Maggie Dewane set out to travel across all 50 states of the U.S., capturing the essence of each one through poetry, specifically haikus, and she did all of this for nature.

For a while, climate change could feel like a distant, abstract threat to some of us. But now, it’s no longer far away. It’s here, showing up in our own backyards.

So Maggie asked herself: How do I make others care and feel what’s going on around them? Her answer was to write—short, heartfelt pieces of art that could resonate with everyone in the U.S. because while each state is different, they’re all bound by something shared: their nature, their living beings, their wild and quiet spaces. And, unfortunately, they’re all going to experience the impacts of climate change in one way or another.

Maggie takes a unique approach to describe each state, first by sharing the current, breathtaking beauty of each location. She then juxtaposes her initial haikus with what each state might look like once climate change has left its mark through threats of rising sea levels, wildfires, droughts and more. 

Maggie works professionally in environmental communications, but her love for storytelling goes beyond her day job. She’s also a writer, journalist, filmmaker—someone who uses every medium she can to share one core message: nature is worth protecting.

In this episode, you’ll journey with Maggie through the making of her book: the research, the writing, the stories she uncovered, and the impact she hopes to create.

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