Love God, love people, and change the world. We believe the life and lessons of Jesus aren’t just good advice, but are Good News for us here and now. As a church, we are all about following Jesus and know there’s no end to that journey—we’re more about becoming than arriving. We are committed to becoming a multi-generational, multi-ethnic, multiplying movement of Christ followers, equipping and empowering our kids and students to not only be the church of tomorrow, but the church of today.
Thank you for joining us for another great podcast today! Here you'll find many encouraging and challenging messages to help you build a life of significance! Keep coming back to listen to all the latest messages from Hillsong Church Africa. We would love for you to rate our podcast, subscribe, perhaps write a review and share the channel with all your friends to help us build a Church that Builds a nation and a continent.
Join the millions who listen to the lively messages of Chuck Swindoll, a down-to-earth pastor who communicates God’s truth in understandable and practical terms—with a good dose of humor thrown in. Chuck’s messages help you apply the Bible to your own life.
Welcome to the Your Move with Andy Stanley podcast, where we help you make better decisions and live with fewer regrets. Your Move provides practical content on life topics like personal development, relationships, work, leadership, faith, and more. It’s simple. We provide the content and recommend next steps; then it's Your Move! Visit www.yourmove.is for more content to watch, listen to, and read along with resources.
Consider Molly Sims and her best friend Emese Gormley your new girlfriends on speed dial for all your pressing beauty and wellness needs. Is Botox a good idea? Should you try that new diet you saw on the Today Show? Molly and Emese have your back. With guests ranging from top health and beauty experts to their industry friends, you’ll get the scoop on the latest trends, which products and procedures to try, and which to run from-- and they just might be doing it all with a drink in hand. Prepare to be obsessed.
Climate Changed is a podcast about spiritual leadership 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.
Climate Changed is a podcast about spiritual leadership 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.
How do we navigate the joys and challenges of parenting in a world shaped by climate change? In this episode, hosts Ben Yosua-Davis and Nicole Diroff explore this question with two thoughtful guests: Elizabeth Rush, acclaimed author of The Quickening: Creation and Community at the Ends of the Earth , and Sophia Cheng, founder of With Many Roots and a new parent herself. Together, they share personal stories, insights, and strategies for parenting amid uncertainty, reflecting on the deep connections between care, community, and climate action. Grounding: The episode opens with Sophia Cheng’s evocative poem, which emerged from her reflections on climate change and the emotional journey of becoming a parent. In it, she captures the weight of uncertainty, the depth of responsibility, and the hope that guides her path forward. Main Conversation: In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, Elizabeth Rush and Sophia Cheng discuss how climate change shapes their perspectives as parents. They explore: 🌿 Parenting Amid Uncertainty: How do we raise children when the future is unpredictable? Sophia reflects on her journey toward embracing uncertainty. At the same time, Elizabeth shares insights from her book, The Quickening , which weaves together scientific exploration in Antarctica with her own decision to become a mother. 🧡 The Role of Love and Community: Elizabeth and Sophia discuss the profound realization that we must learn to love more fiercely and build stronger connections in a world facing climate challenges. 📚 Imagining a Different Future: Sophia describes the practice of future dreaming — an exercise in envisioning the world we want to create. She explains how this practice helped her reconcile her environmental concerns with the decision to start a family. 🌊 Lessons from Antarctica: Elizabeth shares how studying glaciers influenced her understanding of time, resilience, and change, drawing powerful parallels between environmental and personal transformation. 🌎 The Power of Storytelling: Both guests emphasize how storytelling helps make climate issues more relatable — whether through literature, parenting, or engaging in difficult but necessary conversations about our shared future. Meet Our Guests: Elizabeth Rush Elizabeth Rush is the author of The Quickening: Creation and Community at the Ends of the Earth and Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore , a Pulitzer Prize finalist. She teaches creative nonfiction at Brown University and writes about climate change, sea level rise, and the environment. Learn more about Elizabeth Rush . Sophia Cheng Sophia Cheng founded With Many Roots , an organization that delivers creative and interactive education on climate issues. She helps people envision and work toward a sustainable future through storytelling, workshops, and collaborative projects. Explore Sophia’s work . Next Steps: Looking for ways to bring these insights into your own life? Try one of these next steps: 📖 Practice Future Dreaming: Spend time imagining a future where climate action has succeeded. What does it look like? How can you contribute to making it real? 👶 Join a Climate Parenting Group: Seek out a climate café for parents or start your own discussion group to process emotions and strategize for action. 🛠️ Create an Emergency Kit with Your Child: Build a 72-hour emergency kit together to prepare for extreme weather events. Visit RedCross.org for tips. 🌍 Explore Climate Education Resources: Visit ClimateKids.org for engaging activities to help children understand climate change. 📝 Share Your Reflections: Have a conversation with someone who is considering parenthood. Post your insights on social media to inspire others. Other Resources Additional Resources Rob Hopkins' Work on Future Imagination What If? Unleashing the Power of Imagination to Create the Future We Want Citizens Climate Radio Episode 95: Rob Hopkins on the Role of Imagination in Climate Change Solutions Learn more about Rob Hopkins Dr. Britt Wray's Work on Climate Anxiety Her book: Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Crisis Visit Britt Wray’s website The Antarctic Treaty and Open-Access Climate Science Learn more about the Antarctic Treaty Katharine Hayhoe’s Work on Climate Action and Communication Watch Katharine Hayhoe’s TED Talk Jane McGonigal’s Future Thinking Exercises Book: Imaginable: How to See the Future Coming and Feel Ready for Anything Learn more about Jane McGonigal Continue the Conversation 💬 What are your thoughts on parenting in a climate-changed world? Share your reflections on Instagram , BlueSky , and Facebook using #ClimateChangedPodcast. 📩 Subscribe to The BTS Center’s Newsletter for more discussions, resources, and upcoming events. 🎙️ Stay Tuned for Season 4! If you have guest suggestions or topics you’d like us to explore, email us at podcast@thebtscenter.org.…
In this episode, Ben Yosua-Davis speaks with Jose Aguto, a passionate advocate for climate action deeply rooted in his Catholic faith. Together, they explore the intersection of moral responsibility, theology, and the Catholic Church’s response to the climate crisis. Grounding: This episode begins with a reading from Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home, written by Pope Francis, emphasizing the moral imperative to address climate change. The reading, shared by Peterson Toscano and Madeline Bugeau-Heartt, highlights humanity’s collective responsibility to care for creation and the interconnectedness of social, economic, and environmental issues. Main Conversation: Jose Aguto discusses his transition from secular policy work to faith-based advocacy for climate action, reflecting on how his Catholic faith provides moral grounding for addressing the climate crisis. He examines the significant influence of Pope Francis’ encyclicals, Laudato Si and Laudate Deum , and their call for ecological conversion and systemic change. Key themes include: The role of moral and spiritual leadership in mobilizing communities. The challenges and opportunities within the American Catholic Church compared to global contexts. Inspiring stories of dioceses committing to net-zero emissions and engaging diverse stakeholders. Practical advice for initiating climate conversations that resonate across divides. Next Steps: Engage in Lectio Terra : Reflect on scripture and nature through this contemplative spiritual practice. Learn more . Join the Catholic Climate Covenant: Stay updated with news and resources. Visit their website . Support Climate Organizations: Explore directories of faith-based and regional climate justice organizations, such as: Blessed Tomorrow’s Directory (PDF) Bentley University’s Climate Justice List Promote Philanthropy: Consider regular donations to local or global climate initiatives. Additional Resources: Katharine Hayhoe’s TED Talk: Saving Us Collective Honesty and Complicated Hope: An Evening with Katharine Hayhoe , an event held by The BTS Center in May 2024 Books: Saving Us by Katharine Hayhoe and Singing the Psalms With My Son by Wilson Dickinson. Laudato Si and Laudate Deum Meet the Guest Jose Aguto is a seasoned advocate for climate action with over two decades of experience in legal and policy positions. Formerly the Associate Director of the Catholic Climate Covenant, he has worked to promote ecological conversion within the Catholic Church. His career includes roles at the Friends Committee on National Legislation and the National Congress of American Indians. Jose’s work emphasizes the integration of faith, social justice, and environmental stewardship. Connect with the Catholic Climate Covenant…
In this episode, hosts Ben Yosua-Davis and Nicole Diroff examine the evolving role of chaplains in a climate-changed world. They are joined by author, chaplain, and grief circle facilitator Terry LePage, as well as Rev. Alison Cornish, coordinator of The BTS Center's Climate Conscious Chaplaincy Initiative. Together, they explore how chaplains offer spiritual and emotional support amidst environmental crises, foster resilience, and address ecological grief. Grounding: Rev. Alison Cornish begins with a grounding reflection centered on a personal story about a tree near her home that was cut down. Alison explains how this ritual of acknowledgment and grief mirrors chaplaincy practices of care, presence, and connection to the more-than-human world. Main Conversation: Ben and Nicole engage Terry LePage and Alison Cornish in a conversation about chaplaincy in a climate-changed world. Terry LePage: Terry shares insights from her book Eye of the Storm: Facing Climate and Social Chaos with Calm and Courage . She introduces concepts such as the "Collapse-Aware" framework and "Islands of Compassion," which she attributes to Margaret Wheatley's "Islands of Sanity." Terry also highlights her work with the Deep Adaptation Forum, which fosters spaces for resilience and grief processing in the face of climate uncertainty. Alison Cornish: Alison outlines key skills chaplains bring to a climate-conscious world, including trauma-informed care, meaning-making, and support for communities navigating ecological grief and displacement. She underscores the importance of chaplains as spiritual guides during times of environmental upheaval. Next Steps: Here are some ways listeners can engage further: Join a Grief Circle: Learn how to host or join a grief circle using tools from Terry’s book, Eye of the Storm . Explore Deep Adaptation: Visit the Deep Adaptation Forum for resources on resilience and climate-related challenges. Learn About Collapse Readiness: Read Professor Jem Bendell's reflections on societal collapse and recovery. Engage with The BTS Center: Explore the Lament with Earth Series for reflections on ecological grief and faith-based responses. Additional Resources: Beyond Climate War: Writings on Deep Adaptation to Societal Collapse Margaret Wheatley: Islands of Sanity Lament with Earth series at The BTS Center Professor Jim Bendell: Thoughts on Collapse Readiness and Recovery : I was wrong to conclude that collapse was inevitable. Beyond Climate War : Writings on Deep Adaptation to societal collapse. Meet Guest(s): Guest bio with social media links + headshot Terry LePage Terry LePage is the author of Eye of the Storm: Facing Climate and Social Chaos with Calm and Courage. She facilitates grief circles and teaches nonviolent communication practices through the Deep Adaptation Forum . Rev. Alison Cornish Rev. Alison Cornish is the coordinator of the Climate Conscious Chaplaincy Initiative at the BTS Center. She is a seasoned faith leader with a background in environmental advocacy and interfaith work.…
In this episode of Climate Changed, host Ben Yosua-Davis is joined by guest host Derrick Weston to explore how the Bible can inform climate action. Featuring conversations with Rev. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap and Peterson Toscano, they discuss how scripture and faith-based teachings can guide Christians toward a hopeful and proactive response to the climate crisis. See full show notes, transcript, and more by visiting www.climatechangedpodcast.org Grounding: The episode opens with a grounding exercise led by Beverly Ward, Field Secretary for Earthcare for Southeastern Yearly Meeting . Beverly invites listeners to recall their earliest, most joyful memories in nature, emphasizing how these experiences can inspire a deep commitment to environmental stewardship and care for creation. Main Conversation: Host Ben Yosua-Davis and guest host Derrick Weston listen to Rev. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap and Peterson Toscano engage in a thoughtful discussion on how the Bible and Christian faith can be foundational to climate action. Rev. Meyaard-Schaap, Executive Director of the Association for a More Just Society–US , shares insights from his recent book, Following Jesus in a Warming World , which explores how climate advocacy expresses Christian discipleship. Peterson Toscano, is a Bible scholar and in addition to producing the Climate Changed podcast, he works on other podcasts including Citizens Climate Radio, Quakers Today, and Bubble and Squeak. A climate-focused performance artist, in this episode he shares his personal “climate life verse” and reflects on how Biblical teachings have shaped his environmental work. Together, they explore the role of scripture in guiding and inspiring practical steps toward environmental responsibility and justice. Next Steps: Reflect on a Climate Life Verse: Identify a Bible verse or story that grounds you in creation care, and share it with a friend or on social media. Engage in Lectio Terra: Take 20–40 minutes practicing Lectio Terra, a meditative exercise inspired by Lectio Divina that encourages connection with scripture, God, and the land. Organize a Climate Sunday : Host a Climate Sunday service at your church featuring climate-centered sermons and calls to climate action. Join Seasonal Climate Actions: Participate in programs like the Lent Carbon Fast with friends to reduce your carbon footprint. Shorten Your Food Chain: Support local agriculture by growing your own food or connecting with nearby farmers, reducing the distance your food travels. Discover more resources at Creation Justice Ministries . Additional Resources: Creation Care: A Biblical Theology of the Natural World — explore how scripture calls us to care for creation. Young Evangelicals for Climate Action — a network supporting young Christians in climate advocacy. The Green Lectionary Podcast , hosted by Derrick Weston What Does the Bible Say about Climate Change , Episode 30 of Citizens Climate Radio Meet Guest(s): Rev. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap: Rev. