Pullback

We know that climate change disproportionately affects those of us who are already struggling. But can climate mitigation and adaptation policy be designed in a way that promotes environmental justice? And if so, how? We speak with Anna Shipp, Principal Policy Associate, and Joseph Schilling, Senior Research Associate, from the Urban Institute's Research to Action Lab about Justice40 — a Biden-era initiative that directed 40% of federal climate spending benefit equity-deserving communities. The Urban Institute, a nonprofit focused on equity and social mobility, has studied climate justice in depth, including the challenges of implementing Justice40. Although the initiative was repealed under the Trump administration, it remains one of the most ambitious attempts to embed environmental justice into federal climate policy — and offers valuable lessons for future efforts.   Pullback is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network Enjoy our work? Support us on Patreon!

The transition off of fossil fuels is important and needs to happen, but it will affect the livelihoods of oil and gas workers and those in fossil fuel dependent communities. How can we make sure the transition is just and people-centred? We spoke with Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood, a senior researcher at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Hadrian's work focuses on the social and economic dimensions of Canada's shift toward a zero-carbon economy, including the necessity of a just transition for vulnerable workers and communities across the country. He is a contributor to the CCPA's Trade and Investment Research Project and Alternative Federal Budget. Hadrian holds a MA in Political Economy from Carleton University. Hadrian explains the concept of a people-centred just transition and the challenges Canada will have to overcome to move away from fossil fuels. We also discussed the policies that are needed to help workers transition into new industries, including the need for green industrial policy.   Pullback is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network Enjoy our work? Support us on Patreon!

Dr. Samantha Montano, an assistant professor of emergency management at Massachusetts Maritime Academy and author of Disasterology: Dispatches From the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis, explains the counterintuitive reality that the people who most need support during a disaster tend to get less government assistance. Listen for her suggestions on how emergency management can be reformed to support disaster justice. Pullback is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network Enjoy our work? Support us on Patreon!

Welcome to Season 4 of Pullback, where we'll be focusing entirely on climate justice — what it means, why it matters, and the policies we can implement today to address the crisis and build a fairer world. In this first episode, hosts Kristen and Kyla explore how climate change is already impacting people around the world, including the ways it's deepening existing inequalities — especially for communities that are already marginalized. Featuring expert insights from Dr. Joan Casey, Associate Professor at the University of Washington in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences; Dr. Sean Kidd, Associate Professor in Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and a Senior Scientist with the Slaight Family Centre for Youth in Transition at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health; Dr. Ingrid Waldron, Professor and HOPE Chair in Peace and Health at McMaster University; and Stéphane Hallegatte, Senior Climate Change Adviser at the World Bank. Join us as we unpack the connections between climate change and social inequality, and make the case for urgent collective action to build a more just future.   Pullback is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network Enjoy our work? Support us on Patreon!

Kristen and Kyla host their annual end of year quiz featuring friends of the pod Stefan Hostetter, the Director of Programs and Community with the Centre for Social Innovation and co-host of Green Majority Radio, Gordon Katic, host of the award winning Cited podcast series featuring stories about the politics of science and expertise, and Ryan MacRae, an advocate for migrant worker rights featured earlier this season for his work with the Cooper Institute on the report Permanent Jobs, Temporary People. Stefan's charity shout-out: Rainbow Railroad Ryan's charity shout-out: Women of the First Light Gordon's charity shout-out: Fort York Food Bank Pullback is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network Enjoy our work? Support us on Patreon!

These days, humans are interacting with chatbots powered by artificial intelligence more and more, including for companionship. Can these new tools help a society experiencing a loneliness epidemic, or do they risk deepening isolation? And do they give tech companies even more power? This episode we're joined by Dr. (Jennifer) Jill Fellows, a faculty member in the philosophy department at Douglas College and host of the feminist tech podcast Cyborg Goddess. Jill explains the history of AI, and introduces philosophical questions about trust, bias, and the reliability of modern AI systems. We discuss the impact of AI on human creativity, whether AI could ever be considered “conscious”, and how AI is affecting our social relationships. Pullback is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network Enjoy our work? Support us on Patreon!

