Hi, I'm Amy, an ordinary white middle-class American waking up to climate change. Join me and my loved ones as we grapple with this most critical issue and work to reclaim our power as citizens.
Check out Jeremy Clark and Charlie Abrams — seventh-graders in Portland, Oregon who've been speaking out for sane climate policy since they were 9 years old. See http://hellocc.info for resource links.
Sam Ward makes his daily commute by kayak, crossing the river Nile. Thanks to Sam for this thoughtful conversation, and inspiration, from an international point of view. Resource links at hellocc.info
Electoral politics, activist strategy, and "Art for the Resistance" - with Randy McMahon. Resources mentioned are here: hellocc.info
Renewable energy, government, immigration, capitalism, idealism, national infrastructure — a wide-ranging discussion between spouses. Here's the story in Inc magazine mentioned: inc.com/magazine/201511/paul-keegan/does-more-pay-mean-more-growth.html . More about the podcast at hellocc.info
Farmer, organizer, activist Jen Burt talks about chaining herself to a bank, growing kohlrabi, emotion, activism, and the making of a leader. Lots of links at hellocc.info/
Empathy, dialogue, and the task of intentionally evolving humanity—a conversation with educator and humanitarian Sarah Buie of Clark University. Links to resources mentioned at hellocc.info
Discussing the latest climate science, taking political action, and using social media constructively—a conversation with climate scientist Anji Seth of the University of Connecticut. See resources mentioned at http://hellocc.info
Continued conversation with Cherese Matthews: community, individual relationships, and the great divide between Trump supporters and the rest of us. The article I mentioned on fundamentalists of the "deep red" states: http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/rural-america-understanding-isnt-problem
Taking action, self-care, privilege, Facebook, and the power of community with activist and friend Cherese Matthews. See the Women's March from every continent in the New York Times here: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/21/world/womens-march-pictures.html?_r=0 and the animated statistics on wealth disparity here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPKKQnijnsM
Sustainable forestry, small-scale farming, and changing the world one town at a time with Director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Lynn Stoddard. More resources at http://hellocc.info
Exploring the social, personal, and academics of climate change with University of Connecticut sociologist Phoebe Godfrey. See http://hellocc.info for resources mentioned in the conversation.
Sometimes the best part of the conversation happens when the conversation is over.
David Clark, president of the Weather Channel TV network, just happened to be one of my childhood playmates. Check out "Note to Breitbart" ( https://weather.com/news/news/breitbart-misleads-americans-climate-change ) and kids talking climate ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwRhHyYR6cs&feature=youtu.be )
Working to end climate change for selfish reasons— lessons learned from 39 conversations. (Full disclosure: I was nervous about this one.) More about me here: http://amykstudio.com
Thinking about anger, violence, threats of violence, fear, and power struggles - lessons taken from social service legislation and training programs. (Just after recording this podcast, I learned that the Army Corps of Engineers denied DAPL a permit to drill under the Missouri River. This is a major victory, but the fight is not over yet. Ways to support here: http://sacredstonecamp.org/ )
Jim and I discuss reparations, racism, Thanksgiving, Bolivia, water, feminism, population growth, and the extractive economy. We recommend the documentary, FLOW: For the Love of Water. http://www.flowthefilm.com/
Discussing the place for fun and bonding while taking political action, the power of consumer vs voter, and where we get our news, with psychotherapist Beth Hankins.
President Trump. Yikes. Jim and I try to wrap our minds around it.
From canvasing for the environment to personal accountability to how to make yogurt—— a wide-ranging conversation with Michelle Maitland, longtime activist and brand new friend. Check out Low Tech Magazine here: http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/
School, religion, culture — the institutions that shape our minds, attitudes, and sense of agency in the world. Fascinating conversation with sociologist, professor, and climate change activist, Dr. Phoebe Godfrey. (Check out Daniel Pink's TED talk here: http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation?language=en ) More references on the way...
Have we evolved? Jim and I contemplate Naomi Klein, election politics, food, water, renewable energy, and our own role in caring for the environment.
Eric Toensmeier is an author and expert on the link between agriculture and climate change who has recently completed a book, The Carbon Farming Solution, drawing on his deep knowledge of sustainable agriculture, including agroforestry and permaculture. More about the book here: http://carbonfarmingsolution.com/ . Also, check out Tim Flannery's work here: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/mar/14/tim-flannery-here-on-earth
Contemplating wishful thinking about climate change, finite resources, and how citizens reclaim control. Check out Nobel laureate Leymah Gbowee here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leymah_Gbowee and Spike Lee's movie, Chiraq here: http://www.officialchiraqthemovie.com/
The economics of climate change, redistribution of wealth, Bernie vs Trump, backing out of tight spaces, and more with my brother, David Kalisher. Check out Naomi Klein's new movie "This Changes Everything" here: http://thefilm.thischangeseverything.org/
Nature is a healer! Naturopathic physician Fran Storch elaborates on the basic chemistry and biology.
