Climate Shifted

• The Power of Place-Based Storytelling: Imagining Climate Possibilities in Your Community with Autumn Leiker

  In this episode of Climate Shifted, host Eva Frye speaks with Autumn Leiker, a designer and climate artivist based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. While many climate stories are doom-and-gloom, Autumn decided to ask their community a different question: considering the realities of the climate crisis, what world do you actually want to live in? This simple but powerful question became Into the Unknown Together, a beautiful anthology of stories, recipes, and art from the people of New Mexico. This work is powerful because when we get out of the limiting fear mindset and into creative ideation, when we imagine the world we do want, we actually start to build it.  Autumn had never published a book or run a contest before—but they showed that any of us can create something meaningful in our own communities. Discover why listening matters more than telling, how stories are humanity's most powerful tool for creating change, and the practical steps any of us can take to inspire climate imagination in our own communities. Because when we tell new stories about our climate future, we imagine the pathways for living into them. FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE Key Topics Covered The Power of Place-Based, Community Storytelling Why stories are humanity's tool for creating change and new worlds How climate stories can move beyond apocalyptic doom to inspire imagination Making abstract climate issues personally relevant through place-based narratives The role of artists and storytellers as "new world midwives" Building Climate Imagination Moving from "what we don't want" to "what we do want" in climate futures Why utopian thinking isn't the goal—complex, realistic visions are Balancing grief and joy in climate work Processing the full spectrum of climate emotions through creative expression Community-Centered Approach How Autumn approached their project as an anthropologist and listener The importance of amplifying local voices rather than imposing outside ideas Creating space for diverse perspectives and first-time contributors Building projects that reflect the actual ecology and culture of a place Practical Project Building How to start a community storytelling project from scratch Navigating grants, outreach, and building without institutional backing The power of commissioning alongside open submissions Making projects accessible and beautiful to draw people in Standout Quotes "We are the storytelling animal... Everything is a story that someone has imagined, so the world that we're living in today and all the systems that we are living in, for better or worse, they are all something that someone imagined at some point." "When writers create new stories, they open up pathways that we can also live into... it is how we can create new worlds." "If we don't try to start imagining what we do want and then how to get there, then it's never going to happen." "Being on the right side of history doesn't necessarily mean we're going to make it... but I want to be on the right side of things, and I want to help others engage with that as well." "I so want more people to do this. Please take the idea, do whatever you want with it, change it, do it in your communities." Featured Resources Autumn's Project: Into the Unknown Together - Climate anthology for and by the people of New Mexico Autumn's Portfolio - Design and climate storytelling work Influences & Inspiration: Adrienne Maree Brown - Visionary fiction author and activist who inspired the project Jamie Figueroa's "Prophecies of Possibility" for Emergence Magazine Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grant - Funded the project Essential Reading Mentioned: Ursula K. Le Guin - Science fiction author who explored creating new worlds and systems Robin Wall Kimmerer - Blends science with indigenous wisdom (highly recommended in audiobook) David Abrams - "The Spell of the Sensuous" on animism and written language Norma Wong - Activist and community organizer Organizations & Collaborators Mentioned Emergence Magazine - Featured Jamie Figueroa's essay referenced in the book Zoe Young - Writer and collaborator who keeps Autumn going in this work Local New Mexico libraries - Recipients of free book copies Community contributors - Over 100 submissions from local residents Key Themes Explored Grief and Joy as Climate Tools How our capacity for joy maps directly to our ability to feel grief Processing climate emotions without getting stuck in fear or bypassing to optimism Creating space for the full spectrum of human experience in climate work Place-Based Climate Action Why local, ecological storytelling resonates more than abstract global messaging Understanding your community before trying to create change The importance of being "people of our ecologies" in climate adaptation Creative Climate Communication Listen before creating anything, and amplify local voices Use beauty and curiosity to draw people into difficult conversations Create accessible entry points through diverse formats (stories, recipes, art, poetry) Juicy Bits: Key Takeaways for Climate Communicators Listen first, create second - Spend time understanding your community before launching any project You don't need permission - Autumn had no experience but started anyway and created something beautiful Embrace emotional complexity - Hold space for grief, hope, anger, and joy simultaneously Make it local and personal - Place-based storytelling works because it speaks to people's actual lives Stories create pathways - When we imagine better futures, we make them more possible Focus on what you want - Move from fighting against to building toward Process matters as much as output - How you treat contributors becomes part of world-building Call to Action Which story or voice does your community need to hear? What world are you helping them imagine? Support Autumn's Work: Purchase "Into the Unknown Together" at intotheunknowntogether.com Request a free copy for your community organization Adapt their model for your own place-based storytelling project Connect with Climate Shifted: Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts Follow @climateshifted on all social media platforms Share this episode with anyone interested in creative climate communication Consider supporting our volunteer team through Substack for Episode Insight Digests Credits Executive Producer & Host: Eva Frye Technical Producer: Mateus Salgado Audio Engineer: Gianna Scioletti Project Management: Sarah Clayton Advisers: Ryan Shuken, Ashley Chapman, Chris Clark

