We all spend time in nature, but there is something truly unique about how John Muir Laws approaches his work (yes, that is his given name). John—who goes by the nickname Jack—is a naturalist, illustrator, and educator whose depictions of the great outdoors bring a fresh perspective to many places and spaces that we all take for granted. A few steps removed from your typical climate warrior, Jack works across vast political and socio-cultural divides to bring the joy of nature journaling to audiences around the world. In his journey, which took him from roaming the Sierra Nevadas to sparking an artistic movement, he demonstrates that the best way to succeed in difficult climate discussions is to find common ground with the simple things, like the birds and bees in our own backyards, that connect us. In this episode, Jack takes us through a lesson in nature art that could very well change how you see the world around you—and maybe inspire you to slow down and pay a bit more attention than you would otherwise. You’ll definitely want to WATCH this one!

Notes and resources

* John Muir Laws’s website

* Americans’ partisan identities are stronger than race and ethnicity, Stanford scholar finds

* Climate Swings Substack

* Climate Swings YouTube

* Climate Swings Spotify

Join me on another special episode of Climate Swings, where I’m providing an update on the second leg of our Europe Summer travels. This time, I’m reporting from Madrid, which beats out Barcelona in terms of liveliness and being an undeniable seat of Spanish culture—but doesn’t quite measure up to Barcelona in other ways (including celebrity encounters 💃). Which city has the edge as the next place my husband and I might want to call home?

Notes and resources

LinkedIn Post: Barcelona Diaries Part II: Good Luck, Babe! 🇪🇸

From small-town Pennsylvania to the halls of Stanford Law, from EPA environmental attorney to mayor of Sausalito, Janelle Kellman’s career has put her at the heart of the climate-community nexus—and could even see her become the next Lieutenant Governor of California. Join Janelle as she takes us through her "intellectual buffet" of roles—law firm partner, EPA Region 9 attorney, renewable energy consultant, planning commissioner, nonprofit founder, e-commerce entrepreneur, and elected official. Her secret sauce? An unshakeable belief that resilience beats sustainability every time, and that communities know best how to solve their own problems. Whether she’s securing $2 million in grants to flood-proof her waterfront town or hiking California’s watersheds to understand dam removal impacts, Janelle proves that the most effective climate leaders are those who listen first, act second, and never stop building coalitions. Her mantra is "community leader who took action" and she’s living it at every level from city hall to state politics.

Notes and resources

* Janelle Kellman’s LinkedIn

* Center for Sea Rise Solutions

* Janelle Kellman’s campaign website