Storytelling for Climate Justice.
Media Strategy for Movements.
Meet Shilpi (she/her)
Hi there, I’m Shilpi—a media strategist, storyteller, and movement-builder dedicated to environmental justice. I’m the President and Co-Founder of Counterstream Media, where I lead our organizational strategy, fundraising, and produce storytelling projects rooted in frontline voices and movement organizing. I’m currently hosting a climate justice podcast series for The Nation, and write Narrative Edit, a newsletter exploring the intersection of power, media, and resistance. My work spans nearly 15 years, from global campaigns on plastic pollution to building platforms for movements that challenge extractive systems and reclaim the narrative.
I live in Oakland, California, on Ohlone land with my husband and two sons.
Global Plastics Advocacy (2017–2024)
Counterstream Media began as People over Plastic, a podcast and storytelling hub centering environmental justice stories often excluded from mainstream media. Over time, the project expanded into a broader multimedia platform including investigative journalism and community-powered storytelling events. Much of our early work was rooted in the U.S. Gulf South and other key regions, where communities are advancing climate resilience by resisting extractive systems like the oil, gas, and plastic industry.
Prior to this, I led global communications for Break Free From Plastic, where I helped build a cross-regional narrative strategy exposing the full life cycle harms of plastic pollution. My work supported grassroots organizers across the world—particularly in the Global South—through bold communications campaigns, advising on local, federal, and multinational legislation, and bringing movement voices into international media and policy spaces.
This era shaped my systems-level approach to advocacy and remains a through line in how I understand power and accountability. A core part of these roles has been serving as a spokesperson and trusted advisor to media including:
BBC Rolling Stone Al Jazeera NPR Newsweek KQED NYT
New to Narrative Justice?
Here Are Three Things You Should Know
Narrative is Power
The stories we tell and who gets to tell them shape public perception, policy, and power. Narrative justice means shifting dominant narratives that exclude, extract, or erase.It’s Not Just Representation
This isn’t about optics. Narrative justice demands structural change—centering the voices, truths, and leadership of those most impacted by climate, colonialism, and interlocking systems of oppression.It’s a Climate Strategy
Narrative shapes what’s seen as possible. From movement media to frontline storytelling, narrative justice is essential to building lasting solutions rooted in systems change and cultural resistance.
Shilpi specializes in narrative strategy, multimedia production, and training the next generation of climate justice advocates.
Let’s connect!
Get in touch about collaborations & speaking opportunities. Please note: as part of a broader effort to challenge the systemic undervaluing of women of color in thought leadership, she only accepts paid speaking opportunities.