Climate Changed

The Power of Ritual and Story with Brian McLaren and Favianna Rodriguez

In the Season Three premiere of the Climate Changed Podcast, hosts Ben Yosua-Davis and Nicole Diroff engage in a powerful conversation with Brian McLaren, an influential author, activist, and public theologian. They explore the vital role faith communities can play in addressing climate change, drawing on insights from McLaren’s latest book, Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart. The discussion focuses on navigating and redefining hope, resilience, and meaningful action in the face of our current environmental crises.
Links to discussion guide and transcript
Grounding: 
The episode begins with a grounding exercise led by artist and activist Favianna Rodriguez, who reads from her essay “Harnessing Cultural Power” from the anthology All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis. Rodriguez emphasizes the transformative power of stories in shaping culture and driving social change, particularly in the climate movement. Her words set the stage for the episode’s exploration of how narratives and rituals can inspire collective action.
Listen to Favianna read the entire essay. 
Main Conversation:
Brian McLaren joins the podcast to discuss his new book, Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart. The conversation touches on the profound sense of "doom" many feel in the face of climate change and how this emotion can be harnessed to foster courage and hope. McLaren explains that his book is not about predicting the end of the world but rather about navigating the complex emotions and challenges of our time. He discusses the importance of confronting our fears and how faith leaders can help guide communities through these uncertain times. The episode also delves into how religious texts, like the Bible, can be reinterpreted as ecological literature offering wisdom for today’s climate crisis.
You are invited to Life After Doom: An Evening with Brian McLaren https://thebtscenter.org/life-after-doom-a-book-study/Wednesday, October 30 • 7.00 - 8.30pm (Eastern) • Online
And Special Book Study
Life After Doom: A Book Study https://thebtscenter.org/life-after-doom-a-book-study/
Tuesdays 4:00pm - 5:15pm (Eastern) • OnlineOctober 15 – November 19, 2024
Next Steps: 
Start a Climate Journal: Reflect on your feelings about living in a climate-changed world. Personalize a journal and set aside 20–30 minutes each week to write, draw, or press leaves. Begin by noting your takeaways from this episode.
Share with a Friend: Tell a friend about this episode and discuss Brian McLaren’s book, Life After Doom. Consider why it might be important for others to read and reflect on it.
Engage in Prayer or Meditation: After listening to the conversation, take time to ground yourself. Consider praying or meditating on the insights shared, especially if you feel overwhelmed.
Additional Resources:
Brian McLaren’s Website
All We Can Save Project
Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart
Life After Doom Playlist
Meet Guest: 
Guest bio with social media links + headshot
Brian McLaren is an author, activist, and public theologian known for his pioneering work in progressive Christianity. His latest book, Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart, provides a roadmap for facing the future with honesty, hope, and courage. McLaren is a core faculty member and the Dean of Faculty at the Center for Action and Contemplation, co-hosts the podcast Learning How to See, and is an Auburn Senior Fellow.
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Favianna Rodriguez is an artist, activist, and cultural organizer based in Oakland, California. She is renowned for her vibrant artwork and advocacy, which focus on social justice issues such as immigration, racial justice, gender equity, and climate change. Rodriguez is the co-founder of The Center for Cultural Power, where she empowers artists to create work that fosters social change. Her essay, Harnessing Cultural Power, featured in the anthology All We Can Save, highlights the importance of storytelling in the climate movement and was a focal point in this episode’s grounding exercise.
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Website
THANK YOUS
We want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who made this episode possible:
Brian McLaren and Favianna Rodriguez, for sharing their insights and wisdom with us.
Anna Barron, our fantastic podcast production intern, for her work producing the Next Steps segment and contributing to the overall episode production.
Rev. Ash Temin, Communications Manager at The BTS Center, for her vital role in ensuring the smooth communication and promotion of this episode.
Peterson Toscano for his continued excellence in producing the Climate Changed Podcast.
The BTS Center thanks you for your ongoing support and for providing the resources and platform that make this podcast possible.
For discussion guide, transcripts, and more visit www.climatechangedpodcast.org
 

