30. Ecology Beyond Data: Emotion, Storytelling, and Systems Change

30. Ecology Beyond Data: Emotion, Storytelling, and Systems Change

Author: Jenn Galler March 20, 2026 Duration: 30:09

I’m joined by Bill Powers from Living Well Collaborative with Earth Island Institute, an organization based in Bolivia. Bill is an author, ecologist, and storyteller whose work bridges the personal and the environment in a way that feels hopeful.

We’re here to talk about his book Ripple: An Intimate Exchange of Urgency and Hope Between An Ecologist Dad and His Daughter. Through a series of heartfelt letters, Bill weaves together reflections on the environmental crises we face with a deeply personal dialogue about love, responsibility, and the future.

In this conversation, we’ll explore the core ideas behind Ripple, from the “Story of Separation” that shapes modern life, to what it really means to reintegrate with the natural world. We'll also talk about the balance between urgency and hope and how storytelling itself can become a powerful force for change.



Hosted by Jenn Galler, In Our Backyard Podcast is the voice of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, bringing urgent local stories to the forefront. This isn't about abstract global debates; it's a grounded conversation focused on the very real industrial pressures facing specific towns and neighborhoods. Each episode examines a particular threat, from active coal plants and fracking operations to the routing of new pipelines, unpacking the complex realities behind the headlines. You'll hear directly from the residents and organizers who are living these fights, sharing their personal struggles and strategies for safeguarding both community health and the local environment. The discussions are detailed and thoughtful, prioritizing the experiences of those on the ground. Tuning into this podcast means connecting with the persistent, often overlooked work of environmental justice, understanding that the most critical battles for planetary protection frequently begin just outside our own doors.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

In Our Backyard Podcast
Podcast Episodes
63. Conflict Palm Oil Pt. 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:11
Hi everyone, we’re back with Debbie Clemens who is with the Outreach Coordinator for Orangutan Outreach. In this episode we talk all about palm oil and its effects. The sourcing of palm oil causes conflict because it has…
62. The Behind the Scenes Work to Make Field Work Possible Pt. 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:49
In this episode I continue my conversation with Debbie Clemens who is the Outreach Coordinator for Orangutan Outreach. We talk about the behind the scenes work that goes into making field work possible for these creature…
61. Saving Orangutans to Save Ourselves Pt. 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:42
Debbie Clemens is the Outreach Coordinator for Orangutan Outreach. They are a US based charity that focuses on raising awareness and raising funds for their partners in Indonesia. They are personally not doing the orangu…
60. The Importance of Orangutans as a Species [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:58
Leif Cocks is the Founder of The Orangutan Project. They are a passionate group of people based in Australia and are dedicated to saving the orangutan. They are led by an experienced set of wildlife experts that have bee…
59. Reintegration of Humans in Nature [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:17
Ben Frition is the Founder of The REED Center which is a Maryland-based nonprofit that seeks to repair the holistic connection of humans and their environment through research, engaging communities in farm programming, d…
58. The Function of Soil in Our Society [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:01
Elizabeth Gillispie is Soil Scientist and Soil Health Vineyard Manager at Washington State University as well as a member of the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA). Soil is the loose surface material that covers most…
57. What to Know About Your Drinking Water [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:39
Lisa Sorg is the Assistant Editor and Environmental Reporter at NC Newsline. She helps manage newsroom operations while covering the environment, climate change, agriculture and energy. She talks with me in two other so…
56. The History of Federal Public Land Law and Current Fights [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:42
Ben Tettlebaum is the Director & Senior Staff Attorney at The Wilderness Society. Across the U.S. there are 618 million acres of federal public lands, including national parks and forests, wildlife refuges and federally…
55. Mushrooms are the Main Character In Ecosystems [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:35
Serenella Linares is a naturalist at Mt Rainier Nature Center and also on the board of The Mycological Association of Washington, DC. (MAWDC for short) This episode we talk about mushrooms. When we think of mushrooms, mo…
54. DOLLARS VS. DEMOCRACY - Greenpeace USA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:54
Andres Chang is the Senior Research Specialist at Greenpeace. Just last year in 2023, Greenpeace came out with a report that Andres was the lead writer on, called Dollars VS. Democracy. The report talks about how America…