In this powerful and timely conversation, Dr. John Izzo and Alain Gauthier sit down with award-winning filmmaker and journalist Paul Jay, whose upcoming documentary How to Stop a Nuclear War dives deep into the existential risks humanity continues to ignore. Together, they explore why the Cold War never truly ended, how nuclear weapons remain an urgent and immediate threat, and what each of us can do to break the silence and reclaim our collective future.

This episode is not just about nuclear war — it’s about truth, power, media silence, and our responsibility as citizens of a shared planet.

Jay shares the untold story behind the nuclear threat and the making of his new film inspired by Daniel Ellsberg’s The Doomsday Machine. He argues that the Cold War didn’t end — it simply evolved — and that the same forces of fear, profit, militarism, and denial continue to push humanity toward catastrophe.

You’ll hear why policymakers rarely talk about nuclear weapons, how media myths shape public perception, why dialogue with our “enemies” is essential, and how ordinary citizens can influence extraordinary change by confronting the “house of dynamite” we all live in before it explodes.

About Paul Jay

Paul Jay is an award-winning Canadian filmmaker, journalist, and founder of TheAnalysis.news (https://theanalysis.news). Formerly CEO and senior editor of The Real News Network, Jay has produced highly acclaimed documentaries including:

• Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows
• Return to Kandahar
• The Four Horsemen (producer)
• Lost in Las Vegas

He is also the founding chair of the Hot Docs International Documentary Festival, now the largest documentary festival in North America.

Paul is currently directing How to Stop a Nuclear War, based on Daniel Ellsberg’s The Doomsday Machine, examining the systems of power that shape global nuclear policy — and how citizens can reclaim agency over issues that determine humanity’s survival.

Explore more of his work: https://theanalysis.news

Our Sponsors

This episode is made possible through the generous support of our partners:

• Elders Action Network — https://eldersaction.org
• Elders Climate Action — https://eldersclimateaction.org

Their work empowers elders everywhere to stand up for democracy, climate action, justice, and the future of life on Earth.

Stay Connected

Thank you for joining us on The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations.

If this episode moved you, please:

• Subscribe to the channel
• Like the episode
• Share it with friends and allies
• Leave a comment — we read every one and deeply appreciate your thoughts
• Tell us: What gives you hope about the way forward?

Explore more episodes and sign up for updates at: https://www.youtube.com/@thewayforwardrc

Upcoming Live Event

The Climate Crossroads: Why Haven’t We Changed — and How We Do Now

📅 Tuesday, December 2 ⏰ 8:00–9:30 am PT / 11:00 am–12:30 pm ET

A live global event presented by The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations Podcast.

https://www.youtube.com/@thewayforwardrc

We know the science — yet society still struggles to change. Why? Join three of the most respected voices in the climate movement for a rare, candid dialogue:

• Bill McKibben — Founder of 350.org & Third Act
• Dr. Rupert Read — Philosopher, author of Parents for a Future
• Brian McLaren — Theologian, activist, and author

Moderated by Dr. John Izzo, this 90-minute event confronts the hard truth of where we stand — and explores the pathway from paralysis to courageous collective action.

Hosted by Elders Action Network, Elders Climate Action, and The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations Podcast.

Attendees will have the chance to ask live questions.

👉 Register now and be part of the generation that turns awareness into action: The Climate Crossroads: Why Haven’t We Changed — and How We Do Now - Elders Action Network

Bill McKibben joins The Way Forward to explore the rapid rise of solar energy and China’s commanding role in the clean energy economy. Drawing from his latest book Here Comes the Sun, McKibben shares how the solar revolution is reshaping global dynamics — from the shift away from fossil fuels to the acceleration of decentralized power — and why local action still holds the key to a regenerative future.

In this episode of The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations, environmental leader Bill McKibben reveals the remarkable—and largely untold—story behind the global solar energy boom. Drawing from his new book Here Comes the Sun, McKibben explains how solar has moved from the margins to become the world’s cheapest, fastest-growing energy source, reshaping geopolitics, economics, and the fight for a livable planet.

We explore why the transition is accelerating so quickly, how China surged ahead in clean-energy manufacturing, what’s blocking progress in the U.S., and why decentralized energy strengthens both democracy and community resilience. McKibben makes a powerful case that the most impactful climate action isn’t individual—it’s collective organizing to change policy and scale solutions that match the crisis.

This is a conversation about speed, possibility, and the decisive decade ahead—and why a sun-powered world is much closer than we think.

