355 - Gen Z Says the Climate Crisis Is Worse Than You Think (Here’s Why They’re Still Hopeful)

2026-07-01

Download

Young people today are inheriting a world they didn't design. They're facing a climate crisis, a food system that puts profit before health, and a constant stream of misinformation that can make meaningful change feel impossible. But a new generation of advocates is already stepping up, asking difficult questions and challenging outdated systems. In this episode, we talk with Lucy Whitney and Gianna Klein, recent graduates of NYU and Cornell who studied sustainability, the environment, and the connection between what we eat and the only habitable planet we've got. Through Switch4Good's Campus Action Now program, they're bringing these conversations to college campuses, helping students...

In this episode, we talk with Lucy Whitney and Gianna Klein, recent graduates of NYU and Cornell who studied sustainability, the environment, and the connection between what we eat and the only habitable planet we've got. Through Switch4Good's Campus Action Now program, they're bringing these conversations to college campuses, helping students understand how food choices shape both human and planetary health.

Lucy and Gianna share what sparked their passion for this work, how Gen Z is responding to the climate crisis, why food conversations can feel so personal and complicated, and what gives them hope in a moment when the future feels uncertain.

What we discuss:

How the environment and ecology influence unexpected parts of our everyday lives.
How animal agriculture is contributing to the climate crisis.
How climate change and natural disasters are influencing Gen Z's decisions about the future.
The Campus Action Now program and how they built a movement to bring dairy-free education and advocacy to college campuses.
What service learning is and why it can be such an effective way to create change.
The existential questions that come with being alive during this moment in history.
How AI's increasing electricity demands could impact the transition away from fossil fuels.
How AI is affecting education and the way students learn.