Planet Philadelphia

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Environmental radio with a civic backbone.

The gist

Planet Philadelphia treats environmental news as a civic systems story, not a niche science beat. Kay Wood and Linda Rosenwein bring guests into patient conversations about climate policy, public lands, fungi, sustainability, and community-scale change.

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About Planet Philadelphia

Planet Philadelphia is an environmental interview show rooted in Philadelphia community radio. It treats the environment as a web of public health, law, energy, land, biology, infrastructure, and power. The format is direct. Kay Wood and Linda Rosenwein introduce a topic, bring in a guest, and let the conversation build through careful questions rather than spectacle. Recent episodes range widely, from women's climate leadership to Pennsylvania environmental law, from public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management to the underground networks of mycorrhizal fungi. The show is not limited to one beat. It moves comfortably between local concerns and planetary systems. One conversation follows how gas distribution, transit funding, and greenhouse gas rules might work in Pennsylvania. Another asks how iNaturalist data can help track invasive species, rare species, and changes driven by climate change. A mycology episode turns soil life into an ecological and political subject. A sustainability episode gives a high school student space to describe cobalt mining, fast fashion, fishing, and the challenge of staying hopeful. The tone is earnest but not soft. Planet Philadelphia expects listeners to care about process, evidence, and public pressure. It also accepts that some issues require patient explanation. Guests are often asked to start with who they are, then to translate specialized work into terms a general audience can follow. That rhythm gives the show an unusually generous feel. It is educational radio with a civic backbone. The recurring question is not only what is going wrong, but who is working on it and what levers exist. Climate change is central, but the show keeps widening the frame to justice, biodiversity, public participation, and practical repair. Its best moments come when dense policy or science becomes legible without being flattened. Planet Philadelphia is for listeners who want environmental coverage that respects complexity and still looks for action.

Made for: Planet Philadelphia is for listeners who want careful environmental conversations grounded in science, policy, equity, and local civic action. It especially suits people who prefer patient interviews over quick takes.

What sets it apart: The show connects Philadelphia community radio habits with unusually wide environmental range: law, fungi, public lands, community science, youth sustainability work, and climate justice all sit in the same frame. Its strength is making technical systems feel public and debatable.

In their own words

Planet Philadelphia radio show has been exploring how environmental issues intersect in complex ways in every aspect of society since 2015. We discuss this with national/global experts such as the former first female president of Ireland, a Nobel Laureate, security experts, scientists, filmmakers, politicians, community members, and more. Planet Philadelphia airs 4:00-5:00 PM 1st & 3rd Friday/month on WGGT-LP 92.9 FM in Philadelphia & gtownradio.com. Podcasts of show are available after broadcast.www.planetphiladelphia.com| @planetphila

Why you'd press play

Enhanced geothermal, underground fungi, and Pennsylvania statutes meet Kay Wood's questions before they reach you.

Press play if you want

  • experts translating fungal resource-trading and geothermal drilling into language you can actually follow
  • climate policy with the legal machinery left in, from emissions allowances to Pennsylvania's Environmental Rights Amendment
Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
climate justiceenvironmental lawpublic landsmycorrhizal fungicommunity scienceurban treessustainability

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Podcasts like Planet Philadelphia

Episodes

  1. 1

    Women’s Contributions to Solving the Climate Crisis; Osprey Orielle Lake 4/17/25

    Hidden gem

    ["Osprey Orielle Lake says a one-unit rise in women\u2019s agency is tied to an 11.51% drop in carbon emissions, and she uses that figure to argue women are climate solutions, not just climate victims.", "As founder and executive director of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network, she describes advocacy at UN forums, policy briefs, and reforestation work in the Amazon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Tongass rainforest.", "The interview covers the March 31 Women's Momentum Assembly for a Just Fossil Fuel Phase-Out, the planned conference in Colombia, and Lake\u2019s argument that a just transition has to address reparations, global South debt, and the harms of ongoing extraction.", "She links the care economy, rights of nature, and local projects that pay women to restore forests while protecting water, land, and community livelihoods."]

    Apr 18, 2026·40m·2 clips
  2. 2

    What in the World?! A Sustainability Journey, Magnolia Brown 4/17/26

    Hidden gem

    High school senior Magnolia Brown discusses her new podcast about sustainability and global injustices, inspired by a research project on cobalt mining and child labor.