Bill McKibben—author, journalist, and founder of 350.org and Third Act—is one of the world’s most influential climate voices. His new book, Here Comes the Sun, charts the extraordinary rise of solar power and what it means for the future.

Themes

• Solar is exploding globally—faster than anyone expected.
• Renewables are now the cheapest energy on Earth.
• China is dominating clean-energy manufacturing.
• Batteries and virtual power plants are transforming the grid.
• Collective action—not individual consumption—is what shifts systems.

UPCOMING LIVE EVENT

THE CLIMATE CROSSROADS – December 2, Live Online

A powerhouse panel with Bill McKibben, Dr. Rupert Read, and Brian McLaren, moderated by Dr. John Izzo as they explore what it will take to move from paralysis to action. Hosted by Elders Action Network, Elders Climate Action, and The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations, this 90-minute event blends moral clarity with practical hope.

🗓 December 2 8–9:30 AM PST | 11–12:30 PM EST | 4–5:30 PM GMT 📍 Hosted by Elders Action Network, Elders Climate Action & The Way Forward Podcast 🔗 Register here: https://shorturl.at/hNYKg

Also visit and register at our Sutra to have an interactive experience with our 3 guests. Climate Crossroads Sutra

The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations is hosted by Dr. John Izzo & Alain Gauthier and produced by Jim Burke. 📺 Watch on [YouTube] https://www.youtube.com/@thewayforwardrc| 🎧 Listen on [Apple Podcasts] podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-way-forward-regenerative-conversations/id1651941803| 🌍 Connect with us: [Website] https://wayforwardpodcast.com/

• 🌿 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors This episode of The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations is made possible through the generous support of Elders Action Network (EAN) https://eldersaction.org/ (Elders Action Network) and Elders Climate Action (ECA) https://eldersaction.org/ (Elders Action Network. These organizations are dedicated to empowering elders to take collective action for a thriving, just, and sustainable future. We’re deeply grateful for their leadership and for modeling what it means to be regenerative elders in action.

In this powerful episode of The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations, hosts John Izzo and Alain Gauthier sit down with philosopher and climate activist Dr. Rupert Read and Manda Scott to explore the groundbreaking new book, Transformative Adaptation.

Is it too late to stop climate change? What does it mean to adapt with courage, not despair? And how can we transform ourselves and our systems to save what truly matters?

We dive deep into:

• The difference between shallow and transformative adaptation
• Why collapse isn’t inevitable — and how hope can be radical
• The moral and spiritual dimensions of climate action
• Practical steps for individuals and communities to adapt with integrity

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations, hosts Dr. John Izzo and Alain Gauthier sit down with Rupert Read and Manda Scott to explore their new book Transformative Adaptation: Another World Is Still Just Possible.

We ask:

• Is it too late to stop the climate and ecological crisis?
• What’s the difference between “shallow” adaptation and “transformative” adaptation?
• How can communities move from resilience to true system change?
• Why do new stories—like Thrutopia—matter for creating a liveable future?

From real examples in Nepal and Rojava to the spiritual and narrative shifts needed to heal our “trauma culture,” this episode will leave you questioning what kind of future we can still build—together.

👥 Guest Bios & Links

Rupert Read – Philosopher, former Extinction Rebellion spokesperson, co-founder of the Climate Majority Project, and co-author of Transformative Adaptation. 🔗 Rupert’s Website | Climate Majority Project

Manda Scott – Award-winning novelist, podcaster (Accidental Gods), and co-author of Transformative Adaptation, pioneering the concept of Thrutopia storytelling. 🔗 Accidental Gods Podcast | Thrutopia

🙌 Call to Action

✨ Subscribe to The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations for more deep dialogues on climate, culture, and regeneration. 💬 Share this episode with a friend who cares about the future. ⭐ Leave us a comment—what does “transformative adaptation” mean to you?

🎙 Show Branding

The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations is hosted by Dr. John Izzo & Alain Gauthier and produced by Jim Burke. 📺 Watch on [YouTube] https://www.youtube.com/@thewayforwardrc| 🎧 Listen on [Apple Podcasts] podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-way-forward-regenerative-conversations/id1651941803| 🌍 Connect with us: [Website] https://wayforwardpodcast.com/

🌿 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors This episode of The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations is made possible through the generous support of Elders Action Network (EAN) and Elders Climate Action (ECA). These organizations are dedicated to empowering elders to take collective action for a thriving, just, and sustainable future. We’re deeply grateful for their leadership and for modeling what it means to be regenerative elders in action.