In the third episode of Grounding: Conversations on Mental Health and Mother Earth, host Sarah Aronson and guests Gwen Lankford, Cecelia Spencer, and Leslie Davenport explore the ways that the younger generation is looking toward and looking forward to their futures on this changing planet.
All the Feelings Under the Sun: How to Deal With Climate Change by Leslie Davenport
https://www.apa.org/pubs/magination/all-feelings-under-sun
What to Do When Climate Change Scares You: A Kid's Guide to Dealing With Climate Change Stress by Leslie Davenport
https://www.apa.org/pubs/magination/what-when-climate-change-scares-you
Climate Psychology Alliance North America
https://www.climatepsychology.us
Notes
(00:52) Introductions: Gwen Lankford and Cecilia Spencer
(02:36) Cecilia Spencer - I don’t have the luxury of getting to act like [climate change is] not affecting me or that it’s not important, because it affects me every day
(02:41) Gwen Lankford - I think as a parent, I feel strongly that one of my job is to ground you
(03:45) Leslie Davenport - Our predominant Western culture really de-emphasizes the importance of emotions; it’s sort of not okay to talk about our feelings—and especially with something distressing, like climate change, even to bring it up at family or with colleagues
(05:18) Gwen Lankford - How much information or truth about the climate crisis is too much for kids?
(07:06) Leslie Davenport - As a general way to start, it’s just to raise the topic, invite the topic
(12:37) Gwen Lankford - What do you need from me as your mom? Or, what do you need from the adults right now?
(12:50) Cecilia Spencer - I think the thing that I always come back to and that I feel frustrated about is I feel like they’re not doing enough… And I just want people to do more. I just want people to care more, I just wish everybody could care, and have strong opinions, and get up and just go join the fight… And don’t be afraid to get your hands a little dirty. And don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Just do what you can and be brave
(13:59) Gwen Lankford - I think it’s really important to know how you refill your cup
(14:37) Cecilia Spencer - You can’t give up, because there are so many people who haven’t had the chance to live their lives in this place
(15:24) Leslie Davenport - “The window of tolerance”
(18:34) Cecilia Spencer - Instead of thinking about the massive obstacle, and the mountain that you have to climb, the challenge that you’re facing, if you think about what you’re fighting for, and what you’re protecting, and who you’re protecting
(19:32) Gwen Lankford - the only solution that I see for some of the climate crisis is based in relationship
(21:03) Cecilia Spencer - Everybody has to know their part and know what they’re good at, and then use those gifts and use those talents to join the movement and to make change
(23:09) Gwen Lankford - I always think of the water that runs through this valley as the same water that runs through my body
(24:05) Gwen Lankford - One of the most fundamental parts or tenants of reciprocity is always that whatever privilege you have, [that] also creates an obligation in terms of stewarding the land
(25:48) Cecilia Spencer - Earth has given us so many gifts, right, so much. And right now, we’re in a time of crisis, where we need to help out. And it’s our way of, like, giving back in a way—is just saying, “I see that you’re struggling, I can see that you’re having a hard time, and I’m here for you.”
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Gwen Lankford is the President and Owner of Sapphire Strategies, a communications firm focused on providing support for effective constituency outreach since 2005. She is also a member of the Gros Ventre Tribe of Fort Belknap, and a direct descendent of the Salish Tribe of the Flathead.
Cecelia Spencer is Salish, Gros Ventre, and Klickitat. She is Gwen Lankford’s daughter and a Montana high school student.
Leslie Davenport is a marriage and family therapist bringing 30 years of clinical experience to the emerging field of Climate Psychology. She is the author of five books, including Emotional Resiliency in the Era of Climate Change and All the Feelings Under the Sun: How to Deal With Climate Change. Leslie has worked on disaster mental health teams and is on faculty at the California Institute of Integral Studies.
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In this series, we work to better understand the feelings so many of us have, but may not be able to name—the internal emotional experiences we have as we react to the changing climate around us.
Grounding is produced by Jake Birch, Lauren Korn, and Sarah Aronson. Theme song by Brian Ramirez. Artwork by April Werle. Engineering by Chris Moyles. Mixed by Jake Birch. Special thanks to Michael Marsolek, Noah Epps, Emma Bucher, Nick Mott, and Alice Sauter. Grounding is a production of Montana Public Radio.
