Inconvenient Chats

Welcome 2026! Inconvenient Chats kicks off the new year with a primer conversation about the challenges of growth - or de-growth - and explore its implications for sustainability. If growth requires resources, but we’re running out of them, shouldn’t we be considering all available options? We discuss the lack of mainstream conversation of de-growth and post-growth world, why that may be, and why we should talk about it more.

If you want to give feedback you can write to kaisa@inconvenientchats.com or jan@inconvenientchats.com.

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Last episode before the winter break. In this week's Inconvenient Chats, we explore the complex relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and climate change. We discuss the significant energy consumption of data centres, the environmental impacts of AI, and the challenges of balancing technological advancement with sustainability. How big of a problem is our use of AI for the climate? Has it the potential to become its biggest? And what has that to do with data centres?

If you want to give feedback you can write to kaisa@inconvenientchats.com or jan@inconvenientchats.com.

If you...

This time, we discuss Bill Gates' recent essay on climate change, which sparked significant debate and controversy ahead of COP30. We analyse Gates' main points, the public's reaction, and the implications of his statements. The essay has been irritating (inconvenient, even) for the climate community for obvious reasons, though the fuel among climate denialists was probably an unplanned outcome and perhaps a little inconvenient for Bill Gates himself too. In the end, we ask what is the responsibility of someone so influential, and how much is that even worth debating?

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What is the right way to react when climate reports are signaling we are going in the right direction - big time? The Planetary Boundaries Health Check report reported in September that a 7th boundary out of nine has been breached, and the UNEP Emissions Gap report recently concluded that the world is ‘off-track’ to meet Paris climate targets and well on its way to overshoot 1.5 degrees of warming in 2030. We discuss in today’s episode how gloomy macro-news easily makes one, very understandably so, feel powerless. The risk of avoidance and/or cynicism is real, but also very unprod...

This week is Part II of our first two-parter! And it's an important one (at least for us).

If you have not listened to Part I yet, go there first before returning here (Episode IC9.1).

In this two-parter, we talk about how the constant onslaught of bad news can be overwhelming and which psychological effects on individuals are at play. In Part I, we dive into the concept of 'numbness' in response to constant bad news, the finite pool of attention and the finite pool of worry, and some key barriers of (science) communication. Part...

This week is Part I of our first two-parter! And it's an important one (at least for us).

In this two-parter, we talk about how the constant onslaught of bad news can be overwhelming and which psychological effects on individuals are at play. In Part I, we dive into the concept of 'numbness' in response to constant bad news, the finite pool of attention and the finite pool of worry, and some key barriers of (science) communication. Part II will deal with the importance of hope, agency, and personal responsibility in science and especially climate communication.

This week, we discuss the Earth Overshoot Day, which marks the date when humanity has used up all the resources the Earth can regenerate in a year. We ask ourselves why the day goes unnoticed so easily despite its presumably very alarming message (maybe that’s why?), and what would it require to shoot a bit less over the boundaries of the planet.

If you want to give feedback you can write to kaisa@inconvenientchats.com or jan@inconvenientchats.com.

If you have a topic on your mind that you have always wondered about, send us...

This week, we discuss the dichotomy between two archetypes in environmental discourse: the Wizard, who believes in technological solutions, and the Prophet, who emphasises limits and lifestyle changes. The framework was coined by America journalist and author Charles C. Mann. We discuss why it is helpful to have a small framework as part of the discourse, the implications of each archetype, the need for balance, and the complexities of addressing climate change. The Wizard and the Prophet discussion highlights the importance of understanding different perspectives.

If you want to give feedback you can write to kaisa@inconvenientchats...

Feedback time! Our first feedback session for Inconvenient Chats after the first month of publishing episodes. We chit chat a little, read listener reviews, go through episode feedback, and discuss future topics.

Thanks a lot for all the support out there. You can support us for free by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

If you want to give feedback you can write to kaisa@inconvenientchats.com or jan@inconvenientchats.com.

If you have a topic on your mind that you have always wondered about send us an e-mail as well...

In this episode, we explore the question of whether expertise is necessary to engage in discussions about climate change. We ask ourselves, ‘if climate change is not a matter of opinion, do you need to be an expert to talk about it’? Of course not – every voice is valuable in a subject that affects us all. We discuss how taking part in the conversation and asking questions are actually very important (but we often don’t do that because we’re afraid of not knowing enough), how knowledge and expertise can take multiple forms, and how there is also a certain...

In this episode of Inconvenient Chats, we delve into the complexities of global climate change negotiations, focusing on the role of UN COPs. Ever since the 2015 Paris Agreement, landmark agreements and decisive steps from UN COPs have been few and far between. Do we still need these big conferences? We discuss the historical significance of COPs, their successes and failures, and the ongoing challenges in achieving meaningful climate action.

If you want to give feedback you can write to kaisa@inconvenientchats.com or jan@inconvenientchats.com.

If you have a topic on your mind that...

In this episode, we discuss what ‘inconvenient chats’ actually are. What is the discomfort that often creeps into the discussion when addressing complex topics, especially when it comes to climate change? Why do we feel that, and what does it tell us? What should we think about it?

We talk about our own experiences and reflections leading to choosing this name for the podcast. Elements we touch upon include the polarization of discussions, the importance of resisting the urge to find simple solutions, and the (paradoxical) beauty of opening up for inconvenient discussion. Ultimately, discomfort often indicates that...

In this episode of Inconvenient Chats, we delve into the topic of what freedom means, particularly in the context of rising right-wing authoritarianism and the challenges faced by liberal democracies. We explore the different interpretations of freedom, the importance of debate in democratic societies, and the need to defend the true meaning of freedom against authoritarian narratives. We also emphasise the significance of individual values and the collective responsibility to uphold democratic principles.

If you want to give feedback you can write to kaisa@inconvenientchats.com or jan@inconvenientchats.com.

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In this episode of Inconvenient Chats, we discuss the significance of precise language in discussions and the interconnections and differences between various ecological crises – and the importance of understanding planetary crises in a broader context and the role of environmental literacy in fostering meaningful discussions.

If you want to give feedback you can write to kaisa@inconvenientchats.com or jan@inconvenientchats.com.

If you have a topic on your mind that you have always wondered about, send us an e-mail with your topic recommendation and we’ll make it less inconvenient for all of you.

In this inaugural episode of Inconvenient Chats, we delve into the concept of false balance in science communication, particularly in the context of climate change. We discuss how false balance misrepresents scientific consensus potentially leading to inaction. We explore the implications of false balance on democracy and the trust in institutions.

If you want to give feedback you can write to kaisa@inconvenientchats.com or jan@inconvenientchats.com.

If you have a topic on your mind that you have always wondered about send us an e-mail as well with topic recommendations and we’ll make it...

Climate change is real, accelerating, and profoundly urgent - yet the world isn’t changing quickly or deeply enough. In our experience, many important conversations are being avoided, maybe unintentionally. They're inconvenient: messy, emotionally charged, a little uncomfortable, ideologically polarized, or simply complex. This is why we have started Inconvenient Chats, our podcast to create room for some of these conversations – not with all the answers, but with honest questions. We believe that if something makes you uncomfortable, that’s often a sign it’s worth exploring.

If you want to give feedback you can write to kaisa@in...