This week, Plastic Podcast is handing over the microphone to Pine Forest Media's new series South Pole to talk about Plastic in Antarctica.

Join us on "South Pole," where host Clark Marchese explores the unexpected presence of plastic in Antarctica. Today's guest, Dr. Clara Manno, a marine ecologist at the British Antarctic Survey, discusses the extensive pollution reaching even the most remote ecosystems. Learn about the various forms of plastic infiltrating the Antarctic environment, their pathways, and the profound impacts on local wildlife and ecological functions. This episode highlights the urgent need for global cooperation to tackle plastic pollution and preserve Antarctica's pristine nature. Tune in to uncover how interconnected our actions are with the health of remote ecosystems and what we can do to mitigate our environmental footprint.

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.

In this week's episode of the Plastic Podcast, where we dive deep into the interplay between environmental psychology and plastic use, focusing on Indonesia. Join us as we explore the PISCES project with Dr. Anastasia Voronkova from the University of Plymouth. We'll unravel how psychology can help modify behaviors around plastic consumption, delve into Indonesia’s unique challenges with waste banks and religious practices, and discover what the West can learn from the majority world about managing plastic waste. Dr. Voronkova sheds light on how environmental psychology can provide insights into our relationship with plastic, influencing policies and practices to better tackle this pervasive issue.

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.

In this thought-provoking episode of the Plastic Podcast, host Clark Marchese and guest expert Rachel Karasik delve into a comprehensive life cycle assessment of plastic, exploring its impacts from production to disposal. They discuss not only the environmental and health damages associated with each stage of plastic's journey but also the often overlooked economic benefits that contribute to its pervasive use. Through detailed analysis, they uncover how plastic's lifecycle impacts various populations differently, emphasizing the need for policies that address these inequalities. This episode illuminates the complex interplay between economic gains and public health costs in the world of plastic, making a strong case for more informed and intentional use of this ubiquitous material. Join us as we navigate the intricate pathways of plastic’s lifelong impact on human health and role in our economy.

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.

In this episode of the Plastic Podcast, host Clark Marchese dives deep into the impact of plastic in our soil. Joined by experts Dr. Xuejun Liu and Dr. Kai Wang from China Agriculture University, the discussion explores the presence and effects of microplastics and nanoplastics in agricultural soils. We delve into the sources of plastic pollution, the current state of research, and the unanswered questions that drive future investigations.

Dr. Liu and Dr. Wang share insights from their studies on how plastics affect soil health, agricultural yields, and even the tiny earthworms and bacteria that play crucial roles in nutrient cycling. Learn about the complexities of detecting microplastics, the potential risks to human health through the food chain, and the ongoing efforts to develop biodegradable plastics as a solution.

Discover how this pervasive issue of plastic pollution in soil is being tackled and the importance of continued research in this field. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the hidden impacts of plastics beneath our feet.

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.

This week Plastic Podcast is handing the microphone over to its sister podcast Something in the Water, hosted by Elena Berg, who discusses plastic and drinking water in episode 2 of the 10-part mini series.

In this episode of "Something in the Water," host Elena Berg tackles the pressing issue of plastic pollution, focusing on the bottled water industry's environmental footprint. Featuring insights from anti-plastic activist Malia Elder and plastics researcher Dr. Sherri Mason. Dr. Mason reveals her research finding plastic in our drinking water. Malia explains the social justice implications of plastic production and waste, and how these issues intersect with water consumption. The episode serves as a wake-up call that the bottled water industry is only one of many industries contributing to the plastic problems at hand and stresses the need for wide scale systemic change.

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.

In this episode of Plastic Podcast, host Clark Marchese delves into the intricate world of chemical recycling with Dr. Julia Vogel, a chemical engineer from the German Federal Environmental Agency. They explore the nuances of chemical recycling, its comparison to mechanical recycling, the different methods of chemical recycling and their different outputs, and its potential role in the future of plastics management. This informative discussion breaks down complex recycling methods like pyrolysis, gasification, and solvolysis in a way that's accessible to all listeners.

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

1. Mount Terror
2. Mount Erebus
3. Mount Everest
4. Mount Murphy

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

In this episode of Plastic Podcast, host Clark Marchese delves into the intricate relationship between plastics and climate change with Dr. Livia Cabernard, a sustainability expert from the Technical University of Munich. They explore how the lifecycle of plastics, especially those powered by coal, significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Through a detailed discussion, Dr. Cabernard unveils how shifts in global production to coal-based economies exacerbate climate impacts and discusses potential policy measures that could mitigate these effects. The conversation also touches on the social and economic dimensions of plastic production, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive strategies that address both environmental and human factors. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the complex interplay between our material choices and global climate challenges.

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.

In this episode, host Clark Marchese delves into the world of poetry and plastic with guest Allison Cobb, author of "Plastic: An Autobiography." Exploring the intersections between environmental activism and creative expression, the discussion uncovers how poetic perspectives can deepen our understanding of plastic’s pervasive presence and its impact on the environment. Cobb shares her unique approach to environmental issues through poetic narratives, revealing connections between plastic pollution, historical events, and personal experiences. By integrating themes of war, wildlife, and wastefulness, Cobb's work serves as a catalyst for broader environmental consciousness and action. Join us as we explore how creativity and environmental responsibility can coexist in the pursuit of sustainable solutions.

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.