Metra: A Climate Revolution with Songs – Emily and Ned Hartford’s Climate Change Musical Podcast
In a world wrestling with environmental collapse and eco-anxiety, storytellers are finding new ways to reimagine the conversation. Enter Emily and Ned Hartford, the creative duo behind Metra: A Climate Revolution with Songs — a bold, immersive musical podcast that turns climate activism into an unforgettable sonic experience.
With a seamless fusion of myth, music, and magic, Metra is more than a podcast — it’s a movement in sound, urging listeners to envision a world beyond performative politics and corporate greenwashing.
The Hartfords’ new series is a genre-defying audio musical, praised by critics as both audacious and deeply moving. According to Broadway DNA, it’s “an enrapturing original story,” while Blogcritics hails it as “a brash, impactful fantasia” that dares to imagine a future of rebellion, restoration, and hope.
Set in the year 2043, Metra tells the story of a band of revolutionaries determined to reshape a fractured world — one where performative climate action has failed, and inequality has widened under the weight of environmental neglect.
A Story Woven with Myth and Futurism
Metra’s narrative blends ancient mythological archetypes with futuristic storytelling, grounding its message in the timeless struggle between destruction and rebirth.
The characters embody the essence of resistance:
Dreamers who refuse to surrender to despair
Scientists turned poets
Artists wielding song as their weapon of revolution
Each episode invites listeners into a sonic world that oscillates between ritual and rebellion, echoing the urgency of the climate movement and the longing for renewal.
An All-Star Broadway Ensemble
The production’s stellar Broadway cast elevates the project with vocal brilliance and theatrical depth. It features:
Jeannette Bayardelle, Tony Award nominee known for Girl from the North Country
Fred Inkley, celebrated for his roles in Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera
Cherrye J. Davis, acclaimed for her powerful performances in experimental theatre
Corinna Schulenburg, actor-playwright and founding member of Flux Theatre Ensemble
Together, they deliver performances that are cinematic in scale yet intimate in emotion, transforming the podcast format into something entirely new.
The Vision Behind Metra: Creating Change Through Sound
The idea for Metra has been seven years in the making, nurtured by Emily Hartford through her collaboration with Flux Theatre Ensemble, a New York-based collective known for socially conscious storytelling.
Emily, who serves as the writer and director, calls Metra a story about transformation:
“Metra is about radical change — our power to rewrite the story we’ve been given. We wanted to create something that’s honest about the systems fueling the climate crisis, but also fearless in envisioning the world we deserve.”
Her husband and creative partner, Ned Hartford, composed the original music, handled sound design, and co-produced the project, shaping a lush, immersive soundscape that feels both cinematic and urgent.
“For over 50 years, fossil fuel billionaires have engineered the global economy for profit while wrecking our planet,” Ned said. “Metra is our way of fighting back — using truth, music, and brilliant voices to take that power back.”
The Sound of the Future: A Cinematic Podcast Experience
Each episode of Metra unfolds like a feature-length musical film for the ears. From layered harmonies to percussive motifs evoking the heartbeat of the earth, Ned Hartford’s score combines:
Contemporary Broadway orchestration
Electronic atmospheres reminiscent of dystopian cinema
Natural field recordings from forests, oceans, and urban soundscapes
This unique sound design creates a multi-dimensional listening experience that mirrors the complexity of the climate crisis itself — chaotic, beautiful, and full of possibility.
From Stage to Stream: Reinventing Musical Theatre
Metra bridges the gap between theatre and podcasting, breaking free from the traditional constraints of the stage. It proves that musical storytelling can thrive in the digital space — reaching global audiences while maintaining the intimacy of live performance.
Through powerful lyrics and evocative storytelling, Metra invites its audience to participate — not just to listen, but to imagine, to feel, and to act.
A Cultural Movement, Not Just a Show
Beyond the art form, Metra carries a message: climate action must go beyond performance. The Hartfords aim to challenge complacency within the cultural and political status quo, urging communities to take tangible action.
The series’ themes resonate with ongoing global debates about climate justice, economic inequality, and environmental ethics. By combining activism with art, Metra serves as both a call to arms and a celebration of resilience.
Critical Acclaim and Early Reception
Within days of release, Metra garnered glowing reviews across theatre and podcasting circles:
Broadway DNA called it “a new frontier for musical storytelling.”
Blogcritics described it as “a brash, impactful fantasia that shakes the conscience.”
Environmental blogs praised it for “making the climate crisis emotional, not abstract.”
Listeners have described the show as “a sonic revolution,” “hauntingly hopeful,” and “the future of musical theatre in the age of streaming.”
Why Metra Matters in 2025
As world leaders debate emission targets and corporate responsibility, Metra cuts through the noise with heart and humanity. It reminds audiences that change begins with storytelling — that narrative power can inspire collective transformation.
In a media landscape often dominated by fear and despair, Metra dares to blend grief with hope, art with activism, and myth with reality.
Where to Listen
Metra: A Climate Revolution with Songs is available now on:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Amazon Music
And all major podcast platforms
Listeners are encouraged to follow the show’s official channels for behind-the-scenes content, interviews, and future live performances.
About the Creators
Emily Hartford – Writer, Director, and Artistic Visionary. Co-founder of Flux Theatre Ensemble, known for creating socially relevant theatre that blends poetic realism with activism.
Ned Hartford – Composer, Producer, and Sound Designer. His previous works explore the relationship between music, technology, and environmental storytelling.
Together, they have crafted a piece that stands at the intersection of art, technology, and advocacy — proving that storytelling can still ignite revolutions.
Final Thoughts: Metra and the Music of Resistance
At its core, Metra is a reminder that every great revolution begins with a song. In an era of ecological uncertainty, it invites us to listen — not only to the earth’s warnings, but to its rhythm of resilience.
With its powerful narrative, world-class performances, and emotional resonance, Metra could very well become the defining audio experience of our generation’s climate awakening.
