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Climate Shifted

Climate Shifted

Written by: Two Hands Brands
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 The Podcast where psychologists, behavior designers, artivists & movement builders share how to shift perception for climate action.Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Economics Marketing Marketing & Sales Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Culture Hacking with Elijah Zarlin from Yellow Dot Studios

    Culture Hacking with Elijah Zarlin from Yellow Dot Studios
    Nov 19 2025
    Episode Show Notes: S01E08 Culture Hacking with Elijah Zarlin from Yellow Dot Studios Episode Description In this season one finale of Climate Shifted, host Eva Frye speaks with Elijah Zarlin, Head of Digital and Engagement at Yellow Dot Studios—the climate film studio started by Adam McKay after his movie Don't Look Up with Leonardo DiCaprio, about a comet crashing down on Earth as a metaphor for the climate crisis. Elijah's journey from writing emails for Obama's 2008 campaign to getting arrested in front of the Obama White House protesting the Keystone XL Pipeline taught him a hard truth: even the most gifted communicators won't prioritize climate when fossil fuel narratives still dominate our culture. Yellow Dot is proving that before we can change policy, we need to change the story people tell themselves about energy and who the real villains are. From viral Chevron spoof ads to the Gigaton Salon comedy shows featuring bumbling fossil fuel "executives," they're using the tools of creativity, celebrity, and comedy to expose, deconstruct, and deprogram decades of fossil fuel propaganda. Discover why culture always comes before policy in social change movements, how to counter-program fossil fuel narratives with content that's more entertaining than the propaganda, and why making fossil fuels culturally embarrassing isn't just creative—it's strategic. Because when democracy and policy are this deeply broken, pulling the climate culture lever isn't optional, it's essential. FULL TRANSCRIPT LIVES HERE. Episode Details Host: Eva Frye Guest: Elijah Zarlin, Head of Digital and Engagement at Yellow Dot Studios Season/Episode: S01E08 (Season One Finale) Release Date: Nov 18, 2025 Duration: 36:49 Content Warning: Strong language in referenced content, bleeped Key Topics Covered Culture as the Last Lever for Change How culture change precedes policy change in social movements How fossil fuel companies have spent billions embedding narratives into our culture The limitations of electing even gifted communicators when cultural narratives haven't shifted Why pulling the culture lever is strategic when democracy and policy are broken Historical parallels: Big Tobacco, drunk driving, marriage equality Yellow Dot's Counter-Programming Strategy The methodology: Expose, deconstruct, and deprogram fossil fuel narratives Using creativity, celebrity, and comedy as tools for narrative warfare Making fossil fuel greenwashing embarrassing to defend Building cultural momentum until the green transition feels inevitable Measuring impact through both viewing hours and audience attitude shifts The Power of Entertainment in Climate Communication Why entertainment doesn't just bypass defenses—it captivates and shifts values How Don't Look Up + a 3-minute explainer increased climate understanding (Rare.org study) The genius of making fossil fuels funny: normalizing climate action, not radicalism Tapping into internet subcultures and celebrity fan communities for organic amplification Simple direct-to-camera videos vs. expensive production: message matters most Small Creator Playbook Why the stories that travel farthest aren't necessarily expensive or sophisticated Using strong language and strong emotions to create compelling content Leveraging existing internet communities (comedy fans, gaming, show fandoms) Helping people find their specific role in the climate movement Meeting people where they are with diverse content formats Fossil Fuel Propaganda We've Internalized "Carbon footprint" (BP invented this to shift blame to individuals) "Clean coal" (embedded through repetition) "Energy scarcity" (myth—the sun produces unlimited energy) "Sacrifice" (the real sacrifice is fossil fuels blocking renewable energy) Why even climate communicators accidentally use fossil fuel frames From Policy to Culture: Elijah's Journey Starting at the bottom: door-to-door fundraising for the DNC in 2004 Working on Obama's 2008 campaign headquarters writing emails The "clean coal" moment: questioning the messaging even while working to elect Obama Getting arrested at the White House in 2012 as a former Obama staffer Realizing leaders won't act without cultural pressure demanding it Finding purpose in creative climate work: "Fighting as hard as I can" Standout Quotes "In this moment when policy and democracy are so deeply broken, culture is the one lever that we as individuals and we as creatives and storytellers, still really have." "The goal of Yellow Dot is to expose and deconstruct and deprogram [Fossil Fuel propaganda] using the tools of creativity and celebrity and comedy or entertainment." "The stuff that travels on social is not necessarily the stuff that's expensive. Use strong language and evoke strong emotions—it doesn't have to cost a lot of money." "People say, oh, the science is complicated. It's really not that complicated…They just need to understand that ...
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    37 mins
  • When Data Dances: Matching Scientists with Artists for Stories That Connect with Neelambaree Prasad

