Fancy Pug

Season 1: Episode 5

In this special episode recorded live during San Francisco Climate Week, Marc O’Brien and Katie Patrick dig into why we’re stuck in a doom-heavy narrative—and what it’ll take to design for the future we actually want. From breaking down the “value-action gap” to calling out the overreliance on financial incentives and education as motivators, Katie challenges us to rewire how we think about change. This is a conversation about systems, behavior, and possibility. About moving beyond facts and fear. About shifting from problem-obsession to solution momentum. Maybe it’s time to rethink everything.

Together, they explore a playful prompt that sparks fresh ideas about reconnecting with nature, community, and each other. From imagining a “Pug Cafe” to considering the role animals could play in urban sustainability and healing social divides, they reveal how warmth, creativity, and unexpected connections might be the keys to building climate resiliency and bridging polarized communities.

This episode blends thoughtful critique with hopeful dreaming, inviting listeners to reimagine what’s possible when design, empathy, and a touch of whimsy come together.

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About our guest

Katie Patrick is an environmental engineer with roots in the countercultural environmental activism of the 1990s. What began as a deep passion for environmental justice evolved into a career grounded in the technical world of green building design. Over the past two decades, her work has expanded far beyond engineering, driven by the realization that solving climate problems isn’t just about technology — it’s about people.

Specializing in behavioral psychology and climate communication, Katie focuses on how to design systems that motivate real human action. Her approach bridges feedback loops, sensing, and data with storytelling, aesthetics, and behavior design. This layered framework helps translate complex technical solutions into compelling, actionable change. Today, Katie brings all of this together through the School of Climate Action Design, where she teaches her methodology to guide others in designing for human-centered climate solutions.

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