24 September 2025 · 00:41:18
Eco-Action: Transforming Sustainability with Play and Creativity with Katie Patrick
Guest: Play and Creativity with Katie Patrick
Episode 33 · 00:41:18
Eco-Action: Transforming Sustainability with Play and Creativity with Katie Patrick
Show notes
"Behavioral psychology is key to effective sustainability programs. Understanding the psychology of people is crucial to communicate and manifest change in them."
In this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome Katie Patrick, an environmental engineer, climate action designer, and author of How to Save the World and Zerowastify. Katie brings a unique fusion of environmental science, behavioral psychology, and game design to tackle climate change, creating tools like apps and campaigns that inspire real-world action.
She’s worked with organizations like NASA JPL, Google, UNEP, and Stanford, and co-founded Energy Lollipop and Urban Canopy to reduce CO₂ emissions from the electricity grid. Through her podcast and projects like The Imagine Project,Katie champions the power of creativity, optimism, and evidence-based design in shaping a sustainable future.
Key topics
- The Role of Play in Sustainability
- Motivating Change Beyond Environmental Calls
- Gamification and Community Engagement
- Children as Agents of Change
- The Importance of Behavioral Psychology in Sustainability
Chapters
00:00- Introduction and Katie's Background
00:03 - The Role of Play in Sustainability
00:09 - Challenges and Sacrifices in Environmental Action
00:15 - Motivating Change: Beyond Environmental Calls
00:21 - Gamification and Community Engagement
00:27 - Working with Children and Eco-Imagination
00:33 - Current Projects and Future Plans
00:39 - Final Thoughts and Call to Action
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