Send me a messageIn this enlightening episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I, Tom Raftery, have the privilege of hosting Laird Christensen, the Graduate Director of two pivotal graduate programmes at Prescott College, focusing on Resilience, Sustainable Communities, and Environmental Studies. Laird shares his journey from environmental activism to fostering future leaders equipped to tackle the nuanced challenges of climate change through community engagement and sustainable practices.Laird's insights shed light on the significant, yet often overlooked, intersection of climate activism with mental health and community resilience. He emphasises the necessity of local and personal actions amidst global environmental crises, underlining the power of grassroots movements and the importance of adapting our daily lives to mitigate the impact of climate change.Furthermore, Laird touches on the critical role of emotional resilience for activists, introducing the concept of 'Active Hope' and the therapeutic potential of communal support in navigating the psychological toll of climate anxiety.Our discussion also ventures into the realm of effective communication and political engagement, exploring how these can be leveraged to foster more inclusive and sustainable communities.Join us as we unpack the layers of climate action beyond the technical solutions, highlighting the transformative potential of empathy, local initiatives, and personal accountability in crafting a more sustainable future.Your feedback and thoughts are always welcome, so please don't hesitate to reach out via social media or email. Together, let's continue to explore and advocate for actionable solutions to climate change.Also, don't forget to check out the video version of this episode on YouTube.Support the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters: Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper