The books and articles on environmental hope and optimism still seem few and far between - too few for me to actually feel hopeful on a daily basis, that’s why I looked for ways to actually find a lasting sense of hope and even optimism despite the dire environmental circumstances that we find ourselves in. The research is pretty clear, we can find hope and even optimism, if we use these techniques to allow our brains to feel calmer about the circumstances.That is what I get into in this episode, and if this resonates with you, find me on social media @khflourishing and let me know.“Stubborn optimism is a deliberate mindset. Humanity has the capacity and ingenuity to address any challenge – including the climate crisis.”Christina Figueres of Global Optimism.If you are interested in exploring these issues further, head on over to my website, KristinaHunterFlourishing.com.While you are there, sign up for the Flourishing Fridays newsletter. It is your weekly guide to Sustainable Wellbeing and effective environmental action.If you are a professional woman and are deeply concerned about climate change and the state of the world that we are leaving to future generations and want some guidance on the best steps to take. I would LOVE to connect with you, just book a call here.

Feeling like you are a hamster on a wheel, not making an impact, not able to make substantive change to environmental and social justice issues can be depleting. Sometimes doing the work itself is not enough - it can feel like a drain on your energy and mental health. So you need to change what you are doing and how you approach the problem to get the gains you want. In today’s episode I talk to someone who has overcome exactly this when it comes to taking environmental action.Pauline is a member of the Eco-Impact Academy and says, “The environmental crisis still seems pretty dire, and yet where I was felt like a hamster in a wheel. I never saw any return, it felt really difficult to know how to make an impact. Now (the issues) seem no less dire, but my sense of helplessness seems different from what it was.”If you are interested in exploring these issues further, head on over to my website, KristinaHunterFlourishing.com.While you are there, sign up for the Flourishing Fridays newsletter. It is your weekly guide to Sustainable Wellbeing and effective environmental action.If you are a professional woman and are deeply concerned about climate change and the state of the world that we are leaving to future generations and want some guidance on the best steps to take. I would LOVE to connect with you, just book a call here.

I was walking in the woods and it came to me as clear as day. The pieces came together and I understood how to move forward. This was my epiphany moment that came after a long, difficult period where the eco-overwhelm just seemed like it was too much.But what came to me in the woods changed everything for me, and it is what I still rely on myself and teach to this day.It turns out that part of what I was facing was a misalignment between my values and how I was living my life. Even though I was doing pretty good - I was missing a key element that I now make my number one priority.I highly recommend going through the exercise that I did in order to also get clarity for yourself. It will make the day to day decisions easier when you see your values and priorities in front of you. I love thinking of it in this way because it makes those moments of - I don’t know what to do, just so much easier!I would love to hear if you also like this technique. Get in touch with me about it on social media @khflourishing or through my website.If you are interested in exploring these issues further, head on over to my website, KristinaHunterFlourishing.com.While you are there, sign up for the Flourishing Fridays newsletter. It is your weekly guide to Sustainable Wellbeing and effective environmental action.If you are a professional woman and are deeply concerned about climate change and the state of the world that we are leaving to future generations and want some guidance on the best steps to take. I would LOVE to connect with you, just book a call here.

Wicked problems: isn’t that a great term?Wicked problems are complex and difficult to define, they cannot be separated from their context and there is no one definitive approach to solving them. Climate change, pollution, loss of biodiversity, plastic pollution, environmental racism, and the effects of colonialism are all examples of “Wicked” problems. You have likely been reading about or pondering how to address a Wicked problem recently in your own life. Something like, Why your local government isn’t taking more action on Climate change? OR How to reduce food waste in grocery stores? OR How to turn your workplace into one that values the environment.Wicked problems by definition are complex. Often it is hard to find agreement on the problem and its scope, never mind on the solutions.They usually cannot be separated from their context - think about how to approach to Climate change related sea level rise in NYC vs in the Maldives.What’s more, they cannot be solved by one actor or approach - think about ocean plastic pollution where we have multiple levels of government that can ban certain products, we have shipping industry practices that can be mandated or voluntarily changed, we have urban waste that can be dealt with through social campaigns to change behaviour, we have the beverage industry that could be mandated or voluntarily change its packaging and practices, and on and on!In addition, there is no definitive approach to Wicked problems, For example, addressing poverty in Cape Town, South Africa vs poverty in L.A. would need to have very different approaches.However, there are some things that we can do to better understand these Wicked problems, such as using systems thinking to better define the problem. Then we can look for what Chip and Dan Health call, Bright spots. These are examples where, despite the odds, someone has been able to punch through and make a difference, despite the Wicked nature of the problem.Have a listen and be inspired to find your “Bright Spot” solutions.If you are interested in exploring these issues further, head on over to my website, KristinaHunterFlourishing.com.While you are there, sign up for the Flourishing Fridays newsletter. It is your weekly guide to Sustainable Wellbeing and effective environmental action.If you are a professional woman and are deeply concerned about climate change and the state of the world that we are leaving to future generations and want some guidance on the best steps to take. I would LOVE to connect with you, just book a call here.

