Boiling Point – “Taking a Hack at Climate Change”

Podcast: Boiling Point
Host: LA Times Studios (Sami Roth)
Guest: Hannah Einbinder
Release Date: August 21, 2025

Overview

This episode centers a candid, passionate conversation between LA Times climate columnist Sami Roth and Hannah Einbinder, Emmy-nominated comedian and star of HBO’s “Hacks,” about leveraging comedy and celebrity for climate advocacy. They discuss the personal impact of California wildfires, Hollywood’s relationship with climate activism, the “make polluters pay” movement, the power of humor, and the utility of mushrooms in solving environmental crises. The episode balances informed analysis with Einbinder’s sharp wit and emotional honesty.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A Personal Response to California Wildfires

• Immediate Impact (07:23):
  • Einbinder recalls her emotional response to the Palisades and Eaton fires, emphasizing how climate disasters often feel distant until they strike home.
  • Quote: “Climate change will be viewed as a series of disasters through your phone screen until you're watching it at your front door.” (Hannah Einbinder, 07:27)
• Community Resilience and Organizing:
  • Highlights the mutual aid networks in LA mobilizing during the fires, challenging stereotypes of Angelenos and foregrounding local solidarity.
  • Quote: “All of the mutual aid organizations in LA... were ready to go.” (Hannah Einbinder, 08:30)

2. The Challenge of Sustained Climate Action

• Temporary Outrage (09:56):
  • Roth expresses concern that public attention fades quickly after disasters.
  • Einbinder acknowledges both enduring trauma for some and the challenge for many to confront ongoing crises beyond their immediate needs.
  • Quote: “The pain of reality is so overwhelming that a lot of people have to focus on what they can do to survive...It's just too heavy for a lot of people to confront.” (Hannah Einbinder, 10:46)

3. Comedy as a Trojan Horse for Activism

• Turning Pain Into Humor (12:34):
  • Comedy helps process environmental despair and reach audiences who might not otherwise engage with climate issues.
  • Einbinder names George Carlin as an influence; jokes allow her to present serious topics accessibly.
  • Quote: “Art can be a beautiful Trojan horse for important issues...you hook them with something personal and then get him on what you really want to say.” (Hannah Einbinder, 12:38)
• Use of Platform (14:29):
  • Example: On Colbert, Einbinder subverts a question about romantic subplots on “Hacks” to discuss California’s SB222 (climate liability legislation).
  • Quote: “It's impossible to kiss on a dead planet. There's no kissing on a dead planet.” (Hannah Einbinder, paraphrased by Sami Roth, 14:22)

4. “Make Polluters Pay”: Campaigns and Frustrations

• Persistent Advocacy (16:37):
  • Einbinder is drawn to “make polluters pay” measures because they hit oil companies financially—“money is the language they speak.”
  • She references Naomi Klein’s “Shock Doctrine” to argue that fossil fuel interests profit at every stage of climate crises.
  • Quote: “As long as that system is ruling the day... it's more realistic to just charge them for what they are responsible for.” (Hannah Einbinder, 17:37)

5. Hollywood, Activism, and Resistance

• Navigating Industry Constraints (18:41):
  • Einbinder doesn’t worry much about executives but receives a mix of love and hate from the public, especially for her activism on climate and Palestine.
  • She stresses that climate is not a partisan issue, but fundamentally about class and humanity.
  • Quote: “The issue of climate is so far from political. It’s… so nonpartisan. It's… a class issue to me.” (Hannah Einbinder, 19:19)
• Path to Climate Consciousness (20:03):
  • Einbinder articulates her “radicalization” as tied to recognizing broader systems of and links between capitalism, imperialism, white supremacy, and environmental destruction.
  • Her fascination with nature and fungi (mycology) deepens her emotional ties to the world and impels her advocacy.

6. Hollywood and the Role of Entertainment

• Art as Advocacy (28:10 / 30:58):
  • Season 3 of “Hacks,” featuring a climate change episode, was written by like-minded creatives. The show serves as a “Trojan horse” to introduce climate ideas to diverse audiences.
  • Einbinder hopes more entertainment can do the same, despite what she identifies as the conservative, wealth-driven power structure at the industry's core.
  • Quote: “Hollywood is not as liberal...it's a place of immense wealth and frankly, a lot of conservative politics at the top...” (Hannah Einbinder, 31:17)

7. The SAG Pension Fund Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaign

• Details and Importance (33:00):
  • Einbinder supports Stand Earth's push for SAG AFTRA to divest $100 million from fossil fuels, noting the hypocrisy of Hollywood’s self-definition as “liberal” while investing in pollution.
  • Quote: “We cannot call Hollywood a liberal institution if it invests in fossil fuels...” (Hannah Einbinder, 33:37)
  • She argues divestment is both ethically and financially sound.

