Let's Go Deeper: Our chat with Paul Hawken on Climate and Connection
Plus Mary & Emma's Weekly Takes!
The climate is always perfect...the problem is us, our minds, what we think…The mindset is one that marginalizes the living world.
Paul Hawken
This week on The Good Dirt:
I’ve been thinking so much about our conversation with best selling author and climate activist Paul Hawken, particularly during this time that’s been dubbed “Earth Month.” I don’t want to sound cynical, but after so many cringe worthy headline pop-ups like Shop Green on Earth Day With Our Favorite Eco-Friendly Deals! or 17 sustainable sales to shop on Earth Day, starting at $7! — I start to go down that rabbit hole of despair. Once April is past and the marketing machine moves on to the next consumer holiday, what happens to our Mother Earth love?
While talking to Paul, we discuss moving away from the concept of "othering" ourselves in relationship to nature and the climate. That “othering” is what allows us to check all the “Earth Day” boxes such as planting the trees at school, the beach and park clean ups, etc. These are certainly valuable activities, and I don’t want to minimize their importance. The hard truth, however, is that this is simply not enough, and it will never be enough.
“One thing I believe is that the world does not understand what’s coming…and second, they do not understand cause—they’re trying to fix this downstream…Let’s go deeper…The only thing we can do is to be truly human, which means irrevocably connected to all other forms of life with respect, honor and joy.”
Paul Hawken
The directive here doesn’t diminish the actions we take in response to our situation—it elevates them. What Paul is saying is that once we consciously reclaim our true place within the community of life, and integrate this interconnectedness in ourselves— our actions become even more meaningful, effective and transformative. How we do this is up to each of us as individuals, but it has to start with intention.
During this conversation, Paul relates a story told by Desmond Tutu in which we’re all in the river, seeing drowning people float by and trying to pull them out one by one. What we should be doing, he says, is going upstream to see who is throwing them in the river.
Earth Day is important, and so are all of our efforts every day to do the right thing—but let’s go deeper.
As always, we welcome your thoughts!
—MEK
🌿 This episode is sponsored by Neptune’s Harvest Organic Fertilizer. Use code GOODDIRT at checkout for 5% off your order for products from the ocean to set your plants in motion 🌊
FROM EMMA:
I made a big batch of chia seed pudding when we got back from traveling, and have been enjoying it so much as breakfast and a snack! It’s so easy to make, and though I’ve known about chia seed pudding for a while I’ve yet to actually have it on hand. I just used regular whole milk (I love the Organic Valley Grass Milk!) and put a bunch of chia seeds (my exact measurement, a bunch) in a quart jar, mixed in some cacao nibs, and let it sit in the fridge overnight. Best enjoyed with fruit on top, for sure.
I started watching the HBO documentary about Angel City Football Club on the plane on the way home and I thought it was really good. I’ve never actually been into soccer though it’s something I do kind of wish I was more into, and this felt like a fun entry to the NWSL and all of that. It’s a fun world to follow! I also have thoughts in general about documentaries and how/why they’re made, and all of the other teams and people out there for instance who don’t have a film crew. So many stories to tell!
FROM MARY:
For more on Earth Day, I enjoyed this week’s newsletter entitled True Earth Day Confessions by
@ . I discovered Maria when her latest book came out, Love, Nature, Magic and immediately got her to be a guest on The Good Dirt. (Episode 147: Seeking the Wisdom of the Earth). Now I’m a happy subscriber to her Substack.Randomly watched and really enjoyed the old movie Places in the Heart on Netflix this week. Of course it was predictable —but I was hooked in by the depression era setting and Sally Field doing such a great job at being her cool self! I’m amazed that it’s been 40 years since it came out, and I don’t remember liking it as much as I did this time.
We got to “hang out” with our friend
on her podcast It goes live today. Check it out and also Brittany’s Substack, which includes a brilliant cooking show along with her personal essays and the podcast. So much fun!
We’ll be back next week!
~ Mary & Emma
Can’t wait til listen to The Good Dirt! And so excited to have had y’all!! You’re just the most charming pair, everybody come and listen! ❤️