Get Ready for Season Three: You are Invited to the Special Online Launch Party

🎉 Join Us for the Climate Changed Season Three Launch Party! 🎉
We're kicking off the new season of Climate Changed with a special online party, and YOU'RE invited!
🗓 When: Monday, September 16th, 7:30–8:30 PM (Eastern) 📍 Where: Online (free event!)
Be the first to listen to the brand new season as we debut our Season Three opener, featuring an interview with the amazing Brian McLaren. Meet your hosts, Ben Yosua-Davis, Nicole Diroff, and producer Peterson Toscano, and take part in an exclusive behind-the-scenes Q&A. You’ll also get the chance to win books by some of this season's featured guests, and who knows—you might even catch a special appearance from them during the event! 👀📚
Don't miss out on the chance to connect with fellow listeners and celebrate the launch of our most exciting season yet.
👉 Register now to get your access link: https://thebtscenter.org/climate-changed-season-three-launch-party/
We can't wait to celebrate with you! 🎧🌍
#ClimateChanged #PodcastLaunch #SeasonThree #BrianMcLaren #TheBTSCenter #ClimateAction #BehindTheScenes #PodcastParty #FreeEvent #JoinUs

Ben Yosua-Davis Gives a Sneak Peek of Season Three

Nicole Diroff Gives a Sneak Peek of Season Three

Nicole Diroff shares some of the details for the upcoming third season of Climate Changed podcast. This season we will explore the concept of courage in the face of climate change as we emphasize the need to prioritize collective salvation over individual salvation. We will highlight the interconnectedness of all living things and the importance of caring for the planet as a whole. You will hear various perspectives on the role of faith and spirituality in addressing climate change, and in every episode, we will provide meaningful, tangible Next Steps you can take. 
Guests Include Joelle Novey, from the Washington, DC/Maryland/Virginia chapter of Interfaith Power and Light. 
Dr. Keisha McKenzie, a strategist who interprets communication, religion, spirituality, and politics as social change technologies.
Author, Elizabeth Rush, and British climate change communicator, Sophia Cheng. 
Season Premiere: September 17, 2024 with guests Brian McClaren and Favianna Rodriguez. 
Hey there. I'm Nicole Diroff. Ben Yosua-Davis and I are the hosts of the Climate Changed podcast. Throughout the past few months, we've had the pleasure of speaking with incredibly wise and insightful guests. In addition to this, we've reached out to faith leaders to provide us with reflections that will ground us as we confront the difficult truths about the challenges that lie ahead and are here already for so many of us. We've curated practical next steps for anyone looking for ideas on how to play their part in addressing climate change and the many spiritual needs associated with it. Currently, we're in the final stages of preparing season three of Climate Changed. Our focus for this new season is "Courage in a Climate Changed World." We also wonder about the common good as we push for an embrace of collective salvation over individual salvation. In this new season, I will speak with people I have been in conversation with for years, like Joelle Novey.
Joelle Novey  
Really thinking about getting through the climate crisis to something better requires contradicting the thinking that got us here, and the way to do that is to ask a question that starts from the sanctity of all that is and saying, how do we all work together to save all that is sacred?
Nicole Diroff  
And Dr, Keisha Mackenzie,
Dr. Keisha McKenzie  
You go into the woods, you're breathing air that the trees have processed for you, and you didn't charge them any fees for it, and they're not charging you any fees for it. You are part, just by walking into their space, part of something much larger and bigger, something that nourishes you, and you, by breathing are also nourishing them. To just have these moments of experiencing the abstract ecosystem that we often talk about, like, what does that mean? It means we're part of something larger. Yeah, and those kind of revelations, I think those do enliven me.
Nicole Diroff Along with people I speak with for the very first time, such as author Elizabeth Rush,
Elizabeth Rush  
Something that feels important that often gets side stepped in climate conversations is I know climate change is a thing. I want it to get better, but I don't know how. Right? We have an idea that you have to, like, go be a climate activist, and that's how you, like, care the people who want to be climate activists should go be climate activists. But like, don't saddle yourself with a set of expectations that are gonna make it hard for you to continue to show up for that thing, choose a thing that's something that you care about.
Nicole Diroff  
And Sophia Cheng.
Sophia Cheng  
The mentality and thoughts that keep us spinning around this rat race has also been the space that's opened up, and realizing that the climate crisis, and living the climate change world, a bit like the themes that you and Liz were talking about, is not zero sum. This doesn't always have to be a narrative of sacrifice. There is opportunity and there is space for our needs. I think Liz referred to it as our desires, and there is space to create.
As a mother to a 10 year old, having these conversations is incredibly important to me. During times of global uncertainty, we can be tempted to turn against one another in an effort to protect ourselves. However, we must find the skills and practices to turn towards one another in these challenging times, like many others who tune into our show, I'm looking for guidance and motivation. I'm truly thankful for these podcast discussions as they encourage me to embrace generosity in our rapidly changing world. The Climate Change podcast is available wherever you listen to podcasts, or you can visit climate change podcast.org to access the episodes, discussion guides, show notes and transcripts. Season Three will premiere in September 2024. I hope I'm in your earbuds you.

