image credit | Tommaso Curre

Season 4, Episode 11: On Legacy with Stylianos Syropoulos

Thomas and Panu Pihkala welcomed Stylianos Syropoulos, director of the Intergenerational Decisions and Effective Action (IDEA) Lab at Arizona State University to discuss his research on how people approach their legacy in relation to their environmental values. Stylianos explained that thinking about one’s legacy is an ancient and cross-cultural concern. Legacy can be understood in various ways like the biological legacy of having children and grandchildren, the material legacy of the world we leave behind, and values-related legacy of preserving what we care for. All of these are affected – and often threatened – by the events of climate change. Join us for a fascinating conversation, with take-aways that might help you be your own version of “future ancestor.”

Links: 

• Stylianos Syropoulos

• Research examples: 

• Stylianos Syropoulos et al. 2024 Intergenerational concern relates to constructive coping and emotional reactions to climate change via increased legacy concerns and environmental cognitive alternatives

• Andrea Mah, Stylianos Syropoulos & Ezra Markowitz (2024). Caring about one's legacy relates to constructive coping with climate change (pdf version)

• Society for Environmental, Population, and Conservation Psychology (Division 34 of the American Psychological Association)

• Earlier CCH Podcast episodes touching on legacy and having children:

  • Season 1, Episode 8: Climate Change, Children and a Better World with Guest Dr. Jade Sasser

  • Season 1, Episode 9: Finding Meaning in “Generation Dread” with Guest Britt Wray

image credit | Serge Taeymans

Season 4, Episode 10: Wisdom for the New Year 

Thomas and Panu had a mindful dialog about the end of the year to new year’s transition. Looking back on 2024, they noted the significance of Panu’s climate emotions wheel for people new to expressing feelings about climate and environmental issues, the challenges of being seen as an expert, and the importance of taking regular breaks to appreciate our efforts and accomplishments (or what Thomas calls a “behavioral sabbath”). Looking ahead, they shared the embodied activities they each do like cross country skiing as ways to recreate and restore themselves, and taking on new creative past times like training in Butoh theater (for Panu) and drumming (for Thomas). Ultimately, they emphasized the need for seeking joy and gratitude in the face of sorrows of the world, and the importance of giving oneself and others permission to feel happiness.

Links

• Episode Quotes: 

• “Don't just glance at your life, stare at what you got.”

• “Retreat, hell. I’m just attacking in another direction.”

• “We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world.” 

• from A Brief for the Defense, by Jack Gilbert 

• CCH Season 3, Episode 5: The Climate Emotions Wheel

Season 4, Episode 9: Climate Psychology Perspectives with Steffi Bednarek

Panu and Thomas met with Brighton UK climate psychologist Steffi Bednarek, author of Climate, Psychology, and Change. They explored stages of Steffi’s journey into climate psychology, and the importance of Gestalt therapy in her understandings of how our selves entwine with nature and our perceptions of environmental issues and problems. They discussed how concepts like mindfulness and “creative indifference” offer additional perspectives on the seemingly hard distinction between hope and hopelessness. Steffi also shared her efforts to create a platform for experiential learning in climate psychology.

Links

• Steffi Bednarek 

• Climate, Psychology, and Change: Reimagining Psychotherapy in an Era of Global Disruption and Climate Anxiety

• Center for Climate Psychology – offers a wide range of workshops, trainings and events that nurture collective wisdom in times of upheaval.

• British Gestalt Journal Volume 31, 2 (2022) - The Climate Change Special

• Podcast: Internal Family Systems Therapy and Climate Change with Steffi Bednarek

In another of their intimate international dialogues, Thomas and Panu discussed the significance of connecting with nature for them during the changing seasons. Panu evolved the Finnish season of Marras, the gray time of the year as Autumn transitions to darker Winter, and when it’s normal for us all to be sensitive to feelings associated with grief. Thomas reflected on holidays of remembrance like Veterans Day (dating to WWI Armistice day), Remembrance Day for Species, and the Day of the Dead that help to mark our losses and celebrate our continuing bonds. Their conversation emphasized that "We create our own light when we need to" – and reminds you of the the value of your community and connections in your own place this season.

image credit | Benjamin Manley

Season 4, Episode 7: On Parenting, Elections, and Climate with Anya Kamenetz

Thomas and Panu had a wide ranging exchange with journalist Anya Kamenetz (The Stolen Year, The Golden Hour) on the intersections of climate change, parenting, and mental health – in the context of the recent US elections. They discuss the importance of having open conversations with children about difficult topics that are geared to children and teens’ emotional and intellectual development. Each reflected on how they create a sense of hope, meaning, and resilience in their own families. Anya also shared some of her personal story growing up on the Gulf Coast of the US, and her journey as a writer, activist and parent. 

Links

• Anya Kamenetz

• The Golden Hour: climate, children, mental health (Substack) 

• Panu Pihkala, (2020). Eco-anxiety and Environmental Education. Sustainability, 12(23), 10149.