“I am worried about burning out.” is something I hear often, and this is a completely valid concern. After all, environmental and social justice work can be taxing both emotionally and physically.So, how do we tackle this very important, and necessary work without putting our own physical and mental health in jeopardy? Well, it turns out there are proven tactics with plenty of medical literature to support that it truly works.Now, these things do fall into the broad category of “self-care”, but before you hit pause and never come back to this episode, it is not necessarily the stuff that you might think of when you hear the term “self-care”, and yes, there is plenty of self-care junk science to be found on social media.However, here is what is supported by evidence in the medical literature:sleepfoodexercisetime in naturemeditation / mindfulnessgratitudeplay / flowcommunityfinding meaningEach one of these is interesting to note, but how do we actually do it consistently when things are getting tough? There are important lessons to consider. But perhaps most important of all is that, as beings of this planet, we deserve to also be cared for. This is actually an essential part of doing environmental and social justice work.Have a listen for the details on how to approach creating your personalized self-care kit and what that can look like. Here are a few more links that you will find useful.Moving for the joy of itReduce your eco-anxiety with this techniqueIf you are interested in exploring these issues further, head on over to my website, KristinaHunterFlourishing.com.While you are there, sign up for the Flourishing Fridays newsletter. It is your weekly guide to Sustainable Wellbeing and effective environmental action.If you are a professional woman and are deeply concerned about climate change and the state of the world that we are leaving to future generations and want some guidance on the best steps to take. I would LOVE to connect with you, just book a call here.

There were certain environmental issues that I could barely talk about in my classes. Topics like animal suffering were simply too difficult for me to cover. I remember showing a video in class almost 25 years ago now of emaciated whales who were starving due to human over-fishing.I sat in that darkened classroom with tears rolling down my face. Yes, these emotions made me want to focus on solutions, but they also made me feel ashamed of my reaction. After all, I was the professional, and the university lecturer educating my students on these topics from a scientific perspective.Years later, I became more deeply interested in inter-species connections and stories of biological reciprocity as well as our own emotional connection to nature. One such story comes to mind of the Canadian nature photographer and marine biologist, Paul Nicklen, also founder of the SeaLegacy charity. Paul was in Antarctica to photograph the Leopard Seal.These are top predators in the ecosystem, coming in at up to 3.4m in length and 600kg (1,300 lbs). Their heads are about twice the size of a grizzly bear with enormous teeth. Paul’s account of interacting with a large female Leopard seal is riveting, and a prime example of biological reciprocity across species.In fact, the internet is full of examples of inter-species empathy and friendships! Is it really any wonder that we have these social connections when our very biology is linked? So as we have a deeper understanding of the connections between us and the natural world, here is what to do with those emotions of shame that you might have.First, understand that they are completely natural, there are examples of inter-species empathy all around us. Then realize, that the fact that we are not alone, but rather interconnected with all of life can make us feel hopeful. This hope then can lead us to take action and make the world better for the many varied beings of our planet.If you are interested in exploring these issues further, head on over to my website, KristinaHunterFlourishing.com.While you are there, sign up for the Flourishing Fridays newsletter. It is your weekly guide to Sustainable Wellbeing and effective environmental action.If you are a professional woman and are deeply concerned about climate change and the state of the world that we are leaving to future generations and want some guidance on the best steps to take. I would LOVE to connect with you, just book a call here.Paul Nicklen, Nature Photographer and Marine Biologisthttps://paulnicklen.com/https://youtu.be/UmVWGvO8Yhkhttps://www.sealegacy.org/