What Roles Can Religion Play? with Shanon Shah

In our final episode of Season Two, we’re joined by Dr. Shanon Shah, an advocate whose work is at the intersection of faith, human rights, and climate change. Shanon's multifaceted career includes journalism, theater, and academia in Malaysia before his relocation to London. A practicing Muslim, Shanon is also a scholar in the sociology of religion and the Senior Deputy Editor of the Muslim Institute's flagship publication, Critical Muslim. He serves as the Director of Faith for Climate, a UK-based organization that seeks to empower faith communities in the struggle against climate change.
This episode is an inspiring dive into the rich tapestry of Shanon's identity as a queer Muslim man and how that identity informs his perspectives on climate justice. He discusses the invaluable role that faith traditions play in shaping our understanding of climate change, social justice, and collective action. From spiritual resilience to confronting issues of power and reparations, Shanon illustrates how religion can provide both a moral compass and a community for change.
Host Nicole Diroff joins Shanon Shah in exploring the role of faith communities in addressing climate change, particularly leading up to and during the COP26 conference. Both speakers wrestle with questions of power, social location, and the complex entanglements of religion with imperialism and colonialism — offering  listeners a complicated but hopeful view of the potential for faith communities to play a transformative role in climate justice.
Grounding: 
The Seed: If you attended Convocation 2021, you'll remember some really sacred moments as our Convocation music leader, Pax Ressler, shared their original song, "The Soil," commissioned by The BTS Center especially for Convocation. Pax joins us to sing “The Seed” as a grounding practice for this episode of the podcast. 
Several of you have asked for sheet music, and with special thanks to Pax, now it's available — and not only sheet music, but a lead sheet, a lyrics sheet, and an mp3 recording — all free for download.
Topics Covered in This Episode:
The significance of religious traditions in understanding and tackling climate change
How the concept of 'Loss and Damage' equates to moral and historical reparations
The role of power dynamics in climate justice
Collective honesty and complicated hope as pillars of climate activism
Creating spiritual refuges to endure through and respond to climate change
The resonance between Islamic and Christian scriptures in relation to social and environmental justice
A Special Moment: Don’t miss the beautiful exchange between Shanon and our host, where Shanon cites prayers from Islamic and Christian traditions that encapsulate the faith-inspired vision for a just and sustainable world.
Next Steps from the Conversation:
Five Steps for Interfaith Understanding (via Interfaith Philadelphia’s Passport to Understanding):
Be Curious: Seek to understand others.
Venture Out: Experience cultures and ideas different from your own.
Welcome In: Be hospitable and open, to learn about oneself and others.
Stand Tall: Find pride in your own identity.
Stand With: Be part of communities bigger than yourself, including more-than-human communities.
Practical Next Steps:
Think critically about power dynamics, especially the role of money in enabling or perpetuating societal and environmental issues.
Visit Interfaith Philadelphia's website to explore their 'passport to understanding'.
Reflect on Power and Religion: Think deeply about how religion can be an avenue to discuss loss, damage, repair, and particularly the economics behind it all.
Check out Greenfaith.org: For those interested in the intersection of faith and climate change, focusing on who is financing climate collapse.
Engage in Vision Casting: The BTS Center’s resource, 'Epistolary Practice of Play for the Seventh Generation', helps you reflect on what wisdom you’d want to pass on to descendants seven generations from now.
Peterson Toscano's Red Cross Volunteering: Various ways to engage in community support through Red Cross volunteering:
Disaster Action Team: Provide immediate emergency assistance.Blood Donor Ambassadors: Assist in the blood donation process.Disaster Mental Health Volunteers: Provide mental health support during disasters.Spiritual Care Volunteers: Offer spiritual guidance and support.
Meet Shanon Shah
Shanon is the Director of Faith for the Climate. He balanced careers in human rights advocacy, journalism, and theatre and music in his native Malaysia before relocating to London in 2010. He holds a doctorate in the sociology of religion from King’s College London and is a Fellow of the London-based Muslim Institute, where he is Senior Deputy Editor of its flagship quarterly publication, Critical Muslim. He also conducts research for the Information Network Focus on Religious Movements (INFORM), an independent educational charity based at King’s College London, and is Tutor in Islam at the University of London Worldwide.
Meet Pax Ressler
Pax Ressler (they/she) is a non-binary performer, devisor, music director, and composer who believes singing is one of the most human and communal things we can do. She blends and infuses her love for cabaret, musical theater, and harmony into her music work, including writing an album of non-binary love songs and gardening Philadelphia’s paid civic singing collective, Rise Choir (@risechoircollective). Pax is a passionate advocate and organizer of the local non-binary and trans theatre community with Genderfunk Philly (@genderfunkphilly). Their compositions have been shared in The Bearded Ladies' Barrymore Award-winning Contradict This! A Birthday Funeral for Heroes and in productions at La Mama Experimental Theatre and at the Guggenheim in NYC. paxressler.com @paxressler 