Rates of anxiety, depression, and chronic illnesses like heart disease are on the rise, and more doctors are looking beyond the medicine cabinet for solutions. Could our healthcare system be missing a simple remedy that's been right outside our door? In this episode we talk to Dr. Stacy Beller Stryer, a paediatrician and Associate Medical Director for Park RxAmerica. Dr. Stryer does public health work for the US federal government and natureprescribed.org, and she helps to develop programs that educate providers, schools, and park agencies on the benefits of nature and nature prescriptions. Dr. Stryer explains what nature prescriptions are, what they look like in practice, and why doctors are turning to nature to address their patient's health concerns. We dig into some of the barriers people face in accessing nature, how nature prescriptions intersect with environmental justice and climate resilience, and the role of healthcare providers and community members in advocating for healthier environments. We also recommend this report on Indigenous Youth Mental Health and the Climate Crisis and this report on Perceived Health Benefits of Nature Prescriptions on Employee Health and Wellness Pullback is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network Enjoy our work? Support us on Patreon!

Universities have faced steep and sustained public funding cutbacks and have adapted by changing the way that they operate. What are the consequences of the de facto privatization of universities for students, researchers, and society? In this episode, we talk to Randy Robinson, Ontario Director for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and co-author of Back from the Brink, a report that explores public funding cuts in Ontario universities. Randy describes the deep provincial funding cuts that have led Ontario universities to hike tuition, especially for international students, while making university jobs more precarious and less permanent. We discuss how this is changing the student experience, reducing research capacity, and hollowing out communities. Pullback is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network Enjoy our work? Support us on Patreon!

With Loblaws facing criticism for soaring grocery prices and record-high profits during a cost-of-living crisis, can a boycott drive real change? We talk to Emily Johnson, the lead organizer for the Loblaws boycott, and Eric Wickham, a Toronto-based journalist and host of Big Shiny Takes. Emily is a mental health and addictions worker and single mother of two living in the suburbs west of Toronto, and Eric has been working on a year-long investigation on the price of groceries for The Hosier, an independent digital media outlet based in the Greater Toronto Area. We are also joined by Robert Miller, climate activist, organizer, and “spooookiest” friend of the pod, to discuss more solutions to reduce the price of groceries and save Halloween for children nationwide. Want more episodes on the food system? Check out the episode where we go dumpster diving, our episode about Big Ag, or our episode on Food Rescue with Second Harvest. Pullback is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network Enjoy our work? Support us on Patreon!

You've heard of speculative investors pushing up the price of housing, but did you know it's happening on farms too? With fewer collective protections for farmers, and pressures to sell land and consolidate farms, is the family farm becoming a thing of the past? And is a new form of feudal tenant farming the future? On today's episode we talk to the Parkland Institute's Katherine Aske, author of Finance in the Fields: Investors, Lenders, Farmers, and the Future of Farmland in Alberta. We discuss who owns the farmland on the prairies, why ownership models are changing, and what that means for the future of farming – and our food. Farmers are facing immense pressure in a world with fewer collective protections and more unpredictable weather. For small family farms, this can mean going into debt or renting at the whims of the market. And, as Katherine explains, that has big implications for the future of our food. Pullback is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network Enjoy our work? Support us on Patreon!

With home ownership out of reach for millions of Canadians and no relief in sight, could co-ops be the key to providing affordable, community-driven housing solutions? On today's episode we talk to Diana Yoon, the Program Manager of Government Relations and Policy at the Co-op Housing Federation of Canada, which represents 2200 co-ops nationwide. In this conversation, Diana explains how housing co-ops work, their history in Canada, and what it would take for co-ops to take on a bigger role in our housing stock. We also discuss the unique benefits of co-ops, including democracy, community ownership, affordability, and long-term stability for residents. We also discuss the report The Impact of Community Housing on Productivity. Pullback is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network Enjoy our work? Support us on Patreon!

With climate action stalled by political gridlock, could citizens' assemblies be the bold democratic solution we need to break through barriers and finally make progress? When it comes to climate change, most of us want to see action but feel that we don't have power and politicians aren't listening. Deliberative democracy and citizen empowerment have been proposed as solutions to that widespread sense of disempowerment. In this episode, Kristen chats with Dimitry Courant, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, who explains what citizens assemblies are and how they have been used around the world to address climate change. He also shares insights about the best ways to design citizens assemblies so they work well and drive real change. We recommend Dimitri's writing on mini-publics and citizen's assemblies! Pullback is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network Enjoy our work? Support us on Patreon!  

