In a world that feels like it’s unraveling, we often feel a desperate urge to "fix" our grief or solve the climate crisis single-handedly. But what if the work of this moment isn't about fixing, but about naming?

In this episode, Autumn Brown sits down with Rabbi Ora Nitkin-Kaner, a climate change chaplain who specializes in accompanying people through the "unfixable." Together, they explore the sacred power of naming our feelings, the importance of moving through endings, and how spiritual leadership is less about providing answers and more about the courage to hold one another through uncertainty.

GROUNDING PRACTICE (Starts at 01:45)

We begin with a reading of the poem "Anthropocene Pastoral" by Catherine Pierce, read by the poet herself. This grounding practice invites us to look directly at the changing world and find our breath amid beauty and loss.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The Power of Naming: Naming our climate grief is not a wall; it is a door. When we name what is true, we move from isolation into a shared reality.
• Survival as Legacy: We are all here because our ancestors survived "the end of the world" in various ways. We carry the capacity to move through endings and emerge changed but whole.
• Tending vs. Yelling: Moving away from "telling, yelling, and selling" climate alarmism toward "tending, mending, and befriending" our communities.
• Accompanying vs. Fixing: Spiritual leadership involves "walking with" people in their distress rather than trying to resolve the distress for them.

NEXT STEPS & PRACTICES

• Radical Honesty: Identify one climate-related grief you’ve been carrying. Share it with a friend or write it down. Notice how naming it shifts your relationship to the feeling.
• Ancestral Resilience: Reflect on an "ending" your ancestors survived. What qualities allowed them to come out on the other side?
• Ministry of Presence: Practice the sacred act of accompaniment. Listen to someone’s climate fears without offering solutions or "silver linings."

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• The BTS Center: https://thebtscenter.org
• Exploring Apocolypse with Rabbi Ora Nitkin-Kaner: exploringapocalypse.com
• Catherine Pierce (Poet): https://catherinepiercepoet.com
• "Anthropocene Pastoral" (Poem): https://poets.org/poem/anthropocene-pastoral
• Anthropocene Pastoral Film (Clare Börsch): https://vimeo.com/1059000753
• How to Survive the End of the World Podcast: https://endoftheworldshow.org

CONNECT WITH US

What reflections are surfacing for you? We’d love to hear from you.

• Email: podcast@thebtscenter.org
• Voice Message: 207-200-6986
• Video Episodes: Search "The BTS Center" on YouTube.com

BLESSING

May you know that you are loved, that you are worthy of love, just as you are. And may you know that you are capable of great love.

In our previous episode, Autumn spoke with Tory Stephens, a climate fiction editor and co-founder of Imagine 2200 at Grist, about the profound power of storytelling. If you haven't listened to that conversation yet, don't worry—you can dive right into this episode! In fact, hearing this reflection first will give you a completely different lens when you do go back to listen to the interview.

In this episode, co-hosts Autumn Brown and Rev. Nicole Diroff sit down to unpack the incredible themes Tory raised. They explore why the climate movement desperately needs more imagination and how we can practically incorporate that imagination into our spiritual leadership.

In this conversation, Autumn and Nicole discuss:

• The Concept of "Thrutopia": Why we need stories that navigate the messy, realistic middle ground between the world we have now and the better world we are trying to build.
• Prefigurative Fiction: How dreaming about and writing down the future we want actually serves as the first step to bringing that reality into existence.
• Hope as a Daily Practice: Why practicing hope and imagining positive futures needs to be a regular discipline—just like going to church or taking out the compost!

Next Steps: Where Imagination Meets Practice The change we need won't happen alone—it grows in community. Here are two invitations from today’s conversation to carry these ideas into your shared lives:

• Creating Your Story of Tomorrow: Visit The BTS Center's Leadership Commons to access Creating Your Story of Tomorrow. This is a beautifully crafted facilitator guide and video developed by renowned environmental artist Eve Moser. Designed for adult education facilitators and congregation leaders, this resource will guide you and your community through a collaborative workshop to envision the future together.
• Write Your Own Flash Fiction: Sit down—alone, with a friend, or with a group—and write a piece of "flash fiction" (a very short story with a beginning, middle, and end) about a future you would love to inhabit.

Share Your Visions With Us! We want to hear your flash fiction and find out what you are creating or discovering! Email us at podcast@thebtscenter.org or leave a voice message at 207-200-6986. Your insights might ripple out through future episodes.

Explore More:

• Learn more about The BTS Center: https://thebtscenter.org/
• Find transcripts, discussion guides, and full-length video episodes at www.climatechangedpodcast.org
• Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBTSCenter

In the Season Four premiere of the Climate Changed podcast, Autumn Brown engages in a deeply inspiring conversation with Tory Stephens, a storyteller, cultural worker, and climate justice advocate.

They explore the transformative power of climate fiction and its role in helping us envision the future. Tory discusses his groundbreaking work at Grist, where he co-founded Imagine 2200, an initiative that asks a simple yet radical question: What if we wrote stories not about what we fear but about what we hope to create? The discussion dives into how imagination connects with responsibility, how storytelling serves as a profound form of spiritual leadership, and why envisioning a new reality is essential for climate justice.

Link to discussion guide and transcript www.climatechangedpodcast.org

Grounding: To begin the episode, producer Peterson Toscano leads a grounding exercise by sharing a short, speculative story. Modeled on the type of climate fiction discussed in the episode, the story features a message from "Timothy Meadows from the Future" giving a broadcast from the year 2115. Timothy explores the history of how human relationships with pets and animals shifted and adapted in the face of climate change. This strange and wonderful story sets the stage for the episode by letting imagination lead and inviting listeners to envision a workable, adaptable future.

Resources & Concepts Mentioned:

• Thrutopia: Coined by philosopher Rupert Read and popularized by author Manda Scott through the Thrutopia Masterclass, a Thrutopian narrative threads the needle between utopia and dystopia. It focuses on writing grounded, plausible, and inspiring route maps that show exactly how we navigate through our current struggles to reach a future we'd be proud to leave behind.
• Octavia E. Butler & Bloodchild: Autumn quotes the legendary science fiction author—who was the first African American woman to reach mainstream success in the genre—and her collection Bloodchild and Other Stories, reflecting on how sci-fi stimulates necessary imagination and creativity.
• Humans of New York: The iconic photoblog that Tory credits with changing his perspective early in his career, teaching him the unparalleled power of human-centric storytelling over dry statistics.
• Visionary Fiction: A framework of world-building and storytelling that Autumn Brown and her sister use in their writing retreats, which actively wrestles with the sacred and reclaims spiritual practices.
• Dream Seeds: A term favored by Grist and Imagine 2200 to describe stories that plant concrete, hopeful visions of how society could be organized completely differently.
• Eve Moser & Creating Your Story of Tomorrow: An adult education facilitator guide and video created by renowned environmental artist Eve Moser, available on the BTS Center's Leadership Commons.

Guest Bio: Tory Stephens is a storyteller, cultural worker, and climate justice advocate. At Grist, he co-founded Imagine 2200, a climate-fiction powerhouse, and has produced two anthologies of climate fiction: Afterglow and Metamorphosis. He now focuses on publishing climate fiction year-round and building partnerships that connect culture, justice, and climate solutions. In addition to his work at Grist Magazine, Tory is also involved with the Hollywood Climate Summit.

Connect with Tory & Explore His Work:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/torystephens
• Bluesky: @torystephens.bsky.social
• Imagine 2200 (Grist): About Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction
• Read the Anthology: Imagine 2200: We Are What We Nurture
• Read the Book: Afterglow (The New Press)
• More from Tory: Shaping the Future Through Climate Fiction (Podcast Interview)

Thank Yous: We want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who made this episode possible:

• Tory Stephens, for sharing his incredible vision, imagination, and wisdom with us.
• Peterson Toscano, producer of Climate Changed, for producing this episode and for providing the wonderful grounding for this episode.
• The BTS Center team, for your ongoing support and for providing the resources and platform that make this podcast possible.

How do we live, love, and practice leadership in a climate-changed world?

Welcome to Season 4 of the Climate Changed podcast, a project from The BTS Center! This season, we are diving deep into spiritual leadership and imagination. Join our hosts—Autumn Brown (artist, theologian, mother, and freedom worker) and Rev. Nicole Diroff (Associate Director at The BTS Center)—as they explore what faithful leadership looks like in times of immense uncertainty.

