Mothers of Invention

Climate change is a man-made problem with a feminist solution! Join former Irish President Mary Robinson and comedian Maeve Higgins in this uplifting and fascinating new podcast, and meet a host of game-changing women fighting to save all our lives.

Two Grow Wild in the City 09/09/2020

Two Grow Wild in the City Do you do a sad face when you see a big grey space in the town centre where a tall green tree should be? Well this episode is for you. Maeve is on (another) mission - this time to green up her home, and not just for cleaner air but for climate and racial justice too. But how easy is that in New York City? And what can all of us do, no matter where we are, to make it happen? Maeve attempts to plant her very own tree on the street and Thimali meets the amazing urban gardener Ena K. McPherson. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/15932786

Universal Language 09/02/2020

Universal Language This late into the climate crisis, it’s now time for us to embrace adaptation as a solution, as communities reconsider the fight for their ancestral homes. We welcome Mary’s friend, Ursula Rakova, executive director of Tulele Peisa on the Carteret Islands, who is helping almost its entire population migrate to safe land. And Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy, Colette Pichon-Battle of Louisiana, USA who unpacks her work amongst local communities in the Bayou. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/15844592

Take Action, Even If You're Scared 08/26/2020

Take Action, Even If You're Scared Yearning for good news? Hungry to get involved in IRL change? Well we could all learn a lot from our friend Tara Houska who has been smacking climate justice victories out of the park this summer. Frankly, it’s kind of hard to keep up. From big banks and big pipelines to big league football teams it’s clear that Tara really knows how to get things done. Maeve called her up to find out how we can learn from her summer of success. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/15753755

Million Dollar Questions 08/19/2020

Million Dollar Questions The IPCC uses the Industrial Revolution as the keystone for human-induced climate change, but there is a different marker for black, brown and indigenous peoples who have also been measuring climate change. How can the colonial impact on their homes be quantified, argued and repaid? Archaeologist Kristina Douglass talks about colonization and climate in Madagascar. And Lidy Nacpil, of the Asian People’s Movement on Debt & Development shares her fight for reparations on the global stage. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/15667262

Dear Ruler: Letter Writing Tips for Exasperated Voters 08/12/2020

Dear Ruler: Letter Writing Tips for Exasperated Voters Ever wanted to write a letter or email to rage and complain to the Powers That Be, but found yourself lost after “Hey. You.”? Yeah, us too. But take a deep breath and join Maeve and Thimali as they figure out how to put pen to paper for the climate crisis. From who to write to and how to build your argument, to which edible treats to include - we’ve got you covered. And there’s some top advice from our very own Mary Robinson. Now - quills at the ready you bards of beauty, it’s letter time. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/15571832

We Are Really Big Huggers 08/05/2020

We Are Really Big Huggers We moved heaven, Earth and Covid, and we are back! But with too many emergencies stacking up, and no way to press pause on the climate crisis, how do we cope? How do we visualize what happens next? Daiara Tukano is from a Northern Amazon indigenous community in Brazil. She describes her Covid experience and identifies the opportunities to review global health. And co-executive director of the Green New Deal UK, Fatima-Zahra Ibrahim tells us more about her new project, Build Back Better. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/15490004

SEASON 3 TRAILER - We’re Back! And We’re Not Backing Down! 07/29/2020

SEASON 3 TRAILER - We’re Back! And We’re Not Backing Down! We’re Back! This year Mary, Maeve & Thimali reunite to bring you a brand new season of Mothers of Invention from their home studios in Dublin & New York. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/15391724

You Probably Have Everything You Need 08/21/2019

You Probably Have Everything You Need The fashion industry constitutes 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions today, and is reported to be the fifth-largest polluting sector in the world. But with a growing ambition to both revisit ancient practices and develop futuristic technologies, can fast fashion quickly adapt and reverse its reputation into one of positive change? Eco-fashion designer Thao Vu of Kilomet109 guest hosts with Mary & Maeve from Hanoi, Vietnam. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/10918401

The Lungs of the North 05/23/2019

The Lungs of the North The Arctic and it’s melting glaciers are the first images to mind when we think about climate change. But what do we know about the millions of indigenous peoples, who are fighting back against not only shifts in climate, but invasions for mineral extraction, shipping and fishing in their territories? Dalee Sambo Dorough, chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, guest hosts this week episode with Mary & Maeve, from Anchorage, Alaska. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/9898106

Jugglers of Time 05/07/2019

Jugglers of Time Reecha Upadhyay of Purpose Climate Lab India joins Mary & Maeve from Delhi as co-host for this week’s episode on city life. Cities currently consume almost 70% of the world’s energy and account for more than 70% of global CO2 emissions. As mayors and their citizens take on the responsibilities of their nation’s leaders in the fight for climate justice, cities start to show their potential as a solution to the global crisis. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/9678164

Minisode 3: Earth Day 04/21/2019

Minisode 3: Earth Day Happy Earth Day! /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/9476453

Specialsode: Displaced with Mary Robinson 04/15/2019

Specialsode: Displaced with Mary Robinson This week we loan out Mary to International Rescue Committee’s podcast, Displaced, for a chat with Ravi Gurumurthy & Grant Gordon. If you came for Maeve but don’t know about Mary, this week’s specialsode is a chance to hear the story of her venture into climate justice from the very beginning. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/9405935

