Episodes
Oct. 15, 2021
Issue #251: Moderna Made How Much?
This week: climate finance exposed; Moderna’s COVID profits are… a lot; beef’s emissions problem examined; startups for aging, and who gets to write the AI Bill of Rights? Find links from this newsletter and more at importan…
Oct. 8, 2021
Issue #250: Bye Malaria
This week: How to reduce methane; America’s out of diapers; COVID questions; A new day against malaria; Food systems examined; How you’re tracked Find links from this newsletter and more at importantnotimportant.com/newslett…
Oct. 4, 2021
The First Black Female Space Pilot
We’re bringing back one of our all-time most popular conversations, and not just because it kicks ass. When this interview was recorded back in 2018, Dr. Sian Proctor was almost an astronaut. Now, in 2021, Dr. Proctor has ju…
Oct. 1, 2021
Issue #249: It's Climate Day in America (I Hope)
This week: It’s Climate Day; How to defeat the next pandemic; Telehealth in red states; Is lab-grown meat a myth; Facebook’s very bad month continues Find links from this newsletter and more at importantnotimportant.com/news…
Sept. 24, 2021
#248: How We Deal With Facebook
This week: Manchin wields a dirty pen; Our new COVID rules; Fighting for expanded telehealth; 200 million climate migrants; Even more trolls Find links from this newsletter and more at importantnotimportant.com/newsletter Go…
Sept. 13, 2021
How We Deal With Drought: From NOVA Now
I’m very excited to share an awesome show with you today, from the fine folks at PBS! God, I love PBS. The show is called “NOVA Now” and I’m a longtime huge fan. This episode is near and dear to the moment we’re in. As the W…
Sept. 10, 2021
Issue #247: Close Your Rings
This week: Solar’s wilding out; $65 billion for the next pandemic; Better, cheaper, more inclusive clinical trials; Protecting farmworkers; Biden’s AI board Find links from this newsletter and more at importantnotimportant.c…
Sept. 3, 2021
Issue #246: Is This The Metaverse?
This week: Climate tech billions; COVID goals; A new hope for neurodegenerative diseases; An IPCC for food; Facial recognition knows no bounds. Find links from this newsletter and more at importantnotimportant.com/newsletter…
Aug. 30, 2021
Mixtape Vol 2: "When was the first time you had the power of change?"
If we're going to make this world a better place, things have to change. That's why we talk with the changemakers who have the power – and the courage – to get things done. We wrap up every conversation with one question mea…
Aug. 27, 2021
Issue #245: Will The Levees Hold?
This week: Wind NIMBY’s; More nurses, stat; Diabetes on the rise; Evictions; Cybersecurity commitments. Find links from this newsletter and more at importantnotimportant.com/newsletter Got feedback? Email us at questions@imp…
Aug. 23, 2021
Mixtape Vol 1: “Why are you vital to the survival of the species?”
Each week we kick off our conversations with the smartest people in the universe with one humble question: “ Why are you vital to the survival of the species?” The responses typically range from laughter, modest denial, to a…
Aug. 20, 2021
Issue #244: These Are The Easy Wins
This week: Operate from a place of self-awareness; God, we are so bad at math; A half-century later; Drive pediatric cancer research; What’s the future of meat work? TikTok misinformation enters the chat. Find links from thi…
Aug. 16, 2021
122. We Are The Algorithm
In Episode 122 , Quinn has big questions about AI ethics and, like many other situations, is left wondering: was Dr. Ian Malcolm right all along? Our guest is Dr. Rumman Chowdury. She is the director of the Machine Ethics Tr…
Aug. 9, 2021
121. QueerBrownVegan
In Episode #121 , Quinn’s got a fantastic new guest to help answer his favorite question: “ What can I do? ” Isaias Hernandez – or, as he’s known pretty much everywhere on the internet, Queer Brown Vegan -- shares the mic to…
Aug. 6, 2021
Issue #242: Facebook's Oil Ads Are Killing Us
This week: 50% isn’t good enough; Facebook fossil fuel ads; How to get shots to Africa; Oysters!?; Why has AI failed to help during COVID? Find links from this newsletter and more at importantnotimportant.com/newsletter Got …
Aug. 4, 2021
120. Welcome to the Discontinuity
In Episode 120 , Quinn discusses retraining our mind to understand and operate in the discontinuity we are in. Let’s get META. HIs guest is Alex Steffen, a longtime climate reporter and futurist, as well as writer of the for…
Aug. 2, 2021
Issue #241: A Different Kind of Thirst Trap, Back to the Mask, Where’s Smokey the Bear when you need him?
This week: FDA got next?; Flooded subways; Delta's a game-changer; Epic (AI) fail; Fire predictions; Food stamp groceries delivered. Find links from this newsletter and more at importantnotimportant.com/newsletter Got feedba…
Aug. 2, 2021
119. How to Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke
In Episode 119 , Quinn asks: what’s in wildfire smoke, what does it do to your body, and how can you stay safe? Our guest is Dr. Mary Prunicki , the director of air pollution and health research at Stanford University under …
July 26, 2021
Introducing "A Matter of Degrees"
I don't have to tell you folks – climate change is the story of our time. There’s been a sharp rise (like last week) in people are anxious, angry, and want action – and the opening for bold climate action has never been wide…
July 23, 2021
Issue #240: The Pizza King of Vaccines, Beef: It’s (Still) for Dinner, Investors on Notice
This week: The climate crisis kicked down the door of the west and global north this week; The Pizza King of Vaccines; Mental health care now available everywhere; The Human-Machine interface; You like drugs, Danny? Find lin…
July 19, 2021
118. F*cking Mosquitoes
In Episode 118 , Quinn discusses: the big mosquito problem . Our guest is Dr. Omar Akbari , one of the world’s pre-eminent biotechnology and mosquito researchers. For how afraid people are of sharks, mountain lions, or even …
July 16, 2021
Issue #239: Go to Farmers’ Markets, Climate Reparations, Held Hostage by Hackers
This week: deep breath; COVID all around the world; there are two Americas and it’s obvious why; the global hungry jump to 768 million; call your doctor!; money for nothing; held hostage by hackers. Find links from this news…
July 12, 2021
117. Keep ‘em Accountable
In Episode 117 , Quinn discusses: how accountability works – and doesn’t – in the climate movement, how you can get involved, and how the best in the world are doing it. Our guests are Mary Annaïse Heglar and Amy Westervelt …
July 9, 2021
Issue #238: Seattle in the Oven, Vaccine Money Grab, Building Biased Robots
This week: To understand Africa, look to India -- or not; Reverse course; Don’t believe everything you read -- especially Best Buy food labels; New headline, who dis? Find links from this newsletter and more at importantnoti…