TALATERRA

Today we are joined by Amy Hill, Yakuta Poonawalla, and Cassidy Villeneuve, creators, and facilitators of a new workshop experience at StoryCenter, the founders of the digital storytelling movement. I met Amy, Yakuta, and Cassidy while a student in the pilot of the Earth Stories workshop. This workshop focuses on the personal connections individuals have with the natural world.

In this conversation, Amy, Yakuta, Cassidy, and I talk about how this workshop was created, how digital storytelling can change peoples’ minds, and so much more.

LINKS

StoryCenter

View films from Earth Stories pilot

Frameworks Institute

Episodic vs. Thematic Stories

Paolo Friere

GUEST PROFILES

Amy Hill, StoryCenter

Amy is director of Silence Speaks, an initiative that works to bring personal stories into education and advocacy environments around women's rights and human rights. Amy also coordinates a lot of StoryCenter's social justice and environmental justice work.

Yakuta Poonawalla, Earth Stories Facilitator

Yakuta works at Golden Gate Parks Conservancy in San Francisco, CA, and feels extremely lucky and privileged to tell stories of the natural world and find ways to connect Bay Area communities to the natural world and parks in San Mateo and Marin counties.

Cassidy Villeneuve, Earth Stories Facilitator

Cassidy works at Frog Hollow Farm, a regenerative organic farm in California, and is interested in connecting experts, scientists, farmers, and individuals with expertise in climate solutions, to a broader audience through storytelling. 

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UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Susan B. Inches is an author, educator, and environmental advocate. In this episode, we discuss her career and new book, “Advocating for the Environment: How to Gather Your Power and Take Action.”

How did Susan become an independent advocate?

What is the difference between advocacy and direct action?

How can advocates connect with decision-makers?

Let’s find out.

LINKS

Susan B. Inches - Author, Educator, Environmental Advocate

Pine Tree Amendment

Frameworks Institute

Buy "Advocating for the Environment" *

*Note: Talaterra is a Bookshop.org affiliate. 

Theme music for the podcast is provided by:

Jason Shaw, Audionautix, CC By 3.0 US (Episodes 1 - 15)

Jahzzar, So Far So Close, CC By 4.0 US (Episode 16 - onward)

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Scientific illustrator and science communicator, Gretchen Halpert, discusses how she entered the field of science illustration, shares a story about the time she demonstrated the value of drawing at a medical school, and tells us about the distance learning program she created for anyone interested in learning about scientific illustration. 

LINKS

Scientific Illustration Distance Program 

Guild of Natural Science Illustrators

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Environmental and cultural educator, Miguel Cruz, prepares to launch environmental education programs in Mexico and to learn Otomi, his family's indigenous language.

LINKS

Miguel's YouTube channel - Nature, Culture, Nurture (@venconmige)

Facebook (@venconmige)

Instagram (@venconmige)

Miguel on LinkedIn

Information about ethnicity and language (Otomi)

Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival (AICLS)

AICLS Master Apprentice Program

Native-Land.ca

BEETLES

EE Forward Summit

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Tami Cole and her family established Optimistic Orchard to create sustainable and healthy food systems in prisons.

How are they doing?

Let's find out.

__________

LINKS

Optimistic Orchard

Blooming Hope Project

Kiss the Ground

Photo Contest for a Cause (Regenerative Theme)

Flyers for photo contest and talent show

Legacy Alliance Outreach

Las Positas College

Legaseeds

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

This summer, I have the wonderful opportunity to be involved with projects addressing conversations around climate change. I couldn't do this work without revisiting the book "Communicating Climate Change: A Guide for Educators" by Anne Armstrong.

Anne Armstrong is an author, an educator, and a Ph.D. student in the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell University.

She is also the mother of a young daughter who inspires her investigation into how environmental educators communicate climate change.

Anne stopped by to discuss her new book, "Communicating Climate Change: A Guide for Educators."

What kind of field experiences inspired Anne to write her book?

How can environmental educators facilitate conversations about climate change?

What types of resources can educators use to develop programs about climate change?

Let’s find out.

(This is a remix of the original episode that was published on October 2, 2019.)

LINKS

Anne Armstrong

Communicating Climate Change: A Guide for Educators ($19.95), Cornell University Press

Communicating Climate Change: A Guide for Educators (Open Access), Cornell Open

Shore People Advancing Readiness for Knowledge (SPARK)

Iceberg Model of Culture

Claudia Diaz Carrasco, Intercultural Competence

National Network for Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCI)

Greta Thunberg’s Speech at U.N. Climate Action Summit, September 2019

Cornell Civic Ecology Lab

Rocking the Boat

Building Community with Dr. Rupu Gupta, Part 1

Building Community with Dr. Rupu Gupta, Part 2

North American Association for Environmental Education

EECapacity

Self-Efficacy: Confidence in your ability to achieve goals (Armstrong, 2018).