You've heard about land back, but what about cash back? Resource and land wealth linked to dispossession has enriched Canada and corporations, so does reconciliation require financial restitution too? And what do Indigenous economies look like? This week's guest is Shady Hafez, Policy and Research Manager to the National Association of Friendship Centres. Shady is an Algonquin Anishinabe and Syrian member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and is pursuing his PhD in Sociology at the University of Toronto. Shady explains why land back and cash back are needed for the restitution of Indigenous economies, sharing some examples of cash back in practice, and discussing the principles at play in Indigenous economic development. Recommended Reading The Yellowhead Institute's Red Papers on Land Back and Cash Back The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's 97 Calls to Action Pullback is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network Enjoy our work? Support us on Patreon!

Canada relies on migrant workers to fill labour gaps, but the Temporary Foreign Worker Program is rife with problems, with a recent United Nations report calling the program a “breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery”. Can this controversial program be fixed, or should it be scrapped altogether? Should all migrant workers be granted permanent residency status when they arrive here?  Kyla spoke with the Cooper Institute's Eliza MacLauchlan and Ryan MacRae. Eliza and Ryan are the lead authors of Permanent Jobs, Temporary People, a report that examines how the Temporary Foreign Worker Program is operating on Prince Edward Island.  Eliza and Ryan explain how the Temporary Foreign Worker Program has evolved, including its growing role in Atlantic Canada's seafood industry and the forms of exploitation that migrant workers face. They also discuss how to fix the most problematic elements of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and whether recent measures go far enough. Pullback is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network Enjoy our work? Support us on Patreon!

We often shrug off the brutality of prisons as regrettable, yet ultimately inevitable. But the recent rise of prison abolitionist movements prompts a question: are prisons obsolete? Can we imagine more humane solutions that address the root causes of crime and promote true rehabilitation? Dr. Jessica Evans is an Assistant Professor in Criminology at Toronto Metropolitan University, who researches the causes, conditions, and consequences of incarceration in Canada. She is also active in the prison abolition movement as a co-founder of the Toronto Prisoners' Rights Project. In this conversation, Jessica explains the history and current landscape of incarceration in Canada and presents the case for prison abolition.   Get Involved: Toronto Prisoners' Rights Project Criminalization and Punishment Education Project East Coast Prison Justice Society West Coast Prison Justice Society Pullback is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network Enjoy our work? Support us on Patreon!

In this latest season, Kristen and Kyla interview experts on topics like prison abolition, ending the Temporary Foreign Worker program, the financialization of farmland, citizens assemblies, the privatization of universities, the Loblaws boycott, and more! Coming September 17th

Kristen and Kyla dive into 'An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us' by Ed Yong. Join us as we explore this delightful journey through the many fascinating ways animals perceive the world. Published in 2022, Yong masterfully weaves together interviews with scientists and in-depth research, offering a narrative that deepens our appreciation for the many creatures we share our planet with. Get a copy of the book! https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/616914/an-immense-world-by-ed-yong/ Find more from the Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/ Want more Book Club? Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/Pullback

Kristen and Kyla read Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. "Two top women gladiators fight for their freedom within a depraved private prison system not so far-removed from America's own." We recorded this for our Patreon's, but loved the book so much we decided to share with everyone! Get a copy of the book! https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/714055/chain-gang-all-stars-by-nana-kwame-adjei-brenyah/9780593317334 Find more from the Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/ Want more Book Club? Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/Pullback

Kristen and Kyla read Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez. This book explores the gender data gap in research when the "male body" is treated as default and "female body" as atypical, revealing how this bias bakes discrimination into systems as far reaching as healthcare, education, public policy, and economic development. Get a copy of the book! https://carolinecriadoperez.com/book/invisible-women/ Find more from the Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/ Want more Book Club? Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/Pullback

