How do we live in an age of disaster? That's the provocation put forth in the new book "Compassion in Crisis." With engaging prompts, concise checklists, and heartfelt guidance, co-authors Kailea Loften and Kate Weiner lead readers in building and sustaining durable mutual aid networks for rapid response in the face of disaster while underscoring preparedness as a constant, communal practice. 

Response host Tom Llewellyn had the opportunity to meet Kailea and Kate last month during the first leg of their 18-city North American tour, and they recorded the interview for today's episode a couple of days later.

About the guests

Kailea Loften (she/her) is a mother of Tahltan, Kaska, and Black American ancestry. A forever small-town girl, she is a lover of everything slow and subtle. Black tea with honey and cream, long walks regardless of weather, and the scent of rain in the air are a few of her favorite things.

Kate Weiner (she/her) is an environmental writer and student of community herbalism. As a 2025 Strange Foundation Resident, 2024 North Coast Project Participant, 2023 Editorial Fellow at the Center for Humans & Nature, 2021 Artist/Activist-in-Residence at Boulder Public Library, and 2018 Spiritual Ecology Fellow, she has devoted the past decade to creating work at the confluence of culture and climate justice.

Resources

• Get the Book: "Compassion in Crisis"
• National Tour: Compassion in Crisis Tour 
• Story: Preserving Palestinian culture during genocide: the Phoenix Library of Gaza
• Video: Gaza-based journalist Mohamed Solaimane's video of walking across Gaza to report the story about the Phoenix Library
• Video: Covering the Flock Cameras- FlockOff! Ithaca

Episode credits

• Hosted and executive produced by Tom Llewellyn
• Produced by Paige Kelly
• Edited by Tom Llewellyn and Paige Kelly
• Theme music by Cultivate Beats