Home Podcasts America Adapts the Climate Change Podcast
America Adapts the Climate Change Podcast

America Adapts the Climate Change Podcast

Doug Parsons 253 Episodes Oct 7, 2026

A changing climate presents humanity with only one option: adapt. Join your host, Doug Parsons for America's leading podcast on climate change - America Adapts! Each episode, Doug sits down with scientists, activists, policymakers, and journalists to discuss the tough questions facing this country and the world as we confront humanity's greatest challenge. Question your assumptions, refresh your perspective, and become part of the climate movement that will determine our planet's future, right here on the America Adapts podcast.

Episodes

We Went to Climate Week: Three Takes on Adaptation, Resilience and New York
We Went to Climate Week: Three Takes on Adaptation, Resilience and New York Oct 7, 2026 42:21 In episode 262 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons heads to Climate Week NYC and compares notes with two fellow adaptation professionals who were also on the ground: Shaun Martin of World Wildlife Fund and Andreana Chou of AECOM. Instead of a traditional interview, the three take turns asking each other questions about what they saw, heard, and learned during one of the world's largest climate
Recovery Is Adaptation: Rebuilding After Wildfire
Recovery Is Adaptation: Rebuilding After Wildfire Sep 20, 2026 01:32:56 In this special episode of America Adapts (261), host Doug Parsons explores an often-overlooked part of climate adaptation: what happens after disaster strikes. Through the recovery from the Los Angeles wildfires, Doug talks with disaster recovery experts, a community leader who survived the fires, and researchers examining remediation, rebuilding, worker safety, and the risks faced by immigrant
Extreme Heat, Beavers, and Rethinking How We Tell the Climate Story — with PBS's Miles O'Brien
Extreme Heat, Beavers, and Rethinking How We Tell the Climate Story — with PBS's Miles O'Brien Sep 8, 2026 40:49 In episode 260 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons talks with veteran science journalist Miles O'Brien, host of the new PBS series Resolve to Solve with Miles O'Brien. Doug and Miles explore how Phoenix and Sydney, Australia, are confronting extreme heat, from redesigned playgrounds and urban shade to fascinating research on how heat actually affects the human body. Then it's beavers—yes, be
Summer Grab Bag: No, Disasters Aren't "Natural" + Microinfrastructure, Heat and Adaptation Lessons from the Global South
Summer Grab Bag: No, Disasters Aren't "Natural" + Microinfrastructure, Heat and Adaptation Lessons from the Global South Aug 24, 2026 28:54 In episode 259 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons brings together two conversations for an end-of-summer adaptation grab bag. First, Doug talks with Anita Van Breda of World Wildlife Fund about why we should stop using the term "natural disaster." Anita explains the distinction between natural hazards and disasters, and how choices about development, vulnerability, and the environment shape
Beyond Adaptation Plans: Measuring Success in the Next Era of Federal Climate Adaptation
Beyond Adaptation Plans: Measuring Success in the Next Era of Federal Climate Adaptation Aug 3, 2026 42:35 In episode 258 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons speaks with Dr. Bryan Hubbell, Senior Fellow at Resources for the Future and former EPA research leader, about how climate adaptation can move from good intentions to measurable results. Drawing on nearly three decades at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Bryan reflects on EPA's often-overlooked role in advancing adaptation across pub
Extreme Heat: The Deadliest Climate Hazard Is Also the Most Invisible with Dr. Ladd Keith
Extreme Heat: The Deadliest Climate Hazard Is Also the Most Invisible with Dr. Ladd Keith Jul 20, 2026 37:59 In episode 257 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons speaks with Dr. Ladd Keith, associate professor of planning at the University of Arizona and one of the world's leading experts on extreme heat adaptation. As Europe endures another deadly heat wave, Doug and Ladd explore why heat remains the deadliest—and one of the most overlooked—climate hazards. They discuss Arizona's progress in reducing
The Greatest Story Never Told: Making Climate Adaptation Visible
The Greatest Story Never Told: Making Climate Adaptation Visible Jul 6, 2026 01:35:09 In this special episode of America Adapts (256), host Doug Parsons brings together leading voices from journalism, filmmaking, philanthropy, research, and climate practice to explore one of the biggest challenges facing climate adaptation: how do we communicate it? These conversations, sparked by a communications panel at the National Adaptation Forum, examine why adaptation remains "the greates
How Football (soccer!) Plans to Adapt to a Hotter World
How Football (soccer!) Plans to Adapt to a Hotter World Jun 22, 2026 39:32 In episode 255 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons speaks with Elliot Arthur-Worsop, founder and director of Football for Future, about how the world's most popular sport can become a powerful platform for climate adaptation and communication. Elliot shares how his organization is engaging clubs, players, governing bodies, and fans while expanding the football climate conversation beyond sust
Meet the Adapters: Conversations from the National Adaptation Forum
Meet the Adapters: Conversations from the National Adaptation Forum Jun 8, 2026 01:09:43 In episode 254 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons heads to the National Adaptation Forum to meet some of the people shaping the future of climate adaptation. With help from guest interviewers Shaun Martin of WWF and documentary filmmaker and podcaster Olga Loginova, Doug speaks with leaders working in public health, urban forestry, climate communications, sports, Indigenous engagement,
The FOMO Problem: Why Climate Adaptation Still Isn't Scaling with Shalini Vajjhala
The FOMO Problem: Why Climate Adaptation Still Isn't Scaling with Shalini Vajjhala May 19, 2026 51:34 In episode 253 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons speaks with Dr. Shalini Vajjhala , Executive Director of The Pre-Collective, about why climate adaptation still struggles to scale and whether the real challenge is less about engineering and more about coordination, trust, and financing. Drawing from two recent essays, Shalini discusses her argument that the U.S. is experiencing a "civic di
Need Some Climate Inspiration? Head North to Canada
Need Some Climate Inspiration? Head North to Canada May 4, 2026 53:36 In episode 252 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons travels to the University of New Brunswick in Canada, where he keynoted an undergraduate climate conference bringing together students and faculty to explore a wide range of climate challenges. Doug's conversations with conference organizers Dr. Don Wright and Dr. Dion Durnford focus on how climate issues—particularly climate policy—are being
Climate Adaptation Is Having a Moment—But Are We Ready?
Climate Adaptation Is Having a Moment—But Are We Ready? Apr 20, 2026 51:57 In episode 251 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons speaks with Jamil Wyne, founder of Hazelwood Network, to explore whether climate adaptation is finally moving into the mainstream—or if we're seeing familiar signals that never quite add up. From growing attention in finance, consulting, and platforms like LinkedIn to real-world action in places like Singapore and across emerging markets, ada

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