Plastic Podcast | Pollution, Policy, and People

NEW Show: Oceanography (Trailer)

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 06:09:00 GMT

🎧 New from Pine Forest Media: Oceanography

From the creators of The Plastic Podcast, Oceanography is a new weekly series exploring the science, policy, and people working to protect our oceans. Hosted by science communicator Clark Marchese, the podcast blends rigorous journalism with storytelling to uncover what’s happening beneath the surface—and why it matters.

Each episode features global experts, including marine biologists, oceanographers, Indigenous leaders, and climate advocates. Topics include how whales communicate underwater, the magic of bioluminescent sharks, deep-sea ecosystems, and new fishing gear designed to protect endangered species.

You’ll also hear from leaders at UNESCO and the Marine Protected Area Collaborative Network as they share how international treaties and local action are shaping the future of marine conservation.

🎧 Listen to the trailer now and follow the show for new episodes starting July 29.

🌊 Subscribe to Oceanography on Spotify, on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you stream.

🌐 More at pineforestpods.com

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The Road to Busan and Beyond: A United Nations Treaty on Plastics

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 05:36:43 GMT

How does a global plastics treaty get negotiated? Researcher Tara Olsen joins host Clark Marchese to explain the process, actors, and competing interests behind the United Nations effort to regulate plastic pollution. Using the road to the Busan negotiations as context, they discuss international environmental law, national sovereignty, industry and civil-society influence, and the difference between signing and ratifying a treaty. This evergreen UN plastic treaty guide focuses on how global environmental agreements are built and what determines whether they can deliver meaningful accountability.

Episode Guests: Tara Olsen

Connect with Tara Olsen here.

More on the Scientist’s Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty

Follow the treaty negotiations with CIEL

Follow the treaty negotiations with IISD

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website.

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

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The Evolution of Anti-Plastic Norms

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 05:13:38 GMT

Anti-plastic norms spread when health enters the story. Global health policy researcher Leah Shipton explains how local plastic bag bans developed into an international movement, with examples from early policy adopters including Bangladesh and Kenya. She and host Clark Marchese discuss norm entrepreneurs, industry opposition, media attention, policy learning, and the power of framing plastic pollution as a health issue. The episode traces the path from grassroots anti-plastic movements to global plastics governance and the negotiations for a United Nations treaty.

Episode Guest: Leah Shipton

Find more information about Leah Shipton here.

Find a link to Leah Shipton’s article here.

Find more of Leah Shipton’s research on Google Scholar

Follow Leah Shipton on X

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website.

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cancer Alley and Environmental Gaslighting

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 05:12:37 GMT

Cancer Alley links plastic production to public health. Dr. Kimberly Terrell and Gianna St. Julien of the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic explain research on toxic air pollution, cancer risk, and racial disparities along Louisiana’s petrochemical corridor. Host Clark Marchese examines environmental racism, the burden of proof placed on fenceline communities, and the grassroots groups seeking stronger protection and accountability. This case study connects petrochemical pollution, plastic production, public health, and environmental policy while showing how community-centered science can support advocacy.

Episode Guests: Dr. Kimberly Terrell and Gianna St. Julien

More on the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic

Find the Toxic Air Pollution Report here

Find the Racial Demographic Report here

Neuston: Life on an Ocean Garbage Patch

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 05:46:11 GMT

Ocean garbage patches are also living habitats. Marine ecologist Dr. Mark Gibbons introduces neuston, the diverse organisms that live on or just below the ocean surface, from bluebottles and sea snails to fish eggs and larvae. He joins Plastic Podcast to explain research in the South Indian Ocean subtropical gyre, where floating life and plastic debris can occupy the same waters. The episode examines what scientists know, and still do not know, about neuston and plastic, with important implications for ocean cleanup proposals and marine conservation.

Episode Guests: Dr. Mark Gibbons

Find more information about Dr. Gibbons here.

Find a link to Dr. Gibbon’s article here.

Find more of Dr. Gibbon’s research on Google Scholar

Find images of all the cool neuston we talked about today here.

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website.

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plastic and Tourism: How to Travel Better and Transform the Industry

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 05:00:57 GMT

Tourism creates more plastic waste than travelers see. Green marketing and sustainable development researcher Dr. Farzana Quoquab explains why plastic consumption often rises in popular destinations and why responsibility cannot rest on tourists alone. The episode explores the roles of hotels, businesses, governments, infrastructure, and consumer behavior, with examples from Malaysia, the Maldives, and other tourism economies. The episode connects plastic pollution and tourism with sustainable travel, single-use plastic reduction, and the coordinated changes needed to protect destinations and local communities.

