You're a mature, rational adult who can face massive, existential problems head-on, right? Or is your brain more like a medieval dungeon: a deep dark place in which you chuck things you don't want to think about, and throw away the key? Uh-oh. 

My guest on this episode, the esteemed psychologist, TED talker and author Dr Renée Lertzman, thinks it's the latter - and she thinks it's about time you got them complex thoughts out.  

Renée tells me why most traditional climate chat is more likely to cause us to shut down than authentically connect with how we feel about climate change (and all the rest of it). She draws from the worlds of therapy and trauma management to urge us all to be guides, not lecturers - and to help others to dig into what lies beneath. 

Let me know your thoughts on the show - hello@yourbrainonclimate.com. Please rate, review and subscribe, and share the show on socials. And do consider chucking this humble indie podcaster a few quid at www.patreon.com/yourbrainonclimate. 

Owl noises = references below.

• 18:14 - Psychosocial research = how our inner worlds relate to our social lives. 
• 22:23 - Marshall Alcorn's Resistance to Learning.  
• 24:49 - A Substack from Renée, including on how naming complex truths makes our immune system work better. 
• 32:50 - Lisa Feldman Barrett's amazing work on how emotions work. 
• 37:30 - A fascinating long read/listen on accompaniment.  
• 44:56 - Another of Renée's Substacks, this time on the three As. 

Your Brain on Climate is a show about human brains vs the climate crisis. It's  hosted and produced by me, Dave Powell. You can follow the show on instagram @yourbrainonclimate, and I occasionally put up a Substack. 

YBOC theme music and iterations thereof, by me. Thanks as always to Ruth Everett for the voices. Show logo by Arthur Stovell at https://mondial-studio.com/.