This episode with guest Arielle V. King (she/they) focuses on storytelling, attention, and whose voices get heard in the climate crisis and whose do not. Arielle V. King is a strategist and The Joy Report host with training in environmental law, civil rights, and environmental justice, including research on the Flint water crisis. Ariel discusses the importance of translating complex science for everyday people, the need to center and compensate lived expertise in environmental justice, and defines environmental racism as the targeting of communities of color with polluting infrastructure. She shares examples such as Cancer Alley and the South Bronx’s “Asthma Alley,” rooted in redlining and layered policy. They connect current data center expansion to environmental injustice, emphasize radical imagination (this keeps coming up!), critique hyper-consumerism and forced tech adoption, and explore how storytelling builds empathy and supports policy change. Carly and Ariel talk about how our futures are all at stake when we don’t hear everyone’s story. Ariel shares what sustains her hope and how she unwinds through food, music, time outside, and community. Listen now as Arielle brings a dose of joy from her show to Unwind.

Check out Intersectional Environmentalist to learn more about her work and listen to the Joy Report: intersectionalenvironmentalist.com

Find zines, take classes with Carly, and more: unwindmovementmedia.com

Subscribe to Unwind and support the pod on Substack: unwindmovementmedia.substack.com

Music produced by M Baxley of Bear Witness Media

Grab your space suits; it's time to time-travel. Carly kicks off a new season of Unwind with a focus on radical imagination. In a new segment, Carly first chats with comrade Claire Howe about sustaining hope amid collective hopelessness, balancing engagement with overwhelm, and making space to dream by limiting social media. Carly then interviews Rob Hopkins, co-founder of Transition Network, which began in Totnes 20 years ago to help communities wean off fossil fuels through local food, energy, and housing projects now spanning thousands of groups in about 50 countries. Rob traces his roots to punk and permaculture, defines imagination as seeing things as if they could be otherwise, and argues the climate crisis demands bold, systemic reimagining rather than incremental fixes. Rob shares how hope grows from action, highlighting real-world examples of better futures. Rob and Carly wrap up by talking about the importance of playfulness. And of course, Carly can't help but bring up social media. Rob warns that social media erodes attention and deep understanding, and suggests practices like seeking solution stories, creating imaginative space, and learning improv. Zip zap zop for the climate?

Check out Rob's website to learn more about his work and buy his book: robhopkins.net

Subscribe to Unwind and support the pod on Substack: unwindmovementmedia.substack.com

Find zines, take classes with Carly, and more: unwindmovementmedia.com

Music produced by M Baxley of Bear Witness Media

I took a "quick" break from podcasting and ended up rebranding my whole business. Oops.

Tune in to hear how my business has shifted into its next evolution like a Pokémon and what's next for the podcast.

Check out the NEW website.

Subscribe on Substack.

Music produced by M Baxley of Bear Witness Media.