Pullback is a podcast that explores big ideas and asks: is this a real solution or a distraction? Through discussions with leading experts, we cover ideas that proponents say will address global problems like inequality and climate change.
Episodes
Tuesday Mar 10, 2020
Tuesday Mar 10, 2020
In this episode, Kristen and Kyla unravel the problems with fast fashion. Kyla learns that making clothes really is that hard. Kristen calls out Jay-Z and P-Diddy. Topics: what is fast fashion; we are buying (and throwing out) so many clothes; how the fashion supply chain works; offshoring; FDR, labour hero; sweatshops; garment industry disasters; forced labour; child labour; why is everything so shitty; is it getting better; what you can do.
Website: https://www.pullback.org/research/clothing
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PullbackPodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pullbackpodcast/?igshid=i57wwo16tjko
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PullbackPodcast/
Pullback is produced and hosted by Kristen Pue and Kyla Hewson. Logo by Rachel Beyer and Evan Vrinten.
Tuesday Feb 25, 2020
Tuesday Feb 25, 2020
Not on my wash! In this episode, Kristen and Kyla air their dirty laundry. Kristen is appalled by her own wardrobe. Kyla is worried she doesn’t wash her clothes enough — although honestly, if it saves the planet... Listen in for practical tips on doing ethical laundry! Topics: water and energy use; how often should you wash your laundry (it’s a clothes call); waste-free detergents and softeners; Kyla’s (soap) nuts; plastic microfibre pollution; and microfibre capture devices. Clean jokes only, we promise.
Website: https://www.pullback.org/research/laundry
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PullbackPodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pullbackpodcast/?igshid=i57wwo16tjko
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PullbackPodcast/
Pullback is produced and hosted by Kristen Pue and Kyla Hewson. Logo by Rachel Beyer and Evan Vrinten.
Thursday Feb 13, 2020
Thursday Feb 13, 2020
“I need to be able to fit my cellphone in my pants; this is a feminist crisis!” In this bonus episode, listen to more of Kristen and Kyla’s discussion with food, migration, and labour historian Alexandra (Lex) Sundarsingh. Topics: Lex misses stationary street food; Toronto’s racist health panic (the one about food trucks, not COVID-19); Pad Thai robots!!; France’s kitchen brigade system; Canada is terrible at food diplomacy; sea lice is a thing, apparently; Lex’s new project on complaints filed by female Indian indentured labourers on British colonial sugar plantations.
Website: https://www.pullback.org/research/sugar
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PullbackPodcast
Lex's Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSundarsingh
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pullbackpodcast/?igshid=i57wwo16tjko
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PullbackPodcast/
Pullback is produced and hosted by Kristen Pue and Kyla Hewson. Logo by Rachel Beyer and Evan Vrinten.
Tuesday Feb 11, 2020
Tuesday Feb 11, 2020
In this episode, Kristen and Kyla are joined by food, migration, and labour historian Alexandra (Lex) Sundarsingh. Lex adds her knowledge about historical human rights abuses in sugar production — which, unfortunately, look a lot like present-day human rights abuses in sugar production. In their discussion, Lex, Kyla, and Kristen explain sugar production and why human rights practices are so fraught. They also discuss what you can do if you want to combat human rights abuses in sugar. Topics: indentured servitude in the British empire; sugarcane versus sugar beets; sugarcane is still a human rights hellscape; there’s some baggage in the history of Canadian sugar beet production; Stevia and biopiracy; Kyla goes through sugar withdrawal; Kristen struggles to find fair trade; Lex is giving out Sweetness and Power like it’s a car and she’s Oprah.
Website: https://www.pullback.org/research/sugar
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PullbackPodcast
Lex's Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexSundarsingh
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pullbackpodcast/?igshid=i57wwo16tjko
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PullbackPodcast/
Pullback is produced and hosted by Kristen Pue and Kyla Hewson. Logo by Rachel Beyer and Evan Vrinten.
Thursday Jan 30, 2020
Thursday Jan 30, 2020
Veganuary is over! How did Kristen and Kyla do?
