Let me tell you the story of Dax Dasilva.

Dax was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, to parents who had fled the regime of Idi Amin in Uganda as refugees in 1972. He became interested in computer programming at age twelve, and learned to build program interfaces on an Apple Macintosh given to him by his father. Given this childhood story, it’s no surprise that he’d grow up to found wildly successful Lightspeed, a global tech company on a mission to empower small entrepreneurs and revolutionize how we think about commerce.

And yes, we discuss the importance of supporting small businesses as a way to fuel the sustainable revolution, but our conversation was truly about his other legacy — the one born that day when he was 17 years old, and he personally partook in saving an old-growth area in British Columbia.

“It showed me from a young age the power of collective action for the planet.”

— Dax Dasilva

In this issue:

• Dax Dasilva guests Hey Change Podcast

• The narrative we seem to be missing

• The layers of profound transformation that can unlock a radically different world

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  ---

Echos from Eden

Many years later, after his “made it” moment in the tech world, this deep urge to help protect our only home and its many fragile ecosystems echoed loud once again.

“I really wanted to go on the ground and meet these heroes and understand what it took to save a place; to save a species.”

In October 2021, he launched the Age of Union Alliance with a massive $40 million personal pledge. Dax refuses to believe that our ecosystems are beyond saving and has committed himself to finding and supporting the many heroes working passionately to save the beauty we still have left.

His book, Echos from Eden, is a beautiful compilation of stories covering his travel to these various restoration projects — revealing the real-life active hope unfolding around the world. But it’s more than just a book — it’s a doorway into forgiveness, and maybe the last one we have left.

Watch our conversation on YouTube

The narrative we seem to be missing

I was both deeply humbled and so inspired talking to Dax. Here is a guy who’s invited to speak at some of the biggest stages, a highly successful entrepreneur paving the way for many others to follow, and yet, you feel how connected he still is to the most sacred form of abundance on this planet.

Most of all, he emphasizes the message of stubborn optimism — that this is NOT the time to give up.

"I’ve seen too many examples of when you put action in place - and you partner and work with nature - nature is absolutely miraculous."

But he also explains that sitting idly and praying for resolution is nothing we can afford. Instead, it’s about shifting the narrative and recognizing the incredible gift we hold to be safekeepers of the future.

“80 percent of the Amazon Rainforest is still intact.”

“We still have a real chance to save it, and working with people like Paul Roselie, I’ve witnessed what can happen when you work with nature - from snakes to spiders - to bring ecosystems back to life.”

The Layers of Life & Transformation

I didn’t expect our conversation to take a spiritual turn, but going down that path seemed inevitable.

When sharing about his first welcome to the Amazon Rainforest (you simply need to listen to get the juice of this story), we quickly came upon the wild depths any rainforest holds.

“We often see the forest from the ground (and yes, a lot of life is on the ground and in the tree trunks), but 90% of the life is in the canopy layers we can’t see. It’s amazing the perspective you gain from just getting a bit off the ground!”

As he said this, I couldn’t help but reflect on the “hamster wheel” that is modern life. How much are we viewing our realities from the “tree trunk” perspective? How much are we stuck believing things for what they seem to be, without fully allowing the canopy of mysteries to reach us?

It’s easy to take life - and the world - at face value. How can we not with so much information at our fingertips? How do we question with this much “knowing”?

But do we know? Or do we, in fact,… wonder?

Because what we cannot forget is that nothing is as set in stone as we believe it to be. Our narratives are being shaped every single minute. Our future is unfolding in every thought - conscious or unconscious - that we allow to take shape.

What if the future holds more promises than we let it?

We are at the precipice of disaster, standing at a cliff of absolute free fall. But we don’t have to keep walking blindly into that destiny just because we’ve been heading in that direction for so long. This is the time - the critical moment in time - that we must recognize as the gift of revival. We are the generation that gets to invite life back!

Are you ready for that narrative?

If so, make sure you tune into this incredible conversation! (Watch + listen options below.) And if you do, we’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below, connect with us on socials, or send us a DM with your thoughts. Thank YOU for your light and passion. Let’s recognize the last doorway to forgiveness, and let’s make sure we turn the knob.

Watch/Listen to the full conversation with Dax Dasilva:

• Watch on YouTube

• Listen on Spotify

• Listen on Apple Podcasts

• Visit Podcast Website

• Follow us on Instagram: @HeyChange_Podcast

Follow + Support Dax:

• Buy his book, Echoes from Eden (all proceeds go to the Jane Goodall Institute)

• Age of Union Website

• Follow on IG: @DaxDasilva

I hope today, as any day, is a day lived with deep awe and admiration for this precious planet. No specific ED message other than that — get outside, feel the sun (or wind) on your face, smell the smells of earth, listen to the sounds of nature. Be with Her and celebrate Her the way only you can.

There’s so much magic still out there to protect, and if we can get better at tuning into that reminder every single day, our reasons for showing up will only grow stronger.

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On that note, I am outside of myself in anticipation of sharing the first episode release of Hey Change Podcast 2.0. Starting April 29th, we’re relaunching the show with a YouTube channel, Spotify video, and a whole new production team behind its mission. A bit nerve-wracking, truth be told, but so fun, as I’ve believed in this podcast since its initial launch in 2017.

First up in the line of incredible interviews is my conversation with Dax Dasilva, tech entrepreneur and founder of wildly successful Lightspeed (you’ve probably seen their logo while shopping at your local stores), who has personally pledged a massive $40M to restoration projects around the world.

Dax and I talk about his travels to these various projects; the people he met, the stories we must learn from, and the invitation to forgiveness that we cannot ignore. We also talk about his friendship with Jane Goodall, his book, and the deeper spiritual work currently at play. Few conversations have moved me the way this one has, and I hope it will have the same impact on you.

Or if you’re looking for an escape to the wild depths of the Amazon rainforest, Dax will deliver on that, too. Warning: it involves snakes, caimans, and spiders that float.

Subscribe now so you don’t miss episode drops: YouTube I Spotify I Apple Podcast

What questions would you ask a futurist and prolific thought leader?

Speaking about conversations that move you, let me get to the question that probably had you click — Kim Stanley Robinson.

You may know his work from the globally acclaimed Ministry for the Future (which Obama listed as one of his favorite books of 2020), a novel about how we navigate the many challenges of climate change — today and decades to come.

It’s an ambitious, "anti-dystopian" epic that blends hard science, geopolitics, and economics to map a realistic (if grueling) path for humanity to survive and reverse the climate crisis.

But it’s not only a fantastic novel (I consumed it on park blankets in a hot NYC while pregnant with my first child), it has also moved from being a work of fiction to a "handbook" for climate activists and policymakers worldwide.

KSR’s work often bridges the gap between grim realism and radical hope, which is the golden intersection where climate optimism is brewed. (See the venndiagram below). According to The New Yorker magazine, Robinson is “generally acknowledged as one of the greatest living science-fiction writers,” and I’m beyond stoked and honored to have an interview on the books with him!

Now I’m inviting you to be part of mapping it out:

• What would you ask Kim Stanley Robinson?

• What do you think I should make sure to mention?

• What narratives should we explore?

  Leave a comment

  

This is what makes this Substack community so FUN and empowering — I’m able to sit down with some of the biggest thought leaders and change makers of our time, and you can help make this interview come to life in a way only an empowered and engaged community can.

So please, hit me up with your thoughts and questions! You can post them in the comments below or send them directly to me in a DM The interview takes place on April 29th, so if I can have them by Monday the 27th, at the latest, that’s incredibly helpful!

Leave a comment

Two keynotes coming up!

This Saturday, on April 25, I’m giving an opening keynote to the climate change symposium taking place at Tanglewood, Massachusetts.

Free and open to the public, Changing States is a symposium that will bring together members of the public, artists, scientists, local leaders, thinkers, and those who do not fit cleanly into categories to explore what's possible when artistic and scientific processes combine to confront a changing climate.

This is going to be a beautiful and massively impactful experience. If you’re in the area, I hope to see you there!

Get Tickets

Secondly, we’re only a couple of weeks away from this year’s Green Sports Alliance Summit taking place in Cleveland, Ohio, which I’m proud to be the opening keynote for! This year’s theme is RESILIENT, and my talk will be fully focused on that:

What does it look like to show up with resilience in these changing times? And what leadership (inner and outer) must we nurture to make sure we make the most of the time we’re given here on Earth?

If you’ll be there, please let me know, as I’d love the chance to meet up!

Get Tickets

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I must admit that a week or so ago, I had no idea three Americans and a Canadian were being readied for blastoff, or that they were about to travel further away from Earth than any human in history. Nope, no idea. And before you judge and wonder if I’ve been living under a rock, the answer is yes — and the rock is called early motherhood. (I also had no idea the soccer World Cup was taking place, until the priest at my daughter’s school mentioned it at a parent coffee… Apparently, it’s happening here in our state, ha!)

*Thank goodness for social media for keeping me up to speed with the most important world events (and for the sake of staying out of rabbit holes, let’s not discuss “important”).

Quite serendipitously, though, I had just decided to make this issue about what we refer to as the “Overview Effect”, a phenomenon I’ve learned about and suddenly found myself experiencing on a much smaller scale (more on that soon).

No more than day after those thoughts crossed my mind, the news of this blastoff reached me. How funny, I thought — and how timely! I then waited for these four astronauts to deliver just what I needed. Which, to no surprise, they did.

But what is the Overview Effect?

The overview effect is a profound cognitive shift reported by astronauts when viewing Earth from space, characterized by an overwhelming sense of awe, a deep connection to humanity, and a new perspective on the planet's fragility and unity. Coined by Frank White in 1987, it highlights the absence of borders and a desire to protect the shared home.

— NASA

In climate circles, we’ve also heard terms like the “Blue Marble Effect,” which is the image of Earth appearing as a blue marble floating in space. Since our first travels into space, this image of Earth from far away has been used to remind us all of our only home.

When Astronaut Victor Glover was asked to deliver an Easter Message from space on April 5, 2026, his impromptu response was a testament to just that.

“I can really see Earth as one thing”, Victor said. "This is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing, and that we've gotta get through this together."

He also went on to remind us that this is, in fact, our only home — this is our special spaceship!

"You guys are talking to us because we're in a spaceship really far from Earth, but you're on a spaceship called Earth that was created to give us a place to live in the universe. Maybe the distance we are from you makes you think what we’re doing is special, but we’re the same distance from you. And I’m trying to tell you — just trust me — you are special.”

But do we have to travel to space?

Reader Jim Teachey recently shared in an email to me how he’s experienced this effect himself, and how profound an impact it can have on someone’s life:

“…It completely changes your perspective of earth forever. A soul-changing, mind-changing, heart-changing understanding of the fragile nature of our atmosphere. Although I am not an astronaut, I have experienced the overview effect when I was a student pilot. In fact, I have a photo from that long-ago day in 1979 . . . little did I know the experience that awaited me thirty-minutes after the photograph was taken.”

I’m not an astronaut or a pilot, so I haven’t experienced the overview effect from far up there, but I did have a similar awakening recently when being sick with the stomach bug. And before you go “Huh?”, let me explain, because I do think we can learn how to fabricate this realization better, and most importantly—more often.

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One of those moments in life…

I was coming down the hill on my regular morning walk, soaking in the early fog as I found myself finally coming back to steady footing. It was Monday morning, and that previous Friday night, my family and I had all been hit hard with what was most likely the norovirus — turning our stomachs inside out in the most unpleasant ways. I’ll spare you the details.

Timing was impeccable as always, for it was the weekend leading up to my birthday. Since I find it important to celebrate life’s big moments, I had made plans to do just so. Nothing grandiose, but outings with my daughter, cake with the family, stuff like that.

When it hit me that all those plans were down the toilet (quite literally), I was truthfully disappointed. Why does this always seem to happen to me?

Oh yes, the self-pity kicked in.

But then something extraordinary happened, which seems to be the case every time you’re sick. I realized this birthday would be truly special because simply feeling well again would be the biggest gift of all.

So easy to forget, yet easy to remember, too

I experienced the overview effect in life version — I once again saw life exactly as it is in its most mundane yet so beautifully perfect way — to be the most valuable thing to get back to. Forget fancy, all I wanted was to get back to life. Just the way it is, nothing more, nothing less.

Just bring me back to normal, I thought. No, prayed.