You know that feeling of just spinning your wheels? Like you are getting pulled in every direction, trying to make headway, but nothing seems to be working? You are trying to make changes at home, in the workplace, and in society but you can’t seem to get traction.In this episode, I share four simple techniques to get real results, so that you can feel fulfilled, and like what you do matters.First, reconsider the small actions and their importance. It might be more meaningful than you tend to believe. Then, I want you to remember that you can choose to take actions that you enjoy - that make you feel good!Next, consider the actions that are best suited to the situation, is it a small win, systemic change or a truly integrated, collaborative change where we see flourishing results? Any of these types of actions are great - you get to choose what result or outcome is best for the circumstances based on your time, resources and the situation.I want you to realize that you have permission to tackle the actions at whatever level suits you and the situation.If you are interested in exploring these issues further, head on over to my website, KristinaHunterFlourishing.com.Hit the “let’s chat button” if you are a professional woman and are deeply concerned about climate change and the state of the world that we are leaving to future generations and want some guidance on the best steps to take.I would LOVE to connect with you!While you are there, sign up for the Flourishing Fridays newsletter. It is your weekly guide to Sustainable Wellbeing and effective environmental action.

Do you sometimes wish that someone would just tell you the right thing to do when it comes to taking environmental action? It can be so darn complicated it seems. Every day there is another new campaign or cause, and they all seem important.Easy to feel torn in multiple directions. And it doesn’t help with the Eco-overwhelm! So I want to show you how to apply the concept of Voluntary Simplicity to direct your actions. What is Voluntary Simplicity?Voluntary Simplicity, despite being linked to the simple living and minimalism trends of de-cluttering and creating homes that look like no one actually lives in them, it is actually an idea rooted in the environmental movement.Back in 1981, the Book Voluntary Simplicity, by Duane Elgin, helped people to address their over-cluttered lives, looking at the environmental and social issues of consumer culture, and finding ways to approach family life, work, and our inner lives.The premise then which still holds today is that consumer culture is not only disastrous for the planet, it also leaves us deeply unhappy and longing for something better. The basic principles are to first pare down - in terms of possessions, but also our schedules, and to-do lists, in an effort to free ourselves up to make more connections.We can then have the time and space to foster deeper, more meaningful and rewarding connections to others, to ourselves, our communities and to nature.Voluntary Simplicity is described as “life that is outwardly simple yet inwardly rich.”The term, however, was first coined by social philosopher Richard Gregg, in his 1936 essay on the topic. In which he writes:"Voluntary simplicity involves both inner and outer condition. It means singleness of purpose and sincerity and honesty within, as well as avoidance of external clutter, of many possessions irrelevant to the chief purpose of life. It means an ordering and guiding of our energy and our desires, a partial restraint in some directions in order to secure greater abundance of life in other directions. It involves a deliberate organization of life for a purpose. Of course, as different people have different purposes in life, what is relevant to the purpose of one person might not be relevant to the purpose of another...The degree of simplification is a matter for each individual to settle for himself.”What if doing the work that matters involves only two things? First, and foremost, take care of your body (mind included), and do the work where you can have the most impact. (Yes, I am talking about the Eco-Ikigai principle covered in EP 79.)What if it is just that simple?take care of yourselfdo the work where you can have the most impactIf you want more on Voluntary Simplicity and how to apply it to all aspects of your life, head back to EP 39 Simplify to Amplify.If you are interested in exploring these issues further, head on over to my website, KristinaHunterFlourishing.com.Hit the “let’s chat button” if you are a professional woman and are deeply concerned about climate change and the state of the world that we are leaving to future generations and want some guidance on the best steps to take. I would LOVE to connect with you!While you are there, sign up for the Flourishing Fridays newsletter. It is your weekly guide to Sustainable Wellbeing and effective environmental action.

