The Power of Stories: From Weaponization to Social Transformation
Stories hold immense power. They shape how we see the world, define our roles in it, and guide the decisions we make as individuals and communities. A narrative can build bridges or deepen divides, inspire hope or ignite fear, spark change or uphold the status quo. At this pivotal moment, understanding how stories influence minds, movements, and our future has never been more important.
Below, we’re diving deep into the transformative potential of storytelling with insights from journalist Annalee Newitz on the dual nature of narratives, Seed The Vote Executive Director Emily Lee on messaging lessons from the 2024 election, and activist and writer Rebecca Solnit on crafting stories of hope in the face of the climate crisis.
A Note from Bioneers about the California Wildfires
The devastation that residents of Los Angeles are experiencing right now as a result of the ongoing wildfires is truly heartrending. It is a significant disaster for the city and the country, and the impacts will be felt for many, many years. We at Bioneers have deep and extensive relationships with many communities in the City of Angels and throughout southern California going back decades, including speakers, organizations, attendees, supporters, close friends and family. Our hearts go out to the Bioneers community in LA and to all who are in the midst of this tragedy.
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‘Stories are Weapons’: Annalee Newitz on the Power of Narratives to Shape and Shatter
Stories shape how we understand our world, turning chaos into clarity and connecting us with others. But their power is a double-edged sword. Journalist and writer Annalee Newitz, author of “Stories Are Weapons: Psychological Warfare and the American Mind,” explains that while stories can foster connection and help us contextualize seemingly random events, they can also be wielded destructively. In this interview with Bioneers, Newitz delves into the dual nature of storytelling — exploring how narratives have been weaponized throughout history and offering insights into how we can reclaim their power for positive change. Photo credit: Sarah Deragon
Read an excerpt from “Stories Are Weapons,” where Newitz explores the story of Wonder Woman, detailing the conception of the character, the anti-comic movement and the character’s evolution in the decades since her creation.
Lessons from the 2024 Election: Emily Lee on Messaging, Mobilization, and the Path Forward for Progressives
The 2024 election delivered a stark reminder of the challenges progressives face in connecting with voters while the Right successfully leveraged simplified messaging to resonate with economic frustrations and position itself as the champion of working-class Americans. In a follow-up to the riveting 2024 Bioneers Conference conversation “What the Hell Should We Be Doing About Rising Fascism,” Seed The Vote Executive Director Emily Lee reflects on the 2024 election, examining the Right’s effective messaging, progressive challenges in reaching working-class voters, and the need for grassroots engagement to rebuild political momentum and advance equity. Photo credit: JR Sheetz
Rebecca Solnit | Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility
How do we decide what matters and imagine what’s possible? In addition to its many practical, scientific and material dimensions, the climate crisis has cultural aspects we need to engage with in order to meet this unparalleled emergency. Drawing from the new anthology she co-edited, “Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility,” influential activist and writer Rebecca Solnit talks about the stories emerging from science, Indigenous leadership, grassroots organizing and visionary thinking. These stories offer us grounds for hope and the work hope will allow us to do. Photo credit: Katelyn Tucker
Keynote Speaker Spotlight: Crystal Echo Hawk – Founder of IllumiNative
Crystal Echo Hawk (Pawnee) is the founder and CEO of IllumiNative, the first and only national Native-led organization focused on changing the narrative about Native peoples on a mass scale. IllumiNative has been instrumental in changing the representation of contemporary Native peoples in key sectors of entertainment, pop culture, media, and politics. Known nationally as a thought leader, innovator, acclaimed speaker, and skilled executive who builds meaningful collaborations, Crystal has led partnership-building with such industry leaders as Nielsen, Netflix, NBC Universal, Amazon, Disney, Marvel, and others. Crystal also serves as a member of Nielsen’s External Advisory Council and the Comcast Diversity Council.
Catch Crystal and other visionary speakers at the 36th annual Bioneers Conference in Berkeley, California, from March 27-29.
Join EcoFarm for their 45th Annual Conference on January 22-25, 2025, at Asilomar State Beach & Conference Grounds.
The conference includes 4+ days of impactful skill-building workshops, farm tours, seed swaps, and more!
One of their featured keynote sessions is “Solidarity is Our Superpower: Stories from Our Shared Work to Honor Our Earth Mother” on Saturday, January 25 from 10:30–11:45 AM. Keynote speakers Charlene Eigen-Vasquez and Rupa Marya will explore the topics of Indigenous land stewardship, food sovereignty, and the power of nurturing relationships with the Earth. Register onsite at Asilomar Conference Grounds in Surf & Sand.
Keynote Speakers:
- Charlene Eigen-Vasquez – founder of Confederation of Ohlone People and Director of Landback and Cultural Steward, Deep Medicine Circle Indigenous Food Sovereignty, Kinship, and Giving Voice to Indigenous Resources.
- Rupa Marya – Physician, composer, writer, and activist Rupa Marya will offer a framework for understanding how what ails the planet, our fracturing societies, and our bodies wracked by inflammatory disease are interrelated.
Rupa Marya will also be screening her new film “Farming is Medicine” on Thursday, January 23, and hosting a book signing at the EcoFarm Expo.
Check out the full conference schedule
Upcoming Bioneers Learning Courses
We’re so excited to share this new season of Bioneers Learning courses! We’ve designed this season of both live and asynchronous courses for leaders like you — those who seek empathetic, intersectional conversations with leading activists and experts on the issues you are passionate about. Together, we will reimagine philanthropy, learn to harness nature’s timeless strategies to drive social transformation and build emotional resilience for frontline activism.
- Decolonizing Philanthropic Practice | Jan. 30-March 6, 2025 | In this transformative journey to reimagine philanthropy, explore how your relationship with money and inherited belief systems shape the ways you give back. Sign up soon!
- Speak Your Truth: Leadership, Writing & Public Speaking for Social & Environmental Justice | Feb. 28-March 21, 2025 | This hands-on social justice leadership course, led by award-winning author and activist Jennifer Browdy, will equip you with practical tools to communicate your vision and build a campaign to bring it to life.
- Reweaving the Dream of Our Future: How to Tell Powerful Stories to Change the World | April 10-May 1, 2025 | This course is designed for those who feel called to harness the power of storytelling to inspire personal and collective change. Together, we will explore how to be effective storytellers and how to communicate a vision of what’s possible.
- EveryWoman’s Leadership: Cultivating Ourselves for Full-Spectrum Flourishing | April 16-May 7, 2025 | Guided by Bioneers co-founder Nina Simons, this four-week experiential program invites women, female-identifying individuals, and allies into a transformative space to cultivate inner awareness, relational intelligence, and clarity of purpose.
- Biomimicry for Social Innovation: Nature’s Lessons for Movement Leaders | May 13-June 3, 2025 | This four-week experiential course reveals how biomimicry—a practice that draws on the genius of ecosystems—can inform leadership, partnership building, and decision-making for lasting, regenerative change.
- The Four Sacred Gifts: Indigenous Wisdom for Modern Times | Self-Paced | Discover how the Four Sacred Gifts of forgiving the unforgivable, unity, healing, and hope in action provide us with a path to our most grounded, loving, healed, and generous selves.
- Regenerative Agriculture: Nourishing the Soil, Healing the Planet | Self-Paced | Be enlightened on the practical applications and impressive potential that regenerative agriculture has to revive healthy landscapes; contribute to human and animal health; create an equitable food system; and help heal the climate.