Caitlin Esch

Senior Producer

SHORT BIO

Caitlin Esch is the senior producer of Marketplace's climate solutions podcast, "How We Survive," and its investigative podcast, "The Uncertain Hour." Caitlin joined Marketplace in 2014. Her work focuses on systemic inequality and the climate crisis.

Caitlin's reporting (and the work of the teams she senior produces) have won several accolades, including three awards from the Society of American Business Editors & Writers, a Webby Award, and a New York Festivals Gold Award. The teams' work has been a finalist for the Loeb Awards twice, the Covering Climate Now Awards and the Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE) Awards. Caitlin has a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in journalism from University of California, Berkeley. She lives in Los Angeles.

Episodes by Caitlin (8)

How We Survive | Season 4 | Episode 3

Rewriting the Rules

Nov 1, 2023
The Uncertain Hour | Season 5 | Episode 6

Big Boss, Little Boss

Mar 10, 2021
The Uncertain Hour | Season 5 | Episode 5

To catch a chicken

Mar 3, 2021
The Uncertain Hour | Season 3 | Episode 6

Kicking the habit

Apr 18, 2019
The Uncertain Hour | Season 3 | Episode 5

Supply

Apr 11, 2019
The Uncertain Hour | Season 3 | Episode 3

Sentencing

Mar 28, 2019

Latest Stories (44)

Josephine Moore: The Working Mother

Aug 22, 2016
Marketplace followed this mother from welfare to work 20 years ago.
Josephine Moore at her home in West Virginia.
Gina Delvac/Marketplace

Ruby Duncan: The Activist

Aug 22, 2016
After experiencing discrimination in the welfare system, Ruby fought to change it.

Larry Townsend: The Reformer

Aug 22, 2016
How the director of a country welfare department changed the national model.
Larry Townsend, former director of the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services.
Gina Delvac/Marketplace

How welfare money funds college scholarships

According to the state of Michigan, it's a way to prevent out-of-wedlock pregnancy.
Students at a college in Michigan play soccer while cocooned in plastic bubbles.
Caitlin Esch/Marketplace

A Promise Zone designation brings economic change

Feb 24, 2016
In South Carolina, a 6-county region gets priority for federal grants and loans.
An abandoned rest stop in rural South Carolina.
Caitlin Esch

Fighting poverty one house at a time

Feb 8, 2016
In South Carolina, a non-profit wants to use a federal zone to spur development.
Allendale County Alive's Wilbur Cave in front of a dilapidated house in Fairfax, SC. Cave's organization bought 14 homes in similar disrepair and renovated and rented them out to low-income families.
Caitlin Esch/Marketplace

Can fixing infrastructure solve rural poverty?

Feb 8, 2016
A wastewater treatment plant in a small town prepares for more business.
Plant Manager Cyndie Moberly (left) and Engineer Kari Foy at a wastewater treatment plant in Hampton, S.C.
Caitlin Esch

How wealth influences social behavior

Jan 21, 2016
Your economic class has a lot to do with how generous you are.

Refugees learn American banking and credit

Dec 29, 2015
Newcomers take free financial literacy classes.

How early environments contribute to later success

Dec 22, 2015
Children raised in predictable — though poor — environments do better as adults.