Am I the Right Person? with Margaret Wheatley

In this thought-provoking episode of the podcast "Am I the Right Person?," Ben engages in deeply insightful conversations with Margaret Wheatley, an icon in organizational leadership, and Debra Rienstra, author of Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonder, and the Healing of the Earth. Wheatley paints a grim picture of the future, citing escalating climate issues, political tensions, and social unrest. Despite this outlook, she argues that meaningful, spiritually-based work can still be done. By facing the harsh realities, humans can focus on values like kindness, generosity, and community.
Wheatley emphasizes the importance of accepting that large-scale systems are unlikely to change, urging people to focus on smaller "islands of sanity" where meaningful impact is still possible. She contends that instead of grand ambitions of saving the world, we should look at what is needed in our immediate environments and ask whether we are the right people to meet those needs. For leaders feeling overwhelmed, she advises fostering environments where people can rediscover their best qualities and collaborate on shared goals.
Drawing parallels with the concept of the "dark night of the soul," the discussion also explores how commitment to living meaningfully doesn't have to be tied to specific outcomes. This is especially relevant in privileged Western contexts where efficacy is often judged based on measurable results. The episode delves into the harsh truths of our time, the existential crises they provoke, and how we can still find meaningful ways to contribute.
Special guest co-host Debra Rienstra joins Ben for a conversation.
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR SMALL GROUP CONVERSATIONS
VIEW TRANSCRIPT
 
Meet Margaret Wheatley
Margaret (Meg) Wheatley, Ed.D. began caring about the world’s peoples in 1966 as a Peace Corps volunteer in post-war Korea. As a consultant, senior-level advisor, teacher, speaker, and formal leader, she has worked on all continents (except Antarctica) with all levels, ages, and types of organizations, leaders, and activists. Her work now focuses on developing and supporting leaders globally as Warriors for the Human Spirit. These leaders put service over self, stand steadfast through crises and failures, and make a difference for the people and causes they care about. With compassion and insight, they know how to invoke people’s inherent generosity, creativity, kindness, and community — no matter what’s happening around them.
Margaret has written ten books, including the classic Leadership and the New Science, and has been honored for her pathfinding work by many professional associations, universities, and organizations. She received her Doctorate from Harvard University in 1979, an M.A. in Media Ecology from NYU in 1974, and a B.A. from University of Rochester in 1966. She spent a year at University College London 1964-65. Her website is designed as a library of free resources as well as information about products and her speaking calendar: www.margaretwheatley.com
Meet The Many
The Many is an uncommon, intentionally diverse collective making music for people to sing together about peace and justice and a world where all belong. Drawing on indie pop and gospel influences, The Many makes music to help give voice to faith and doubt, questions and fears, laments and longings, music that speaks to a non-violent God, a Jesus who is with us and for us, and to a Spirit that can't be easily defined or controlled.  
It's music for a movement of resistance to hatred and division, for reconciliation and restoration, and music that always reminds us "we are on this earth to love."
Meet Debra Rienstra
Debra Rienstra is professor of English at Calvin University. Her most recent book is Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth (Fortress 2022). Rienstra is also the host of the Refugia Podcast and writes bi-weekly for The Reformed Journal. She is also a member of Third Act Faith.
Website: https://debrarienstra.com/Twitter: @debrakrienstra (although I'm not on there much anymore)FB: https://www.facebook.com/debrakrienstraInstagram: @rienstradebra
 
 

