Hey Change Podcast

This week, we're sharing one of our favorite interviews from 2025! Anne Therese's conversation with neuroscientist Norman Farb is a great summer reset to help us tap into our inner wisdoms, reawaken our senses, and become enablers of positive change. Enjoy!What if our obsession with certainty is actually making us more stressed? And most importantly, less open to real change? In this episode, I sit down with psychologist and researcher Norman Farb to explore how our brains prioritize the familiar, often at the cost of creativity, well-being, and resilience. We talk about the myth of multitasking, the power of mind wandering, and why slowing down might be the fastest path to clarity.Together, we dive into what it means to be truly receptive—to ourselves, to others, and to the world we hope to change. From "retruthing" our perceptions to cultivating presence in a noisy world, Norman offers both science-backed insight and practical tools for anyone feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply curious about how to move forward with more joy and intention. This one’s for anyone who wants to rethink how we relate to stress, uncertainty, and the stories we tell ourselves about what’s possible. If you care about making positive change in the world, click play and make sure to listen to the end!Get Norman Farb's book, Better In Every Sense: https://betterineverysense.com/--About Hey Change:Hey Change is a space for the conversations shaping a better future — where climate, culture, systems, and human potential meet. Hosted by Anne Therese GennariWebsite: annetheresegennari.comInstagram: @heychangepodcastInstagram: @annetheresegennariYouTube: @AnneThereseGennariHeyChangeProudly produced by Good Mess MediaWebsite: goodmessmedia.comInstagram: @goodmessmediaMusic: Jackson WhalanWebsite: www.heychangepodcast.comFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heychange_podcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeP1VPMQbXP13C-r4re_HUg Host: https://www.instagram.com/annetheresegennari/Music produced by Jackson Whalan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The courage to pause at the peak with Mara Hoffman & Dana Davis!What does it take to walk away from momentum at its peak? In fashion, the relentless pressure to produce more—more collections, more shows, more growth—is treated as gospel. This episode challenges that assumption at its core. In 2024, Mara Hoffman—who spent over two decades building her namesake label from hand-dyeing pieces in a New York apartment to becoming a global leader in conscious design—made a quietly radical announcement: a pause for an in-breath.This conversation explores the powerhouse friendship spanning over 16 years, their bond, the partnership, what the decision really meant when taking the in-breathe, and why it might be the most forward-thinking move in fashion today.Mara Hoffman: New photography: MaraHoffmanStudio.comInstagram: @marahoffmanDana Davis: Instagram: @danadition--About Hey Change Hey Change is a space for the conversations shaping a better future — where climate, culture, systems, and human potential meet. Hosted by Anne Therese GennariWebsite: annetheresegennari.comInstagram: @heychangepodcastInstagram: @annetheresegennariYouTube: @AnneThereseGennariHey Change Proudly produced byGood Mess MediaWebsite: goodmessmedia.comInstagram: @goodmessmediaMusic by Jackson WhalanWebsite: www.heychangepodcast.comFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heychange_podcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeP1VPMQbXP13C-r4re_HUg Host: https://www.instagram.com/annetheresegennari/Music produced by Jackson Whalan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to restore our relationship with the Earth — not just protect it, but belong to it again?In this episode, Anne sits down with Dax Dasilva, entrepreneur, environmentalist, and author of Echoes from Eden, for a powerful conversation about restoration, belonging, and what it takes to build a livable future.Drawing from his journeys through the Amazon, the Congo, and Haiti, Dax shares what he’s learned on the frontlines of conservation — and why restoring ecosystems is deeply tied to restoring human dignity, peace, and possibility.Together, Anne and Dax explore the tension between technology and nature, the power of community-led solutions, and why even the smallest acts of care can ripple forward for generations.This is a conversation about hope — not the passive kind, but the kind rooted in action, responsibility, and remembering that we are part of nature, not separate from it.In this episode:— What inspired Dax to write Echoes from Eden— Lessons from restoration projects in the Amazon, Congo, and Haiti— Why conservation and human survival are inseparable— The importance of ownership and community in creating change— Technology, regeneration, and the future we’re building— How small actions shape the world to come— Why hope is still worth choosingAll proceeds from Echoes from Eden support the Jane Goodall Institute.Listen in, and ask yourself:What does it look like to belong to the Earth again?