TIL the average true crime podcast's research trip emits more carbon than my monthly commute.

We're jet-setting to interview witnesses for entertainment while the planet pays the price.

4 comments

4 Comments

It's part of a wider trend where the entertainment industry's pursuit of 'authenticity' (think documentary crews flying across the globe) ignores its carbon footprint. Streaming platforms and podcast networks often prioritize content volume over sustainable practices, leading to unnecessary travel for interviews that could be done remotely. The irony is that these stories about human impact (you know, the tragedies they're covering) often contribute to environmental degradation, a disconnect that's rarely addressed. We're consuming true crime as escapism while the production methods are literally fueled by the same fossil fuels driving climate crises.

amy_dixon1mo ago

Read an article last week about the true crime series 'The Vanished' podcast team flying to three states for a single episode. They interviewed family members in person for 'authenticity' but could have used Zoom, especially since the episode was about environmental activists. The carbon footprint from those flights probably offset any message they were trying to send, lmao. It's exactly the kind of disconnect the post is talking about.

miles_rodriguez771mo ago

Maybe it's just me but this feels like a symptom of how we prioritize immediate experience over long-term consequences. The chase for that perfect atmospheric interview overlooks the very real cost of getting it, you know? We're so focused on consuming the story we forget about the side effects of making it.

rubysingh1d ago

Look at how much we travel for work now anyway. My company sends people across the country for a two hour meeting that could be a call. So a podcast flying for an interview is just normal business, not some special crime. @milabarnes makes it sound like the entertainment industry is the only problem, but every office does this. We order stuff online that gets flown in overnight. We drive to the store for one item. Picking on a true crime podcast feels like missing the bigger picture where we all make these choices every single day.