Practicing Radical Joy in Community-Led Placemaking

I sit down with Evan Raskin, National Campaign Manager for Earthday.org, to explore the powerful relationship between art and environmental activism. Evan shares how artists have been central to the Earth Day movement since its very first gathering in 1970 and how creative expression continues to drive climate action today.

Evan shares his own life as an artist and how art helps him find harmony in a world full of dissonance. We discuss why collective action — starting at the local level — matters more than ever.

🔗 Find Earth Day events in your community: earthday.org 🎵 Find Evan's music on Spotify: search Raskin 🌍 Learn more about the Global Halt street art project: search #EarthDay2020Halt

Timestamped Highlights

[00:00] I introduce the episode and its Earth Day theme

[01:03] Why I'm dropping this episode now: Earth Day is right around the corner

[01:34] I introduce my guest, Evan Raskin, National Campaign Manager for Earthday.org

[02:03] We introduce this year's Earth Day theme: Our Power, Our Planet

[03:22] I ask Evan what a National Campaign Manager actually does — he breaks down his role

[05:03] I learn that Evan is also a musician, painter, and poet — and just published his first book!

[05:43] I ask Evan which art form he turns to when he needs release — his answer about music and rhythm is beautiful

[07:29] Evan explains how art can open perspectives, build empathy, and call people to civic action

[10:54] I ask Evan about his origin story: growing up with a Hollywood hairdresser mom and a Cirque du Soleil / hospital clown dad

[13:13] Evan tells me how a required college art class unlocked his visual creativity

[14:08] Evan makes the case that everyone has latent creative potential — and why you should just pick up that paintbrush

[15:15] I share my recent conversation with scientist Daisy Fancourt and her book Art Cure — even 10–15 minutes of creativity a day has measurable benefits

[16:27] I ask Evan how he came to work at Earth Day — it started with a college internship phasing out single-use plastics at the British Embassy

[17:49] Evan walks me through the history of Earth Day and how the 1970 movement used art, music, and protest to spark real policy change

[22:23] I'm amazed to learn that the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the EPA were all born from Earth Day 1970

[22:48] We do a deep dive into this year's theme: Our Power, Our Planet and what it means at every level

[25:51] I bring up the current political climate — Evan responds with hope, local action, and the wisdom of Fred Rogers: "Look for the helpers"

[29:37] Evan shares an encouraging stat: solar power has been the leading source of new U.S. electricity for nearly 25 months

[32:51] Evan tells me about his visit to COP 27 in Egypt, where global artists displayed installations made from pollution collected in their home countries

[33:20] Evan introduces me to Earthday.org's Artists for the Earth program and the annual official Earth Day poster

[33:52] The Global Halt Project: I love this — 500 artists across the world painted climate murals under cover of darkness, unveiled on Earth Day 2020

[35:47] Evan shares how YOU can get involved: visit earthday.org, find local events, organize a community cleanup, and start conversations in your school, faith community, or family

[38:10] I ask Evan where we can find his music and art

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