Episode Guests: Dr. Farzana Quoquab

Find more information about Dr. Quoquab here.

Find a link to Dr. Quoquab’s article here.

Find more of Dr. Quoquab’s research on Google Scholar and Research Gate

Find the article about Cape Town, beach pollution, and the impact on the local economy here.

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ocean Hotspots: Macro and Micro Plastics

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 05:27:20 GMT

Ocean plastic hotspots are not where maps expect. Dr. Annika Jahnke and researcher Robby Rynek bring Plastic Podcast aboard a Pacific research expedition from Vancouver to Singapore. They explain how scientists sample macroplastics and microplastics, why currents create shifting concentrations, and what surprising measurements reveal about Pacific Ocean plastic pollution. Rather than declaring one particle size the greater threat, the episode shows how different plastics move through marine environments and why better plastic pollution mapping is essential for research and policy.

Episode Guests: Dr. Annika Jahnke and Robby Rynek

Find a link to Dr. Annika Jahnke and Robby Rynek’s project here

Find a link to Dr. Annika Jahnke and Robby Rynek’s article here

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Digital Tech and the Circular Economy of Plastic across African Contexts

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 05:27:26 GMT

Digital tools are reshaping plastic recovery in Africa. Dr. Seun Kolade and Wunmi Ogunde discuss research on digitally enabled business models for a circular plastic economy in Africa. They explain s how mobile platforms, data, and new business models can connect households with waste services, reorganize plastic value chains, and expand economic participation. The conversation also addresses informal waste workers, gender equity, local infrastructure, and the danger of treating a diverse continent as one market. This is a grounded look at digital waste management, plastic recycling in Africa, and circular economy innovation.

Episode Guests: Dr. Seun Kolade and Wunmi Ogunde

Find more on Dr. Kolade at the Sheffield Hallam University and on LinkedIn

Virtually attend the POLCON conference

Find Ogunde on LinkedIn

Indigenous Approaches to Plastics Pollution Governance

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 05:49:13 GMT

Plastic governance changes when Indigenous voices lead. Researcher Riley Cotter joins Plastic Podcast to discuss microplastics research, Indigenous participation, and the colonial assumptions built into many environmental institutions. Rather than presenting Indigenous peoples as a single group or treating knowledge as an add-on, the conversation centers sovereignty, diversity, relationships, and the right to shape research and policy. This episode examines Indigenous plastic pollution governance and what justice-oriented participation requires from scientists, governments, and environmental organizations.

Episode Guests: Riley Cotter

Read Riley Cotter’s Review of Participation of Indigenous Peoples in Plastics Pollution Governance

Read Dr. Max Libiron’s article Pollution is Colonialism

Find more information about the CLEAR Lab

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Future of Plastics and Climate Action

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 05:42:40 GMT

Can plastics ever become carbon negative? Dr. Vassilis Daioglou of the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency explains how integrated assessment models test possible futures for carbon-negative plastics and climate change. He and host Clark Marchese examine scenarios involving emissions pricing, higher recycling rates, and bio-based materials within a circular bioeconomy. Some modeled pathways can produce net-negative emissions, but only under specific assumptions and coordinated policy choices. This episode separates model results from real-world guarantees while exploring how climate policy could reshape plastic production.

Episode Guests: Dr. Vassilis Daioglou

Browse Dr. Daioglou’s publications on Google Scholar

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do plastics impact coral reefs?

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 05:06:47 GMT

Plastic pollution has reached deep-sea coral reefs. Marine scientist Dr. Lucy Woodall joins Plastic Podcast to explain the ecological roles of deep-sea corals and how discarded fishing gear, larger debris, and microplastics interact with them. Drawing on field research and expeditions, she discusses possible disease transmission, physical damage, and the difficulty of separating plastic from other pressures such as climate change and fishing. The episode offers a careful look at plastics and coral reefs, ocean plastic pollution, deep-sea conservation, and the cumulative threats facing marine ecosystems.

Episode Guests: Dr. Lucy Woodall

More information about Dr. Woodall here

Browse Dr. Woodall’s publications on Research Gate

Visit the Nekton website here

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

South Pole Cross Over: Plastic in Antarctica

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 05:17:56 GMT

Microplastics have reached Antarctica’s ecosystems. In this crossover from South Pole, British Antarctic Survey researcher Dr. Clara Manno explains how plastic travels to polar regions and how Antarctic wildlife and Southern Ocean processes encounter it. This epsiode explores plastic pollution in Antarctica, Southern Ocean microplastics, marine organisms, and questions about whether pollution can interfere with the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon. The episode shows why Antarctica is not isolated from human activity and why polar plastic research matters globally.

