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Send us Fan MailSpaceX's IPO went off with a bang, and it could come down with a bang, but what does its success say about us as a society? The peace deal or MOU has been signed between Iran and the US, which is getting a lot of attention, but the obvious question is: will it hold and when will the ships move? We also have the G7 meeting happening in Europe (Trump “I'm the boss”), a heatwave is blasting Europe as well, and of course, El Niño (which we discussed in detail last week) is officially “in-play” according to all meteorological groups, and we still don't know how bad it will be or what to expect – will we see 2°C warming for the first time? Scientists are talking about the earth energy imbalance, which is the reason it's getting hotter and not cooling down in between ENSO events, JD Vance is on a book tour, META is turning into a Gulag, Grok is fundamental to US national security, Anthropic lost Fable, and the Nerd Reich are looking at creating baby geniuses to thwart AI threats… what could possibly go wrong? Oh, and while the World Cup is capturing the world's imagination, it appears the language of some fans is raising alarm in the US. Cheeky chappies. Please do join us this Friday for an enlightening show. We'll be going live Friday, 19th June 2026, kicking off at 8am UK, 9am EU, 11am UAE, 12.30pm IN, 2pm TH, 3pm SG, 5pm AEST. Streaming across various locations, and no doubt about it, we'd love your support. The Sh*t Show is a Livestream happening every Friday, where Andrea T Edwards, Dr. David Ko, Richard Busellato and Joe Augustin, as well as special guests, discuss the world's most pressing issues across all angles of the polycrisis, working to make sense of the extremely challenging and complex times we are all going through, plus what we can do about it. Help us move the needle so we can change the name of the show to something more genteel when (or if) it is no longer a sh*t show. #TheShitShow #UncommonCourage You can find me Andrea T Edwards | The Digital Conversationalist and Welcome - Uncommon Courage - An Invitation. My book Uncommon Courage, an invitation, is here https://mybook.to/UncommonCourage My book 18 Steps to an All-Star LinkedIn Profile, is here https://mybook.to/18stepstoanallstar
Dr Catherine Knight is one of the organisers of The Reality of Everything symposium, and she joins Susana Lei'ataua.
Send us Fan Mail El Niño warnings are in the news every day, with some declaring a super or even Godzilla event is coming, and then someone else will say it won't be that bad, while others declare that even if it isn't a record event, an El Niño landing on an already overheated planet (it was just announced we had the hottest May since 2024) is not good news, regardless. It's confusing, isn't it? But the even bigger story, which is often reported separately, is there's a double impact on our horizon, and this is where it becomes a polycrisis. We are moving into even hotter conditions at a time when infrastructure, energy systems, food systems, trade routes, and political systems are all under strain. It speaks to the essential truth that climate risk and geopolitical risk do not sit in separate boxes; they interact and compound. Yet the media keeps reporting it all separately, so how can we prepare if we do not know? The war in Iran will have a profound impact on our food supply. Farmers are either not planting crops because they can't afford fertilizer or are paying much higher costs, which means we – the consumer - will experience significantly higher food prices and inflation. However, with extreme temperatures and extreme weather events (like extreme flooding) coming, how much food will even make it to market? Just rice, which more than 50% of humanity relies on as a staple, doesn't grow above 40°C, and we've seen months above that recently in Asia – where most of the world's rice is grown! It's getting serious. We are very happy to welcome our very special guest, Jan Umsonst, the Earth System Nerd, and he's promised he'll join us this time! One of the great benefits of listening to Jan is he sees the whole system, starting with the ocean, and he educates on how the changes in our oceans ripple out and impact the world. He will provide an insight into what he is seeing developing right now, and what it means to us across the globe. Jan is an earth system consultant, and we encourage you to follow him on social media, as he is a great educator on the state of the planet, especially as someone with the systemic view, which is so critical right now. Please do join us this Friday for a not to be missed show. We'll be going live Friday, 12th June 2026, kicking off at 8am UK, 9am EU, 11am UAE, 12.30pm IN, 2pm TH, 3pm SG, 5pm AEST. Streaming across various locations, and no doubt about it, we'd love your support. The Sh*t Show is a Livestream happening every Friday, where Andrea T Edwards, Dr. David Ko, Richard Busellato and Joe Augustin, as well as special guests, discuss the world's most pressing issues across all angles of the polycrisis, working to make sense of the extremely challenging and complex times we are all going through, plus what we can do about it. Help us move the needle so we can change the name of the show to something more genteel when (or if) it is no longer a sh*t show. #TheShitShow #UncommonCourage You can find me Andrea T Edwards | The Digital Conversationalist and Welcome - Uncommon Courage - An Invitation. My book Uncommon Courage, an invitation, is here https://mybook.to/UncommonCourage My book 18 Steps to an All-Star LinkedIn Profile, is here https://mybook.to/18stepstoanallstar
Today I'm thrilled to have Kailea Rose Loften and Kate Rose Weiner of Loam on the podcast to discuss their new book, Compassion in Crisis, which just came out with Heyday Books.Together we have a gentle, honest, and deep conversation exploring:The meaning of ‘polycrisis'Why it's important to think about preparednessWays to prepare without slipping into hypervigilance (even if you're an anxious person)The role social media plays in both community building and community surveillanceWhy we still turn to social media for resource sharing and rapid responseThe spread of misinformation & disinformation online during disastersPublishing as a way of getting ‘off the grid'Free Family Preparedness Information from Summer Starr If you enjoy this episode, please get yourself a copy of Compassion in Crisis! You can also join Kate & Kailea for book-related events across the US this summer! RESOURCES + LINKS
Subscribe now for an ad-free experience. There's too much Knickerbocker news to fit here, but we do have other stories to report. This week: Iran and the U.S. exchange fire in the Gulf (2:00), plus peace talks stall after Trump adds new demands (4:29); Israel escalates its Lebanon campaign despite ceasefire talks (08:33); Cambodia takes a Thailand maritime dispute to the UN (15:19); in Sudan, tribal clashes kill dozens in South Darfur (17:38); Ukraine strikes St. Petersburg during the city's International Economic Forum (20:13); Germany loses a UN Security Council vote (21:54); Colombia's first-round election results see the right gain momentum (24:04); U.S. sanctions hit Cuba-linked hotels (26:36); and Tulsi Gabbard resigns as the DNI faces a CIA feud (29:11). Then, Kate Mackenzie and Tim Sahay , co-editors of The Polycrisis, join the show to explain how the climate crisis, Chinese clean-tech, U.S. policy, and the Iran war are accelerating a global shift away from fossil fuels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.volts.wtfWhy is the latest fossil fuel crisis pushing the world toward rapid electrification instead of a drilling boom? To find out, I chat with Tim Sahay and Kate Mackenzie, hosts of the Polycrisis newsletter and podcast, about the concept of “polycrisis” and the global rise of manufacturing-heavy electrostates. We examine the massive global diffusion of cheap electrotech and discuss why American climate wonks need to look past domestic policy and start paying attention to international macroeconomics.
