A new podcast asks: Are ‘radical’ climate activists really that radical?

The Impact of Just Stop Oil’s Protest Actions

Just Stop Oil, a climate activist group known for their disruptive and attention-grabbing protests, made headlines in October 2022 when two members threw tomato soup at Vincent van Gogh’s iconic “Sunflowers” painting in London’s National Gallery. While the painting remained unharmed, the activists faced backlash and criticism for their actions.

Despite the negative attention, Just Stop Oil continued their protest actions, including spray-painting Stonehenge, blocking traffic in London, and zip-tying themselves to soccer goalposts. These actions led to hundreds of arrests and sparked a larger conversation about the effectiveness of radical protest tactics in the fight against climate change.

In response to these events, journalists Alessandra Ram and Samantha Oltman launched a podcast series titled “Sabotage” to investigate the motivations behind Just Stop Oil’s actions and explore the impact of their protests. The podcast delves into the training methods used by activists, the legal consequences they faced, and the broader implications of their activism.

Through their in-depth reporting, Ram and Oltman discovered that Just Stop Oil’s seemingly nonsensical protests were actually part of a strategic communication strategy. Research from the Social Change Lab in London showed that illogical protests, like the soup-throwing incident, garnered more media attention and increased donations for the cause. This finding challenged the notion that radical protest actions are ineffective and highlighted the importance of capturing public attention in the fight against climate change.

Despite facing legal challenges and public scrutiny, Just Stop Oil’s protests ultimately achieved their central goal. In the spring of 2025, the United Kingdom announced a ban on new drilling licenses for oil and gas, a significant victory for the group and a testament to the impact of their activism.

The “Sabotage” podcast series, produced by Ram and Oltman’s company Good Luck Media, offered a unique perspective on climate activism and the power of disruptive protest actions. By humanizing the activists and exploring the complexities of their motivations, the podcast shed light on the broader social and political implications of their actions.

As the conversation around climate change and activism continues to evolve, the legacy of Just Stop Oil’s protests serves as a reminder of the power of collective action and the importance of challenging the status quo in the pursuit of environmental justice.

Just Stop Oil made headlines in March when they announced that they would be “hanging up the hi vis” after successfully keeping 4.4 billion barrels of oil in the ground through their civil resistance campaign. This movement was hailed as one of the most successful in recent history, with hundreds of protesters marching through Westminster in April for their final action.

Despite the group’s announcement, there has been speculation that their disruptive stunts will continue under a new name. The activists behind Just Stop Oil were not your typical big personalities, as revealed by Ram and Oltman, who found them to be shy, quiet, and anxious individuals. The gap between their actual personalities and the risks they were willing to take for the sake of climate change was striking.

In the podcast “Sabotage,” the real people behind the movement are brought to light through small, vivid details that paint their stories with nuance. For example, the infamous soup-throwers practiced their demonstration the night before by hurling tomato soup at the glass in a tiny bathroom, making a mess in the process.

One of the soup-throwers, Anna Holland, expressed her perspective on their actions, stating, “I haven’t been acting in a radical way by joining Just Stop Oil. We’re facing the extinction of everything we know and love. And the only radical thing a person could be doing right now is ignoring it.”

The legacy of Just Stop Oil may continue under a new name, but the impact of their movement will not be forgotten. Their dedication to keeping oil in the ground and raising awareness about the urgent need for action on climate change has left a lasting impression on society. As we move forward, it is important to remember the courage and determination of these activists who were willing to take risks for the greater good.