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap is the Executive Director of the Association for a More Just Society–US . An ordained minister in the Christian Reformed Church in North America , Kyle holds a B.A. in religious studies from Calvin University and an M.Div. from Western Theological Seminary. For over a decade, he has mobilized Christians worldwide to engage with climate action as an act of discipleship. His recent book, Following Jesus in a Warming World, has garnered national and international attention, with features in PBS, NPR, CNN, and The New York Times. Kyle lives with his wife and two sons in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Peterson Toscano: Peterson Toscano is a performance artist and activist known for his creative approaches to climate advocacy. As a podcast host of Citizens Climate Radio, Quakers Today, and Bubble and Squeak, Peterson uses storytelling to inspire action on climate change, social justice, and LGBTQ+ issues. His work encourages listeners to view climate change as an invitation to imagine and build a more hopeful, just world. Beverly Ward: Beverly Ward serves as Field Secretary for Earthcare at Southeastern Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends and co-clerk of Quaker Earthcare Witness . Beverly assists local meetings with environmental stewardship projects and connects them to broader Quaker initiatives. She collaborates with the Quaker United Nations Office , represents the Florida Council of Churches , and teaches anthropology at the University of South Florida. Derrick Weston: Derrick Weston is a writer, filmmaker, podcaster, and educator who focuses on the intersection of food, faith, and social justice. He co-hosts the Food and Faith podcast and created the film series A Wilderness Like Eden, which highlights food justice work within church communities. Derrick holds degrees in film studies and divinity and a health ministry certification. His recent book, The Just Kitchen, encourages sustainable and connected approaches to cooking and community. Derrick lives near Baltimore, Maryland, with his wife and four children.…
Brief Episode Description: In this episode, Nicole Diroff and guest co-host Dr. Keisha McKenzie discuss Jewish perspectives on climate change with Joelle Novey, director of Interfaith Power & Light (DC, MD, and Northern VA), and poet Jessica Jacobs. Joelle shares insights into how her Jewish faith informs her climate work and reads from her latest poetry collection, Unalone . For full show notes, including links and transcript, visit www.climatechangedpodcast.org Grounding: The episode begins with a grounding moment from Jessica Jacobs, who reads her poem “Collective Nouns” from her poetry collection Unalone . The poem proposes an alternative view of Noah and the Ark story. Jessica’s evocative language offers a moment of reflection as listeners prepare to engage with the conversation. Main Conversation: Joelle Novey shares how her Jewish faith guides her commitment to climate action, drawing from centuries of Jewish wisdom on justice and community. She highlights the importance of religious values in confronting the climate crisis, such as the Jewish principle of "pikuach nefesh" (saving a life), and how it drives her work. Joelle also discusses practical climate solutions through grassroots organizing, offering inspiring stories about her work with faith communities and environmental advocacy. Dr. Keisha McKenzie and Nicole reflect on the stories of Noah’s Ark, addressing "small boat theology" and how climate action should include everyone, not just a select few. Together, they challenge listeners to consider how they can contribute to building a future of solidarity and collective action in response to climate change. Next Steps: Join a Movement: Joelle encourages listeners to join or create a movement within their community that promotes systemic climate action. To connect with others, check out Interfaith Power & Light’s national network . Community Organizing: Think about ways you can partner with local organizations or faith communities to amplify your climate advocacy. Collective action is powerful! Start a Conversation: Initiate discussions about climate change within your congregation or community, asking how they can respond with integrity and compassion. Additional Resources: (Add BTS Center resources and other resources) All We Can Save Project Meet the Guests: Dr. Keisha E. McKenzie, our guest co-host, s a strategist and thought leader who blends communication, religion, spirituality, and politics as tools for social change. With over sixteen years of experience in nonprofit and educational leadership across the US, Keisha’s work spans leadership facilitation, faith organizing, and development strategy. She holds a PhD in technical communication and rhetoric from Texas Tech University, where her research focused on British governmental communication about weapons of mass destruction. Dr. McKenzie is a co-host of the PRX podcast Moral Repair: A Black Exploration of Tech and is deeply committed to advancing faith-rooted justice and human dignity. Keisha’s website Glitch LinkedIn Mastodon Spotify Joelle Novey is the director of Interfaith Power & Light (DC, MD, and Northern VA), where she mobilizes faith communities to engage in climate action. Joelle has a background in social studies and religion from Harvard and previously worked at Green America. Her work focuses on empowering religious communities to act on their moral obligation to protect the planet. Interfaith Power & Light Jessica Jacobs is an award-winning poet and author of Unalone , a collection of poems that engage deeply with the Hebrew Bible. Her work reflects on themes of climate change, spirituality, and justice, using poetic language to draw connections between ancient stories and contemporary crises. Jessica’s Website Instagram…
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 McLare n 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) • Online October 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. Twitter Instagram 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. Instagram Twitter Facebook 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…
🎉 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…
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.…
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…
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/debrakrienstra Instagram: @rienstradebra…
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 Buckley Holy Living: Prayer Hard To Dance With the Devil On Your Back The 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…
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/eileenflanagan https://www.facebook.com/eileenflanaganauthor Insta: @eileenflanaganauthor https://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: @mackenzian LinkedIn: 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.…
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 .…
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 .…
Nicole Diroff shares excerpts from Season Two of Climate Changed podcast featuring Rob Shetterly, Shanon Shah, Margaret Wheatley, and Debra Rienstra. Nicole Diroff: Climate Changed podcast focuses on collective honesty and hope Nicole Diroff: Hey there. I'm Nicole Diroff. Ben Yosua-Davis and I host the Climate Changed podcast . Over the past several months, we interviewed wise and insightful guests. We collected poems and songs to provide you with a chance to center. And now we are putting finishing touches on season two of Climate Changed. Our focus for this new season is collective honesty and complicated hope in a climate changed world. Ben and I talk about this a lot in our work at The BTS Cente r, where we offer formative programs for spiritual leaders of diverse backgrounds. Season two includes people we've had the opportunity to work with through these BTS Center programs.…
Ben Yosua-Davis 00:00 Hi, I'm Ben Yosua-Davis, co host of the Climate Change Podcast . I am incredibly excited about season two of our show. In this season, we ask big questions about collective honesty and complicated hope, which feels really timely in a moment dominated by news of floods, wildfire, smoke and record breaking heat. I talk with Dr. Suzanne Moser about what it means to lead well in an era defined by accelerating traumatic and transformational change. Dr. Susie Moser 00:31 When people are really, really threatened in their identity, they are pushed to change. And who of us wants to? Thank you very much. It was just fine before or you know, it's it's too hard. And I don't know how. So helping people frame that process and frame the dark night of the soul. I mean, that's your territory, right? Ben Yosua-Davis 00:55 Indigenous writer and teacher Ray Buckley shares what it means to practice forgiveness and joy in the face of almost unthinkable, communal and personal tragedy. Ray Buckley 01:08 There wasn't that moment in the understanding, didn't come through reading books, or anything that niche that in this case, one would cause a significant tragedy. Me and my family that there was a way past this for both of us. Ben Yosua-Davis 01:28 And you will hear the amazing conversation I had with iconic author and organisational thinker Margaret Wheatley . She shares about what it means to do hope filled meaningful work, even in the face of genuinely insurmountable challenges. Margaret Wheatley 01:49 It shifts from what do I think I need to feel fulfilled and purpose filled life to what does the world need from me. And it's not the big world. It's the world of your community, your congregation, your school, your family, your team. And I call those islands of sanity now because we're doing our very best to create sanity to create the conditions for people to be free of fear and express therefore our best human qualities of generosity, kindness, creativity, and community. 02:29 Do you want to be challenged and inspired? Join us for this amazing series of conversations. You can listen to climate change wherever you get your podcasts for visit The BTS Center .…
In season two of the climate changed podcast, Ben Yosua-Davis and Nicole Diroff will help you take an unflinching look at the devastating reality of climate change, not to scare the snot out of us. No, they and their amazing guests balance and honest view of the problems with clear direction about how we can take up our roles in this rapidly changing world. The new season of Climate Changed podcast premieres on Tuesday September 26, 2023. Ben and Nicole ask big questions as they speak with thought leaders, climate change specialists, and people at the intersections of faith and climate action. Some questions and guests include: What Does Collective Truth Telling Look Like? with artist Rob Shetterly How Can I Keep Going? with Dr. Susi Moser , a scientist and climate adaptation expert. What Is Mine to Do? with Quicker author and environmental activist Eileen Flanaga n How Do You Love the World As It Is? with indigenous practitioner Ray Buckley Am I the Right Person? with author Margaret Wheatley What Roles Can Religions Play? with Shanon Shah , a British Muslim leader and the director of Faith for the Climate Ben and Nicole are joined by conversation partners Dr. Keisha McKenzie and Debra Rienstra. Subscribe wherever you get podcasts and visit the BTS Center's Climate Changed page for Season One and full show notes once episodes premiere.…
In this episode of the Climate Changed podcast, you will experience: The Wall, a poem read by podcast guest Hannah Malcolm. It was written by David Benjamin Blower, a musician, writer, and podcaster. It comes from his 2019 album We Really Existed and We Really Did This , and it appears in the anthology, Words for a Dying World: Stories of Grief and Courage from the Global Church , edited by Hannah Malcolm. “Daddy, Did We Hurt Them?”, an audio essay written and voiced by co-host Ben Yosua-Davis and featuring his five year-old-son, Michael. Audio treatment by Peterson Toscano. Two conversations about the essay: Co-host Nicole Diroff and her father, Michael DiMonte. Hannah Malcolm and co-host Nicole Diroff Next Steps for Engaged Hope About Hannah Malcolm Hannah is an ordinand in the Church of England and is writing a PhD on a theology of climate and ecological grief. She is on the board of Operation Noah and regularly speaks and writes about climate justice and the church. She is the editor of Words for a Dying World: Stories of Grief and Courage from the Global Church (SCM Press, 2020). About Michael DiMonte Michael DiMonte is a Christian, husband, father, and grandfather. He was raised Catholic, but has also attended Presbyterian, UCC, and United Methodist churches. He currently acts as a lay leader for the Working for Justice Ministry at St. Paul’s UMC near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While now retired, his professional career included working as an engineer, project manager, and executive in companies providing equipment to the electric power industry. He holds engineering degrees from Bucknell University and Purdue University, and a management degree from the Hartford Graduate Center. Click here for full transcript of this episode Some Highlights from the Conversation “My children are the ones who keep me grounded and teach me joy. That's important for me. I work in climate, and I love my job. But sometimes, I have to stare into the abyss.” — Ben Yosua-Davis “We don't know how to deal with problems that simply cannot be fixed. We have no way of hoping in the face of problems that cannot be fixed. Because hope for us must always be an expression of power. ” — Ben Yosua-Davis “Don't be afraid to talk to people who may see things very differently. We need to garner the courage to stick our necks out and engage people who see things differently.” — Michael DiMonte “I found it very helpful to remember that in the Christian tradition, hope is a virtue, as much as it is a feeling that we can have that hope, like love is a virtue that, you know, you can't just have the virtue of hope by sort of wanting to be hopeful. You have to have the virtue of hope by practicing hopefulness; virtues come through the action of developing a habit.” — Hannah Malcolm “There's quite a lot of danger in our grief becoming highly personalized. This kind of grief can make us nihilistic, it can make us selfish, it can make us behave in destructive ways, as well as compassionate ways. ” — Hannah Malcolm Next Steps for Engaged Hope Michael DiMonte says: “Vote! We need personal change. We need family, we need community change. We need systemic change too.” “Don't be afraid to talk to people who may see things very differently. We need to garner the courage to stick our necks out and engage people who see things differently.” Hannah Malcolm says: “If you are a member of a religious community, whether Christian or otherwise, I think there's a couple of questions we can ask ourselves as we face up to what we're losing and what's coming ahead of us. And the first one is about this: how can my church community locally be a refuge for people in practical and spiritual ways? So how can we provide or facilitate support pastorally and spiritually for perhaps local climate activists, for young people, for those who are involved in local organizing, and then how can our building or our lands be a place of refuge, as people face increasingly precarious environments?“ “What kinds of assets does that denomination or religious council have in terms of land, in terms of investments? Are those things aligned with what we say we believe in terms of the goodness of the earth, in terms of our duty to care for or attend to what God has made?” Ben Yosua-Davis says: “If you have a child in your life, you can find a way to talk to them about climate and our more than human community with them. Remembering that kids are capable of having much harder conversations than we adults give them credit for. Here are a couple places you could start: the next time you both see a bird, for instance, that catches your attention. Invite your child to imagine with you.” Nicole Diroff says: “As a way of connecting with all who are impacted, you could create a 72 hour emergency kit with a child in your life. In addition to the basics, you can customize it with suggestions from your child. These may include favorite snacks, games, books, and gifts to give to others. To learn more about 72 hour kits, visit ready.gov/kit .” 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.…
In this episode of the Climate Changed podcast, you will experience: Aram Mitchell leads a guided reflection called Flood on the Horizon A conversation with Rev. Dr. Veronice Miles Next Steps for Engaged Hope About Veronice Miles The Rev. Dr. Veronice Miles is a preacher, teacher, scholar, mentor, and artist committed to a life of ministry in the church and in the academy. She serves as the Mary Elizabeth McGehee Joyce Professor of Preaching at the Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC. Answering the call to ordained ministry in 1994, she was licensed by the First Missionary Baptist Church, making her the first woman to be licensed without contestation in a Missionary Baptist Church, in Gainesville, Florida. She was ordained in 1999 at the Greater Bethany Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Miles has taught preaching for more than 16 years and has preached extensively. She has also contributed to various academic and church related journals, commentaries, and books. Her publication, Embodied Hope: A Homiletical Theology Reflection (CASCADE Books), explores the human capacity to live with Hope and the power and potential of preaching to amplify Hope’s resonance in our lives. Preaching, she believes, neither ignores nor concedes defeat to the despairing realities of life. Rather, preaching emboldens individuals and communities of faith to live with Hope and respond in the affirmative to God’s “yes” for creation and for our lives. With these thoughts as foci, her research highlights the formative and transformative potential of preaching, including the role of preaching in redressing persistently threatening challenges that pervade U.S. culture. As a lifelong learner, Dr. Miles has earned several degrees, including the Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Education and Homiletics from Emory University’s Graduate Division of Religion in Atlanta, GA, and a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University with certificates in Religious Education and Black Church Studies. She also earned the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Master of Education in Counseling, and Education Specialist in Student Personnel Services, all from the University of Florida. Grounded in the belief that God still anoints women and men “to bring good news to the poor... to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19), Dr. Miles endeavors to embody these practices in her life and ministry. Click here for full transcript of this episode Some Highlights from the Conversation “The people in my congregation are only the people in my community, but the world is our neighbor. And if we were to preserve, personify the earth and the environment, I feel like we almost have to, then the earth, these hands, and neighbor as well, is in the same care, compassion, concern that we have for one another.” — Veronice Miles “It is an incarnational kind of understanding of hope, that hope is within us. It's not something that we go and get from a place out there somewhere. It's not even something that is motivated by whether or not things are well in this moment, or terrible in this moment.” — Veronice Miles “So what happens if we get off the consumptive hamster wheel, and we have to start purchasing less things? What fills those spaces when we are no longer able to be addicted to our stuff, and it's actually beautiful things fill that space? It’s nature, it’s friends, it’s community, it’s art, it’s spaciousness?” — Ben Yosua-Davis Next Steps for Engaged Hope Nicole wants to recommend a book that has helped her understand what is going on. The Story of More by Hope Jahren . Jahren walks through many aspects of climate change and how it's affecting our world. It is very accessible and helped Nicole build her own knowledge base. Check out the on-line workshop Pursuing our Passions in a Climate Changed World , which is available for free through The BTS Center’s Leadership Commons. It was created by this podcast’s producer, Peterson Toscano. You will begin a process of discovering how to imagine a better world and use what they love to get there. This can be done on your own, but it is especially designed for groups. You will find a full facilitator’s guide, video, and more. Rob Hopkins’ book From What is to What If: Unleashing the Power of Imagination to Create the Future We Want . He outlines ways in which humans are inherently imaginative beings, and he points out how important it is to tap into the imaginative capacity today. Come to the on-line Convocation 2022: Imagination and Collective Liberation for a Climate-Changed World October 6 - 7, 2022. You will hear presentations with Rev. Dr. Veronice Miles, Rob Hopkins, and more. There will also be opportunities to connect with other participants in affinity groups and break-out sessions. Create 72-hour disaster supply kits for neighbors. According to ready.gov : “After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days. Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for several days. A disaster supply kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.” They provide a full list of the basics you want to have in your kit. And they suggest, “Once you take a look at the basic items, consider what unique needs your family might have, such as supplies for pets or seniors.” Creating a 72-hour kit for a neighbor is a practical way of showing love and building community. It will also help you to learn more about your neighbors as you talk to them about what they would like in their kit. Learn more at ready.gov/kit . 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 is Wrong with Me? with Keyana Pardilla, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Sherri Mitchell In this episode of the Climate Changed podcast, you will experience: A centering practice: Sean Dague helps us envision a world without fossil fuels . A conversation with Keyana Pardilla Excerpts from live BTS Center Zoom programs featuring Robin Wall Kimmerer and Sherri Mitchell Next Steps for Engaged Hope About Keyana Pardilla Keyana Pardilla graduated in 2020 from the University of Maine with a bachelor's degree in marine science. She grew up on a Penobscot reservation where she continues to live. Her current work is in the Youth Engagement Division at Wabanaki public health and wellness. Keyana describes herself this way: “My name is Keyana Pardilla and my pronouns are she/her. I belong to where the rocks widen otherwise known as the Penobscot Nation. I come from an indigenous background. I love science and education. I also practice some traditional forms of art, like beading. I love to paint, and I also am starting to learn how to weave some baskets, some traditional baskets. I am also a dog mom of two rescue pups. I love to go outdoors and explore nature. I have a bachelor's degree in marine science. I'm very passionate about the ocean and how we can combat climate change.” About Robin Wall Kimmerer Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. She is the author of the widely acclaimed book Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants . Her first book, Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses , was awarded the John Burroughs Medal for outstanding nature writing, and her other work has appeared in Orion, Whole Terrain, and numerous scientific journals. She tours widely and has been featured on NPR’s On Being with Krista Trippett. In 2015, she addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations on the topic of “Healing Our Relationship with Nature.” Kimmerer lives in Syracuse, New York, where she is a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Environmental Biology, and the founder and director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment. Learn more about Robin Wall Kimmerer and view her portrait as part of Rob Shetterly’s “Americans Who Tell the Truth” series. About Sherri Mitchell Sherri Mitchell – Weh’na Ha’mu Kwasset, is a Native American attorney, teacher, activist and change maker who grew up on the Penobscot Indian Reservation. She is the author of the award-winning book Sacred Instructions; Indigenous Wisdom for Living Spirit-Based Change , and is the visionary behind the global healing ceremony Healing the Wounds of Turtle Island, which has brought people together from six continents with a commitment to heal our collective wounds and forge a unified path forward. Sherri is the founding director of the Land Peace Foundation , an organization dedicated to the protection of Indigenous land, water, and religious rights, and the preservation of the Indigenous way of life. She is an alumna of the American Indian Ambassador Program and the Udall Native American Congressional Internship Program. Her rights-based work has earned her the Mahoney Dunn International Human Rights and Humanitarian Award, the Spirit of Maine Award for International Human Rights, and the Peace and Justice Center’s Hands of Peace award. Sherri has been a longtime advisor to the American Indian Institute’s Traditional Circle of Indian Elders and Youth and was a program coordinator for their Healing the Future Program. She has also served as an advisor to the Indigenous Elders and Medicine People’s Council of North and South America for the past 20 years and is a consultant and Advisory Committee member for Nia Tero’s International Indigenous Land Guardianship Program. Sherri works at the intersections of our times, where she artfully weaves complex concepts into one unifying whole. She currently speaks and teaches around the world on a multitude of issues, including: Indigenous rights, environmental justice, and Spirit-Based Change. Click here for a full transcript of this episode. Some Highlights from the Conversation “Just imagine this whole new world. Because if we can't imagine this world, we can't create it.” – Sean Dague , Citizens Climate Lobby. As part of the Centering Practice, Sean leads us through a thought experiment about envisioning a world without fossil fuels. He invites us to engage each one of our senses to see, smell, hear, and feel the world in a new way. “I would pick up on these feeling of melancholy, because their stories would always end up with, ‘But that's not how we do it anymore, or what we can't go there anymore, or simply just a lot has changed since then.’” –Keyana Pardilla Growing up in the Penobscot Nation, otherwise known as Indian Island, a small island located in Old Town Maine, Keyana speaks with elders as she seeks to find what was lost and bring this awareness to younger people. “But we are embedded In a world of relatives, relatives, not natural resources.” –Robin Wall Kimmerer In talking about gratitude, Kimmerer shares a way to connect with all living things that is built on relationships, love, and care. She invites us to expand our spiritual imaginations. “…the process of feeling the pain, the process of feeling the anxiety, the process of feeling the grief, the process of feeling the loneliness, is part of our connectivity to life, where the natural world is really amplifying the signal so that we once again feel our connection to the rest of life…” –Sherri Mitchell The title of this episode, What is Wrong with Me? comes from an observation Mitchell made during the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic. In a society that seeks to alleviate negative feelings, she invites us to consider how these strong emotions of pain, grief, and loneliness may be echoes of distress from the natural world. Next Steps for Engaged Hope Share this conversation with someone who you think will appreciate it. Email or text them a link to today’s episode or post it on social media. If what you heard here today moved you, likely it will also move one of your friends. And as a trusted source, your opinion matters to your friends. You can make a difference by making a donation. we suggest Wabanaki Reach , a powerful organization that advocates for the Wabanaki tribes in Maine through education, truth telling restorative justice, and restorative practices 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.…
In this episode of the Climate Changed podcast, you will experience: A centering practice as Craig Santos Perez reads his poem, “Thanksgiving in the Anthropocene” from his book of poetry Habitat Threshold . Music: Hymn for the Brave by Miles Avida. Ben Yosua-Davis and poet Craig Santos Perez have a moving conversation about raising children in a time of climate change. Craig also reads two of his original poems. Ben and Nicole’s discussion and reflections about the conversation. Next Steps for Engaged Hope. About Craig Santos Perez Dr. Craig Santos Perez is an indigenous Chamoru from Guam. He is the co-editor of five anthologies and the author of five books of poetry and the academic monograph, Navigating Chamoru Poetry: Indigeneity, Aesthetics, and Decolonization. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the U of San Francisco and a PhD in Ethnic Studies from the U of California, Berkeley. He is a professor in the English department, and affiliate faculty with the Center for Pacific Islands Studies, at the U of Hawai'i at Manoa, where he teaches Pacific literature, creative writing, and eco-poetry. Click here for a full transcript of this episode. Some Highlights from the Conversation “Butterball, Butterball, Butterball,” a line from “Thanksgiving in the Anthropocene” One of the major themes Craig writes about is food, as well as agriculture and food supply systems. “I think food is such a wonderful way for us to think about these larger issues and think about diet and the ethics of eating, the use of plastic and other packaging materials, the routes that the food takes to get to our plate, the animals that are slaughtered, as well as the workers who are often exploited.” The poem offers a searing commentary, but Ben notes, “However, there's also something incredibly playful about the poem in the reading.” "What am I supposed to do with this damaged future that I'm giving them?" — Ben Yosua-Davis Ben and Craig pull back the curtains on parenting and reveal their own fears and concerns about possibly sharing too much too soon with their young children. When and how do you tell your children that the more-than-human world they love is at great risk? When do you shelter a child with silence and when do you begin the conversation? “...it gives them a space for creative expression and for healing.” — Craig Santos Perez Criag talks about his university students and how writing poetry that takes on ecological disasters helps them come closer to the issues and find a path forward. Craig explains, “I've also noticed how, you know, once students learn about these issues, once they write their own poetry about what is happening, they're much more inclined to actually, you know, go to a beach cleanup, or to march in the climate change rally or to attend other environmental events.” “Knowing how to grieve teaches us how to love.” — Nicole Diroff Nicole Diroff joins Ben to discuss the themes that came up in the conversation. She explains the ways she talks to her eight-year-old, Elliot. “I've made a real commitment to finding the right language, because my child may be five, or six, or eight, or 12, to find the right language to have the conversation, but making sure that that my son knows that I'm the sort of person to talk about these topics with that I'm desiring to learn and live in this world at the same time that he is. It's really important with our children, and I say with our children, but I kind of mean just with other people to allow the space for authentic expression of emotion.” Next Steps for Engaged Hope Even if we are not poets like Craig, it is always helpful to do creative work around these topics. I imagine there are listeners who will benefit from writing a poem about one of the topics that came up in the podcast. If you write the poem, you can share it with others through social media or face to face with family or friends. You can even send us a copy. Craig suggests, “Spend some time those dawn and dusk hours outside with loved ones, with a favorite beverage to really just be in that moment and to connect to the deeper spirit of things.” For any of you who are interested in playing with painting as compared to poetry, Nicole invites you to go to look at the Earthbound Practices on The BTS Center website. There you learn about the creativity practices, led by our friend Bronwen Mayer Henry, where she invites you to take out some coloured pencils, or chalk, or pens, and play with a notebook. To check out more of Craig Santos Perez's work, you can visit his website . You will find links to his books, including Habitat Threshold , which was published in 2020. You can also see videos, read essays, and learn more about his research. Climate Changed is a brand new 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…
In this very first episode of the new Climate Changed podcast you will experience: Introductions by the co-hosts, Nicole Diroff & Ben Yosua-Davis A centering practice led by Peterson Toscano Remarks about the state of our world and churches by Rev. Mariama White-Hammond Ben and Nicole’s deep and moving discussion about those remarks Next Steps Next Steps for Engaged Hope Hear more of Rev. Mariama White-Hammond from the 2021 Convocation Do one small thing to defy the powers that be Stage a small protest at a street corner Hand out cookies or free bottles of water Greet a stranger or knock on a neighbor’s door and introduce yourself or just say hello Journal or write an email to a friend as you reflect on the following prompt: Imagine you must evacuate your home in 5 minutes from an extreme weather event. Besides loved ones and pets, what will you take with you and why? Once you answer, I encourage you to share the prompt and your answer through Facebook or some other social media and invite others to share their answers. Links Climate Changed podcast: https://climatechanged.podbean.com/ The BTS Center: https://thebtscenter.org/ Convocation 2021 Mariama White-Hammond keynote address: https://vimeo.com/620459476 “I used to think the top environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and climate change. I thought that with 30 years of good science we could address those problems. But I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy... and to deal with those we need a spiritual and cultural transformation...” — James “Gus” Speth About Rev. Mariama White-Hammond Rev. Mariama White-Hammond is a pastor, advocate, facilitator, and farmer whose work spans issues and sectors as she seeks to create a more just and sustainable world. She was recently appointed Chief of Energy, Environment and Open Spaces for the City of Boston under Mayor Kim Janey. In that role she oversees everything from Archeology to Animal Control. In particular, she is focused on what Boston can do to combat climate change, reduce environmental inequities and protect Boston’s urban ecosystem for everyone to enjoy. She is the founding pastor of New Roots AME Church, a multi-racial, multi-class community that is innovating new ways of doing church. Rev. Mariama uses an intersectional lens in her ecological work, challenging folks to see the connections between immigration and climate change or the relationship between energy policy and economic justice. She was a fellow with the Green Justice Coalition, which brings together eight social/environmental justice groups from around Massachusetts. She is the chair of the New England Grassroots Environmental Fund and the co-chair of RENEW New England.…
In this episode of the Climate Changed podcast you will experience: A centering practice led by poet, Maya Williams . You will hear Maya read Emily Dickinson’s Hope followed by one of Maya’s original poems, Religious Imposters. Nicole Diroff has a deep and incredibly honest conversation with Corina Newsome Ben and Nicole’s deep and moving discussion about those remarks Next Steps for Engaged Hope About Corina Newsome Corina Newsome is the Associate Conservation Scientist at the National Wildlife Federation and a recent graduate from Georgia Southern University with a Master of Science in Biology. Corina, who began in the field of wildlife science as an animal care professional, specializes in avian conservation and passionately connects people with the natural world through birds. Having experienced the hurdles faced by marginalized communities in wildlife conservation, Corina’s mission is to center the perspectives and leadership of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in wildlife conservation, environmental education, and exploration of the natural world. Corina is also one of the co-organizers of the inaugural #BlackBirdersWeek About Maya Williams and Their poem, Religious Imposters From Mayawilliamspoet.com : Maya Williams (she/hers, they/them, and ey/em) is a religious nonbinary Black multiracial suicide survivor constantly writing poems. Maya is the seventh Poet Laureate of Portland, Maine. Maya's content covers suicide awareness, mental health, the prison industrial complex, faith, entertainment media, grief, and healing. About the poem, Religious Imposters , Maya writes: It is inspired by Baháʼí poet Anis Mojgani's poem "Shake the Dust." His poem is a call for so many different types of human beings to "shake the dust" and come into their own because of how there's so much to admire about them. I created this poem as an expression of love towards religious and non-religious people to let go of imposter syndrome (shake that dust, if you will). There's so much to admire about folks coming into their own worldview. As a Christian writer, I cannot separate my writing process from my faith (especially when I write my prayers in my private journal). There is a sense of sacredness and desire for a community when I engage in writing a poem similar to this one. Religious Imposters was published in Frost Meadow Review and then shared on the Interfaith Youth Core . The Conversation “Faith journeys are not soundbites” -Nicole Diroff Corina reveals how taking on racial injustice directly through activism has challenged the straight-forward faith she developed as a child at her church in Philadelphia. The outrage she has felt along with her commitment to engage in the struggle causes her to ask questions about her faith. She is wondering about Jesus as the great community organizer, as Dr. Heber Brown , has preached. To address the overwhelming anger along Corina chooses to engage in the process of deconstructing and reconstructing her faith. Through the process, she feels like a new person—back in touch with God and experiencing a new type of freedom. She and Nicole talk about this messy and essential process. “I decided to I would make a career out of my desire to look closely. -Corina Newsome from A Thing with Feathers Nicole first learned about Corina through the essay, The Thing with Feathers . Corina shared the essay in Rooted and Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis , an anthology edited by Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade and Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas . In the essay Corina stresses the vial importance of looking closely. Nicole and Corina talk about the process of paying attention. Coming from a low-wealth background, Corina Newsome, discovered the power of connecting to our life source. Resource deprivation opened her up to