WHAT IF WE GET IT RIGHT?

<p>In the spirit of the <strong><em>What If We Get It Right?</em></strong> paperback launch, sharing an excerpt of the audiobook. The heart of this audiobook is 20 interviews with people who have shaped my understanding of the answer to the titular question. It’s kind of like a whole season of a podcast packaged up with essays by me and poetry by others. Also, ahem, the audiobook was a finalist for the Audie Award. (If you’re gonna lose, lose to Stephen King.)</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/645855/what-if-we-get-it-right-by-ayana-elizabeth-johnson/"><strong>Order the full audiobook here</strong></a>.</p><p>The prelude, the first chapter, is “<strong>An Ocean Love Story</strong>.” It’s about how I fell in love with coral reefs at 5 years old, and how the ripples that flowed from that have shaped the unfurling of my life ever since.</p><p>This chapter is my origin story, in brief. From Brooklyn, New York, to Key West, Florida, to Washington, DC, and the Caribbean. It's one of the most personal things I’ve ever published. A little funny. A lot honest. It’s the start of my quest to understand how we, humans, can get it as right as possible here on this magnificent planet. And I wouldn’t be surprised if it has similarities with your story, too. </p><p>____</p><p><strong>CREDITS:</strong> This podcast is ad-free thanks to the support of Future Being, a grant making and special project studio which supports the healing of our planet and the safeguarding of biological and cultural diversity. This episode was produced by Remoy Philip and me, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, with support from Jenisha Shrestha. The original audiobook was produced by Olivia Langen for Penguin Random House audio, recorded at Expanding Sky Studios in Brunswick, Maine.</p><p>____</p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://ayanaelizabeth.substack.com"><strong>Subscribe</strong></a> to the WHAT IF WE GET IT RIGHT? newsletter.</p><p></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to WHAT IF WE GET IT RIGHT? at <a href="https://ayanaelizabeth.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">ayanaelizabeth.substack.com/subscribe</a>

<p>Back in September 2024, on the day my book <em>What If We Get It Right? </em>was published, I did one of the most absurd and delightful things I’ve ever done. I co-hosted an over-the-top goofy Climate Variety Show with actor Jason Sudeikis at the Brooklyn Museum. Sold out crowd. Strong high school talent show energy. And we took the “variety” in variety show seriously – magic, music, hula hoops, comedy, costumes, dance off, and of course <em>many</em> shoutouts to climate solutions. Honestly have trouble believing it actually happened. Total fever dream of a “What if we…?” question. 🧐</p><p>As we gear up for the publication of the paperback on <strong>April 14th</strong>, I’m thinking back on the hardcover launch oh so fondly. So today’s episode is re-run of the very <strong>1st episode of our podcast</strong>, which was an audio montage, if you will, of excerpts from that variety show (and enjoy <a target="_blank" href="https://ayanaelizabeth.substack.com/p/climate-variety-show-slideshow">some photos here</a>!).</p><p>A tiny time machine to revisit the silliness that transpired a year and a half ago. I present to you: ✨<strong>The Climate Variety Show</strong>.✨</p><p>For the visuals to go with it, peep my slideshow (and subscribe to the newsletter while you're there!): <a target="_blank" href="https://ayanaelizabeth.substack.com/p/climate-variety-show-slideshow">https://ayanaelizabeth.substack.com/p/climate-variety-show-slideshow</a></p><p><strong>Also! Paperback tour = Climate Dance Parties. </strong>If you love the Earth, dance with us. 🌎🕺🏽 Kicking off April 14th — Brooklyn, Monterey, Manhattan, San Diego, Los Angeles, Maine! Snag your tickets here: <strong>www.getitright.earth/tour</strong>.</p><p>And while you’re on the crazy internet, pretty please pre-order the paperback from your local bookstore or <a target="_blank" href="http://bookshop.org">bookshop.org</a>. 📚</p> <br/><br/>Get full access to WHAT IF WE GET IT RIGHT? at <a href="https://ayanaelizabeth.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">ayanaelizabeth.substack.com/subscribe</a>