Exploring the connection between environment and health with naturopathic physician Dr. Fran Storch. Check out Sandra Steingraber's book, Living Downstream here: http://steingraber.com/books/living-downstream/
Continued conversation with educator Maureen Crowley on how we come to understand our relationship with the environment and making connections, among other things. Check out Rob Hopkins TED talk on the end of the fossil fuel era: https://www.ted.com/talks/rob_hopkins_transition_to_a_world_without_oil?language=en
Considering environmental degradation from new angles: male and female approaches to morality and ethics, culture of distraction, capitalism and community development. Great conversation with educator, Dr. Maureen Crowley. Learn more about Carol Gilligan here: http://www.feministvoices.com/carol-gilligan/
Beth and Amy discuss the guide to climate change communication for scientists, journalists, educators, political aides, and the public put out by the Center for Research on Environmental Decisions at Columbia University, and reflect on questions of personal responsibility and opportunity to make change. Read CRED's "Psychology of Climate Change Communication" here: http://guide.cred.columbia.edu/
Jim and I catch up on the news, the weather, and the question of going vegan to save the world. More on John Robbins and his books here: http://johnrobbins.info . Marama Davidson's uplifting speech in the New Zealand parliament: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCFdms0Wl-4
Discouragement and dithering, activism and the American government — a conversation with Randy McMahon. Check out his website here: http://awarmachine.com and the speech from youth Activist Anjali Appadurai to the United Nations here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTREo1RcRBk&app=desktop . Also, we mentioned Charles Eistenstein. More on him here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oevXkJY-fE
Riffing on climate change denial in the United States, hope for developing social consciousness, personal responsibility, and taking steps toward change. Check out Sarah Silverman's Great Schlep for inspiration on interstate political activism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgHHX9R4Qtk
Inspiring conversation with sociologist Phoebe Godfrey on social justice, community, personal growth, and authentic action vs reaction. Read her essay on the connection between climate change, racism, and homophobia here: http://flashpageturn.com/?ID=10014858_540664
The environmental impact of investing. Some words from the world of finance with Ken Marienau on corporate, municipal, and personal finance. Some resources on this topic: Fossil Free Funds http://fossilfreefunds.org/ , 350.org's GoFossilFree http://gofossilfree.org/ , and Carbon Tracker http://www.carbontracker.org/ . Ken's company is Mission Markets, http://www.missionmarkets.com/ .
After suddenly waking up to climate change, navigating the temptation to go back to sleep. Great conversation with Jim McPherson. Some recent perspective on the world poverty: From The Economist: http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2013/06/economist-explains-0 From Business Ethics: http://business-ethics.com/2012/03/27/9309-world-bank-new-data-show-historic-declines-in-global-poverty/ From the World Bank: http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/overview
Recent news in science & climate change politics, plus thoughts on James Hansen, Elon Musk, COP21, and the way scientists communicate. Check out Hans Rosling's TED talks here: https://www.ted.com/speakers/hans_rosling
The episode after the episode with Errica Saunders: discussing 350.org, #BlackLivesMatter, economic justice, Hurricane Katrina, and becoming (and remaining) an activist.
Inspiring conversation on addressing issues of social justice and how that relates to climate change, with Errica Saunders, co-cordinator of 350 Massachusetts for a Better Future (more info here: http://www.betterfutureproject.org/350mass_webpage ). Psychology of Climate Change Communication info here: http://guide.cred.columbia.edu/
In order to change it, you have to understand it: campaign finance reform, Citizen's United, Super PACs, and United States government basics with Brendan McPherson. More on the movement for campaign finance reform here: https://www.ted.com/talks/lawrence_lessig_the_unstoppable_walk_to_political_reform?language=en
Catching up with Jim after vacation, contemplating racism, consumption, profit motive, the presidential election race, Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, and the prospect of 100 conversations on climate change. Let me know what you think at http://hellocc.info or via the Hello Climate Change Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/helloclimatechange
Talking with Randy McMahon about what makes for effective change-making, Transition Towns, and meditation as a tool for activists.
Talking with environmental consultant and author Ellen Moyer about her work, her ideas, and why climate change can be seen as an opportunity. More about Ellen here: http://ellenmoyerphd.com
Reorienting ourselves to the reality of climate change and our role in causing it as privileged middle class people in the United States. How rich are you? Check out where you fall on the Global Rich List: http://www.globalrichlist.com
How to change the world while frazzled, distracted, and rushed? The brilliant Beth Hudson-Hankins and I discuss baby steps, composting, and the psychology of climate change communication. The guidebook we discuss is here: http://guide.cred.columbia.edu/ and the Naomi Klein talk is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b2B-ys3N1o
Pat Bowe of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection discusses incinerators, gas pipelines, recycling, and more.
Author and energy efficiency expert Audrey Schulman explains how understanding the Bystander Effect prompted her to become an environmental activist and how taking action changed her life. Read Audrey's Essay "How to be a Climate Hero" here: https://orionmagazine.org/article/how-to-be-a-climate-hero/ More about her nonprofit HEET: http://www.heetma.org/
Climate scientist Anji Seth on the basics of climate science, why she's optimistic, and climate consciousness in developing countries. Here's the article we mentioned - on why climate action needs the arts. Anji is a professor at the University of Connecticut and tweets @anjiseth.
Talking with Randy McMahon about being an activist, the Occupy Wall Street movement, politics, and resources for understanding climate change and ways to move toward a more rational, healthy, sustainable world. Many links on Randy's website: http://awarmachine.com
Going to a climate rally, discussing environmental justice, dialogue between "alarmists" and "deniers"
Jim and Amy report on their conservation challenge and then consider the issue of climate change from square one: what is it? What's happening? And how do we respond?
Talking with Sarah Buie of Clark University about her work and thinking about climate change, the wise women's council, and the Climate Change Teach-in she organized at Clark.