Climate Episodes

Chris Clarke dives into the dangers of extreme heat in desert environments, offering crucial safety tips for hikers, bikers, and climbers. He contrasts these recreational challenges with the dire realities faced by incarcerated individuals, outdoor laborers, and migrants who endure heat with limited options. Clarke highlights notable cases of heat-related deaths and the disparities in media coverage.

Chris Clarke examines the concept of desertification and its historical and ideological roots. The episode distinguishes between genuine ecological degradation and the misconception that deserts are inherently damaged landscapes. Highlighting insights from geographer Diana K. Davis, it challenges colonial narratives and emphasizes respecting deserts as vibrant ecosystems. Clarke argues for precise language in addressing environmental issues, advocating for proactive desert conservation. The episode concludes with a call to recognize June 17 as Desert Protection Day.

Chris Clarke reflects on the fifth anniversary of the Dome Fire, which devastated over 44,000 acres of the Joshua Tree forest in the Mojave National Preserve. The episode explores themes of loss, recovery, and environmental impact, as Clarke recounts his personal connection to the area and its transformation post-fire.

Summer monsoons shape life across the deserts of the Southwest, bringing relief from extreme heat and sustaining plants and wildlife. This episode explores how the North American Monsoon works, why it varies from year to year, and what scientists are learning about its future in a changing climate.

The world's leading climate report contains thousands of pages, yet deserts often receive surprisingly little attention. This episode examines how the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change addresses arid lands, what was overlooked, and why deserts deserve a much larger role in conversations about climate change and adaptation.

For generations, the American West has relied on the assumption that water could always be found somewhere. That era is ending. This episode examines drought, the Colorado River, and the changing realities of water management across the Southwest, asking what the future of desert communities will look like as water becomes increasingly scarce.

Cima Dome was once home to the world's largest Joshua tree forest—until the 2020 Dome Fire transformed the landscape. This episode tells the story of one of the Mojave Desert's most iconic places, the fire that changed it forever, and the surprising signs of renewal now emerging across the burned landscape. It's a story about resilience, ecological change, and hope.