What if the solution to the climate crisis has always been shining above us?

Bill McKibben—legendary environmentalist and author of Here Comes the Sun—joins Spirit of Leadership to reveal the swift global surge in solar and wind energy and the hope it ushers in.

In this inspiring episode, host Megan Chaskey and McKibben explore how renewable power transforms lives worldwide—from California’s solar-charged batteries to Pakistani farmers replacing diesel pumps with solar panels to power irrigation.

One especially moving story: in just eight months, communities in Pakistan—guided largely by TikTok tutorials—installed the equivalent of half the nation’s electric grid with solar, slashing fuel costs and bringing new resilience to daily life.

Together, they dive into the climate crisis through the lens of this surprising upsurge in renewable technology, grassroots activism, and the deeper spiritual connection humans share with the sun—our omni-present source of light, warmth, and now, limitless clean energy. Amid global challenges, McKibben offers a powerful reminder that we stand at a turning point: a moment when optimism and action can rise together.

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McKIBBEN'S BOOK:

Here Comes the Sun A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization

https://billmckibben.com/books/here-comes-the-sun/

CLIMATE ACTION ORGANIZATION

https://thirdact.org/

JOIN US FOR SUN DAY - DAY OF ACTION, SEPT 21, 2025:

https://sunday.earth/

THE MATTHIESSEN TALKS: BILL McKIBBEN, A LAST CHANCE FOR THE CLIMATE AND A FRESH CHANCE FOR CIVILIZATION

https://www.matthiessencenter.org/bill-mckibben

Sunday, September 28, 2025 - 4:00 PM–5:30PM GUILD HALL, East Hampton, NY

Presented with The Peter Matthiessen Center

https://www.guildhall.org/events/the-matthiessen-talks-bill-mckibben/

Transcript of interview with important links:

https://bit.ly/transcript-here-comes-the-sun