<p>Hello Earthlings, we are back with a new episode of the <em>What If We Get It Right?</em> podcast. This is the first episode of Season 4, which will be a short season — maybe 6 episodes? Not sure! We’ll see how it goes.</p><p>Today’s conversation, with Dr. Heidi Roop, was recorded at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/01/29/the-great-northern-climate-solutions-series-this-weekend">The Great Northern festival’s Climate Solutions Series</a> in Minneapolis on January 31st.</p><p>Dr. Roop is an expert in climate science and adaptation. She is the Director of the <a target="_blank" href="https://climate.umn.edu/">University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership</a>. From 2024-2025, she served two presidential administrations as the Assistant Director of Climate Services in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. During this time, she also served as Acting Executive Director of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, coordinating research and services across the over fourteen federal agencies and advising the White House on how to effectively manage climate risks.</p><p>She also wrote a wonderful book, with incredible infographics, called <a target="_blank" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/700464/the-climate-action-handbook-by-heidi-roop/"><em>The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions for Everyone</em></a>, which I highly recommend.</p><p>So... it’s a little odd that she was interviewing me and not the other way around! Yes, this is an unusual episode in that I am the one getting asked the questions. But it was such a wonderful event and conversation that I thought I’d share it to give you all a sense of where my head is at these days. These wild days.</p><p>Special thanks to <a target="_blank" href="https://thegreatnorthernfestival.com/">The Great Northern</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/event/the-great-northern-festival-keynote-by-ayana-elizabeth-johnson/">Bell Museum</a>, for hosting this conversation. And a huge shoutout to the good humans of Minneapolis, continuing to hold it down and be truly excellent neighbors and citizens.</p><p>This episode was produced by Remoy Phillip, and me, Ayana, with support from assistant producer Jenisha Shrestha.</p><p>This podcast is ad-free thanks to the support of <a target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/redirect/3cf78fed-f871-4787-a4b8-75333ad7cae8?j=eyJ1IjoiMjRiODluIn0.tW7wW07aeaqgJXePpjaiGOs74nDBzQY25CXTKdi2qg4">Future Being</a>, a grant making and special project studio, which supports the healing of our planet and the safeguarding of biological and cultural diversity.</p> <br/><br/>Get full access to WHAT IF WE GET IT RIGHT? at <a href="https://ayanaelizabeth.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">ayanaelizabeth.substack.com/subscribe</a>

