When Ethan Brown (COM/CAS’21) first encountered the idea of climate change in middle school, he found himself paralyzed by the scale of the problem. “I found it really scary and really overwhelming to the point where I wasn’t even interested in it,” Ethan recalls. During his time at Boston University, he discovered something that would transform his relationship with climate change: solutions to the climate crisis are linked not only to the environment, but also the economy, public health, and national security. This realization, combined with his experience in comedy writing and environmental studies, sparked an idea that would eventually earn him international recognition.
That recognition came recently when Ethan, a 2021 graduate who completed a dual degree in Film & Television and Environmental Analysis & Policy, was named one of Covering Climate Now’s Emerging Journalists of the Year. Selected from over 1,250 applicants worldwide, he was one of just three journalists to receive this honor. The award, which recognizes exceptional promise in climate reporting, celebrates Ethan’s innovative approach to environmental communication through his late-night-comedy-style podcast, The Sweaty Penguin. For him, the recognition carries special meaning as it comes directly from his peers in climate journalism.
Ethan believes that engaging people on challenging topics like climate change requires a hopeful and relatable approach, supported by evidence of progress. One of his favorite facts to share is the dramatic shift in projected global warming: before the Paris Climate Accords, the world was on track to warm by 4 degrees Celsius, but today, that projection has dropped to 2.6 degrees. While it may not sound like a big difference, this progress represents averting half of the potential climate tipping points scientists once feared.
“The United States has cut emissions by around 20% since 2005 levels, which I think a lot of people don’t know,” Ethan notes. “China’s emissions came down for the first time in 2024.”
He emphasizes that these changes aren’t just environmental victories – they’re economic opportunities. The dramatic cost reductions in renewable energy over the past decade have made clean energy increasingly competitive: solar costs dropped by 85%, onshore wind by 55%, and electric vehicle batteries by 85%. “Everyone wants clean air, clean water and a healthy environment. Everyone wants a strong economy,” Ethan explains.
“When you present those points, I think it makes climate progress feel a lot less daunting, which can lead to people who are maybe climate anxious or think the world is going to end on Thursday, to take a breath and see that we are making progress.”
The podcast’s origins trace back to a Media Entrepreneurship course at BU, where Ethan developed The Sweaty Penguin as his final project. What started as a potential 10-12 episode run blossomed into a four-year journey, producing over 220 episodes and reaching more than 50,000 viewers. The show earned honors at the Webby and Signal Awards and secured a licensing agreement with PBS.
“Climate change is here. It’s important. It’s affecting a lot of people. It’s also very fixable, and we’re making a lot of progress already,” Ethan explains, describing the message that resonated with audiences across the political spectrum. His approach is uniquely centered on solutions journalism, carefully examining evidence from both sides of each argument supporting various climate solutions and their limitations.
Ethan interviewed over 150 climate scientists and scholars from 18 countries across six continents, sharing their expertise with listeners worldwide. The podcast’s influence grew so much that it became required listening at the University of Kansas, where professors used episodes in place of traditional textbooks.
“A lot of people are hesitant to get on what they perceive as a train standing still,” Ethan reflects, “but a moving train is a lot easier to get on.”
During his time at BU, Ethan’s entrepreneurial spirit flourished. The Sweaty Penguin later won first place in the Social Impact Track of the Innovate@BU New Venture Competition, securing a $20,000 prize. Support from Innovate@BU and BU Sustainability helped Ethan develop the strategic thinking and resources needed to grow his venture.
Though The Sweaty Penguin concluded its podcast run in January 2024, Ethan’s work continues to influence climate communication. He recently developed a fellowship at the University of Rhode Island’s Metcalf Institute, training newsrooms from major outlets like the Boston Globe and Rhode Island PBS in climate coverage. The website remains active, featuring Ethan’s ongoing journalism work and partnerships.
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