Welcome to Animal Matters
A newsletter sharing uplifting stories about life on a warming planet
Ciao, amici!
To folks familiar with my digital missives, this email looks slightly different — we’re now connected through Substack, an independent publishing platform. To those of you who are new, benvenuto.
For two decades, I’ve sent emails with a mix of essays and promotional materials, most of which were oriented to my life as a performer. In January of this year, that identity officially took a back seat as I refocused my energy on climate storytelling and taking care of my health. It’s time this newsletter changed, too.
Welcome to Animal Matters
Every month, in addition to sharing my work as a writer/performer/producer and the work of other people I admire, I’ll give you a great reason to feel hopeful about tomorrow, plus offer easy, everyday ways you can take climate action.
The climate crisis touches all of our lives, and as the delightful hopepunk/cli-fi writer Susan Kaye Quinn reminded me the other day, “Now, every story is a climate story.” I want to get you excited about what’s already happening to make a more compassionate, equitable, and sustainable future and show you ways you can participate in building it.
Seeing as September 21* is Zero Emissions Day, I thought I’d dedicate this inaugural Substack to electric vehicles.
Women, Electric Cars, and the All-American Road Trip
When my friend Amy pulled up to my apartment in our rented Tesla Model 3, I did not expect her to be armed with a bowie knife.
But as we were two women traveling in a new-to-us electric car, it seemed like a reasonable precaution. After all, safety concerns about EV infrastructure (especially during long charging sessions) and limited battery range may explain why so few women drive electric cars.
Amy and I are in the minority: we both drive EVs. And we both talk a lot with our female friends about making the switch because if more women went electric, we could dramatically reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and improve the health of all Earth’s inhabitants.
Given that women are more likely to change their behaviors in response to the climate crisis and that women buy 40% of new cars and 51% of used cars, EVs should be on every woman’s list of strategies to help combat the climate crisis.
To test the limits of the existing electric car technology, Amy and I Turo-ed a 2022 Model 3 for a weekend trip to visit friends in Northern California, an excursion which, despite its foibles, was so comfortable, economical, and successful we’re already planning our next EV adventure. Contrary to feeling burdened by the electric car, we felt liberated. Read all about our experience in Business Insider.
And to think we’re just at the beginning of this technological revolution! EVs will only get safer, more efficient, and more affordable. What’s not to love about that?
Take Some Action
From induction stovetops to renewable energy credits, there are a number of ways you can reduce your fossil fuel usage and help decarbonize the economy.
Rules on the rebates for electric cars can be confusing, so here’s a guide to help you get the most out of the available EV rebates. Hot tip: Buy used! It’s the circular economy in action, baby.
Learn about the history of EVs in my dear childhood friend Levi Tillemann’s book, “The Great Race: The Global Quest for the Car of the Future.”
Subscribe to The Fully Charged Show. Last year, Denny and I drove our electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 to San Diego to attend this YouTube channel’s live show and even got a chance to take a harbor cruise on an electric yacht!
Save the date
On Saturday, October 7, I’m thrilled to join Susan Kaye Quinn’s panel about bringing climate fiction to the screen at the Climate Fiction Conference. More info soon.
And don’t miss…
My other friends here on Substack: Isabelle Drury, Miranda Lipton, Victoria Clayton, and Jason Rogers.
Last but not least
Here’s a song to serenade you through the last few weeks of this Hot Labor Summer. #SAGAFTRAstrong #WGAstrong
Thank you all so much for reading. I can’t wait to hear more from you about ways this newsletter could be more useful to you. Drop me a line and let me know how.
Tanti baci,
*September 21 also marks the day I will be having surgery to remove precancerous cells on my cervix. Send me your mojo for speedy healing and a clean tissue margin!
First substack check! Alllll the speedy healing and clean tissue margin mojo to you 💪🏼
The logo! I love her!