Optimism in a changing climate. Interviews with industry leaders, authors, journalists, and real people who are making an impact on climate change everyday. We Are Not Doomed is hosted by Jonah Geil-Neufeld, the Executive Producer of Puddle Creative.
Eco-Grief, Burnout, and Building Resilient Conservation Teams
Michelle Doerr runs Anavah Consulting, a Minnesota-based firm that works with conservation organizations to build capacity, foster inclusive teams, and improve communication. After spending years as a wildlife biologist managing urban deer populations and working in the archery industry, she recognized a critical gap: 90% of wildlife management is people management, but professionals receive almost no training for it.
Conservation workers face unprecedented challenges—83% report experiencing burnout, according to Doerr's research. They deal with cognitive dissonance (entering the field to help animals, then having to kill them), hostile public meetings, and the emotional weight of watching their science questioned daily. Add eco-grief from witnessing environmental destruction and eco-anxiety about the future, and you have a field in crisis.
Doerr argues that the burnout narrative places too much responsibility on individuals when the real issue is systemic. Organizations throw workers into high-stakes, public-facing roles without training in conflict resolution, cooperative language, or emotional processing. Her approach shifts from self-care to capacity building—creating systems where people can thrive before they hit survival mode.
The conversation covers practical strategies: setting agreements for public meetings, acknowledging pain instead of skipping to solutions, tying mundane tasks to bigger purpose, and making time to actually be in nature.
23 Sept 2025
Rethinking Our Toxic Relationship with Cars
Professor Dame Henrietta Moore and urban designer Arthur Kay, co-authors of "Roadkill: Unveiling the True Cost of Our Toxic Relationship with Cars," challenge the myth that cars represent freedom while offering practical solutions for reducing car dependency. The conversation explores how the "car industrial complex" has shaped our cities and lives, from the surprising history of electric vehicles in the 1890s to the hidden costs of car-centric urban planning. Moore and Kay reveal that 60-70% of car-related air pollution doesn't come from tailpipes, discuss how parking requirements increase housing costs, and examine innovative transportation solutions emerging from cities in the Global South. Rather than being anti-car, they advocate for expanding transportation choices and reimagining urban spaces around people instead of vehicles. The authors present over 100 actionable ideas for creating more livable cities while reframing 21st-century freedoms around clean air, walkable neighborhoods, and reduced car dependency.
28 May 2025
Smart Bathrooms Are Solving America's Hidden Infrastructure Crisis
Throne Labs founders Fletcher Wilson and Jessica Heinzelman discuss their innovative solar-powered smart bathrooms, which address America's poor public restroom infrastructure and improve community well-being; this is an interview.
10 Apr 2025
Fighting the Polycrisis with Radical Honesty
Mike Berners-Lee, author of "A Climate of Truth," shares with host [Host Name] how radical honesty offers the highest leverage for tackling global crises, providing a framework for engagement and optimism.
5 Dec 2024
Weaving Sustainability into a 440-year-old Family Business
Andrea Piana, CEO of Piana Technology, discusses weaving sustainability into a 440-year-old family textile business, revolutionizing industries with zero-waste innovation.
27 Nov 2024
Reinventing Hotel Amenities
Andy De Silva, CEO of Hotel Emporium, discusses reinventing hotel amenities with eco-friendly innovations, sharing how his Sri Lankan upbringing fuels his mission to reduce plastic waste in hospitality.
18 Nov 2024
From Red Party Cups to Green Innovations
Jonah Geil-Neufeld interviews Raegan Kelly, Head of Product and Sustainability at Better For All, about creating home-compostable cups and driving environmental impact through innovative solutions.
24 Oct 2024
Making Every Job a Climate Job with Sanders Lazier
Sanders Lazier, CEO of Carbonhound, explains to host [Host Name] how businesses can profit from climate action by making every job a climate job.
17 Oct 2024
4 Critical Shifts to Incorporate Regenerative Thinking into Your Life and Work
Host Jonah Geil-Neufeld interviews Daniel Lawse, co-founder of Verdis Group, exploring four critical shifts for regenerative thinking to build a more resilient future.
10 Oct 2024
What Behavioral Science Can Teach Us About Climate Action
Brett Jenks, CEO of Rare, discusses leveraging behavioral science for climate action and building a global conservation movement in this interview.
