The Gray Area with Sean Illing

The climate apocalypse will be televised

Apr 10, 2023

Dorothy Fortenberry, co-showrunner and executive producer of Apple TV+'s Extrapolations, discusses the storytelling challenges surrounding climate change. She explores how media can effectively communicate the urgency of this crisis while confronting societal and emotional issues tied to it, including climate anxiety and the role of faith. Fortenberry highlights the intricate relationship between environmental degradation and personal memories, urging listeners to grasp the urgent need for action. Through her work, she aims to empower individuals and provide hope amid the narrative of doom.

01:00:32

Episode guests

Dorothy Fortenberry

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Episode notes

Intro

4min

Navigating Climate Narratives

21min

Exploring the Spiritual Dimensions of the Climate Crisis

2min

Faith and the Climate Crisis

15min

The Power of Storytelling in Facing Existential Questions

2min

Interconnectedness of Television and Identity

1min

Nature, Memory, and Climate Change

6min

Navigating Individual and Corporate Responsibility in Climate Action

5min

Guest host Alissa Wilkinson talks with Dorothy Fortenberry, a co-showrunner, executive producer, and writer on Extrapolations, the new star-studded anthology series on Apple TV+ that imagines the ravages of climate change deeper and deeper into the future. Alissa and Dorothy discuss the challenges of making film and television about the climate crisis, the role that religion plays on the show and in addressing the emotional responses to climate change in our lives, and how climate change can rob us not only of our future — but of our past.

Host: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie), senior culture writer, Vox

Guest: Dorothy Fortenberry (@Dorothy410berry), writer/executive producer, Extrapolations on Apple TV+

References:

Extrapolations on Apple TV+
"Laudato Si': On Care for our Common Home," encyclical of Pope Francis (May 24, 2015)
"A Review: The Lotus Paradox at Warehouse Theatre" (Jan. 31, 2022)
"Latin Mass, women priests, celibacy? Climate change will make all the church's arguments pointless" by Dorothy Fortenberry (America; Oct. 27, 2021)

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This episode was made by:

Producer: Erikk Geannikis
Engineer: Patrick Boyd
Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall

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