Empathy and Natural Disasters

Feminist Book Club: The Podcast

The podcast is back with a quick review of The Jewel of the Isle from Jordy for all our adventure-loving romcom fans. But the bulk of this episode is dedicated to Nox and Mhairie’s conversation regarding how online communities tend to respond to natural disasters. While this episode was recorded in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the conversation rings true as we watch the wildfires in California. Resources below.

Laughs, Love, and Lost Treasures: The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea (0:22)

In this segment, Jordy explores Kerry Rea’s The Jewel of the Isle, a rom-com adventure packed with witty banter, absurd mishaps, and navigating grief.This book is full of hilarious, heartwarming moments, and heavy themes that make this treasure hunt a true gem of a read.

Who Deserves Empathy? (3:06)

Nox and Mhairie talk about the discussions around recent natural disasters Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton and how people talk with a lack of empathy regarding those impacted by the disasters. Why do we talk about people like this? What makes us write others off in such situations?

Content Warnings: Discussions regarding recent natural disasters, homelessness, the ability to evacuate, death (as well as a story mentioning child death), and religion are had in this segment.

Books/Resources Mentioned:

The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea

Raiders of the Lost Heat by Jo Segura

Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis

Disability and Disaster Hotline: [phone] or [email protected]

LA Times’ list of resources for anyone impacted by the wildfires

Support this episode’s host and guest:

Follow Jordy: Instagram // TikTok

Follow Nox: Instagram // Twitter // TikTok

Follow Mhairie: Instagram // TikTok

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This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.

Original music by @iam.onyxrose

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