinal friends, Fern & Meredith, deal with a mystery and solve it badly.

    Boaty Mc-Stoic-Face

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2019


    Boaty McBoatface – the unmanned submersible research vessel – makes his first big contribution to climate science, while the Stoics teach us about the emotions. Also, some info on wave energy and the vampire power wasted by your electronics. Our cardinal friends, Fern & Meredith, deal with a mystery and solve it badly.

    Socrates: Reduce, Reuse, Reflect

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2019 25:06


    Socrates once said he loved going to the market – to see all the stuff he did NOT need to buy. Reducing our consumption is one of the greenest things we can do. Of course, the main lesson he taught was that we go wrong and do harm when we presume to understand something we … Continue reading Socrates: Reduce, Reuse, Reflect →

    Socrates: Reduce, Reuse, Reflect

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2019


    Socrates once said he loved going to the market – to see all the stuff he did NOT need to buy. Reducing our consumption is one of the greenest things we can do. Of course, the main lesson he taught was that we go wrong and do harm when we presume to understand something we … Continue reading Socrates: Reduce, Reuse, Reflect →

    Prediction & Prophecy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2019 31:51


    People tend to be more moved by magic than by knowledge. Why does non-rational prophecy ever win out over rational prediction? One reason: knowledge is hard, and individuals have only bits and pieces of it. Another reason: success in our actions is not guaranteed by knowledge. Chance and randomness play a role in life. There’s … Continue reading Prediction & Prophecy →

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