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• From Anxiety to Action: How to Use Behavior Change Models in Climate with Melinda Briana Epler

  In this episode of Climate Shifted, host Eva Frye speaks with Melinda Briana Epler, a TED Speaker and behavior change strategist who has worked on national programs with organizations like the American Hospital Association. Melinda is currently authoring a whitepaper on climate communication best practices called Our Moment is Now, out soon. Discover why fear-based climate messaging burns people out, how to move audiences up Maslow's hierarchy of needs to create lasting change, and why listening might be the most powerful tool in a climate communicator's toolkit. Learn practical frameworks for designing user journeys that meet people where they are and guide them toward sustained climate action over time.   Full Transcript Found Here Key Topics Covered The Psychology of Climate Motivation Why fear and guilt are unsustainable motivators for climate action How to use Maslow's hierarchy of needs in climate communications The importance of moving from fear-based messaging to love and joy Building identity-based climate action for lasting change Behavior Change Strategy The "trim tab" approach: finding small actions that create big impact Stages of change model: from unconcerned to maintaining action Meeting people where they are vs. where you want them to be Designing user journeys for long-term engagement Communication Tactics That Work The power of listening before speaking Why storytelling beats abstract messaging Building trust through community ambassadors Moving from individual awareness to policy change Bridging Political Divides Whether to engage dismissive audiences or focus on the converted Finding common ground across political differences Learning from bipartisan policy successes The role of trusted messengers in polarized times Standout Quotes "Often people want to just go right to the solution and jump into building awareness... But I would say you need to take a step back to really understand the problem that you're trying to solve." "Fear is a common emotion that can be evoked by climate communications... And it's not a sustainable emotion. That's why climate anxiety is on the rise." "If somebody identifies as somebody that takes climate action, they're much more open to taking other climate actions." "The number one role in communications I would say is listening. First really understanding where people are coming from." Featured Research & Resources Melinda's Climate Communication Research: Our Moment is Now: Best Practices in Climate Communication - Executive summary available now, full research paper coming soon Featured Interview: Nisha Anand on Bipartisan Climate Policy - CEO of Dream.org discusses building bridges across political divides Key Frameworks Mentioned: Stages of Change Model for behavior design Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs for motivation Yale's Six Americas climate audience segmentation Community-based social marketing approaches Organizations & People Mentioned Dream.org - Nisha Anand's organization focused on bipartisan policy change American Hospital Association - Partner on national energy efficiency program Nature Conservancy - Example of nonpartisan environmental approach Greenpeace - Contrasted as confrontational vs. collaborative approach Dr. Katherine Hayhoe - Climate scientist and communication expert Dr. Renee Lertzman - Environmental psychologist George Marshall - Author of "Don't Even Think About It" Brené Brown - Researcher on shame and vulnerability Juicy Bits: Key Takeaways for Climate Communicators Start with systems thinking - Find the "trim tab" - the smallest action that creates the biggest impact Listen first, speak second - Understanding where people are now is more important than where you want them to be Move beyond fear - Use fear only as an initial trigger, then transition to hope, love, and identity-based motivation Design for the long term - Create user journeys that move people through stages of change over time Find trusted messengers - Work with community ambassadors when your audience doesn't trust you directly Seek common ground - Even dismissive audiences can be engaged when you find shared values Measure what matters - Track behavior change, not just awareness metrics Sustain yourself - Connect with what brings you joy to avoid burnout in this challenging work Connect with Melinda Website: melindabrianaepler.com LinkedIn: Melinda Briana Epler Instagram: @melindabrianaepler Call to Action Climate communication doesn't have to rely on fear and guilt. Download Melinda's executive summary on climate communication best practices and start designing behavior change campaigns that meet people where they are and guide them toward lasting action. Subscribe to Climate Shifted wherever you listen to podcasts and follow @climateshifted on social media for more expert insights on what actually works to shift hearts and minds on climate.

