On July 19th, Joanna Macy, beloved teacher and past guest, passed away peacefully at home in Berkeley, California. In honor of her legacy, we are rebroadcasting her episode “The World as Lover and Self,” originally released in 2015 when the show was titled Unlearn and Rewild.
In this deeply resonant conversation, Ayana speaks with Joanna on grief, change, and connection – themes that remain ever-relevant. Joanna offers wisdom on emotional courage, allyship, and gratitude, inviting us to see the world as our larger living body. Her words are a balm for those navigating despair, helping us move through paralysis toward collective transformation and action.
A renowned scholar and activist, Joanna Macy created Work That Reconnects, a transformative framework for facing ecological and social crises. Her legacy lives on through decades of writing, teaching, and deep spiritual and ecological insight.
We invite you to listen again as we honor her enduring guidance and presence.
Learn more at https://forthewild.world/listen/joanna-macy-on-the-world-as-lover-and-self-homage
Credits
Music by Anne Carol Mitchell, Roberta Flack, Pharoah Sanders, and Roy Harper
This episode was created by Ayana Young, Erica Ekrem, Julia Jackson, and Victoria Pham.
Cover art: Vintage National Geographic