Climate Shifted

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

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 worlds How climate stories can move beyond apocalyptic doom to inspire imagination Making abstract climate issues personally relevant through place-based narratives The 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 futures Why utopian thinking isn't the goal—complex, realistic visions are Balancing grief and joy in climate work Processing the full spectrum of climate emotions through creative expression Community-Centered Approach How Autumn approached their project as an anthropologist and listener The importance of amplifying local voices rather than imposing outside ideas Creating space for diverse perspectives and first-time contributors Building projects that reflect the actual ecology and culture of a place Practical Project Building How to start a community storytelling project from scratch Navigating grants, outreach, and building without institutional backing The power of commissioning alongside open submissions Making 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 Mexico Autumn's Portfolio - Design and climate storytelling work Influences & Inspiration: Adrienne Maree Brown - Visionary fiction author and activist who inspired the project Jamie Figueroa's "Prophecies of Possibility" for Emergence Magazine Anonymous 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 systems Robin Wall Kimmerer - Blends science with indigenous wisdom (highly recommended in audiobook) David Abrams - "The Spell of the Sensuous" on animism and written language Norma Wong - Activist and community organizer Organizations & Colla

In this episode of Climate Shifted, host Eva Frye speaks with Xavier Cortada, a socially engaged environmental artist and Florida Artist Hall of Fame member. He creates participatory art projects transforming how communities understand and respond to the climate crisis. Xavier shares how his "Underwater Homeowners Association" project used lawn signs showing home elevation levels to make sea level rise personally relevant to inland residents, how he strategically uses art to invite curiosity rather than confrontation, and how he builds coalitions with local institutions to create lasting policy change. Learn how his approach to "social practice art" sculpts people instead of clay, makes topics personal to bypass political polarization, and discover how anyone can get started doing projects like this in your own communities. Transcript available here Key Topics Using "social practice art" to create community climate engagement Making abstract climate threats personally relevant through art Designing art experiences that invite curiosity rather than confrontation Building strategic partnerships with municipalities, schools, and nonprofits Creating platforms for civic engagement beyond awareness Moving from individual action to policy change Balancing different communication approaches for different audiences Starting with personal passion rather than waiting for permission Finding sustainable motivation through love rather than fear Quotes "Art allows you to see things differently, but it also allows you to behave differently. And you then model to those who aren't part of the process, how they too can do the same thing." - Xavier Cortada "My way in was the yard sign. What's this weird number doing in my neighbor's front yard? And then that curiosity allows you to understand that you have a vulnerability, that it's not someone else's problem, it's your problem." - Xavier Cortada "What I try to do is journey into this land called hope, and art gets us there." - Xavier Cortada "At the end of the day I'm not trying to change human behavior. I'm trying to change the policies that allow corporate interests to exploit people and to extract from our environment." - Xavier Cortada People & Organizations Mentioned Xavier Cortada - Socially engaged environmental artist and Florida Artist Hall of Fame member Underwater Homeowners Association - Community organization created through Cortada's art project Cortada Foundation - Organization founded to scale Cortada's climate art approach Natural Resources Defense Council - Environmental organization that partnered with Cortada on the Blake Plateau project Joseph Beuys - Pioneering social practice artist mentioned as an influence Notable Art Installations Discussed Underwater Homeowners Association: A participatory art project where residents displayed signs showing their home's elevation above sea level, transforming abstract sea level rise data into personal concerns about property values and flood insurance. Elevation Markers: Street paintings showing elevation levels at intersections throughout Miami, demonstrating how even areas miles inland were vulnerable to sea level rise. Park Elevation Sculptures: Vague concrete sculptures with QR codes in parks that, when scanned, revealed the park's elevation and sea level rise projections. Reclamation Project: An installation where mangrove seedlings were displayed in water-filled cups on retail storefronts throughout Miami Beach, revealing the area's history as a mangrove forest before development. JUICY BITS: Takeaways for Climate Communicators Believe in yourself: Understand that you have a voice and role in delivering the future you want. Combat imposter syndrome - if you doubt yourself, you've already lost. Believe in others: Recognize you can't create change alone. Value the unique perspectives and skills others bring and believe they too have a seat at the table. Don't give up: Persist even through difficult challeng

In this episode of Climate Shifted, host Eva Frye speaks with Benjamin Von Wong, an environmental artist and activist who creates large-scale art installations to make climate issues accessible to wider audiences. Benjamin shares how he uses familiar cultural metaphors to draw people into climate conversations, strategically places his art to influence decision-makers, and approaches climate work from love rather than duty. Learn how his installations like the four-story "Turn Off the Plastic Tap" sculpture and "Biodiversity Jenga" use recognizable concepts to make complex environmental issues instantly understandable, and discover his insights on creating sustainable activism practices that avoid burnout. Transcript available here Key Topics Using popular cultural metaphors to make climate issues more accessible Strategic placement of art installations to influence policy decisions Transitioning from duty-based climate work to love-based activism Creating large-scale art that requires no words to explain Building relationships instead of chasing social media algorithms Developing sustainable activism practices to avoid burnout Using art as a "top of funnel" to draw new people into climate conversations Quotes "I try to think of popular metaphors or popular cultural tropes that I can hijack." - Benjamin Von Wong "Coming at things from a place of love, it's almost like a privilege to be able to show up and to offer yourself in the fullest most complete way." - Benjamin Von Wong "My role is to simply provide a piece of art that is as universal as possible that any organization or even a company or a government, regardless of where they are on the journey, can find utility in what I'm creating." - Benjamin Von Wong "The ultimate goal of mine is to be able to constantly create work that requires no words to explain." - Benjamin Von Wong "As climate professionals, we spend a lot of time thinking about regeneration and sustainability for the outside world. I think we also need to put up a mirror every so often and think about how are we making our work and career path sustainable and regenerative." - Benjamin Von Wong People & Organizations Mentioned Benjamin Von Wong - Environmental artist and activist United Nations Environmental Assembly - Venue for the "Turn Off the Plastic Tap" installation Sir David Attenborough - Mentioned as an influential environmentalist Notable Art Installations Discussed Turn Off the Plastic Tap: A four-story tall sculpture resembling a faucet spewing plastic trash, installed at the United Nations Environmental Assembly where delegates were voting on plastic treaties. The installation gave physical form to the phrase "turning off the plastic tap" used in negotiations. Biodiversity Jenga: A two-and-a-half story tall Jenga tower where each block represents a different ecosystem, demonstrating how removing elements of biodiversity could lead to collapse. Created with 200 students who made 150 animal figures to populate the installation. Straw-pocalypse: An installation made of 168,000 plastic straws, illustrating what happens when we pour plastics into the ocean. Mermaid on Plastic Bottles: An installation featuring a mermaid on 10,000 plastic bottles to raise awareness about plastic pollution. JUICY BITS: Takeaways for Climate Communicators Make it irresistible: Create environmental messaging that invites curiosity instead of hitting people over the head with information. Approach climate work from love, not duty: When you connect with what you're protecting and approach climate work from love rather than obligation, activism becomes sustaining rather than draining. Use familiar metaphors: Leverage recognizable concepts (like Jenga) as shortcuts to make complex problems instantly understandable - the art should require no words to explain. Think ecosystem, not individual: Remember that your work is part of a broader ecosystem of solutions. Focus on the role you can play rather than t

Season 1 trailer of Climate Shifted, the podcast where psychologists, behavior designers, artivists & movement builders share how to shift perception for climate action. Featuring guests like Dr. Renee Lertzman, Xavier Cortada, Melinda Briana Epler, Autumn Leiker, Ben Von Wong, and more.