Pullback is pleased to share Green Majority Radio with our listeners! Hosts David and Stefan Hostetter and Lauren Latour bring together environmental justice news with voices and strategies from the grassroots. Broadcast from CIUT 89.5 FM in Toronto on Fridays at 11:00AM ET and at various community radio stations around the country, GMR is also available on all podcast platforms. In this episode, Kristen and Kyla join the team to discuss their new project, Climate Justice Organizing Shorts! Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/ Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/Pullback Visit LeHub: https://www.lehub.ca/en/

Pullback has been collaborating with The Climate Justice Organizing HUB to develop "Climate Organizing Shorts," a collection of discussions with climate activists on how to build inclusive and effective movements. The inaugural episode is now available, offering a condensed rendition of our previous Deep Canvassing chat featuring the esteemed Montana Burgess. Look for new episodes every Friday until May 2024 and subscribe (you know this part) wherever podcasts are found! Miss your hosts? Check our Patreon for much looser discussion episodes where Kyla and Kristen really let their opinions fly.

Kristen and Kyla take a break from taking a break to discuss The Age of Insecurity by Astra Taylor. Published in October 2023, this book explores how crises of inequality, mental health, authoritarianism, and ecological collapse could all be addressed by re-evaluating our culture of insecurity. Institutions that promise to make us more secure are functioning to undermine us in this moment, including housing, education, policing, and the wellness industry, and Taylor has some ideas for how we can change society for the better. Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join Enjoy our work? Want more book club episodes? You can now support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/Pullback

Kristen and Kyla are joined by Dr. Jennifer Jill Fellows (Gender, Sex, and Tech), Kattie Laur (Curious Tourism | Pod The North), and Eric Wickham (Unrigged | Big Shiny Takes) on the annual year end quiz panel show, revisiting the big talking points of 2023. Jennifer's links https://gendersextech.opened.ca/2022/03/28/hello-and-welcome/ https://indspire.ca/ Kattie's links https://pinatravels.org/responsibletravelpod/ https://podthenorth.substack.com/ https://waterfirst.ngo/donate/ Eric's links https://www.unrigged.ca/ https://bigshinytakes.com/ https://saintstephens.ca/contact Kristen's link https://www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/gaza-crisis/ Kyla's link https://dogwoodbc.ca/ Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join Enjoy our work? You can now support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/Pullback  

Canadian journalism has been struggling for quite a while, with layoffs and local newspapers closing shop. Facebook's reaction to the Online News Act and has added a layer of difficulty for independent news, who will lose a key platform for sharing their content. Can working together save independent journalism? On today's episode we talked to Andre Goulet and Eric Wickham about their new initiative that brings together news from 20 independent, local, regional, and national media outlets from across Canada. Unrigged provides up-to-the-hour news from across the country, from organizations such as The Hoser, The Progress Report, The Breach, Ricochet, PressProgress and more. Check out Unrigged: https://www.unrigged.ca/ Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/unrigged Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join Enjoy our work? You can now support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/Pullback

The country is pretty divided on climate change and what to do about it. Can deep canvassing help to get people on board with decarbonization? Is deep canvassing the pixie dust necessary to bridge political divisions? How does it work, anyway? On today's episode Kristen spoke with Montana Burgess, the Executive Director of Neighbours United, an organization based in interior BC that led the first complete deep canvassing program on climate anywhere in the world. Neighbours United is such a cool organization, and they are working to promote community engagement for climate action across Canada. Listen in on our conversation about what it's like talking to people about climate change, and how deep canvassing can help to not only build consensus but also shows that we all have a lot more in common than we might think.  Check out Neighbours United: https://neighboursunited.org/ Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/deepcanvassing Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join Enjoy our work? You can now support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/Pullback

With the shifting nature of work, downtowns in many cities are emptying out, leading to business closures and fears about a “transit death spiral”, all while it is becoming ever more difficult to find affordable housing. Is it time for bold thinking to transform our cities so they are greener and more inclusive than they were before? We talk to Patrick Esmonde-White, host of Canada Re-Imagined, a podcast that explores futuristic and utopian solutions to Canadian issues including poverty and climate change. Patrick has worked in a variety of industries including federal and municipal levels of government, oil, journalism, and broadcast radio. Check out Canada Re-Imagined: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/show/canada-re-imagined/ Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/cityplanning Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join Enjoy our work? You can now support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/Pullback