Make me well again, and I promise I will treasure that normal with every piece of my body. I will wake up sleep-deprived and “behind” or whatever way I may feel, but I’ll be totally fine with that because at least I’m not sick.

The overview effect.

Astronauts experience this urge to protect our only home when they travel far enough away to realize it is truly all we’ve got.

We “normal” humans experience it when we get sick, injured, or thrown into life-altering moments. It sometimes takes being taken out of your everyday to truly see it for what it is.

Victor Glover and his fellow travelers saw Earth with new eyes. I saw my life with new eyes.

Upon the news of the Artemis II launch, I began waiting for the messages of awe and deeper connection to reach us. I expected it, just as I knew on my walk that Monday morning that simply feeling well again would be the best birthday gift I could get.

I knew it because it is so predictable. The overview effect is real, and it continues to be repeated, and it’s the one lesson it seems like we have to continue to learn, over and over again.

So the question is — how do we get better at living the overview effect? How can we fabricate it in our daily lives to make sure we show up for each day the way we ought to embrace it?

I’m not saying I have the answer to that, but here are some things I’ve promised to do myself to hold on to it the best I can.

What are you doing to stay present and reminded by the true gift of being alive on this magical spaceship that is Earth? Would love to hear about it in comments!

It might be Earth Month, and we might have Earth Day upon us, but one thing we all know more than anything else — Earth Day is every day because there isn’t a day when this isn’t our only home, and it shouldn’t be our highest priority to protect it.

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How I try to fabricate the overview effect:

• I have created little “anchor moments” throughout my day that, no matter what, allow me to anchor myself into the present.

  • In the morning, I always have my first sip of coffee outside. I feel the fresh air on my face, listen to the birds, and say a few prayers.

  • At night, before going to bed, I do the same — I step outside and look at the night sky, stars or no stars. I cannot go to bed without having brought myself some magic of our Mama first.

  • In between those moments, I do my best to show up BIG in small moments — times with my kids, when eating my meals (something I’m notoriously bad at but trying so hard to get better), in conversations with neighbors, and focusing on tasks. This way, I don’t let life “slip by” me.

• I try go give 50 of myself, not 100. Through too much experience, I’ve learned again and again that trying to give from an empty cup just doesn’t work. Therefore, and especially since becoming a mom, I only give half of what I could give so that there’s always more of me for those who depend on me — my husband, my kids, myself. I’ll still show up 100% for that 50, I just won’t empty my cup for any kind of mission or work.

• I lead with joy and passion. Research shows it (I very much recommend reading Practical Optimism by Dr. Sue Varma), and life will tell you too, that showing up for the work that you do with a sense of joy and passion will drastically raise your chances of both happiness and success. Therefore, I use it as my guiding principle.

  • Does it give me joy? Does it come from passion? If so, the answer is YES, I’ll do it! And if it doesn’t, I througougly believe it’s not meant for me. It’s simply not where I’ll make my biggest impact.

As always, thank you for reading! I hope you can experience some overview effect in your life today. It is truly such a magical thing to be alive!

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Let’s be real—the world is a tough place. And what makes it harder is that today, thanks to small devices in our pockets, we have access to all this information 24/7. Headlines are written to stop you in your tracks, which they will. Social media posts are created to hit our emotional sweet spot, and they do. Our feeds are flooded with heartbreak, injustices, fear, and opinions.

I see friends disclaiming they need a break, and I don’t blame them. Awareness fatigue, as I call it, is real, and it can greatly impact your well-being.

If you’re not constantly stressed and worried about what’s going on, it might feel like you’re ignorant or not fully tuned in.

OR.. it could mean that you’re doing something exactly right.

Let’s talk about it!

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Optimism — A Birthright

Feeling optimism in the midst of chaos and uncertainty – even through pain – is our birthright. It doesn’t (necessarily) mean that you’re delusional or naive.

It means you’ve figured out something essential.

To be optimistic is to meet these times with resiliency and grit, while holding on to the energies that may actually unlock a path forward. Not to say you never worry or fear, but you recognize optimism as a practice and force multiplier, and nurture it wherever you can.

So… what if you’re the optimistic one?

Are you the one who walks into a room with light in your step and excitement in your eyes? Are you the person who sees opportunities where others see setbacks, who chooses change over stability, and questions the status quo because you know there are better ways?

Are you the one who lifts others because you genuinely believe in people and our species? Are you the person who recognizes gifts and talents and allows them to shine and make an impact, whether that’s with you or somebody else?

Are you the optimist who, despite all we know is going on in the world, recognizes your energy as the most powerful tool in your toolbox, and knows better than to simply give it away?

Good!

How we show up for these times matters more than we can imagine. Optimism is not a willy-nilly mindset — it’s a practice, a strategy, and one we need to nurture now more than ever.

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So if you’re the optimistic one, despite everything going on, know that you’re doing something right. You’ve figured out something important, whether you know it or not. Keep doing your thing — even (especially) if the world seems stripped of optimism for the moment. We need what you’ve got!

And if optimism is a practice, what exactly does it look like? I get this question often, and I reflect on it myself a lot. Below are four ways in which I practice my optimism, reasons why I don’t feel tuned out, but tuned in. Things that ground me, allow me to connect, and to see things with new eyes.

They are seemingly small and insignificant practices, but I don’t mistake them for unimportant. They will not “change the world”, per se, but — they change my world, and that in itself changes everything.

How you practice (and hold on to) your optimism

1) You show up BIG in the small moments.

Staying connected and fully present in our small daily moments does not disconnect us from the “bigger world stuff”. On the contrary, it roots us deeper in the reality that’s right in front of us, helping us nurture an energy of love that may permeate the world.

2) You find your slice of the cake

No one person can show up for every fight or be activated in every mission. That is why there are 8 billion of us; we all get to choose our piece of the puzzle.

👉🏼 Find out what drives you. Figure out how you want to matter. Learn how you can maximize your positive impact and focus on it with passion.

And when you start to feel optimistic about your ability to make a difference (you will) – claim it! That optimism is yours to nurture, and we need it!

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3) You (re)activate your sensory intake

Studies have shown that stress shuts down our ability to fully take in the world as it is (the sensory part of the brain). Instead, we begin to rely on our pre-mapped views of the world – the beliefs we’ve already gotten hung up on – and get stuck thinking “this is what it is.”

“What it is” is only an image of the world as we’ve believed it to be so far. There are endless opportunities to co-create a different, even better, tomorrow. (To learn more about this, listen to my interview with neuroscientist Norman Farb.)

Start activating that belief by getting back in touch with your sensory intake. This is how you do that:

• Step outside.

Connection to nature and the outdoors has proven benefits of reconnecting with the sensory part of the brain. Close your eyes toward the sun, smell the air, feel the wind on your face, touch a tree! It might seem “too simple,” but creating a radically different world starts with our ability to believe that something else is possible. For that, we need to get unstuck from our own thought patterns. Nature has a wonderful way of doing that.

• Call a friend.

Strengthening connections to others helps us gain perspective and take us out of repetitive, harmful biases and thought loops. The more connected you feel, the less likely you are to get stuck in old narratives.

• Move your body.

Feeling stagnant in our energy is not only uncomfortable, but it also creates a blockage towards creativity, joy, and growth. So if you want to see the world a bit differently, go for a run, dance in the living room, do anything that can get your juices flowing! Feel the sensories seep back in.

4) You choose your people

If you want to believe the world is ending, there’s a big pool of people who will continue to reinforce just that.

However, if you’re someone who truly believes in our collective power to change our trajectory for tomorrow, if you wish to show up for these times with curiosity, resiliency, and hope, know there are many others who share those visions.

Find the people who will help you nurture your optimism, not shut it down. Trust that it’s OK to feel good about these times, even as we’re navigating the most uncertainty we’ve ever been through.

Lastly, recognize that we’re letting a new world take shape in every conscious thought, action, and word. Unlocking a future of joy, happiness, health, equality, and regeneration begins in being that energy as much as we can right now.

Remember:

No matter how hard the world seems, it’s always your birthright (and biggest asset) to remain an optimist.

Like this post? Please hit the 💛 to show your support. It helps the Substack algorithm to show it to more people! Also, consider sharing it with a friend by clicking the “share” button, and don’t forget to subscribe for more. Lastly, this is a reader-supported publication. If you have the means to upgrade to paid, I’d so appreciate your support. Go to The Climate Optimist homepage and click “upgrade to paid” in the upper right corner. Thank you for being here!

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I don’t know about you, but listening to the snow melt outside my window is like true music to my ears. I’m all for appreciating a real winter (especially in these times), but I’m ready for some spring now!

This week, I’m popping in with a few things I want to share:

1. A new prize inviting people to solve the problem of methane (if you’re that someone, make sure to read and apply!)

2. A few announcements from my end on what to expect moving forward.

Let’s get into it!

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How do we solve the issue of methane?

Let’s figure it out — and there’s prize money!

I’m thrilled to share that the new Climate Curve Prize: Methane is looking for innovators to address one of our most concerning global issues: the greenhouse we can’t see, but that is rapidly heating our planet.

Did you know that…

• Methane is 80x more environmentally impactful than CO₂ and is responsible for 45% of the current global temperature rise?

• Agriculture and waste are responsible for approximately 60% of human-caused methane emissions, yet remain dramatically underfunded?

• Innovative methane action is one of the fastest ways to bend the warming curve this decade?

It’s about time we do something about it!

The Climate Curve Prize: Methane (CCP:M) is now open for applications, offering $25,000 each to eight innovative solutions that are cutting methane emissions in food and waste systems. This new global prize, launched by Climate Curve, with support from the Global Methane Hub, is the first dedicated to accelerating methane mitigation solutions within food and waste systems.

Applications are open to organizations and innovators worldwide, and will close April 17, 2026, at 11:59 PM IDLW (UTC–12). (Application capacity: 500 eligible applications).

Ready to apply? Learn more about the prize, categories, eligibility, and selection criteria, and apply at www.climatecurve.org/methane.

Announcement 1: The Hey Change Podcast is GROWING — Here’s what to expect

Avid readers and listeners know that I brought my podcast, Hey Change, back to life last year. Long-term followers know that this is a journey that started in 2017, when I first launched the podcast with a microphone in my closet.

For almost a decade now (can’t believe I say that), I’ve been having thought-provocative and inspiring conversations with people from various industries and backgrounds on the topic of change. The mission has remained steady and clear:

When we change how we meet change, we change the future we create.

Over the years, the podcast has aired over 100 episodes, and we've had some truly incredible guests on the show. It also made the #1 global activism podcast of all time for most of 2025!

Now to the exciting news:

Late last year, the podcast got picked up by a NYC production house! Starting in 2026, Hey Change is moving forward into full-scale production (video, in-studio, professional editing, you name it) together with Good Mess Media.

I cannot tell you how validating and exciting it feels to be recognized and have someone else believe in its impact and message. Together, we hope to scale our reach and put conversations of optimism, change, and empowered hope on the table, bringing these messages to audiences that wouldn’t otherwise seek them.

I don’t know about you, but I have this strong inkling that the need for new narratives is greater than ever, and the world is ready for change.

What to expect?

We will relaunch the show in April with some truly exciting guests. Expect weekly episodes to be aired on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, Substack, and wherever you listen to podcasts. (What’s new is that there will now be video too!)

Each week, we introduce you to a new guest and topic. Every fourth week, my producer Tracey and I will sit down for a monthly recap and explore whatever else might be circulating at the moment. (Expect juicy deep dives and exploration of climate optimism and theories of change).

At the heart of it, it’s a show to help you grow your leadership, gain new insights about yourself and how we consciously shape our tomorrow, and be inspired by people in various fields who are navigating possibilities and change.

We hope you’ll love it!

To make sure you don’t miss coming episodes, make sure to follow/subscribe on the following platforms:

• iTunes

• Spotify

• YouTube

Announcement 2: The Climate Optimist Cohort

Last summer, I felt a strong calling: to see if people would be interested in joining a cohort where we come together to explore the climate optimist frameworks, build community, and learn from each other along the way.

I put out some feelers, and lo and behold, interest started trickling in!

As the months passed (and I realize this cohort was promoted by some influential people, among them Katharine Hayhoe), an overwhelming number of requests came in.

