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A few weeks ago Jane Goodall interviewed me for her Hopecast podcast. The episode came out today: RHETT BUTLER – HOPE IS SHARING KNOWLEDGE TO EMPOWER (JANE GOODALL HOPECAST EPISODE #19).
Here is the episode description:
For this episode of the Hopecast, Dr. Jane Goodall meets with longtime collaborator and fellow storyteller, Rhett Butler! Rhett is the founder and CEO of Mongabay, a nonprofit environmental media organization that has often worked with JGI to amplify conservation messages and impact. Together, Rhett and Jane give their perspectives on the importance of sharing stories with the world. Rhett uses his skills in both writing and photography to inform and educate across hundreds of publication and channels, including the Mongabay podcast, and he was the first journalist to win the Field Museum’s Parker/Gentry Award from the Field Museum in Chicago. Another lifelong learner, the unique experiences he has had throughout his career have also put him in a position to advise a wide range of organizations and institutions.
During this conversation, Rhett and Jane discuss what it takes to tell an engaging story, and the challenge of providing hope even while acknowledging some hard truths. Each speak about how they balance hard science with a more personal sense of wonder, and how faith plays a part in their work. They also converse about the role of media in spreading important messages, especially in this technological age where information is more accessible than ever before. This topic expands even outside of conservation, into the wider importance of journalistic integrity. Rhett and Jane emphasize the power of media as the bridge between citizens and world leaders, giving the public the information needed to hold leaders accountable and to create change themselves. With so much happening in the world, how can each of us utilize journalism and news media to make a positive impact?
The Hopecast crew released a few quote cards from the episode:
You can find Jane Goodall’s Hopecast on all major podcast platforms, including:
iTunes | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Castbox