Western governments say that they are working toward a net-zero future. But are those same governments propping up fossil fuel companies with billions of dollars in subsidies? And how can we change that? On today's episode we talk to Katrina Miller, the Executive Director of Canadians for Tax Fairness about their new report, Taxes and the Path to a Green Economy, which is all about how the Canadian tax system continues to subsidize fossil fuel companies and how to change that. Katrina has worked for over twenty years to win environmental and social justice improvements at every level of government, collaborating with a wide array of labour, community, and academic experts, and helping organizations and individuals hone their skills and strategies. Visit Canadians for Tax Fairness here: https://www.taxfairness.ca/en Read the report: https://www.taxfairness.ca/en/taxes-and-climate Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/ffsubsidies Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join Enjoy our work? You can now support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/Pullback

The five day work week was designed for an economy that relied mostly on physical labour. But does that framework need updating for the knowledge economy? In other words, should we be moving toward a four day work week? On today's episode we talk to Dr. Dale Whelehan, the CEO of 4 Day Week Global, a company that helps businesses pilot a four-day work week. Prior to joining 4 Day Week Global, Dale did his PhD on fatigue and sleep deprivation in healthcare workers, so he is the perfect person to talk to about why we're all so burnt out all the damned time.  Learn more about 4 Day Week Global: https://www.4dayweek.com/ Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/4dayweek Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join Enjoy our work? You can now support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/Pullback

As countries look to reach net-zero and to reduce their energy dependence on Russia, nuclear is having a moment. Nuclear energy is a non-emitting source of energy, but it also comes with some pretty big risks. Should countries be building new nuclear power plants? Or would this solution cause bigger problems? Environmentalists have been divided on nuclear energy for quite a while, and that debate is getting even more heated as the climate crisis becomes part of our everyday lives. On today's Halloween episode we are joined by friend of the pod, climate activist, and recovering scientist Robert Miller to talk about the two spookiest things we could think of: climate change and nuclear winter. Robbie recommends this New Socialist article: https://newsocialist.org.uk/stop-trying-make-nuclear-power-happen/ Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/s2-nuclearenergy Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join Enjoy our work? You can now support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/Pullback

It feels like everyone is struggling to get by. With poverty and inequality on the rise, is unconditional cash the ticket to a happier, healthier, more equal society? Universal basic income is gaining momentum around the world – including in Canada, where the Senate is currently considering Bill S-233, which would require the federal government to develop a national framework for implementing a guaranteed livable income. There are now dozens of UBI pilot projects underway in cities around the world. So, what does the evidence tell us about Universal Basic Income programs and their impact on people, communities, and the environment? We are joined by Sean Kline, the Director of Stanford University's Basic Income Lab, to discuss UBI pilots in America and around the world. Learn more about Sean's work here:https://basicincome.stanford.edu/ Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/s2-ubi Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join Enjoy our work? You can now support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/Pullback

This year of cascading disasters is a good reminder that climate change has arrived, and some impacts are here to stay even after we reach net-zero. Is climate repair an opportunity to get back to a place of relative safety for humanity? Or is it just another delay tactic? On today's episode we dig into the debate on climate repair with Andrew Dana Hudson. Andrew is a sustainability researcher and a speculative fiction writer who has written Our Shared Storm, a novel imagining five possible realities of our climate future. Andrew explains what climate repair is and the role that technologies like direct air capture can play even after we transition off of fossil fuels. We also talked about speculative fiction and its role in confronting climate change in our collective imagination. Get a copy of Andrew's Book here: https://www.fordhampress.com/9780823299546/our-shared-storm/ Read Andrew's Jacobin piece: https://jacobin.com/2022/08/zero-emissions-climate-repaire-crisis-carbon-dioxide-removal Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/s2-climaterepair Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join Enjoy our work? You can now support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/Pullback

We are living in a biodiversity crisis: 42,000 animal species are currently threatened with extinction, which is more than a quarter of all species that have been assessed for the International Union of Concerned Scientists' Red List. But are zoos a solution? On today's episode we talked to Dr. Albrecht Schulte-Hostedde, a Professor in the School of Natural Sciences at Laurentian University. Albrecht is an evolutionary ecologist who has worked with the Toronto Zoo, so we asked him all about his work with zoos and how accredited zoos work to promote conservation. Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/s2-zoos Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join Enjoy our work? Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/Pullback