8. Mushrooms as a Climate Solution?

• Mycology Advocacy (38:12, 40:15):
  • Einbinder’s passion for mushrooms is both comedic and earnest; she touts their potential to break down plastics, store carbon, and remediate contaminated sites.
  • Quote: “Mushrooms are the answer, guys, okay? This is a huge and important... Trust the fungi...” (Hannah Einbinder, 40:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Our love for each other and our love for our miraculous planet Earth will never dissipate. We cannot stop this effort. Every single one of us must join this movement for the sake of humanity's survival...” (Hannah Einbinder speech at Sunrise rally, 01:46)
• “I'm sorry to her, but Mars is ugly. We are not going there. We want a future on Earth.” (Hannah Einbinder, 02:18)
• “All of the various communities in LA—especially Altadena—like, they were huge leaders in the response, and it was moving to be a part of it...” (Hannah Einbinder, 08:48)
• “There's no kissing on a dead planet ... Earth will be fine, but it is humanity that will perish.” (Hannah Einbinder via Sami Roth quoting, 14:22; clarification at 15:23-16:20)
• “Money is the language [oil companies] speak ... as long as that system is ruling the day... it's more realistic to just charge them for what they are responsible for.” (Hannah Einbinder, 17:16)
• “Art can be a beautiful trojan horse for important issues.” (Hannah Einbinder, 12:38)
• “Mushrooms are the answer, guys, okay?...We need to put psychedelic mushrooms in the water in Washington. We need to drop spores, okay? Over landfills...” (Hannah Einbinder, 39:50)

Significant Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:46 | Einbinder's speech at Sunrise Movement rally; passion for climate activism | | 07:23 | Einbinder’s personal experience of LA wildfires and community response | | 09:56 | Discussion of whether major climate events effect sustained change | | 12:34 | Comedy as a mechanism for coping and activism | | 14:29 | Turning a “Hacks” romantic subplot question into climate advocacy on Colbert | | 16:37 | The “make polluters pay” movement argument | | 18:41 | Feedback from Hollywood, fans, executive indifference | | 20:03 | Einbinder's “radicalization,” love of nature/mycology; critique of destructive systems | | 23:42 | Fungi/fungus pronunciation debate | | 26:40 | Meta-discussion of “Hacks” climate storyline | | 30:58 | Broader reflection on the role of entertainment in shifting public opinion | | 33:00 | SAG-AFTRA fossil fuel divestment push | | 38:01 | Einbinder’s media recommendations, nature documentaries, and mycology plug | | 40:15 | “Mushrooms are the answer” conclusion |

Additional Recommendations (from Guest)

• Where Einbinder gets her climate news:
  • Democracy Now
  • The Guardian (“probably my most primary climate resource”)
  • Documentaries and nature/Attenborough specials
  • Fascination with mushroom-based solutions and mycology as part of climate literacy

Tone & Language

The episode is earnest, urgent, and often irreverent, blending deep concern with biting humor. Einbinder’s candor and emotional drive are balanced by Roth’s journalistic curiosity and self-aware optimism. The tone ranges from heartbreaking (recounting wildfire loss) to sardonic (critiques of Hollywood and oil companies) to hopeful (belief in art and mycology as change agents).

Conclusion

This episode stands out for its fusion of activism, storytelling, and comedy to confront the climate crisis, especially as it plays out in California and the entertainment industry. Einbinder’s commitment, sharp critique, and love for the natural world—especially mushrooms—offer both calls to action and moments of levity, emphasizing that whoever you are, everyone has a part to play, and sometimes, you really should trust the fungi.

For further listening or information:

• Catch up with previous “Boiling Point” episodes for in-depth explorations of climate issues in California and beyond.
• Explore climate journalism at The Guardian, Democracy Now, and documentaries as referenced by Einbinder.
• Look out for future episodes on mushrooms/mycology, as teased at the show’s end.