There is NO shortage of issues and causes that need our attention, and yes, they may all be important and worthy. But what can YOU do with your time and energy - that we all know is not bottomless?This problem of not knowing where to focus is the number one issue I find that keeps people stalled out on meaningful environmental and social change. So that is what we are going to tackle today.So, there is a greenspace in my neighborhood that really needs to be protected from development, and our bike routes need to be improved for my husband to ride to work safely and this problem with rainforest destruction is so troubling to me, never mind my country’s growing Carbon emissions.Even if I do choose a cause, I want to go further than just donating. How can I be a bigger part of social change? I need to feel like I am DOING something - for myself, for the next generation.I am not even sure what that looks like. Or maybe you are taking action, but it feels like you are not making an impact, plus it is depleting you.Do you see where I am going with this?Yes, you need to do what aligns with your talents!But it’s more than just that. I am going to encourage you to find your Eco-Ikigai.Ikigai is a Japanese term that roughly translates to “Reason for being”, and is often applied to career choice. This helps you to link your passion and skills to what the world needs.It turns out there are real benefits to living out your purpose. People who find meaning in their work or activities outside of work tend to live longer, happier lives.Eco-Ikigai can be represented by a Venn diagram (yes, sorry another Venn diagram) of 4 overlapping circles, each representing a core concept of the Eco-Ikigai.It brings together the spheres of:what you are good atwhat you love (together are your unique capabilities)employs them on what the world needsselectively choosing to do so where you have influence.This is the key to knowing where to focus your efforts.Where those intersect, where you have all 4 conditions, you have your Eco-Ikigai, where you should focus your efforts in order to make the most impact. In ways that give you energy, and fulfillment, rather than draining your resources.As Michelle Obama, wrote, “Success isn’t about how your life looks to others. It’s about how it feels to you. We realized that being successful isn’t about being impressive; it’s about being inspired. That’s what it means to be true to yourself.”For the full show notes head to EP 79 Where to focus your efforts.https://www.kristinahunterflourishing.com/blog/where-to-focus-your-effortsIf you are interested in exploring these issues further, head on over to my website, KristinaHunterFlourishing.com.Hit the “let’s chat button” if you are a professional woman and are deeply concerned about climate change and the state of the world that we are leaving to future generations and want some guidance on the best steps to take.I would LOVE to connect with you!While you are there, sign up for the Flourishing Fridays newsletter. It is your weekly guide to Sustainable Wellbeing and effective environmental action.

One of the foundations of how I like to approach actions for sustainability - is through the lens of Sustainable Wellbeing. This is really, I believe, the foundation of how we can do this work and not burn ourselves out emotionally and physically along the way.Sustainable Wellbeing addresses both the personal and collective as well as ecological wellbeing. I like to define it as: caring for our personal wellbeing while we care for others and planet.Sustainable Wellbeing means that we acknowledge that as beings of this planet, we too deserve to be cared for, and that our wellness relies on the wellness of others and the environment. In fact, individual and collective health and wellness are integrated, not separate as we usually believe.As a result, if we care for one aspect of either our personal, community or ecological wellbeing - as long as this act does not harm the other aspects, then we are caring for all wellbeing. In fact, we should consider caring for ourselves - in a sustainable way as an act of sustainability….interesting right?!For more on the topic of Sustainable Wellbeing, go back to Episode 29, where I explore this topic further and its connection to sustainable happiness.If you are interested in exploring these issues further, head on over to my website, KristinaHunterFlourishing.com.Hit the “let’s chat" button if you are a professional woman and are deeply concerned about climate change and the state of the world that we are leaving to future generations and want some guidance on the best steps to take.I would LOVE to connect with you!While you are there, sign up for the Flourishing Fridays newsletter. It is your weekly guide to Sustainable Wellbeing and effective environmental action.

