A Wild Live with Jessica Serrante on Joanna Macy and The Great Turning

In this candid conversation, host Sarah Wilson welcomes climate‑activist coach Jessica Serrante to discuss her journey from frontline organizing to facilitating grief work after the passing of Joanna Macy. Jessica outlines her background with Greenpeace, the creation of the "Great Turning" podcast, and how Joanna’s mentorship shaped a hybrid practice of coaching and community facilitation. The dialogue sets the stage by recalling the collective mourning that followed Macy’s July 2023 death, highlighting the online grieving circle that allowed activists to share vulnerability and sustain momentum toward systemic change.

Jessica delves into the grief process she experienced over the past six months, describing it as an ever‑shifting emergence rather than a linear recovery. She emphasizes Joanna’s core teaching that pain is sacred—a gift that signals deep ecological and social awareness. By confronting rather than escaping discomfort, activists can transform anticipatory grief about climate collapse into a source of resilience. Jessica’s coaching model encourages individuals to self‑resource, tapping into the inner wisdom imparted by mentors, and to view grief as a practice that fuels collective action rather than a barrier.

For business leaders invested in sustainability and employee wellbeing, the episode offers actionable insights. Recognizing grief as a legitimate, productive response to planetary crisis can inform corporate mental‑health programs and foster a culture of authentic engagement. Integrating sacred‑pain practices into team dynamics helps prevent burnout, nurtures adaptive leadership, and aligns organizational purpose with the broader "Great Turning" narrative of systemic transformation. By honoring loss while cultivating hope, companies can position themselves as resilient agents in the evolving climate landscape.