• Film referenced in the episode: Roberto Benigni (1997, Director) Life Is Beautiful

Thomas and Panu discussed Thomas’ upcoming book Surviving Climate Anxiety: A Guide to Coping, Healing, and Thriving – a comprehensive resource for the general public that includes practical examples and stories drawn from people Thomas has worked with. Thomas shared insights about the book’s five part structure, which is designed to move readers from basic skills for coping with eco and climate stress, through developing environmental identity, healing from eco-anxiety and despair, finding happiness and flourishing using the arts and spirituality, and taking action on environmental problems. Panu reflected on the importance of addressing the dark and light aspects of climate feelings and having a survivor mission. Surviving Climate Anxiety will be published in 2025 by Little Brown Spark.

image credit | Ashley Batz

Season 4, Episode 5: Climate and Life Journeys with Andrew Bryant

Thomas and Panu had a conversation with Seattle Washington therapist Andrew Bryant about the intersections of climate change and mental health therapy. Andrew reflected on his personal journey, the Climate and Mind website, and his experiences creating a community among therapists to explore climate issues in their lives and practices. Andrew described some of his methods of “professional and compassionate listening” that focus on creating community and holding space for feelings, especially for people who are isolated or not talking. The discussion also touched on the significance of outdoor therapy and how nature-based rite of passage experience can help individuals to navigate their paths in the face of climate distress.

Links

• Andrew Bryant

• Climate and Mind

• Brooke Jarvis (2023, Oct 21) Climate Change Is Keeping Therapists Up at Night. New York Times 

• The Doris Lessing “space fiction” novel referenced in the conversation was Shikastra. Andrew also recommended Lessing’s proto-climate fiction novel The Making of the Representative for Planet 8. 

• Our episode on cli-fi and literature with Matthew Schneider-Mayerson.

image credit | Alaric Duan

Season 4, Episode 4: Ecological Grief in Religious and Spiritual Communities

Thomas and Panu discussed the intersection of spirituality and climate change. Specifically, Panu shared his work on the challenges faced by individuals who experience spiritual crises when their ecological fears or grief aren’t validated in their religious community, and who may feel isolated and unsupported. This may lead to feelings of combined ecological and spiritual grief. Faith leaders are in a key position regarding the validation of such feelings. Coping requires a holistic approach that recognizes the connections between spirituality and environmental values, finding support, and constructive engagement with climate emotions and with climate action in spiritual and religious communities. 

Links

• Panu Pihkala, 2024

• Ecological grief, religious coping, and spiritual crises: Exploring eco-spiritual grief. 

• Engaging with climate grief, guilt, and anger in religious communities

• Bron Taylor, 2009 Dark Green Religion: Nature Spirituality and the Planetary Future

• Patricia O'Connell Killen and Mark Silk 2004, Editors, Religion and Public Life in the Pacific Northwest: The None Zone

• Megan Von Bergen and Bethany Mannon, 2020 Talking Climate Faith: Katharine Hayhoe and Christian Rhetoric(s) of Climate Change. 

• Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology: A good resource

image credit | Zach Wear

Season 4, Episode 3: On Gen Z Climate Emotions with Filmmakers Tehya Jennett and Maxfield Biggs

In this episode of Climate Change and Happiness hosts Thomas and Panu engaged with filmmakers Tehya Jennett and Maxfield Biggs from Stranded Astronaut Productions. Tehya and Maxfield shared their personal journeys related to climate emotions. They reflected, together with Panu and Thomas, on the impact of food choices on climate awareness and ethics, and the need for intergenerational dialogue. The conversation also highlighted the importance of creativity as a coping mechanism. Most recently, Maxfield and Tehya were part of the team that produced the Healing Lahaina documentary about the deadly Lahaina wildfire on Maui, premiering at the Hawai’i Int’l Film Festival. Tehya and Maxfield are also collaborating with Panu and Elin Kelsey to create new content on climate emotions. Join us in the quest of understanding how climate change is engaged with by young people.

Links

• Stranded Astronaut Productions

• Stranded Astronaut Productions on Instagram

• Tehya Jennett

• Maxfield Biggs

• Documentary Premiere, Healing Lahaina at the Hawai’i Int’l Film Festival

image credit|Hannah Smith

Season 4, Episode 2: On the Psychological Roots of the Climate Crisis with Sally Weintrobe 

Panu and Thomas had a warm chat with UK climate psychology theorist Sally Weintrobe,  author of The Psychological Roots of the Climate Crisis and other books. Sally reflected on her childhood growing up in apartheid era South Africa and insights that led her to climate advocacy after years of providing psychoanalysis.  She, Panu and Thomas spent time grappling with concepts like disavowal, group silencing, “active not caring” and “emotional privilege.” Listen in to a great episode for therapists, and also anyone interested in how these often unconscious processes manifest in our lives. 

Sound Bites

"Indifference is a very, very active form of not caring."

"Privilege is to be spared all kinds of levels of suffering."

"Living our truth can be a dangerous place to be."

Links 

Sally Weintrobe

• The Psychological Roots of the Climate Crisis

• Book Launch

• Engaging With Climate Change edited volume 

• Recent keynote

Related CCH episodes

• Renee Lertzman

• Caroline Hickman

• Judith Anderson / Tree Staunton 

• Britt Wray

• Jennifer Uchendu

• Thomas and Panu on “Holding Space”