97. This is Climate Optimism: Redefining Climate Action with Anne Therese Gennari
What does a healthy relationship with climate grief look like? What would it mean to maximize your impact instead of just minimizing your footprint? And are you leaving space in your life—and your heart—for the unimaginable future we could create?
In this bonus episode that was originally shared on Climify Podcast, host Eric Benson is joined by Anne Therese Gennari — TEDx speaker, author of The Climate Optimist Handbook, and host of the Hey Change podcast — for a deeply human and heart-forward conversation about navigating climate grief, spiritual transformation, and the power of slowing down.
Anne shares her own journey from climate anxiety and angry activism to grounded, regenerative optimism. Together, they explore why emotional resilience, imagination, and inner development are essential tools for climate action and how we can all shift from minimizing our footprint to maximizing our unique impact.
Listen to rediscover climate action as an act of hope, healing, and inner transformation.
Key Takeaways:
Optimism is not passive: It's a mindset you actively practice, rooted in acceptance, creativity, and resilience.
Slowing down helps us speed up: Productivity isn't multitasking—it's intention, focus, and space for reflection.
Climate grief is valid: Real change begins when we allow ourselves to feel, process, and grow from our pain.
You matter: We don't need everyone to do everything—we need everyone to do what they're uniquely meant to do.
Imagination is power: Inspired by Mary Oliver’s quote, Anne Therese reminds us to "Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable."
“Optimism is a practice, not just an attitude.”
