S06 Episode 265 | Summer Dean (@ClimateDiva) on slowing down influence & building community instead of obsessing about analytics

Conscious Chatter

In episode 265, Kestrel welcomes Summer Dean (AKA @ClimateDiva), a writer, content creator and model, to the show. Both a fashion lover and climate justice advocate, Summer has a distinct way of making these conversations educational, intersectional and fun. “My goal this whole time has been to communicate to people who aren’t already in these spaces, and I think it’s really important to make the climate and sustainable fashion movement as big as possible. So, for me, that means making my content funny and nuanced and stylish and accessible. But you know, I really think my personality does shine through in a lot of these videos, and it’s really just about bringing as many people as possible along for the ride.” -Summer

This week, we’re reminded of some of the ways that the systems intend to control our unique paths.

For example – capitalism makes us feel that we must hone in on one specific aspect of our personality or our interests – so we can more easily monetize that particular skill.

The patriarchy tells us that as women, we should dim ourselves down and blend in – in other words, we shouldn’t be *showy* in the way we dress, in order to be quote unquote taken seriously in our professions.

This week’s guest has resisted both in the way she’s crafted her distinct career path.

By welcoming her whole *self* into her work, she’s found a niche at the intersections of fashion and climate justice. From educating us about science and big data to curating sustainable fits, she’s literally showing us how it’s possible to build protest through self expression.

Quotes & links from the conversation:

• Interview with Summer On Atmos (by Yessenia Funes)

• “My goal is to just really bring a sense of light heartedness into this. I think that when we feel a little lighter and a little more joyful in these movements, I think it just really brings a sense of longevity, and I think that is what is going to make these movement last and ultimately win and build a better world.” (19:43) -Summer

• “My biggest rule for brands that I work with is — are they ok with talking about degrowth and reducing consumption, because if they’re not, then I don’t really feel comfortable working with them … I have to see that they stand for the same things I stand for, which is reducing overconsumption and overproduction, ending exploitation of people and the planet, and rebuilding our relationship with the earth.” (23:58, 24:26) -Summer

• Conscious Chatter episode 238 with Jazmine Rogers and Gabby Sage (Kestrel mentions)

• *Slow Fashion Means Slowing Down Media* — post Kestrel did on IG in the past

• “I also do think that clothing and style and self expression has a huge role to play in the climate movement and building a better world.” (34:42) -Summer

• “We shouldn’t have to even have sustainability influencers — this whole career that I have in and of itself — the fact that I am even a sustainability influencer shows that there is something inherently wrong with our system. We shouldn’t have to decide between buying something that is causing people to essentially be enslaved or buying something that is a little bit more expensive that isn’t.” (42:17) -Summer

• Reel Summer did about the lack of size accessibility in sustainable fashion

• “There is something fundamentally wrong with the inaccessibility in sustainability.” (44:17) -Summer

• “These algorithms really tend to promote environmental content that is very disheartening and leaves the viewer in a state of complete dread. I notice that the most viral videos about climate change are ones that really just don’t paint a picture of a better future or a hopeful future or a future that includes everyone at all … I think there does also need to be a conversation about how these algorithms are promoting content that leaves us feeling hopeless and leaves us feeling powerless.” (47:10) -Summer

• “The Solutions to the Climate Crisis Lie Within An Intersectional Approach” by Summer for Blueland

• YouTube video of “Intersectional & Inclusive Environmentalism Panel featuring Climate Diva & Climate Daisy”

• ACE Interview with Summer On Why Social Media Isn’t All Bad

• Follow Summer on Instagram >

This week's episode is brought to you by Defunkify, a household cleaning products company that is on a mission to get toxic chemicals out of the products we wash our clothes with and clean our homes with. If you’re interested in checking them out, you can use code KESTREL25 for 25% off.