How Do You Love the World As It Is? with Ray Buckley

We explore how to navigate love and responsibility in a rapidly changing world, particularly in the face of climate change. We're honored to have Ray Buckley join us for this conversation. Ray is a teacher, storyteller, author, and poet of Lakota, Tlingit, and Scots descent. He brings a unique blend of cultural and spiritual wisdom, particularly the profound understanding of what it means to be in "good relationship" with the Creator, fellow human beings, and all of creation. Ray's experiences growing up in a culturally rich environment and caring for his brother Rick have deeply influenced his worldview. (For complete show notes and full transcript visit: https://thebtscenter.org/climate-changed/podcast-season-two-episode-4/
Our conversation dives into:
The concept of being a 'human being' from Native and Celtic perspectives, emphasizing balance and relationality.
The importance of recognizing and respecting all of creation as "persons."
The spiritual and emotional toll of losing species and ecosystems, witnessed through gatherings of elders from various indigenous communities.
How to maintain ethical and compassionate behavior in a world facing the impending loss of so much life.
Whether you're coming from a place of privilege or are directly affected by the struggles of the world, this episode is a heart-felt guide on how to love the world as it is, while also acting responsibly for its future. We talk about what it means to stand in "good relationship" with everything and everyone around us, and how that might just be the key to facing our uncertain future.
This episode is a rich tapestry of wisdom, humor, and poignant moments that challenge us to reconsider our roles in this shared, sacred journey we call life. So take a deep breath, and prepare to be both grounded and elevated by this transformative conversation.
Meet Ray Buckley
Ray Buckley is the interim Director of the Center for Native American Spirituality and Christian Study. Buckley has served The United Methodist Church as a staff member of The United Methodist Publishing House, Director of the Native People’s Communication Office (UMCom) for nine years, and Director of Connectional Ministries for the Alaska Missionary Conference.
Most recently, Buckley wrote Hard to Dance with the Devil on Your Back and contributed to A New Dawn in Beloved Community. Also, he is the author/illustrator of five books: God’s Love is Like…, The Give-Away: A Christmas Story in the Native American Tradition, The Wing, Christmas Moccasins, and Dancing with Words: Storytelling as Legacy, Culture, and Faith. He is also the author of Creator Sang a Welcoming Song, and Walking in These White Man Shoes, children and youth resources for the Women’s Division School of Missions.
Buckley has taught in Nigeria and Ghana and served as a lecturer in Native American studies for several universities.
Ray Buckley is of Lakota/Tlingit/Scots descent. Ray is one of several Native leaders profiled in As Long As the Waters Flow: Native Americans in the South and East by Frye Gillard, and The Power of Eagles: Nature's Way to Individual Accomplishment by Twyman L. Towery.
Books by Ray BuckleyHoly Living: PrayerHard To Dance With the Devil On Your BackThe Wing 
Grounding
In this "Grounding" segment of Climate Changed, Peterson Toscano addresses the emotional and mental toll that caring for the world can take, especially in the context of climate change and social issues. Originally planning to record outdoors, Toscano is forced indoors due to wildfires, symbolizing the need for adaptability in a changing world. He speaks directly to his busy, concerned listeners, acknowledging the multitude of issues that weigh on their hearts, from social justice and politics to environmental worries and personal relationships. Toscano offers comforting wisdom: while you can't solve all of the world's problems, you can still make a meaningful contribution. By setting boundaries and focusing on what is personally "yours to do," you can be an effective change agent without becoming overwhelmed. The overarching message is one of empowered hope: your heart has the capacity to care deeply for many issues, and there's room for love and action even in challenging times.
This podcast is a project of The BTS Center in Portland, Maine, USA www.thebtscenter.org