So, do those feelings of dread and guilt about the environment make you feel like you could spiral out of control if you spend time looking at it, so you just shut your eyes and hope it goes away, but it never really does?Well, today we are going to tackle those feelings using the concept of “Emotional Agency”, it has worked really well for me. To be honest, this has been THE MOST meaningful concept that I have applied in my life. I have used it every single time I have had a significant and unwanted challenge.I talk about how finding acceptance, helped me through the very difficult fall of 2013 and how the lessons I learned during that time can be applied to how difficult it can be to face the environmental challenges and the grief and sadness that can come with that.After acceptance, we can move forward with empathy - for others and for ourselves. And this leads us to Emotional Agency, where we know that we have meaningful influence over our internal life.We are living in this situation of climate uncertainty, an uncharted path away from fossil fuels, and an ecological tipping point. But we get to choose our response and in our response lies our growth and freedom.So, my experience of taking the grief and sadness of a situation and turning it into meaningful action. It involves:accepting the path before usfeeling empathy towards others AND ourselvesfinding our agencyIn the coming episodes we will get into what those actions look like.If you are interested in exploring these issues further, head on over to my website, KristinaHunterFlourishing.com.Hit the “let’s chat button” if you are a professional woman and are deeply concerned about climate change and the state of the world that we are leaving to future generations and want some guidance on the best steps to take.I would LOVE to connect with you!While you are there, sign up for the Flourishing Fridays newsletter. It is your weekly guide to Sustainable Wellbeing and effective environmental action.

Want to be transported to a gorgeous fall day for a tour of a regular city yard where Lori and Keith Michaelson grow dozens of varieties of vegetables, beans, greens, berries, and even fruits in a city that gets only 120 frost-free days each year? It is an urban farm that not only produces food all year-round but is a connecting point for the community's kids and neighbors.It might surprise you, to find the variety of foods that can be produced from a garden in this climate and some of the edibles may also be new to you - Hosta sprouts anyone?For the full show notes, photos of the garden and even a few recipes head over here:https://www.kristinahunterflourishing.com/blog/the-gardening-life-with-lori-and-keith-michaelson

We know that Fair Trade is a certification system that helps to ensure social justice and environmental sustainability in the supply chain of common commodities, but how exactly does it do this and what are the standards that it upholds?In this interview with Editors Zack Gross, Sean McHugh and contributor Monika Firl, we get up close accounts of how the Fair Trade system provides us with coffee, tea, coca, chocolate and a myriad of other goods in a way that is fair and equitable for the farmers. We get a first-hand account of the difference that this can make in the farmers' lives and see how the Fair Trade system is a route to decolonization and climate justice.In his review of the book, Adam Sneyd, of the University of Guelph says, “Covering timely issues including decolonization and solidarity, climate change, and the impacts of new environmental, social, and governance criteria on global supply chains, The Fair Trade Handbook is an essential guide on the path that leads to a more sustainable and inclusive world.” This is high praise, but it also speaks to the reality of how enormous and wide-ranging the issues of trade can be.In this interview, we break it down to better understand what Fair Trade really means and how the average consumer can play a role, not just at the grocery store, but also in their religious group, campus community, town or city.For the full show notes head over to https://www.kristinahunterflourishing.com/blog/the-fair-trade-handbook-building-a-better-world

So, can businesses be a part of the solution to social and environmental issues? Is there a bigger role for them to play beyond the tax revenues and employment they create? My guest Shaun Loney certainly thinks so, and he has worked with numerous start-up Social Enterprises showing that this model can actually deliver social and environmental outcomes more effectively than governments and without the old model of NGOs turning to funders for their operating budgets.It is a deeply creative and exciting new form of doing business that I am truly excited about. The integration of creating employment, developing skills, greening homes, and reducing poverty and inequalities is work worth doing. Shaun Loney and the Social Enterprises he has started with others, especially Indigenous partners is hopeful and positive in what it delivers.For the full episode notes head over here:https://www.kristinahunterflourishing.com/blog/social-enterprises-with-shaun-loney

Many of us have children in our lives, whether they are our own kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, or kids we work with, but we often want to help them enjoy nature and gain an appreciation for the beauty and wonder of the "real world", not just the one they see on screens.In this episode, I explore how to help mentor young children to connect with nature through activities with nature connection teacher specialist, Lauren MacLean.Lauren lives in British Columbia, Canada, with her own two young children and has spent years as a teacher and researcher looking at how to help young children explore the wonders of nature and their place in it. She gives us insights into specific activities that you can do with your class, children's group, or your own kids to allow them to connect, learn and grow in their understanding of the world, and our connection to all living things and the non-living processes that we rely on.We learn how to do a nature walk, incorporating activities like the "sit spot", and making the outdoors a part of your daily routine with children.For the full show notes head over to: https://www.kristinahunterflourishing.com/blog/mentoring-nature-connections-in-children-with-lauren-maclean

