Despite decades of urgency and alarm, progress on climate change has felt frustratingly slow. What if we've been going about it all wrong? Elizabeth Dunn and Jiaying "JZ" Zhao think there's a missing ingredient in the conversation: joy.

In their new book, Leave the Lights On, Liz and JZ draw on psychology, behavioral science, and sustainability research to argue that the most effective climate solutions aren't rooted in guilt, fear, or self-denial. They're rooted in easy choices that also make your life better.

Today on the show: why doom-and-gloom messaging backfires, what bacon dipped in maple syrup has to do with saving the planet, how buying more underwear might just protect our species, and why the choices that help most are also the ones that make us happier.

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Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:23) Why Climate Fear Backfires

(09:24) The Case for Making Meat a Treat

(17:44) The BLT Climate Paradox

(20:53) The Hidden Climate Cost of Your Bank Account

(23:50) Fast Fashion, Slow Happiness

(31:10) Why Driving Makes Us Unhappy

(39:08) The Best Trips Are Closer Than You Think

(45:24) The Science of Social Tipping Points

(49:41) The Climate Power of a Single Vote

About the Guests:

Elizabeth Dunn is a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia and one of the world's leading researchers on happiness and well-being. Her work explores how people can use their time, money, and relationships to build more satisfying lives.

Jiaying Zhao is a professor of psychology and the founder of the Behavioral Sustainability Lab at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on climate action, behavioral change, and the role of psychology in accelerating the transition to a more sustainable future.

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