Sure, the rent is too damned high – but are we currently in a housing crisis? Or is the housing market working exactly as it was intended? On the first episode of our brand new season, we were joined by Ricardo Tranjan of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives to talk housing. Ricardo just wrote a fantastic new book called the Tenant Class, which makes the argument that tenants are an exploited class and calls for more tenant organizing as a solution. Pickup a copy of Tenant Class from your local bookstore! https://btlbooks.com/book/the-tenant-class Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/s2-tenantorganizing Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join Enjoy our work? Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/Pullback

Kristen sits down with author Seth Klein to discuss his book, “A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency”. This book explores what it would actually look like for Canada to mobilize on a wartime level to tackle climate change, using Canada's efforts in the Second World War as proof that this isn't the first time we've come together in the face of a world altering threat. Get the book: https://www.sethklein.ca/book Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join

Kristen and Kyla take a break from summer vacation to dive into the groundbreaking book "This Changes Everything" by Naomi Klein. Published in 2014, this critically acclaimed book discusses the interconnected nature of the economic, political, and environmental systems, and the ripples of it's influence can be felt everywhere in the climate movement today. Klein examines the impact of extractive industries on indigenous communities, uncovers the false promises of green capitalism, and highlights the importance of grassroots movements in the push for systemic change. While this book is nearly a decade old, it stands out as a timeless look at the many ways society could be acting to mitigate the worst of the climate and social crises facing us today. Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join

Kristen and Kyla sit down during their season break to discuss the book How to Be a Climate Optimist: Blueprints for a Better World by Chris Turner, a climate reporter sharing his personal research on technological climate solutions, from green islands to solar panel factories. This book outlines how much progress has been made in the last 25 years, and explores what technology exists today that could help electrify the grid if adopted at scale. Though the book was certainly well researched, Kyla and Kristen are disappointed in it's limited scope. They discuss the urgent need for stories of climate optimism that are grounded less in technocratic solutions and more in collective action driven by a hopeful vision of a more inclusive and less destructive future. Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join

Kristen and Kyla sit down during their season break to discuss the book The Great Displacement by Jack Bittle. This book tells the story of climate migration in the United States through interviews with those who have experienced climate disasters including floods, fires, drought, and storms. This book paints a picture not only of how climate change is already affecting thousands of people in a country that still seems to believe it's a problem of the far future, but also of what climate migration is likely to look like in decades to come. Drawing on stories of how the insurance and mortgage markets are already shifting to reflect climate pressure, Bittle explores what a future in the USA might look like as geography and weather patterns change and old communities vanish. Other topics of discussion include; the current wildfires blotting out the sun in the eastern parts of Canada and the United States; how important housing policies are for disaster mitigation; how disaster relief works in Canada and the USA. We also recommend Nomad Century: How Climate Migration Will Reshape Our World by Gaia Vince Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join

A lot of settlers in so-called Canada want to walk the path of reconciliation with the Indigenous peoples who have always been here. On our last episode of season 1, we're joined by Riley Yesno to discuss the land back movement that seeks to reclaim Indigenous rights and rebalance our relationships with one another and the land. Riley is an Anishinaabe scholar, writer, and commentator from Eabametoong First Nation. She has been a contributor and commentator for some of the largest media outlets in Canada and the world, including the New York Times, BBC World News, The Globe and Mail, and CBC National News. Her main project right now is teaching Indigenous governance and justice at Toronto Metropolitan University, and completing her Ph.D. at the University of Toronto, where she studies Indigenous/Canadian politics and is a Vanier Scholar. Riley Yesno: https://rileyyesno.com Redsurgence: https://rileyyesno.com/home#work CBC Land Back Podcast: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/1341-landback CBC Kuper Island Podcast: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/1062-kuper-island CBC Secret Life of Canada episode about the Indian Act: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/203-the-secret-life-of-canada/episode/15721469-s2-the-indian-act Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/111 Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join

Effective altruism is a moral theory that says we need to give as much money as possible to the most effective charities. Is that a harmless idea, or a hyper-capitalist ideology that helps billionaires like Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffet launder their reputations? On today's episode we dig into a utilitarian-flavored philanthropic movement that has become very popular in Silicon Valley. Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/110 Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join

