Rebecca Solnit

The Beginning Comes After the End by Rebecca Solnit highlights how slow, consistent activism can bring lasting change. Rebecca joins us to talk about interconnection, possibility, the nature of change, hope, empathy and more with host Miwa Messer. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): The Beginning Comes After the End: Notes on a World of Change by Rebecca Solnit Comfortable With Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion by Pema Chödrön Hope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities by Rebecca Solnit No Straight Road Takes You There: Essays for Uneven Terrain by Rebecca Solnit The Faraway Nearby by Rebecca Solnit Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit A Field Guide to Getting Lost by Rebecca Solnit Recollections of My Nonexistence: A Memoir by Rebecca Solnit

We're getting so close to our 200th episode, but first, we have a book club episode for you. In Episode 198, we're talking about Gen's pick—Orwell's Roses by Rebecca Solnit. Show Notes This book felt extremely relevant to everything happening in the world these days, like oof. Truly so many topics were covered in this book! The rise of Communism and the Soviet Union, the Spanish Civil War, the Carboniferous Era, coal mining, rose production in Colombia, and actually so much more. What a ride. Rebecca Solnit, we are so impressed with the structuring of this book. You can read Orwell's essay, " Politics and the English Language ," on the Orwell Foundation website and it is very much worth the read. Don't be surprised if Gen picks Nineteen Eighty-Four as a future book club read. If you follow us on Instagram, you may know that we've fallen down the romance rabbit hole, so we decided that our next episode would be all about the romance genre. After that, it's time for our 200th episode! We still can't believe it. Our next book club book is Jette's pick, and we're following the romance train still with In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde, which is a spin off of the extremely popular Windy City series. Other Books and Media Mentioned The Giver by Lois Lowry The Trotsky (2009) By George Orwell: Nineteen Eighty-Four Animal Farm Down and Out in Paris and London Homage to Catalonia By Rebecca Solnit: Men Explain Things to Me Hope In the Dark A Field Guide to Getting Lost The Beginning Comes After the End

The feeling of impending doom is an emotion that many Americans have felt since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. Not knowing what’s next for the country as this administration carries out a high velocity of policy changes in such a short period of time has left some people’s spirits very low. The worries come as prospects of Democrats retaking Congressional power surge, but is that enough to reassure people? As best-selling author and progressive activist Rebecca Solnit puts it in the title of her new book — the beginning comes after the end. Solnit, who will be appearing at this year’s Santa Fe International Literary Festival, joins the latest “Conversations Different” podcast episode to discuss with host Inez Russell Gomez her newly released book The Beginning Comes After the End: Notes on a World of Change. According to the book’s summary, Solnit writes about the political and social movements over the last few decades to share how people have responded to change and how the common takeaway from those movements has been to create a new world that embraces community, culture and diversity. It’s advice Solnit says is extremely relevant in today’s political times. In the episode, Solnit also talks about the state of our current politics, explains how her essay inspired the term “mansplaining” and what her message for this year’s literary festival — May 15-17 — will be. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rebecca Solnit Forum: Notes on a World of Change Grace Cathedral, San Francisco As white nationalist and authoritarian movements push toward isolation and individualism, other currents continue to gather strength. Antiracism, feminism, expansive understandings of gender, environmental thinking, scientific discovery, and Indigenous and non-Western ways of knowing resonate across borders and generations, pointing toward a more relational and interconnected world. Few writers trace these converging currents with the clarity and moral imagination of Rebecca Solnit. A writer, historian, and activist, Solnit is the author of more than twenty books exploring feminism, western and urban history, popular power, social change and insurrection, wandering and walking, hope and catastrophe. Across her work, she listens for the deeper frequencies of change—the ways ideas, struggles, and solidarities echo across time. In The Beginning Comes After the End: Notes on a World of Change, a sequel to her enduring bestseller Hope in the Dark, Solnit reflects on the profound shifts that have unfolded since 1960, and the long vibrations of change that often go unheard in the moment. Join Malcolm Clemens Young, Dean of Grace Cathedral, for a conversation with Rebecca Solnit about how social, political, scientific, and cultural transformations resonate across the past seventy-five years—and how listening for those resonances can help us imagine what comes next. Recorded at Grace Cathedral on March 15, 2026. Give to Grace You can help us bring the arts to life at Grace with a gift today to The Forum. gracecathedral.org/give Become a GraceArts Member Love engaging dialogue? We offer a special cultural membership program, GraceArts, focused exclusively on the arts and well-being. GraceArts allows a wider community to belong to and support Grace, with discounts and benefits on a robust schedule of events. Learn more and join at gracecathedral.org/join. About the Guest Writer, historian, and activist Rebecca Solnit is the author of more than twenty books on feminism, western and urban history, popular power, social change and insurrection, wandering and walking, hope and catastrophe. Her books include Orwell's Roses; Recollections of My Nonexistence; Hope in the Dark; Men Explain Things to Me; A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities that Arise in Disaster; and A Field Guide to Getting Lost. A product of the California public education system from kindergarten to graduate school, she writes regularly for the Guardian, serves on the board of the climate group Oil Change International, and recently launched the climate project Not Too Late (nottoolateclimate.com). About the Moderator The Very Rev. Dr. Malcolm Clemens Young is the dean of Grace Cathedral. He is the author of The Spiritual Journal of Henry David Thoreau and The Invisible Hand in Wilderness: Economics, Ecology, and God, and is a regular contributor on religion to the Huffington Post and San Francisco Examiner. About The Forum The Forum is a series of stimulating conversations about faith and ethics in relation to the important issues of our day. We invite inspiring and illustrious people to sit down for a real conversation with the Forum's host and with you. Our guests range from artists, inventors and philosophers to pop culturists and elected officials, but the point of The Forum is singular: civil, sophisticated discourse that engages minds and hearts to think in new ways about the world. Learn more about The Forum here: gracecathedral.org/the-forum

