We are excited to share with you the next interview in our “Beyond the Page” series featuring Tamara Yakaboski.
“What in nature do you love more than anything in the world?” With this simple yet profound question, resilience coach Tamara Yakaboski opens a pathway to climate resilience that transcends political divides and paralyzing eco-anxiety.
The climate crisis has arrived on our doorsteps, manifesting in unprecedented weather events, rising temperatures, and profound uncertainty. Many of us experience solastalgia—the pain of watching places we love transform before our eyes—along with eco-anxiety and climate grief. These responses aren’t weaknesses; they’re natural human reactions to witnessing profound environmental change.
Drawing on over 20 years as a social scientist and professor, Yakaboski shares a transformative four-step framework—Access, Assess, Align, and Action—designed to bridge the gap between awareness and meaningful climate engagement. Unlike conventional approaches that rush toward solutions while bypassing emotions, this methodology helps both coaches and clients process their embodied responses to climate uncertainty before taking action.
Perhaps most revolutionary is Yakaboski’s redefinition of resilience itself. “I don’t want to be a cut piece of wood that bounces back,” she explains. “I want to be like a tree that can grow from a rock crevice or cliff edge.” This ecological understanding of resilience—as adaptation rather than resistance—offers a powerful metaphor for navigating climate challenges with creativity and determination.
The conversation weaves between practical strategies and profound insights, revealing how reconnecting with nature—whether through forest walks, ocean sounds, or simply observing birds in urban settings—can reset our nervous systems and rekindle our capacity for hope. Not passive, wishful thinking, but active hope grounded in meaningful engagement.
Ready to transform climate anxiety into purposeful action? Visit TamaraYakaboski.com to access her guide on overcoming cognitive barriers to climate engagement, and start having more conversations about climate change. As Yakaboski reminds us, “We feel more hopeful and empowered the more we’re in conversation with others.”
In this episode, I talk with Tamara about her article published in our March 2025 issue.
Know of an author we should interview? Send me an email to podcast@choice-online.com
Let’s continue the conversation by connecting with your colleagues on our Facebook page
If you are not already, click here to subscribe to choice magazine.