--About Hey ChangeHey Change is a space for the conversations shaping a better future — where climate, culture, systems, and human potential meet. Hosted by Anne Therese Gennari. Listen, rate, subscribe, comment and SHAREWebsite: annetheresegennari.comInstagram: @heychangepodcastInstagram: @annetheresegennariYouTube: @AnneThereseGennariHeyChangeProudly produced by Good Mess MediaWebsite: goodmessmedia.comInstagram: @goodmessmediaWebsite: www.heychangepodcast.comFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heychange_podcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeP1VPMQbXP13C-r4re_HUg Host: https://www.instagram.com/annetheresegennari/Music produced by Jackson Whalan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode, Anne Therese brings back two of the most impactful conversations from the Hey Change archives — featuring Mike Veny, mental health speaker and advocate, and Jack Adam Webber, author of Climate Cure.As the days get darker and we naturally turn inward, this episode invites listeners to explore the often-overlooked emotional dimension of climate work. Anne reflects on how feelings like anger, grief, anxiety, and fear are not obstacles but essential tools for our personal and collective healing.With Mike Veny, we learn how anger can be a superpower — a source of clarity, leadership, and decisive action when approached with curiosity instead of shame. With Jack Adam Webber, we dive deeper into embodied grief and emotional grounding, discovering how feeling our feelings is an act of resistance, reconnection, and regeneration.This episode is a reminder that climate optimism is not blind positivity — it’s a courageous willingness to feel deeply and act from a place of wholeness, compassion, and inner alignment.Mentioned in the episodeThe Climate Optimist Cohort: https://www.theclimateoptimist.com/cohortThe Climate Optimist Leadership Retreat: https://www.theclimateoptimist.com/retreat-el-salvadorEpisode 93 with Jack Adam Weber: https://www.heychangepodcast.com/episodes/93-how-to-heal-ourselves-to-heal-our-planetEpisode 94 with Mike Veny: https://www.heychangepodcast.com/episodes/94-anger-for-goodJack's book: Climate Cure: https://jackadamweber.com/climate-cure/Website: www.heychangepodcast.comFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heychange_podcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeP1VPMQbXP13C-r4re_HUg Host: https://www.instagram.com/annetheresegennari/Music produced by Jackson Whalan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s episode is such a special one. I’m joined by James Godfrey-Faussett, a restoration ecologist and founder of the Healing Earth Project, who has spent over two decades bringing degraded land back to life — from city forests to desert landscapes.James shares what he’s learned from observing nature: that restoration doesn’t have to be complicated, that the Earth already knows how to heal if we give her the chance, and that slowing down might actually be the most powerful climate action we can take. He explains why observation is the first step to healing, how microbiology and fungi are the hidden engines of restoration, and why simplicity and community may be our greatest tools in the age of technology.This episode is a beautiful reminder that optimism isn’t naive — it’s rooted in what nature shows us every day: resilience, patience, and the possibility of renewal.So find a quiet spot, take a deep breath, and join us for this conversation on healing the Earth. And it starts, quite fittingly, by listening.Follow + Connect with James on LinkedIn: James Godfrey-FaussettWebsite: www.heychangepodcast.comFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heychange_podcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeP1VPMQbXP13C-r4re_HUg Host: https://www.instagram.com/annetheresegennari/Music produced by Jackson Whalan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do we navigate climate anxiety in the classroom? This episode is a special one, and one that feels close to my heart since I struggled with climate anxiety for such a big part of my youth. Pr.. Angus, a geography teacher in the UK, reached out a while back and asked if we could please have a chat, since he kept getting questions from his students about climate change, and especially how to navigate climate anxiety, I obviously said yes and I also asked if it was okay that we recorded the conversation so that it could benefit more people, and so this is that conversation.If you’re an educator, parent, or just someone who cares about the next generation, I hope this episode will serve as a guiding light, not because it holds all the answers, but because it’s what I needed to hear all those years navigating my own fears. The biggest takeaway is that we must dare to have these conversations, and I hope this episode will leave you with both encouragement and practical ways to offer support to our children as they grow up in a changing world.I created a free guide to help you navigate climate conversations in the classroom or at home. You download it on the episode page hereWebsite: www.heychangepodcast.comFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heychange_podcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeP1VPMQbXP13C-r4re_HUg Host: https://www.instagram.com/annetheresegennari/Music produced by Jackson Whalan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anne Therese talks with Sally Fouts, Global Lead for The Climate Pledge at Amazon, about how businesses can accelerate climate action together. They discuss the origins of the pledge, why collaboration is crucial, the risk of “greenhushing,” and how progress — not perfection — drives change. Plus, Sally shares the story of Climate Pledge Arena and