I can’t believe this happened. 😂
We produced a freakin' CLIMATE VARIETY SHOW. And here is a slideshow of the goofiness.
One day, brainstorming with a friend, I thought 🤔:
What if we do the book launch as a CLIMATE VARIETY SHOW?
I mean, why not? Then, all the folks I asked to be part of it said, sure, why not? And I still, truly, can’t believe this happened. 😂
The tour was such a whirlwind that I’m only just now looking through the photos — I think I need 50 days to recover from the 50 days of touring. 🫠 But now that I’m looking... HOT DAMN Y’ALL 🔥❤️ I’m gobsmacked.
The WHAT IF WE GET IT RIGHT? book launch was pure delight. (You can hear an audio montage of it in the 1st episode of our podcast.) Scripting the show with Brad Einstein and Jason Sudeikis was so much fun. You can read Rolling Stone’s take on our “climate party” or Vanity Fair’s on how we “took the terror out of climate activism” — or just scroll down and enjoy the photos.
Endlessly grateful for everyone coming through for me, for this book, for climate solutions. What a freakin’ blast. 🚀
I’ve said it before, and I’m saying it again: We can take climate change seriously without taking ourselves seriously! 😝
Hila the Earth was the cold open of my literal dreams. Hear her rap “Earth Gone Give It To Ya” over DMX’s beat on her Instagram.
EARTH vs. MARS, which is the best planet? We debated, in a game-show style planetary face-off, with comedian repping Mars and Dr. Kate Marvel (NASA climate scientist) repping Earth, judged by consummate host Roy Wood Jr.
Earth is the best planet. 🏆 (That’s also the title of the book chapter wherein I interview Dr. Marvel.) It was a decisive victory: water, breathable air, all the people we love, they’re all right here. 🌎
Some of the people I interviewed and collaborated with for the book came through to share their favorite climate solutions. L to R: Judith Schwartz, Paola Antonelli, Xiye Bastida, Maggie Thomas, Jean Flemma, Samantha Montano, Jade Begay, Bren Smith, Kate Marvel. Deservedly, they got a pop megastar level of applause.👏🏽
Jacqueline Woodson read her perfect poem, written for my book, “Dear Future Ones.”
The Oshima Brothers came down from Maine to sing their perfect song, “Love is Tall,” complete with a homemade crankie box (a 17-foot story scroll).
Storyteller and illustrator brought the house down, hula hooping while explaining how climate change is messing with the sex lives of various species. (RIP lobster golden showers? 🦞) Follow her on Instagram @experrinment for her A+ #ThirstyScience videos. (She’s on substack!)
Oh, how we laughed. 🤣
Cameron Russell put her supermodel skills to their highest purpose: making climate solutions sexy. (Heat pump costume courtesy Rewiring America. ⚡️)
Nicole Cardoza wow’d us with her magic.✨ And what do those three rings remind me of...?
... a Climate Action Venn Diagram!
Yes, I made everyone fill one out. (And you can download a worksheet here.)
Don’t worry, that part was fun too! Climate solutions, get into it.
Then there was a Dance Dance Revolution dance-off. Incredibly, Lead Locally programmed the board so that each step Jason or I took texted a voter in a swing state to #VoteClimate. And actor/poet Amber Tamblyn was the bestest, twerkiest referee. (Amber’s on Substack!)
Apparently, Jason won. (Don’t worry there was a rematch at the LA book launch, and I was victorious! 🕺🏽) Thank you Whit Jones (founder of Lead Locally) for this goofy grande finale.
Mamoudou N’Diaye — DJ, comedian, writer — kept the vibes immaculate. Couldn’t have done it without him. Wouldn’t have wanted to.(Also, he’s on Substack!)
The most beautiful crowd. The best spot. Thank you Brooklyn Museum!
Thank you Jason, best co-host imaginable. Thank you Gabriela Hearst, best dress ever.
Thusly, we launched WHAT IF WE GET IT RIGHT? 🚀
Produced by Jamila Ponton Bragg and my chief of staff Jenisha Shrestha, with graphic design by Design Hungry, and video/livestream by Righteous Fights. These incredible photos are by Kisha Bari and Jessica Bal.
And YES, you should buy this book. 📚 Give the gift of joyous climate solutions this holiday! Share this newsletter! 💌
And I’ve got a full holiday gift guide coming your way this weekend... plus, new podcast episodes next week! (You can catch up on past episodes here, or on Apple and Spotify.)
If you’ve scrolled this far and want more silly photos, 🫡 I’ll be posting pics from the Los Angeles and Portland variety shows soon on my Instagram – plus behind-the-scenes and afterparty shots! 🤪
I’ve been listening to the audio version for a couple of weeks now, and have shouted at just about everyone I know that they MUST read it. Such an amazing piece of climate work—it’s no surprise the launch was just as wonderful!
How extraordinary and amazing!!