Climate Magic

Hosted by author and professor of Environmental Studies at Cal Poly Humboldt, Sarah Jaquette Ray, Climate Magic connects emotions like climate anxiety and despair to our ability to take positive action and reclaim our sense of efficacy. Through interviews with a range of experts, she reveals that magic in this current climate comes from even the smallest acts.

Neuroscience and hope in the face of climate change

Neurosurgeon Ann-Christine Duhaime, author of Minding the Climate, explores how our tendency to prioritize short-term consumer pleasures spurs climate change, but also how the brain’s amazing capacity for flexibility can—and likely will—enable us to prioritize the long-term survival of humanity.

10-09
59:00

Sarah Stein Lubrano on How to Change the 21st-century Mind

A researcher makes the case that your social life can help change society.

09-25
58:59

Dana Fisher on Apocalyptic Optimism

Does gluing your hand to a Van Gogh painting, in order to draw attention to the evils of the fossil fuel industry, gain sympathy for your cause?

09-11
58:59

Keanu Arpels-Josiah on Youth Climate Activism

We often look to young people to give us hope for the future. But for young people themselves, that’s a huge burden to carry.

09-02
59:00

Climate Anxiety and the Kid Question, with Jade Sasser

In this conversation with Dr. Jade Sasser, an expert on climate change and reproductive justice, we explore why women of color in particular are worried about having kids.

08-27
59:00

How Climate Affects Your Brain Chemistry

In this conversation with Grist magazine data journalist, “recovering neuroscientist,” and author Clayton Page Aldern, we explore the myriad ways that a changing environment changes our brains and bodies.

08-27
59:00

Neuroscience and Climate Trauma with Jyoti Mishra

Helping us prepare our “fire brains” this first week of Climate Magic is Dr. Jyoti Mishra, who studies what happens to the brain– and how individuals and communities can respond – when a wildfire strikes.

08-27
59:00

Climate Change and Mental Health, with Sarah Newman

Research and progress in the world of mental health has come a long way in the past few decades. We now hear about “crises” of mental health among various populations, from parents or Gen Z, to teachers and health workers. But what happens when you add the issue of climate change into the mix?

08-27
59:00

Climate Magic: Eco-grief on the Frontline, with Ashlee Cunsolo

Why should we lean into ecological grief, rather than shun, fix, or repress it? What does “grief literacy” look like, and why might our ecological crisis require us to gain those skills? What does the inability to lean into grief mean for the climate crisis, and how might we collectively leverage grief for political change?

08-27
57:01

Climate Magic: Bonita Eloise Ford

What if helping address climate change were akin to trying to start a fire without matches? In this beautiful conversation, Bonita draws a parallel between her attempts to start fire with a bow drill and the way she hopes we can all keep showing up in the world, and not give up.

07-03
59:00

Climate Magic: Preview

This is a preview for Climate Magic with Dr. Sarah Ray

06-04
00:30

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