how it’s reimagining what sustainable experiences can look like.Ad slot: Order Your Climate Optimist T-Shirt TODAY and invite for game-changing conversations everywhere you go. See photos and place your order here: https://www.theclimateoptimist.com/store/p/climate-optimist-t-shirtNote: this order window closes at midnight, September 28th, 2025Follow Sally Fouts: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-fouts-zwartjes-b527693/Christiana and Tom’s book: The Future We ChooseGlobal Optimism Podcast: Outrage & OptimismThe Climate Pledge: https://www.theclimatepledge.com/The Climate Pledge Arena: https://climatepledgearena.com/Anne Therese’s Book: The Climate Optimist HandbookWebsite: www.heychangepodcast.comFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heychange_podcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeP1VPMQbXP13C-r4re_HUg Host: https://www.instagram.com/annetheresegennari/Music produced by Jackson Whalan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you ever feel the need to go really deep with someone and throw at them life’s biggest, most thought-provoking questions? That’s how I felt when preparing my interview with Darin Olien. And let me tell you - I didn’t hold back!In this episode, we talk about the root cause of so much of today’s chaos and how the path to healing starts by coming back to ourselves. We explore why joy is a radical form of resistance, how forgiveness frees us, and why your inner truth might just be your most powerful tool for change. I’m super excited about this conversation because I have a feeling it will unlock so much. More than anything, this talk is healing, so wherever you are listening to this, do yourself a favor and create the spiritual space to truly receive what you’re about to hear.Who is Darin?You might know him from the Netflix series Down to Earth with Zac Efron, where he, as a co-host and executive producer, traveled the world from Iceland to Australia, spotlighting sustainable living, indigenous knowledge, and how to forge healthier personal and planetary relationships. But he has so much more to him than just this TV show. Darin is a certified exercise physiologist, wellness entrepreneur, and avid “superfood hunter.” Growing up in Minnesota, he overcame early health challenges, which sparked a lifelong passion for holistic wellness. He went on to co-create wellness programs like Shakeology and Ultimate Reset, and co-founded Barùkas, a sustainable superfood company rooted in reforestation.Darin is the author of the New York Times bestseller SuperLife, which explores five key life forces for optimal health, and Fatal Conveniences, which exposes hidden toxins in everyday products — offering simple swaps for a healthier life. As host of The Darin Olien Show and founder of the 121 Tribe health app, he continues to unpack “Fatal Conveniences™” and surface actionable insights for anyone wanting to reclaim wellbeing and reconnect with the natural world.Make sure to listen to the end when a very unexpected guest makes an appearance…Follow Darin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darinolien/SuperLife Website: https://superlife.com/This episode is sponsored by Mill. Click the link for $75 off your Mill purchase: mill.com/heychangepodcastWebsite: www.heychangepodcast.comFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heychange_podcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeP1VPMQbXP13C-r4re_HUg Host: https://www.instagram.com/annetheresegennari/Music produced by Jackson Whalan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the most powerful tool we have in facing climate collapse… is refusing to give up? In this episode, I talk with Alan Weisman, journalist and bestselling author of The World Without Us, about his new book Hope Dies Last. We explore stories of stubborn climate optimism from around the world, breakthroughs in energy and food, and why the future is still worth fighting for—even when the odds seem impossible.This isn’t about toxic positivity—it’s real, grounded optimism. And it just might change how you think about hope. Because while hope may not last forever, today is not that day. There is still so much beauty to protect, and being human on this Earth is a gift we still have the chance to reclaim.Get the book, Hope Dies Last: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624630/hope-dies-last-by-alan-weisman/Website: www.heychangepodcast.comFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heychange_podcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeP1VPMQbXP13C-r4re_HUg Host: https://www.instagram.com/annetheresegennari/Music produced by Jackson Whalan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new climate change denial is spreading, and yes, we need to talk about it. So in this episode, I sit down with journalist Samantha Harrington to unpack how climate misinformation is evolving. It’s no longer about denying climate change. Instead, it claims that the solutions don’t work, that clean energy is dangerous, or that the entire climate movement is a form of government control. We break down how this narrative is gaining ground, why outrage is such a powerful tool for spreading misinformation, and how a lack of response — even from left-leaning media — is part of the problem. But this isn’t just a warning. It’s also a call to action... Get ready to be empowered!Other things mentioned:The original article that sparked