Today's guest is Dr. Katharine Wilkinson, best-selling author, strategist, teacher, and one of 15 “women who will save the world,” according to Time magazine.
Dr. Wilkinson leads the All We Can Save Project, which she co-founded with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. As an emergent nonprofit, the project's mission is to nurture the leaderful climate community we need for a life-giving future using the tools of narrative change, community building, deep learning, and tending the emotional and spiritual route from which climate leadership grows. She is the creator of All We Can Save Circles, a unique model for deep dialogue about the climate crisis and building community around solutions, and Climate Wayfinding, a program that supports people in finding or deepening their place in climate work. Last but certainly not least, Dr. Wilkinson co-hosts the podcast A Matter of Degrees with Dr. Leah Stokes, which tells stories for the climate curious.
Dr. Stokes recently had an insightful conversation with Jason (listen here), but Katharine brings a unique perspective and experience to the climate discussion, given her different background. In this episode, we dive into Dr. Wilkinson's journey to working on climate, her theory of change, and how it’s evolved. We also cover the role of activism, the arts, education, and a bunch of things that aren't typically associated with climate discussions, especially in Silicon Valley technology and innovation circles.
In this episode, we cover:
- [4:00] Dr. Wilkinson's portfolio of projects
- [8:11] Her thoughts on the nature of the climate problem and how they've evolved
- [11:31] The myth of separation and the interconnected web of life
- [15:17] The urgency of creating more just solutions in partnership with communities
- [21:37] Humans are more hardwired for cooperation than competition
- [22:53] Dr. Wilkinson's theory of change for cultivating a different kind of leadership across sectors
- [24:38] Need for deep learning
- [28:01] Climate Wayfinding course with Terra.do
- [33:34] Her thoughts on the narrative of abundance vs. sacrifice
- [35:50] Some tensions in the Inflation Reduction Act and ways of overcoming them
- [38:45] Direct activism tactics
- [40:52] Dr. Wilkinson's thoughts on the good vs. evil narrative in climate
Get connected:
Jason Jacobs
Dr. Wilkinson
All We Can Save
A Matter of Degrees
MCJ Podcast / Collective
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Episode recorded on November 4, 2022.
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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
