'I can say to climate skeptics on the right, I used to believe what you believe. Hell, I wrote your talking points, and for 20 years, I was there! But let me tell you why I'm not there anymore.' As the head of the Cato Institute’s climate and environmental policy shop, Jerry Taylor was a leading spokesperson for climate skepticism. He waged TV battles against climate activists on the likes of CNN, NBC, and Fox, and says he won all of them. As the only paid climate skeptic who’s ever flipped, why did he shift not just his views on climate change, but his relationship with his views more broadly? 

This is a joint episode with Inquiring Minds, a podcast exploring where science, politics, and society collide. Check our previous joint episode about worldview transformation in the 2016 presidential election right here. 

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​Transcript: Right here

Musicians + Tracks:

• Chris Peck: Matope 
• Rhian Sheehan: Inquiring Minds theme​​
• Tannhauser: Rock Off, Ötzi
• David Sestay: Ladybird's Theme
• Rob Voigt: Outro
• Mattia Cupelli: Background Cartoon Music Loop, Action Cartoon Music ​

​"When my son said, 'dad, I'm gonna vote for you, but you're going to clean up your act on the environment,' it wasn't a threat. It was my son saying, 'dad, I love you, and I want you to be what you can be.'" The force that propelled then-Republican South Carolina Congressman Bob Inglis to shift his position on climate change was, indeed, love. His son and family created a safe environment for him to explore the possibility of changing his views, and loved him unconditionally through what he calls his 'climate metamorphosis.' Which is why Inglis uses this same strategy to mobilize fellow conservatives around climate change: his organization RepublicEn avoids judgment, and leverages love.

For his courage on climate, Bob Inglis won the 2015 JFK Profile in Courage award. Today, he stands at the forefront of America's conservative movement on climate change.

This episode includes excerpts from Inglis' 2013 TEDxJacksonville talk.

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