There's too much Knickerbocker news to fit here, but we do have other stories to report. This week: Iran and the U.S. exchange fire in the Gulf (2:00), plus peace talks stall after Trump adds new demands (4:29); Israel escalates its Lebanon campaign despite ceasefire talks (08:33); Cambodia takes a Thailand maritime dispute to the UN (15:19); in Sudan, tribal clashes kill dozens in South Darfur (17:38); Ukraine strikes St. Petersburg during the city's International Economic Forum (20:13); Germany loses a UN Security Council vote (21:54); Colombia's first-round election results see the right gain momentum (24:04); U.S. sanctions hit Cuba-linked hotels (26:36); and Tulsi Gabbard resigns as the DNI faces a CIA feud (29:11). Then, Tim Sahay and Kate MacKenzie, co-editors of The Polycrisis, join the show to explain how the climate crisis, Chinese clean-tech, U.S. policy, and the Iran war are accelerating a global shift away from fossil fuels.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Send us Fan MailThe bombs started falling on Iran again this week, who retaliated by striking US bases in the Gulf. Israel attacks on Lebanon escalated, threatening UNESCO World Heritage sites, and then a ceasefire was announced, but will Hezbollah stop? Russia scaled up its attacks on Ukraine, with murmurs suggesting internal support in Russia is waning. And on the other side of the world, Pauline Hanson in Australia is moving up the electoral charts, leaving us wondering, really? That's the direction Australia thinks is sensible right now? Extreme heat events continue around the world, with India releasing estimates of excess deaths during heatwaves at 3,400 a day, and up to 30,000 over a five-day heatwave - and that's just India. Weather professor Jeff Berardelli said the forecast strength of this El Niño is nothing short of astonishing, deserving a “Supercalifragilistic expialidocious!” rating. However, later that day, he shared another view with a different data set, suggesting it won't be that catastrophic – we hope so! Meanwhile the results of 60 section 301 investigations are out (we'll explain that), Trump wants to cancel the 250-year celebrations because most of the musicians pulled out, SpaceX's IPO is coming, Europe is disentangling its tech reliance on the US, and that's just a taste of what's been happening this week. Our theme this week is managing yourself and owning your BS, which we think is a pretty important skillset right now, so we are delighted to welcome the Titanium Hipster herself, Cindy Tien. Cindy is a professional speaker on EQ for influence, an executive coach, Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) and she recently launched her new book – InSide, Break Through Your BS to Influence Yourself. We're going to learn why she decided it was time to write her book, her journey of facing up to her own BS, and we'll also learn the most underrated skill we all need so we can manage ourselves. We are excited to learn from Cindy. Please do join us this Friday, as we all prepare to face our own BS, as well as getting an update on the most important news happening in the world. We'll be going live Friday, 5th June 2026, kicking off at 8am UK, 9am EU, 11am UAE, 12.30pm IN, 2pm TH, 3pm SG, 5pm AEST. Streaming across various locations, and no doubt about it, we'd love your support. The Sh*t Show is a Livestream happening every Friday, where Andrea T Edwards, Dr. David Ko, Richard Busellato and Joe Augustin, as well as special guests, discuss the world's most pressing issues across all angles of the polycrisis, working to make sense of the extremely challenging and complex times we are all going through, plus what we can do about it. Help us move the needle so we can change the name of the show to something more genteel when (or if) it is no longer a sh*t show. #TheShitShow #UncommonCourage You can find me Andrea T Edwards | The Digital Conversationalist and Welcome - Uncommon Courage - An Invitation. My book Uncommon Courage, an invitation, is here https://mybook.to/UncommonCourage My book 18 Steps to an All-Star LinkedIn Profile, is here https://mybook.to/18stepstoanallstar
Send us a message!Something has seemed fairly obvious in the field of leadership development for a while now: the gap between what people learn and what they're able to apply when they return to their organisations. It shows up as disillusionment, stalled change efforts, and the recurring question of why things that seem so clear in a programme setting become so resistant in practice. It's a gap Liz Skelton has been sitting with, and working on, for over two decades.Join KG and Paul as they chat to Liz about systemic leadership, polycrisis, and the conditions that either allow or prevent new ways of working to take hold. Liz is a leadership practitioner, co-author of Lost Conversations, and PhD candidate at the ANU School of Cybernetics, and her work sits at the intersection of adaptive leadership, systems change, and the question of what it actually takes to shift entrenched dynamics.As always, the conversation is 'facilitated' by our friends at Annandale Cellars. On this episode we very much enjoy the 2024 Mastroberardino Mastro Bianco, a white blend from Campania in southern Italy, made by a historic family winery known for preserving ancient indigenous grape varieties. On the palate it's beautifully rounded and textured, with tropical notes of white peach and melon giving way to clean citrus and a freshness that keeps it from tipping into anything overtly fruit-driven. Paul also detected banana. The official tasting notes did not. We encourage you to weigh in.Get at least half a dozen of these (or half a dozen of any of Annandale Cellars' amazing wines) and get a 20% discount by using our discount code at checkout: DECANTEDSláinte friends! Great to see you again!!Useful resources from this episodeLiz Skelton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-skelton-3160834/The Adaptive Practice: https://www.theadaptivepractice.com.auANU School of Cybernetics: https://cybernetics.anu.edu.auLost Conversations, book.If you are interested in a written reflection of this discussion and its themes, you can find our brief article here. Please feel free to send us your thoughts, comments and suggestions any time by leaving us a text/voice message via the link at the top of these show notes!Or talk to us through either of the options below.Email: askus@leadershipdecanted.com Website episode comments: www.leadershipdecanted.comDisagree or agree with anything we've said? How wrong are we?!? Are there any leadership topics you'd like us to discuss, or people you'd like us to talk to? Maybe you'd like to recommend a favourite wine!Whatever tickles your fancy, we'd love to hear from you!!
Send us Fan MailPope Leo's Magnifica Humanitas encyclical was released this week, with AI taking centre stage, but it wasn't just this document that discussed AI, in the US - due to protests against AI, mainly datacentres - ‘Anti-Tech Extremism' is now a target for law enforcement, and of course, the bombs started to fall again on Iran. In case you've been living under a rock, Europe's heatwave took centre stage in the world's news, which unleashed climate deniers across social media, meanwhile - not gaining anywhere near the level of attention - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam and beyond, are seeing extreme wet bulb temperatures creeping towards 50°C, with grids straining to keep citizens cool, especially during an energy crisis. We saw the first Enhanced Games break one record (just), the backlash against Ferrari's first EV, Alberta has decided to move ahead with plans for independence from Canada, more than 90 people died in a coal mine explosion in China, and at least 500 children have died of measles in Bangladesh. In Saudi Arabia, the Hajj goes ahead with extreme heat a massive risk, apparently 1.2 billion people are living with mental disorders globally, scientists are screaming the alarm as Thwaites (aka the Doomsday Glacier) is facing imminent collapse, and of course, Ebola is raging and experts are becoming increasingly concerned. It's been a big week! Our theme this week is looking into what it's like working as a humanitarian today, as the multiple crisis pile up, the funding shrinks, and extreme weather events ripple across the world. We will discuss the state of the humanitarian field today, the biggest concerns, the reality of funding cuts on the ground, the Ebola situation as its unfolding, preparation (or not) for the forthcoming Super El Niño, and how you can work in this field and keep your faith in extremely challenging times. To help us understand the state of the humanitarian field, we are delighted to welcome Nicola Upham, who is director of humanitarian strategy and delivery for Save the Children, but she is not speaking on behalf of Save the Children, she is speaking as a leader in the field. Nicola has been working for humanitarian organizations for nearly two decades, and prior to this worked in recruitment and even had a stint at Coca-Cola in sales. She's seen it all across her career, and we're so grateful for the opportunity for a birds-eye-view into the humanitarian profession, from a person doing the hard work supporting the most vulnerable. Please do join us for this unique opportunity, especially as Nicola is really busy right now, dealing with the world's crisis. It's all happening this Friday, 29th May 2026, and the livestream kicks off at 8am UK, 9am EU, 11am UAE, 12.30pm IN, 2pm TH, 3pm SG, 5pm AEST. Streaming across various locations, and no doubt about it, we'd love your support. The Sh*t Show is a Livestream happening every Friday, where Andrea T Edwards, Dr. David Ko, Richard Busellato and Joe Augustin, as well as special guests, discuss the world's most pressing issues across all angles of the polycrisis, working to make sense of the extremely challenging and complex times we are all going through, plus what we can do about it. Help us move the needle so we can change the name of the show to something more genteel when (or if) it is no longer a sh*t show. #TheShitShow #UncommonCourage You can find me Andrea T Edwards | The Digital Conversationalist and Welcome - Uncommon Courage - An Invitation. My book Uncommon Courage, an invitation, is here https://mybook.to/UncommonCourage My book 18 Steps to an All-Star LinkedIn Profile, is here https://mybook.to/18stepstoanallstar
Send us Fan MailWe went from Hantavirus to the Ebola virus this week, with the rare Bundibugyo strain unleashed in Africa. The WHO have declared a global health emergency, as the scale and speed of its emergence alarms experts. Meanwhile, the details of the US/China visit are emerging, while Trump returned to a country in chaos with shocking poll numbers and escalating inflation, Taiwan reaffirms its independence, and Iran was threatened (again) by Trump and then it was called off (again), as well as other shenanigans coming out of the Whitehouse. No doubt, the global economy continues to be erratic, and, as a side note, if you're thinking of ballmaxxing, you might want to think again. On the other end of the world, scientists are alarmed as the Thwaites Glacier (aka the Doomsday Glacier) starts to break apart rapidly, the WHO is being asked to call the climate crisis a global health emergency, Greenland ice melt has surged sixfold and scientists are alarmed, the insect apocalypse has been linked to malnutrition and stunting in Nepal, there are 170 trillion (at a minimum) pieces of plastic in the world's oceans, and our rivers are becoming depleted of oxygen. Yeah, a lot going on here. To help us dig into our theme of DEI in a post-woke world, we are so happy to welcome Zsuzsanna Tungli Ph.D. Zsuzsanna has been a force in global leadership development for more than three decades, and she focuses on developing and utilising cross-cultural competence for a more harmonious and effective world, accelerating the journey towards gender equality and supporting organisations to develop (even) more inclusive and responsible leaders and individuals. Author of The Culture Key, and managing partner of Developing Global Leaders Asia, it's hard to find someone more at the leading edge - and impacted by - the global setback on DEI in the business world. So come and join us as we step back and look at where we're headed from an economic perspective, this Friday, 22nd May 2026. The livestream kicks off at 8am UK, 9am EU, 11am UAE, 12.30pm IN, 2pm TH, 3pm SG, 5pm AEST. Streaming across various locations, and no doubt about it, we'd love your support. The Sh*t Show is a Livestream happening every Friday, where Andrea T Edwards, Dr. David Ko, Richard Busellato and Joe Augustin, as well as special guests, discuss the world's most pressing issues across all angles of the polycrisis, working to make sense of the extremely challenging and complex times we are all going through, plus what we can do about it. Help us move the needle so we can change the name of the show to something more genteel when (or if) it is no longer a sh*t show. #TheShitShow #UncommonCourageYou can find me Andrea T Edwards | The Digital Conversationalist and Welcome - Uncommon Courage - An Invitation. My book Uncommon Courage, an invitation, is here https://mybook.to/UncommonCourage My book 18 Steps to an All-Star LinkedIn Profile, is here https://mybook.to/18stepstoanallstar
