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Convos Shaping Culture + Climate
Hi !
The way climate conversations unfold in 2025 is changing—fast. To drive change and inspire agency you need to understand where influence happens and how to engage in culture.
At Conspirators, we have a PhD in swiping the internet and here’s what we can’t stop talking about this month: Need-to-Reads, Must-See Content, and Creator Real Talk.
Need-to-Reads ☕
1) Creators are Now the Local News and Late Night.
In Oakdale, CA, the NYT reports a Facebook group outpaced traditional outlets on everything from wildfire updates to vaccine takes. Meanwhile, creator-led talk shows like Subway Takes (a previous Conspirators partner) and Streethearts are becoming the new couches for cultural conversation—no network execs required. Even Peacock is getting the memo, greenlighting shows from emerging creators as the next wave of entertainment. For climate communicators, the takeaway is clear: trust has moved. If you want to be part of the story, show up where it’s being told—in podcast intros, DMs, and TikToks that feel more like voice memos from a friend than a press release.
2) Gen Z’s Not Ok. New Generation, New Tone.
Gen Z reports lower levels of life satisfaction compared to previous generations, citing a lack of meaning and direction. This shift challenges long-held beliefs about the 'happiness curve' that traditionally saw life satisfaction dip in midlife and rise again in older age. For climate communicators, this signals a need to connect with future generators on a deeper level. It's not just about presenting facts, but instead resonating with their search for purpose and connection. Engaging narratives that acknowledge their concerns and aspirations can inspire action.
3) Are the Days of Non-Political Lifestyle Content Over?
When creator Kate Mackz featured Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, the internet lost its mind. Stitch by stitch, TikTokers called out the platforming of far-right voices, not with think pieces but with pointed, personal videos about how creators have a responsibility to share their views and values so audiences can vote with their follow (the same way we vote with dollars when we choose where to shop). Checks and balances live inside the algorithm: creators and followers are holding each other accountable in public, in real time. For climate work, credibility isn’t granted, it must be earned peer-to-peer.
Must-See-Content 📺
We can’t stop watching & sharing:
1) Morgan Evelyn
2025 might feel loud, but the buzziest content of all is a whisper… 🤫
2) Rob Anderson
Sacrilegious or socially engaged? Conclave trends when creators tell the story 👠
3) Lacey Foster
Was this caption too long? Social getting self-aware on its attention issues 👀
Creator Real Talk 🎤
Meet Lisa Beasley (AKA Corporate Erin). She’s a creator and comedian who has found a way for corporate jargon like “circle back” and “taking this offline” to make us laugh instead of cry. We sat down with Lisa to get her pov.
Q: Why did you start creating content (and why do you keep it up)?
I have a background in theater, so I’m used to performing in front of audiences. I didn’t post online because I thought I’d be embarrassed, but then the pandemic happened and the audience (and the applause) went away, so I started letting my creative energy out on social. I’ve kept it going because I’ve grown a community. I’m bringing the theater and improv world to the internet and having so much fun with it. Bonus: online you can go back and relive the joke and see how people are adding their own spin in the comments. On the internet people can be a part of the conversation in ways theater or tv don’t allow.
Q: How do you see climate showing up in culture right now?
Mayday, mayday! Honestly, it’s terrifying. The facts are out there, but so many people stay in bubbles where science isn’t real. Having a big audience, I see how hard it is to break through. You can’t reverse something you don’t believe in. But I still find hope in nature and all the curveballs she’s giving us—when weather gets weird, people get curious. I just hope it doesn’t take personal loss to wake us all up.
Q: If you had to talk climate in your content, how would you do it?
It’s a fun creative challenge—how do I make something so entertaining it lands with people who care and people who don’t? Climate’s tricky and political, so I lean into humor, exaggeration, and creative freedom. If it feels like “just another ad” or a PSA, people scroll right away. But if there’s a hook, if it’s smart, and surprising, they stay. My goal is always: get them laughing, then leave them thinking.
Q: Anything else?
Thank you, readers! Your work is about keeping us on this planet longer. Thank you for trusting creators like me and taking a risk. I might not represent all of your values, but I can reach a lot of people with your message. Shout out to y’all.
Staying ahead means staying informed.
Let us know if you want to explore how these insights apply to your work (or if there’s anything on your radar that’s not on ours 👀).
Marilla + Louis
(your co-conspirators in shifting the climate narrative 🌱)