this conversation: Eight of the top 10 online shows are spreading climate misinformation The 89 Percent ProjectPetro MasculinityAbout Our GuestSamantha Harrington, director of audience experience for Yale Climate Connections, is a journalist, graphic designer, and UX designer with a background in digital media, entrepreneurship, and online community management. Sam is based in Madison, Wisconsin, and is committed to journalism and web design that helps people live safer, healthier, and happier lives.Website: www.heychangepodcast.comFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heychange_podcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeP1VPMQbXP13C-r4re_HUg Host: https://www.instagram.com/annetheresegennari/Music produced by Jackson Whalan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this conversation, Anne Therese Gennari and guest Charlie Sellars explore the journey of sustainability, emphasizing that every job can contribute to climate action. They discuss the importance of maximizing opportunities in sustainability rather than focusing solely on minimizing negative impacts. The dialogue highlights the need for narrative shifts in climate action and the significance of engaging diverse perspectives. Additionally, they explore the balance between individual responsibility and corporate accountability in sustainability efforts. The discussion also touches on the political landscape's impact on climate initiatives and the potential for optimism in the face of challenges. Finally, they envision a future where sustainable practices are the norm and emphasize the need for collective action to achieve this vision.Two climate optimists coming together - this is a conversation you don't want to miss!About our guest:Charlie Sellars is the director of sustainability at Microsoft and, most importantly, the author of the newly released book What We Can Do: A Climate Optimist's Guide to Sustainable Living. His book pulls from his experience at Microsoft to empower people on climate across their Personal, Professional, and Political lives. He helps us realize that all of us are more powerful against climate change than we think, and that while nobody can do everything, everybody can do something - and his book gives pragmatic, data-driven evidence to help direct us to where we can have the most impact across everything we do. Get the book here: https://bit.ly/3Zc5ZpVVisit Charlie’s website: https://www.charliesellars.com/This episode is sponsored by Mill. Click the link for $75 off your Mill purchase: mill.com/heychangepodcastWebsite: www.heychangepodcast.comFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heychange_podcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeP1VPMQbXP13C-r4re_HUg Host: https://www.instagram.com/annetheresegennari/Music produced by Jackson Whalan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to use your anger for good? Today's guest Mike Veny hasn't just learned to deal with his anger, he actively challenges it to better his work and do good in the world! As a mental health expert, advocate, and professional speaker, Mike tours the country helping companies and their employees revive the gifts of mental wellness. We brought him on the Hey Change Podcast to talk about how anger can serve as a powerful (and healthy) tool in our work for climate and social justice.In this episode:Passion vs giftsHow to lead a meaningful lifeBreaking stigma and creating new normsHow to embody your anger and let it empower youHow to think about our work in climate change to stay inspired and motivatedFollow Mike:Website: https://www.mikeveny.com/Instagram: @mikevenyTwitter: @mikevenyMentioned in the episode:Book: Hug Your HatersClimate Optimist Newsletter: https://theclimateoptimist.substack.com/CONNECT + FOLLOW:Podcast Instagram: @heychange_podcastHosts: @annetheresegennari + @robinxshawPodcast website: www.theclimateoptimist.com/hey-change-podcastWebsite: www.heychangepodcast.comFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heychange_podcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeP1VPMQbXP13C-r4re_HUg Host: https://www.instagram.com/annetheresegennari/Music produced by Jackson Whalan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do we restore our spiritual relationship with nature and find ourselves as embedded participants within the web of life? More importantly -- what does that look like in practice?In this fascinating conversation with Aaron, we talk Ecopsychology, how a culture of emergence within companies can help shift society in a positive direction, as well as how a community-driven approach might lead us into a climate optimistic world.Aaron Gabriel Neyer is a Developer Relations Engineer at Google with a big passion for both living and technological systems. He's currently furthering his education with a Master's in Eco-Psychology at Naropa University.Connect with Aaron: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wildsunlove/CONNECT + FOLLOW:Podcast Instagram: @heychange_podcastHosts: @annetheresegennari + @robinxshawPodcast website: www.theclimateoptimist.com/hey-change-podcastWebsite: www.heychangepodcast.comFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heychange_podcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeP1VPMQbXP13C-r4re_HUg Host: https://www.instagram.com/annetheresegennari/Music produced by Jackson Whalan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.