the rich resources in nature, even in the city of Philadelphia. She says, “You can feel the difference it makes in your body as far as the stress levels and the constant tension that exists from not knowing and having to ration constantly. That is just such a taxing way to live. The moment you stop for 30 seconds and watch a living thing, something lifts inside of you…life just feels lighter somehow…Looking closely is very much a necessary opportunity that everyone needs to do, but you don’t know if it is there unless you’ve been taught.” You can hear Corina read the essay in the podcast The Art House , a project of Citizens Climate Radi o and Artists and Climate Change . Corina also talks about how Black faith communities are now addressing resource inequity and depletion in relation to food sovereignty including the Black Church Food Security Network . These efforts not only address some of the injustice issues faced in food deserts , they also help people connect to nature right in their neighborhoods through the foods they grow. They also talk about hope, and the near obsession that many church communities have around the source of hope. Many are asking, Where do we find hope? It was in studying birds, Corina finds hope in these birds. Corina says, “There’s nowhere just about where you can go where there aren’t birds.” Even in the most polluted spaces, you still find birds, ways for life to exist and even thrive. In places where the environment is clearer and birds have a richer habitat, that is where you see them benefit from diversity. Birds, with hollow bones and delicate bodies, like many marginalized people oppressed by injustices, may appear fragile, but they prove to be much stronger than many people can imagine. “They think we are fragile…” Nicole and Corina spoke with each other for nearly an hour. Click here to hear longer version of the conversation. Next Steps for Engaged Hope If you want to make your home more bird friendly, Corina links to an article from American Bird Conservancy . Glass collisions kill up to 1 billion birds in the U.S. each year, and almost half happen at home windows. And there is something we can do today to address this! Learn How to Keep Birds from Hitting Your Windows . You can make a difference by making a donation to Freedom Birders . Freedom Birders is a racial justice education project built on inspiration from the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Lives Matter Movement, and #BlackBirdersWeek. If you’re looking for an organization to help out with, I’d actually suggest the one that Corinna mentioned, which is the Black Church Food Security Network . Their national organizer, Rev. Heber Brown co-led a presentation for us on imagination back in 2021 . Another great place is The Boston Food Forest Coalition , which starts and tends urban food forests throughout Boston. On-line Trailside Practices facilitated by Aram Mitchell. Wherever you are—looking out the window, strolling through the woods, sitting on a bench in the park—here are some brief invitations to spiritual practice that you can integrate into your day.…
Peterson Toscano, host of Citizens Climate Radio , produces the new Climate Changed podcast. He finds hosts, Nicole Diroff and Ben Yosua-Davis, the perfect friends to talk him down when he is feeling overwhelmed by climate change. Their honesty, vulnerability, and resourcefulness provide him with fresh perspectives and much needed determination. Episodes One and Two premiere June 2022 Episode 1: How Do We Stop Doing Things that Make No Sense? With Rev. Mariama White-Hammond Episode 2: Where Do You Find Hope? With Corina Newsome Episode 3: What Do We Tell the Children? With Craig Santos Perez Episode 4: What is Wrong with Me? With Keyana Pardilla, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Sherri Mitchell Episode 5: If I Can’t Make a Difference, then What Do I Do? With Veronice Miles Episode 6: Daddy, Did We Hurt Them? With Ben Yosua-Davis…
Ben Yosua-Davis and Nicole Diroff are the hosts of the new Climate Changed podcast. They also have something else in common. They are both parents. Ben is a father to two amazing children. Michael, is his six year-old creative social butterfly. Genevieve is his sweet and ferocious two year old." Nicole is a mother to a second grader. Parenting comes with so many unique joys and challenges, and parenting in a climate-changed world in particular, raises so many questions for us. As our children are discovering the wonders of the natural world, How much do we tell them about the ecological disasters happening all around us? How do we create space for their grief and anger? How do we prepare them to live in a world that is already different from the one we knew as children? How do we raise resilient children who are prepared for the trauma that’s predicted for their lifetimes? How do we instill in them empathy and love for all earthlings? As parents, Christians, citizens, and friends, we talk a lot about these issues, so we decided to bring others into the conversation. In the first season of Climate Changed we connect with thought leaders, ministers, activists, and other parents who are considering similar questions. People like Corina Newsome , one of co-organizers of the inaugural #BlackBirdersWeek Keyana Pardilla, a young Penobscot woman in Maine who connects modern science with ancient indigenous practices Pacific Islander and poet Craig Santos-Perez Rev. Mariama White-Hammond , a pastor, gardener, and spiritual entrepreneur within the African Methodist Episcopal tradition We do not pretend to have all the answers. In fact, we have many more questions than answers - but we want to share them with you, and invite you to join us, as we wrestle with these big issues. Subscribe today to Climate Changed Podcast, wherever you get your podcasts. Season one premieres June 2022. The Climate Changed podcast is a project of The BTS Center in beautiful Portland, Maine. Episode 1: How Do We Stop Doing Things that Make No Sense? With Rev. Mariama White-Hammond Episode 2: Where Do You Find Hope? With Corina Newsome Episode 3: What Do We Tell the Children? With Craig Santos Perez Episode 4: What is Wrong with Me? With Keyana Pardilla, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Sherri Mitchell Episode 5: If I Can’t Make a Difference, then What Do I Do? With Veronice Miles Episode 6: Daddy, Did We Hurt Them? With Ben Yosua-Davis…
Climate Changed is a brand new 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 . In this extended promo you will about the podcast and from some of the guests who will appear on Season One including Corina Newsome , one of co-organizers of the inaugural #BlackBirdersWeek Keyana Pardilla, a young Penobscot woman in Maine who connects modern science with ancient indigenous practices Pacific Islander, poet Craig Santos-Perez Rev. Mariama White-Hammond , a pastor, gardener, and spiritual entrepreneur within the African Methodist Episcopal tradition Each episode includes a moment to help you center–even if you are jogging or folding laundry! In each episode you will also hear about meaningful, realistic, and achievable next steps you can take to learn more about the topics we discuss or to take action. We are thrilled to invite you on a journey of learning as Ben and Nicole share and reflect on their conversations with people who are dedicating their lives to making sense of life in a climate changed world. Season one of Climate Changed premieres in June of 2022 Episode 1: How Do We Stop Doing Things that Make No Sense? With Rev. Mariama White-Hammond Episode 2: Where Do You Find Hope? With Corina Newsome Episode 3: What Do We Tell the Children? With Craig Santos Perez Episode 4: What is Wrong with Me? With Keyana Pardilla, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Sherri Mitchell Episode 5: If I Can’t Make a Difference, then What Do I Do? With Veronice Miles Episode 6: Daddy, Did We Hurt Them? With Ben Yosua-Davis…
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