Second Nature: Living with Ecological Grief

In this episode of Second Nature, Living with Ecological Grief, host Ashlee Cunsolo and guest Derrick Pottle discuss the profound impacts of climate change on Labrador's Inuit communities. Derrick shares feelings of confinement due to severe weather conditions and limited mobility, affecting traditional activities like seal hunting. He addresses the strong support networks that help maintain mental health but criticizes government inaction and inadequate infrastructure.  Rapid environmental changes, such as temperature increases and altered ice conditions, threaten the Inuit way of life and well-being. The episode emphasizes the need for adaptive strategies, greater Inuit involvement in decision-making, and advocacy for improved infrastructure and access to traditional lands. Derrick also highlights dramatic climate shifts across Northern Canada and their significant social, economic, and cultural repercussions. The discussion concludes with a call for courage and collective efforts to address and adapt to these losses, urging a more proactive approach to climate action. Watch on Youtube:  Interview recorded on: 03/04/2024 -- Welcome to Second Nature, a podcast about living with ecological grief. In each episode, Dr. Ashlee Cunsolo takes us on a deeply personal journey about planetary loss, and what we love, what we have lost, and how we move forward. Through a series of engaging, thought-provoking, and moving conversations with incredible guests from around the world, Second Nature is an invitation to come together to share stories of loss, love, despair, and joy, as we learn how to live with – and embrace – ecological grief and mourning.

Welcome back to Second Nature, Living with Ecological Grief. Host Ashlee Cunsolo and guest Dr. Deborah McGregor critique the technocratic focus in climate research, highlighting the underrepresentation of women, Indigenous, Black, and global South communities. They stress the importance of integrating Indigenous knowledge and holistic approaches over simplistic, technocratic solutions. Dr. McGregor introduces the Anishinaabe concept of living the "good life," emphasizing reciprocal relationships and well-being for humans and the environment, contrasting with current Western priorities that often ignore deeper issues like oppression and injustice.  The discussion urges the recognition of diverse perspectives and the inclusion of emotional and narrative experiences of Indigenous people to address climate crises effectively. Dr. McGregor's insights promote a transformative ethics focusing on mutual respect with nature, stressing that true solutions lie in developing deeper, reciprocal relationships with the Earth rather than external technological fixes. Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/ey1-pLAlbvs  Interview recorded on: 03/01/2024 -- Welcome to Second Nature, a podcast about living with ecological grief. In each episode, Dr. Ashlee Cunsolo takes us on a deeply personal journey about planetary loss, and what we love, what we have lost, and how we move forward. Through a series of engaging, thought-provoking, and moving conversations with incredible guests from around the world, Second Nature is an invitation to come together to share stories of loss, love, despair, and joy, as we learn how to live with – and embrace – ecological grief and mourning.

In this episode of Second Nature, Living with Ecological Grief, host Ashlee Cunsolo and grief expert Lisa Keefauver delve into the multifaceted nature of grief and its cultural marginalization. Keefauver introduces her book, Grief is a Sneaky Bitch, a compassionate guide for those grieving. They discuss how grief, including ecological grief, is a moral responsibility and integral to personal and collective healing. Keefauver emphasizes the importance of acknowledging grief without judgment, advocating for self-compassion and community support.  The dialogue highlights that unprocessed grief can lead to societal issues like anger and violence. By integrating grief meaningfully, individuals can access deeper self-awareness and global connections. The episode concludes with a call to sustain a practice of grief literacy, reinforcing that processing all forms of grief is crucial for emotional growth, resilience, and fostering joy amid sorrow. Lisa's book, Grief Is a Sneaky Bitch - https://www.amazon.com/Grief-Sneaky-Bitch-Uncensored-Navigating/dp/1477329307   Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/8zXEqjfNlxk  -- Welcome to Second Nature, a podcast about living with ecological grief. In each episode, Dr. Ashlee Cunsolo takes us on a deeply personal journey about planetary loss, and what we love, what we have lost, and how we move forward. Through a series of engaging, thought-provoking, and moving conversations with incredible guests from around the world, Second Nature is an invitation to come together to share stories of loss, love, despair, and joy, as we learn how to live with – and embrace – ecological grief and mourning.

Welcome to Second Nature, Living with Ecological Grief. In today's episode, host Ashlee Cunsolo interviews Dr. Bernie Krause, a pioneer in soundscape ecology, about his 50-year journey documenting natural sounds. Comparing these soundscapes to the richness, diversity, and importance of the  Library of Alexandria, Dr. Krause reveals a distressing decline of natural soundscapes due to climate change and human activity. He emphasizes the emotional and cultural importance of natural sounds, sharing personal anecdotes, including a story about beaver grief and the devastating impact of the 2017 California wildfires on his life.  Dr. Krause insists on the emotional capacity of animals and the necessity of proactive listening for environmental awareness. Through his work, such as "The Great Animal Orchestra," Dr. Krause combines science and art to evoke public response to ecological issues. Ashlee and Dr. Krause stress the urgency of reconnecting with nature to address broader environmental crises, leaving listeners with a call to face ecological loss with courage and awareness. Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/SFUA9bKExdk  -- Welcome to Second Nature, a podcast about living with ecological grief. In each episode, Dr. Ashlee Cunsolo takes us on a deeply personal journey about planetary loss, and what we love, what we have lost, and how we move forward. Through a series of engaging, thought-provoking, and moving conversations with incredible guests from around the world, Second Nature is an invitation to come together to share stories of loss, love, despair, and joy, as we learn how to live with – and embrace – ecological grief and mourning.

In the first episode of Second Nature, Living with Ecological Grief, host Dr. Ashlee Cunsolo introduces her over 15-year journey of exploring ecological grief, climate change, and mental health. She shares a formative childhood experience with a destroyed beaver pond, highlighting her early, solitary struggles with ecological grief. Her involvement deepened in 2008 during research in Northern Labrador, where conversations with Inuit, particularly a pivotal dialogue with Inuit Elder Sarah Baikie in 2009, enhanced her understanding and guided this work. This led to the multi-year documentary project "Lament for the Land," which garnered global attention.  Ashlee emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and processing grief to foster resilience and healing, drawing on insights from Francis Weller's "The Wild Edge of Sorrow." She underscores grief's relational power, urging listeners to face ecological grief collectively and proactively. The show promises to explore global narratives and encourage courageous conversations, reminding us to approach life "one day at a time." - Mourning Nature: Hope at the Heart of Ecological Loss and Grief by Ashlee Cunsolo and Karen Landman -  https://www.amazon.com/Mourning-Nature-Heart-Ecological-Grief/dp/077354934X/   -Lament for the land film - http://www.lamentfortheland.ca/  - The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller - https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Edge-Sorrow-Rituals-Renewal/dp/1583949763   Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/SFUA9bKExdk  -- Welcome to Second Nature, a podcast about living with ecological grief. In each episode, Dr. Ashlee Cunsolo takes us on a deeply personal journey about planetary loss, and what we love, what we have lost, and how we move forward. Through a series of engaging, thought-provoking, and moving conversations with incredible guests from around the world, Second Nature is an invitation to come together to share stories of loss, love, despair, and joy, as we learn how to live with – and embrace – ecological grief and mourning.

Welcome to Second Nature, a podcast about living with ecological grief. Each week, Dr. Ashlee Cunsolo takes us on a deeply personal journey about planetary loss, and what we love, what we have lost, and how we move forward. Through a series of engaging, thought-provoking, and moving conversations with incredible guests from around the world, Second Nature is an invitation to come together to share stories of loss, love, despair, and joy, as we learn how to live with – and embrace – ecological grief and mourning.