In a world driven by economic growth, what if our true goal was cultivating ecological wealth? In this Climate Week episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie is joined by environmental justice educator and creative Isaias Hernandez (Queer Brown Vegan). Isaias, author of the forthcoming book Dear Environmentalist and creator of the web series Teaching Climate Together, breaks down how climate, surveillance, immigration, and data center expansion intersect. Listen in as they explore how to overcome climate despair, why systemic hardships are not personal failures, and how simple practices like community mapping build resilient futures. Key Takeaways: Being wealthy and being rich are not the same thing. A healthy society measures success by the well-being of people and the planet, not by inherited wealth, making lots of money, or other traditional metrics.Climate justice doesn't stand alone. Fossil fuels, surveillance, ICE detention, and Indigenous land rights are deeply linked, and recognizing those connections builds stronger coalitions.Local action works. Data center pushback is a great example. By showing up at city council meetings, demanding NDA bans and real reporting on energy and water usage, organized residents are halting harmful data center developments.Most people already care about the planet and their neighbors; they just want to be heard. Listening builds more genuine momentum than lecturing ever will.Map your neighborhood. Knowing your local food banks, parks, and small businesses leads to relationships, and those relationships make a community truly resilient. "How do we actually build a society that's ecologically wealthy versus building a society that is just rich?" — Isaias Hernandez "If you can't find a job, it's not you. If you are struggling to pay rent, if you're struggling to pay food, it's not you. It's not your fault. It's not a failure that you did." — Isaias Hernandez "Continue building relationships with people, and continue to stay curious and learning more from people as you can in this world." — Isaias Hernandez "Look at these amazing people doing this work, and if you see yourself in them, you can do it." — Isaias Hernandez About Isaias Hernandez: Isaias Hernandez is an environmentalist, speaker, and creative behind Queer Brown Vegan, an independent media platform dedicated to intersectional environmental education and accessibility. Named a top climate creator by Harvard C-CHANGE, he collaborates across public and private sectors to host the web series Teaching Climate Together and has spoken for platforms like The New York Times, Nike, Harvard University, and Billie Eilish’s Overheated Summit. Featured in Vogue, The Guardian, and The Washington Post, Isaias is the author of Dear Environmentalist: Notes on Climate, Community, and the World We Still Deserve (Hachette Book Group / Timber Press). Connect with Isaias Hernandez: Website: https://queerbrownvegan.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queerbrownvegan/ Connect with Kristine: The PlayFull Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-playfull-podcast-with-kristine-michie-bringing-fun/id1676838213?action=write-review Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/ Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