24 Sept 2024
How Cotopaxi is Tackling Climate Change and Poverty
Host Jonah Geil-Neufeld interviews Annie Agle, VP of Impact and Sustainability at Cotopaxi, exploring how the outdoor gear company prioritizes people and planet through its circular model and poverty alleviation efforts.
19 Sept 2024
Powering AI with Clean Energy
Aston CEO Greg Robinson discusses how clean energy powers AI data centers, sharing insights on renewable energy and independent power networks.
5 Sept 2024
The Impact of Forest Carbon Offsets
In this episode, Jonah Geil-Neufeld interviews Whitney Flanagan, Director of Marketing at Finite Carbon, to explore the powerful role of forest carbon offsets in climate change mitigation. Whitney shares how her upbringing in East Tennessee shaped her passion for conservation, and how Finite Carbon is helping landowners protect forests while generating revenue through carbon finance. Learn about the difference between voluntary and compliance markets, and hear inspiring stories, including one from the Pasamaquoddy tribe, about how forest conservation is improving communities.
18 Jul 2024
From Fiction to Reality: Lessons from Stanford's Design Leaders
In this episode, Jonah sat down with Carissa Carter and Scott Doorley from Stanford's d.school to explore the intersection of design, technology, and future possibilities. Carissa, the Academic Director, and Scott, the Creative Director, share their perspectives on how emerging technologies like AI and synthetic biology are reshaping design education and practice. They discuss their book, "Assembling Tomorrow: A Guide to Designing a Thriving Future," and highlight the critical role of design in addressing global challenges such as climate change. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation about the power of design to inspire innovation and build a sustainable future.
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:07:08 - Describing the Book: A Designer’s Perspective
00:07:52 - Histories of the Future: Speculative Fiction in Design
00:10:24 - Mammoth De-extinction: Exploring Future Ecosystems
00:14:59 - AI in Design Education: Tools and Implications
00:16:40 - Emerging Technologies: Beyond Traditional Mediums
00:24:34 - The Role of Designers: Healing Gaps in Systems
00:31:53 - Climate Change Impact on Food Systems
00:32:42 - Optimism in Technology and Human Ingenuity
21 Jun 2024
CNN's Bill Weir on Climate Change, Fatherhood, and Hope
Jonah Geil-Neufeld sits down with Bill Weir, CNN's Chief Climate Correspondent, to discuss his new book, "Life as We Know It: Stories of People, Climate, and Hope in a Changing World." Bill shares heartfelt letters written to his son, River, born in 2020, amidst a world grappling with the dual crises of climate change and COVID-19. This conversation delves into personal reflections, the impact of climate change on future generations, and the inspiring stories of resilience and innovation that offer a glimpse of hope for our planet.
23 May 2024
Savings Ourselves: Dana R. Fisher
In our first episode, Jonah talks with Dana R. Fisher, Director of the Center for Environment, Community, and Equity at American University.
Dana shares insights from her book Saving Ourselves and her journey from environmental policy work to becoming a leading voice in environmental sociology. She emphasizes the power of individual and collective action in pushing against entrenched power structures and advocates for a massive systemic transformation to address the root causes of climate change.
Their conversation explores the concept of 'apocalyptic optimism' and the idea that significant environmental disasters might be necessary to catalyze global societal shifts towards serious climate action. They also talk about personal stories of climate impact and the potential for societal change through what is termed 'Anthro-Shift'.
23 May 2024
Saving Ourselves: Dana R. Fisher
In our first episode, Jonah talks with Dana R. Fisher, Director of the Center for Environment, Community, and Equity at American University.
Dana shares insights from her book Saving Ourselves and her journey from environmental policy work to becoming a leading voice in environmental sociology. She emphasizes the power of individual and collective action in pushing against entrenched power structures and advocates for a massive systemic transformation to address the root causes of climate change.
Their conversation explores the concept of 'apocalyptic optimism' and the idea that significant environmental disasters might be necessary to catalyze global societal shifts towards serious climate action. They also talk about personal stories of climate impact and the potential for societal change through what is termed 'Anthro-Shift'.
Who has been a guest on We Are Not Doomed
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Fletcher Wilson
Jessica Heinzelman
Mike Berners-Lee
Andrea Piana
Andy De Silva
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 30 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
37
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
60
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