Climate anxiety: a generational plague

Climate anxiety: a generational plague

Author: Ethical Schools January 22, 2023 Duration: 36:31

We speak with Lian Zeitz, co-founder of the Climate Mental Health Network, which promotes wellness in light of the climate crisis. According to a recent survey, 70% of young people are fearful for their future due to climate change. Teachers can foster wellness by interweaving insights into their curricula, and by instilling habits of hope and resilience. The Climate Mental Health Network prioritizes input from students, working with a Gen Z advisory board.

Overview

00:00-00:37 Intros

00:37-02:49 Climate anxiety: what it is and how it is affecting young people

02:49-04:04 “To heal the planet, we have to collectively heal ourselves”

04:04-06:22 When is anxiety about a real threat healthy and when not?

06:22-06:39 Components of wellness

06:39-08:33 How teachers can foster wellness with students

08:33-11:11 Integrating SEL and mental health dimensions, including climate mental health into mainstream curriculum

11:11-13:59 How Climate Mental Health Network supports teachers and administrators

13:59-17:01 K-12 environmental justice curriculum in Califortnia

17:01-19:48 Whole school mental health transformation

19:48-23:04 Gen Z leadership roles

23:04-25:50 Non-medical-centered model

25:50-28:32 Learning from Indigeneous communities without co-optation

28:32-30:47 Individual choices and promotion of wellness

30:47-33:10 How students’ different life experiences have an impact on their degree of climate threat and on ways of supporting them


Conversations about education often focus on test scores and curriculum, but there’s a deeper layer that truly shapes a student’s experience. Ethical Schools digs into that layer, exploring what it means to build a learning community grounded in integrity and care. Each week, hosts Amy and Jon sit down with educators and innovators who are actively reimagining schools. You’ll hear specific, grounded discussions about the practical work of creating environments where every student feels safe and respected. The dialogue frequently addresses how to support young people dealing with trauma, moving beyond theory to share actionable strategies that teachers are using right now. More than just problem-solving, this podcast highlights how to empower students themselves to become advocates and changemakers in their own communities. It’s a series that connects philosophy with daily practice, looking at the social and cultural structures within schools through a lens of ethics. For anyone invested in the future of education-whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or simply a concerned community member-this podcast offers a thoughtful and necessary perspective on the foundational values that make education meaningful.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 240

Ethical Schools
Podcast Episodes
The attack on public education: Will public schools survive? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:30
We speak with University of South Carolina law professor Derek Black about the history of education as a core government service and the current wave of voucher laws in red states. Professor Black argues that these will…
Authentic history: Too uncomfortable for white kids? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:45
We speak with Betty Collins, eighth grade teacher in Tulsa County, Oklahoma. Ms. Collins speaks about conservatives’ hostility to Critical Race Theory, which looks at the role of systemic racism in US history. We discuss…
Air quality in schools: At the intersection of technology and equity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:15
We speak with Anisa Heming and Corey Metzger of the U.S. Green Building Council and ASHRAE about a new report on schools’ efforts around the country to protect against COVID-19 by improving indoor air quality. Like so mu…
Holistic education: Joy, wellness, and rigor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:01
We speak with Dr. Linda Nathan of the Center for Artistry and Scholarship and the Perrone-Sizer Institute for Creative Leadership about her experience in creating progressive schools. Dr. Nathan says all teachers, no mat…
Creating antiracist classrooms: Listening and other essential skills [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:30
We speak with Dr. Steven Cohen of Tuft’s Department of Education about helping teachers to think critically about race and class. He talks about the importance of listening to students over time, even watching the media…
Critical analysis: not just for students [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:30
We speak with Dr. Sam Abrams of the National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education (NCSPE) at Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Abrams describes his analyses of statistics released by local and nati…