The Climate Name Game 04/08/2019

The Climate Name Game This week Maeve & Thimali play The Climate Name Game! Environmental activist George Monbiot published a compelling list of alternate climate vocabulary. His list encourages us to take another look at the way we describe the climate crisis, and remind ourselves that the environment is not destroying itself... we are. Listen in as Maeve hilariously invents some compelling terms of her own! /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/9318041

A Second Chance at Life 04/01/2019

A Second Chance at Life As we imagine new ideas for our natural resources, a new green economy presents us with a second chance at making good with both the earth and our communities. What will it take to transition to renewable energy, and what can we learn from both indigenous peoples and new technology? Navajo climate activist, Wahleah Johns, joins Mary & Maeve in the studio this week to share how she’s been getting it done. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/9215513

Fish Out of Hot Water 03/18/2019

Fish Out of Hot Water Co-hosting our episode this week is Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, a lifelong ocean conservationist who creates solutions with social justice in mind. Ayana, Mary & Maeve take a wade through the work our oceans have been doing while we’ve been sleeping. As sea levels rise and overfishing destroys our marine life, is this the inevitable truth, or are there still big solutions to come? /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/9054227

Ghosting the Planet 03/05/2019

Ghosting the Planet This week’s episode is co-hosted by Rhiana Gunn-Wright, one of the lead policy writers of the Green New Deal. She joins Mary & Maeve in the studio to discuss public opinion on climate change in the United States, where it’s crucial that citizens and politicians take a role in environmental action. In a moment in history when its politics are so polarized, will climate justice be the great unifier? /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/8879789

Paw Print 02/26/2019

Paw Print In our first minisode, Maeve and our new series producer, Thimali, have a sit in the park to stalk cutie pie dogs and contemplate meat alternatives to pet food for Maeve’s pal, Shadow. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/8796023

Nothing Happens Unless You Press the Button 02/19/2019

Nothing Happens Unless You Press the Button We recap the last four months in climate justice; dig into the rise of school strikes around the world, learn about the IPCC Special Report 1.5 direct from one of its authors, and hear how to convince a room full of heels and suits that the most intuitive climate innovation around has been passed down through indigenous communities for generations. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/8696690

We Want a Colour TV! 09/30/2018

We Want a Colour TV! This episode comes to you direct from New York City where Maeve lives and Mary was attending Climate Week. Governments, diplomates, business leaders and climate change gathered to assess progress and push for solutions to avert the climate crisis and deliver on the goals of the Paris Agreement. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/7108912

Against the Grain 09/17/2018

Against the Grain This episode serves up an all-you-can-eat investigation into food and its connection to climate. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/7047062

BONUS: When Mary met Gina 09/12/2018

BONUS: When Mary met Gina Mary Robinson sits on a park bench with Gina McCarthy, ex-head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the US under President Obama. They watch the ducks and talk turkey about how America’s environmental protections can survive the Trump administration. Overheard by Elliot Stoller. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/7036496

Under the Weather 09/03/2018

Under the Weather This episode explores the impact of climate change on public health, traversing political, scientific, radical and spiritual realms with our Mothers of Invention. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/6995304

BONUS: The Greatest Taxi Driver in New York 08/30/2018

BONUS: The Greatest Taxi Driver in New York Taking into account Uber and Lyft there's now around 60,000 cabs in New York City — but Maeve thinks she's found the very best of them who's on a mission to effect while on the move... /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/6986712

Taking Over 08/20/2018

Taking Over This week Mary and Maeve turn up the volume on the women who are helping us consciously-uncouple from our toxic relationship with single-use plastic, a material created to be used for mere minutes but designed to last for thousands of years. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/6943980

BONUS: Hello, Maeve Calling 08/12/2018

BONUS: Hello, Maeve Calling True to her word, Maeve has decided to divest her own personal savings. Here’s the phone call when she lets her bank know... /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/6914328

The White Man Stole the Weather 08/05/2018

The White Man Stole the Weather Mary and Maeve are talking about money, money. Fighting climate change might be a moral necessity but women are learning to hit vested interests where it hurts the most, in the pocket. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/6884457

BONUS: What the Actual Paris?! 07/22/2018

BONUS: What the Actual Paris?! Before Maeve and Mary’s new podcast series can truly begin, Maeve’s got a confession to make; she doesn’t really, properly, understand what the Paris Climate Agreement actually is. Luckily her co-host, the former Irish President, is more than happy to take her to school. Let Maeve’s pain be your gain in this punchy Paris primer... /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/6838149

All Rise 07/22/2018

All Rise Mary and Maeve are laying down the law. Three years ago, 886 ordinary Dutch citizens sued their government over climate change... and won. Tessa Khan, a Bangladeshi-Australian lawyer is in the studio to talk new legal strategies for climate action. Her organisation is currently helping to sue not one, but six governments around the world for failing to protect their citizens and across the US, it’s the next generation who are rising to take Trump to court. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/6838074

Introducing Mothers of Invention - Launching 23rd July 07/16/2018

Introducing Mothers of Invention - Launching 23rd July Climate change is a man-made problem with a feminist solution! Join former Irish President Mary Robinson and comedian Maeve Higgins in this uplifting and fascinating new podcast, and meet a host of game-changing women fighting to save all our lives. /episode/index/show/mothersofinvention/id/6816821

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