Clay

16.07.2026•36:13

Clay is one of the oldest materials humans have ever used, from early pottery to the walls of homes. In this episode, host Joe Hanson explores how this ancient material can inspire new solutions for an increasingly warming world.

Sulfur

18.06.2026•27:23

Sulfur might evoke matches, volcanic gases, or that yellow rock from chemistry class – but it’s far more powerful than you probably think. In this episode of Substance, host Joe Hanson explores the surprising story of an element that has shaped human history for centuries and plays a crucial role in our modern life.

Fiber

21.05.2026•27:50

In this episode of SUBSTANCE, host Joe Hanson explores the unique capabilities of fibers like hemp or coconut and where they can be used sustainably: From the automotive industry to coastal protection.

Salt

16.04.2026•30:35

Salt may be one of the most familiar substances in everyday life, but in this episode of SUBSTANCE, host Joe Hanson explores how a special class of salts could help decarbonize one of the most overlooked parts of the energy system: heat. With the help of experts Dr. Nils-Olof Born of BASF and Assistant Professor Silvia Trevisan of KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Joe Hanson looks at how so-called molten salts can store and deliver heat for industrial processes without relying on fossil fuels.

CO2

19.03.2026•27:14

CO₂ is one of the gases most closely linked to global warming, but it is also deeply embedded in how modern industry and cities function. In this episode of SUBSTANCE, host Joe Hanson explores what it will take to reduce emissions in two places that matter enormously for the climate: industrial production and urban design

Fabric

19.02.2026•34:46

Fabrics and fashion are deeply tied to sustainability – not least because the scale of production and consumption means huge volumes end up as waste or pollution. This episode of SUBSTANCE asks what it would take to “close the loop” and move fabrics toward a circular economy. Host Joe Hanson draws on perspectives from both the Hong Kong–based nonprofit Redress and BASF in his exploration of why circularity is a useful way to turn intent into action; from designing for durability, repair and recyclability to building the systems needed for collection and sorting.