Episode Guest: Dr. Clara Manno

More information about Dr. Clara Manno here.

Browse Dr. Clara Manno’s’ publications on Google Scholar

More information about Plastic-AG here

Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

For More information about the United Nations Treaty on Plastic follow the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty on Linkedin

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Nela Ruiz

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plastic Psychology: A Case Study in Indonesia

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 05:04:05 GMT

Plastic behavior depends on culture, systems and trust. Environmental psychologist Dr. Anastasia Voronkova discusses the PISCES project and its research into how people in Indonesia buy, use, and discard plastic. This episode explores environmental psychology, waste banks, religious practice, community context, and the limits of campaigns that treat behavior as an individual choice. This case study of plastic behavior change and plastic waste in Indonesia shows what Western institutions can learn from approaches developed in the majority world.

Episode Guests: Dr. Anastasia Voronkova

More information about Dr. Voronkova here

Follow Dr. Voronkova on X

More information about PISCES

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plastic in Context: A Lifecycle Assessment of Economy and Health

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 05:03:33 GMT

Plastic’s lifecycle reveals hidden costs and benefits. Researcher Rachel Karasik guides us through a plastic lifecycle assessment, from raw material extraction and production to use, disposal, leakage, and pollution. They examine the health, environmental, and economic consequences that appear at different stages, as well as the benefits that keep plastic embedded in modern systems. The conversation shows why better plastic policy requires more than counting waste, with attention to chemical regulation, extended producer responsibility, environmental justice, and more intentional material use.

Episode Guests: Rachel Karasik

More information about Rachel Karasik at NIVA Here

Connect with Rachel Karasik on LinkedIn

Browse Rachel Karasik’s publications on Google Scholar

Something in the Water Ep 2 on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Microplastics in Soil: Agriculture and Food Security

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 05:27:37 GMT

Microplastics are accumulating in agricultural soil. Dr. Xuejun Liu and Dr. Kai Wang of China Agricultural University explain how plastic mulch, atmospheric deposition, and other sources introduce microplastics and nanoplastics into farmland. Host Clark Marchese asks what current research can tell us about soil health, crops, earthworms, bacteria, nutrient cycling, and agricultural yields. Because many effects remain uncertain, the episode distinguishes evidence from open questions while exploring the difficult balance between the benefits of agricultural plastics and their potential risks to food security.

Episode Guests: Dr. Xuejun Liu and Dr. Kai Wang

More information about Dr. Xuejun Liu and Dr. Kai Wang here

Sino-UK agricultural plastics project link

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plastic and Drinking Water: Bottles, Taps, and Microplastics

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 05:12:33 GMT

Bottled water exposes plastic’s deepest tensions. In this crossover from Something in the Water, host Dr. Elena Berg speaks with anti-plastic activist Malia Elder and plastics researcher Dr. Sherri Mason about bottled water, packaging, environmental racism, and microplastics in drinking water. They examine how plastic particles reach bottled and tap water, why filters or bottled alternatives do not solve the larger problem, and how production, consumption, and waste create unequal burdens. The conversation supports safe, trusted tap water while confronting the environmental footprint of single-use plastic bottles.

Episode Guests: Dr. Sherri Mason and Malia Elder

Find more information about Dr. Mason here and browse her publications on Research Gate.

More information about the episode and Something in the Water here.

Episode transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted by Elena Berg

Written and produced by Elena Berg and Clark Marchese

Audio Editing by Clark Marchese

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Breaking Down Plastic: Chemical Recycling

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 06:30:32 GMT

Chemical recycling is useful, but not a cure-all. Chemical engineer Dr. Julia Vogel of Germany’s Federal Environment Agency breaks down solvolysis, pyrolysis, liquefaction, and gasification, including what each process does and what it produces. She compares chemical recycling with mechanical recycling while explaining why the two are designed for different inputs and outcomes. The episode examines energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, technical limits, and the circumstances in which chemical recycling might supplement other forms of plastic waste management.

Episode Guests: Dr. Julia Vogel

More information about Dr. Julia Vogel here

More information about the German Federal Environmental Agency and Chemical Recycling here.

Find Dr. Vogel’s article on chemical recycling here

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Trivia Question: Which of the following is an active volcano on Antarctica

Mount Terror
Mount Erebus
Mount Everest
Mount Murphy

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Plastic is a Climate Issue

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 06:25:15 GMT

Plastic production carries a hidden climate cost. Sustainability researcher Dr. Livia Cabernard explains how greenhouse gas emissions accumulate across the plastic lifecycle, with particular attention to coal-powered manufacturing and the movement of production into carbon-intensive economies. Revealing how consumption in wealthier countries can outsource plastic production emissions elsewhere shows why downstream waste statistics tell only part of the story. This episode connects plastic and climate change through plastic lifecycle emissions, global supply chains, and the policy choices that shape production.

Episode Guests: Dr. Livia Cabernard

More information about Livia Cabernard here

Find Dr. Cabernard’s article on plastic and emissions here

Find more of Dr. Cabernard’s articles here.

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plastic Poems: Albatross, Atomic Bombs, and Autobiography

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 05:09:53 GMT

Plastic poetry makes an invisible crisis personal. Poet and author Allison Cobb discusses Plastic: An Autobiography, a work that connects plastic with war, wildlife, industry, waste, and the intimate details of everyday life. Their conversation explores how environmental literature can hold scientific, historical, political, and emotional truths at once. This episode offers a creative route into plastic pollution, showing how poetry and environmental storytelling can reveal relationships that conventional environmental communication often misses.

Episode Guests: Allison Cobb

More information about Allison Cobb here

Find Allison’s book, Plastic: An Autobiography here

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thailand, Malaysia, and the Global Economy of Plastic Waste

Wed, 29 May 2024 05:21:45 GMT

Plastic waste crosses borders, but its burdens do not. Environmental policy researcher Dr. Danny Marks and sustainability expert Dr. Chen Hui Ling speak about the multibillion-dollar global plastic waste trade. Using Thailand and Malaysia as case studies, they examine why wealthy countries export plastic waste, how financial incentives sustain the system, and why receiving communities bear unequal environmental and social costs. The episode connects plastic pollution in Southeast Asia with environmental justice and the policies needed to make producers and exporting countries more accountable.

Episode Guests: Dr. Danny Marks and Dr. Hui Ling

Find Dr. Marks’ publications on Research Gate

Find Dr. Chen Hui Ling’s publications on Research Gate

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plastic and Human Health: What We Do and Do Not Know

Wed, 22 May 2024 05:00:08 GMT

Plastic and human health remain full of unknowns. Dr. Sarah Dunlop, Dr. Bhedita Seewoo, and Dr. Louise Goodes explain the Plastics and Human Health Map, which organizes existing research on plastics, associated chemicals, and health outcomes. The project reveals not only what has been studied, but also major gaps in substances, populations, and stages of the plastic lifecycle. Host Clark Marchese explores the health effects of microplastics and plastic chemicals while showing why uncertainty should guide better research and policy, without turning incomplete evidence into definitive medical claims.

Episode Guests:

Dr. Sarah Dunlop on LinkedIn and publications on Research Gate

Dr. Bhedita Seewoo on LinkedIn and publications on Research Gate

Dr. Louise Goodes on LinkedIn and publications on Research Gate

Plastic Human Health Map here

Learn more about the Minderoo Foundation here.

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Plastic Diet: Microplastics in Food Stuffs

Wed, 15 May 2024 05:00:01 GMT

Microplastics are already part of the human diet. Marine biologist Dr. Sedat Gündoğdu explains how researchers detect microplastics in seafood, salt, spirulina, canned foods, and other everyday products. Following the different routes by which microplastics enter food we examine what scientists know, and still do not know, about human exposure and health. Rather than offering alarmist dietary advice, the episode places microplastics in food within the larger systems of packaging, air pollution, water contamination, and plastic production.

Episode Guest: Dr. Sedat Gündoğdu

Browse his publications on Research Gate .

Mikroplastik.org for more research on microplastics

Plastic People Documentary Trailer on Youtube

Dr. Sedat Gündoğdu’s book, Plastic Waste Trade, A New Colonialist Means of Pollution Transfer

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plastic for Posterity: Museum Studies x Polymer Chemistry

Wed, 08 May 2024 07:00:57 GMT

Museum plastics reveal how polymers age and fail. Polymer chemist Dr. Yvonne Shashoua of the National Museum of Denmark explains how conservators care for plastic artifacts, including spacesuits, wartime objects, and dolls, while studying the chemical processes that cause them to crack, discolor, or release additives. She connects museum conservation with the wider environmental problem of plastic degradation. This unusual meeting of polymer chemistry, plastic conservation, and cultural heritage shows what carefully observed objects can teach us about the long life of plastic.

