This episode features a conversation with John Marshall, CEO of the Potential Energy Coalition. It was recorded in March 2024.

John’s three decades of experience in advising the leaders of Fortune 500 companies spans branding, marketing, innovation, and digital transformation. As well as his work leading Potential Energy Coalition, John is a Professor at Dartmouth College, a senior client advisor at the marketing consulting firm, Lippincott, and he’s even delivered a Ted Talk on climate change too.

John’s been a partner at consulting firms big and small, and a frequent industry commentator, speaker, and marketing writer whose words have graced the likes of the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, The New York Times, Wired, and Fast Company.

Amongst other things, John and I discussed radical audience centricity, the down sides of using crisis messaging, and how we can more successfully sell the troubled “brand” that is climate change.

Additional links:

Sign up to the “That’s Interesting!” newsletter on Potential Energy Coalition’s website

The Talk Like a Human guide

The Later is Too Late report and interactive tool

John’s TED Talk on effectively talking about climate change

This episode features a conversation with Katherine Dunn, Content Editor at the Oxford Climate Journalism Network, a program led by the University of Oxford’s Reuters Institute. It was recorded in March 2024.

Through her work at the Oxford Climate Journalism Network (or OCJN) Katherine has worked with more than 500 journalists from over 100 countries, seeking to improve climate literacy and climate storytelling. In 2023, she was a co-author of the European Broadcasting Union’s, “Climate Journalism That Works”, a report on how newsrooms can better cover climate change and build a climate strategy. I actually discussed this amazing resource in a previous episode, with Alexandra Borchardt, so, though Katherine and I didn’t talk about it here, if you’re interested, you can find a link to that episode below.

Before joining the Reuters Institute, Katherine spent the best part of a decade working as a reporter and editor in business journalism, with a focus on the energy and commodities markets and industries. This included a stint as editor at Fortune magazine, where she covered climate change and the energy transition.

Amongst other things, Katherine and I discussed what makes an effective climate news story, the obligations of newsrooms when it comes to addressing climate issues, and the unique role of meteorologists in delivering relevant and actionable local climate insights.

Additional links:

About the Oxford Climate Journalism Network

Climate news insights from The Reuters Institute

Insights on news avoidance from The Digital News Report

“Find your mango” and other learnings from the OCJN

The BBC’s “Life at 50C” series

The New Yorker’s stories about electricians

My interview with Alexandra Borchardt about the “Climate Journalism That Works” report.

This episode features a conversation with CEO and co-founder of Redwood Climate Communications, Josh Garrett. It was recorded in November 2023.

Having spent more than half of his almost two decades of strategic communications and marketing experience committed to clean energy and climate tech, Josh co-founded the climate-focused advisory and public relations firm Redwood Climate Communications in September 2021 and has since led the growth of the company while maintaining its commitment to facilitating climate progress.

Over the course of his career, Josh has led campaigns for climate organizations large and small, including Google Nest, Stem, and Sunrun, as well as environmental non-profits like The Nature Conservancy.

Amongst other things, Josh and I discussed the state of political polarization on climate issues in the United States, what this poster child of partisanship can teach us about communicating climate change across the aisle, and which bright spots we might look to for inspiration.

Additional links:

Visit the Redwood Climate Communications website

Check out Rewiring America and Pique Action

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication’s 6 Americas of Global Warming