Making Climate Action Trend: EMA's Interview with Amea "Mae" Wadsworth

As an organization that takes critical climate news and science and turns it into shareable content for the public, we applaud any account doing the same. That's why we connected with Amea, who is doing a fantastic job reaching a broad audience with fun and engaging climate content on social media. 

Amea "Mae" Wadsworth is an environmental justice climate communicator specializing in design and copywriting. She is currently the Head of Creative Design at EcoTok Collective, an environmental media collective focused on providing intersectional, accurate, and engaging climate communication through social media. She also works as a social media manager and graphics designer for Commons, a sustainability lifestyle app meant to help users save money and carbon.

Read our interview with Mae to learn about the struggles and joys of climate messaging. 

What inspired your environmentalism? Did you grow up in an eco-conscious household?

I grew up in a very Southern California-hippie-type household. Environmentalism wasn't at the forefront of my mom's mind while raising me, but many of our habits and values already aligned with environmentalist practices. We also were a low-income family, so habits like thrifting and buying less were already priorities for us. 

At ten, I went vegetarian. I had been given a steak with red sauce for dinner for the first time, and I quickly had the harrowing realization that my meal was once an animal. When I was sixteen, I watched a YouTube video of a lecture by my favorite kitten rescuer, Hannah Shaw. It was titled "For the Love of Orphans," it was my first understanding of the reality of dairy and eggs. I've been vegan ever since. Both times, my mother immediately supported my decision and changed her diet and lifestyle with me, which was incredible. 

I knew vaguely about the environmental impacts of animal agriculture, but that was never why I did it. I entered the sustainability world entirely from a deep love for animals. In 2020, during lockdown, I started making TikTok videos and quickly found a niche in intersectional environmentalism. I slowly started making content about the connection between climate change and animal agriculture, secondhand and slow fashion, and leftist discourse. My ultimate goal was to help people understand that veganism isn't just about livestock— it's about departing from unethical and exploitative systems altogether. Intersectional veganism should be anticapitalist, antiracist, and definitely environmentalist. 

In the Summer of 2020, I joined EcoTok Collective, a group intended to be a "hype house" for environmentalist content. We quickly blossomed and grew as a media collective and are now much more than just TikTokkers. Now, we are a collective of scientists, civil servants, artists, and entertainers who create content and provide sustainability consulting, panels, workshops, and climate community event planning. Over the past three years, my involvement in EcoTok Collective has pushed me fully into the world of intersectional environmentalism and climate communications. 

At EMA, we understand the incredible power of media to inspire action. Is there a movie, documentary, or show that inspired you to be more eco-friendly?

Cowspiracy will forever be one of my favorites. I hate to say it because it's probably controversial, but I do not like graphic animal agriculture documentaries like Dominion. I'm glad they exist because I know they're helpful for some people, but filmmakers can convince many people with less. Films that graphic can be so hard to watch that it turns people away from learning more. The Kitten Lady (Hannah Shaw) lecture, "For the Love of Orphans," was all I needed; no graphic footage included.

You've done an extraordinary job creating content for Commons. What advice do you have for fledgling content creators in the environmental and activism space?

Thank you so much! I've grown throughout my time at both EcoTok Collective and Commons. My three biggest pieces of advice are: 1. Find a mentor, 2. Always show your work to fresh eyes, and 3. Log off sometimes. 

I've been fortunate to work alongside incredible people at EC and Commons. Especially if you get into this world young like I did, having people you trust and admire around to guide you and answer your "stupid questions" is integral to growth.

As for having fresh eyes look at your work, I get lost in what I'm working on. Sometimes, I forget that most of the time, I'm not communicating with an audience of other climate experts; I'm speaking to the average American. I find it helpful to get people who do not work in climate to look at my work and ask questions. 

The last piece of advice is to log off. I am so incredibly grateful to have a job as a creative and to work in social media. I won't pretend it is as high stakes or exhausting of a job as a teacher or doctor, for example. Still, it can really get to you. It's easy to check your work socials when you wake up and last, before you sleep, to obsessively read through comments or Reddit threads about your work, or to not ever give yourself weekends off (especially if you're a workaholic like myself). Please allow yourself breaks, turn your comment notifications off, and find time in the day when your phone is for connecting with friends or entertaining yourself rather than working. 

Your Instagram has a great aesthetic, including many flowers and nature. Where are some of your favorite places to get nature therapy?

Thank you! I was in high school during the era of the Instagram feed aesthetic, and I've never been able to let it go. 

I'm a huge lover of birdwatching. My house has become a hotspot for almost every creature, especially the birds. I love watching all of them, but I have a particular soft spot for the hummingbirds. 

I'm also so incredibly lucky to live very close to the beach. I love walking down during high tides when most people aren't around and allowing myself to sit and watch. My phone also loses service right on the water, which helps me disconnect from my phone and work addiction. It's always the most tranquil part of my day.

My hidden gem place is the Interior Greenbelt in San Francisco. It's tucked away, gorgeous, and a great birding spot.

Finally, how can people follow along with your work?

Three places! To stay updated with EcoTok Collective's work, where I am Head of Creative Design, you can check out our Instagram, @ecotokcollective, and website. I also designed the infographics you see on Commons, which you can find at @the.commons.earth on IG. Lastly, if you want to keep up with me personally, where I sometimes talk about design and climate but also share my thoughts on everything else, my socials are @ameaa on IG and @antheiamae on TikTok. 

We encourage you to follow and support Amea on social!