Hannah Proctor

Hannah Proctor, a Wellcome Trust Research Fellow and author of "Burnout: The Emotional Experience of Political Defeat," dives into the emotional intricacies of political struggles. She discusses how personal feelings intertwine with political movements, especially after significant defeats. Proctor reflects on women's transformative experiences during the miners' strike and explores the dynamics of self-criticism within revolutionary contexts. The conversation also emphasizes the duality of hope and despair in activism, advocating for dialogue as a path to social change.

Hannah Proctor discusses the history of burnout, tracing its roots to 1960s countercultural movements. She explores gender, class, and race dynamics in burnout discussions, challenges in caring for caregivers, and the impact of power dynamics. Reference to psychiatrist Frantz Fanon's work and the importance of systemic reform for a less burnout world are highlighted.

Hannah Proctor and Ajay Singh Chaudhary discuss the mental toll of revolutionary movements, balancing grief of political defeat with organizing and resistance. Topics include self-care, collective care, exhaustion as a political emotion, challenging traditional trauma notions, and redefining hope in climate activism.