Episodes
Feb. 28, 2022
The Cure of a Lifetime
Jafar Tabebordbar was in his early 30’s, living and working as an accountant in Shiraz, Iran, when he became a father. It was 1986, nearly a decade after the 1979 revolution, and Jafar’s muscles were already beginning to whi…
Feb. 25, 2022
Newsletter #266: What gas means in all of this
This week: Gas: the forever bridge fuel Boosters, boosted Megadrought self-awareness Maternal deaths on the rise Your location data, for sale Get more: Get more news, analysis, and Action Steps at newsletter.importantnotimpo…
Feb. 25, 2022
Putin Takes Chernobyl
In 2019, Quinn interviewed his good friend Craig Mazin , writer, producer, and creator of the hit HBO miniseries, Chernobyl , to learn what happened there, and what it means for our energy future. This week, Vladimir Putin d…
Feb. 19, 2022
Newsletter #265: What Sea Level Rise Means
This week: America will see an average of 12 inches of sea level rise by 2050 1 million COVID deaths $1 billion for cover crops Antimicrobial resistance got next Clearview's next steps (to harvest your data) Get more: Get mo…
Feb. 11, 2022
Newsletter #264: Where masks are coming off
This week: Carbon markets are magic and demand to be taken seriously, Michael Mask mandates are ending Food prices up the rise Biden's cancer moonshot IRS FaceTime cancelled Get more: Get more news, analysis, and Action Step…
Feb. 8, 2022
Newsletter #263: Michael Scott on vaccines
This week: Will the EPA's powers be gutted? Don't forget your vaccines for everything else PFAS can't get regulated soon enough Everywhere needs more nurses The database with virtually everyone's most private health info jus…
Jan. 31, 2022
3 Billion Shots
It's been 26 months since so many of us took our kids out of schools, downloaded an app called Zoom, and started videoconferencing our work from our kitchens and sweatpants. For many others, especially the marginalized and t…
Jan. 28, 2022
Newsletter #262: Rihanna has entered the chat
This week: Gas stoves can GTFO Omicron means we still need masks at schools The future of "organic" food Throwing cash at bigger baby brains Pregnancy apps are a data nightmare which is so so great Get more: Get more news, a…
Jan. 21, 2022
Newsletter #261: How to market climate change
This week: How to market climate change to the people Here come the masks - are they enough? What's "enough"? Kids EBT food on the wane Expanding the blood donor pool The IRS wants your selfie (or do they?) Get more: Get mor…
Jan. 14, 2022
Newsletter #260: What "Mild" COVID Really Means
This week: Moving on from Machin; What "mild" COVID really means; How China's going plant-based; How exercise defeats anxiety; This is what happens when old senators misunderstand new tech Get more news, analysis, and Action…
Dec. 21, 2021
129. Indigenous DNA
In Episode 129 , Quinn tries to better understand data privacy, data stewardship, and what it means for Indigenous cultures in the future of biotech, how we design equity into genetic research, and who gets to make those dec…
Dec. 13, 2021
Issue #258: What Omicron Means For You
This week: Biden's executive orders; What Omicron means for you; The future of coffee farmer migration; Telehealth lobbying on the rise; China's queer internet is being erased Find links and Action Steps from this newsletter…
Dec. 7, 2021
So We Can’t Just Blow Up Asteroids, Then?
Yes, we all know that the 1998 Michael Bay flick Armageddon is a masterpiece of cinema, but two years ago we asked ourselves this question: How much does it actually hold up as a blueprint for preventing planetary destructio…
Dec. 6, 2021
Issue #257: McDonald’s Is Lying To You
This week: McDonald’s isn’t trying; Biden’s test plan had to be better; Plant-based meat math is obvious; We need more biotech data scientists; We need less crime prediction software Find links from this newsletter and more …
Nov. 29, 2021
128. The Best Olive Oil You’ve Never Had
In Episode 128 , Quinn unpacks the most delicious olive oil in the world , how it came to be, and what it means to start a food business in the age of climate change. Our guest is Aishwarya Iyer , dreamer, doer, and eternal …
Nov. 22, 2021
Issue #256: Alexa. Knows. Everything.
This Week: Is there a green bubble?; Can you get a booster?; Where to find clean water; Why health workers are quitting; Amazon’s privacy nightmare Find links from this newsletter and more at newsletter.importantnotimportant…
Nov. 22, 2021
127. How To Innovate
In Episode 127 , Quinn wants to know just how the hell “innovation” actually works. His guest is Christopher Mims, a journalist for the Wall Street Journal, who’s spent a career asking big questions about the most pressing t…
Nov. 16, 2021
126. Climate Tech $ Above The Fold
In Episode 126 , Quinn meets his newsletter heroes: Kim Zou & Sophie Purdom , co-founders of the independent media outlet Climate Tech VC. Kim works with Energy Impact Partners, a venture capital firm investing in climate te…
Nov. 15, 2021
Issue #255: It’s My Birthday, Let’s Ban Coal
This Week: China takes on methane; Moderna's downturn; Inflated food costs; Measles on the rebound; Google's new drug company Find links from this newsletter and more at newsletter.importantnotimportant.com Got feedback? Ema…
Nov. 8, 2021
125. Elevating Climate Venture Capital
In Episode 125 , Quinn asks: How can venture capital offer solutions to two of the biggest problems of our time? His guests are Vida Asiegbu and Anthony Oni, two incredible climate venture capitalists with Elevate Future Fun…
Nov. 5, 2021
Issue #254: Delete Your (Face)Book
This week: Checking in on COP; How is this still happening?; An Impossible evaluation; Digitizing Medicade; Facebook is deleting your face; Did Big Oil lie in front of Congress? Find links from this newsletter and more at im…
Nov. 1, 2021
Issue #253: Here’s The Deal
This Week: Biden's agreement, revealed; Why vaccinating kids matters for everyone; Plant-based meat emissions questioned; Public health's original sin; Fixing Facebook Find links from this newsletter and more at importantnot…
Nov. 1, 2021
124. Birth Control 2.0
In Episode 124 , Quinn interviews Dr. Elizabeth Ruzzo , a brilliant human geneticist who left the world of academia to launch adyn , her effort to help women find the best birth control for their unique bodies. Family planni…
Oct. 25, 2021
Newsletter #252: What Comes After Manchin
This Week, Summarized: Moving on from Manchin; Kids shots; Forever chemicals regulated (finally); Google vs. Iran Get Action Steps and more at newsletter.importantnotimportant.com Got feedback? Email us at questions@importan…