Meanwhile, my first initial group of members started meeting monthly to explore different themes inside The Climate Optimist. It was a truly wonderful experience. Simply meeting with other like-minded people seemed to be the medicine we were all looking for!

However, what was proven difficult was a matter of logistics.

As a mom of two little ones (1 and 3), time is not something I take for granted. Scheduled time where I have to be available within a certain window is tricky, to say the least. I’ve learned to understand that if you schedule something important during nap time, that is the day the baby won’t be taking his regular nap.

It’s almost law at this point. The struggle is real…

Add to that the fact that the cohort spanned over numerous time zones (from California to Pakistan), and that everyone, naturally, was on different schedules. After a few months, I spent most of my time and energy running this cohort, stressing over the time to meet. It started to feel unattainable, and I questioned its structure moving forward.

In this lack of clarity, with an overwhelming (and truly heartfelt) amount of interest, I found myself pressing the brakes. I need to get back to the drawing board and figure out what might work before bringing more people on board.

Moving forward

I’ve given this A LOT of thought. Truth is, the longing for community and a way to stay connected in a deeper, more meaningful way is only growing stronger. I want the cohort to exist, but I’m giving it a bit more time so I can map out exactly what the structure of it will look like.

Given recent news with the podcast growth (and increased commitment on that chapter), as well as gained insights into what worked and what didn’t, I am announcing that something is coming, and soon. I am exploring ways to tie the cohort with the show, and find an integrated way to grow and build impact together.

I hope you remain interested and willing to join when the time comes!

As a mom, I’ve learned a lot about fluidity, the need to try, pivot, and then move forward with new clarity. This cohort is a great example of exactly that, and I ask for your grace and understanding as this chapter takes shape.

Did you apply?

If you applied to join the cohort, please know I’ve seen your submission and am deeply moved by what you wrote. The level of depth and honesty in people’s answers is truly moving! I am intending to get back to all of you individually; it’s just taking some time, so please know you’re not overlooked or forgotten!

More to come soon!

Announcement 3: Climate Optimism Is Taking Stage

Last but not least, I wanted to share some keynotes I have coming up this year. I’m equally excited about all of them!

1) Virtual Keynote for Climate Base’s 9th Cohort

On March 27th, I’m giving a closing keynote for the 9th cohort of ClimateBase Fellowship, which has grown into 600 participants this year! Other speakers that day include Dr. Jonathan Foley, Paul Paz y Miño, Tzeporah Berman, and I’m truly honored to be in this lineup.

If you missed applying this year, keep your eyes out for the next one!

2) The Green Sports Alliance Summit, Cleveland, May 6th

I am beyond thrilled to be the opening keynote of this year’s GSA summit, a yearly conference focusing on how to make the sports industry greener and more resilient.

My keynote will focus on the possibility alive within the climate movement, and what it looks like to reimagine the future not as something to fear, but as an open canvas we have the power to shape.

I will also host a breakout session where we get a chance to go deeper into the principles of Climate Optimist leadership, and explore a new way forward—one rooted in resilience, optimism, and future-oriented leadership.

Interested in joining? You can register for the summit here!

Learn More About The Summit

3) The California Resource Recovery Association Annual Conference, August 31st

Lastly, I’ll be heading to San Diego in late August to give the opening keynote at this year’s CRRA conference. CRRA has been around for 50 years and is a grassroots professional organization who focus' on zero waste, sustainability, and climate initiatives — I cannot wait to see what kind of people I will connect with there!

Learn more about the organization here.

If you’d like to attend, here’s a link about the conference and how to register.

I’m closing these announcements with a note of gratitude for the ability to visit these places (virtually or in person) to bring the message of climate optimism and resilient leadership to people near and far. Thank you to everyone who believes in my mission!

If you’d like to chat about similar opportunities, I have more availability in 2026 and 2027. Please send me a note to annetherese@theclimateoptimist.com

Contact For Speaker Inquiries

Have a great week, everyone! And if you haven’t already, make sure to read last week’s issue on the Inner Development Goals and how we show up radically different for times that request change!

Read About The IDGs

It’s no news to us that we’re failing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“With less than 20% of targets on track, progress is hindered by inadequate funding, weak political will, and "sanctioned incrementalism," where systems fail to create necessary, rapid change.”

— UN news

This was from the summer of 2024, and it doesn’t feel like anything momentous has changed since then. So the reality remains: we’re failing the goals set out to save us from our unwanted tomorrow.

But why?

The colorful squares that made us all feel empowered about our ability to participate in something bigger, the 17 mapped out visions for a world that isn’t just different, but better, were supposed to be a guiding light for countries, individuals, and businesses big and small. And yet, we’re falling short, with less than 20% of targets on track.

Some would say optimism has faded and people are giving up hope, and that might (sadly) be true. Others would argue the goals were never realistic to begin with. “The world is what it is”, and all that.

But what’s really missing, which most aren’t talking about, is the fact that those aspirational goals were laid on the promises of our inner doings. Meaning: unless we work on our inner qualities first, the outer changes we so desperately seek will not be possible, at least not in our lifetimes.

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To simplify further:

We are up against big stuff. The kind of stuff people would claim to be impossible. So if we are to have any chance of succeeding at such tasks, who we are and how we show up for that work will determine our path forward.

Meaning:

We will not fix the world order within the parameters (internal or external) that exist today.

Or, like Albert Einstein would say:

You can’t solve the problem with the same thinking that created it.

Transformational Skills for Sustainable Development

Let me introduce you to the Inner Development Goals, also known as the IDGs. These new set of goals (officially released to the public in November 2023*) are created to

“Develop the inner capacities, skills, and qualities necessary to fostering inner development toward a more sustainable future.”

— IDGs

Instead of focusing on the systemic changes needed in the world around us, these 5 goals put emphasis on the fact that to meet them, we need to uplevel our inner capacities first. We must show up for a new kind of leadership, and we must be just as intentional with how we navigate possibilities and decision-making as we are with setting the goals we aim to achieve.

It reminds me of something I heard Christiana Figueres say:

“We have the opportunity to create exponential growth in climate solutions and sustainable futures, what we need now is exponential decision making — and the willpower to activate them.”

The Inner Development Goals

As a newly certified ambassador for the IDGs, I’m honored to share more on what they're all about. And hopefully, invite you to explore them further. They are made up of 25 “skills”, or qualities you could say, and are divided into 5 categories (or goals).

The 5 Inner Development Goals:

• Being - Cultivating Our Inner Life

• Thinking - Understanding Our Complex World

• Relating - Caring For Others and the World

• Acting - Leading and Enabling Change

• Collaborating - Building Trust and Working Together

It’s essential to note that no individual can effectively embody all 25 skills or consistently perform at high levels across various departments.

We’re human, after all (thank goodness for imperfections), and the purpose of the goals is to explore how, in a team, we can try to represent as many of these as possible. Additionally, breaking down the goals provides a framework to work within and tools for identifying, developing, and nurturing these various qualities.

To give an example, this is what the first goal (Being) looks like broken down.

Just like with the SDGs, there is no “right” way of approaching these goals, as the meaning of them and how you choose to work with them will differ depending on your circumstances and conditions. There are existing tools and resources (see below), but the mission at this stage of our journey is to:

• A) Bring awareness to their importance

• B) Find systemic ways to implement them in our societies

• C) Work with them in our personal lives, teams, structures, and institutions

If you want to get involved with the IDGs, there are numerous ways to do so. You can join existing IDG hubs and networks (or start your own), partake in their resource development, apply to join their ambassador program, or simply explore the goals on your own and find ways to bring them to your work. Once a year, they also host an in-person IDG summit in Stockholm. You can learn more about all their work at www.innerdevelopmentgoals.org

*IDG Foundation was initiated by the 29k Foundation, Ekskaret Foundation, IMD Business School for Management, LUCSUS Center for Sustainability Studies | Lund University, Stockholm Resilience Center | Stockholm University, The New Division, Flourishing Network at Harvard University, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

The IDGs and The Climate Optimist Framework

In diving deeper into the IDGs during my ambassador training, I realized something quite stunning. Unknowingly, I have built a 5-step framework that almost directly aligns with these 5 goals. They’re not compatible to a tee, but they do resemble similar focuses and recognition of what’s needed to show up for the leadership that can unlock a radically different world.

Although the five pillars of The Climate Optimist (learn about them in more detail here) are closely interlinked (and infused) with the 5 IDGs, they interestingly pair well in their practices and focus.

I could go on and on about the importance of these goals and how much they excite me, and I’m sure I will dive deeper into various topics within these themes in issues to come, but the one thing I want us all to land on is this:

The way forward starts with us.

Some challenges might seem impossible to overcome, some goals unrealistic to achieve, but we have to remember that the person who thinks that way is the person you’ve shown up for and nurtured up until this moment.

To create a radically different world is not just about setting big goals and breaking down the path to achieve them; it’s about becoming radically different people first.

That’s not to say it won’t be hard. In fact, it will be hard, but that’s the whole point. Transformation doesn’t come from strolling down the path of roses—it’s earned through moments that make us question, pivot, and grow.

We know the solutions exist.

We know we’ve only scratched the surface of what’s possible.

We also know (deep down we know) that the possibilities of our future are probably so unimaginable, it’s hard to even wrap our heads around them right now. I mean—try explaining an iPhone to someone in the 50s? Try explaining AI! Just imagine what we could unlock next…

But most importantly, we know that now is the time to act. Because just as much as we could be peeking behind the door of a world that is wildly unrecognizable (and better), we’re also on the precipice of absolute disaster— of death, heartbreak, injustices, war.

Our future lies not in our ability to create great things (we’ve proven that one already), but in our willingness to show up for the inner work that will lead us in the right direction.

Inner work that helps us question, even when it might seem there’s nothing yet to question, that meets challenges with solutions-oriented mindsets, nurtures optimism, and chooses collaboration and scalability over profits and gain.

It’s about finding a radically different way of being and in that, creating a racially different life—and a radically different world.

It’s all possible. We know it is. Now, let’s activate our power.

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With this, I invite you to take a deep inhale, straighten your posture, and let your shoulders relax. Then, repeat to yourself:

It starts with us.

Go Deeper + Activate

If you want to activate this journey, The Climate Optimist Course is available on demand at your own speed and time. The course is mapped around the 5 pillars and comes with videos, resources, and accompanying worksheets for you to reflect and build strategies as you learn.

The cost is $27/month, and you pay for as long as you wish to gain access — how fast you finish the course is up to you! 😊

Learn more and enroll here.

Enroll in The Climate Optimist Course

I’ve been passionately promoting climate optimism for about eight years now. I remember meeting Paul Hawken at a wellness conference in Palm Springs back in 2018, wearing a t-shirt that read, “Babe On A Mission.” I remember, because when I kindly asked for a photo together (who wouldn’t when meeting one’s hero?), Paul said: “Nice to meet you, Babe On A Mission. I’m Paul On A Mission!”

The joke lived on as he graciously shared his email address, and we’ve been loosely keeping in touch over the years. The truth is, Paul served as my distant mentor, although he’s probably very unaware of this. When his book, Drawdown – The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, first came out in 2017, it felt like the Bible I had been waiting for.

Up until that point, I’d deep inside known that optimism was the way forward. This book provided me the roadmap and scientific proof that what I was saying was true: It isn’t too late, and now is the time to show up.

Or, like Paul would’ve phrased it: “It’s not game over, it’s game on!”

Over the years, my approach to advocating for optimism has both pivoted and strengthened. It’s become undeniably clear that climate optimism isn’t just a set of solutions made possible, or even a vision worth striving for: it’s a practice. Avid readers of this Substack know this, but it’s worth reiterating again and again:

The climate optimism shaping tomorrow is in the acts, strategies, and inner leadership we show up for—today, tomorrow, and all the years to come.

So when I say your optimism must be strategic, I mean it. If your optimism becomes passive, flat, or leans toward wishful thinking, your attempt at it isn’t just ineffective—it can become dangerous!

This week, data from a new poll revealed that optimism is at a record low. The poll, which was made on US citizens, matches the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer, indicating that around the world, people’s spirit and trust in the future are on a downward spiral.

It serves to ask the question:

Why is optimism at an all-time low? And are we missing the mark on what true optimism really is?

Optimism As A Strategy, published by IMD and co-authored by David Bach (CEO of IMD) and Huda Al Hashimi (Deputy Minister for Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs, UAE), goes into depth about the need for strategic optimism (especially in changing times) and how the way forward is in learning how to navigate uncertainty.