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• Art That Sculpts Communities: Xavier Cortada's Climate Social Practice

  In this episode of Climate Shifted, host Eva Frye speaks with Xavier Cortada, a socially engaged environmental artist and Florida Artist Hall of Fame member. He creates participatory art projects transforming how communities understand and respond to the climate crisis.  Xavier shares how his "Underwater Homeowners Association" project used lawn signs showing home elevation levels to make sea level rise personally relevant to inland residents, how he strategically uses art to invite curiosity rather than confrontation, and how he builds coalitions with local institutions to create lasting policy change.  Learn how his approach to "social practice art" sculpts people instead of clay, makes topics personal to bypass political polarization, and discover how anyone can get started doing projects like this in your own communities. Transcript available here Key Topics Using "social practice art" to create community climate engagement Making abstract climate threats personally relevant through art Designing art experiences that invite curiosity rather than confrontation Building strategic partnerships with municipalities, schools, and nonprofits Creating platforms for civic engagement beyond awareness Moving from individual action to policy change Balancing different communication approaches for different audiences Starting with personal passion rather than waiting for permission Finding sustainable motivation through love rather than fear Quotes "Art allows you to see things differently, but it also allows you to behave differently. And you then model to those who aren't part of the process, how they too can do the same thing." - Xavier Cortada "My way in was the yard sign. What's this weird number doing in my neighbor's front yard? And then that curiosity allows you to understand that you have a vulnerability, that it's not someone else's problem, it's your problem." - Xavier Cortada "What I try to do is journey into this land called hope, and art gets us there." - Xavier Cortada "At the end of the day I'm not trying to change human behavior. I'm trying to change the policies that allow corporate interests to exploit people and to extract from our environment." - Xavier Cortada People & Organizations Mentioned Xavier Cortada - Socially engaged environmental artist and Florida Artist Hall of Fame member Underwater Homeowners Association - Community organization created through Cortada's art project Cortada Foundation - Organization founded to scale Cortada's climate art approach Natural Resources Defense Council - Environmental organization that partnered with Cortada on the Blake Plateau project Joseph Beuys - Pioneering social practice artist mentioned as an influence Notable Art Installations Discussed Underwater Homeowners Association: A participatory art project where residents displayed signs showing their home's elevation above sea level, transforming abstract sea level rise data into personal concerns about property values and flood insurance. Elevation Markers: Street paintings showing elevation levels at intersections throughout Miami, demonstrating how even areas miles inland were vulnerable to sea level rise. Park Elevation Sculptures: Vague concrete sculptures with QR codes in parks that, when scanned, revealed the park's elevation and sea level rise projections. Reclamation Project: An installation where mangrove seedlings were displayed in water-filled cups on retail storefronts throughout Miami Beach, revealing the area's history as a mangrove forest before development. JUICY BITS: Takeaways for Climate Communicators Believe in yourself: Understand that you have a voice and role in delivering the future you want. Combat imposter syndrome - if you doubt yourself, you've already lost. Believe in others: Recognize you can't create change alone. Value the unique perspectives and skills others bring and believe they too have a seat at the table. Don't give up: Persist even through difficult challenges. Continue pushing forward when questioning if the work is worth it, especially when trying to change entrenched systems. Make climate personal: Transform abstract global issues into immediate local concerns that connect to what people already value (like property values or flood insurance). Invite curiosity over confrontation: Create experiences that spark questions rather than forcing information, allowing people to discover climate issues through their own inquiry. Build platforms for agency: Move beyond awareness to give people tools and spaces for collective action, connecting concerned citizens with relevant experts and policymakers. Call to Action Subscribe to Climate Shifted wherever you listen to podcasts Follow @climateshifted on all social media platforms Share this episode with friends interested in climate communication Check out Xavier Cortada's work at cortadafoundation.org Consider how you might make climate issues visible and personal in your own community Credits Executive Producer & Host - Eva Frye Technical Producers - Mateus Salgado Audio engineer - Gianna Scioletti Project management - Sarah Clayton Advisers - Ryan Shuken, Ashley Chapman, Chris Clark Nature sounds from bbc.co.uk – © copyright 2025 BBC

