Deutsche Welle Living Planet

What we get wrong about eating protein

Loading player...
Protein obsession is reshaping our diets — and our planet. We lift the lid on the protein craze, what we truly need for good health, why animal protein carries such a heavy climate footprint, and what choices could cut emissions without sacrificing strength and health. And we hear from one powerlifter's surprising shift from meat-lover to vegan butcher, against the backdrop of online culture wars.
12 Dec 2025 English Germany Society & Culture · Health & Fitness

Other recent episodes

Rainforests’ invisible carbon problem

The rainforests in northeast Australia are some of the most protected in the world – they haven't been logged in nearly 40 years. But after decades of measuring these forests tree by tree, scientists have uncovered a troubling change. An unexpected shift that could force us to rethink how we…
27 Feb 28 min

Why some men tune out climate change

Do men really care less about the environment than women or is the story more complicated? We unpack the “Green Gender Gap,” the politics and identity behind it, and the surprising ways men - from veterans to lumberjacks - are being drawn into climate action.
20 Feb 33 min

What are your shoes really made of? (Rebroadcast)

Vegan leather. Faux leather. Synthetic leather. Call it what you want - it’s everywhere, especially in the shoes on our feet. For some shoppers, it’s about saving money. For others, it’s about protecting animals or reducing their environmental footprint. But what's the real story behind this fast-growing alternative? And is…
13 Feb 29 min

Boy Wasted: Episode 2

This week, we're featuring Episode 2 of Boy Wasted, a three-part environmental true crime series by Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor, co-produced by Adnan Khan. The investigation into a boy found dead in a bale of recycled plastic in Turkey takes a shocking turn, as new witnesses come forward and…
6 Feb 16 min

BONUS – The great American protein push, what's at 'steak'?

US Health Secretary RFK Jr. released new dietary guidelines that have literally turned the food pyramid upside down. Beef is, quite literally, "what's for dinner." Living Planet's Jennifer Collins spoke with health experts about what the new recommendations might mean for the health of the US, and the planet. Plus,…
30 Jan 29 min
All episodes