Podcast #52 · Jerry Yudelson · Lessons Learned: Mindfulness & Activism
“The most effective political movements of the 20th century – Gandhi in India, Martin Luther King Junior in the US, Nelson Mandela in South Africa…came from a spiritual point of view, from a standpoint of love and compassion and a willingness to bring the other side along“
Jerry Yudelson
Jerry Yudelson is the author of 12 professional books in the field of green building and sustainable design, an arena where he’s known globally as “The Godfather of Green.” As a campus organizer for the very first Earth Day in 1970, Jerry’s recollections are featured during an Earth Week in the A+E History Channel’s podcast, History This Week. Jerry’s nine-word resume reads simply: Engineer by training. Marketer by inclination. Writer by Avocation.”
His new book, The Godfather of Green: An Eco-Spiritual Memoir, published on Earth Day 2020, combines his career as an active environmentalist with an inspiring story of spiritual awakening and discovery.
We discuss the following:
- Jerry’s background growing up in Los Angeles (~01:20)
- Jerry’s career as an engineer and how he became interested in sustainability (~02:20)
- Organising the first Earth Day in 1970 and its impact (~05:20)
- Jerry’s book “The Godfather of Green: An Eco Spiritual Memoir” and how mindfulness has helped Jerry (~11:10)
- How has Jerry stayed so optimistic? (~21:50)
- What can we learn from the Coronavirus pandemic? (~31:30)
- Jerry’s further message for humanity (~34:30)
“If you have the ability, get out and do something positive, get out and make a change that you think is worthwhile but do it with compassion, do it with full understanding…and you’ll be much more effective over the long haul”
Jerry Yudelson
Notable Links
Jerry Yudelson
Jerry’s Books:
- “The Godfather of Green: An Eco Spiritual Memoir” (affiliate link to Better World Books)
- Jerry’s many other books (affiliate link to Better World Books)
Jerry’s mentions & recommendations:
- Professor Katharine Hayhoe
- The Great Derangement by Amitav Ghosh (affiliate link to Better World Books)
- The Overstory by Richard Powers (affiliate link to Better World Books)
