CLIMATE ONE: How Do I Say This…

CLIMATE ONE: How Do I Say This…

Author: Commonwealth Club of California July 24, 2026 Duration: 53:52
It’s becoming increasingly clear that how we talk about climate change matters as much as the science or policy itself. The words we use carry weight, and climate communicator Susan Joy Hassol says specific word choices, like “heat-trapping pollution” rather than “greenhouse gases,” can cut through polarization and help messages resonate with a wider range of people. Equally important is listening to what people and communities need to better handle the impacts from climate disruption. And different audiences need different approaches. For example: adults can help children process climate fear and grief without overwhelming them by offering age-appropriate honesty paired with validation of their emotions. Good communication can be one of the most effective forms of climate action. Guests:  Robin Cooper, Co-Founder and President, Climate Psychiatry Alliance Elizabeth Yeampierre, Attorney; Executive Director, UPROSE  Susan Joy Hassol, Director, Climate Communication Highlights: 00:00 Introduction  2:14 Robin Cooper on climate related mental health issues young people have 5:16 Robin Cooper on how adults can help young people in their lives 12:22 Robin Cooper on having multiple conversations with young people about climate 15:57 Robin Cooper on next steps after identifying climate anxieties in young people 19:46 Elizabeth Yeampierre on what it took to get Sunset Park Solar going 29:33 Elizabeth Yeampierre on building community trust and listening 31:40 Elizabeth Yeampierre on working with other communities  36:11 Susan Joy Hassol on not using the phrase “climate change”  39:52 Susan Joy Hassol on the phrase “natural disasters”  46:11 Susan Joy Hassol on dealing with hostility when discussing climate For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠episode page⁠⁠⁠⁠ at climateone.org *** Join Climate One for an electric conversation on September 1 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor owned utility model. Tickets available at ⁠climateone.org/events⁠ *** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up today⁠⁠⁠⁠. *** Ad sales by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Multitude⁠⁠⁠⁠. Contact them for ad inquiries at ⁠⁠⁠⁠multitude.productions/ads⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For nearly a century, the Commonwealth Club of California Podcast has served as a vital platform for civic dialogue, directly from the nation's largest public affairs forum. Each episode captures live, thoughtful conversations with leading voices from across the political spectrum and various fields, all committed to exploring the most pressing issues of our time. As a nonpartisan and nonprofit operation, the Club’s priority is substance over soundbite, fostering a depth of discussion that is increasingly rare. You’ll hear authors, policymakers, scientists, and cultural figures engage in nuanced debates and detailed analyses, reflecting a genuine diversity of perspectives. This isn't just a recording of events; it's an ongoing, accessible chronicle of American and global thought. The audio you find in this podcast feed originates from the longest-running weekly radio broadcast of its kind in the United States, a tradition started in 1924, now shared with a modern audience. Updated frequently throughout the week, the feed ensures you have direct access to a forum where complex ideas about government, society, and current events are given the time and respect they deserve. Tune in for a consistently enlightening experience that challenges assumptions and provides context far beyond the daily headlines.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Commonwealth Club of California Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Susan Page on the Queen and Her Presidents [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:44
No American or foreign leader has met with as many sitting U.S. presidents as Queen Elizabeth II. Her 70-year reign witnessed the highs and lows of the close and crucial alliance between the United States and the United…
Pria Anand: A Neurologist on the Strangeness and Wonders of Our Brain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:19
Join us for a talk with a neurologist as she reckons with the stories we tell about our brains—and the stories our brains tell us. Such as: A girl believes she has been struck blind for stealing a kiss. A mother watches…
Rashad Robinson: From Presence to Power [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:39
Why do some struggles for justice succeed while others stall? What is needed to make effective social change, especially in today’s world? According to Rashad Robinson, it comes down to understanding the difference betwe…
CLIMATE ONE: Hollywood, Baseball, Cage Fights, and… Climate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:33
When it comes to climate, we have the facts, but we aren’t moving fast enough. So we need to get climate education and solutions into the places where people already spend their time. Pop culture offers endless opportuni…
DJ DiDonna: The Transformative Power of Sabbaticals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:57
The professional world usually prioritizes urgency, but the most important moments of our lives rarely happen at the desk. In his new book Big Time Off, Sabbatical Project founder DJ DiDonna offers up a simple but radica…
San Francisco Culture: Lost, Found or Reimagined? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:06
San Francisco has long been a city of dreamers, artists, innovators and cultural pioneers—a global epicenter of creativity, innovation and social change. From its modern origins during the Gold Rush to the Beat Generatio…
Melissa Murray: Understanding the US Constitution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:15
The U.S. Constitution is often at the center of debates about rights and wrongs and public policies in this country, but how many people have actually read it? How many have thought about it? How many understand it? Join…
Dusty Baker: A Memoir in Baseball and Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:17
Join us in-person or online as legendary baseball player and manager Dusty Baker explores his extraordinary career, one filled with invaluable lessons on perseverance, leadership, and how to live life meaningfully on the…