Free-Choice Learning

Climate Urban Systems Partnership (CUSP)

National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Information (NNOCCI)

Project WET

Frameworks Institute

Alliance for Climate Education

Drawdown

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

You're Invited!  Let's talk about the purpose of environmental education

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

The Ecology School in Saco, Maine began as a seasonal outdoor camp in a rented facility. Today it is an established institution on a 105-acre working farm and is about to open two of the greenest buildings in the country for a residential environmental education center. How did founder Drew Dumsch and his colleagues turn an idea into The Ecology School?

Let's find out.

AN INVITATION 

The Ecology School explores ways that we, as humans, can build communities that sustain the very ecosystems that in turn sustain us. Beginning in the Summer of 2021, with the opening of their new campus at River Bend Farm in Saco, Maine, The Ecology School is offering overnight summer camp experiences for both families and youth. 

River Bend Farm Family Camp is now accepting applications for its July and October sessions. Listeners to the Talaterra podcast can receive 25% off the cost of River Bend Farm Family Camp by emailing  [email protected] and mentioning the podcast! 

To learn more about The Ecology School, visit www.TheEcologySchool.org.

RESOURCES MENTIONED (plus a few extra!)

EcologyOnline.org - Online learning by The Ecology School

"Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children" by Joseph Bruchac and Michael Caduto. 

"Sharing Nature with Children" by Joseph Cornell

Earth Education UK and Steve Van Matre

"Thinking in Systems" by Donella Meadows *

Alisa Gravitz, Green America

"Reading the Forested Landscape" by Tom Wessels *

"The Triple Focus: A New Approach to Education" by Daniel Golman & Peter Seng

International Living Future Institute

U.S. Green Building Council LEED Certification

Passive house design

Poland Spring Water

Chewonki

Schoodic Institute

Environmental Living and Learning for Maine (ELLM)

Association of Nature Center Administrators (ANCA)

* Affiliate link to Talaterra's shop at Bookshop.org. Talaterra receives a small percentage of each purchase made through this store. Proceeds support this podcast.

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

A recap of the first EE Forward Summit, a professional development and partnership-building event for independent environmental education professionals and community partners.

LINKS

Meghan McCarroll - What We Know About Water 

What We Know About Water: A Water Literacy Review

Diane Wyzga - Communication and Story Skills

Rupu Gupta - Inclusive Approaches in Climate Resilience Partnerships

Erica Fielder - Designing Interpretive Displays About Watersheds

Don Smith - Food, Water & You (Kiss the Ground)

Mark & Crystal Mandica - The Amphibian Foundation

Alastair Duncan - StillWalks

Bethan Burton - Journaling with Nature

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Our preoccupation with time has led to an affliction author Christian McEwen calls "hurry sickness." As we kick off a new summer season, here are three suggestions to help you wind down and leave timers and alerts behind.

LINKS

Christian McEwen

World Enough & Time: On Creativity and Slowing Down

The Alphabet of the Trees: A Guide to Naure doin.

Bethan Burton, International Nature Journaling Week

Bethan Burton,  Building Bridges

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.

Time. 

Money. 

Liveable wage. 

To be taken seriously.

Be more visible.

More opportunities.

These are things independent educators have told me they want.

And this is only a partial list.

The items on this list and the items I’m not talking about today inform the work I do for The Freelance Condition and Lifelong Learning in Communities Project, as well as the other initiatives led at Talaterra.

This list of six items — time, money, livable wage, to be taken seriously, being more visible, and having more opportunities can be addressed by answering this question…

LINKS

Austin Kleon’s Show Your Work!

The Trailhead

View a recorded live stream conversation about the EE Forward Summit on a special pop-up edition of Creative on Purpose Live!

____________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE:

On September 2, 2026, the TALATERRA website merged with Transferable Solutions. Conversations can be accessed through the interactive map. You can also explore the podcast's catalog of episodes on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

CREDITS:

• Producer: Tania Marien
• Music: So Far So Close by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License;
• SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.
• Subscribe to Transferable Solutions, a newsletter about reimagining environmental skills
• Contact Us
• Talaterra is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. Learn More
• © 2019 - 2026 Talaterra Inc

ABOUT:

TALATERRA combines "tala" (Icelandic for "to speak" and "to talk") with "terra" (Earth)—because speaking for our planet and telling its stories is what environmental educators do.

TALATERRA: to speak Earth.