We know that the fashion industry is highly unsustainable with massive waste produced from our fast fashion, not to mention the carbon footprint of clothing and the often substandard working conditions, especially for women in garment factories. So, it is clear that we need to rethink our closets and bring sustainability into the industry.In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Anuradha Singh, a textile designer with two sustainable clothing lines. She wants to help people be able to make conscious choices with their clothing to be a part of the solution in fashion. And, when we support traditional and natural textile production, we support the families that have a hand in the farming, and craft of textile and garment production."I feel it carries the energy of the maker", says Singh. What a powerful way to think about how we can make a positive impact through our clothing choices.Head over here for the full show notes:https://www.kristinahunterflourishing.com/blog/conscious-clothing-with-anuradha-singh

Eating whole foods - those that have not been processed or packaged, and that often are also local to us is the cornerstone of every healthy eating plan, and the bonus is that it is also really great for the planet. Eating whole foods and eating in season dramatically reduces the carbon emissions, waste, and plastic associated with our foods.Ok, we are sold, yes, it is the right thing to do for our bodies and for the planet. But, how exactly can I do this with my real-life constraints of time and money and other demands? That's where Getty Stewart comes in. She is a professional Home Economist and loves to help you eat these whole foods, and find ways to prepare them that are simple, flavourful, and good for your body!Head over here for the full show notes:https://www.kristinahunterflourishing.com/blog/how-to-enjoy-seasonal-whole-foods-with-getty-stewart

Permaculture is a term that comes from combining the words "permanent" and "agriculture", but it really goes far beyond that. Permaculture is a philosophy of producing food in a way that works with the landscape, nature and even regenerates what we have lost. It helps to build soil organic matter, retain moisture and nutrients and builds healthy and diverse ecosystems, all while producing food.It is a radical transformation back to what agriculture once was, and can be again, working in harmony with nature, rather than working against nature with large-scale mono-cultures and the dramatic reduction of biodiversity in most modern agricultural systems.Our guest today, Greg Peterson, has been deeply involved in developing systems for bringing permaculture and farming to the urban environment. He sees this as one of the keys to fixing our broken food systems and creating regenerative food production on a local scale. He is the host of the wildly successful podcast, The Urban Farm and he shares his insights into the importance of re-imagining our food systems and our very relationship with the earth.For full show notes:https://www.kristinahunterflourishing.com/blog/permaculture-and-the-urban-farm-with-greg-peterson

This week I chat with Laura Durenberger of the Raising Eco Minimalists podcast and the blog Reduce Reuse Renew. I begin by asking her about the "renew" aspect that she covers on her blog that deals with anxiety and how this ties into her environmental actions.Laura talks about the relationship between reducing the physical and mental clutter and how this can also help play a role in reducing anxiety. As she says, it helps by "reducing things in your life to give space for other things", which strikes me as a very intentional and meaningful approach to minimalism.We talk about what living a minimalist lifestyle means, as it goes beyond just the Insta-worthy home photos, but rather, how it is a philosophy and how it can be lived out when raising young children, or even for those of us who like to help impart these values on the children in our lives.It's a great conversation, for the full show notes, head over here.https://www.kristinahunterflourishing.com/blog/raising-eco-minimalists-with-laura-durenberger

It can be so stressful trying to figure out the best actions to take to live a greener, more eco-conscious life. This is what sustainable wellbeing is all about. It means living better for yourself, your community, and for the planet. So, to help you figure out the best actions to take and get rid of that eco-guilt, I give you simple steps to get there!In this episode, I deliver the actions that you should take in the areas of:Reducing PlasticTaking Action on Climate ChangeProtecting Natural HabitatBuilding a Resilient CommunitySupporting Your Health and WellnessI show you what to do in each of these five areas to first get a quick win, then how to decide on intermediate and stretch goals to make an impact, no matter how much time you have or where you are at in your life. Whether it is a small act or a big systemic change, I show you how to take the steps to make it happen.For the full show notes head over to https://www.kristinahunterflourishing.com/blog/easy-steps-to-sustainable-wellbeing