The second (Episode 102) of my rejuvenated and back-in-your-life podcast, 'From What If to What Next' features my conversation with the fabulous Solitaire Townsend.

Following 2025's New York Climate Week online, the key thing that caught my attention was Solitaire standing up and boldly stating 'Fuck Doom'. She told Climate Week "Fuck the sad little "last generation" memes. Fuck climate being served up as clickbait. Fuck the guilt and grief shoved down our throats. Fuck waiting for the end of the world like it's a season finale". In my chair many miles away, I whooped in support. I wanted to find out more.

Why does it matter so much that we come out fighting for a liveable future rather than resigning to collapse and disaster? It's a wonderful conversation that goes off in so many directions. In it we discuss her 'F*ck Doom' campaign, William Shakespeare, why she's just written a novel, and why climate activism needs to move beyond, in theatrical terms, 'Act One'. It's brilliant and rich.

It's deeply exciting to be able to present your first new episode of 'From What If to What Next' in almost 2 years. As the months have gone past, I've had a sense that there was more still to do, more conversations to be had. From the research I did for 'How to Fall in Love with the Future' and since, I've come across so many amazing people with stories that you read need to hear, with important things to say at this moment in time.

The guest in our first return episode is the person I most wanted in all the 100 previous episodes, the wonderful Rasheedah Phillips, one half of Black Quantum Futurism. Her work is so hugely inspiring, if you haven't come across it already. I will be publishing these now once a month. I'd love to know what you think, your thoughts on this conversation.

And here we are. Episode 100. What a journey! Thank you so much for being a part of it with me. I could not be more delighted by today's guest, who I have wanted on this podcast since its inception. It's the wonderful writer, educator and poet Walidah Imarisha, one of my great she-roes. I really hope you are going to love the conversation that we had. And this episode starts with a couple of BIG announcements which I won't spoil, I'll leave you to dive into them.