How do you deal with the emotional toll of living in a time of dissolution? Social scientists use the term "polycrisis" to describe the kind of cascading, overlapping failures that can lead to systemic collapse, and it’s hard not to see the symptoms of a dying world order in events unfolding around us. But maybe what we’re witnessing is actually grounds for hope. In a forthcoming book " The Beginning Comes After the End, " writer and activist Rebecca Solnit makes the case that something is dying, all right — because something better is being born. A rising worldview that embraces antiracism, feminism, environmental thinking, Indigenous and non-Western ideas, and a vision of a more interconnected, compassionate world. Solnit is an engaged writer and intellectual in the tradition of Barbara Ehrenreich, Susan Sontag and George Orwell. Her new book picks up where her earlier bestseller “ Hope in the Dark ” left off — with an argument against despair and historical amnesia. In this conversation, we explore the extraordinary scale of progressive social, political, scientific and cultural change over the past century, the roots of Solnit’s stance of “pragmatic, embodied hope,” her thoughts on “moral wonder, “ and her years in San Francisco’s underground punk rock scene. She also tells us what she’d put in our own wonder cabinet: an AIDS Memorial Quilt square sewn by Rosa Parks. — To The Best Of Our Knowledge — Tending a wartime garden: what Orwell’s fascination with roses tells us about the human need for beauty Rebecca Solnit’s newsletter Pre-order “ The Beginning Comes After the End ," due out March 3, 2026. — 00:00:00 Introduction 00:04:00 A Land Back Ceremony 00:08:05 Progress in Disguise 00:18:35 Hope and Interconnection 00:29:45 Defiant Hope — Wonder Cabinet is hosted by Anne Strainchamps and Steve Paulson. Find out more about the show at wondercabinetproductions.com , where you can subscribe to the podcast and our newsletter. Wonder Cabinet is hosted by Anne Strainchamps and Steve Paulson. Find out more about the show at https://wondercabinetproductions.com, where you can subscribe to the podcast and our newsletter.

