#473: SPOTLIGHT: Charlie Kronick

#473: Charlie Kronick 

September 8, 2026

A Backbeat of Community

Question for Charlie:  

What is a surprising way your priorities have changed over time? Was there a particular experience that led you to see what mattered most differently?

Charlie's Response: 

I’ve had the privilege of working on environmental and related social and political issues for more than three decades. And somehow I've found that people - both those that I work with and the folk I come up “against” - seem to think that either I’m some kind of “expert” whose views are authoritative or some kind of “charlatan” to be exposed. I was desperate to be the former, and terrified of being the latter.

Why? In part, ego of course: I think it feels good to be considered smart by the people I respect, like, or want to impress, but expertise also offers a suit of armour against “opponents” - those who disagree with what I value or believe. Expertise wasn’t just a job requirement, but also validation: it’s not just what I know, it’s who I am.

In the last decade I've felt that expertise has become a devalued currency - not just out of fashion, but sometimes even toxic or counterproductive. But that didn’t stop me from craving it - because being an “expert” wasn’t just what I do, it’s who I am. But about a year ago, I realised my expertise wasn’t making me a success. I mean, 30+ years on the job, and I feel we’re living out catastrophic climate change in real time. My commitment to being “right” was coming between me and the people around me, even the ones who shared my world. I guess the armour stops me from touching the people I love as well as protecting me from the things chucked my way. 

So slowly and definitely not surely I’ve been working on not being “right.” I’m not aiming to be wrong mind you, more that I’m valuing every day the chance to actually hear and see those around me. Better late than never.