Send us Fan MailPresidents' Xi and Trump are meeting in China right now, with experts predicting it will shape relations between the two great nations for at least the next decade. Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains in a stalemate, gunshots were heard in the Philippines Senate as a senator wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) sought refuge, Sir Keir Starmer continues to fight for his life, with the question being asked – is the media responsible? and there's a new term – the sad wives of AI. In the meantime, our seas are rising rapidly with scientists struggling to understand why, META thinks users should be responsible for behaviour when it comes to its smart glasses, Trump abandons his Gold Coast Tower ambitions because the Trump brand is toxic in Australia, popularity polls in the US are showing Trump falling off a cliff at home as consumer prices skyrocket, and datacentres are draining water and cutting off energy in regions around the world. The backdrop to all of this is the global economy. It's roiling in every direction, with doom and gloom the dominant narrative right now, with more experts finally talking about the cumulative impacts of both the war in Iran, and the forthcoming El Niño, which is expected to amplify the current crisis over the longer term. That doesn't sound good, so how do we make sense of it? This week we are delighted to welcome Marco Jean Aboav, PhD, to help us understand where we are and what's happening. Marco has spent more than 15 years in research, portfolio management, and building fintech infrastructure for public capital markets. He is the co-founder of Etna Research, an AI lab for financial services, who help institutional clients and asset owners in their quest for performance on long-only and absolute return mandates across equity, macro and crypto. He's also VP and community builder for PugliaTechs - a nonprofit organization working to transform Puglia into a global tech hub, has worked as an external Fintech/AI advisor on the AWS Loft program, was a senior fellow at the Aspen Institute, and a whole lot more. So come and join us as we step back and look at where we're headed from an economic perspective, this Friday, 15th May 2026. The livestream kicks off at 8am UK, 9am EU, 11am UAE, 12.30pm IN, 2pm TH, 3pm SG, 5pm AEST. Streaming across various locations, and no doubt about it, we'd love your support. The Sh*t Show is a Livestream happening every Friday, where Andrea T Edwards, Dr. David Ko, Richard Busellato and Joe Augustin, as well as special guests, discuss the world's most pressing issues across all angles of the polycrisis, working to make sense of the extremely challenging and complex times we are all going through, plus what we can do about it. Help us move the needle so we can change the name of the show to something more genteel when (or if) it is no longer a sh*t show. #TheShitShow #UncommonCourage You can find me Andrea T Edwards | The Digital Conversationalist and Welcome - Uncommon Courage - An Invitation. My book Uncommon Courage, an invitation, is here https://mybook.to/UncommonCourage My book 18 Steps to an All-Star LinkedIn Profile, is here https://mybook.to/18stepstoanallstar
Send us Fan MailWe've all learned about the Hantavirus this week, with a cruise ship struck and at least three people dead, harkening back to the days of the pandemic. War is still up in the air, with the possibility of peace in Iran, although it's hard to know if you're only following President Trump's Truth Social posts. Can someone take his phone off him? Meanwhile, the stock markets are up and down, with energy and food experts screaming disaster is on the doorstep, but you wouldn't believe that if you only followed Wall Street, right? In Karachi, Pakistan, at least 10 people have died of heatstroke, while India continues to experience shocking temperatures, and finally, the great man, Sir David Attenborough turns 100 this week. We'll be discussing all of that and more, but first, we're going to look at the state of the insurance industry and what the actuaries are saying. We'll discuss this within the context of the Nine Planetary Boundaries, and assess the current state of the insurance sector, including how far until it collapses, why it will collapse, and what that means to all of us. Because if it does go down, the global economy is next, and well, that won't be pretty. It's a big, wide discussion, and we are delighted to welcome Praveen Gupta to share his wisdom. Praveen started in insurance back in the late 70s with The New India Assurance Co, followed by CGU, Allianz, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, and finished his illustrious career as Managing Director and CEO of Raheja QBE General Insurance Company. Today he is a blogger, writer and thinker, with articles regularly featured in Illuminem, and he is also an Advisory Board Member for Sanctuary Asia. Praveen has a terrific amount of experience, is a wonderful human being, and most importantly, he's sitting in Mumbai, India, where he will give us a lived experience of living in one of the hottest cities on earth right now. Come and join us as we step back and look at the state of the insurance industry, this Friday, 8th May 2026. The livestream kicks off at 8am UK, 9am EU, 11am UAE, 1.30pm IN, 2pm TH, 3pm SG, 5pm AEST. Streaming across various locations, and no doubt about it, we'd love your support. The Sh*t Show is a Livestream happening every Friday, where Andrea T Edwards, Dr. David Ko, Richard Busellato and Joe Augustin, as well as special guests, discuss the world's most pressing issues across all angles of the polycrisis, working to make sense of the extremely challenging and complex times we are all going through, plus what we can do about it. Help us move the needle so we can change the name of the show to something more genteel when (or if) it is no longer a sh*t show. #TheShitShow #UncommonCourage You can find me Andrea T Edwards | The Digital Conversationalist and Welcome - Uncommon Courage - An Invitation. My book Uncommon Courage, an invitation, is here https://mybook.to/UncommonCourage My book 18 Steps to an All-Star LinkedIn Profile, is here https://mybook.to/18stepstoanallstar
Send us Fan MailWe are going to take a different approach this week and re-orient the conversation to the current state of our planet. Yes someone tried to assassinate the US President (and the conspiracy theories are flourishing), yes King Charles is trying to heal the “very special relationship” between the US and UK, yes the war with Iran is at a stalemate and economic impacts growing, along with having a new insurgency erupting in Mali, civilians continuing to be killed in Lebanon, Israel is facing EU anger for buying Ukrainian wheat from the Russians, and the UAE has left OPEC, but… What is going on with our planet and is it more important than all the rest? We're hearing escalating concerns from the scientific community about the forthcoming El Niño (it's either a Super or Godzilla at this point), AMOC is back in the news as a near-term threat, food shortages are expected to escalate from these changes immediately and long term (even if it's not included with food insecurity/inflation impact from the Iranian war, so we can expect a double whammy) and the world's oceans are experiencing record heat ALREADY. Where is this all taking us? We have Oliver Gill (the water man) back with us as co-host this week as Joe can't join us, however, unfortunately, Jan Umsonst, the Earth System Nerd, wasn't able to join us. No problem - an excuse to get him back again soon - but we still covered a lot of topics, from the economic situation today to the state of the planet more broadly. Come and join us as we step back and look at the state of the planet, this Friday, 1st May 2026. The livestream kicks off at 8am UK, 9am EU, 11am UAE, 2pm TH, 3pm SG, 5pm AEST. Streaming across various locations, and no doubt about it, we'd love your support. The Sh*t Show is a Livestream happening every Friday, where Andrea T Edwards, Dr. David Ko, Richard Busellato and Joe Augustin, as well as special guests, discuss the world's most pressing issues across all angles of the polycrisis, working to make sense of the extremely challenging and complex times we are all going through, plus what we can do about it. Help us move the needle so we can change the name of the show to something more genteel when (or if) it is no longer a sh*t show. #TheShitShow #UncommonCourage You can find me Andrea T Edwards | The Digital Conversationalist and Welcome - Uncommon Courage - An Invitation. My book Uncommon Courage, an invitation, is here https://mybook.to/UncommonCourage My book 18 Steps to an All-Star LinkedIn Profile, is here https://mybook.to/18stepstoanallstar
Send us Fan MailTrump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) is a commonly used criticism towards anyone who doesn't agree with Trump's agenda, but looking at what he's doing right now, should TDS be targeted at those still fully aligned with him? Because right now, Asia is suffering immensely due to the war in Iran, we've heard rumblings Trump was looking for the nuclear codes (unproven but not unbelievable), and the WSJ reported he had such a mighty tantrum he was locked out of his own war room. Times are tense for everyone everywhere, and added to this are the escalating warnings of a Godzilla El Niño, we saw New Zealand hammered by extraordinary floods, the UK is in mayhem about Mandelson (again), the ‘Rape Academy' made front page news, the Druzbha oil pipeline is open again for business, the 90 billion Euro aid package for Ukraine is back on track, the AI backlash is growing, and the Nerd Reich is openly telling the world their intentions, with Palantir publishing a 22-point manifesto. Because everything is so incredibly intense, we wanted to bring in a special guest who can help us with the mental and emotional load, answering the question – can resilience be learned? Apparently, it can, and we are delighted to welcome Dr Jane Tuomola, a highly experienced executive and team coach who integrates her clinical psychology experience with her work as a coach. She believes that a deep understanding of psychology is key to meaningful behavioural change, finding purpose, and creating lasting impact. Originally from the UK, Jane began her career as a clinical psychologist before relocating to Asia, and today, she serves as a trainer, coaching supervisor, and mentor coach for three globally accredited coaching schools. Come and join us as we disentangle the complexity of this time, and with Jane, develop our resilience muscles while we're doing it. It's all happening, this Friday, 24th April 2026, at 8am UK, 9am EU, 11am UAE, 2pm TH, 3pm SG, 5pm AEST. Streaming across various locations, and no doubt about it, we'd love your support. The Sh*t Show is a Livestream happening every Friday, where Andrea T Edwards, Dr. David Ko, Richard Busellato and Joe Augustin, as well as special guests, discuss the world's most pressing issues across all angles of the polycrisis, working to make sense of the extremely challenging and complex times we are all going through, plus what we can do about it. Help us move the needle so we can change the name of the show to something more genteel when (or if) it is no longer a sh*t show. #TheShitShow #UncommonCourage You can find me Andrea T Edwards | The Digital Conversationalist and Welcome - Uncommon Courage - An Invitation. My book Uncommon Courage, an invitation, is here https://mybook.to/UncommonCourage My book 18 Steps to an All-Star LinkedIn Profile, is here https://mybook.to/18stepstoanallstar
On DisrupTV Episode 435, hosts R “Ray” Wang and Vala Afshar explore what it takes to lead in an era of AI, cyber risk, geopolitical tension, and climate disruption. Featuring Paul Abbate (former FBI Deputy Director), Dr. David Bray (CEO, Lido Adapt Ventures), and Caroline Stokes (CEO coach and author), this episode dives into insider threats, AI-driven security risks, and why resilience must become a core boardroom priority. They also unpack the rise of the polymath CEO—leaders who can navigate complexity across domains—and why purpose, trust, and human connection matter more than ever in a machine-scale world. If you're thinking about the future of leadership, security, and AI governance, this episode offers a practical and deeply human playbook for what comes next.