    Apr 18, 2026·16m·1 clip
  3. 3

    Protecting PA’s Environment Legally, John Dernbach & Robert McKinstry 4/3/26

    Hidden gem

    Planet Philadelphia host Kay Wood interviews environmental lawyers John Dernbach and Robert McKinstry about Pennsylvania's Environmental Rights Amendment and a proposed economy-wide greenhouse-gas rule.

    Apr 4, 2026·47m·3 clips
  4. 4

    Mycology without apology-Toby Kiers 3/20/2026

    Hidden gem

    Planet Philadelphia host Kay Wood and Toby Kears discuss how mycorrhizal networks draw down about 13 billion tons of carbon into soil systems every year.

    Mar 21, 2026·36m·2 clips
  5. 5

    Discovering nature, Alison Young, iNaturalist 3/20/26

    Hidden gem

    Alison Young, director of outreach at iNaturalist, discusses her background in marine biology and community science, and the City Nature Challenge.

    Mar 21, 2026·17m·1 clip
  6. 6

    Björn Embrén, transforming urban trees from sickly to healthy 3/6/26

    Stockholm's first tree officer Björn Embrén discusses his lifelong passion for nature and his extensive experience in urban gardening and tree care.

    Mar 7, 2026·34m
  7. 7

    Joshua Jackson, Forgotten Lands, beauty & importance of our public & BLM lands, 3/6/26

    Hidden gem

    On Planet Philadelphia, Kay Wood and assistant producer reporter Linda Rosenwein talk with Joshua Jackson about the Bureau of Land Management, the Forgotten Lands Project, and his book The Enduring Wild: California's Public Lands.

    Mar 7, 2026·34m·2 clips
  8. 8

    No Miracles Needed, solving the climate crisis, Dr. Mark Z. Jacobson 2/20/2026

    Hidden gem

    ["Planet Philadelphia turns to Dr.

    Feb 21, 2026·47m·3 clips
  9. 9

    Poetry and Nature, Pamela Haines 2/6/2026

    Hidden gem

    Planet Philadelphia airs an interview with Pamela Haynes, an author and poet who says her work is shaped by earth, relationships, integrity, paying attention, and repair.

    Feb 7, 2026·51m·3 clips
  10. 10

    Life Without Cars? Sarah Goodyear 1/16/2026

    Host Kay Wood interviews journalist Sarah Goodyear about her new book 'Life After Cars' and her work on transportation policy and urban design.

    Jan 31, 2026·49m
  11. 11

    Life Without Cars? Sarah Goodyear, 1/16/2026

    Jan 17, 2026·1h
  12. 12

    Devi Ramkissoon, new Chief Sustainability Officer of Montgomery County PA 12/19/25

    Jan 3, 2026·30m
  13. 13

    Courts find human right to a healthy climate, Dr. Maria Antonia Tigre 12/19/25

    Jan 3, 2026·26m
  14. 14

    Feed Us with Trees, author Elspeth Hay 12/5/2025

    Author Elspeth Hay discusses her new book and her lifelong interest in the natural world on the Planet Philadelphia radio show.

    Dec 7, 2025·39m
  15. 15

    Population decline: John Davis, Rewilding Institute 12/5/2025

    Dec 7, 2025·16m
  16. 16

    Threats Of LNG Export Terminal in Southeastern PA, Tracy Carluccio 11/21/25

    Nov 22, 2025·24m
  17. 17

    Climate Change Disinformation & Unethical Behavior; Richard Wiles 11/21/25

    Nov 22, 2025·28m
  18. 18

    Growing Grid Crisis; Ethan Howland, Senior Reporter, Utility Dive 11/7/2025

    Nov 13, 2025·29m
  19. 19

    Solar Panels on School Roofs Save Taxpayer Dollars, Flora Cardoni, PennEnvironment 10/17/2025

    Nov 13, 2025·17m
  20. 20

    Growing Greener will grow more jobs, Richard Damania, World Bank, 10/17/2025

    Nov 13, 2025·36m
  21. 21

    Ocean too hot for plankton, backbone of marine life?, François Ribalet 10/3/2025

    Oct 4, 2025·16m
  22. 22

    Marine energy offers exciting new ways to power our world, Andrea Copping 10/3/25

