Important, Not Important

Science for people who give a sh*t. Want to feel better AND unf*ck the world? The 6-time Webby nominee delivers deep conversations with the world's smartest people (scientists, doctors, CEO's, farmers, and more!), and digestible news updates every single week, to help you answer the world's most important question: What can I do?We're talkin' clean energy and coral reefs, COVID vaccines and pediatric cancer research, clean water and carbon capture tech, asteroid deflection and artificial intelligence ethics."A vital service in an era where important truths, outright fiction and mere trivia all compete for your attention.” - Craig Mazin, creator, writer, and executive producer of HBO's ChernobylHosted by Quinn Emmett and produced by Willow Beck

Our guest is Dr. Minmin Yen, the CEO and co-founder of medical startup PhagePro, where she and her team are developing viruses specifically designed to kill bacteria and prevent bacterial infections.Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!

Hi. So you read the IPCC climate change report. Not great, Bob. We get it. Now you want to do something about it. We get that, too. So here’s a re-run of one of our favorite episodes, “What’s the #1 Thing You Can Do To Affect Climate Change?” Enjoy. -- On the mic and down the street, Peter Kalmus, an atmospheric scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Peter wrote a book called Being the Change: Live Well and Spark a Climate Revolution and also he’s got chickens and no longer a motorcycle (BRIAN). Links: Peter Kalmus on Twitter Becycling.life Trump’s Book Club:  Being the Change: Live Well and Spark a Climate Revolution by Peter Kalmus Carbon footprint calculator Citizens Climate Lobby Vipassana Meditation Headspace How to compost Wirecutter’s Best Composter for Kitchen Scraps Quinn Emmett on Twitter Brian Colbert Kennedy on Twitter Intro/outro by Tim Blane Subscribeto our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com! Like and share us on Facebook! Check us on Instagram! F

Our guest is Ariel Waldman, the author of What's It Like in Space? Stories from Astronauts Who've Been There, the founder of Spacehack.org, the global director of Science Hack Day, and a member of the council for NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts. Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!

Our guest is Dawn “Deepsea Dawn” Wright, Ph.D., the Chief Scientist of the Environmental Systems Research Institute (AKA Esri) and a Professor of Geography and Oceanography at Oregon State University.Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!

Our guest is Sean Casten, a scientist, clean energy entrepreneur, and cover band member who is running for Congress in Illinois’ 6th district.Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!

Our guest is Chrissy Houlahan, a candidate for Pennsylvania District 6 on Nov. 6th. Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!

Our guest is Mark Magana, the Founding President & CEO of GreenLatinos, a national coalition of Latino environmental, natural resources, and conservation advocates.Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!

Our guest is Shaughnessy Naughton. She is the President & Founder of 314 Action, an organization founded by members of the STEM community; grassroots supporters and political activists who believe in the power of SCIENCE!Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!

In Episode 34, Quinn & Brian discuss: Electrocuting the S#!t Out of Cancer.Our guest is Theo Roth, an MB/PhD student candidate at UCSF who spends his days running experiments in the Marson Lab, and contributing to kick-ass research like the development of new tools for efficient CRISPR genome engineering in human cells.The topic of this episode is extremely close to us and particularly relevant right now because September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Childhood cancer, unfortunately, only receives 5% of the total federal research funding, which means we need more people like us supporting cancer researchers and hospitals that are working to help children with cancer. So our goal with this episode is to not only explain all of the awesome work that Theo does and how in the hell he electrocutes cancer cells – although we definitely get all up in that – but also to identify some steps you can take RIGHT NOW to support people like Theo who are fighting the good fight and working to eliminate cancer.On

Our guests are Elsa Mengistu and Emelly Villa, two of the young people behind Zero Hour, a movement that is bringing the voices of diverse youth into the conversation on climate and environmental justice. They’re doing incredible things to make this the world they want to (and can) live in – and they’re only 17 and 18!Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!

Our guest is Shantha Ready Alonso, Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries, whose mission is to “educate, equip, and mobilize Christian communities and individuals to protect, restore, and rightly share God's Creation,” focusing on providing support to the vulnerable and marginalized.Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!

In Episode 31, Quinn & Brian ask: Can Texas Go (Clean Energy) Independent?Joining us this week is candidate for Texas district 21, Joseph Kopser. He’s a military vet and clean energy entrepreneur on the hunt for enemy of science Lamar Hunt’s seat.This is the first in our series of conversations with candidates supported by 314 Action, the largest pro-science advocacy organization committed to electing scientists and STEM professionals to public office. Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links: Joseph Kopser on Twitter Kopser for Congress 314 Action Town Hall Project Republicans for Carbon Tax, Fortune magazine Operation Free Rocky Mountain Institute Stealth Power Trump’s Book Club: How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie Quinn Emmett on Twitter Brian Colbert Kennedy on Twitter Intro/outro by Tim Blane Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com! Like and share us on Facebook! Check us on Instagram! Follow us on Twitter!

