Our fears for the future of this planet are part of an interwoven story of grief and hope. While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and defeated, author Stephanie Foo (What My Bones Know) has found one small consistent act that grounds her, and gives her a hope for the world: she volunteers with the urban parks system. If your climate anxiety has felt too big to tackle, don’t miss this short bonus episode - you might just find a doorway to your own place in the woods. 

In this episode we cover: 

• The difference between “good immigrant” plants and “bad immigrant” plants, and how that relates to the climate emergency
• How being a park steward has given Stephanie hope for the future AND a budding community (ok, pun intended)
• What trees teach us about weathering trauma

Notable quotes: 

“My action is relatively small, but I think it's really important. I kill plants.” - Stephanie Foo

About our guest: 

Stephanie Foo is a C-PTSD survivor, writer, and radio producer, most recently for This American Life. Her work has aired on Snap Judgment, Reply All, 99% Invisible, and Radiolab. She lives in New York City with her husband, where she is a Parks Department Super Steward.

Read Stephanie’s book, What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma

Follow her on Instagram @foofoofoo and Twitter @imontheradio 

Find a great conversation about What My Bones Know on Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper at this link 

Additional resources

It’s OK That You’re Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn’t Understand is a book for grieving people, those who love them, and all those seeking to love themselves—and each other—better. (available in paperback, e-book, & audiobook)

For a collection of tools and coping skills related to grief and trauma, check out my illustrated guided journal, How to Carry What Can’t Be Fixed. (available in paperback and for Kindle)

For a deep dive into the environmental activism of the 90s and early 2000s, check out the work of Joanna Macy. A lot of our current understanding of the mental health of activists comes from Macy’s work. 

Get in touch:

Thanks for listening to this week’s episode of Here After with Megan Devine. Tune in, subscribe, leave a review, send in your questions, and share the show with everyone you know. Together, we can make things better, even when they can’t be made right. 

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Have a question, comment, or a topic you’d like us to cover? call us at (323) 643-3768 or visit megandevine.co

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Check out Megan’s best-selling books - It’s Okay That You're Not Okay and How to Carry What Can’t Be Fixed

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