Podcast: Outrage + Optimism by Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, and Paul Dickinson

The weekly podcast Outrage and Optimism is a helpful reset for anyone overwhelmed by climate headlines, wondering whether anything we do actually matters.

Hosted by Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, and Paul Dickinson, the show brings together three people who have spent years working at the center of international climate action. If those names sound familiar, it’s because Figueres and Rivett-Carnac played key roles in delivering the Paris Agreement, so when they talk about climate issues, they’re speaking from real experience.

Despite those serious credentials, the podcast never feels overly technical. Most episodes unfold more like a thoughtful conversation than a formal interview. The hosts discuss recent climate developments - everything from new energy policies to global climate conferences - while unpacking what those developments might mean for the bigger picture.

The title itself explains the philosophy pretty well: outrage about the urgency of the climate crisis, balanced with optimism about the solutions already underway.

Episodes often unpack major climate developments: global climate summits, clean energy breakthroughs, new policy shifts, but always with the same underlying question: what does this actually mean for progress? The hosts are clear-eyed about setbacks, but they’re equally quick to highlight genuine momentum when it appears.

That balance is what makes the podcast feel different from much of the climate media landscape. Instead of feeding climate anxiety, it encourages a more productive mindset: stay informed, stay engaged, and recognize that meaningful progress is already happening. In that sense, the show fits naturally alongside the philosophy behind Climate Invested. Both focus on real-world climate solutions, realistic optimism, and the idea that understanding progress is just as important as understanding the problem.

There’s also a steady stream of guests, from policymakers and scientists to business leaders and activists. These conversations often reveal how complicated climate action can be behind the scenes but also how many people are actively working on solutions.

That balance is part of what makes the podcast so engaging. It acknowledges the urgency of the climate crisis while still making space for progress and possibility.

Listening to Outrage + Optimism doesn’t provide easy answers, but it does offer something equally valuable: a clearer view of how the global climate transition is actually unfolding, and why it’s still worth paying attention to.

Check them out here: Outrage + Optimism