Philip Eubanks & Saul Levin: Building a Playful, Courageous Movement for Climate Resistance

Jun 18

Kristine Michie - Playfull Podcast Interview -Philip Eubanks and Saul Levin

Philip Eubanks & Saul Levin: Building a Playful, Courageous Movement for Climate Resistance

In this episode, Kristine speaks with philanthropist Philip Eubanks and grantee Saul Levin about how disruptive, nonviolent climate protests are reshaping activism. From throwing soup on artworks to halting data center projects, they discuss how organizers, funders, and communities are using imagination, research, and courage to shift the Overton window on climate action.
Key Takeaways:

Strategic funding of nonviolent, disruptive climate activism can accelerate change more than traditional advocacy, especially when it supports experimentation and risk-taking.
Data center conflicts are a strong entry point because they make abstract issues like AI, big tech, and resource use more concrete at the community level.
Young organizers often push further because they are less constrained by assumptions about what is “possible,” helping build momentum where institutions stall.
High-visibility disruptive acts may seem extreme in isolation, but can be effective when they follow sustained ignored efforts and are informed by public opinion dynamics.
Storytelling platforms such as journalism, radio, and podcasts also act as organizing tools by linking local struggles, spreading tactics, and expanding collective imagination.

"There is no press freedom on a dead planet." — Philip Eubanks

"This is a pivotal moment in history. The tech oligarchs are racing against each other for control over everything, and the other side of the race is everyone else, regardless of politics or exactly what we believe in, saying people should control this, not seven guys in California." — Saul Levin

Episode References:

Literature Review: https://api.climateemergencyfund.org/app/uploads/2026/04/CEF_Literature-Review-April-2026.pdf
Discussion Paper with Social Change Lab: https://api.climateemergencyfund.org/app/uploads/2026/04/CEF_Literature-Review-April-2026.pdf
Saul’s Op-Ed in The Guardian (with Astra Taylor): https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/08/ai-datacenters-democracy
Just Stop Oil: https://juststopoil.org
Committee to Protect Journalists: https://cpj.org
AFL‑CIO: https://aflcio.org
The HUM Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hum/id1895877050
(stories and inspiration from the Data Center frontlines)
Turning the Data Center Fight into a Mass Movement - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjjkkD2qLHM&feature=youtu.be

More About Philip Eubanks:

Executive director of Climate Emergency Fund who leverages over a decade of experience in international development, human rights, and fundraising to tackle the climate crisis. Drawing on a diverse background that includes the Peace Corps, a papal humanitarian agency, and the Committee to Protect Journalists—where he collectively raised tens of millions of dollars- Philip is dedicated to resourcing and strengthening the disruptive, nonviolent climate movement to drive meaningful, large-scale change.

More About Saul Levin:

Founder of The Moonlight Project, Saul is a union organizer and policy expert who co-founded the Congressional Workers Union and served as a Policy Advisor to Congresswomen Deb Haaland and Cori Bush. While on Capitol Hill, he drafted multiple laws directing hundreds of millions of dollars toward climate and public transit. He is also a member of the Climate Resistance Incubator team.

Connect with Philip Eubanks:

Website: https://www.climateemergencyfund.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eubanksp/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/moonlightmvmt.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climateemergencyfund

Connect with Saul Levin:

Website: https://www.climatejusticecenter.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saul-levin-8371b2128/

Connect with Kristine:

The PlayFull Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-playfull-podcast-with-kristine-michie-bringing-fun/id1676838213?action=write-review

Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc