Plastic Podcast | Pollution, Policy, and People

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

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

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 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 More on the Louisiana Bucket Brigade More on Rise St. James More on Concerned Citizens of St. John Pine Forest Media Something in the Water episode on plastic 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 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.

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 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 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 More from Dr. Kolade and Ogunde: Find the article that the episode covered here Book: Digital Innovations for a circular plastic economy in Africa Journal article: The environment for a digitally enabled circular plastics economy in Africa: lessons from cross-sectional stakeholder engagements More on PAKAM in Nigeria More on WeCyclers in Nigeria More on Yo-Waste in Uganda 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 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.

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.

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.

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 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’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 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.

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 transcrip t 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.

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

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 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.

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.