In Episode 30, Quinn & Brian ask: what’s the business incentive for climate/clean energy action?In light of the Paris Agreement and all the bullshit that’s gone down since, we drafted Will Hackman to be our guest and explain it all. Will’s been a campaign manager for the House and Senate, he’s worked as a marine fisheries conservation advocate, he represented Georgetown University at the UN climate change conference, and he’s an author on various energy, environmental, and climate change topics. He’s also leaving immediately after this call to go to Alaska and potentially never come back. Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links: Will Hackman on Instagram Will on Medium US leading on carbon reduction The Paris Agreement Bank of America and Wells Fargo climate funding  McDonald’s reducing emissions COP24 America’s Pledge We Are Still In ITC tax credit Most effective steps to tackle climate change as an individual Quinn Emmett on Twitter Brian Colbert

In Episode 29, Quinn & Brian ponder the fact that the Pope Has Decided to Defeat Climate Change With His Own Bare Hands. Our guest — Jose Aguto. Jose is the Associate Director of the Catholic Climate Covenant, where he works to lead Catholicism into climate action, which includes building and providing the tools to do so. We’re excited to continue our streak of talking to and hopefully not insulting the last segments of the population that we (desperately) need to get on board with climate action — whatever their beliefs. Cracking this little problem is gonna take every single last one of us, and yes that means you too, Steve.Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links: Jose on Twitter (j/k he’s not on Twitter because he’s smart) Catholic Climate Covenant Catholic Energies Care for Creation Catholic Climate Declaration Pope Francis’ fresh new mixtape aka Laudato Si Trump’s Book Club: The Imitation of Christ Quinn Emmett on Twitter Brian Colbert Kennedy on T

In Episode 28, Quinn & Brian ask: why the hell is space exploration important when the planet is literally on fire?To answer that, they’ve brought on The Space Gal, Emily Calandrelli. And boy does she set the record straight.Emily is an MIT-engineer turned Emmy-nominated science host on TV and online, and she’s also a children’s book author.Join us as we discuss the history of space exploration, what she’d do as NASA administrator/dictator, and her own upbringing in West Virginia.Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links: Emily Calandrelli “The Space Gal” on Twitter NASA Space Grant Ada Lace Bill Nye Saves The World Trump’s Book Club: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie Quinn Emmett on Twitter Brian Colbert Kennedy on Twitter Intro/outro by Tim Blane Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com! Like and share us on Facebook! Check us on Instagram! Follow us on Twitter! Pin us on Pinterest! Tumble us or whatever the hell you do

In Episode 27, Quinn & Brian ask: what happens when the Atlantic Ocean invades the Arctic Ocean?Our guest: Julia Roberson, vice president of relations for the Ocean Conservancy in Washington D.C. Julia takes complex issues, like one ocean invading another, and makes them real and relevant to human beings, and finally (and most specific for us) helps us act on them. She’s damn funny and way smarter than us, but once again, a gentle reminder: it’s a low, low bar.Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links: Julia Roberson on Twitter Ocean Conservancy on Twitter Tuskfish use TOOLS Bye, lobsters! The Atlantic Ocean is Invading the Arctic Ocean Ocean acidification The great Pacific garbage patch Straws are no bueno Trump Book Club: The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison Quinn Emmett on Twitter Brian Colbert Kennedy on Twitter Intro/outro by Tim Blane Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com! Like and share us on Facebook! Check us on Instagram! Follow us o

In Episode 26, Quinn & Brian ask: what drives a man to give 200 climate speeches to Congress? That's once a week since 2007.Our guest today: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, the junior senator from Rhode Island. We discuss his speeches, his future carbon bill, bi-partisanship, calling bullshit when we see it, Rhode Island’s fossil-fuel lawsuit, and so much more. Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links:  Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on Twitter Sandra Thornton Whitehouse Republicans for Carbon Tax Resilient Rhody Trump’s Book Club: Silent Spring by Rachel Carson Quinn Emmett on Twitter Brian Colbert Kennedy on Twitter Intro/outro by Tim Blane Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com! Like and share us on Facebook! Check us on Instagram! Follow us on Twitter! Pin us on Pinterest! Tumble us or whatever the hell you do on Tumblr! Ok that’s enough good lord

In Episode 25, Quinn & Brian ask: “Middle school physics: Lame, or the first step to being a SUPERHERO?”Our guest today is “The Physics Girl”, Dianna Cowern. She’s hunted for dark matter with MIT and Harvard, worked at GE, and is now one of the world’s most popular science communicators. And holy hell is her enthusiasm contagious.We talk her incredible YouTube channel, being frustrated and Hulking out, Shuri, Wonder Woman, Magic Hour, and more!Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links: The Physics Girl on YouTube The Scully Effect Simone Giertz Tiny Bop Donors Choose Girls Who Code Black Girls Code Geek Dad Trump’s Book Club: Harry Potter Fun Experiments for Kids, from Mommy Poppins (a seriously great parenting resource) Quinn Emmett on Twitter Brian Colbert Kennedy on Twitter Intro/outro by Tim Blane Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com! Like and share us on Facebook! Check us on Instagram! Follow us on Twitter! Pin us on Pinterest! T

In Episode 24, Quinn & Brian ask: when will San Francisco be underwater?On the mic today is the ever-intrepid Molly Peterson, a renowned reporter focusing on the environment and climate change.  Molly’s worked at Southern California Public Radio, ISeeChange, funded by NASA, she's traveled to and reported from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a fellow for the International Women’s Media Foundation, and is now at Pactio, a super-cool new organization supporting independent journalists.Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!Links: Molly Peterson on Twitter Like It or Not: The Water is Coming. Will the Bay Area defend against rising seas or embrace them? Pactio I See Change SF Bay Conservation and Development Commission Pacific Institute Resilient By Design Quinn Emmett on Twitter Brian Colbert Kennedy on Twitter Intro/outro by Tim Blane Subscribe to our newsletter at ImportantNotImportant.com! Like and share us on Facebook! Check us on Ins