• A Hopeful Climate Conversation with Richard Powers

  • Jan 12 2025
  • Length: 58 mins
  • Podcast

A Hopeful Climate Conversation with Richard Powers

  • Summary

  • This week, we revisit a soulful conversation around climate change and the restorative power of nature with author Richard Powers.

    We begin by defining the thematic through-line between The Overstory and Bewilderment (5:06), the eco trauma articulated in each text (9:10), how we may redefine hope today (16:08), and what the pandemic taught us about the climate crisis (26:18). Powers also details the ecological shortcomings of capitalism (29:00) and our myopic interpretation (and fear of) death (30:56).

    On the back-half, we unpack why he writes (33:48), the need for “productive solitude” (40:40), and the singular way he writes analytical and emotional characters (44:42). To close– a fitting scene from one of Powers’ earlier works, Plowing the Dark (50:30), in which an older man enters an used bookstore, unable to find the book intended. And in the absence of that book, Richard Powers will continue to do so (52:50).

    Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at sf@talkeasypod.com.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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