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Is Climate Change a Big Joke? Comedy, Climate, and Corporate Change with Stuart Goldsmith
Episode 41
In this thought-provoking episode of Straight Talking Sustainability, host Emma Burlow sits down with climate comedian Stuart Goldsmith to explore the unexpected intersection of humour and environmental action.
Stuart, who has been performing comedy for 20 years and moved into climate comedy four years ago, shares his unique journey from traditional stand-up to addressing the climate crisis on stage, including performing at venues like the Apollo and major sustainability conferences.
This conversation reveals how comedy can serve as a powerful tool for corporate sustainability engagement and behavioural change.
The discussion delves deep into the psychology of climate communication, exploring why traditional data-driven approaches often fail to inspire action and how humour can break through resistance and create meaningful connections.
They explore the concept of "winning the argument" versus genuine dialogue, the importance of addressing your own vulnerabilities upfront, and how comedy can serve as a "zip file" for complex climate information.
In this episode, you'll discover:
- How comedy serves as a "zip file" for complex climate information that audiences can unzip and own
- Why naming your vulnerabilities upfront disarms audience resistance and creates a connection
- The class dynamics that have made climate action feel exclusive, and how to break them down
- Stuart's "win the argument" approach to overcoming presentation anxiety and memory challenges
- Why helping climate professionals is as valuable as trying to solve the crisis yourself
- How to identify and address the "unspoken things" that everyone's thinking but afraid to say
- The power of strategic self-deprecation in climate communication
Highlights:
09:18 – "I want to write a brilliant joke about the collapse of the AMOC so that more people know and understand it. So I have this confluence of reasons that really excite me about wanting to learn more and romp around in it and write more."
13:04 – "When you go to the pub and you chat to your mate about why Christopher Nolan's Inception is the best film in the world, for example, you haven't prepped an argument beforehand. You just passionately feel some things and know some things."
21:47 – "I don't have to solve the climate crisis. I can help people who are trying to solve the climate crisis. And that counts."
28:58 – "It's not my job to convince you, there's no cult and this isn't a recruitment drive."
45:35 – "Work out what is the unspoken thing. What's the thing that you're scared to say in the room that you'd only say to a sustainability professional friend and work out how to say that."
Connect with Stuart
Stuart Goldsmith (@stuartgoldsmithcomedy) • Instagram photos and videos
Connect with Emma
Book an enquiry call with Emma