What is Mine to Do? with Eileen Flanagan

In this eye-opening episode of our podcast, we bring you an enlightening conversation with Eileen Flanagan — a Quaker author, activist, and organizer who strives to make activism more effective. Co-hosts Dr. Keisha McKenzie and Nicole Diroff dive deep into topics that challenge us on how we approach climate change, social justice, and activism.
Discussion Guide for Small Group Conversations: https://thebtscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Climate-Changed-S02-E03-Discussion-Guide.pdf
Full Transcript: https://thebtscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Eileen-Flanagan-What-is-Mine-to-Do_otter_ai.pdf
Official podcast page: https://thebtscenter.org/climate-changed/
Grounding Reflection:
The episode kicks off with a grounding reflection by The BTS Center's Executive Director, Reverend Dr. Allen Ewing-Merrill, featuring an evocative poem by Lori Hetteen that urges us to embrace joy even when the world feels like it's burning.
Main Conversation:
Nicole's rich dialogue with Eileen traverses diverse themes, from the interconnectedness of all life to the role of spiritual leaders in times of climate crisis. Eileen's commitment to a spiritually grounded and effective climate justice movement is as educational as it is inspiring. They discuss how systemic divisions perpetuated by those in power harm not just humans but the entire planet.
Four Rules of Social Change:
Eileen shares invaluable advice on effective activism, breaking it down into four roles: the Helper, the Advocate, the Organizer, and the Rebel. Find out which role you naturally fit into and how stepping out of your comfort zone can yield transformative change.
Wisdom and Courage:
In a thought-provoking moment, Eileen shares her love for the Serenity Prayer and how its essence has guided her in choosing battles wisely and courageously. She sheds light on how the plural version of the prayer, initially penned by Reinhold Niebuhr during World War II, encourages collective action, changing the question from "What can I do?" to "What can we do?"
Whether you're an activist fighting fatigue or a concerned individual yearning to make a difference, this episode has something for everyone.
Next Steps for Engaged Hope
By combining personal reflection with actionable steps, both individuals and organizations can identify their roles and take meaningful steps toward combating climate change and promoting sustainability.
Divestment Strategies for Faith-Based Communities:
Research Divestment Campaigns in Your Denomination: If you belong to a religious denomination, investigate whether there are existing campaigns or strategies for divesting from fossil fuels and other unsustainable investments. Examples include the United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church, and the Roman Catholic Church.
Join Local Church Efforts: Once you've identified an existing divestment program, find out how your local congregation can get involved.
Utilize Resources: Check the show notes for links to divestment guides and resources. For instance, a divestment guide for Presbyterians is mentioned, which has practical information applicable to many.
Explore Earth Quaker Action Team's Campaign: Earth Quaker Action Team (or EQAT) is running a campaign to persuade Vanguard to offer more ethical investment options. Learn more about how to get involved at their website (eqat.org).
Self and Organizational Reflection:
Identify Your Role as a Changemaker: Eileen suggests four roles you can assume — Rebel, Advocate, Helper, and Organizer. Consider journaling to explore which of these roles you've played in the past, especially concerning climate change and sustainability.
Evaluate Institutional Roles: If you are part of an organization (like a church, school, or community group), reflect on what role that institution plays in sustainability efforts. Is it a Rebel, an Advocate, a Helper, or an Organizer?
Contribute to the Mission: Decide how you can contribute to your organization's mission based on the role(s) that most appeal to you. For example, if your organization has a divestment program, consider how you can support or expand it.
Additional Resources:
Links to Organizations Mentioned:
Equat
Citizens Climate Lobby
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Climate Changed is a podcast about pursuing faith, life, and love in a climate-changed world. Hosted by Nicole Diroff and Ben Yosua-Davis. Climate Changed features guests who deepen the conversation while also stirring the waters. The Climate Changed podcast is a project of The BTS Center. The show is produced by Peterson Toscano.
Meet Eileen Flanagan
Eileen Flanagan is known nationally for her work as a climate activist and nonviolence trainer. As board chair of Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT), she helped to develop and execute the strategy that pressured a $4 billion-a-year bank to stop financing mountaintop removal coal mining. Later, as co-director of EQAT, she helped to build the ongoing grassroots campaign against Vanguard, the world’s #1 investor in fossil fuels. The award-winning author of three books, she tells the story of why she started doing civil disobedience for climate justice in Renewable: One Woman’s Search for Simplicity, Faithfulness, and Hope. She is now working on a book about the intersection of race, climate, and spirituality. Join her newsletter or check out her online courses at eileenflanagan.com.https://twitter.com/eileenflanaganhttps://www.facebook.com/eileenflanaganauthorInsta: @eileenflanaganauthorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/eileenflanagan/Finding your Role online course: https://eileenflanagan.teachable.com/p/finding-your-role
Meet Keisha E. MacKenzie, PhD
Keisha E. McKenzie, PhD, (she/they) is a strategist who interprets communication, religion, spirituality, and politics as social change technologies. She has worked in communication and development strategy, faith organizing, research, facilitation, and management with nonprofit and educational organizations across the US since 2004. 
Keisha believes that all people have inherent worth and dignity, we deserve a world of connection and flourishing for all, and people of faith have a duty to help make that world real.
Keisha is a member of the Aspen Institute Religion and Society Program’s Powering Pluralism Network; a Rooted in Resilience Fellow at Faith Matters Network; and author at the newsletter On Tomorrow's Edge.
Fun Fact: Keisha's first climate action was the People's Climate March in New York in 2014 where she ended up between an Abraham Lincoln re-enactor and Canadians protesting tar sands.
website (mackenzian.com)Twitter and Insta: @mackenzianLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keishamckenzie/Mastodon: https://mastodon.online/@mackenzian
Meet Rev. Dr. Allen Ewing-Merril
Rev. Dr. Allen Ewing-Merrill serves as Executive Director of The BTS Center. Prior to this role, Allen taught high school English, pastored local churches, co-founded and led a small nonprofit, and organized faith leaders for advocacy and direct action around issues of justice and equity. A graduate of the University of Maine and of Boston University School of Theology, Allen recently earned a Doctor of Ministry program through Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC in partnership with Wesley House, Cambridge UK. Allen lives in Portland, Maine with his spouse, Rev. Sara Ewing-Merrill, and they are the parents of three daughters.