In the latest episode of the special Contested Ground series unpacking the fallout and implications of the conflict in the Middle East, host Steve Kuper is joined by geostrategic analyst and former Defence policymaker Marc Ablong PSM as they interrogate the nation's preparedness, the era of polycrisis and mobilisation in the modern era. As part of this, the pair deep dive into what makes a "polycrisis" and why it feels like Australia and Australians are seemingly paddling from one storm to another, both at home and abroad, undermining our national resilience and the nation's capacity to rally in the event of major regional crisis. They then move on to dissect the challenges of contemporary mobilisation being faced by Australia and like-minded nations across Europe and the United Kingdom, specifically the issues surrounding social cohesion, economic, political and social dislocation and atomisation among young Australians that directly impact national security and resilience. Finally, the pair discuss Australia's glaring lack of compelling narrative and plan to rally Australians of all generations that leave many feeling like Australia is inescapably caught in a period of managed decline, at a time when the nation's economic, political and strategic security and prosperity faces increasing tension and challenge. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team
The war in the Middle East has served to reveal the now metastising vulnerabilities that permeate Australia's economic, political and strategic ecosystems, leaving the nation and its interests exposed. Australians are increasingly getting the sense that the country is rudderless, struggling to overcome the mounting swell that is serving to swamp our seemingly ill-prepared national "boat". In the latest episode of the special Contested Ground series unpacking the fallout and implications of the conflict in the Middle East, host Steve Kuper is joined by geostrategic analyst and former Defence policymaker Marc Ablong PSM as they interrogate the nation's preparedness, the era of polycrisis and mobilisation in the modern era. As part of this, the pair deep dive into what makes a "polycrisis" and why it feels like Australia and Australians are seemingly paddling from one storm to another, both at home and abroad, undermining our national resilience and the nation's capacity to rally in the event of major regional crisis. They then move on to dissect the challenges of contemporary mobilisation being faced by Australia and like-minded nations across Europe and the United Kingdom, specifically the issues surrounding social cohesion, economic, political and social dislocation and atomisation among young Australians that directly impact national security and resilience. Finally, the pair discuss Australia's glaring lack of compelling narrative and plan to rally Australians of all generations that leave many feeling like Australia is inescapably caught in a period of managed decline, at a time when the nation's economic, political and strategic security and prosperity faces increasing tension and challenge. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team
Send us Fan MailThe pressure keeps ramping up, and this week was like no other, with a potty-mouthed Potus threatening to destroy an entire civilization. While the media and experts try to determine what he meant by this statement – a war crime in its own right (not the act, just saying the words) - the only way a civilization the size of Iran could be destroyed is by going nuclear. Did we really get so close this week? Well, in this day and age, none of us can feel confident it won't happen, but boy, it wouldn't be very smart, would it? Of course, the markets rose and fell, the price of fossil fuels too, and almost immediately, the ceasefire was over, because Israel decided to carry out its largest bombing campaign of Lebanon straight after the announcement, so the Strait of Hormuz is “shut” once again. It makes you wonder if there is a way out of this mess that isn't utter destruction? Nothing is giving us any confidence yet. Of course, plenty of other news worth our attention, from a deep dive into Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI and whether he can be trusted, the US leaving NATO, JD Vance being JD Vance, recycled plastic is worth something at last, and oh, the US threatening the Catholic Church with the Avignon Papacy. Yep, things are weird, no doubt about it. To help us dig into this and more, we are delighted to welcome Andy Lopata. Andy is an internationally recognised authority on professional relationships, with more than 25 years of experience helping organisations and individuals unlock the commercial and cultural value of connection. The author of six books and co-host of The Connected Leadership Podcast, Andy is a regular contributor to Psychology Today and has written for Harvard Business Review. We're going to discuss Andy's professional advice on building professional relationships and networking, then translate that into how we can use it more broadly, as we all face deepening uncertainty. It's going to be valuable. Come and join us as we disentangle the complexity of this time, and with Andy, gain some tools to navigate the choppy waters. It's all happening, this Friday, 10th April 2026, at 8am UK, 9am EU, 11am UAE, 2pm TH, 3pm SG, 5pm AEST. Streaming across various locations, and no doubt about it, we'd love your support. The Sh*t Show is a Livestream happening every Friday, where Andrea T Edwards, Dr. David Ko, Richard Busellato and Joe Augustin, as well as special guests, discuss the world's most pressing issues across all angles of the polycrisis, working to make sense of the extremely challenging and complex times we are all going through, plus what we can do about it. Help us move the needle so we can change the name of the show to something more genteel when (or if) it is no longer a sh*t show. #TheShitShow #UncommonCourage You can find me Andrea T Edwards | The Digital Conversationalist and Welcome - Uncommon Courage - An Invitation. My book Uncommon Courage, an invitation, is here https://mybook.to/UncommonCourage My book 18 Steps to an All-Star LinkedIn Profile, is here https://mybook.to/18stepstoanallstar
Clearing the FOG with co-hosts Margaret Flowers and Kevin Zeese
The US-Israeli war on Iran and the resultant fuel shortages are already negatively impacting the global economy. One aspect that isn't gaining much attention is the impact of the war on an already fragile food system. Shortages and the rising prices of oil, fertilizer and pesticides are forcing farmers to make difficult choices and will lead to food scarcity this Fall. To understand where we are and what we can do to support food security, Clearing the FOG speaks with Kayla Dones of DD Geopolitics and Lauren Borsheim, a food policy analyst for Food and Water Watch who has been tracking the new Farm Bill legislation. For more information, visit PopularResistance.org.
Tell us what you think of the show! This Week in Cleantech is a weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in clean energy and climate featuring Paul Gerke of Factor This and Tigercomm's Mike Casey.This week's episode features special guest Jeff St John from Canary Media, who reported on a 21 gigawatt solar and battery storage project in California, which is potentially the largest project of its kind in the world.This week's "Cleantechers of the Week" are Tim Sahay and Kate Mackenzie, hosts of the brand new podcast, The Polycrisis. This podcast will cover geopolitics, climate change, finance and industry. This Week in Cleantech — April 03, 2026 What Americans Really Pay For Electricity — Heatmap NewsTop energy developer warns on overbuilding power supplies for AI — The Financial TimesUS AI Data Center Expansion Relies on Chinese Electrical Equipment Imports — BloombergA Winter Without Snow Depletes Europe's Clean Energy Reservoir — Bloomberg‘We're harvesting the sun': A huge solar project grows in California — Canary MediaWant to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com
We chat with Tim Sahay and Kate Mackenzie — authors of the indispensable newsletter The Polycrisis and hosts of the new podcast Electric World Order — to get into the energy transition, financial markets, fossil fuel disruptions, and the war in Iran. Much of the coverage about the current oil crisis and chokepoint in the Strait of Hormuz is focused on the impacts of supply shocks, but equally important are the long-term effects of demand destruction. We lay out what an energy transition under conditions of polycrisis actually entails: things don't just smoothly change while staying the same, instead it's more like a material shift in the centre of political, economic, energetic power: from the petrostate (e.g. USA) to the electrostate (e.g. China). ••• The Polycrisis | Phenomenal World https://www.phenomenalworld.org/series/the-polycrisis/ ••• Trailer for Electric World Order | | The Polycrisis Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/introducing-electric-world-order-the-geopolitics/id1884213852?i=1000754959853 Standing Plugs: ••• Order Jathan's book: https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520398078/the-mechanic-and-the-luddite ••• Subscribe to Ed's substack: https://substack.com/@thetechbubble ••• Subscribe to TMK on patreon for premium episodes: https://www.patreon.com/thismachinekills Hosted by Jathan Sadowski (bsky.app/profile/jathansadowski.com) and Edward Ongweso Jr. (www.x.com/bigblackjacobin). Production / Music by Jereme Brown (bsky.app/profile/jebr.bsky.social)
This month we were honored to sit down with Professor Ortwin Renn to talk about the concept of polycrisis. Ortwin works with the World Academy Info Hub, Existential Threats and Risks to All InfoHub (EXTRA), as the Director of Systemic Risk Research. This episode is the second produced in collaboration with the join EXTRA/EXALT webinar “Is Extractivism a Prime Cause of the Polycrisis?” (see link below). Ortwin is social scientist focusing on risk governance who has had a long and storied career. Currently, he serves as a professor emeritus for environmental sociology and technology assessment at the University of Stuttgart and directs the non-profit company DIALOGIK, a research institute for the investigation of communication and participation processes. In our conversation we talk about sustainable practices and how they can be implemented in society. We start our conversation with how Ortwin got involved with sustainability and how he discovered his interest in social movements and particularly why people get involved in social movements, especially focuses on technology and how there can be a livable co-evolution between nature and society. Ortwin shared that one of the biggest developments he has seen over his career is that it used to feel like we were facing one crisis at a time, while today is feels like there are multiple, interconnected crisis. Join us for this insightful conversation on polycrisis and its existential and practical implications!Want to learn more about Ortwin's academic work? See:His profile at the Research Institute for Sustainability https://www.rifs-potsdam.de/en/people/ortwin-renn and the non-profit DIALOGIK https://www.dialogik-expert.de/en Want to learn more about his work at the World Academy? Check out the EXTRA website. https://worldacademy.org/extra/ Want to check out the webinar co-hosted by EXTRA and EXALT, “Is Extractivism a Prime Cause of the Polycrisis?” You can find it on the EXTRA YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/emyOYEh2oZQ?si=dxkaNNIjWcqInwfP
What are the stories we tell ourselves and each other about ourselves and each other and our place in the living web of life—and how do we shape them in service to Life? This is the central question that animates Accidental Gods: the idea that we are a storied species, that humanity lives and breathes and loves and learns by the rich tapestry of stories that shape our lives. Everything we do from picking a career to moving house, from finding our life's co-creator(s) to choosing what to have for lunch is underpinned by stories of who we are and how the world works. Often, we take these stories so much for granted that we don't even recognise they are stories - we genuinely believe the world works like this.But then once in a while, someone comes along with such great heart and deep, compassionate fluency in the many layers of our myths that they can weave magic wild enough to turn the bus that is humanity from the edge of the cliff - or at the very least, they can help us imagine what it is to be something entirely other, with no bus and no cliff. This week's guest, Sam Crosby, is one such myth-weaver. Sam is founder of Recalling Fire, the oral storytelling practice bringing ancient courage to modern leadership challenges. Guided by the work of Dr Martin Shaw at the School of Myth, fellow of the Bio-Leadership Project, mentor for A Band of Brothers and Alumnus of the Dartington College of Arts, he works with individuals and organisations all around the world, helping us to weave, re-weave the stories of our lives. Of this process, he says, '…after sharing reverential space and stories with hundreds of people as an oral storyteller and hundreds of thousands more as a consultant for culture, I believe stories and careful word choice have what it takes to guide us further down.'This conversation was rich and deeply layered. We explored Arthurian Legend (fwiw, I think A Sword at Sunset by Rosemary Sutcliff remains the best Arthurian book, though Mary Stewart's Crystal Cave trilogy was my introduction to the whole genre and while I could never bring myself to read the third book, the first two were stellar), through a story of choice and agency, through the nature of grief and gratitude, love, loss and death as a Rite of Passage to the nature of story in modern politics: everything was here in a truly generative long-hour's conversation. Enjoy! LinksSign up here for Sam's next event in May https://www.recallingfire.com/tristan-and-isolde-2026This is the Substack article we were referring to https://recallingfire.substack.com/p/essay-mythocartographyand then:Recalling Fire websiteDrop the Map Podcast1-on-1 Guidance from SamBand of BrothersSam on LinkedInSam on BlueSky Sam on MastodonClarissa Pinkola EstesDanny Deerdorff MythSinger Project—About Accidental Gods—We offer three strands all rooted in the same soil, drawing from the same river: Accidental Gods, Dreaming Awake and the Thrutopia Writing Masterclass Our next Open Gathering offered as part of our Accidental Gods Programme is 'FALLING IN LOVE WITH LIFE' which will run on Sunday 17th May 2026 from 16:00 - 20:00 GMT - details are here. You don't have to be a member of Accidental Gods - but if you are, all Gatherings are half price.If you'd like to join us at Accidental Gods, this is the membership where we endeavour to help you to connect fully with the living web of life. If you'd like to train more deeply in the contemporary shamanic work at Dreaming Awake, you'll find us here. If you'd like to explore the recordings from our last Thrutopia Writing Masterclass, the details are hereManda and Louise both offer one-to-one Mentoring Calls. Manda is fully booked just now, but if you'd like to contact Louise, details are here.