Strategic optimism is often mistaken for wishful positivity. In practice, it is a mindset, a leadership philosophy, and a way societies organize to act under uncertainty. It starts with the assumption that uncertainty is structural, not temporary. Instead of waiting for conditions to stabilize, governments design institutions that can act, adapt, and course-correct as the environment shifts.

Let’s dissect the article further.

The opening argument delivers proof that although living standards are higher, people’s spirit and trust in the future are on a downward spiral. According to the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer, only 32% of people globally believe the next generation will be better off than today. And it’s not just because of current political and world-order climates, but in how we talk about the future itself.

Across much of Europe, the conversation about the future has taken on a defensive tone. Living standards remain high, and institutions are strong, yet political debate often revolves around what might be lost rather than what could be built. Reform agendas slow under the weight of bureaucracy and social division. Businesses wait for clarity. Governments talk more about risk than opportunity. That caution is understandable. But it carries costs.

This reminds me of something I once read in Tali Sharot’s book on optimism and neuroscience, The Influential Mind. She wrote:

“Once people feel threatened, they become more focused on the negative and more likely to consider how things can go wrong. As a result, they decide to act in a conservative manner.”

In other words, our brains are wired to protect ourselves amidst threats and uncertainty by clinging to the status quo. Since change is coming and we can’t predict what it will bring, it feels safest and smartest to hold on to what we already know.

But nothing could be further from the truth, especially in today’s climate. So let’s talk about change.

When I give workshops and keynotes, I like to liken the climate crisis (or any crisis, for that matter) to a storm building on the horizon. Thinking about it this way allows us to understand how the threat lives in our brains—and how we’ve been programmed to act since as far back as the Stone Age. The truth is that although we’ve built an extraordinarily complex world since then, our brains haven’t changed much, meaning: we still react similarly to given information.

In simple science:

When facing a threat that comes with lots of uncertainty, we are wired to retreat and stay put, to focus on what could go wrong and act accordingly, and to save adventuring for another day. Today, the brain says, is not the time to be courageous and explore. Stay where you are and be safe.

But we know we need change, and we need it fast. So optimism isn’t something nice to have, but a necessary skill to harness in a time when moving into new territory (read: new societal structures, new values to live by, new ways of producing products, offering services, conducting life here on Earth, you name it) is the only way forward.

According to the article, some countries are already navigating this challenge much better than others.

In working with leaders across regions, a pattern becomes visible. Faced with similar pressures, some countries become more cautious and inward-looking, while others use disruption as a catalyst to clarify priorities and accelerate reform. The difference is not random. It lies in how leaders frame uncertainty, and whether that framing is translated into institutions that create momentum rather than hesitation.

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What this all narrows down to for me is change.

The sooner we can recognize that these times are about change—unpredictable kinds, unwanted kinds, but most importantly, the kind of change that is waiting to be activated—the sooner we can show up for the leadership that will bring us to a better tomorrow.

Strategic optimism does not remove risk. It changes the posture toward it.

Digital transformation, climate transition, and economic restructuring cannot be navigated by systems that freeze in the face of uncertainty. They require governments that can set the course, act early, learn quickly, and adjust accordingly.

When the data says optimism is at an all-time low, it isn’t just sad for people’s living experiences; it’s extremely concerning for our ability to co-create a sustainable future. There will never come a day when a person stands on the top of a mountain with a microphone shouting:

Folks, our savior is here! We finally figured out climate change. We can all go home and be safe now!

You know it as much as I do. Days will (hopefully, I pray for this) come when we look back in awe at the revolutions that took place—spiritually, societally, and innovationally—which enabled a whole new world to take shape. But it takes a certain courage and commitment to understand that all those revolutions are unfolding right now.

• We are the revolution. And therefore, dear reader, you matter more than you can probably ever imagine.

• Your leadership matters.

• Your spirit, mindset, and health matter.

• How you show up for each day matters (because each day matters).

• And, yes, your optimism matters.

So, as we reflect on these polling stats, let’s choose to be the resistance. Let’s show up in our light and recognize that optimism—not wishful thinking, denialism, or flat, toxic positivity, but real, grounded, and strategic optimism—is the way forward. And if we can embody it and learn how to practice it, we invite others to do the same.

Like Paul would probably say: The times are now, let’s activate!

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Read "Optimism As A Strategy"

Tips for nurturing your optimism:

• Tend to your inner leadership. Understand that to navigate uncertainty, we must tend to the inner compass that can make inspired, grounded, and courageous decisions based on the future that wants to emerge.

• Figure out how you want to matter and focus on maximizing your positive footprint. What are your skills, qualities, and passions? How do you want to contribute to the world we’re building next? Bring your focus there and feel your optimism alleviate.

• Come together in community and find ways to nurture curiosity, joy, optimism, and love. Those forces will always be stronger than hate and fear. (Bad Bunny made that clear this week).

• Allow yourself to nurture your optimism. It can feel hard to be optimistic in these times, even hard to feel like it’s okay to be optimistic with everything going on, but remember that optimism is a practice, and one that we must show up for. Therefore, you are allowed to be optimistic. Period.

• For tips on the small but important things in my daily lives that fuel my optimism, check out this post.

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The Decision (shared below) is my contribution to Richphobia, a futurist and critical vision of capitalism and wealth inequality, as co-authored by 27 top futurist voices (I’m honored to be one of them!)

The book, which is part of the One Day in 2050 anthologies' collection, is an invitation into a future where old-fashion capitalism will be exterminated. Will that world one day exist? And if so, what would it look like?

I’m sharing my short story below, followed by a few blurbs about why I chose to write this particular piece, alongside some reflection points and further resources. I hope you enjoy it! And if you like what you’re reading, please click the 💛 to help Substack’s algorithm show it to more people.

Also, Richphobia is free and available for everyone! You can download the digital version here.

The Decision

By Anne Therese Gennari

Nana, tell me about the day my mom was born!

Again? But you’ve heard that story so many times.

It’s my favorite! Please?

Alright then, where do I begin…

It was an early spring day, and you were just able to spot some green knobs on the branches. Birds were singing from the rooftops, and promises filled the air. It was a glorious and memorable day, more special than any of us could’ve imagined, but I will first and foremost remember it as the day I gave birth to your mother.

However, when I was in the hospital, a decision was being made far away, a decision that would change things forever.

What was the decision?

Hang on, you know we’ll get to that. First, let’s talk about what happened after the decision was made.

The decision had been years in the making. Had we had the ability to look back the way we can now, it would have been easy to make, but we couldn’t. People were still stuck in looking at the world from old viewpoints. We were stubborn in our approaches and unwilling to flirt with that kind of change. Finally, a paper was signed in a quiet room, far from any cameras or press. And so, The Decision was made.

Nothing really happened right off the bat. People went on with their lives, oblivious to what was happening around them. It’s fascinating, to say the least, that the most revolutionary change tends to appear in the quiet. It’s in the slow-moving whispers of new promises that stages for radical transformation are laid.

What kind of changes, Nana?

You wouldn’t know about them because you have had the beautiful privilege to grow up in the New World. Your life hasn’t been governed by endless growth models that put people in a position of greed, killing nature, and leaving human lives at risk. For too long, this was the norm, and you would sometimes hear people say, “This is what the world is, take it or leave it.” Oh, such nonsense! How enough conviction in your words will people believe anything you say.

So people back then didn’t live the way we do now?

They had similar lives, but at the same time, so different. For example, do you know how you and your father play ball every night before dinner?

Yeah?

Well, boys back then didn’t have such luck. Sometimes they didn’t even get to see their dads at all before bedtime. Some kids barely saw their mothers either.

But why? That sounds so awful!

And it was! It was such a backward way of doing life, but people didn’t have any choice. Many parents had to work long hours or even double shifts to keep up with an economy that kept soaring. Meanwhile, the rich kept getting richer and polluting the environment for those who deserved it the least. Of course, the animal kingdom took a big hit as well, and right before The Decision was made, biodiversity was as low as ever.

It all sounds so strange to me! Why did people keep up with it?

Oh, my dear boy, sometimes it’s so hard to see the power you have to put a wreck in the system, and so the power system lives on. People find a way to simply accept, not knowing how much change can come from the tiniest of imagination. But let me carry on.

A few years into this quiet revolution, you could begin to spot the differences. The most noticeable thing for me was people’s well-being. You could somehow see it in their eyes. They seemed more restful, more spirited, more one with the moment. There was presence.

But you also noticed it, of course, in the products and services available. It didn’t take long for the circular economy to really pick up and soon, people got used to renting instead of owning, which created a natural incentive for companies to produce products that would stand the test of time. Naturally, there was resistance, especially in the beginning. People didn’t like the idea of not owning.

But why would people want to own things? Then you’re responsible for taking care of it when it breaks.

Ha! That’s just the silliest thing, isn’t it? Back then, before The Decision, you weren’t that responsible. If something broke, you could just throw it away, and products were, for the most part, cheap enough that you didn’t care. It was so easy to find a replacement the same day.

But it must’ve created so much trash!

Oh dear, it did. It did…

As time went on, a new normal was planted and as people started to feel the benefits of doing things differently, things picked up quickly. Have your teachers ever shown you a hockey stick curve in school?

Yes, we talked about it in our class about global warming, to showcase where we were headed before the turning.

Exactly! Now, this was a different kind of hockey stick, a positive one. The truth was that all the solutions were already ready for us, just waiting to be implemented. All it took was a willingness to see things from a new perspective and trust that it could be even better this way. You had to let people get comfortable with the idea of change.

And all it took was The Decision?

Well, yes, and also no. The Decision finally pushed things over the edge, but there were so many brave and curious people working to build the new system, both before and after The Decision was made. We must always look back and be grateful for those who had the courage to question everything.

You were one of those people, Nana. You are a hero!

You’re too sweet, my dear boy. But yes, I guess, I am one of those people. And it was a big deal for me to choose to have kids; many others like me didn’t think there was a future worth bringing kids into the world for. A lot of people had already given up hope.

What else happened after The Decision was made? Can you tell me something cool?

Well, let’s talk about the Innovation Revolution.

You see, once money was directed in the right areas, many people found the courage to explore their ideas for more efficient and sustainable living. That dock next to your front door, for example, came about in these important times. Before that, most houses were powered by fossil fuels, which were essentially dead dinosaurs taken from the ground.

This part always blows my mind! Dead dinosaurs, really? That’s so cool!

Well, not really, not when you learn the price we had to pay for digging them up. As the saying goes: “Don’t mess with the dead.” Nothing could be more true about dinosaurs.

And the craziest part was that although we had learned that lesson long ago, money was still poured in masses to make sure we could access more fossil fuels. It was believed to be the only way the world would keep running, the only way people could hold on to the luxuries of modern life that we had gotten so used to. Turns out that all we needed was a nudge in the right direction, and incentives for moving on and exploring wildly different ways.

That is why houses today are mostly self-sufficient. As you know, that docket on your house tells you daily how much energy is being fueled by your solar panels, how much comes from the food waste operator, and how much depends on the collective movement of the city. It was a wild idea one woman came up with that we should harness the energy of people and use it to fuel our grids. She, among many others, laid the foundation for this new world you now live in.

You always speak of it as the “quiet revolution”. Why is that?

Because it was unnoticeable to so many. People had gotten used to quick fixes, fueled by dopamine-hungry devices that kept us stuck looking for shallow things to make us happy. So when faced with a big challenge like our climate crisis, it was hard for most people to wrap their heads around what needed to be done. I attended many community meetings where someone would raise their hand and say: “But what can we do? What is the one thing that can be done?”

And that one thing was The Decision?

Haha! You can’t let go of The Decision, can you? Again, everything changed that day, but the road leading up to it had been paved by thousands, if not millions, thoughts, ideas, and people. It happened slowly and for a very long time and continued to unfold for years after the big shift occurred. As mentioned before, most people didn’t even notice it. It’s not until much later that they can look back and realize how much has changed – and for the better!

But you saw it, Nana, you noticed!

I did, because it was a beautiful thing to witness, and I made sure to pay attention to every little win.

Ok, but now you have to tell me – what was The Decision?

Behind the Story

The idea for this piece was downloaded during a walk in early last spring. I had been asked to contribute a short story to this upcoming book (I was honored), and the directions as to what it could be about were minimal.

