Climate Literacy Without Fear: A Conversation with Paul Koberstein

Thrive Outside is back this January for its second year! This 5-week online group coaching program helps teachers build confidence and clarity in outdoor learning—through routines, curriculum connections, planning support, and weekly collaborative sessions. Early bird pricing is open now at $127 until December 19, 2025, before increasing to $177. You can absolutely use Pro-D or PAC funds, and I’d love to have you join our 2026 cohort.Click HERE to join! Now onto today’s episode—one that so many teachers have been waiting for.I’m joined by Paul Koberstein, award-winning investigative journalist, author, and founder of Cascadia Times. He’s also the co-author of Canopy of Titans, a finalist for the Oregon Book Award, which explores the ecological, cultural, and climate importance of the Pacific Northwest’s ancient forests. Paul’s work sits at the intersection of science, storytelling, and justice, making him the perfect guest to help us unpack today’s topic: climate literacy without fear.In this conversation, Paul and I explore questions educators face every day, such as:• How do we explain complex systems—like forests, carbon cycles, and climate change—in ways that build curiosity, wonder, and hope, rather than fear? • What stories from Canopy of Titans can teachers bring into their classrooms to spark conversations about stewardship, ecosystems, and human impact? • What signs of a healthy or stressed ecosystem should students learn to notice during forest walks or schoolyard explorations? • How can we talk about logging, conservation, and land management honestly—especially in communities with strong ties to forestry—while staying respectful and balanced? • How do forests and freshwater systems connect, and how do species like beavers and salmon actually help stabilize the climate? • Why is simple noticing—curiosity, observation, attention—such a powerful foundation for environmental literacy? • What are developmentally appropriate ways to introduce advocacy, decision-making, and environmental responsibility without overwhelming kids? • And finally: What hopeful stories and emerging research keep Paul going, and how can we share that hope with our students?Get in touch with Paul: [email protected] Click HERE to buy Canopy of Titanshttps://www.orbooks.com/catalog/canopy-of-titans/