What happens to careers when the rules that built them no longer apply?Season 6 of Career Transitions opens not with a guest, but with a conversation between your two hosts, Vanessa Teo and Vanessa Iloste. Two HR leaders, decades of experience between them, sitting with the questions they believe every professional needs to be asking right now.The framing is deliberate. Before the guest conversations begin, they want to name what is actually happening: not a single disruption, but a polycrisis. AI touching cognitive work for the first time. Demographic plateaus reshaping talent supply. Geopolitical volatility rewriting supply chains and strategy in real time. Leaders are being asked to navigate all of it simultaneously, and the divide between those who are moving and those who are waiting for the dust to settle is widening.On AI, the hosts resist the binary. Job displacement is smaller than headlines suggest; task displacement within jobs is already here. What gets left behind when the transactional is automated turns out to be deeply human: judgement, empathy, creativity, the ability to build trust across uncertainty. The more uncomfortable question is whether organisations, and HR functions in particular, are willing to claim the strategic ground this moment makes available, or whether they will automate the administrative and stop there.The episode also examines the shift from role-based to skills-based careers, the shortening shelf life of qualifications, and what it actually means to take ownership of your own development in a landscape that is updating faster than any training programme can keep pace with.At its core, this is an episode about the architecture of a working life: non-linear, context-dependent, and increasingly self-directed.Given everything you know today, how will you shape your career differentlyConnect with us on LinkedIn: · Vanessa Iloste (Host)· Vanessa Teo (Host) · Aaron Wu (Producer)
Shop Talk looks at a story from The Guardian related to the global malaise we are all feeling right now. The good news is you are not alone if you are in the “polycrisis.” Caught My Eye explains the mysterious blue skin a man woke up with one morning and reveals the best and worst states for tipping. Rudolf Diesel, inventor of the diesel engine, is the Business Birthday this week. We're all business. Except when we're not. Apple Podcasts: apple.co/1WwDBrC Spotify: spoti.fi/2pC19B1 iHeart Radio: bit.ly/4aza5LW Tunein: bit.ly/1SE3NMb YouTube Music: bit.ly/43T8Y81 Pandora: pdora.co/2pEfctj YouTube: bit.ly/1spAF5a Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Security and risk expert and author Michael Gips joins Howard Schweitzer, chief executive officer of Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies, for a conversation on risk assessment, decision-making, and leadership when certainty is not an option. While most leaders are focused on the immediate pressures of the moment, security and risk professionals are scanning the horizon, identifying fractures in the foundation of institutions before they become crises. From AI-driven disruption to politically fueled threats, they operate where ambiguity is constant and the stakes are high. Together, they explore how these professionals stay grounded and persuade leaders to prepare for risks they cannot yet see, and why that mindset is increasingly essential across every sector.
In this conversation, we update you on two big milestones for the Grange Project, the launch of the Welsh Rewilding Alliance and our OECM recognition, before sitting down with Professor Mike Berners‑Lee. We ask Mike to explain the polycrisis: how climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, food insecurity and geopolitical instability are all interlinked. Mike helps us see why recycling alone won't cut it: plastics are produced almost entirely from fossil fuels, their emissions could eat up a large chunk of the remaining carbon budget and their additives disrupt hormones. We also talk about why technology by itself isn't enough, how misinformation slows progress and what practical steps we can all take-like switching to trustworthy media and supporting a national information campaign to wake up and act.Episode journey:[00:05] Introduction and mission. We open the show by explaining why we started the Wilder Podcast: to share our learning about rewilding and the wider forces shaping our world. We remind listeners that we created the Grange Project two and a half years ago to restore nature, grow food, support eco‑businesses and reconnect people with land.[02:24] Two big updates. We proudly announce the launch of the Welsh Rewilding Alliance and its report A Welsh Way to Wild. We also share that the Grange Project has been recognised by the Welsh Government as an OECM, a big step in confirming that our land management has rigorous governance and real biodiversity benefits.[07:08] Introducing Professor Mike Berners‑Lee. We explain how we first encountered Mike's work-reading There Is No Planet B inspired us to buy the farm and start the Grange Project. Mike introduces himself as a professor, consultant and author.[11:09] What is the polycrisis? Mike explains that the polycrisis is a tangle of interconnected challenges driven by humanity's unprecedented power. He emphasises that disasters like pandemics and wars no longer happen in isolation; their severity comes from the cascading effects they unleash. For us, it was eye‑opening to see how our economic and political systems amplify these stresses.[16:58] Examples of cascading crises. We discuss real‑world examples: the COVID‑19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine amplifying food and energy crises. Mike highlights that plastic production has boomed since the 1950s and plastics are a major source of emissions and endocrine disruption. It reinforced for us how everything is connected.[20:43] Wake‑up call and the National Emergency Briefing. Mike tells us about the National Emergency Briefing in Westminster, where experts covered nine dimensions of the crisis from health and food to national security and no one thought the situation was exaggerated. We both feel this shows how widely the severity of the crisis is recognised and why we need national action.[23:05] Misinformation and media ownership. We explore how misinformation is blocking progress. Mike challenges the narratives that climate action will leave us poorer and colder, and explains how social‑media algorithms spread disinformation. We urge you to choose trustworthy news sources and recognise manipulation.[29:14] Techno‑optimism vs. systemic change. Mike says that simply scaling up renewables isn't enough. He points out that although renewable capacity has grown massively, fossil energy use has also climbed, so overall emissions keep rising. That's why systemic measures like carbon pricing and fossil‑fuel constraints are critical.[33:35] Human psychology and leadership. Together we discuss why people aren't inherently selfish. Neuroscience and social history suggest we can cultivate cooperation and empathy. Mike encourages us to seek leaders who are kind and honest, and we talk about the courage it takes to speak up and push for change.[47:19] Calls to action. We finish by encouraging you to sign the letter at nebriefing.org, host local screenings of the briefing film and start conversations in your community. Mike notes that facing these issues head‑on feels liberating, we felt it too.[49:05] Host reflections. After the interview, we reflect on our own nerves and gratitude for Mike's clarity. We discuss doing a mini‑series on the individual crises and debate whether information alone prompts action. We conclude that people need both facts and relatable stories of hopeful change.About the guest:We were honoured to speak with Mike Berners‑Lee, a professor at Lancaster University and founder of Small World Consulting. He advises organisations on sustainability and wrote There Is No Planet B and A Climate of Truth. Mike is known for making complex issues accessible and for advocating systemic solutions to interlinked crises.Resources and links:National Emergency Briefing – A national information briefing on the climate and nature crisis with expert videos, action guides and community‑screening resources. Learn more at https://nebriefing.org.The Welsh Way to Wild report – The Welsh Rewilding Alliance's report sets out a practical vision for rewilding in Wales. Download the report at https://rewildingalliance.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Welsh-Rewilding-Alliance-Report-2026.pdf.Small World Consulting – Mike Berners‑Lee's consultancy helps organisations understand sustainability challenges and thrive in a volatile world. Visit https://www.sw-consulting.co.uk.There Is No Planet B – Mike Berners‑Lee's handbook on climate, biodiversity and practical solutions. Learn more and find retailers at https://theresnoplanetb.net .A Climate of Truth – Mike's latest book explores honesty in politics, media and business as a critical lever for tackling the polycrisis. Details and purchase links are at https://climateoftruth.co.uk.National Emergency Briefing open letter – Add your name to the open letter calling for a televised national emergency briefing at https://nebriefing.org/open-letter-keir.Screw This, Let's Try Something Else – A hopeful podcast featuring community-led projects that are changing food, energy and housing systems. Listen on Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/screw-this-lets-try-something-else/id1863391095.The Grange Project – Our own rewilding project in Monmouthshire, where we experiment with nature restoration, food growing and eco‑business. Learn more at https://grangeproject.co.uk.Why this episode mattersAs rewilders, we see how climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, public health and social instability are woven together. This episode shows that tackling one issue in isolation isn't enough we need to change the systems that drive multiple crises and challenge misinformation. By combining big‑picture analysis with concrete steps, from signing a letter to choosing better media, we hope to inspire you to join us in building a more hopeful, resilient future.