How Can I Keep Going? with Dr. Susanne Moser

In this episode of Climate Changed, listeners will hear from Dr. Susi Moser, an accomplished scientist and geographer. For Moser, any effort that builds community is actually significant climate work.
Moser has worked at the highest levels of climate science, including on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or the IPCC. This is the UN body responsible for assessing climate change, and their reports carry incredible weight around the world. Now Moser has been on an amazing journey from that work, helping equip people on the frontlines of climate change to engage in that work for the long term. 
“Humans and how they affect the environment, the earth and how they are affected by it — that is a central theme within geography,” Moser said. “That got me very quickly into this area of interest of, if we understand what we're doing to the environment, why are we not stopping it? Why are we not trying to prevent this, changing the earth in in profound fundamental ways. So very quickly, I got interested in climate change as sort of a topic of investigation and trying particularly to understand the human impact on the environment on the climate and then the other way around.”
But such a pivotal job takes a toll on mental health. Moser discusses how to handle burnout in a work culture that doesn’t encourage taking breaks. She offers advice on how Christians and climate activists can find the strength to keep going. 
Listeners will also get to participate in a meditative grounding practice, led by Katie Patrick, author of the book and podcast How to Make Changing the World the Greatest Game We’ve Ever Played. Patrick recognizes the critical role of creativity, optimism, and imagination in the craft of social and environmental change. Through this guided meditation, she reveals the big mistake so many of us make in our climate work, one that she made herself.
Climate Changed is a podcast about pursuing faith, life, and love in a climate-changed world, produced by the BTS Center. A special thanks to Citizens’ Climate Radio for providing a recording of Katie Patrick’s conversation. 
Check out Season 1 here.
Next Steps for Engaged Hope
Ask yourself: What do I love? How can I engage those loves in a way that cultivates caring community in a climate changed world?
Have a conversation this week where you listen and respond from the heart. If you need help getting started, check out these resources from StoryCorps.
About our guests
Dr. Susanne Moser
Dr. Suzi Moser is the Director and Principal Researcher of Susanne Moser Research & Consulting, based in Hadley, MA. In her research and work with various organizations and entities, Moser focuses on adaptation to climate change, especially in coastal areas, resilience, transformation, decision support, and effective climate change communication in support of social change.
Moser is co-editor of a groundbreaking anthology on climate change communication, called Creating a Climate for Change: Communicating Climate Change and Facilitating Social Change, published in 2006. In addition to being a prolific writer, she has done extensive work with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Katie Patrick
Katie Patrick is the author of the book and podcast How to Make Changing the World the Greatest Game We’ve Ever Played, as well as the book Zerowastify: Your Complete Tutorial to the Art of Zero Waste Living. Patrick is an environmental engineer and climate action designer. 
In addition to writing several books and hosting a podcast, Patrick is the co-founder of Energy Lollipop and Urban Canopy in San Francisco — two startups that are devoted to bringing down the peak CO2 released by the electricity grid.
Climate Changed is a podcast about pursuing faith, life, and love in a climate-changed world. Hosted by Nicole Diroff and Ben Yosua-Davis. Climate Changed features guests who deepen the conversation while also stirring the waters. The Climate Changed podcast is a project of The BTS Center. The show is produced by Peterson Toscano.
 

