The Hypocrite’s Guide to the Galaxy: Muddling Toward a Sustainable Footprint

Is hypocrisy the one thing that can grow infinitely on our finite planet? When you learn that humanity’s fossil fuel burning, including your own, is contributing to climate chaos, what can you do? When you understand that economic growth and consumption are causing habitat loss and the sixth mass extinction, can you opt out? As long as you are embedded in an unsustainable society, it’s hard not to be a hypocrite. At the same time, dropping out seems isolating and ineffective, if you can even do it. Join Jason, Asher, and Rob as they hit the confessional to examine the challenges and psychology of hypocrisy. Originally recorded on 4/23/26.

Sources & Links

• Hassan Fathy
• A Short History of Endurance by Charlotte Del Signore
• Being the Change: Live Well and Spark a Climate Revolution by Peter Kalmus
• Nature’s Best Hope by Doug Tallamy
• Homegrown National Park
• "What Is the Window of Tolerance, and Why Is It So Important?" Psychology Today, May 23, 2022.
• Asher recommends taking 20 minutes to sit down with this worksheet to better understand triggers/signs for when you’re either in hyperarousal (fight/flight) or hypoarousal (freeze).

Related Episodes

• Episode 16, “The 10,000-Mile Cod and Insane Global Trade”

Credits

Production and editing by Alex Leff. Editorial assistance and transcripts by Taylor Antal.

Theme music is “Way Huge” and “Don’t Give Up” by Midnight Shipwrecks, used with permission.

Thanks to all the Crazy Townies, our listeners who are trying to understand humanity's overshoot predicament and do something about it.