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• Beyond Yell, Tell, Sell: Dr. Renee Lertzman on the Psychology of Climate Communication

  In this episode of Climate Shifted, host Eva Frye speaks with Dr. Renee Lertzman, a pioneer in climate psychology who is transforming how we communicate about our planet's future. While most climate messaging bombards us with facts or terrifies us with doomsday scenarios, Renee's approach taps into something deeper: our human need to feel heard before we can change. Her groundbreaking work with Project Inside Out reveals why traditional "yelling, telling and selling" tactics fail so spectacularly with climate issues—they actually trigger defensiveness. Instead, Renee offers frameworks that help us become guides who create genuine dialogue rather than delivering monologues. Her approach is built on the same psychological techniques that help people overcome addiction—some of the most difficult behavior change imaginable. Whether you're an activist looking for new tools, a communicator hitting walls, or simply someone who cares and wants to share effectively, this conversation provides practical frameworks to transform how you engage with people about the climate crisis. Transcript available here Key Topics Moving beyond "yell, tell, sell" approaches to climate communication Using motivational interviewing techniques to create dialogue instead of defensiveness The importance of acknowledging anxiety, ambivalence, and aspiration Becoming a "guide" rather than an educator or cheerleader Addressing polarization through empathetic listening Creating sustainable activism campaigns that don't traumatize people Using attunement and relational approaches even for urgent campaigns Quotes "Your job is to draw out from others what their concerns are, values, volition for change, and it's actually massively more impactful and effective than what I call yell, tell, and sell." - Renee Lertzman "How to become a climate communication “guide”? The first step is to become very self-aware and with a lot of compassion, to go through a bit of an internal reflection on how am I showing up?" - Renee Lertzman "It was crystal clear that we needed to be bridging these worlds of psychological insight with, what does it mean to actually come to terms with climate issues as well as how did we get here?" - Renee Lertzman "It's very hard to do this work effectively unless you have a pretty high level of self-awareness." - Renee Lertzman "A really good guide also is tuned in to how people are doing. And so, it's always a matter of balancing the 'take action now' with, 'I get it. Maybe this is upsetting to you, but we need to take action anyway.'" - Renee Lertzman People & Organizations Mentioned Dr. Renee Lertzman - Climate psychologist and strategic advisor Project Inside Out - Resource platform for climate communication Alliance for Climate Education - Organization that worked with Renee on a video about how to talk about climate change Victor Frankl - Psychologist whose work Renee references Dan Siegel - Neuropsychologist mentioned for "name it to tame it" concept Barbara Ehrenreich - Author of "Nickel and Dimed" Van Jones - Activist mentioned for his ability to bridge divides Amy Edmondson - Harvard professor and expert on leadership development JUICY BITS: Takeaways for Climate Communicators Shift from educator to guide: Learn to create invitations for dialogue rather than lectures that trigger defensiveness. Practice the three A's: Acknowledge anxiety, ambivalence, and aspiration in your audience to create deeper connection. Use "Ask, Offer, Ask" (AOA): Start by asking about experience, offer information with permission, then ask for reflection. Create reflective pauses: Help people find the space between stimulus and response where change can happen. Practice "name it to tame it": Naming feelings reduces their charge and makes them more manageable. Call to Action Subscribe to Climate Shifted wherever you listen to podcasts Follow @climateshifted on all social media platforms Share this episode with friends interested in climate communication Visit projectinsideout.net for resources on effective climate engagement Follow Renee's work at reneelertzman.com and subscribe to her Substack "Becoming Guides" Credits Executive Producer & Host - Eva Frye Technical Producer - Mateus Salgado Adviser - Ryan Shuken Audio engineer - Gianna Scioletti Project management - Sarah Clayton

