97: The Wit and Wisdom of Paul Ehrlich

Continuing our tribute to the late Paul Ehrlich, we discuss the critiques and praise that followed news of his passing, and we share a VERY candid – and charming – "uncensored" 2020 Earth Day conversation. Paul points out a flaw on the cover of The Population Bomb . Can you guess what it is? Listen to find out. In our prelude and epilogue, we discuss his acerbic wit – was it helpful or did it hurt the cause of overshoot literacy? One fact is certain: Paul wasn't boring. What if thousands of scientists around the world spoke with Ehrlich's level of candor about the state of the world, and how tenuous our future really is as we continue deeper and deeper into overshoot? Plus, learn some interesting details about his relationship with Johnny Carson and NBC, failures of the university system, the relationship between population and pandemics, comparative advantage, and the vulnerability of our food system. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: GrowthBusters Earth Day Film Festival Paul Ehrlich – Uncensored on Earth Day 50th Anniversary – Episode 43 of the GrowthBusters podcast Paul Ehrlich on The Limits to Growth - Episdoe 70 of the GrowthBusters podcast Paul Ehrlich (1932-2026): Behaving Against Our Interests – Episode 96 of the GrowthBusters podcast Paul Ehrlich, a Scientific/Environmental/Cultural Iconoclast (1932-2026) – by Dave Gardner on Substack Goodbye Paul Ehrlich – The Overpopulation Project The Vindication of a Public Scholar – by Tom Turner Did Paul Ehrlich Help or Hurt His Cause? – by Joshua Spodeck The Wisest One in the Room - by Thomas Gilovich and Lee Ross Ecoscience: Population, Resources, Environment – by Paul R. Ehrlich, John P. Holdren and Anne H. Ehrlich Give Us Feedback: Record a voice message for us to play on the podcast: 719-402-1400 Send an email to podcast at growthbusters.org The GrowthBusters theme song was written and produced by Jake Fader and sung by Carlos Jones. On the GrowthBusters podcast, we come to terms with the limits to growth, explore the joy of sustainable living, and provide a recovery program from our society's growth addiction (economic/consumption and population). This podcast is part of the GrowthBusters project to raise awareness of overshoot and end our culture's obsession with, and pursuit of, growth. Dave Gardner directed the documentary GrowthBusters: Hooked on Growth, which Stanford Biologist Paul Ehrlich declared "could be the most important film ever made." Co-host, and self-described "energy nerd," Stephanie Gardner has degrees in Environmental Studies and Environmental Law & Policy. Join the GrowthBusters online community GrowthBusters: Hooked on Growth – free on YouTube Join the conversation on Facebook

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97: The Wit and Wisdom of Paul Ehrlich is an episode from GrowthBusters by GrowthBusters.

This episode is 01:27:28 long.

This episode was published on Apr 10, 2026.

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