Throughout this season, we’ll hear from spiritual leaders, artists, and healers who are helping us navigate the overlapping crises of our time with courage, connection, and community.

This season's powerful lineup includes:

• Katie Mears on navigating the front lines of disaster response and communicating risk.

• Tory Stephens on the power of speculative fiction and imagination as our greatest climate tools.

• Norma Wong, Zen master and Native Hawaiian leader, on how we breathe together and reconstitute our humanity through collapse.

• Rabbi Ora Nitkin-Kaner on finding holiness in uncertainty and rooting into our values when we lose our ground.

• Francis Weller on the necessity of ritual, and how grief and love are two sides of the same bridge.

Before the first episode drops, we want to celebrate this new chapter with you. Join hosts Nicole and Autumn, along with producers Ben Yosua-Davis and Peterson Toscano, for a live, interactive launch event.

This isn't your average, boring webinar. We'll be diving into a deep conversation about the current pressure points in American society, politics, and justice, and how they intersect with our climate reality.

When: Monday, March 16th, 2026 at 7:30 PM Eastern

Where: Online! Register for free at thebtscenter.org What to expect at the launch party:

• Live conversations with several of our Season 4 guests

• Exclusive, behind-the-scenes video footage and bloopers

• Giveaways throughout the event!

Episode 1 drops Tuesday, March 17th, 2026, featuring a fantastic conversation with Tory Stephens on speculative storytelling and the futures we actually want to build.

Make sure you are subscribed so you don't miss an episode, and find more resources at www.climatechangedpodcast.com.

Climate change, spiritual leadership, climate resilience, Autumn Brown, Nicole Diroff, The BTS Center, disaster response, speculative fiction, climate storytelling, Zen practice, grief and ritual, climate justice, community building, navigating collapse, podcast launch event

• 00:00 - Exploring Spiritual Leadership & Imagination

• 00:24 - Meet Your Hosts: Autumn Brown & Nicole Diroff

• 00:44 - Katie Mears on Disaster Response

• 01:07 - Tory Stephens on Speculative Fiction

• 01:34 - Norma Wong on Breathing Through Collapse

• 02:21 - Rabbi Ora Nitkin-Kaner on Holiness in Uncertainty

• 02:50 - Francis Weller on Ritual and Grief

• 03:52 - You're Invited: Season 4 Launch Event!

• 05:17 - Sneak Peek: Episode 1 with Tory Stephens

In the fourth and final installment of our special storytelling bonus series, hosts Peterson Toscano and Ben Yosua-Davis conclude our journey through the 2025 BTS Center Convocation with a powerful story about the connection between our physical bodies, marginalized communities, and the health of the planet.

We hear from Tawni White, a registered nurse and congregational health leader, who shares her moving journey from experiencing childhood hunger and scarcity to discovering the empowering, healing abundance of the soil. Tawni reminds us that food sovereignty isn’t just about having food; it's about reclaiming dignity, connection, and hope through the simple act of planting a seed.

Then, we mark a major milestone for Climate Changed as we officially pass the mic to our new Season 4 co-hosts: Rev. Nicole Diroff and Autumn Brown! Nicole and Autumn share their vision for the upcoming season—exploring what it means to live, love, and lead in a climate-changed world—and share exclusive audio clips from their upcoming guests.

Finally, we cordially invite you to our Season 4 Live Launch Event happening on Monday, March 16th, 2026, at 7:30 PM Eastern!

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 - Welcome & Introduction by Peterson Toscano and Ben Yosua-Davis
• 01:20 - Tawni White's Story: Scarcity, Resilience, and Food Sovereignty
• 08:40 - Peterson and Ben reflect on the power of storytelling
• 09:41 - Passing the Mic: Meet Season 4 Hosts Autumn Brown and Rev. Nicole Diroff
• 13:42 - Season 4 Sneak Peek: Audio clips from upcoming guests
• 16:27 - Announcement: Season 4 Live Launch Party on March 16th
• 18:48 - Teaser: Tory Stephens on Speculative Fiction

Next season, Autumn and Nicole will be talking with artists, theologians, organizers, and scientists who are helping us imagine new ways of living. Here is a sneak peek at some of the incredible voices you will hear:

• Katie Mears: A disaster response leader working on the front lines to create accessible risk communication and collective solutions that empower communities.
• Tory Stephens: A climate fiction advocate at Grist who believes speculative fiction and imagination are our most powerful tools for dreaming up the climate futures we actually want.
• Norma Wong: A Zen master and Native Hawaiian leader who invites us to breathe together through collapse and honors the vital role of indigenous wisdom in a changing world.
• Rabbi Ora Nitkin-Kaner: A rabbi and spiritual leader who helps people find grounding, values, and holiness amidst the messy uncertainty of our current times.
• Francis Weller: A psychotherapist and author who utilizes the power of ritual to help us safely fall apart, realign, and recognize that grief and love are two sides of the same bridge.

• The BTS Center: thebtscenter.org
• AORTA (Anti-Oppression Resource and Training Alliance): aorta.coop - The cooperative where Autumn Brown spent eight years as a facilitator and political educator.
• Reclaim: reclaim.care - A Minnesota-based nonprofit previously led by Autumn Brown that helps queer and trans youth access mental health care and community support.
• How to Survive the End of the World podcast - A podcast co-hosted by Autumn Brown and her sister, adrienne maree brown.
• Grist: grist.org - The media organization where Tory Stephens works on speculative fiction and climate storytelling.

Get ready for a deep dive conversation about the current pressure points in American society, politics, and justice, and how they intersect with our climate reality. We will feature exclusive video samples, behind-the-scenes footage, bloopers, and giveaways!

• Date: Monday, March 16, 2026
• Time: 7:30 PM Eastern
• Register for free at: thebtscenter.org

We would love to hear your reflections on these stories! Share how they impacted you or share a story of your own.

• Email: podcast@thebtscenter.org
• Voicemail: 207-200-6986

Website: climatechangedpodcast.org

A special bonus episode mini-series from Climate Changed

Links to Listen

• Listen on Spotify
• Listen on Apple Podcasts
• Full show notes and all episodes: ClimateChangedPodcast.org
• Transcript

At the 2025 BTS Center Convocation, participants were invited to share climate-centered stories grounded in their own lives. Working with coaches from Stellar Story Company, these storytellers moved beyond the "doom and gloom" binary to find humor, resilience, and spiritual insight in the face of a changing world.

Kate André serves as Pastor of the Mennonite Congregation of Boston and is the Mennonite/Anabaptist Chaplain at Harvard University. In her story, Kate uses the power of "confession" to admit that, despite her work in creation care, she wasn't always a nature lover. She takes us on a journey from the comfort of dark movie theaters to the muddy reality of planting hope, showing us that we don't have to be perfect environmentalists to do good work.

Blair A. R. Nelsen is the Executive Director of Waterspirit and represents the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace at the United Nations. Bringing a global perspective from her time living in Venezuela and Brazil, Blair shares a story about seeking help for eco-anxiety. Expecting to find a room full of despairing peers, she instead encounters a "twist" that reveals the deep, intergenerational resilience found in community.

Cheryl Hamilton is the Founder and Executive Director of Stellar Story Company. An award-winning communications expert, Cheryl has coached over 1,500 people from 80 countries. In this episode, she shares insights on how stories can lead to unexpected connections and richer conversations.

• Share this episode with a friend or your faith community. As Cheryl and Tyler remind us, "Stories unlock stories."
• Tell your own story. You don't need a stage. Share a reflection on social media or record a voice memo for a friend.
• Contact us. Share your reflections by email at podcast@thebtscenter.org or leave a voicemail at 207-200-6986.
• Learn more about The BTS Center and upcoming programs at TheBTSCenter.org.
• Explore storytelling coaching at StellarStory.com.

Season Four is coming soon! We are thrilled to welcome incoming co-hosts Nicole Diroff and Autumn Brown, who will explore what it means to live, love, and lead with faith and imagination in a climate-changed world.

Season Four Guests include:

• Francis Weller: Author of The Wild Edge of Sorrow.
• Norma Wong: Zen Master and leader at the Institute of Zen Studies.
• Rabbi Ora Nitkin-Kaner: Climate Change Chaplain.
• Tory Stevens: Climate Narrative Project.
• Katie Mears: Episcopal Relief & Development.

Make sure you are subscribed so you don’t miss the Season Four premiere!