It became quite clear to me that it should be told in retrospection by one generation passing on the history of this century to the next, with the intention to reflect on what the coming years could look like, and how they could open up momentous opportunities for change. By telling the story from the future, by a grandmother who, with pride in her voice, made sure her grandson got every detail that played a part in making the New World happen, I wanted to invite us all to reflect on just how important these years are.

Sure, some sort of decision was made, but she repeatedly points out that both before and after that critical moment in time, it was the work and courage of many people who made these changes possible.

We are those people today. We have the power to radically reimagine life as we know it, to bend our curiosity, and explore possibilities of very different tomorrows — not just in how we do and create things, but how we want to feel and the lives we want to lead. We have the power to activate this quiet revolution.

Some people may not notice these subtle changes, or even recognize that such changes are necessary, but if we who do continue to show up for them with optimism and faith, completely new worlds may unfold that everyone can take a part of.

So…Do I want to be part of the revolution? Or get stuck fighting the old? This future described above is obviously completely made up. It’s a bit of my imagination, my willingness to expand my heart and trust.

What if you expanded yours? What would we create?

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Reflection/ Journaling Prompts:

1. The story is named “The Decision,” but even after all that build-up, you never learn what the decision actually was. I wrote it that way to leave room for imagination and for each reader to reflect deeper on what such a decision could look like. So… what do you think the decision was?

2. The future is wildly unimaginable — and perhaps in the best possible ways! If you kept some room in your heart for the unimaginable (a favorite quote of mine by Mary Oliver), what do you think the world might look like 50 years from now? What has changed? What stayed the same?

3. Bringing back focus to today: what is your mission? What are you showing up for (even it if feels small) that will help guide us into a different tomorrow? What is the positive footprint you’re growing and leaving behind?

4. What does your practice of optimism and imagination look like? Do you nurture it enough to stay in this state of wonder? If not, what could you do better? If the practife of (climate) optimism speaks to you, see below for more resources!

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Valuable Resources:

• Visit the future and practice your imagination with my Guided Meditation. You find links for where to listen here. Here’s what members inside our cohort just said about it:

  • I listened to the meditation on my work break, and it was really soothing experience. It calmed my mind and shifted my focus to positivity and I thought about all the things I could do just by believing and letting myself imagine.

  • When I started this meditation, I’ll admit I thought it was a little silly…

    BUT when we were asked to step outside, everything changed for me. I knew exactly what I wanted to see and got excited about what that world could look like. I saw a neighborhood farm stand, bike train to the schools, neighbors meeting up with to-go coffee mugs, walking together to the nearest transit hub for work. It was GLORIOUS. I was like yes, this is what I want. It made me so excited.

Listen to The Meditation

• Join us inside The Climate Optimist Cohort! If you want to strengthen your practices for radical optimism and explore new world possibilities with like-minded visionaries, this might be the place for you! Commit as much as you find time for — no strings attached, and you can join/leave whenever you want. Learn more here or contact me with interest. Membership is $20/month.

• Don’t forget about the book — you can consume The Climate Optimist Handbook in audiobook format, ebook, or paperbook. See options for purchase here.

• On that same page (scroll down), you also find the book’s discussion guide with questions and prompts to reflect deeper on individually or in a group setting. You don’t have to have read the book to work with these prompts.

Ever since I came across the work of Otto Scharmer and the Presencing Institute, I’ve been hooked on the concepts of Theory U. In a time when all we know with absolute certainty is that the way forward will have to look radically different than where we came from, leadership is everything.

And not just leadership — but the right kind of leadership.

When I say that, I don’t mean politicians, CEOs, or even community organizers (although their leadership skills are obviously crucial beyond words), but the leadership that lives in all of us.

For what does it mean to gain inspiration, answers, and directions from a world we haven’t seen yet? How do we not just find the courage to act on uncertainty, but continue to navigate unknown territory with curiosity, trust, and an open mind? What, exactly, will it take to keep room in our hearts for the unimaginable and pursue the unspoken whispers of tomorrow, knowing (even if we can’t know) that “this” must be the way?

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The leadership required now isn’t just about courage. It’s about expanding our consciousness to one that finds guidance in emerging futures. Otto Scharmer calls this presencing — a meaning of sensing into each moment and doing so with utmost presence. Only then, he argues, can we learn from the future as it emerges, and take radical steps into a different world.

Old-style leaders gain knowledge from the past. Transformative leaders lead from the future. It’s leadership that requires a new level of awareness, explained by Scharmers as:

• Open mind

• Open heart

• Open will

Below are the 4 types of listening styles, as detailed in Theory U, that we can learn to work with to raise this level of consciousness. Doing so will benefit all the work that we do, and greatly increase value in the lives we lead as we navigate this territory of uncertainty and change.

» I want to plug a reminder here from The Climate Optimist: Optimism isn’t given, it’s created. The world of tomorrow is wildly uncertain, and we can let that overwhelm us, or use it as our greatest source of inspiration. To practice presencing is to show up for each moment with expansion in our hearts. We recognise that it is in our leadership that new worlds are envisioned, guided, and shaped. We are the practice; we are the optimism forward.

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4 Types of Listening

1) “Yeah, I know that already.”

• Downloading.

• Reconfirming habitual judgements.

• “We selectively hear only what we recognise.”

2) “Ooh, look at that!”

• Factual listening.

• You focus on what differs from what you already know.

• Focus shifts from the inner voice of judgment to the data right in front of you.

3) “Oh yes, I know how you feel.”

• When we listen empathetically, our perception shifts.

• “We move from staring at the objective world of things, figures, and facts into the story of a living being, a living system, and self.” – Otto

• This type of listening is about connection and requires an open heart.

4) “I can’t express what I experienced in words. My whole being has slowed down. I feel quieter, more present, and more my real self. I am connected to something larger than myself.”

• Generative listening, or listening from the emerging field of the future.

• Requires open heart and open will: our capacity to connect to the highest future possibility that wants to emerge.

• “You know that you have been operating on the fourth level when, at the end of the conversation, you realize you are no longer the same person you were when you started the conversation.”

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When groups begin working from real future possibility, they start to tap into a different social field from what they normally experience. It manifests through a shift in quality of thinking, conversing, and collective action. When that shift happens, people can connect with a deeper source of creativity and knowing and move beyond the patterns of the past.

– Otto Scharmer

Worth Reflecting On:

• How do we create environments that nurture this kind of listening, sensing, and presencing?

• What are things you could do to tap into your future potential in your everyday life?

Psst, we’re diving deeper into this topic in today’s session with The Climate Optimist Cohort. If you’d like to join us tonight or any upcoming months, you can learn more about the cohort here, or simply message me with interest!

Similar Topics:

• The Practice of Climate Optimism as Detailed in TCO Venndiagram

• How To Stay Human As Technology Speeds Up

• How Zooming Out Will Give You Sanity - And Hope!

Christmas has been simple but wonderful. Lucas (now 13 months) took his first real steps on Boxing Day (he’s now pacing around the house, making all of us slowly grasp the chaos of the months to follow). Eloise transitioned into her big-girl bed and loves the freedom and responsibility that come with it. And I, well, I’m finding myself with a Frozen playlist constantly on repeat in the back of my head.

Let it go, let it goooo, can’t hold it back anymore!

In other words, it’s been an eventful couple of weeks. But also, so wonderfully slow, cozy, and intentional — and now I’m ready for whatever this new year has to bring!

So, how do we initiate this new year? Although there is no shortage of news worth frowning upon, I thought we should at least kick things off with a good dose of optimism (it is The Climate Optimist newsletter after all). Here’s what to expect in this newsletter:

• A few pieces of good news that have stood out to me lately. If you have come across other noteworthy things (or if you’re one of those good news sources), please share them in the comments!!

• A book recommendation for anyone seeking informed optimism and actionable hope for our future.

• A few updates from me: Green Sports Alliance Summit, the retreat, and please join us inside the cohort!

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Good News Worth Sharing

In a post by The Happy Broadcast, where they summarized the good news posts that gained the most likes in 2025, a few that especially stood out to me:

• Whales are our secret weapon against climate change. On average, a single whale can absorb and store up to 33 tons of CO2. Yet another reason to love and protect whales! On this topic, I highly recommend checking out my interview with Hugo and Jenn from Positive Polar.

• Hugging a tree for 21 seconds has been scientifically proven to have benefits for our health. Trees transfer oxytocin (a feel-good hormone) through touch, which improves immunity and lowers stress. I also showcase how oxytocin is an important part of our climate optimism practice in The Climate Optimist Venndiagram. Listen to this episode for a deeper breakdown of the practice.

• Secondhand is going mainstream! The resale market is growing 5 times faster than new retail and is projected to keep gaining ground. Fun insider tip — every gift my husband got this Christmas was found at a local antique store. I must admit that he won the thrift-and-gift award in our family this year!

For the full 2025 wrap-up, click the post below.

Good Climate News in the US Despite Trump, as presented by The Guardian

Let’s be real, we all need this list!

• California launched a methane tracking satellite — and has already identified 10 major leaks, and taken the equivalent of 18,000 cars off the road!

• Hawaiian researchers identified many plastic-eating fungi — some of them are specifically “trained” to eat microplastics faster. Isn’t it remarkable how nature continues to be our savior?

• San Diego researchers developed a new gel to restore coral reefs — an invention hitting at a critical time, given last year’s bad news. Yet more proof that we can work with nature and explore what maximizing our positive footprint may look like.

• New Mexico invested $50 million into wildlife crossing, an investment welcomed by both conservationists and officials. I wonder how long until we see this become a mainstream practice.

See the full post and all 7 good stories here.

I know many more milestones were met across the globe last year. If there’s any good news in particular that you’d like to share, please drop a link in the comments! :)

A Video: When Simplicity and Community Empowerment Are the Answers

We all know that plastic in our oceans is a mega problem we must address, and fast. Projects like The Ocean Cleanup Project are making important strides on that mission, but there are many smaller initiatives also taking shape. One particular encouraging venture that stood out to me is this simple yet impactful invention to clean up rivers in India, and prevent plastic pollution from ever even entering the ocean.

Watch the video (it’s only 10 minutes long) for a big dose of informed and inspired optimism!

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Book Rec: Read This in 2026!!

Late last year, I was gifted a copy of the newly released Echoes from Eden, a capture of entrepreneur and philanthropist Dax Dasilva’s travels to conservation projects around the world. What started as a curious exploration of these adventures has turned into a treasured bedtime routine.

This book is a beautiful invitation to what cannot be forgotten. Dax’s compassion for the natural world, his willingness and generosity to go miles beyond miles (many times putting his own life and safety at risk) to not only fund these important projects, but also tell the stories of the places and their people, comes through in each word. It’s a beautifully written book by Dax himself and Eric Hendrikx, a bestselling author and journalist, that will fuel your hope and help you (re)commit to finding your own best way to leave the world as beautiful as you found it.

If you’re looking for a book on grounded, informed, and invigorating real optimism — this is it! And what’s better yet — all proceeds to go to the Jane Goodall Institute. Read it, treasure it, pass it on to the next in line — help amplify the echoes from Eden!

Get The Book

Psst… I’m also thrilled to say that I interviewed Dax for Hey Change Podcast in late December, and it was truly such a wonderful hour together. I can’t wait to share the episode with you. Stay tuned!

That’s what we’re trying to do—reconnect people to the land. Not just to protect it, but to belong to it again.”

Dax Dasilva

Updates from The Climate Optimist

First off, I am honored and thrilled to share what became official just as the year was about to wrap: I am the opening keynote for this year’s Green Sports Alliance Summit, which will take place in Cleveland at the beginning of May (my keynote and workshop will be held on May 5th).

Might you be attending? If so, ping me, and I hope to see you there!

The Climate Optimist Retreat

There are still spots available at The Climate Optimist Leadership Retreat (the first-ever of its kind) happening in El Salvador, March 1st - 6th, but they’re closing fast. Would you like to join us??

For more information and to register interest, visit this link. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You reach me best at annetherese@theclimateoptimist.com!

Check out The Retreat

The Climate Optimist Cohort - Open for New Members!

Did you know that there is a cohort of us meeting every month to explore climate optimist practices, leadership skills, and grow our community of committed change makers? If this sounds like something you’d want to be part of, please respond to this email with your interest, or apply via this link.

