What if the greatest barrier to climate action isn’t technology or policy but the human mind?
In this thought-provoking episode, we speak with clinical psychologist Emily Toner about the hidden psychological forces shaping our response to the climate crisis. While innovation in renewable energy and policy reform are critical, Emily argues that a deeper challenge sits beneath it all: the emotional toll of living in an era of compounding crises.
When: 28 April 2026, Starts at 12:00pm AEDT
From climate grief and activist burnout to the quiet numbness many people feel when faced with overwhelming information, stress and fear can push individuals and communities into what Emily calls “contractive states.” In these states, our thinking narrows, creativity diminishes, and our capacity to act shrinks precisely when bold ideas and collective action are needed most.
Drawing on her work as a clinical psychologist, along with insights from behavioural neuroscience and wellbeing science, Emily reframes the climate conversation through a powerful psychological lens. Referencing leading thinkers such as Antonio Damasio and Barbara Fredrickson, she explores how emotions shape decision-making and why cultivating positive emotional states can expand our ability to think strategically, collaborate, and take meaningful action.
This conversation is especially relevant for social and environmental changemakers, purpose-driven leaders, and anyone feeling the emotional weight of today’s global challenges. It offers practical and hopeful insights for navigating overwhelm while staying engaged with the work that matters.
Together, we explore how tending to our inner world is not a distraction from solving global problems but a foundation for courageous, creative, and sustained action.
Key takeaways include:
- Why our ability to process emotions profoundly shapes individual and societal behaviour
- How stress, fear, and burnout quietly narrow our thinking and limit our capacity to act
- Why wellbeing, joy, and nervous system regulation are strategic tools for unlocking creativity, resilience, and meaningful change
We believe powerful conversations spark impact and this one invites us to rethink how human psychology shapes our collective future.