Tricycle Talks Remembering Joanna Macy with Jess Serrante
Oct 15, 2025
Jess Serrante, a climate activist and longtime facilitator of the Work That Reconnects, shares insights into the life and legacy of Joanna Macy. They discuss the transformative power of gratitude, the importance of honoring our grief, and how anger can fuel meaningful action. Jess emphasizes the need to navigate pain as a sacred experience that connects us to love and resilience. The conversation culminates in a guided meditation, encouraging listeners to cultivate gratitude for the Earth and engage with decisive actions toward the Great Turning.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
How A Chance Meeting Sparked A Lifelong Mentorship
- Jess met Joanna by running after her in a hallway after hearing her speak at a conference and introduced herself enthusiastically.
- That spontaneous meeting began an 11-year friendship and mentorship that shaped Jess's path.
A Retreat Ritual That Broke Through Numbness
- Jess describes a 10-day retreat where a truth mandala ritual prompted collective expression of grief and anger among fifty people.
- That ritual revealed her own numbing and reawakened her engagement with climate work.
Three Coexisting Stories Of Our Time
- Joanna's "three stories" framework shows business-as-usual, the great unraveling, and the great turning coexisting now.
- Recognizing all three helps locate action and resist seeing history as a single narrative.