<p>Hello Earthlings! Welcome back to <em>What If We Get It Right?</em></p><p>While you and I know that we already have most of the climate solutions we need — it’s more a matter of how quickly and justly we are going to implement them — most people do not know this. And you kinda can’t blame them because most of the news, plus movies and TV and social media, focus on climate <em>problems</em>.</p><p>This is a massive storytelling challenge. We have a narrative gap, to put it mildly.</p><p>And so for this special last episode of the season, I had the pleasure of sitting down with award-winning filmmaker and writer <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dreamhampton.com/about">dream hampton</a> in front of an audience at Bowdoin College in mid-November. </p><p>For her whole career, dream has been making art about power and justice, and more recently has been creating works about climate, which, of course, I’ve been thrilled about. Her credentials are <em>deep</em>, as both community organizer and artist. Recently, she was showrunner and executive producer on the Emmy-nominated documentary series <em>Surviving R. Kelly</em>, which earned her a Peabody Award. In 2019, TIME magazine named dream one of the most influential people in the world, and she’s certainly been influencing my thinking in the decade or so I’ve known her.</p><p>Here, we talk about how to embed climate solutions into popular culture, and the history of how activists (and bad actors) have utilized various storytelling, narrative-setting strategies. As dream put it in her opening remarks:</p><p>Stories don’t just reflect the world. They create it. They decide who the heroes are, what problems matter and what futures feel possible. So what story is shaping your worldview? What story could you help write? What future do you want for Maine and who stands beside you in that story? How will your generation turn anxiety into action and possibility into progress?</p><p>We screened dream’s beautiful film <em>Freshwater</em>. It’s a meditative, intimate, quietly devastating piece that uses the language of memory, water, and place to make climate change feel personal. dream narrates, talking us through flooded basements of homes in her home city of Detroit, Michigan.</p><p>We also played and discussed <em>A Message from the Future with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, which </em>lays out a compelling vision for what the future could look like if the bold promise of a Green New Deal became reality — animated gorgeously by Molly Crabapple. It depicts a future that feels possible and tangible; an imperfect future, but one very much worth fighting for. Watch it below. </p><p>And as a bonus, watch dream’s explainer of the War on Drugs, narrated by Jay-Z and again illustrated Molly Crabapple — a powerful example of narrative-setting, and a precursor to the GND video that helped establish the form.</p><p>And that’s a wrap on <em>What If We Get It Right?</em> Season 3!</p><p>If you’re enjoying this podcast, please help others find us — follow, rate, and review the show. ✅ Send the link of your favorite episode to your favorite group chat, and discuss! 🗣️</p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p>This podcast is ad-free thanks to the support of <a target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/redirect/3cf78fed-f871-4787-a4b8-75333ad7cae8?j=eyJ1IjoiMjRiODluIn0.tW7wW07aeaqgJXePpjaiGOs74nDBzQY25CXTKdi2qg4">Future Being</a>, a grant making and special project studio, which supports the healing of our planet and the safeguarding of biological and cultural diversity.</p><p>BIG thanks to Bowdoin College for bringing dream to campus and producing this event, with a special shoutout to Benje Douglas. This episode was produced and edited by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.remoyphilip.com/">Remoy Philip</a> and me, Ayana, with help from associate producer Jenisha Shrestha.</p><p>If you’re new here, peruse the back catalog. A few dozen hours of sweet podcast conversations with incredible guests await you. ✨</p><p>Shoutout:</p><p>While the WIWGIR podcast goes on break for a few months, we recommend cuing up the latest season of <strong><em>How We Survive</em></strong><em>, </em>a podcast from Marketplace that will give you new perspective on your holiday meals. Host Amy Scott investigates how the climate crisis is threatening our agricultural systems and how scientists are racing to develop alternatives that will shape the future of food.</p><p>Plus, check out their free <a target="_blank" href="https://files.apmcdn.org/production/2843bde3f732ea763d3596faae994436.pdf">climavore-friendly cookbook</a>. It features recipes from Amy, “The Splendid Table” host Francis Lam, and Samin Nosrat, chef and author of “Salt Fat Acid Heat” and “Good Things.”</p><p></p><p>P.S. dream’s shirt! 🇯🇲 IYKYK </p> <br/><br/>Get full access to WHAT IF WE GET IT RIGHT? at <a href="https://ayanaelizabeth.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">ayanaelizabeth.substack.com/subscribe</a>

<p>What if businesses got creative to unleash funding, political influence, and cultural clout to address our environmental challenges?</p><p>What if corporations were driven not by maximizing quarterly earnings and shareholder profits, but by being good citizens of planet Earth?</p><p>There are some companies truly <em>trying</em> to get it right. I happen to be on the board of one of them – the outdoor company Patagonia. I joined the board of directors in 2021, as Patagonia was going through a <em>major</em> transition that resulted in the world having one less billionaire, the founder Yvon Chouinard, and a plan to give away basically all the company’s profits to environmental causes <em>in perpetuity</em>.</p><p>I thought you might like a peak behind the curtain of all this, so I sat down with the CEO, <strong>Ryan Gellert</strong>, to dig into the values and practices that have shaped not just Patagonia, but set a high bar across sectors for everything from materials and manufacturing, to worker’s rights and activism, to philanthropy. Now, it’s not a perfect company, certainly, environmentally or otherwise, but it’s a model worth considering.</p><p>Links/resources for the topics we covered, are all in the newsletter: ayanaelizabeth.substack.com</p> <br/><br/>Get full access to WHAT IF WE GET IT RIGHT? at <a href="https://ayanaelizabeth.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">ayanaelizabeth.substack.com/subscribe</a>