How not to make a climate science podcast
After listening to two episodes of the How We Survive podcast, I’m willing to give Molly Wood the benefit of the doubt. I think her heart is in the right place. But the intent isn’t coming through, and I can explain exactly why.
The podcast most often lets the incorrect ideas go first. That way there’s some tension, a story arc, and a payoff when the truth comes in at the end. This is a terrible way to fight disinformation. The people making up stories about old Native American stories aren’t trying to convince people, they’re trying to confuse people. As pointed out in the show, there’s no way to verify if the claims about language are true, and most likely no one’s going to do an archaeological study to verify the tale. Giving the claims any oxygen is just playing right into their plan. Anyone who listens to this episode is going to come away wondering: Maybe it’s true? And since we can’t verify it one way or the other, now it’s just a nagging doubt that will always hang over the project. And those doubts sap the morale of the people fighting for the lithium mine. You just did the enemy’s job for them.
And I want to be clear that those people are our enemies. Ms Wood talks a good game in the intro about how this is a fight for survival. I’m not advocating for violence or anything, but if you believe that, at least oppose the plans of the people who are on the other side of that fight.
As the editor, writer, first-person protagonist etc of the show, there’s no reason to give so much air time to the opposition. They especially don’t have to get edited in first so you can try to rebut later. Basically: stop playing defense. Lead with the truth. You didn’t need that teaser at the end of the second episode that just leaves more doubt, worry, anxiety, confusion about the arc of the story. I know it’s just a normal storytelling trick to keep the audience’s attention, but this isn’t the place for that.
Clarity is more important than dunking on disinformation.
Positivity is more important than a nice story arc.
Truth is more important than dramatic tension.