What to expect:

• Each month, we pick a theme from the book or the 5 principles of climate optimism that we explore in more depth together

• I share relatable chapters, resources, and/or videos to explore at your own time (this is always voluntary)

• At our monthly community call, you will learn more about the topic in a short presentation before we open up to dialogue between us — this is meant to be a safe and inspiring space for everyone involved. The time of the call varies, as we create a poll each month to find a time that suits most people’s schedules and time zones.

• Invest as much or as little time as you wish. You get out of it what you put into it!

• The membership fee is $20/month

We meet for our next community call on January 14th, 8:30 pm EST. The theme of this month is imagination, and we’ve decided to welcome the year with a virtual vision board session together!

Feeling called? Ping me, and I hope we’ll see you there!

Learn More About The Cohort

Our World 2050 is a new organization focusing on listening to and working with the youth of the world. By inspiring tomorrow’s leaders and changemakers and unlocking their imagination, OW2050 also encourages children to initiate local action.

Our World 2050 is more than just a project; it is a movement to place children’s voices at the center of our global sustainability efforts. Because who should be part of shaping the future, if not them?

By engaging them in envisioning the future, we empower children to be co-creators of the world they will one day inherit. Through partnerships with schools and NGOs, we will ensure that their ideas reach decision-makers, communities, and the world, contributing to a collective vision of a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow.

How can you help?

• Right now, we’re trying to gather as many survey submissions as we possibly can! Do you know children aged 6-21? Please share this link and ask them to participate (it won’t take long).

• We’re also in initial fundraising stages to get programs off the ground. If you have the means to support, we highly appreciate your kind donation.

Make a Donation

Want to get involved?

Please let us know! You can send me a message or contact the leadership board here.

Stay tuned for one more podcast episode, with the incredibly inspirng Dax Dasilva, founder of Age of Union, and author of Echos from Eden.

Snow Day

This Tuesday morning, we woke up to the news from my daughter’s teacher that there was no school. “Snow day!”, it said. “Stay safe, see you tomorrow!”

Great, I thought, as timing is always impeccable. That day, I was promised a day for myself, as I had graciously been gifted a free day pass at Kripalu (a world-renowned yoga and mindfulness institute only minutes down the road).

So… I did what every mother would do.

I wrote my daughter a note (daddy would have to read it, of course), I even drew her a Christmas tree, some snowflakes, and an odd-looking Santa. “Mommy will be back in a few hours, have fun in the snow!” I dug up the kids’ snow gear, laid them out at the hallway bench, and let my husband know there were waffles in the freezer. Then I left him with a kiss on the cheek and some words of encouragement. “You got this, babe!”

There was no way I wasn’t going to miss out on my day.

Kripalu, in itself, with its location overlooking the mountain range, buffet of vegan and ayurvedic foods, schedules filled with yoga and mindfulness, and hiking trails, is worth any visit. But I also really needed this day for myself, a chance to return to my own spirit in a time of life that is wonderful but (let’s be real) quite overwhelming.

Then also, something quite unexpected — a realization. A remembrance. A call back to something sacred. It was a whisper that grew into full embodiment during our 30-minute morning meditation: this is where it all begins.

Where Imagination Lives

I remember an interview with writer Elisabeth Gilbert years ago when she was asked how she keeps her creativity alive.

“Oh, when I finally cracked that code, that’s an easy one!” She said. “As long as your vehicle (mind, body, spirit) is taken care of, creativity flows on its own.”

Those words stayed with me, and they also played a profound role in our decision to leave NYC for a quieter life a few hours north. I knew that what she said carried a lot of truth because not only had I experienced it myself, but it hit a chord with a deeper sense of wisdom.

We carry so much untapped magic within us. There are so many ideas yet to explore, so many creative endeavors to give into, and so many opportunities for a radically different presence here on Earth. However, when we’re out of alignment, even from the smallest bit of stress, we cannot access that treasure trove of expansion.

We keep running the hamster wheel of “the world as it is.”

What we need to know about stress

I’ve covered this in more detail in previous issues (check out this interview with neuroscientist Norman Farb), but there is something very important we need to understand about stress. When we stress over something and get hooked on an idea, feeling, or perception of the world, interesting things happen in our brains. The sensory part, where we take up information from the world as it appears this very second, gets weakened — in chronically stressed and depressed people, this part is almost completely shut down.

Instead, we begin to rely on our prefrontal cortex and preconceived ideas of the world. We get snarled up in our views of the world, ruminate on the problems we stress over, and get stuck in an unforgiving loop of “This is what it is!”

We try to think our way out of it, but that only digs us down deeper, as rumination on the problem will only enhance the belief that things are wrong. We cannot see the world for what it actually is, only what the brain has pictured from past experiences. And without the sensory brain present, the imagination of future unseen things becomes almost impossible to gain.

In other words, we get stuck. And many times (if not most), we keep reiterating the same problems.

Does this seem familiar?

If you can recall that icky feeling when you’re caught on an idea that your colleague doesn’t like you, or that you did a terrible job at your presentation, or that your boss is probably going to fire you because… then you can probably also recall that thinking more about it didn’t work, in the least!

The only thing that finally calmed your nervous system was probably a step outside, a walk, or a talk with a friend about something completely different. You allowed your sensory part of the brain to reenter, and with that, a new sense of ease and clarity took shape.

You stepped away from your own story.

Reflect on this for a moment as it relates to our collective work in co-creating a new reality here on Earth. How much do we get stuck stressing and ruminating on what isn’t working? And if our practices of self-care and embodiment fall short, how can we ever see our way out of that mess, if all our brains feed us is evidence from the past and wrongdoings?

My point is (which came to be so profoundly in my meditation), imagination and creativity begin here — in a sacred in-breath, and an exhale of trust: There is room for unimaginable tomorrows.

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A plot twist

I’m finishing this piece four days after I started it, with a whirlwind of days behind me. I could pretend I’m in the same state of mind that I was when I began, but that would leave out a critical piece of the story.

It’s now Monday morning, and I’m coming off a weekend with the kids — meaning full-time parenting of both little monsters, 24/7. Now, I know this is the beautiful reality of so many parents (so maybe you can relate), but naturally, my husband and I had decided it was a wonderful time to paint our kitchen (never underestimate the work and time needed to repaint a “nook”).

What else? My son is going through some developmental leap and is clingier than ever. My daughter, however wonderful, can easily become annoyed when restless and does not want her brother getting in her space — or any of her toys.

The icing on the cake was that my son turned one yesterday, and we had planned to have our family over to celebrate (Hey, fam, come visit our chaos!). My husband wanted the kitchen to be somewhat ready before hosting, I had decided to bake our baby a healthy smash cake (because, don’t good mothers at least try?), meanwhile, the house hadn’t been properly cleaned in what seemed like forever. Tension built, miscommunication happened, and in that beautiful chaos, my son tried to climb out of his high chair, fell face forward on the table before him, and ended up with the biggest bruise I’ve ever seen on a baby’s head.

He cried, I cried, my daughter started crying too, fearfully asking what had happened. I snapped at her and told her to give us space. I yelled at my husband for not helping me get the kids ready, and instantly blamed it his fault.

It left me in a place of despair, sad I was “ruining” my son’s first birthday (a day he will never remember), and I couldn’t seem to snap out of this state of mind for hours. We finally decided to postpone the party and instead, had a cozy family night in.

I wish I could say it stopped there, but at bedtime, none of the kids wanted to fall asleep, and my husband and I, both exhausted and in desperate need of any time for ourselves, cracked. We fought again, and it honestly took it out of me. I felt small, unseen, depleted of… everything.

I finally crawled into my daughter’s bed, and we snuggled to the lights of her porcelain Christmas tree hitting the ceiling. I began the night nuzzling my face in her newly washed hair, calm settling back in. It was magic.

After a rather sleepless night (between feeling wired, unable to settle, and tending to my now-one-year-old, who still wakes up every two hours), I ended the night in my other child’s bed, his warm body heavy on my forearm.

In the early hours before crawling out and praying it wouldn’t wake him, I lay thinking about this piece that I wanted to finish. Could I really write about a peaceful state of mind after a weekend like this?

But then I realized that everything we just went through only fed into the bigger message I wanted to convey, which is this:

If we don’t take radical care of our bodies, minds, and spirits, we will keep running on empty.

And when we do, we will fight over old problems, waste time in the dumbest of places, and miss the opportunities we currently hold to radically imagine whatever comes next.

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Back to Elizabeth Gilbert’s words of wisdom: if the vehicle isn’t in good care, the portal to the sacred is blurred, potentially even closed shut. There’s no access to the world of possibilities, either within or outside of us.

And then, we get stuck.

So, in a time when being stuck is the most dangerous thing, let’s seriously ponder this for a second. How open are you to the possibilities of tomorrow? How aligned are you with the inner guidance, creativity, and curiosity that can guide not only you, but the world around you, forward?

It’s a busy time of year. Many of us reach mid-December feeling scattered, emptied, tired, longing for the break that will bring us back home. That’s okay, but when that break comes, I invite you to find (real) time to reflect on what you want 2026 to look like. Like — carve out some time between cookies and movies to journal on what you (actually) need in the new year to fill your cup first.

Things worth journaling on:

1. What areas of my life are taking more than they’re giving?

2. Where do I let my energy seep, and how can I close the source of that leakage?

3. What boundaries might need to be set? What “no’s” need to happen to give space for more “yes’s” to things that are actually important?

4. What new routines and practices (they can be small) could I create to enable myself to live life with more clarity, joy and grounded intention?

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I will end this piece (amazed none of the kids have woken up yet, it’s almost 7:30!) with something profound that came through to me the other day:

“The only thing that will steal life from you is the feeling you harness in every moment.”

— My higher self

The words appeared out of nowhere, and I spoke them out loud to my husband. “That’s right!” he said, and we linked up in some spiritual agreement. I smiled from the inside out, reflecting on our chaotic little life and how much meaning it brings us, albeit driving us half crazy. Because if it’s not for this, then what do we do it all for?

Our kitchen will get done at some point. We’ll find another time for Lucas’s party. And in the meantime, I’ll get back to the practices that fuel my soul like nothing else:

Radically reimagining a different tomorrow. Are you with me in that quest?

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Some end-of-year reminders:

There are still spots open to the Climate Optimist Leadership Retreat in El Salvadorian paradise this coming March. 5 nights, hours of empowering workshops, even more hours in deep reflection time, and a certification to mark your learnigns and commitments. Are you ready to activate what you’re here for?

Learn more and submit interest at theclimateoptimist.com/retreat

Learn More

Still looking for a Xmas Gift for that special someone?

Here are some Climate Optimist gift ideas:

• The Climate Optimist Handbook (available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook)

• A Climate Optimist T-Shirt (the conversation starter with a mission, and stylish too!)

• Membership to The Climate Optimist Cohort — only $20/month! (If you want to gift this, please contact me)

Let me propose some ideas…

If you are looking for the perfect thing to gift your eco-committed, passionate, visionary friend, or if you have someone in your family who’s dealing with a dose of climate anxiety, and who could need something to kickstart 2026 with a new sense of leadership and hope, I would like to propose three great gift ideas to you who would like to put climate optimism under the tree this year:

The Book

The Climate Optimist Handbook is approaching its third Christmas, but it stands strong as a powerful gift for healing and leadership. If you can think of someone who could use a handbook for shifting the narratives and activating empowered and joyful climate leadership, gift this book!

Options:

• You can order the book in paperback from any online bookstore available in your country, or go to your local bookstore and ask them to order it for you. Don’t wait too long, as the book is “print to order”, and you want to make sure it comes in time for Christmas!

• If you’re in the US and prefer to gift a signed copy, I have a *few* copies left to sign and ship from home. You order your signed copy here. (Make sure to clarify to whom the book is to be gifted!)

• Lastly, you can also purchase the book in eBook format or on Audible, if your special someone prefers to read on a Kindle or listen on the go! Find more options to order the book here: https://www.theclimateoptimist.com/book

The T-Shirt

This is the t-shirt that isn’t just a shirt, but a conversation starter. The Climate Optimist T-Shirt allows you to wear your mission as a climate optimist while inviting the opportunity to spark game-changing and inspiring conversations with people you meet.

Be sure they’re sustainably made with thread to print!