Kristen and Kyla are coming for your burgers in their ongoing fight against their arch-nemesis; Big Agriculture. Plant based foods are having a moment; sales for “meat” substitutes alone are projected to grow to $85 billion by 2030, and demand for plant based ingredients is expected to grow to $13 trillion by 2025. As we continue to reckon with the climate crisis and the cruelty of the modern world, this trend is likely to continue. Special guest AJ Albrecht, Managing Director of Mercy For Animals, attorney, and animal rights advocate, discusses how industrial animal agriculture is a nightmare for farmers, farm workers, farm animals, the people who live around farms, people experiencing the effects of climate change – pretty much everyone, really. This episode explores ways to grant farms more autonomy and freedom from the debt treadmill of Big Ag, and the pathways for transferring away from livestock to plant based crops entirely. Watch the 11 minute video on The True Cost of Cheap Chicken (CW animal violence, death, exploitation): https://mercyforanimals.org/blog/bacon-fear-mongering-prop-12-california/ Learn more about animal cruelty with one of our very first episodes: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/episode04 Transfarmation: https://thetransfarmationproject.org Proposition 12: https://mercyforanimals.org/blog/bacon-fear-mongering-prop-12-california/ Mercy for Animals: https://mercyforanimals.org/about/ Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/109 Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join

Critical Race Theory is at the heart of some of today's most fiery culture wars, but does it deserve the heat? We are joined by scholar, teacher, and advocate Joshua Sealy-Harrington to discuss the many nuances of CRT. Josh is an Assistant Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University's Lincoln Alexander School of Law, and Counsel at Power Law. Josh's expertise in critical race theory, critical disability theory, feminist legal theory, queer legal theory, criminal punishment, constitutional law, as well as law and social movements makes him one of the most insightful speakers in Canada today on this topic. Listen for a breakdown of what CRT is, what it's limitations are, and what issues it aims to address in mainstream society. Josh: https://twitter.com/joshuasealy Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/108 Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join

Should we be taxing Scrooge McDuck wealth? Can we? We talk with friend of the pod Fariya Mohiuddin, a Senior Program Officer with the International Budget Partnership's Tax Equity Program, and our favourite tax justice researcher and activist. Topics include: what does a wealth tax really look like; why we need an asset registry; how we could implement these items; what a world with more equitably distributed wealth might look like. Want to act? Canadians for Tax Fairness: https://www.taxfairness.ca/en Oxfam Canada: https://www.oxfam.ca/campaign/wealth-tax-on-the-richest-now Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/107 Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join

Pullback explores big new ideas and asks: is this a real solution or a distraction? Our first 101 episodes focused on the ethical issues behind everyday choices, and ethical movements, labels, and lifestyles. In our new season we cover ideas that proponents say will address global problems like inequality and climate change.

Politics seem more divided than ever. Can we save democracy through persuasion? On today's episode we were joined by activist Robert Miller to talk about Anand Giridharadas' latest book, The Persuaders. Our discussion covered all kinds of topics, including whether political polarisation is really a new problem, how a person might get swept up in conspiracies and cults (such as the Moonies, QAnon, or Satanic worship), and whether promising new strategies like deep canvassing can help build solidarity. If your local library is out of stock, we recommend pickup up your copy of The Persuaders from your local indie bookshop, or online here: https://thepersuadersbook.com/ Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/106 Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join

We know the world is getting hotter. Is spraying sulphate into the atmosphere a solution? On today's episode we talk all about geoengineering with Green Majority Radio's Lauren Latour and Stefan Hostetter and David Camfield, academic and author of Future on Fire: Capitalism and the Politics of Climate Change. We learned that geoengineering doesn't always have to mean seeding clouds over countries, or blasting mirrors into space. It can (and should) also mean regenerative farming, land back, re-imagining our transit systems and solving our issues from their roots rather than trying to treat the symptoms.   Green Majority Radio: http://www.greenmajority.ca/the-podcast Future on Fire: https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/book/future-on-fire Victor's Children: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/show/victors-children/ Lauren Latour: https://twitter.com/LaurenLatour Stefan Hostetter: https://twitter.com/Steho_ Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/105 Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join

