Intersectional Environmentalism: How To Dismantle Systems Of Oppression To Protect People + Planet with Leah Thomas

In this episode of the Get Loved Up podcast, Koya talks to celebrated environmentalist Leah Thomas. Leah talks about Intersectional Environmentalism and how we can’t separate social justice from true environmentalism. While a little goes a long way when it comes to protecting the planet, Leah also recognizes that unsustainable practices also stem from social realities that need to be changed. Our planet’s struggles are also our own and to solve environmental issues would also require solving the problems that hound human species alone. 

GUEST BIO

Leah Thomas is a celebrated environmentalist based in Santa Barbara, CA. Coining the term ‘eco-communicator’ to describe her style of environmental activism, Leah uses her passion for writing and creativity to explore and advocate for the critical yet often overlooked relationship between social justice and environmentalism. With this intersection in mind, Leah founded and launched Intersectional Environmentalist in 2020, a resource hub and platform that aims to advocate for environmental justice, provide educational resources surrounding intersectional environmentalism, and promote inclusivity and accessibility within environmental education and movements.

Leah, who is also the founder of eco-lifestyle blog @greengirlleah, uses her multiple years of eco-focused educational and work experience to inform her ever-expanding list of projects, as well as her audience of more than 350k followers. A graduate of Chapman University with a B.S. in Environmental Science & Policy and a cluster in Comparative World Religions, Leah has interned twice with the National Park Service and has worked at leading green companies, including eco-friendly soap company Ecos and most recently, Patagonia. A fundamental optimist and opportunity-maker, Leah used her time after being furloughed during the pandemic to create Intersectional Environmentalist. Leah’s writing has appeared in a variety of publications, including Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire and Highsnobiety, and she has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, W Magazine, Domino, GOOP, and numerous podcasts.

Connect with Leah and follow her work through the links below: 

• Website: https://www.greengirlleah.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greengirlleah/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahpthomas/

HIGHLIGHTS

04:34 Leah's political awakening 

07:42 What 'intersectional' means 

23:27 Top 5 questions to dive into to become a better person

26:08 Support conscious capitalism as much as you can 

30:30 Living the nomad life in LA

40:22 How to get started in becoming an environmentalist

QUOTES

05:35 Leah: "Really early on, I started seeing in my studies that environmental legislation is not enforced equally for all people, especially along racial and economic lines. That's something that always stuck with me for a really long time, just not understanding why there wasn't more representation of all the incredible black folks and our contributions to sustainability. " 

06:22 Leah: "We can't separate the liberation of people from environmentalism. And if we do, I don't really want to take part in that type of environmentalism." 

22:04 Leah: "I think about my time spent writing the book and it's all kind of a haze. I was just so into it, I was writing it during the pandemic. And I'm the type of person where if I have something to say, I'll say it. And when I don't, I'll be quiet. I'll be quiet for years. But I had something to say, I had it in my heart, and there's something just so freeing about that and then also I know that I can back it up." 

26:10 Leah: "If you can, I mean, supporting conscious capitalism, shopping local, trying to reduce harm by getting things that are fair-trade, locally sourced, ethically made. I know sometimes there's a really hefty price tag on that." 

41:03 Leah: "Do a little audit. Reward yourself with the things that you are doing. Compassionately guide yourself to do better in the areas that you're not." 

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