Living on Earth

What Living on Earth does

Living on Earth is an independent, non-profit public radio program that produces weekly environmental journalism covering climate change, ecology, ocean science, environmental justice, and human health. Founded around 1995 and produced by the World Media Foundation, it has operated continuously for 30 years and reaches audiences through terrestrial public radio stations via PRX distribution, through global podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and YouTube Music, and directly through its website (loe.org) where full episodes, transcripts, and show notes are published. Core products comprise the weekly radio show and podcast, a weekly email newsletter, virtual Book Club events featuring author interviews, and a Field Notes blog series by Explorer-in-Residence Mark Seth Lender.

The underlying technology is conventional public radio broadcasting and podcast/audio streaming infrastructure; there is no proprietary platform, AI/ML capability, or software product disclosed. Production is anchored at the Jennifer and Ted Stanley Studios at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and on-air talent includes Executive Producer/Host Steve Curwood, Hosts Paloma Beltran and Jenni Doering, Reporter Don Lyman, and KPBS contributor Gustavo Solis. The organization is small (11-50 employees) and operates as an editorial production unit rather than a technology company.

The business model is entirely donation and grant funded with no paid products, subscriptions, or advertising. Revenue streams consist of listener contributions solicited through the website, institutional support from the University of Massachusetts Boston as host, and grants from aligned environmental funders including the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment and Sailors For The Sea. Go-to-market is community-led: content is distributed free of charge through broadcast, podcast, social media, newsletter, and Google News channels, with audience engagement cultivated through Book Club events and direct call-to-action donation messaging. The primary customer segments are environmentally concerned general public listeners, science-enthusiast audiences, and environmental justice advocates.

Name

Living on Earth

Legal name

World Media Foundation

Website

https://loe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Living on Earth is an independent non-profit public radio program producing weekly environmental journalism on climate, ecology, and human health, distributed via PRX to US radio stations and globally through podcast platforms, funded entirely by listener donations and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Radio Environmental Journalism

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)

akta.pro primary industry

Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH), Sustainability Engagement, Training & Behavior Change Programs (On-site) (BPABALAK), Social Audio & Live Community Platforms (BPAMABAH)

Keywords

• Environmental journalism
• Public radio program
• Environmental news magazine
• Climate science reporting
• Environmental podcast

Headquarters

HQ city

Lee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Listener Donations: Living on Earth is an independent media program that relies entirely on contributions from listeners. The show solicits donations through its website with a clear call to action: 'Living on Earth is an independent media program and relies entirely on contributions from listeners and institutions supporting public service. Please donate now to preserve an independent environmental voice.'
2. Institutional Support: The show receives support from institutions that back public service journalism, including the University of Massachusetts Boston which hosts the program at the Jennifer and Ted Stanley Studios.
3. Sailors For The Sea: Living on Earth receives support from environmental organizations like Sailors For The Sea that help protect the seas through clean sailing initiatives.
4. Grantham Foundation: The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment provides funding, committed to protecting and improving the health of the global environment.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Living on Earth is a weekly public radio program and podcast that produces and distributes environmental journalism covering climate change, ecology, ocean science, environmental justice, and human health. The program is produced by the World Media Foundation, distributed nationally by PRX to public radio member stations, and made available globally via podcast platforms and the loe.org website. Supporting offerings include a weekly email newsletter, virtual Book Club events with authors, and a Field Notes blog by Explorer-in-Residence Mark Seth Lender.

