Danielle Celermajer’s Summertime: Reflections on a Vanishing Future is a different kind of nature writing; it’s a philosophy, elegy, meditation. In the aftermath of last year’s bushfires, Danielle asks what we are losing in this shared, ravaged world. In her book Beyond Climate Grief, science reporter Jonica Newby considers what a personal, emotional, human response might be to global catastrophe. The two discuss these themes and their personal journeys of courage in the face of disaster and uncertainty, with host Suzanne Leal.

Danielle Celermajer (Australian)

Danielle Celermajer is a philosopher whose work focuses on human rights, ethics, dealing with past atrocities and multispecies justice. She is a Professor at the University of Sydney and Deputy Director of the Sydney Environment Institute. Drawing on this work in her personal life, Danielle lives in an intentional multispecies community on the south coast of NSW. She wrote Summertime (Penguin Random House, 2021) while facing the devastating black summer fires of 2019 to 2020 alongside this community.

Jonica Newby (Australian)

Dr Jonica Newby is a science reporter, author, TV presenter and director best known for her two decades on ABC TV’s popular weekly science program, Catalyst. She has twice won the Eureka Award, Australia’s most prestigious science journalism prize, and is a recipient of a World TV Award. Known for presenting stories with a rare honesty and intimacy, Jonica’s new book, Beyond Climate Grief: a journey of love, snow, fire and an enchanted beer can, charts her struggles navigating the emotional turmoil of climate change.

Suzanne Leal (Australian)

Suzanne Leal is the author of novels The Deceptions, The Teacher’s Secret and Border Street. A regular presenter at literary events and chair of the fiction and poetry panel for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, she is a board member of BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival and former senior judge for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. Suzanne is the host of Thursday Book Club, a relaxed, friendly book club connecting readers online.