happy fall, friends
it's officially here (in the northern hemisphere)
I’m in the process of finding my way back to words after writing a book and living in a time that has left me with very few, so here is a pretty picture from time spent sleeping on the ground in the Utah desert, and some updates.
The first is that Getting to the Heart of Science Communication is in a second printing, and an audiobook version is now available! The audiobook is not necessarily something that would happen with this kind of book, and I’m deeply appreciative of everyone who has supported the work enough to make this possible. The book is also on sale in its different versions and you can still get it discounted using the code “heart” directly from Island Press.
Over the past many months I’ve been highlighting the words of folks in the book and those reading it on social media, particularly on Twitter with #HeartOfSciComm and on Instagram where it’s mostly in the story format and saved in three separate highlights there. Thank you to everyone who has shared!
I’ve had some truly wonderful conversations during interviews, events, and podcasts, which are linked on my website. I so appreciate everyone who has taken the time to engage with me. It was particularly special to talk with the good folks at Climate One alongside the brilliant Dr. Katerina Gonzales!
Finally, I want to express heartfelt and immense gratitude to everyone who has taken the time to read, or even start to read, this book during what I know are challenging times. A deep bow to those of you who have gone the extra mile and left a favorable review (especially at the big site; it makes a difference). I know everyone is busy, and tired and worried, AND those efforts make a huge difference, particularly for a pandemic release.
Hopefully next time I’ll be able to share a more substantive piece of writing, but until then, happy fall, y’all.
Currently reading:
Books: The Sound of the Sea by Cynthia Barnett is all-around excellent! I learned so much from it both in terms of the content, and from the writing itself, which is incredibly aspirational for me. Disasterology by Sam Montano is fantastically engaging! Although we are separated by, ahem, a decade or two, our disaster experiences are remarkably resonant and I learned a lot about “formal” emergency management. Climate Change from the Streets by Michael Mendez is a must-read for everyone working on climate issues.
Essays/articles: Traumatic Monologues by Melanie Yazzie is excellent for those who want to think more about trauma (I continue to evolve my perspective for sure) and View from a Fire Scientist When the World is Burning by Jessica McCarty is a piece I wish I could’ve written!
Currently listening to:
Star-crossed, the new album by Kacey Musgraves is an epic must-listen, and “Breadwinner” is a song I know more than a few folks can relate to. Revisting the Anita Baker archives since she got her masters back and feeling my junior high/high school years with Rapture and its title-adjacent song. “Stay” by Valerie June, “Hold On” by Yola, “You Can Have Him Jolene” by Chapel Heart, “Sober & Skinny” by Brittney Spencer, and “Heaven is a Honky Tonk” by the Highwomen have all been on heavy rotation.
As always, there are so many good podcasts to listen to. I hope you’ll check out the second season of Water Talk, which I co-host/produce with Mallika Nocco and Sam Sandoval. I love The Stacks, hosted by Traci Thomas, which is all books all the time! I promise you will find your next great read there. The episode of You’re Wrong About focused on The Chicks and cancel culture was so so good.
I welcome thoughts you want to send me about the content of this newsletter or otherwise.