Earthkeepers: A Circlewood Podcast on Creation Care and Spirituality

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In this episode from our archives, we explore the profound connection between humans and the natural world through the lens of place-based education, hunting, and relational awareness. Guest Joel Pontius shares his insights on cultivating respect, gratitude, and deep relationships with land and animals, emphasizing how these practices can transform our understanding and care for the Earth. When we did this interview, Joel was an educator, and we discussed in detail his thought-provoking approach to place-based education. The conversation considers how we might teach and form the young people in our lives so that they might better love and care for the planet.
Joel’s Info
Essay: Hearts Like This in Christ & Cascadia
Mentions:
Goshen College Merry Lea Environmental center & ecovillage
Goshen College sustainable farm
canoeing on the Elkhart river 
Lake Michigan
toxic forms of masculinity 
Key  Topics
Place-based education and its impact on ecological understanding
The role of hunting in developing respect and gratitude for animals
Practices for building relational awareness with land and creatures
The importance of humility and reverence in environmental stewardship
The intersection of science, art, and spirituality in understanding nature
How relational practices can foster hope and agency in climate action
The significance of gratitude and apology in human-nature interactions
The influence of childhood experiences on environmental values
Keywords
place-based education, ecology, hunting, gratitude, relational awareness, sustainability, natural history, spiritual connection, environmental education
 
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This episode delves into the spiritual, cultural, and ecological significance of untouched wilderness and our role as “keepers” or caretakers of such spaces. Jim Stump, Vice President of BioLogos and host of the Language of God podcast, shares about his recent journey to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, exploring the intersection of faith, creation care, and environmental advocacy.  Jim speaks up against the potential abuse of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but also shares about the ways he himself was deeply impacted by his encounters with the inhabitants of that remote wilderness—both human and more than human.
Links:
Jim Stump
Biologos
Language of God podcast
Jim Stump’s Substack – photos and essays about ANWR 
American Lands Project
Gwich’in Nation
Alaska National Wildlife Refuge
Alaska Wilderness and Resource Extraction
                  Alaska Public Media
                  Earth Justice
Response/Action Steps (see the end of the article)
 
Key  Topics:
Jim Stump's background in philosophy and science
The purpose and experience of the Arctic trip
The indigenous Gwichin people's relationship to the land
The environmental and spiritual significance of the Arctic Refuge
Christian vocation to care for creation
Hope and faith in environmental activism
The role of indigenous wisdom in conservation
Practical steps for advocacy and awareness
 
Keywords:
creation care, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, faith and environment, indigenous wisdom, climate change, conservation, Christian vocation, environmental justice, stewardship, Jim Stump, Gwich’in Nation, grizzly bears, Porcupine caribou, Arctic Village, earthkeeping
Find us on our website: Earthkeepers
Support the Earthkeepers podcast
Check out the Ecological Disciple

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In this engaging interview, Bill McKibben shares insights on climate change, renewable energy, and the role of faith communities in fostering cultural and technological change. Discover practical solutions, spiritual perspectives, and inspiring stories that motivate collective action for a sustainable future. 
McKibben’s writing has appeared in countless publications like The New Yorker and Rolling Stone, and he has written many books over the last few decades. In this perspective-broadening interview, Bill shares insights on climate change, renewable energy, and the role of faith communities in fostering cultural and technological change. This conversation covers practical solutions, spiritual perspectives, and inspiring stories that motivate collective action for a sustainable future. In particular, he claims that now more than ever we need creative thinking about implementing renewable energy strategies. And faith communities, he says, do have a special role to play. This episode, cocreated by Circlewood and our partner organization A Rocha USA, is cohosted by James Amadon, executive director of Circlewood, and by Deb Rienstra, a writer, speaker, and professor who serves on A Rocha USA’s advisory board. 
Links 
Bill McKibben’s website 
Here Comes the Sun by Bill McKibben 
A Rocha USA 
Deb Rienstra’s website 
Earthkeepers Episode 85: Becoming Hope: Debra Rienstra on Her Book Refugia Faith 
The Vatican’s solar project 
Third Act: Harnessing generational power to safeguard our climate and democracy. 
350.org: Fighting climate change for people and planet 
A Rocha USA: Ways to get involved 
TEND: Cultivating faith-based, creation-focused community 
Advocating for plug-in solar  
 Key  Topics 
The economic shift towards renewable energy 
The spiritual and cultural role in environmental change 
Practical steps for individuals and communities 
Older generations and their special capacities 
Churches who choose to pursue renewables as acts of love 
 
Keywords 
climate change, renewable energy, faith communities, cultural change, environmental activism, solar power, policy, spirituality, sustainability, environmental justice; Laudato Si, Pope Francis, Pope Leo, plug-in solar, agrovoltaics, solar farms and ecological diversity, wind turbines as ocean reefs, Think Global Do Justice Podcast 
 
Find us on our website: Earthkeepers
Support the Earthkeepers podcast
Check out the Ecological Disciple

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Our guest is well-known author, journalist and environmentalist, Bill McKibben. His writing has appeared in countless publications like The New Yorker and Rolling Stone, and he has written many books over the last few decades. In this engaging interview, Bill shares insights on climate change, renewable energy, and the role of faith communities in fostering cultural and technological change. This conversation covers practical solutions, spiritual perspectives, and inspiring stories that motivate collective action for a sustainable future. This episode, cocreated by Circlewood and our partner organization A Rocha USA, is cohosted by James Amadon, executive director of Circlewood, and by Deb Rienstra, a writer, speaker, and professor who serves on A Rocha USA’s advisory board.
Links
Bill McKibben’s website
Here Comes the Sun by Bill McKibben
A Rocha USA
Deb Rienstra’s website
Earthkeepers Episode 85: Becoming Hope: Debra Rienstra on Her Book Refugia Faith
The Vatican’s solar project
Third Act: Harnessing generational power to safeguard our climate and democracy.
350.org: Fighting climate change for people and planet
A Rocha USA: Ways to get involved
TEND: Cultivating faith-based, creation-focused community
Advocating for plug-in solar
Key  Topics
The economic shift towards renewable energy
The spiritual and cultural role in environmental change
Practical steps for individuals and communities 
Keywords
climate change, renewable energy, faith communities, cultural change, environmental activism, solar power, policy, spirituality, sustainability, environmental justice; Laudato Si, Pope Francis, Pope Leo, plug-in solar
Find us on our website: Earthkeepers
Support the Earthkeepers podcast
Check out the Ecological Disciple

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Summary
Explore the profound role of poetry and lament in addressing climate change, grief, and community resilience through the insights of authors Philip Mingay and Michael Ferber. In this episode, we take a look at their new book—a collection of poems and essays they have edited called Climate of Lament: Reflections on Ecological Grief. Mike and Philip—and the many other contributors to this volume—model for us a way to enter into the pain of letting our hearts be broken…and show us ways in which poetry can serve as a means of expressing both individual and collective sorrow. Importantly, in its inclusion of a range of authors from diverse vocational and cultural backgrounds, Climate of Lament shows us that poetry as an expressive form can be accessed by anyone—by professional poets, but also by those average folks for whom poetry is a new language we are learning to speak.
Climate of Lament book website
 
Key Topics
The role of art and literature in climate change discourse
The significance of lament and grief in environmental activism
Diversity of voices in climate poetry and reflections
The process of creating and sharing poetry of lament
The impact of community and place on environmental expression
 
Keywords: climate change, lament, poetry, community, environmental grief, art and activism, climate of lament, storytelling, community resilience, environmental poetry
Find us on our website: Earthkeepers
Support the Earthkeepers podcast
Check out the Ecological Disciple