Marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson What if we get it right? This is perhaps the most useful book on the planet right now for dreamers, doers, and anyone concerned about rising global temperatures, sea levels, and carbon emissions. It’s especially appealing to those looking to join the climate fight but don’t know where to start—the book feels like a guided map that invites readers to be inspired—and ultimately take action—through art, conversations, essays, poetry, and more.
So, for such an unconventional project, it calls for a multifaceted, fun, action-focused book tour in its call to address the climate crisis. On September 17, The Climate Variety Show — produced by Genesha Shrestha and written by Brad Einstein — will kick off Johnson’s trek, which will run through October 26 and stop in 13 states and 19 cities across America. The event will take place at the Brooklyn Museum in New York and will be hosted by Johnson and actor Jason Sudeikis, while also featuring musical performances, comedy sketches, poetry readings, and, of course, Dance Dance Revolution.
The evening will also include a performance by artist Perrin Ireland featuring hula hoops and a conversation about “the fun sex lives of different types.”
“I take the word ‘diversity’ in diversity very seriously,” Johnson says. Rolling StoneGuests can expect comedian Roy Wood Jr. to appear as the host of the late-night game show, which pits NASA climate scientist, who will represent Earth, against comedian Wyatt Cenac, who will represent Mars. “I don’t want to spoil it for you, but the outcome of this game is ‘Earth is the best planet,’” Johnson jokes.
“We have this amazing black witch, Nicole Cardoza, who is going to remind us of the possibility and that we all have this capacity for magic, and we should apply that to climate solutions,” she continues, hinting at a magic show that includes Venn diagrams of climate action in her book.
Throughout the night, music from the book’s “Anti-Apocalpytic Mixtape” — a playlist of “hymns of victory, songs of earthly love, melodies of perseverance, and rousing atmospheres of execution” — will be played over the speakers. The Oshima brothers (who appear on the playlist) will perform “Love Is Tall” and “This Burning Earth” at the book launch, as well as at five other stops on the tour. Meanwhile, poets Jacqueline Woodson and Steve Connell, who is also Johnson’s cousin, will read their climate-focused works.
Music will play a central role throughout the rest of the tour, and to celebrate its conclusion in Portland, Maine, in October, Johnson, who trained as a jazz singer, will close out her two-month trek with a duet with her boyfriend, Zach Anchors. (Technically, though, the tour ends at the state’s Blue Hill Literary Festival.)
The author adds that the trip is essentially a tour to highlight the book’s contributors and host a series of talks about climate change, including discussions with former Georgia state representative Stacey Abrams, NASA climate scientist Dr. Kate Marvel, and more. Her wardrobe throughout the event will also be climate-focused, borrowing pieces from sustainable fashion designer Gabriela Hearst (former creative director of Chloé).
As Johnson travels across the country during the election season, the book tour will also serve as an effort to get out the vote with a focus on supporting climate candidates at the ballot box, as the author partners with the Environmental Voter Project and Lead Locally.
It’s an effort that will take center stage during Tuesday’s Climate Variety Show finale, when Johnson and Sudeikis challenge each other to a Dance Dance Revolution showdown. “Every time you take a step, a text message is sent to the voter reminding them to vote for the climate candidates,” she says, noting that whoever can text the most voters wins, but in reality, “everyone wins.”
While the lineup for the Los Angeles and Portland concerts has yet to be announced, Johnson says they will also be a variety of shows. For those who can’t meet the author on tour, podcast versions of her conversations with climate leaders will be available on her Substack site. Event details and tickets can be found at getitright.earth.
With just days to go until the book launch, Johnson is thinking about the next event and getting more people involved in the climate movement. “Part of the message of all this is that the climate crisis doesn’t have to be boring… We just have to do things differently and be creative and come together with our friends,” she says. “So it’s been really fun for me to think about how to make the tour reflect my values, reflect the values of the book, and hopefully inspire people to roll up their sleeves and get to work — but with excitement, not fear.”
“Partly, the climate movement has to throw a better party if we want people to come and spend time with us,” she adds.
What if we succeed in achieving the goal?: visions of the climate future Book Tour
September 17 – Brooklyn, NY, Climate Diversity Exhibition at Brooklyn Museum
September 19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Berkeley Carroll School
September 20 – Washington, DC, Atlantic Festival at The Wharf in Washington
September 20 – Brunswick, Maine @ Bowdoin College
September 21 – Unity, Maine @ Common Ground Country Fair
September 23 – New York, NY @ The New School
September 23 – Brooklyn, NY @ Pioneer Works
September 24 – New York, NY @ Rockefeller Foundation
September 24 – New York, NY @ Forbes Sustainability Leaders Summit
September 24 – New York, NY Science Book Club Friday @ Caveat
September 25 – Groton, CT @ University of Connecticut at Avery Point
September 28 – Los Angeles, CA, Climate Variety Show on Dynasty Typewriter
September 29 – Dana Point, CA, Ohana Festival @ Doheny State Beach
October 1 – San Francisco, CA @ Commonwealth Club
October 1 – Berkeley, CA @ Mrs. Dalloway
October 2 – Spokane, WA @ Auntie's Bookstore
October 3 – Seattle, WA @ Elliot Bay Book Company
October 4 – Portland, Oregon @ Bowles Library
October 7 – Santa Fe, New Mexico @ Santa Fe Website
October 9 – St. Paul, MN @ St. Paul River Center
October 9 – Kansas City, MO @ Marriott Kansas City
October 10 – Atlanta, Georgia @ The Carter Center
October 12 – Washington, DC @ Politics & Prose
October 15 – Jackson, Wyoming, Climate Solutions Summit at Jackson Center for the Arts
October 20 – Los Angeles, CA at The Westin Long Beach
October 22 – New York, NY @ New York Public Library
October 23 – Boston, MA, Harvard Bookstore at Brattle Theater
October 24 – Medford, MA @ Tufts University
October 25 – Portland, Maine, University of Southern Maine Climate Diversity Expo
October 26 – Blue Hill, Maine, Blue Hill Literary Festival at First Christian Church of Blue Hill