    When Data Dances: Matching Scientists with Artists for Stories That Connect with Neelambaree Prasad
    Jul 22 2025
    In this episode of Climate Shifted, host Eva Frye speaks with Neelambaree Prasad, a pharmacologist and classical Indian dancer who refused to live a "split screen life." After becoming a mother during the pandemic and witnessing how climate change was the root cause of global health crises, Neelambaree co-founded ClimArts—a nonprofit that bridges the gap between climate scientists and artists to create stories that connect with both hearts and minds. From ancient Indian temples that served as centers of learning through dance and music, to modern collaborations featuring ballet dancers personifying coral bleaching and comedians tackling air pollution, Neelambaree shows us why the future of climate communication isn't just better science or better art—it's the magic that happens when research meets emotional resonance. Discover how to match scientific expertise with artistic expression, why "bounded imagination" keeps collaborations grounded, and the practical framework any organization can use to create climate stories that actually move audiences to action. Because when we combine data with dance, facts with feelings, we create something neither science nor art could achieve alone. FULL TRANSCRIPT LIVES HERE. Key Topics Covered The Art-Science Gap in Climate Communication Why technical climate messages push audiences away instead of drawing them inHow scientists and artists struggle to find meeting spaces for collaborationThe challenge of maintaining scientific accuracy while creating emotional connectionMoving beyond "doom and gloom" to solution-oriented storytelling Ancient Wisdom for Modern Problems How Indian temples historically served as centers of learning through artThe composite nature of classical Indian dance (music, theater, poetry, storytelling)Applying traditional frameworks to contemporary climate challengesThe power of personification in connecting audiences to natural systems ClimArts' Collaborative Framework Building trust between scientists and artists through common goalsThe concept of "bounded imagination" to maintain scientific integrityMatching art forms to specific scientific messages and audiencesManaging the collaboration process from initial meeting to final product Impact and Distribution Strategies Creating docu-films for maximum reach and accessibilityMeasuring both quantitative metrics and qualitative transformation storiesThe "train the trainer" approach to amplifying impact through existing storytellersStrategies for demonstrating value to funders in the arts-science space Standout Quotes "I always had this unrest in me about why my two worlds cannot converge." "The pandemic had its root cause in climate change... And that's how ClimArts began." "Science provides data and analysis and evidence while art accesses emotions and intuition, so together they create a more complete understanding of complex problems." "It's not science alone that can do it. Not just policy that can do it, but there needs to be a cultural transformation, and that is where art comes in to change the narratives." "We personified the river through our dance to convey that it's a sentient being." "You cannot do it alone. That's the one big learning—you have to join forces... Collaboration, collaboration, collaboration is my learning." "Who is this message for? No funder will accept the answer that my audience is the general public." Featured Resources & Organizations Neelambaree's Work: ClimArts.org - Nonprofit connecting climate scientists with artistsClimArts LinkedIn and InstagramNeelambaree's LinkedInResilient River - Dance piece about Indian rivers and flooding (featured on ClimArts website) Key Collaborations & Partners: Inside the Greenhouse, University of Colorado Boulder - Creative climate communication initiative led by Max BoykoffEnergy Change Institute at Oxford - Low carbon community transition theater projectEnglish Youth Ballet - Coral bleaching ballet collaborationHoward School of Public Health - Coral reef solutions partnershipKings College London - Geography department (floods and droughts research)School World Forum - Climate justice workshop venue Key People Referenced: Max Boykoff - Climate communications expert, author, and professor at CU Boulder; co-director of Inside the GreenhouseKripa Iyer - Co-founder of ClimArts, economist and dancer based in LondonDr. Daanish Mustafa - Kings College London geographer specializing in floods and droughts Reports & Research Referenced Climate Impact Studies: Yale CBEY Net-Zero Report - References McKinsey climate analysis; notably focuses on land-based solutions with limited ocean emphasisNational Forests: Shifting Range - Forest migration patterns due to climate changeScientific American: Greenland's Ice Sheet Collapse - Latest research on accelerating ice loss Collaboration & Communication Frameworks: Probable Futures: Bounded Imagination - Framework for keeping solutions grounded in what the science tells usIDEO: Design ...
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    32 mins
  • The Power of Place-Based Storytelling: Imagining Climate Possibilities in Your Community with Autumn Leiker