We explore how embracing uncertainty enables us to move beyond climate anxiety and despair to hope and action, with author and activist Rebecca Solnit. Summary: When you think about climate change, do you feel hope? In this episode of The Science of Happiness, we examine what it means to feel hopeful for the future of our planet. Renowned writer and activist Rebecca Solnit shares why she loves uncertainty, what gives her hope, and how hope empowers her. Later, we hear from climate scientist Patrick Gonzalez about why he believes climate hope is scientifically sound, and how much power we truly have to create meaningful change. How To Do This Practice: Acknowledge the hard stuff: Hope doesn’t come from ignoring reality, it begins with honesty. Naming the fears, grief, or overwhelm we feel about climate change and life’s challenges. Remember uncertainty leads to possibility: Despair often assumes the future is fixed. But history is full of surprises and turning points. When we leave space for uncertainty, we leave space for possibility. Focus on progress, not perfection: Every step forward matters. Clean energy expanding, policies shifting, communities protecting what they love. Small and large wins alike fuel the feedback loop between hope and action. Nourish yourself with beauty, awe, and joy: A sunrise, music, dancing, kindness, or the courage of others can all awaken something bigger in us. Awe quiets despair and helps us see new ways forward. Connect with others: Hope grows when it’s shared. Joining movements, communities, or simply leaning on friends creates a sense of belonging and power. Together, the ants can move the elephant. Practice hope daily: Some days hope comes easily; other days it doesn’t. That’s normal. Journaling, noticing progress, limiting bad news, and showing up in community are all ways to keep practicing. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Guests: REBECCA SOLNIT is an author, activist, and historian. She has written over 20 books on Western and Indigenous history, feminism, social change, hope, and disaster. Learn more about Rebecca Solnit here: http://rebeccasolnit.net/ PATRICK GONZALEZ is a climate change scientist and forest ecologist at the University of California, Berkeley. Learn more about Patrick Gonzalez here: http://www.patrickgonzalez.net/ Related The Science of Happiness episodes: Climate, Hope, & Science Series: https://tinyurl.com/pb27rep The Healing Effects of Experiencing Wildlife: https://tinyurl.com/bde5av4z Related Happiness Breaks: How To Ground Yourself in Nature: https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpm Pause to Look at the Sky: https://tinyurl.com/4jttkbw3 Tell us about your experience with this practice. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or follow on Instagram @HappinessPod . Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/3uw3hdk3

In this powerful in-store conversation, Rebecca Solnit joins Adam Biles to discuss her new book No Straight Road Takes You There — a rallying call for hope, justice, and the reimagining of our collective future. With wit, clarity, and courage, Solnit explores how stories shape our world — and how changing them can change everything. Drawing on decades of activism and deep historical insight, she challenges despair, celebrates solidarity, and reminds us that even in dark times, “we are always in the middle of the story.” From climate crisis to the power of protest, from Silicon Valley dystopia to unexpected beauty in community, this conversation is a galvanizing reminder: the future is unwritten — and it’s ours to shape. Buy No Straight Road Takes You There : https://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/books/no-straight-road-takes-you-there * REBECCA SOLNIT is the author of more than twenty books, including Orwell’s Roses, which was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for Political Writing, Recollections of My Non-Existence, which was longlisted for the 2021 Orwell Prize for Political Writing and shortlisted for the James Tait Black Award, The Faraway Nearby, Wanderlust, A Field Guide to Getting Lost, River of Shadows and A Paradise Built in Hell. She is also the author of Men Explain Things to Me and many essays on feminism, activism, social change, hope, and the climate crisis. She lives in San Francisco and writes regularly for the Guardian. She lives in San Francisco. Adam Biles is Literary Director at Shakespeare and Company. Listen to Alex Freiman’s latest EP, In The Beginning: https://open.spotify.com/album/5iZYPMCUnG7xiCtsFCBlVa?si=h5x3FK1URq6SwH9Kb_SO3w Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sie kämpft für Rechtsstaat und Klimaschutz und schreibt gegen Männer an, die ihr die Welt erklären. Rebecca Solnit ist eine der führenden Intellektuellen der USA. Ihre Bücher und Essays werden weltweit ausgezeichnet. Und das nicht erst seit Beyoncé ihr Kind nach einem Text von ihr benannte. Als Rebecca Solnit 1980 nach San Francisco kam, empfand sie die Stadt als derart inspirierend, dass sie beschloss zu bleiben. Inzwischen sei ihre Wahlheimat von den Exponenten des Silicon Valley gekapert worden. Die Stadt sei bevölkert von Körpern, deren Geist woanders sei, meist in der virtuellen Welt. Und das mache die Stadt nicht nur weniger lebenswert, sondern auch gefährlich. Es sind solche Beobachtungen, festgehalten in packenden Essays und Zeitungsartikeln, die Rebecca Solnit zu einer der führenden Intellektuellen der USA gemacht haben. Sie schreibt für die britische Tageszeitung «The Guardian», war Herausgeberin des US-amerikanischen Magazins «Harper’s» und setzt sich auch als Aktivistin für Umwelt, - Gender- und Menschenrechtsfragen ein. Mit Barbara Bleisch spricht Rebecca Solnit über Umweltschutz und Feminismus, warum gesellschaftliche Veränderung wie ein Pilz funktioniert und weshalb sie sich oft fühlt wie eine Schildkröte auf einer Party von Eintagsfliegen.

"But they are few and we are many. A coup, which is what we are having this week, is never the end of the story: all across the world we can find examples of how people resisted kings and dictators and wrote the next chapter themselves as civil society." - Rebecca Solnit "They do not understand that the reason they need to be authoritarian is because they are at war with the will of the people (not all the American people, of course, but a whole lot of us). Much of what they are doing is wildly unpopular and will only become more so. They do not understand power itself, and the limits on theirs. They do not understand that they cannot strong-arm all of us into abandoning our beliefs, values, commitments, and knowledge." - Rebecca Solnit Rebecca Solnit's emergency meditations: https://meditations-in-an-emergency.ghost.io/welcome-to-meditations-in-an-emergency/ DONATE: www.pcrf.net GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.com TUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcast OR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcast OR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or impl Get bonus content on Patreon Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"No one can deal with every issue at once, and choosing which part of the problem to commit to is part of the work of resistance. Some of you are already doing important work on human rights or climate or criminal justice. Some of you can commit to addressing immigration or the underground railroads for abortions. Some of you will find your commitment or have skills and resources to bring to multiple issues. Daniel Berrigan, the Jesuit priest turned anti-war organiser, once wrote: “One cannot level one’s moral lance at every evil in the universe. There are just too many of them. But you can do something; and the difference between doing something and doing nothing is everything.”" - Rebecca Solnit The Rebecca Solnit Article I referenced today: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/09/authoritarians-like-trump-love-fear-defeatism-surrender-do-not-give-them-what-they-want Rebecca Solnit's emergency meditations: https://meditations-in-an-emergency.ghost.io/welcome-to-meditations-in-an-emergency/ DONATE: www.pcrf.net GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.com TUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcast OR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcast OR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or impl Get bonus content on Patreon Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rebecca Solnit er essayist, forfatter, aktivist - og så er hun en af de vigtigste feministiske stemmer i USA. Solnit er også en af de helt store forbilleder på Dagbladet Information, blandt andet på grund af den tanke, der ligger til grund for hendes bog “Hope In The Dark”. I bogen argumenterer hun for, at alle de store forandringer i verden kommer uforudset, og at man derfor skal have tillid til, at de vigtige verdensforandringer ligger og ulmer i mørket. Udgangspunktet for denne uges langsomme samtale mellem Rune Lykkeberg og Rebecca Solnit er Solnits essaysamling “Hvis historie er det?”, som samler Solnits bedste og vigtigste essays om aktivisme og feminisme. God fornøjelse.

What is hope and why is it so powerful? For writer Rebecca Solnit, hope is a commitment to possibility in the face of uncertainty. While many of us react to the unknown with anxiety or worry, Rebecca sees the opposite: that inherent to unpredictable circumstances is the possibility people can take action and to come together to create change. In this conversation, Rebecca Solnit and the Surgeon General discuss why hope is necessary. They look back at communities formed in response to disasters, like 9/11 and hurricanes, and how hope and connection are inextricably linked. A historian, Solnit points to milestones like the fall of the Berlin Wall in which people’s actions, sometimes incremental, led to unforeseen outcomes. In facing the massive uncertainty of climate change, Solnit offers why she is hopeful. Rather than fall to despair, she points that humans, throughout history, have seen the possibility to intervene and take action. And THAT is what Solnit calls hope. (04:34) Why can disasters be so powerful for uniting communities? (11:16) Why do some types of disasters bring people more together than others? (16:55) How do you advise young people who feel despair about climate change? (27:21) How can the way we remember history’s great social changes contribute to hope or hopelessness? (31:28) How does social media contribute to loneliness and isolation? (37:45) Has tech convinced us that living efficiently is more important than living in person? (47:33) How does Rebecca Solnit make herself feel better when she gets down? (48:35) What does the Surgeon General do to feel better when he is down? We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls . Rebecca Solnit , Writer X: @rebeccasolnit X: @nottoolate_hope About Rebecca Solnit Writer, historian, and activist Rebecca Solnit is the author of twenty-five books on feminism, environmental and urban history, popular power, social change and insurrection, wandering and walking, hope and catastrophe. She co-edited the 2023 anthology “Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility”. Her other books include “Orwell’s Roses”; “Recollections of My Nonexistence”; “Hope in the Dark”; “Men Explain Things to Me”; “A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities that Arise in Disaster”; and “A Field Guide to Getting Lost”. A product of the California public education system from kindergarten to graduate school, she writes regularly for the Guardian, serves on the board of the climate group Oil Change International, and in 2022 launched the climate project Not Too Late ( nottoolateclimate.com ).