The Paris Olympics’ $1.5 Billion Poop Problem

This podcast episode examines the critical challenges Paris faces in cleaning the River Seine as the city prepares for the 2024 Olympics, discussing the river's historical transformation from a swimmable cultural landmark to a polluted waterway and the ambitious $1.5 billion cleanup plan that has gained urgency with the Olympic timeline. The episode underscores the technical and environmental hurdles involved in achieving the goal of safe swimming in the Seine, highlighting the unsuccessful attempts which emphasize the precarious balance between ambition and reality, ultimately leaving listeners questioning the viability of this ideal vision against a backdrop of ongoing pollution challenges.