Website: https://www.pullback.org/research/veganuary
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PullbackPodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pullbackpodcast/?igshid=i57wwo16tjko
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PullbackPodcast/
Pullback is produced and hosted by Kristen Pue and Kyla Hewson. Logo by Rachel Beyer and Evan Vrinten.
Tuesday Jan 28, 2020
Tuesday Jan 28, 2020
Veganuary — it’s what’s for dinner! (And breakfast, and lunch…) In this episode, Kristen and Kyla talk about veganism. This episode looks at the history of veganism and vegan activism, as well as vegan eating. Topics: Veganuary at the Golden Globes; veganism is getting more woke (but it hasn’t always been); there’s secret meat in everything; meat substitutes; and cultured meat. Kyla and Kristen also discuss their Veganuary successes and failures.
Website: https://www.pullback.org/research/veganuary
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PullbackPodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pullbackpodcast/?igshid=i57wwo16tjko
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PullbackPodcast/
Pullback is produced and hosted by Kristen Pue and Kyla Hewson. Logo by Rachel Beyer and Evan Vrinten.
Thursday Jan 16, 2020
Thursday Jan 16, 2020
“Convert it into a wetland! — that should be the new ‘burn it down’.” In the second part of our two-parter on vegetarianism, Kyla and Kristen look at the environmental impact of animal- versus plant-based protein. They also discuss their challenges. Topics: the new Canada food guide; environmental gains from eating less meat (emissions, land use, water use, air pollution, ocean dead zones); Kristen’s excellent vegan wine adventure; Kyla just wants a cheeseburger.
Website: https://www.pullback.org/research/vegetarianism
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PullbackPodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pullbackpodcast/?igshid=i57wwo16tjko
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PullbackPodcast/
Pullback is produced and hosted by Kristen Pue and Kyla Hewson. Logo by Rachel Beyer and Evan Vrinten.
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
What do Pythagoras, Leonardo da Vinci, and Susan B Anthony have in common? They were all vegetarian! In the first part of our two-part episode on vegetarianism, Kristen and Kyla talk vegetarianism 101. Topics: the different kinds of vegetarian; birds everywhere! (a brief history of vegetarianism); animal rights versus animal welfare; and factory farming. The second part of this episode will be released on Thursday.
Website: https://www.pullback.org/research/vegetarianism
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PullbackPodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pullbackpodcast/?igshid=i57wwo16tjko
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PullbackPodcast/
Pullback is produced and hosted by Kristen Pue and Kyla Hewson. Logo by Rachel Beyer and Evan Vrinten.
Tuesday Dec 31, 2019
Tuesday Dec 31, 2019
Cheers to a new decade! In this special New Years episode, Kyla and Kristen sip their most ethical alcohol choices while talking about alcohol, and especially beer. Topics include: alcohol fun facts; the environmental impact of brewing/distilling alcohol; is it better to go with a big or small brewery; do cans or bottles have a lower environmental footprint; where does labour fit into all of this; and what about the alcohol industry’s complicity in substance abuse. Then Kristen and Kyla make New Year’s resolutions.
Website: https://www.pullback.org/research/beer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PullbackPodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pullbackpodcast/?igshid=i57wwo16tjko
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PullbackPodcast/
Pullback is produced and hosted by Kristen Pue and Kyla Hewson. Logo by Rachel Beyer and Evan Vrinten.
Tuesday Dec 24, 2019
Tuesday Dec 24, 2019
In this episode, Kristen and Kyla ruin Christmas — but, you know, in a fun and practical way. This episode covers online shopping, artificial versus real Christmas trees, and solutions to reduce waste at Christmas. Kyla and Kristen also gift each other ethical presents (carbon emissions from cross-country shipping not included, yikes). Tune in as Kristen tortures listeners with misophonia by eating the world’s crunchiest cookie.
Website: https://www.pullback.org/research/holidayepisode2019
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PullbackPodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pullbackpodcast/?igshid=i57wwo16tjko
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PullbackPodcast/
Pullback is produced and hosted by Kristen Pue and Kyla Hewson. Logo by Rachel Beyer and Evan Vrinten.