What is Integral Altruism and how could it crowd-source the answers to our meta crisis? It's a while since I learned about 'reverse mentoring': a young person mentoring someone of an older generation. The idea really took hold, so when a mutual friend connected Jonas Søvik and me, I knew I'd found someone from whom I could learn a huge amount about life, ideas, thoughts and how the world feels in circles I would otherwise never reach.Jonas and I have been exploring all this together for the past 18 months and every conversation leaves me buzzing with the potential of new doors opening and new senses unfolding, and how could we not share something so rich? And so here we are, a day after his 27th birthday, with Jonas now in Blackpool, working at the Effective Altruism Hotel, which is, in itself, a significant step outside the predatory capital model. Jonas Søvik is a coach, self-exploration and wisdom enthusiast, currently serving on the board of EA Denmark, and at the EA Hotel, helping to restructure and expand the organization/community to serve the EA community and the wider world. He is also building courses to help us all gain more control of our screen time. He swims in similar waters to this podcast - interested in the metacrisis, particularly as framed by Daniel Schmachtenberger and Nate Hagens, integral altruism, Life Itself, Learning Planet, John Vervaeke's work on modern wisdom, regenerative thinking, Game B, Liminal Web - & most things related in that field. This was one of those conversations where we were both freewheeling, thinking in real time, asking questions as they arose. It's alive, and electric and takes us both to new places. I hope it leaves you feeling as optimistic as it did me. Enjoy! Jonas' Website https://www.coachingforhuman.com/Integral Altrusim https://www.integralaltruism.com/John Vervaeke's TEDx Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKvRUfZ_u1oJonathan Rowson: The Flip, The Formation, The Fun https://jonathanrowson.substack.com/p/the-flip-the-formation-and-the-funEffective Altruism https://www.effectivealtruism.org/About the EA Hotel in Blackpool https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/ah6rXHq8qqz7nNrFE/ceealar-has-a-new-executive-directorEvolving Effective Altruism blog https://thewiderangle.substack.com/p/evolving-effective-altruism-dialogueAbout Accidental Gods - What we offer. We offer three strands all rooted in the same soil, drawing from the same river: Accidental Gods, Dreaming Awake and the Thrutopia Writing Masterclass If you'd like to join our next Open Gathering offered as part of our Accidental Gods Programme, it's 'FINDING YOUR SOUL'S PURPOSE' on Sunday 22nd March 2026 from 16:00 - 20:00 GMT - details are here. You don't have to be a member - but if you are, all Gatherings are half price.If you'd like to join us at Accidental Gods, this is the membership where we endeavour to help you to connect fully with the living web of life. If you'd like to train more deeply in the contemporary shamanic work at Dreaming Awake, you'll find us here. If you'd like to explore the recordings from our last Thrutopia Writing Masterclass, the details are hereManda and Louise both offer one-to-one Mentoring Calls. Manda is fully booked just now, but if you'd like to contact Louise, details are here.
This month we are delighted to be in conversation with Thomas Reuter, a Professor at the Asia Institute of The University of Melbourne. His research focuses on transformative social change, food systems, and transitions to sustainability in Asia and beyond. He is on the board of the World Academy (WAAS) and serves as the Chair of the Existential Threats and Risks to All InfoHub (EXTRA). In this conversation we learned about Thomas' academic development and how he got interested in extractivism as a concept. Thomas has worked extensively in Indonesia, especially looking at the food systems and the devastating effects of plantation agriculture. Thomas gives us some insight into the enduring colonial legacy in modern extractivist ventures. We started the conversation learning about the changes in Indonesia over the past several decades, from the dominance of subsistence agriculture to “modern” monocultural agriculture. The knock-on effects from this “development” extend to land use, health, labor relations, and the rise of cash economies, among many others. We discussed the role of consumption and our societal values and their environmental impact. Join us for this wide-ranging and insightful conversation!! Want to learn more about Thomas's academic work and engagement? See: His ResearchGate Profile and His LinkedIn Want to learn more about his work at the World Academy? Check out the EXTRA website.Want to check out the webinar co-hosted by EXTRA and EXALT, “Is Extractivism a Prime Cause of the Polycrisis?” You can find it on the EXTRA YouTube channel.
We live in an ever-changing world, but it is not always obvious what kinds of evolutionary change we are seeing in the broader web of life: in physiology, behaviour, language - and human responses to these. How plastic is the natural world? How resilient? How capable - or not - of adapting to the chaos of the climate emergency, the cascade of toxins in our air, soil and water, to the plastics, heavy metals and other detritus we throw out into the world as if the entire planet were one vast sewer for waste we forget about as soon as we've had the dopamine drip that acquiring it evoked? How thin is the ice on which we are skating? And how can we change the ways we do things so we don't fall into the void of extinction. Our guest this week spends his life exploring these questions. David Farrier is Professor of Literature and the Environment at the University of Edinburgh. David's first book, Footprints: In Search of Future Fossils, looked at the marks we are leaving on the planet and how these might appear in the fossil record in the deep future. It was named by both The Times and Telegraph as a book of the year, earned praise from Robert Macfarlane and Margaret Atwood, and has been translated into ten other languages. His most recent book is the one we're going to be exploring today - Nature's Genius: Evolution's Lessons for a Changing Planet is one of the few non-fiction books I've come across that is capable both of going deep into the science of the anthropocene - the full genetic, chemical, noise-pollution havoc of it and going deep into how we can engage with indigenous cultures, languages and ways of thought so that we in the western trauma culture might become something new. As he says early in the book, 'We pollute because we see ourselves as separate from the rest of the living world, but…learning to coordinate our time with nature's rhythms…could revolutionise our politics.' The whole quote is in the episode. What you need to know now is that this is a genuinely ground-breaking, mind-opening book and I cannot imagine better reading as we step into 2026. If you need to know I'm not alone in thinking this, it has been shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Conservation Writing, and the Saltire Award (Scotland's national book awards) for non-fiction. For the New Scientist and Waterstone's bookshop, it is 'Best popular Science Book of 2025'. You do need to read this. And in the meantime, enjoy a conversation that left me buzzing for long after we stopped recording. David's booksFootprints: In Search of Future Fossils https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/footprints-david-farrier/6489943Nature's Genius: Evolution's Lessons for a Changing Planet https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/nature-s-genius-evolution-s-lessons-for-a-changing-planet-david-farrier/7811885David on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/david-farrier.bsky.socialDavid on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/proffarrier/If you'd like to support us, the best way is to come and join the Accidental Gods Membership: that way you can share in the ideas, the programme that will help you connect to the Web of Life in ways that will last—and you can come to the Gatherings half price. Or if that doesn't appeal, come along to one of the Gatherings. Or buy a subscription/Gathering for a friend... do something that feels like a good exchange of energy and minimises our connection with old economic paradigm. Remember that if any of this is difficult, contact us and we'll find something that works for you. Details below: What we offer: Accidental Gods, Dreaming Awake and the Thrutopia Masterclass If you'd like to join our next Open Gathering offered by our Accidental Gods Programme, it's 'Honouring Fear as your Mentor' on Sunday 8th February 2026 from 16:00 - 20:00 GMT - details are here You don't have to be a member -but if you are, all Gatherings are half price.If you'd like to join us at Accidental Gods, this is the membership where we endeavour to help you to connect fully with the living web of life. If you'd like to train more deeply in the contemporary shamanic work at Dreaming Awake, you'll find us here. If you'd like to explore the recordings from our last Thrutopia Masterclass, the details are here
The poetic and deep Samantha Sweetwater joins us to talk about her substantial new work “True Human.” We explore how our a human obsession with power over life (control, separation, and abstraction) has pulled us away from harmony with the power of life itself—and what becomes possible when we return to integrity, sovereignty, and kinship with the living world. This is an invitation to re-enchant your perception, tend your own soul's role in the web of life, and step into your future‑ancestor self with courage, wonder, and devotion.Samantha Sweetwater is a master facilitator, executive mentor, and wisdom guide who has spent three decades helping thousands navigate personal and collective transformation. Founder of Dancing Freedom, Peacebody Japan, and One Life Circle, she has trained hundreds of facilitators worldwide. She partners with leaders in business, health, and technology to navigate awakening and align impact with regenerative futures. Her work invites you to come fully alive and to remember your soul's collaboration with the living world. Samantha lives on the fog-kissed slopes of Mt. Tamalpais in Northern California.She carries a certain frequency of transmission in this work and in her words.In this episode, we cover so many topics including:This moment in the human relationship to planetBio spiritualityRites of Passage, Integrity and SovereigntyWonder, Joy and Grief Power Over Life vs Power of LifeEnlifenmentKinship ConsciousnessProtopiaHer Sophia TransmissionsFuture VisionsCeremonies for a Small PlanetHelpful links:Samantha Sweetwater - Author of True Human: Reimagining Ourselves at the End of Our World. Get your copy now on AmazonJoin upcoming Retreats and Events with SamanthaNEW Book by Christine: The Mystic Heart of Easter: A Four-Day Journey Through Love, Death, and Rebirth. Available on AmazonEaster Intensive: A Holy Week Journey with Christine Mason and Elizabeth Arolyn Walsh on April 2-5, 2025Bhakti House Immersion with Christine Mason and Adam Bauer, with Special Guest Christopher “Hareesh” Wallis on May 17–27, 20262026 Living Tantra Online Course: An Introduction to Tantra, Neo Tantra and Sacred Sexuality, Starts March 10, 2026.@christinemariemason@rosebudwomanFounder, Rosebud Woman, Award Winning Intimate and Body CareCo-Founder, Radiant Farms, Sundari GardensNEW BOOK: The Mystic Heart of Easter: A Four-Day Journey Through Love, Death, and Rebirth. Available on AmazonThe Nine Lives of Woman: Sensual, Sexual and Reproductive Stages from Birth to 100, Order in Print or on KindleSubscribe: The Museletter on Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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This month we are delighted to have a conversation with Sabaheta Ramcilović-Suominen, who is an Associate Professor in International Forest Policy and Governance at the Natural Resources Institute, Finland (LUKE). Saba talks to us about her contributions to the recently published, open access book, Socioecological Transformations: Linking Ontologies with Structures, Personal with Collective Change. Sabaheta has a dual role in this book, as a chapter contributor and as the editor. We start the conversation with some insights into Sabaheta's personal journey into research and how she got to be interested in concepts like non-duality and inner change in the context of working toward sustainability. This episode particularly covers the concept of separation, as a root cause of socioecological distress and alienation, and radical intraconnectedness, as a lens that tackles the illusion of separation and how that informs the wider literature on socioecological transformations. Sabaheta also gives us a sneak peek into the five or six opening chapters, and some of the topics and concepts tackled there. Thus, many of the important contributions and chapters are not introduced or discussed. If you are interested to learn more about the book, please check it out here https://library.oapen.org/viewer/web/viewer.html?file=/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/104337/9781040406724.pdf?sequence=1&isA. In addition, if you would like to hear more, there is a digital Book Launch on 9.12.2025, which will spotlight many of the chapters not covered in this episode. More information on the book launch here: https://justglobeproject.com/book-launch-socioecological-transformations-linking-ontologies-with-structures-personal-with-collective-change-part-ii/.If you would like to learn more about Sabaheta's work, please check out her latest project website https://justglobeproject.com/ and her research profile https://www.luke.fi/en/experts/sabaheta-ramciloviksuominen.