I currently have a small stock of T-shirts in various sizes. Go and order yours today before they sell out: Go to store

*US orders only! I have looked into shipping to other countries, and trust me, it’s not worth it… SHOULD you want to pay a premium price to have it shipped elsewhere, contact me, and let’s see what we can figure out.

Order The T-Shirt

The Climate Optimist Leadership Retreat

Are you looking to truly blow someone away with your gift this year? Then you might want to consider a spot at our leadership retreat in March! Not only are you gifting a transformative journey paired with an unforgettable experience, but you’re also giving them an escape to one of the most beautiful places on Earth!

Learn more about the retreat here: https://www.theclimateoptimist.com/retreat-el-salvador

If you’d like to gift a spot, please contact me at annetherese@theclimateoptimist.com, and we’ll discuss the process and provide you with a gift card!

Again, three gift ideas you might want to consider for your climate optimist friend, lover, or family member:

The Book

The T-Shirt

The Leadership Retreat

Have a wonderful December and an empowering ending to your year! COP30 may have left us with a mix of feelings, but there’s only one way forward, and it’s rooted in courageous leadership and hope.

With love, Anne Therese

When I shared that the *first ever* Climate Optimist Retreat is on the books, I received a lot of wonderful feedback. Part of that feedback was a request to be officially certified upon completion of the program, and naturally, the answer is YES. You will return home with a certification.

Learn More + Apply

What Does the Certification Mean?

During the 5-night retreat (March 1–6, El Zonte, El Salvador), you’ll engage deeply with The Climate Optimist framework. You’ll return home with an understanding of its core principles, how to apply them, and a roadmap for building your own inner leadership to activate transformative change.

Here’s what the certification entails:

1. Inner Development & Theory U Practice:
   We will work with practices rooted in the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) and Theory U (from the Presencing Institute), guiding you through a process of self-reflection, presence, and co-creative leadership.

2. Mastery of Climate Optimist Framework:
   You will internalize the core pillars of climate optimism — not just intellectually but experientially: workshops, meditations, narrative exercises, and introspective journaling.

3. Personal Leadership Map:
   Throughout the retreat, you’ll develop your own leadership map — a tangible plan rooted in your inner values, strengths, and climate-action goals.

4. Community & Connection:
   You’ll join a cohort of like-minded leaders, building connections and networks that can carry forward beyond the retreat.

5. Certificate of Completion:
   At the end of the retreat, you’ll receive a formal certification recognizing your commitment to climate leadership and the integrated understanding of what it means to lead from the emerging future.

Why This Certification Matters:

• It’s grounded in both inner transformation and practical leadership, not just theory.

• It aligns with global frameworks, like the Inner Development Goals, giving your leadership recognized intentionality.

• It equips you with the tools, mindsets, and a community to lead in your work, community, or organization — with optimism, resilience, and clarity about your intended impact.

If you’re ready to show up for the climate — not just as an activist, but as a certified leader of hope — this retreat offers more than a reset. It’s a launchpad.

Apply To Join

The challenges we face, and the opportunities awaiting us, will take more than just reimagination — it will require unfoldings. Stepping into yourself in the light, trust, and wisdom that will help unlock unfoldings for a new presence here on Earth is what Climate Optimist Leadership is all about. It’s recognizing that a different — even better world — is possible, and that it starts with us.

Like one of my favorite quotes goes:

“Maybe it’s not about the dream. Maybe it’s about who we become while we’re chasing it.”

— Alexander den Heijer

Let me know if you have any questions about the retreat, the certification, or anything related the leadership training!

You can shoot me an email at annetherese@theclimateoptimist.com or DM on Substack.

With love and grounded optimism,

Anne Therese

But, El Salvador? And... flying?

Some concerns have been raised about this retreat regarding two things: the political state of the country of El Salvador, and the fact that participants will be flying in to be part of it. Two very valid points that I’d like to address real quick!

In terms of flying, I’ve given it a lot of thought and calculated (with great hope) that the impact of this retreat will be far longer-lasting and greater than the negative impact from flying. The kind of leadership with rippled impact this training will bring will far outweigh the negative footprint of traveling. (Also, everything about the retreat itself is highly sustainable.)

In terms of the political state of the country, here is Camilo’s (founder and manager of the resort) response. Its inhabitants believe in their country, and my thoughts are that supporting their communities and local businesses is one way to help stand up for their independence and freedom.

From Camilo:

Regarding the concern raised by one of your readers about El Salvador’s political environment, I want to share my perspective as a Salvadoran. Our society, like many other countries throughout history, has faced serious challenges, and we continue to have our share of ongoing difficulties. However, the beauty of our land, our incredible waves, and the resilient people who support our economy and work in the tourism industry are striving to do their best regardless of the political situation.

I prefer not to express a political opinion on this matter. As you know me, we have been dedicated to bringing this project to life 10 years ago, and our focus remains on creating a wonderful experience, irrespective of who is in power. My personal views on the political situation of any country, whether I like it or not, do not impact my commitment to the people we serve and the projects we undertake. The tourists who visit us are so valuable in supporting the communities that work every day in services and the value chain of the hospitality industry; we truly value every person who visits us.

Best regards, Camilo

You can read more about my stay at Palo Verde and my established relationship with Camilo in this blog post: https://www.theclimateoptimist.com/blog/sustainable-tourism-el-salvador

This 5-day immersive experience is designed to tend to our inner growth and awaken the kind of leadership our world – and future – depend on. Together, we’ll explore the practices and principles of The Climate Optimist, work through the Inner Development Goals (IDGs), and reconnect with the parts of ourselves that know there’s a different way forward. Expect immersive sessions with other participants, along with solo reflection and deeper spiritual work.

It’s about leading from the future, and finding the courage to do so.

Things you might be asking yourself (and should):

• How do we lead in a world that feels increasingly uncertain, busy, and full of noise?

• What does it mean to guide with optimism and courage, even when we don’t have all the answers?

If you are, I hope you consider joining us in El Salvador. Your unique leadership is waiting to be nurtured and brought to life, and I would be so honored to explore that journey with you!

The details:

• When? March 1 - 5, 2025

• Where? El Zonte, El Salvador

• What? A 5-day retreat to discover and reinvigorate your unique Climate Optimist Leadership

Hosted at Palo Verde, a sustainable resort in El Zonte, El Salvador, this retreat offers space to slow down, reflect, and reconnect — surrounded by nature, community, and the ocean’s grounding rhythm.

Expect deep conversations, time in silence, and the nourishment that comes from presence and belonging. We’ll also be doing some fun activities, like visits to a coffee plantation, hikes int the mountains, yoga, breathwork, and more!

🌊 Learn more and apply to join here.

This retreat is going to be life (and world) changing - mark my works! So if your heart right now says a gentle “yes”, I hope you listen to that calling.

Learn More + Apply

Questions? Ping me and we’ll work through them together!

I hope to see you in March!

With grounded optimism, Anne Therese

*Limited spots - don’t wait too long to register

This week, I am delighted to have kindred spirit Anne Therese Gennari curate this newsletter. Anne Therese is a speaker, consultant, educator, and mom who helps schools and companies build cultures of optimism and climate leadership. She is the author of The Climate Optimist Handbook, the host of Hey Change Podcast, and the founder of The Climate Optimist. (You see a theme here!)

If this message strikes a chord, don’t miss what’s next: my behind-the-scenes conversation with Anne Therese, available next month to paid subscribers. In it, I ask her how she practices hope in the face of disasters like Hurricane Melissa and what words of encouragement she has as we head into the holiday season. Join us!

Take it away, Anne Therese!

“Activating climate’s ‘silent majority” is a phrase coined by The Guardian earlier this year. It alludes to the hidden truth that most of us around the world – a full 89 percent – want stronger climate action but mistakenly believe we are the minority.

What’s missing isn’t the science, technology, or innovative climate solutions, but rather our willingness to speak open-heartedly about the world we care about and the changes we desire. We must trust that what we feel so urgently, others feel too – and when we speak up, we can join forces.

But why aren’t we already doing this? Why are we kept in this ‘spiral of silence’? That is the question I’ve been asking myself for years, and it is what led me to launch a company that focuses on that mission. The answer is not straightforward, but it’s simple: we need to shift the narrative on climate change.

I’m a Climate Optimist by professional title, mission, and passion, and what has become so clear to me is that optimism is a practice. Optimism is not merely a mindset or an attitude; it’s a strategy, a mission, a lifestyle choice. In my opinion, one should choose to be radically optimistic or not be radical at all.

To turn from silence to collective action, we must understand and activate the powerful forces we have at our disposal. We must recognize that in a time that matters so much, we ourselves as individuals can become the tipping points our future relies upon.

(👋 Katharine here - AT’s words here remind me of a quote from “just shower thoughts” I read not long ago: “When people talk about travelling to the past, they worry about radically changing the present by doing something small; but barely anyone in the present really thinks that they can radically change the future by doing something small.” Just think about that for a minute!)

Speaking of tipping points, the world just reached a major harmful one: the world’s shallow water tropical coral reefs are now facing the point of no return thanks to ocean acidification and rising temperatures. When I learned this news, it felt like a big piece was cut out of my stomach.

To be climate aware feels more challenging right now more than ever, and the fears we’ve been trying to push down are resurfacing in big ways. And with those fears, the internal noises that are hard to ignore and harder to keep quiet get louder once more: Does it matter? Do we matter? Are there still reasons to keep showing up?

One planetary tipping point has been breached, but there are many more, and just because those tipping points are pushing us beyond our “safety shore” doesn’t mean there aren’t wins to be collected. There’s massive room for education, restoration, and new futures worth striving for.

Of course we matter and there are plenty of reasons to keep showing up! But I won’t lie, this past year has been tough. With a daunting political situation and new climate denial surfacing, it’s hard not to ask the unavoidable question: Is it enough? Do our (seemingly) small individual actions matter? And most importantly, is there still room for optimism in climate change?

The next section is my attempt to flip our narrative and instill a faith that no matter how small you feel, your actions matter – more than you probably will ever give them credit for.

It’s simple: Keep showing up. Below are four (major but often overlooked) reasons your actions matter.

1. They make you feel better: One big yet often overlooked reason to take climate action is that it simply makes you feel better. I like to call it rebel sanity. When you align your actions with your values, your body rewards you with feel-good hormones, which are pretty much your own renewable energy! The more you show up, the better you feel, and the more inspired you’ll be to keep going.

2. They build character: Your actions don’t just make you feel good — they shape who you become. The way you show up, the energy you carry, and the conversations you start all begin to shift. One of my favorite quotes is from

   Alexander den Heijer

   : “Maybe it’s not about the dream, but who you become while you’re chasing it.” Every step you take shapes the future through the person you’re becoming.

3. They plant seeds and shift culture: Every conscious choice, from refusing plastic, eating plant-based foods, or voting with your wallet, plants a seed – even if you can’t see it. Think of it as a purple flower in a field of yellow – at first, you might stand out, but you’ll spark a ripple that changes the whole landscape. This is how social tipping points begin and new norms evolve.

4. They build community: In acting, we find others doing the same, and community gives us the strength to keep going. Hope grows through connection, persistence, and joy.

We may not know if there is a livable world for future generations. As a mom of two little ones (they’re about to turn 3 and 1), I allow myself to sit with that acceptance at times. But then I pair it with what I know in my gut is more true than anything else, which is that it’s not too late until we say it is, and that there’s hope brewing in our actions. Now, let’s turn that silent churning we (89 percent of us!) feel into a revolution so loud, it’s impossible to ignore it!

To quote

Katharine K. Wilkinson

(via Katharine Hayhoe on Hey Change Podcast),“It is a magnificent thing to be alive in a moment that matters so much.”

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👋 Katharine here! Thank you, Anne Therese! I love The Climate Optimist Venn Diagram (above) and your relentless practice of optimism. I’m also excited about your next project and want to make sure people don’t miss it.

In the next few weeks, Anne Therese is launching the Climate Optimist Cohort. If you’re someone who refuses to give in to despair and wants to be part of a group that is actively working on building resilience and finding new, creative ways to lead with hope and purpose, this online group is for you! Click here to register.

If you want more Climate Optimism content, you can also subscribe to Anne Therese’s Substack newsletter, The Climate Optimist, and follow her on Instagram @AnneThereseGennari.

And it left me reflecting on just how much we’re missing by not paying enough attention.

