A recurring theme on the podcast is the climate crisis and the ways in which artists are addressing it in their work, whether they're focused on showing ways forward for society, making the issue more concrete for individuals and specific communities, or inviting people sideways into the issue through art that is focused on elements of celebration, curiosity, care. If you listen to the podcast often, you know the last one is my personal favorite type. Tara DePorte is the guest on the podcast today. She is Executive Director of the Human Impacts Institute, building a global cultural movement around climate action. In addition to leading HHI, Tara is also well versed as an artist in climate policy and science spaces. In that way, she and I have a bit in common in terms of backgrounds and approach, which made for a fun conversation. Tara is so clear-sighted about the challenges of climate communication and climate art, I know you'll enjoy listening to her as much as I did.

Homework from Tara: "Find a group in your community that you're really excited about, that is doing work on climate in some way. And climate does not have to be in their title or the description of their mission. It can be a community garden. It can be something that's helping give girls, children, access to education. There are many different ways to engage. Connect with them, learn about them, and find a way to be a part of it by coming back to that idea of "give who you are". So have it be something that you're going to look forward to doing, that you could bring your kids to do as well, like making a community mural.

It's easy to feel alone in the world in general these days. In order to come back to a place of empathy and creation and inspiration, we really need to acknowledge how important community is in our lives. And I can speak on behalf of myself; I need to acknowledge how important community is in my life. I think the same thing goes for climate action. Going out and doing it on our own not only doesn't have as much of an impact, it's easy to get burned out or feel like we're not making enough of a difference. So start that climate community, find that climate community."

Mentioned:
- The City Tree, by Shira Boss, Lorena Alvarez
- The New Humanitarian podcast episode on sci fi

Connect:
- Human Impacts Institute website
- Human Impacts Institute instagram
- Tara's Art Portfolio
- The Heart Gallery instagram
- The Heart Gallery website
- Rebeka Ryvola de Kremer

Credits:
Samuel Cunningham for podcast editing, Cosmo Sheldrake for use of his song Pelicans We, podcast art by me, Rebeka Ryvola de Kremer.

This episode of The Heart Gallery will take you into the history and ongoing realities of Indigenous affairs in Canada. Recent years have shed light on a painful and violent history, as well as present-day systemic challenges. From the harrowing legacy of the residential school system, which remained active until the 1990s, to the continuous struggles over land rights and cultural preservation, these unfolding revelations have sparked crucial national and international dialogues. They compel us to face uncomfortable truths and prompt a critical re-examination of the process of truth and reconciliation.

Against this backdrop, I’m privileged to interview Christi Belcourt, an artist whose work is deeply entwined with her Métis community's stories. Christi’s art does not merely reflect Métis cultural practices and deep connection to nature; it resonates with the ongoing struggles and triumphs of indigenous people, offering a window into the soul of communities striving for justice.

We explore Christi's work while also talking about how the arts can be a conduit for expressing Indigenous voices and can play a valuable role in efforts to reveal systemic challenges.

I hope you enjoy this conversation.

Homework from Christi: "Do something that is completely selfless - and anonymous - in the aid of someone else."

Mentioned:
- Keetsahnak: our missing and murdered Indigenous sisters, edited by Christi Belcourt
- Medicines to help us: traditional Metis plant us, by Christi Belcourt
- Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists exhibit
- Bob Marley's War
- Haile Selassie's speech Towards African unity, 1963
- Classically trained indigenous pianist Jeremy Dutcher
- Gregory Schofield, Canadian Métis poet, beadwork artist, dramatist and non-fiction writer.
- Odawa-Potawatomi artist Daphne Odjig
- And please see the blog post for visual accompaniment

Connect:
- Christi twitter
- Christi instagram
- The Heart Gallery Instagram
- The Heart Gallery website
- Rebeka Ryvola de Kremer Instagram

Credits:
Samuel Cunningham for podcast editing, Cosmo Sheldrake for use of his song Pelicans We, podcast art by me, Rebeka Ryvola de Kremer.

In today's episode, Justin Cook takes us into the evolving world of climate storytelling where he's been a journalist and photographer covering "communities living along the edges in America" for the past several years. Justin's work stands in stark contrast to the conventional climate storytelling landscape that's so often dominated by dire predictions and a sense of impending doom. In today's conversation, hear about how it matters so dearly to weave life, joy, color, humanity, and history into coverage on the communities most affected by the climate crisis.

Homework from Justin: "Just go outside today and enjoy where you are, just slow down a little bit." And, "Go play in a creek somewhere. You might just find a fossil." (You'll just have to listen to the episode for more about that).

Mentioned:
- Justin's Tide and Time
- Justin's ORIGINS: Climate Change and Solutions in Princeville, North Carolina, America's Oldest Incorporated Black Town
- Photographer Cornell Watson
- Writer Alexis Pauline Gums
- Photographer Natalie Keyssar

Connect:
- Justin's website
- Justin's Instagram
- The Heart Gallery Instagram
- The Heart Gallery website
- Rebeka Ryvola de Kremer Instagram

Credits:
Samuel Cunningham for podcast editing, Cosmo Sheldrake for use of his song Pelicans We, podcast art by me, Rebeka Ryvola de Kremer.