Failing to Save the Earth

Cherri Foytlin

What if one of the most effective ways to save our battered and feverish planet lies in our failure to be able to do so? “Failing to Save the Earth,” is a revolutionary dual-tool for frontline and fence line organizers who wish to achieve greater effectiveness by facing potential failures head-on. Forget the old concept of movement “wins'' or “losses,” this podcast and guide-booklet (coming soon!) are an invitation to rethink our relationship with the definition of failure when working to create social change. Learn from the L’eau Est La Vie resistance camp leadership and their epic, yet “unsuccessful,” campaign to stop the Bayou Bridge pipeline. Determine powerful leverage points within your struggle. Listen to veteran frontline water and land protectors, get inspired, and then prepare to follow the additional step-by-step printed guide-booklet (due to be released in Fall 2022). Learn how to design your own plan for artful and effective failing, and also find out the one way that you will most certainly fail when working to stop social and environmental injustices. A must listen for anyone committed to saving the Earth! Cherri Foytlin is an executive director for Movement Training Network, and founder of L'eau Est La Vie Resistance Camp and Ndn Bayou Food Forest in Deep South Louisiana. Join our mailing list! https://global.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=96ab610195ad24c962dd79be2&id=2dd3311286&fbclid=IwAR0iz5EC9xtsOpqHEaIT5pNz3pizg8yC62SfyqUWVne1jINK2hcKqjFayAU

Episodes

In the last episode of the “Failing to Save the Earth” podcast series, Julie “Mama Julz” Dreamer of Mother’s Against Meth Alliance, shares stories of her years of direct action participation. While dealing with intense intimidation, the water and land protector describes how she manages self-care and the importance of finding joy in the movement.

Jul 29, 2022

29 min

"Failing Plans"

Episode Five is co-hosted by veteran justice organizer, water protector, Lakota language teacher, and Indigenous Doula - Waniya Locke. In a very deep conversation, Waniya and Cherri dive deep into motherhood and activism, the struggle of this work, and the intersections of language, Native women's health, and the intentional destruction of Mother Earth.

Jul 15, 2022

30 min

"Failing Serendipity"

Long time organizer, Cindy Spoon (Tar Sands Blockade, LELV, Frack Free Denton...), co-hosts this week’s podcast. Listen as Cindy and Cherri discuss Roe v Wade, the Denton Fracking Ban, and serendipitous opportunities in social justice campaigns.

Jun 30, 2022

30 min

“Failing Spirit”

In this week’s episode water protector Joye Braun (Indigenous Environmental Network) co-hosts the podcast, sharing her thoughts as a NoDAPL founding organizer on “losing” the struggle to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. We explore the value of centering spirituality, “lighting fires” along the way, and deepening our understanding of the meaning of “successful.”

Jun 17, 2022

30 min

“Failing Climate”

Ramon Mejia of About Face co-hosts this episode which will focus on how the perception of failure can prohibit participation in justice movements. We will discuss the influence, and perceived failures, of past Anti-War Movements. Also the obvious, and often overlooked, conversation around militarization and the climate and the power of reframing.

Jun 3, 2022

35 min

“Failing Words”

In our debut episode, Cherri Foytlin and Karen Savage ride again! These two long-time friends will explain the true story of L’eau Est La Vie Resistance Camp, and what it is like to face police violence, a SLAPP suit, and felony charges, while failing to save our planet. Special Guest Our Children’s Trust plaintiff, Jayden Foytlin.

May 20, 2022

32 min