The Plastic Problem Most People Miss with Judith Enck

Most of us think we understand the plastic problem. We’ve heard about ocean pollution. We’ve heard about recycling. We’ve heard the word microplastics enough times that it barely registers anymore. But what if the most important part of this story isn’t the trash, the packaging, or even the environment? What if the real issue is happening inside our own bodies? In this conversation, Judith Enck, former EPA Regional Administrator and president of Beyond Plastics, explains the part of the plastic crisis that rarely makes headlines. Microplastics are not just floating in the ocean. Researchers are now finding them in human blood, lungs, arteries, and even the brain. And the concern is not just the particles themselves, but the thousands of chemicals that travel with them. We also explore why plastic production continues to accelerate despite public concern, why recycling has largely failed, and how the economics of fossil fuels quietly shape the future of plastic. This is not just an environmental story. It is a health story, a policy story, and a story about systems most people never see. Judith's book, The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late, is available now wherever books are sold! Support the Show - Become a Patron! Help us grow and become a Patron today: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can listen to The Plastic Problem Most People Miss with Judith Enck online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

The Plastic Problem Most People Miss with Judith Enck is an episode from Smart People Podcast by Smart People Industries.

This episode is 40:32 long.

This episode was published on Mar 3, 2026.

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