Nature teaches us a great deal about resiliency and adaptation, but more than anything, She embodies what it looks like to be in tune with one’s own rhythm. And that’s what I want to reflect on today:

How out of tune are we with ours?

Scientists have discovered that if you make people read too quickly, they are much less likely to grapple with complex or challenging material. (Let’s put a pin in that!)

Meanwhile, there’s evidence that people talk significantly faster now than they did in the 1950s, and in just twenty years, people have started to walk 10 percent faster in cities.*

“If we move too fast, we overload our abilities, and they degrade,”

Says Guy Claxton from the University of Winchester, a cognitive scientist studying the malleability of human intelligence.

In other words, we might think we’re doing more, but the quality of that doing is weakened.

*All these stats are taken from Johann Hari’s book, Stolen Focus.

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Add AI to that picture, and we’re getting used to a speed that might help us get the answers we’re searching for quicker, but with the risk of losing our deeper human qualities and skills.

Yes – we’re losing trust in ourselves and shortening our attention span, but even more concerning is that we’re also coming short of the ‘mind wandering’ that occurs when we give our fullest focus to a task.

And it’s in mind wandering that our brains can piece together the ‘not yet seen’, meaning, where creativity and innovation come into play.

Like with most things we create, AI is a tool, and one we can use intentionally to become more human, not less.

If we utilize the power of AI to free up time, so that we can reflect deeper, spend more time with ourselves, and get in tune with our own rhythm, we could be looking at a time ahead filled with more meaning, and a return to what is so needed right now:

Our focus and attention.

But for that to happen, we must dare to slow down and trust that ‘the rhythm is the way’ – that there is magic in the quiet unfolding.

Like Lao Tzu famously said:

“Nature doesn’t rush, yet everything is accomplished.”

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Do we dare slow down?

So what can we learn from nature? What might we discover from finding our way back to Her – and to ourselves?

For one, there is beauty in patience.

We must trust that patience sows seeds of unimaginable discoveries, for it’s in uncertainty that we might actually find answers to something different. Sure, AI and technology can provide knowledge from the world that’s been established, faster than any human brain could ever dream of, but what about what we don’t know yet? What about the questions we don’t even know yet to ask? How will we allow those to surface?

We simply cannot force those revelations, because the hamster wheel and grind will only repeat what’s already been discovered. Like any artist from any time in history would say:

You must create the space for inspiration to find you.

As we look to technology to give us answers, we must remember that it’s in our own unfoldings that we pave the path forward. The world will look different in the future because we will. In other words, if we dare to transform - to change - we allow for a tomorrow that isn’t just different, but maybe even better.

So in a time that asks for more of us in so many ways — more productivity, more content, more speed — let’s dare step back and take a page out of Nature’s book. She knows that continuous growth does not hold all the answers. In fact, it’s in death, hibernation, and rebirth that abundance is nurtured.

“A forest is always growing, but that doesn’t mean the trees continue to get taller.”

— Per Espen Stoknes

Our great returning?

So how do we find our way back to ourselves in a profound, maybe even transformational way? How do we nurture our innate human qualities right now to make sure the days ahead are more connected and intentional, not less?

It’s a big question! Here’s how we get started:

🌲 We spend time in nature – as much as we possibly can. Time in nature has proven to heal our nervous systems, widen our sense of wonder, and give room for creativity, optimism, and play – all things essential to grow our human skills in this critical moment.

🏵️ We work on our inner development and practice tools for emotional resilience, reflection, and transformative leadership (I’m currently being trained as an ambassador for the Inner Development Goals, and it’s fascinating stuff.) We find out what it means to lead from the future that wants to emerge (Theory U principles) and practice our optimism, recognizing that the future is created in our thoughts and actions. (The Climate Optimist).

🤝 And then, maybe most importantly, we seek connection — to ourselves, to people around us, to nature, and to the present moment. Connection strengthens sensory intake, lowers stress, and brings clarity and focus. All of which will introduce serotonin and make us feel more grounded and inspired to enact change. (On this topic, make sure to tune into my conversation with neuroscientist Norman Farb.)

💭 Lastly, there’s one question we must ask ourselves, preferably daily:

Do we dare to slow down?

When the rest of the world is getting faster than ever?

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The Climate Optimist Cohort - Applications Open

Is this topic something you’d like to continue to explore, maybe even in company with others? If you, too, recognize that these times call for a new kind of leadership, one that finds the courage to lead from the future that wants to emerge, then I invite you to apply for The Climate Optimist Cohort.

This program is for you who:

• Consider yourself a leader in this space, whether you’re a community organizer, founder, teacher, parent, facilitator, or simply someone who cares about climate change and wants to positively impact those around you.

• Refuse to give in to hopelessness and despair, and trust there are ways out there to make meaningful changes in our lifetime.

• Want to find ways to lead and inspire in a new kind of way — knowing the future holds promises we must dare to discover.

Is this you? Learn more and apply:

The Climate Optimist Cohort

Let me quickly share the back story…

I woke up that day, feeling strangely out of body. I was restless, but also sad, and I couldn’t shake a foreign feeling that something strange was going on. Upon learning the next day that my dog, whom I felt deeply spiritually connected to and who had been adopted by a new owner, had passed away, it all clicked for me. It suddenly made so much sense, and my awe for “the things we cannot see” deepened.

This morning, I woke up in a similar way. Things got on top of me that normally don’t, and I felt stressed and unaligned with both my body and spirit. I was trying to make sense of it all. I got into heated arguments with my husband, I called a friend over for life-coaching (she showed up with flowers), and even after all this “talking” and reassuring that things are okay, I still couldn’t quite feel it. I didn’t feel okay.

Until I opened my Instagram app (the irony) and saw the news: Jane Goodall had passed away.

I’m not sharing this in an attempt to appear special. Rather, I’d like it to serve as a reminder of what I think most of us tend to forget.

I’ve never met Jane in real life, but she’s held a strong hero figure for me (as for so many others) for many years. I also have the incredible privilege to say that personal notes have been shared between Jane and me, and that her name graces the cover of my book, as she so kindly agreed to write a testimonial. So yes — I’ve felt deeply connected, but I realized today that it was more than just a feeling. It was real.

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Here it is: The Great Reminder

What I mean by it was real is that our connection was so real, I felt her passing long before knowing she was about to be gone! My literal body and spirit felt her spirit leaving this Earth today! How wild is that?!

Maybe not wild at all, and that’s the point I’m getting at — we are all connected! We’re connected with each other, far and wide, and we’re connected with nature, animals, and all interconnected spirits. What hurts one, hurts all. And what heals one, also heals all of us.

And that’s the truth that Jane whispered to me as she left us all today: remember that we’re all one.

Jane said many wise things in her lifetime, and as late as last week, she was on stage at Climate Week passionately speaking up for what she still believes to be the most important narrative. She’s reminded us, again and again, that nothing is more sacred than our love for each other, and that what dies last is our hope to save what’s left to protect.

But today she also reminded me so profoundly that there’s a sacred bond between us, and that we should not take it lightly. What you focus on, you create more of. How you choose to show up for yourself, you also show up for the world. And how you show up for others, ripples into the presence of you.

• Heal, and there shall be healing.

• Show up with optimism and faith, and commitments shall lead to success.

• Believe it can be done, and you will find a way.

• Walk each day as if your life has an impact, because it does.

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Below are some of my favorite quotes by Jane. Please read them and let the message of each carry its weight in gold. Few other people have walked this earth with such alignment, passion, and commitment to one’s higher purpose. Jane, you will be remembered in love and awe for the impact you’re leaving behind — and trust that we’ll continue your mission! Rest in peace, Dear Hero 💛

“Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, will we be saved.”

💛

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

💛

“The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves.”

💛

“The greatest danger to our future is apathy.”

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Lastly, I’ll share the very personal note Jane sent me when submitting her testimonial. It hit me deeply during a raw time of early motherhood, and her words have lived with me with incredible impact. Thank you, Jane, for being you, and for always walking the Earth so generously and kindly.

I want to start by expressing my gratitude for you being here. It truly warms my heart that so many of you are looking for climate optimism and ways to navigate our challenges with joy, curiosity, and grounded hope.

So… THANK YOU, for being a reader!

Secondly, I want to say this: IT ISN’T EASY TO FIND THE TIME!

To write, that is, because I currently hold the position of a full-time job that doesn’t pay me a dime, and that is being a mother. But no matter how much I love my kiddos, I also love writing, and I want to be able to continue this passion that fuels me so.

Writing from the heart to all of you is how I maximize my climate impact!

With that said, if you enjoy my newsletters and if you find them valuable, I kindly ask that you consider becoming a paid subscriber. For only $5/month (or $50 for the whole year), you can support my work, and I can keep showing up here and maximize my impact.

Would you have $5 to spare? Today — that’s less than a latte!

Here’s how you upgrade to paid:

1. Go to The Climate Optimist Homepage

2. In the upper right corner, click the button that says “Upgrade to paid”

3. I’ll get a notification in my inbox, and you can know that a smile just plastered itself all over my face. THANK YOU!

If you’ve read this far, I know you find value in my writing, and I hope you consider supporting (You can end your paid subscription at any time!)

Thank you, from the bottom of my mommy writing heart, for your consideration!

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Just wanted to pop in with a kind reminder that it’s only a few more days until this order window of The Climate Optimist T-Shirt closes. Click here to order yours TODAY so that you make sure you get yours in before midnight, September 28th.

Order Yours Today

Even better, please share it with someone else you think might want one! Copy this link to share: https://www.theclimateoptimist.com/store/p/climate-optimist-t-shirt

Or if you’re seeing someone in person, share this QR code!

The reason I’m producing them this way is to eliminate deadstock and ensure that each tee printed is intentionally ordered by someone who looks forward to wearing it!

Pssst, read to the bottom to learn about some who have already ordered theirs! It’s fun to get to know other Climate Optimists out there!

But what is this tee?

Glad you asked! This is the t-shirt I designed in search of the perfect conversation starter. One I can wear to events, conferences, or even just leisurely around town (hey, neighbors!) to showcase my mission as a climate optimist, and at the same time, invite to conversations that might actually lead to something hugely impactful.

Because… what if one encounter, followed by an inclusive and invigorating conversation, is what will change someone’s life? What if that conversation wins a new ally, sparks a new movement, or becomes the birthing place of a new groundbreaking idea?

Or maybe it is just the t-shirt that reminds people that it’s not too late, and that there are so many narratives still worth going for. And that, in itself, is worth proudly wearing it, for me.

The front says “Climate Optimist, Ask Me About It”,

And the back offers many different examples of what it means to be a climate optimist. Like: “shifting narratives, questioning the status quo, respecting our Earth, and never giving up.”

Also, be sure this t-shirt is sustainable, toxic-free, and fully biodegradable. Trust me when I say that the highest level of intention has gone into bringing this t-shirt to the world!

So, if you want one, be sure to place your order TODAY as this order window closes at midnight, September 28th!

Take Me To The Store

*US orders only for this round.

One more thing…

When you buy a t-shirt, I made it so that you can share a bit about who you are, and I’m so glad I added this feature. Learning about all you fellow, passionate climate optimists out there truly warms my heart!

Here are some of the people who have placed orders so far:

“I'm 50 and have been an environmental advocate since age 13, starting with Sierra Club and Greenpeace.

Today, I’m Chief Sustainability Officer for a private transportation company and active in six other climate-focused groups at community, city, and federal levels.

My yard is a model for sustainable gardening, and as a parent of two young kids, I’m driven to help secure a better future than the path we’re on.”

“Former co-president of Climate Paychology Alliance North America and co-founder of the Center for Living Systems Psychologies, working to build a healthy living systems consciousness.”

“I am a 75-year-old retired Geoscientist. Upon retirement, I became a Virginia Master Naturalist and have volunteered on citizen science projects and, most importantly, on environmental education of K-12 youth with an emphasis on water quality and getting kids outdoors.”

“I follow The Climate Optimist to reduce my feeling of dread and remind myself that action is the antidote to despair and that I can do many things to help.”

“Citizens Climate Lobby volunteer,

early adopter of EV car, rooftop solar, and a conduction stove. Regular communication with my WA state political representatives about climate action 🎉🎉”

I am going to use your book for an Honors class on Climate Change Solutions next semester! I'm excited to sport the T-shirt on the first day of class in January!

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