Compassion as Practice: Simplicity, Community, and Centering Youth & Faith in Planetary Health

Welcome to Mind the Planet, a podcast hosted by Vildan Soguktas under Climate Junction, a venture of the Climate Psychiatry Alliance! Here, we give you insight on how to protect your mental health amidst the climate crisis. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Amjad Saleem, a practitioner, scholar, analyst, and interfaith leader, about identity beyond titles, compassion and kindness in the planetary health movement, living simply in a culture shaped by consumption and excess, and how faith communities can respond to ecological and social crises. Drawing on personal stories, Islamic perspectives, and intergenerational wisdom, we explore simplicity as both a personal practice and a pathway to planetary health. Together, we reflect on eco-anxiety, climate grief, trust, and the emotional landscape driving youth activism, while highlighting the role of spiritual and cultural traditions, community, and human rights in fostering resilience.