On reciprocity, photosynthesis, and berries 🍓 with Robin Wall Kimmerer

Earlier this month at College of the Atlantic, I was over the moon to speak alongside the one and only Robin Wall Kimmerer, botanist, teacher, Earth lover and legendary author of Braiding Sweetgrass.

Our conversation went deeper than I expected — but that’s on me for not having higher expectations! We discussed everything from the value of books in this age of shrinking attention spans, to how to shift our thinking from competition to collaboration (inspired by the mutualism of ecosystems), to the urgency of reciprocity and gift giving. I shared my spicy take on strawberries and we discussed the magic of photosynthesis. Plants. It’s all about plants.

It was such a beautiful, spirited morning with Robin. And it was kicked off with the most thoughtful and lovely introduction, by COA student, Madi DuVarney.

Want more from Robin? Of course you do. Find her books at your local library, on your friend’s shelf, or order from an indie bookshop.

✨ ANNOUNCEMENT ✨

For Season 5 of this podcast, I'm bringing in a co-host: the magnificent and wise journalist, activist, and climate legend, Bill McKibben. The midterm elections are right around the corner, in 70 days, and if we’re going to get this livable planet thing right we really need to be electing people who get it on climate.

Environmental issues never seem to quite get the attention they deserve when the news media is covering about what’s at stake and now to win. So! We, here, are going to get into it.

Each week through Election Day, Bill and I will dive into a new topic with expert guests — everything from the AI data center boom to PACs for clean energy to how to get environmentalists to actually vote. As more and more Americans are hit by the impacts of climate change and are more and more motivated to be part of the solutions, let’s make sure they have the info they need.

Can you feel my excitement? Are you stoked too? Do us a favor and help spread the word. Tell your people to subscribe.

_____

CREDITS: This podcast is ad-free thanks to the support of Future Being, a grant making and special project studio, which supports the healing of our planet and the safeguarding of biological and cultural diversity.This episode was produced by Remoy Philip and myself with support from Jenisha Shrestha. Special thanks to Luie Dransfield for the technical side of this recording along with Shawn Keeley from the College of the Atlantic.

Alright, Earthlings, I’ll be back in September WITH BILL MCKIBBEN(!) and some piping hot new episodes. In the meantime, do your part and be kind and love this planet.