Product overview

Living on Earth is a public radio program and podcast focused on environmental journalism. The core product is the weekly radio show and podcast distributed via station affiliates, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, and the website. Supporting products include a weekly email newsletter, virtual Book Club events featuring author interviews, and a Field Notes blog series by Explorer-in-Residence Mark Seth Lender. The program covers climate change, ecology, ocean science, environmental justice, and human health topics through interviews, news segments, and special features.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Explorer-in-Residence: Living on Earth's Explorer-in-Residence program featuring Mark Seth Lender

Products and services

• Living on Earth Radio Show / Podcast Weekly public radio program and podcast covering environmental news, climate science, ecology, and human health topics, distributed via radio stations, podcast platforms, and the loe.org website for general environmentally interested listeners.
• Living on Earth Newsletter Weekly email newsletter delivering the show's rundown and environmental news summaries to subscribers' mailboxes, available to general environmentally interested audiences.
• Living on Earth Book Club Virtual book club events featuring authors discussing environmental and nature-themed books, hosted by Living on Earth hosts for general audiences interested in environmental literature.
• Mark Seth Lender Field Notes Blog series by Living on Earth's Explorer-in-Residence featuring nature observations and essays, published in the Special Features section for general environmentally interested readers.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• PRX (Public Radio Exchange)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPRX distributes Living on Earth content nationally to public radio member stations across the United States. Living on Earth is presented by PRX and engineered at the Jennifer and Ted Stanley Studios at UMass Boston.
• University of Massachusetts BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Jennifer and Ted Stanley Studios at UMass Boston house Living on Earth's production facilities. The university supports public service journalism through hosting the show.
• World Media FoundationcoreOthersLiving on Earth is produced by the World Media Foundation, which holds the copyright and manages production of the show.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Science Friday: SciFri is a flagship public radio science magazine program distributed by WNYC Studios, covering science topics including environmental and climate science. It directly parallels Living on Earth's format (weekly radio show, podcast, donations-supported nonprofit), making it the closest comparable in genre and distribution model.
• Radiolab: Radiolab is a WNYC Studios public radio program that blends science, journalism, and storytelling, frequently covering ecological and environmental topics. Comparable as a podcast-first, donations-supported nonprofit public radio magazine with national distribution and a comparable production footprint.
• This American Life: This American Life is a weekly public radio magazine show distributed by PRX and WBEZ, covering news, culture, and environmental stories. Living on Earth's syndication through PRX and magazine-format journalism makes TAL a peer in distribution and operating model, though LOE is more topic-specialized.
• Reveal: Reveal is the Center for Investigative Reporting's public radio program distributed via PRX, covering investigative journalism including environmental accountability. It is comparable as a nonprofit, donations-supported investigative public radio magazine show sharing the same PRX national distribution channel.
• On the Media: On the Media is a WNYC Studios weekly public radio program covering media, journalism, and environment-adjacent topics. Comparable as a nonprofit public radio magazine program distributed nationally with podcast extensions and donations-based revenue.
• The World: The World is a PRI/PRX distributed public radio program covering global news and culture, including environmental angles. Direct peer in being a PRI/PRX-distributed nonprofit public radio magazine program with parallel syndication and donations-driven funding model.
• Here & Now: Here & Now is a daily NPR-distributed public radio news magazine covering news, environment, and culture. Comparable as a donations-supported, NPR/PRX-family public radio news magazine show, though it is broader in topical scope than LOE's environmental focus.
• Yale Climate Connections: Yale Climate Connections is a nonprofit climate journalism and radio program syndicating environmental content to public radio stations. Direct peer in mission and distribution: a donations-supported climate-focused journalism outlet with public radio syndication and podcast distribution, anchored by an academic institution (Yale).

Broad incumbents

• Marketplace: Marketplace is a flagship public radio business news program from APM, distributed nationally and partially covering sustainability and energy topics. Comparable in being a syndicated public radio magazine with PRX-class distribution, but oriented to business rather than environment.

Regional players

• The Heat (internews / RadioTraining): The Heat is a public radio environmental program formerly distributed by Homelands Productions serving a comparable environmental-magazine niche for public radio. Comparable in being a donations-supported environmental public radio magazine, but smaller and less distributed than Living on Earth's PRX reach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/livingonearth
• YouTubeloe.org/podcast.rss
• Facebookfacebook.com/Living-on-Earth-117348464962280
• Instagraminstagram.com/livingonearthradio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/living-on-earth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Living on Earth