January 26, 2025

S2 E5 | Sophia Rokhlin – Making meaning of our mess, the poetic possibilities of collapse

1 hour 5 minutes

What does it mean to be a poet in the midst of the polycrisis?
How do we find meaning in the mess humanity has created?
In this episode of Beloved Futures, host Aubrey Morgan Yee sits down with Sophia Rokhlin, a graceful, beautiful soul that is deeply committed to preserving Indigenous wisdom and advancing community-based conservation efforts.
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Sophia Rokhlin, MSc, is an author and aspiring animist supporting the conservation of traditional ecological knowledge through community-based solutions for land regeneration and protection. She is Community Manager with Ma Earth, and Development Coordinator at the Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance (ASHA).
Sophia is a co-author of When Plants Dream: Ayahuasca, Amazonian Shamanism and the Global Psychedelic Renaissance (Watkins, 2019). Her research and writing has been featured in publications and podcasts including the Duncan Trussell Family Hour, The New York Times, Acne Paper Magazine, PBS, BBC, and others.
In this conversation, Sophia and I delve into themes of grief, resilience, and the beauty that emerges from collapse as we discuss what it means to be a poet in the polycrisis, the pain and poignancy of watching your beloved place (in her case Asheville NC) become the latest climate disaster zone, and how to find meaning in the mess weʻve created by finding a mess youʻre willing to devote yourself to.

Key Takeaways:

🌿 The power of grief as a gateway to action and a deeper connection to the Earth.
🌿 How traditional ecological knowledge and animist perspectives guide meaningful conservation work.
🌿 Lessons from Sophia’s work with ASHA and Ma Earth on community-led land regeneration.
🌿 How climate disasters reveal the fragility of our systems—and the strength of our communities.
🌿 The importance of choosing a “mess” to tend to in the collective work of repair and healing.
This conversation is poetic, poignant, and deeply rooted in the sacred connection we share with the Earth and each other. Sophia offers a graceful perspective on how to confront our global challenges with courage and devotion, which I know you will love!

With Love and Gratitude,

Aubrey Morgan Yee

GUEST INFO

You can find / follow Sophia Rokhlin here:

Website: www.sophiarokhlin.com
Instagram: @sophiarokhlin

EPISODE RESOURCES

•When Plants Dream: Ayahuasca, Amazonian Shamanism and the Global Psychedelic Renaissance by Sophia Rokhlin & Daniel Pinchbeck

FOLLOW AUBREY'S WORK

Website: www.ourbelovedfutures.com/
Instagram: @aubrey.morgan.yee
Substack: https://aubreyy.substack.com/