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• Creating Climate Art That Goes Viral: Benjamin Von Wong’s Cultural Hacking Playbook

  In this episode of Climate Shifted, host Eva Frye speaks with Benjamin Von Wong, an environmental artist and activist who creates large-scale art installations to make climate issues accessible to wider audiences. Benjamin shares how he uses familiar cultural metaphors to draw people into climate conversations, strategically places his art to influence decision-makers, and approaches climate work from love rather than duty. Learn how his installations like the four-story "Turn Off the Plastic Tap" sculpture and "Biodiversity Jenga" use recognizable concepts to make complex environmental issues instantly understandable, and discover his insights on creating sustainable activism practices that avoid burnout. Transcript available here Key Topics Using popular cultural metaphors to make climate issues more accessible Strategic placement of art installations to influence policy decisions Transitioning from duty-based climate work to love-based activism Creating large-scale art that requires no words to explain Building relationships instead of chasing social media algorithms Developing sustainable activism practices to avoid burnout Using art as a "top of funnel" to draw new people into climate conversations Quotes "I try to think of popular metaphors or popular cultural tropes that I can hijack." - Benjamin Von Wong "Coming at things from a place of love, it's almost like a privilege to be able to show up and to offer yourself in the fullest most complete way." - Benjamin Von Wong "My role is to simply provide a piece of art that is as universal as possible that any organization or even a company or a government, regardless of where they are on the journey, can find utility in what I'm creating." - Benjamin Von Wong "The ultimate goal of mine is to be able to constantly create work that requires no words to explain." - Benjamin Von Wong "As climate professionals, we spend a lot of time thinking about regeneration and sustainability for the outside world. I think we also need to put up a mirror every so often and think about how are we making our work and career path sustainable and regenerative." - Benjamin Von Wong People & Organizations Mentioned Benjamin Von Wong - Environmental artist and activist United Nations Environmental Assembly - Venue for the "Turn Off the Plastic Tap" installation Sir David Attenborough - Mentioned as an influential environmentalist Notable Art Installations Discussed Turn Off the Plastic Tap: A four-story tall sculpture resembling a faucet spewing plastic trash, installed at the United Nations Environmental Assembly where delegates were voting on plastic treaties. The installation gave physical form to the phrase "turning off the plastic tap" used in negotiations. Biodiversity Jenga: A two-and-a-half story tall Jenga tower where each block represents a different ecosystem, demonstrating how removing elements of biodiversity could lead to collapse. Created with 200 students who made 150 animal figures to populate the installation. Straw-pocalypse: An installation made of 168,000 plastic straws, illustrating what happens when we pour plastics into the ocean. Mermaid on Plastic Bottles: An installation featuring a mermaid on 10,000 plastic bottles to raise awareness about plastic pollution. JUICY BITS: Takeaways for Climate Communicators Make it irresistible: Create environmental messaging that invites curiosity instead of hitting people over the head with information. Approach climate work from love, not duty: When you connect with what you're protecting and approach climate work from love rather than obligation, activism becomes sustaining rather than draining. Use familiar metaphors: Leverage recognizable concepts (like Jenga) as shortcuts to make complex problems instantly understandable - the art should require no words to explain. Think ecosystem, not individual: Remember that your work is part of a broader ecosystem of solutions. Focus on the role you can play rather than trying to solve everything yourself. Distribution matters: Package your work so it's easy for journalists and organizations to share with their followers, ensuring the right eyes see your work without relying on fickle algorithms. Call to Action Subscribe to Climate Shifted wherever you listen to podcasts Follow @climateshifted on all social media platforms Share this episode with friends interested in climate communication Check out Benjamin Von Wong's work at unforgettablelabs.com or by searching "Von Wong" online RSVP for the Climate Shifted launch party "Resilience: Stories of Renewal" on April 25th at KALW Radio Station in San Francisco at climateshifted.com or https://lu.ma/ok1v6rxd Credits Executive Producer & Host - Eva Frye Technical Producer - Mateus Salgado Adviser - Ryan Shuken Audio engineer - Gianna Scioletti Project management - Sarah Clayton

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