Can euthanasia ever be just in an unjust society? On today's episode we talked to disabilities justice expert Megan Linton about Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying program: how it works, its limitations, and where expansions may take it. Megan is the host of Invisible Institutions, a documentary podcast exploring the past and present of institutions for people labelled with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Canada. Canada's Suicide Prevention Sources: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/suicide-prevention.html Invisible Institutions: http://invisibleinstitutions.com Donate to Michal Kaliszan's GoFundMe for home care: https://www.gofundme.com/f/home-care-for-michal-kaliszan Contact Sylvia Jones about Michal's case: https://sylviajonesmpp.ca/contact/ Megan recommends the book Bleed by Tracey Lindeman: https://www.bleedthebook.com Get involved with disability justice: https://www.djno.ca Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/104 Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join

When the internet started to take off, it was supposed to democratize information. Now everything's owned by a handful of mega-corporations. Can Web 3 decentralize the internet? Do you have to learn what a Blockchain is? We talk to Paris Marx of the Tech Won't Save Us podcast about Web 3.0, which some are saying will lead to a more secure, private, and decentralized internet. But others see it as a buzzword, and worry about the environmental and societal impacts of running social networks, game marketplaces, and currencies on the blockchain. Paris on Twitter: https://twitter.com/parismarx Subscribe to Disconnect newsletter: https://www.disconnect.blog/ Listen to Tech Won't Save Us: https://www.techwontsave.us/ Read Road to Nowhere: https://www.versobooks.com/books/3995-road-to-nowhere Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/103 Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join  

So, there's no ethical consumption under capitalism. Does that mean there's no value to movements like slow fashion, eating local, and Fairtrade? This is the first episode of our new spin on the power we have as individuals. We'll explore big new ideas and ask: is this a real solution or a distraction? To introduce our new format, we look back on the question that animated the first 101 episodes of the podcast: is ethical consumption really possible? Should we try anyway? Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/102 Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join  

Kristen and Kyla are joined by head of Harbinger Media Network Andre Goulet, Ethical Parenting guest Sarah Mistak, and Invisible Institutions' Megan Linton on their annual year end quiz panel show. We revisit events of the past year, and the winner of the quiz gets a special donation to their organization of choice. Leave us a voicemail! https://podinbox.com/pullback Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/episode101 Invisible Instituitons: http://invisibleinstitutions.com/ Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/join Megan shouts out: https://www.sunshinehousewpg.org/ Andre shouts out: https://rover.substack.com/ Sarah shouts out: https://kidshelpphone.ca/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/PullbackPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pullbackpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PullbackPodcast/  Pullback is produced and hosted by Kristen Pue and Kyla Hewson. Logo by Rachel Beyer and Evan Vrinten.

Encore! Look for pod favourite episodes being re-released outside of the regularly scheduled show. This episode originally aired in December 2019. In this episode, Kristen and Kyla ruin Christmas — but, you know, in a fun and practical way. This episode covers online shopping, artificial versus real Christmas trees, and solutions to reduce waste at Christmas. Kyla and Kristen also gift each other ethical presents (carbon emissions from cross-country shipping not included). Tune in as Kristen tortures listeners with misophonia by eating the world's crunchiest cookie.  Website: https://www.pullback.org/research/holidayepisode2019 Leave us a voicemail! https://podinbox.com/pullback Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/PullbackPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pullbackpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PullbackPodcast/  Pullback is produced and hosted by Kristen Pue and Kyla Hewson. Logo by Rachel Beyer and Evan Vrinten.

Kyla and Kristen discuss the ins and outs of water. Topics: what is water, history of water, water footprint, where is all the water going, municipal water treatment, how to make water (with explosions), wetlands, water shortages and advisories, privitization, the bottled water industry, what can be done. Book recommendation: 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph Check out the podcast 2050: Degrees of Change https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/156-2050-degrees-of-change Leave us a voicemail! https://podinbox.com/pullback Website: https://www.pullback.org/episode-notes/episode96 Harbinger Media Network: https://harbingermedianetwork.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/PullbackPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pullbackpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PullbackPodcast/  Pullback is produced and hosted by Kristen Pue and Kyla Hewson. Logo by Rachel Beyer and Evan Vrinten.