What Does Collective Truth Telling Look Like? with Rob Shetterly

In this enlightening episode, we explore the notion of collective truth-telling through a poetic introduction and a compelling conversation with Rob Shetterly, the artist behind the portrait series "Americans Who Tell the Truth." We begin with Lilace Mellin Guignard's evocative poem "The Great Reimagining," a heartfelt call to rekindle our imagination and respect for our planet and its intricate ecosystems.
NEW Discussion Guide for the episode!
View the Transcript 
Grounding
Lilace Mellin Guignard reads her poem, The Great Re-Imagining. She first shared it publicly at The BTS Center’s 2022 Convocation. 
Lilace Mellin Guignard is a poet who realized long after completing her MFA that she had, in fact, followed in her father’s footsteps. A pastor’s daughter, being raised in a liberal social justice church in the suburbs of Maryland meant her childhood was filled with music and art and faith. Her best memories of her father are when, on his weekends off, he’d take her with him to Greenbelt National Park where he’d lead outdoor worship for those camping. 
Lilace is the author of the memoir, When Everything Beyond the Walls Is Wild: Being a Woman Outdoors in America and the poetry chapbook Lost in the Homeland, winner of the 2015 Helen Kay Chapbook Poetry Prize. Her poems have appeared in the journals Calyx, Hawk & Handsaw: The Journal of Creative Sustainability, Northern Appalachia Review, The Fourth River: Climate Change Issue, and Poetry Magazine’s ecojustice issue. Her poems have also appeared in anthologies, including Facing the Change: Personal Encounters with Global Warming and Ghost Fishing: An Eco-Justice Poetry Anthology. She taught creative writing, outdoor recreation leadership, and women’s studies at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. She is now Associate Publisher at Beagle Media, publisher of Mountain Home magazine. 
Lilace’s webpage: www.tentofonesown.com
Lilace on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lilace.guignard/
Lilace on Instagram: www.instagram.com/lilaceguignard/
Main Conversation
Our main conversation features Rob Shetterly, a Maine-based artist and social advocate. Rob opens up about how his portrait series, "Americans Who Tell the Truth," emerged as a response to feelings of grief, guilt, and alienation during the run-up to the Iraq war. His transformative project now boasts over 200 portraits, each portraying an American truth-teller, from historical figures like Henry David Thoreau to contemporary voices like Bryan Stevenson.
Shetterly's insights into environmental justice offer a profound perspective. He discusses the destructive tendencies of modern culture to commodify nature, mentioning examples like mountaintop removal and the importance of organizations like Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association in countering destructive practices. The episode expands on various forms of truth-telling — whether through art, civil disobedience, organization-building, or eloquent writing like Robin Wall Kimmerer's — and their vital role in establishing a more sustainable and equitable world.
Next Steps for Climate Change Engagement and Community Involvement
Take Local Action: Recognize that while one person can't solve the world's problems alone, individuals can make a significant impact at the local level. Whether it's green energy, sustainable transportation, or local politics, your efforts can make a difference.
Engage Emotionally: Taking on local projects not only contributes to solving climate issues but also changes your emotional relationship with them. Instead of feeling fearful, you become empowered, knowing you are making a difference.
Specific Action Steps
Connect with Local Groups: Identify local organizations, committees, school groups, etc., that are taking action on climate change and see how you can contribute.
Educate the Youth: Utilize educational programs like the Samantha Smith Challenge to inform young people about climate issues and empower them to take action.
Pressure Governments: While working on local projects, continue to put pressure on governments to make policy changes that address climate issues.
Additional Resources and Actions:
Watch Truth Tellers: After listening to the podcast, watch the documentary Truth Tellers to learn about individuals who are making a difference. Consider hosting a community screening to spur conversation and action.
Thank Someone: Write a note of thanks to someone in your community who is doing courageous work in tackling climate change or social issues, especially if their efforts are going unrecognized.
Visit AmericansWhoTellTheTruth.org: Learn more about individuals who are courageously telling the truth through Rob Shetterly's portraits and narratives.
By following these guidelines and specific actions, you can make a meaningful contribution to combating climate change and fostering community involvement.
Climate Changed is a podcast about pursuing faith, life, and love in a climate-changed world. Hosted by Nicole Diroff and Ben Yosua-Davis, Climate Changed features guests who deepen the conversation while also stirring the waters. The Climate Changed podcast is a project of The BTS Center. The show is produced by Peterson Toscano.