    Oct 4, 2025·39m
  23. 23

    Here Comes the Sun - Sun Day - Liz Robinson, 9/19/25

    Sep 20, 2025·7m
  24. 24

    Solutions for Conjoined problems of Women and Nature’s Degradation, Katie Surma 9/19/25

    Sep 20, 2025·28m
  25. 25

    Nature for everyone - iNaturalist - Alison Young 9/19/25

    Sep 20, 2025·15m
  26. 26

    PGW’s important settlement with environmental justice activists 9/5/25

    Sep 6, 2025·5m
  27. 27

    Philadelphia Councilmember Jamie Gauthier 9/5/25

    Sep 6, 2025·30m
  28. 28

    Dr. Edgar Stach, Dr. Katie Isselmann DiSantis, Dr. Christopher Pastore, professors at TJU’s Institute for Smart and Healthy Cities. 9/5/25

    Sep 6, 2025·28m
  29. 29

    Eileen Flanagan “Common Ground: How the Crisis of the Earth Is Saving Us from Our Illusion of Separation” 8/15/25

    Aug 17, 2025·38m
  30. 30

    Why our electricity bills are skyrocketing, Linda Rosenwein 7/18/25

    Jul 19, 2025·14m
  31. 31

    Climate Anxiety, Jedidiah Siev, 7/18/25

    Jul 19, 2025·36m
  32. 32

    New non-GHG way to use coal? Dr. Nicola Ferralis, 7/4/25

    Jul 5, 2025·1h
  33. 33

    Urban Watersheds; Drew Rinaldi Subits, 6/20/25

    Jun 21, 2025·23m
  34. 34

    Climate Change & Housing; Dave Braneck, Deutsche Welle (DW) 6/20/25

    Jun 21, 2025·31m
  35. 35

    Is Nuclear The Hot New Clean Power Source? Dr. Brendan Kochunas, U of Michigan 6/6/25

    Jun 7, 2025·43m
  36. 36

    Oliver Bass, Natural Lands Trust, 5/16/25

    May 18, 2025·27m
  37. 37

    Will Caverly, Environmental Justice and Racial Injustice in Southwest Philadelphia, 5/16/25

    May 18, 2025·27m
  38. 38

    Economy and Climate Change; Timothy Neal, 5/2/25

    May 3, 2025·43m
  39. 39

    News and commentary, Linda Rosenwein, 5/2/2025

    May 3, 2025·13m
  40. 40

    Will we be stuck with dirty fossil fuel forever? Mark Harris, 4/4/2025

    Mark Harris discusses the ongoing role of fossil fuels in modern society and the challenges of transitioning to a low-carbon economy.

    Apr 6, 2025·30m
  41. 41

    Buying Solar Power to help with cost and energy mix, Liz Compitello & Elaine Schaefer 4/4/2025

    Host Kay Wood introduces guests Liz Compitello and Elaine Schaefer to discuss solar power purchase agreements as a way to manage energy costs and diversify energy sources.

    Apr 6, 2025·25m
  42. 42

    Joseph Musil, Board of Directors, PA Association of Environmental Professionals

    Mar 8, 2025·18m
  43. 43

    Liz Robinson, Exec Dir. Philadelphia Solar Energy Assn.

    Mar 8, 2025·25m
  44. 44

    Devi Ramkissoon, Exec Dir. Greater Philadelphia Sustainable Business Network

    Mar 8, 2025·28m
  45. 45

    Maya Elson, using fungi to remediate toxins after fires, 2/7/2025

    Feb 8, 2025·29m
  46. 46

    Jordan Gass-Pooré, Hazard NJ” podcast exploring PFAS, 2/7/2025

    Feb 8, 2025·23m
  47. 47

    Using Environmental Economics to Make Change, Dr. Peter B. Meyer, 1/17/2025

    Jan 18, 2025·53m
  48. 48

    Role of Public Pressure in Company Behavior, Ruohao Zhang, Ph.D. 1/3/2025

    Jan 4, 2025·26m
  49. 49

    New batteries store renewable energy & capture carbon. Dr. Ilias Belharouak 1/3/2025

    Jan 4, 2025·16m
  50. 50

    Dr. Wei Zheng & Hongxu Zhou (ISTC), DesignerBiochar 12/20/24

    Dec 21, 2024·17m