As She Rises is a poetry podcast about climate change. The hosts of the show are Grace Lynch and Leah Thomas. Lynch is a journalist who reports on social justice issues. Thomas is the founder of the nonprofit Intersectional Environmentalist.
Reports on the effects of global warming have increased in frequency and urgency. As the death toll rises and critical habitats disappear, all that's left is sadness at what is gone and a debilitating sense of helplessness. A growing number of people experience climate anxiety as a result. In its own way, As She Rises offers an alternative to doom scrolling. Poets and climate activists share their work for a better future through verse and testimonies.
Each podcast episode focuses on one region. In "The Tundra," Iñupiaq poet Joan Naviyuk Kane tells of a land of ice that is catching fire. To underscore her words, Lynch talks to others in the community. Enei Begaye is a climate and indigenous rights activist. Siqiniq Maupin is fighting the primacy of the oil and gas industries in Alaska. They are working for the preservation of native rights.
Podcast listeners may appreciate the series of episodes on the Colorado River Basin. The series starts at Lake Powell and ends up at what used to be the Colorado River Delta in Mexico. As the series progresses, Thomas shares poetry from the American Southwest. In their agenda, the hosts want to stress that climate change is a feminist issue and an indigenous issue. When the water rises, women and indigenous people are the ones displaced.
The As She Rises podcast strikes a delicate balance. Its hosts discuss issues surrounding climate change while striking a hopeful tone. Using poetry gives the poet's message a human dimension. Lynch and Thomas talk to people who are working for a better future. Those concerned about the environment may find a good listen here.
Season 3
Season 2
Season 1