Episode Guest: Dr. Yvonne Shashoua

Browse her publications on Research Gate .

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sea Turtles and Plastic Straws

Wed, 01 May 2024 07:05:22 GMT

One sea turtle video changed the plastic debate. Marine conservation biologist Dr. Christine Figgener reflects on filming the 2015 removal of a plastic straw from a sea turtle’s nose and the global anti-straw movement that followed. She discusses sea turtle research, the broader problem of sea turtle plastic pollution, and the difficult balance between science and activism. The episode asks what a powerful symbol can accomplish, what single-use plastic campaigns leave unresolved, and how public attention can support broader ocean conservation.

Episode Guest: Dr. Christine Figgener

Browse her publications on Research Gate .

Follow Dr. Figginer on Instagram

Pre-order My Life with Sea Turtles by Christine Figgener

Find the viral video of the turtle and the straw on YouTube

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plastic Art: History and Activism

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 07:30:45 GMT

Plastic transformed art before artists challenged it. Artist and art historian Dr. Johannis Tsoumas traces how synthetic materials expanded access, color, and experimentation in twentieth-century art, then became tools for protest against consumerism and plastic pollution. This episode explores acrylic paint, Pop Art, upcycled materials, and contemporary artists who use discarded plastic to make environmental problems visible. The result is a cultural history of plastic art that connects artistic innovation with environmental art and art activism.

Episode Guest: Dr. Johannis Tsoumas

Browse his publications on Google Scholar and view some of his art here.

Find the artwork discussed today using this link

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Truth About Biodegradable Plastics

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 07:30:30 GMT

Biodegradable plastic does not simply disappear. Environmental biologist Dr. Winnie Courtene-Jones explains why bioplastics and biodegradable plastics are not the same, and why degradation depends on the material, additives, microbes, temperature, and surrounding environment. This episode examines where these alternatives may be useful, where greenwashing creates false expectations, and how their impacts can resemble those of conventional plastics. This evidence-based guide to biodegradable plastics, bioplastics, and microplastic pollution cuts through labels without treating every alternative as either a miracle solution or a failure.

Episode Guest: Dr. Winnie Courtene-Jones

Browse their publications on Research Gate

More information on alternative plastics and the UN Treaty

More information on Scientist’s Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty. Follow them on LinkedIn for policy briefs!

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is a Zero Waste City?

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 07:30:05 GMT

Zero waste cities change systems, not just habits. Jack McQuibban of Zero Waste Europe joins host Clark Marchese to explain how cities can prevent waste before it is created, improve reuse and collection systems, and make producers more responsible for the materials they sell. The conversation separates zero waste from the unrealistic idea of producing no waste at all, while showing why local policy and community participation matter. Learn how circular economy principles, producer responsibility, and systemic waste reduction can help cities move beyond an endless dependence on disposal and recycling.

Episode Guest: Jack McQuibban

More information about Zero Waste Europe here

Further reading about zero waste cities here:

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Global Microplastics Database

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 07:30:51 GMT

A global microplastics database maps the unseen. Marine researcher Abby Barrows explains how scientists and citizen scientists collected water samples to compare microplastic concentrations across locations around the world. The episode explores what counts as a microplastic, how these particles move through water systems, what the data can and cannot tell us about harm, and why consistent measurement matters. The conversation offers a grounded look at microplastics research, marine pollution data, and the role of citizen science in documenting a problem that reaches far beyond the ocean.

Episode Guest: Abby Barrows

More information on Abby’s Website

Browse publications on ResearchGate

More information about Adventure Scientists

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Brief History of Plastic

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 07:30:13 GMT

Plastic began as a solution, not a crisis. Polymer chemist and science historian Dr. Seth Rasmussen trace the history of plastic from early substitutes for scarce animal materials to the mass-produced polymers that reshaped modern life. They explore why plastics were invented, how their uses and reputation changed, and why a material designed for durability became central to a disposable economy. This origin story provides essential context for understanding plastic production, polymer chemistry, and the systemic roots of plastic pollution.

Episode Guest: Dr. Seth Rasmussen.

Browse his publications on ResearchGate

More information about the episode and the Plastic Podcast

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.

Theme music by Tadeo Cabellos

Other SFX sourced royalty free

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plastic Podcast Trailer

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 16:53:53 GMT

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.