    The Power of Place-Based Storytelling: Imagining Climate Possibilities in Your Community with Autumn Leiker
    Jul 4 2025
    In this episode of Climate Shifted, host Eva Frye speaks with Autumn Leiker, a designer and climate artivist based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. While many climate stories are doom-and-gloom, Autumn decided to ask their community a different question: considering the realities of the climate crisis, what world do you actually want to live in? This simple but powerful question became Into the Unknown Together, a beautiful anthology of stories, recipes, and art from the people of New Mexico. This work is powerful because when we get out of the limiting fear mindset and into creative ideation, when we imagine the world we do want, we actually start to build it. Autumn had never published a book or run a contest before—but they showed that any of us can create something meaningful in our own communities. Discover why listening matters more than telling, how stories are humanity's most powerful tool for creating change, and the practical steps any of us can take to inspire climate imagination in our own communities. Because when we tell new stories about our climate future, we imagine the pathways for living into them. FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE Key Topics Covered The Power of Place-Based, Community Storytelling Why stories are humanity's tool for creating change and new worldsHow climate stories can move beyond apocalyptic doom to inspire imaginationMaking abstract climate issues personally relevant through place-based narrativesThe role of artists and storytellers as "new world midwives" Building Climate Imagination Moving from "what we don't want" to "what we do want" in climate futuresWhy utopian thinking isn't the goal—complex, realistic visions areBalancing grief and joy in climate workProcessing the full spectrum of climate emotions through creative expression Community-Centered Approach How Autumn approached their project as an anthropologist and listenerThe importance of amplifying local voices rather than imposing outside ideasCreating space for diverse perspectives and first-time contributorsBuilding projects that reflect the actual ecology and culture of a place Practical Project Building How to start a community storytelling project from scratchNavigating grants, outreach, and building without institutional backingThe power of commissioning alongside open submissionsMaking projects accessible and beautiful to draw people in Standout Quotes "We are the storytelling animal... Everything is a story that someone has imagined, so the world that we're living in today and all the systems that we are living in, for better or worse, they are all something that someone imagined at some point." "When writers create new stories, they open up pathways that we can also live into... it is how we can create new worlds." "If we don't try to start imagining what we do want and then how to get there, then it's never going to happen." "Being on the right side of history doesn't necessarily mean we're going to make it... but I want to be on the right side of things, and I want to help others engage with that as well." "I so want more people to do this. Please take the idea, do whatever you want with it, change it, do it in your communities." Featured Resources Autumn's Project: Into the Unknown Together - Climate anthology for and by the people of New MexicoAutumn's Portfolio - Design and climate storytelling work Influences & Inspiration: Adrienne Maree Brown - Visionary fiction author and activist who inspired the projectJamie Figueroa's "Prophecies of Possibility" for Emergence MagazineAnonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grant - Funded the project Essential Reading Mentioned: Ursula K. Le Guin - Science fiction author who explored creating new worlds and systemsRobin Wall Kimmerer - Blends science with indigenous wisdom (highly recommended in audiobook)David Abrams - "The Spell of the Sensuous" on animism and written languageNorma Wong - Activist and community organizer Organizations & Collaborators Mentioned Emergence Magazine - Featured Jamie Figueroa's essay referenced in the bookZoe Young - Writer and collaborator who keeps Autumn going in this workLocal New Mexico libraries - Recipients of free book copiesCommunity contributors - Over 100 submissions from local residents Key Themes Explored Grief and Joy as Climate Tools How our capacity for joy maps directly to our ability to feel griefProcessing climate emotions without getting stuck in fear or bypassing to optimismCreating space for the full spectrum of human experience in climate work Place-Based Climate Action Why local, ecological storytelling resonates more than abstract global messagingUnderstanding your community before trying to create changeThe importance of being "people of our ecologies" in climate adaptation Creative Climate Communication Listen before creating anything, and amplify local voicesUse beauty and curiosity to draw people into difficult conversationsCreate accessible entry points through diverse formats (stories, recipes, art, ...
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    34 mins
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