Transcript of the interview Minna Salami is a writer, social critic, and thought leader on feminism, knowledge production, and the aesthetics and structures of power. She formerly served as Programme Chair and Senior Fellow at THE NEW INSTITUTE, where she led the Black Feminism and the Polycrisis programme. Her work sits at the intersection of ideas, culture, and systems thinking, with a commitment to making complex theories accessible through books, essays, public speaking, and creative projects. She is the author of Can Feminism Be African? (Harper Collins, 2025) and Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone (Bloomsbury, 2020), which has been translated into multiple languages. Her writing also appears in numerous anthologies and educational publications exploring feminism, African philosophy, media, and cultural criticism. Her work has featured in The Guardian, The Financial Times, The Ideas Letter, Project Syndicate, and The Philosopher, and she has delivered talks at global institutions including TEDx, the Institute of Arts and Ideas, the European Commission, the Oxford and Cambridge Unions, Yale, and Singularity University at NASA. Salami was the creative director of the short film Black Feminism and the Polycrisis, which won the Silver Award for Public Service and Activism at the 2024 Lovie Awards. From 2019 to 2022, she co-directed Activate, an intersectional feminist movement that supported minoritised women in politics and community organising through visibility campaigns, mentoring, and fundraising. The initiative played a key role in shifting narratives and resources toward a more inclusive political landscape in the UK. She has also worked as a Research Associate and Editor at Perspectiva, advised governments on gender equality, developed national school curricula, and curated cultural events at institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Her blog, MsAfropolitan, launched in 2010, has reached over a million readers and remains a platform for exploring feminist and African-centred approaches to contemporary life. Salami is a Full Member of the Club of Rome, a BMW Foundation Responsible Leader, and serves on the advisory boards of the African Feminist Initiative at Penn State University and Public Humanities at Cambridge University Press, as well as the council of the British Royal Institute of Philosophy. Links to References:Apart Together – essay on Leopold Senghor and Aimé Césaire's radical vision for the world Africa's Populist Trap for The Ideas Letter The Niger River and the Dearth of History: Deconstructing the Myths of Mungo Park by Ezenwa E. Olumba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Transcript of the interview Minna Salami is a writer, social critic, and thought leader on feminism, knowledge production, and the aesthetics and structures of power. She formerly served as Programme Chair and Senior Fellow at THE NEW INSTITUTE, where she led the Black Feminism and the Polycrisis programme. Her work sits at the intersection of ideas, culture, and systems thinking, with a commitment to making complex theories accessible through books, essays, public speaking, and creative projects. She is the author of Can Feminism Be African? (Harper Collins, 2025) and Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone (Bloomsbury, 2020), which has been translated into multiple languages. Her writing also appears in numerous anthologies and educational publications exploring feminism, African philosophy, media, and cultural criticism. Her work has featured in The Guardian, The Financial Times, The Ideas Letter, Project Syndicate, and The Philosopher, and she has delivered talks at global institutions including TEDx, the Institute of Arts and Ideas, the European Commission, the Oxford and Cambridge Unions, Yale, and Singularity University at NASA. Salami was the creative director of the short film Black Feminism and the Polycrisis, which won the Silver Award for Public Service and Activism at the 2024 Lovie Awards. From 2019 to 2022, she co-directed Activate, an intersectional feminist movement that supported minoritised women in politics and community organising through visibility campaigns, mentoring, and fundraising. The initiative played a key role in shifting narratives and resources toward a more inclusive political landscape in the UK. She has also worked as a Research Associate and Editor at Perspectiva, advised governments on gender equality, developed national school curricula, and curated cultural events at institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Her blog, MsAfropolitan, launched in 2010, has reached over a million readers and remains a platform for exploring feminist and African-centred approaches to contemporary life. Salami is a Full Member of the Club of Rome, a BMW Foundation Responsible Leader, and serves on the advisory boards of the African Feminist Initiative at Penn State University and Public Humanities at Cambridge University Press, as well as the council of the British Royal Institute of Philosophy. Links to References:Apart Together – essay on Leopold Senghor and Aimé Césaire's radical vision for the world Africa's Populist Trap for The Ideas Letter The Niger River and the Dearth of History: Deconstructing the Myths of Mungo Park by Ezenwa E. Olumba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies
Transcript of the interview Minna Salami is a writer, social critic, and thought leader on feminism, knowledge production, and the aesthetics and structures of power. She formerly served as Programme Chair and Senior Fellow at THE NEW INSTITUTE, where she led the Black Feminism and the Polycrisis programme. Her work sits at the intersection of ideas, culture, and systems thinking, with a commitment to making complex theories accessible through books, essays, public speaking, and creative projects. She is the author of Can Feminism Be African? (Harper Collins, 2025) and Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone (Bloomsbury, 2020), which has been translated into multiple languages. Her writing also appears in numerous anthologies and educational publications exploring feminism, African philosophy, media, and cultural criticism. Her work has featured in The Guardian, The Financial Times, The Ideas Letter, Project Syndicate, and The Philosopher, and she has delivered talks at global institutions including TEDx, the Institute of Arts and Ideas, the European Commission, the Oxford and Cambridge Unions, Yale, and Singularity University at NASA. Salami was the creative director of the short film Black Feminism and the Polycrisis, which won the Silver Award for Public Service and Activism at the 2024 Lovie Awards. From 2019 to 2022, she co-directed Activate, an intersectional feminist movement that supported minoritised women in politics and community organising through visibility campaigns, mentoring, and fundraising. The initiative played a key role in shifting narratives and resources toward a more inclusive political landscape in the UK. She has also worked as a Research Associate and Editor at Perspectiva, advised governments on gender equality, developed national school curricula, and curated cultural events at institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Her blog, MsAfropolitan, launched in 2010, has reached over a million readers and remains a platform for exploring feminist and African-centred approaches to contemporary life. Salami is a Full Member of the Club of Rome, a BMW Foundation Responsible Leader, and serves on the advisory boards of the African Feminist Initiative at Penn State University and Public Humanities at Cambridge University Press, as well as the council of the British Royal Institute of Philosophy. Links to References:Apart Together – essay on Leopold Senghor and Aimé Césaire's radical vision for the world Africa's Populist Trap for The Ideas Letter The Niger River and the Dearth of History: Deconstructing the Myths of Mungo Park by Ezenwa E. Olumba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science
Transcript of the interview Minna Salami is a writer, social critic, and thought leader on feminism, knowledge production, and the aesthetics and structures of power. She formerly served as Programme Chair and Senior Fellow at THE NEW INSTITUTE, where she led the Black Feminism and the Polycrisis programme. Her work sits at the intersection of ideas, culture, and systems thinking, with a commitment to making complex theories accessible through books, essays, public speaking, and creative projects. She is the author of Can Feminism Be African? (Harper Collins, 2025) and Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone (Bloomsbury, 2020), which has been translated into multiple languages. Her writing also appears in numerous anthologies and educational publications exploring feminism, African philosophy, media, and cultural criticism. Her work has featured in The Guardian, The Financial Times, The Ideas Letter, Project Syndicate, and The Philosopher, and she has delivered talks at global institutions including TEDx, the Institute of Arts and Ideas, the European Commission, the Oxford and Cambridge Unions, Yale, and Singularity University at NASA. Salami was the creative director of the short film Black Feminism and the Polycrisis, which won the Silver Award for Public Service and Activism at the 2024 Lovie Awards. From 2019 to 2022, she co-directed Activate, an intersectional feminist movement that supported minoritised women in politics and community organising through visibility campaigns, mentoring, and fundraising. The initiative played a key role in shifting narratives and resources toward a more inclusive political landscape in the UK. She has also worked as a Research Associate and Editor at Perspectiva, advised governments on gender equality, developed national school curricula, and curated cultural events at institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Her blog, MsAfropolitan, launched in 2010, has reached over a million readers and remains a platform for exploring feminist and African-centred approaches to contemporary life. Salami is a Full Member of the Club of Rome, a BMW Foundation Responsible Leader, and serves on the advisory boards of the African Feminist Initiative at Penn State University and Public Humanities at Cambridge University Press, as well as the council of the British Royal Institute of Philosophy. Links to References:Apart Together – essay on Leopold Senghor and Aimé Césaire's radical vision for the world Africa's Populist Trap for The Ideas Letter The Niger River and the Dearth of History: Deconstructing the Myths of Mungo Park by Ezenwa E. Olumba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory
Transcript of the interview Minna Salami is a writer, social critic, and thought leader on feminism, knowledge production, and the aesthetics and structures of power. She formerly served as Programme Chair and Senior Fellow at THE NEW INSTITUTE, where she led the Black Feminism and the Polycrisis programme. Her work sits at the intersection of ideas, culture, and systems thinking, with a commitment to making complex theories accessible through books, essays, public speaking, and creative projects. She is the author of Can Feminism Be African? (Harper Collins, 2025) and Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone (Bloomsbury, 2020), which has been translated into multiple languages. Her writing also appears in numerous anthologies and educational publications exploring feminism, African philosophy, media, and cultural criticism. Her work has featured in The Guardian, The Financial Times, The Ideas Letter, Project Syndicate, and The Philosopher, and she has delivered talks at global institutions including TEDx, the Institute of Arts and Ideas, the European Commission, the Oxford and Cambridge Unions, Yale, and Singularity University at NASA. Salami was the creative director of the short film Black Feminism and the Polycrisis, which won the Silver Award for Public Service and Activism at the 2024 Lovie Awards. From 2019 to 2022, she co-directed Activate, an intersectional feminist movement that supported minoritised women in politics and community organising through visibility campaigns, mentoring, and fundraising. The initiative played a key role in shifting narratives and resources toward a more inclusive political landscape in the UK. She has also worked as a Research Associate and Editor at Perspectiva, advised governments on gender equality, developed national school curricula, and curated cultural events at institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Her blog, MsAfropolitan, launched in 2010, has reached over a million readers and remains a platform for exploring feminist and African-centred approaches to contemporary life. Salami is a Full Member of the Club of Rome, a BMW Foundation Responsible Leader, and serves on the advisory boards of the African Feminist Initiative at Penn State University and Public Humanities at Cambridge University Press, as well as the council of the British Royal Institute of Philosophy. Links to References:Apart Together – essay on Leopold Senghor and Aimé Césaire's radical vision for the world Africa's Populist Trap for The Ideas Letter The Niger River and the Dearth of History: Deconstructing the Myths of Mungo Park by Ezenwa E. Olumba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs
Transcript of the interview Minna Salami is a writer, social critic, and thought leader on feminism, knowledge production, and the aesthetics and structures of power. She formerly served as Programme Chair and Senior Fellow at THE NEW INSTITUTE, where she led the Black Feminism and the Polycrisis programme. Her work sits at the intersection of ideas, culture, and systems thinking, with a commitment to making complex theories accessible through books, essays, public speaking, and creative projects. She is the author of Can Feminism Be African? (Harper Collins, 2025) and Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone (Bloomsbury, 2020), which has been translated into multiple languages. Her writing also appears in numerous anthologies and educational publications exploring feminism, African philosophy, media, and cultural criticism. Her work has featured in The Guardian, The Financial Times, The Ideas Letter, Project Syndicate, and The Philosopher, and she has delivered talks at global institutions including TEDx, the Institute of Arts and Ideas, the European Commission, the Oxford and Cambridge Unions, Yale, and Singularity University at NASA. Salami was the creative director of the short film Black Feminism and the Polycrisis, which won the Silver Award for Public Service and Activism at the 2024 Lovie Awards. From 2019 to 2022, she co-directed Activate, an intersectional feminist movement that supported minoritised women in politics and community organising through visibility campaigns, mentoring, and fundraising. The initiative played a key role in shifting narratives and resources toward a more inclusive political landscape in the UK. She has also worked as a Research Associate and Editor at Perspectiva, advised governments on gender equality, developed national school curricula, and curated cultural events at institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Her blog, MsAfropolitan, launched in 2010, has reached over a million readers and remains a platform for exploring feminist and African-centred approaches to contemporary life. Salami is a Full Member of the Club of Rome, a BMW Foundation Responsible Leader, and serves on the advisory boards of the African Feminist Initiative at Penn State University and Public Humanities at Cambridge University Press, as well as the council of the British Royal Institute of Philosophy. Links to References:Apart Together – essay on Leopold Senghor and Aimé Césaire's radical vision for the world Africa's Populist Trap for The Ideas Letter The Niger River and the Dearth of History: Deconstructing the Myths of Mungo Park by Ezenwa E. Olumba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-studies
Transcript of the interview Minna Salami is a writer, social critic, and thought leader on feminism, knowledge production, and the aesthetics and structures of power. She formerly served as Programme Chair and Senior Fellow at THE NEW INSTITUTE, where she led the Black Feminism and the Polycrisis programme. Her work sits at the intersection of ideas, culture, and systems thinking, with a commitment to making complex theories accessible through books, essays, public speaking, and creative projects. She is the author of Can Feminism Be African? (Harper Collins, 2025) and Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone (Bloomsbury, 2020), which has been translated into multiple languages. Her writing also appears in numerous anthologies and educational publications exploring feminism, African philosophy, media, and cultural criticism. Her work has featured in The Guardian, The Financial Times, The Ideas Letter, Project Syndicate, and The Philosopher, and she has delivered talks at global institutions including TEDx, the Institute of Arts and Ideas, the European Commission, the Oxford and Cambridge Unions, Yale, and Singularity University at NASA. Salami was the creative director of the short film Black Feminism and the Polycrisis, which won the Silver Award for Public Service and Activism at the 2024 Lovie Awards. From 2019 to 2022, she co-directed Activate, an intersectional feminist movement that supported minoritised women in politics and community organising through visibility campaigns, mentoring, and fundraising. The initiative played a key role in shifting narratives and resources toward a more inclusive political landscape in the UK. She has also worked as a Research Associate and Editor at Perspectiva, advised governments on gender equality, developed national school curricula, and curated cultural events at institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Her blog, MsAfropolitan, launched in 2010, has reached over a million readers and remains a platform for exploring feminist and African-centred approaches to contemporary life. Salami is a Full Member of the Club of Rome, a BMW Foundation Responsible Leader, and serves on the advisory boards of the African Feminist Initiative at Penn State University and Public Humanities at Cambridge University Press, as well as the council of the British Royal Institute of Philosophy. Links to References:Apart Together – essay on Leopold Senghor and Aimé Césaire's radical vision for the world Africa's Populist Trap for The Ideas Letter The Niger River and the Dearth of History: Deconstructing the Myths of Mungo Park by Ezenwa E. Olumba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Send us a textThe nonprofit sector is facing a “polycrisis”. In this candid conversation, we unpack how simultaneous shocks (policy shifts, funder chill, shrinking donor pools) are reshaping civil society and what small nonprofits can do to adapt. We talk about building durable strategies instead of episodic crisis responses, and how to make decisions that protect mission over ego. Just as importantly, we get real about leadership wellbeing: navigating fear, staying in productive tension, and knowing when to step back. You'll hear concrete ways to hold both urgency and care without burning yourself out or your team. On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, host Maria Rio sits down with consultant and movement leader Rachel D'Souza, founder and principal of Gladiator Consulting and a member of the Community-Centric Fundraising Global Council. Together, they explore how nonprofit leaders can stay grounded, collaborative, and courageous in uncertain times, and what this moment asks of all of us. The Highlights: Polycrisis = this is a structural reset, not a blip. Multiple shocks are hitting at once, from government pullbacks to donor-consolidation trends; this reset requires long-term strategy, not perpetual crisis appeals. Leadership in ambiguity: Discomfort isn't the same as harm; staying in relationship through tension is a core leadership skill right now. Mission over ego: When resources shift, leaders may need to right-size, share services, merge, or even sunset, to preserve gains made. Wellbeing as capacity: The sector isn't well; leaders need practices that keep them resourced enough to make hard, long-horizon decisions. Values alignment matters: If we claim justice externally, our internal policies and culture must reflect it. Actionable Tips for Nonprofits: Create a “durability plan,” not just a crisis plan: Define 12–24 month funding scenarios, decision triggers (e.g., reserves level), and pre-agreed pivots (program pause, shared HR/finance). Normalize productive tension: Add a “discomfort check” to meetings: name what feels hard, distinguish discomfort from harm, and agree on the next experiment. Protect leadership capacity: Set non-negotiables (quiet hours, coverage plans, reflective time). Model boundaries so the team believes you mean it. Align inside practices: Audit internal policies (pay equity, leave, flexibility) to match your external equity commitments. Then share that story with donors. Resources and Links: Guest: Rachel D'Souza— Founder & Principal, Gladiator Consulting Website: gladiatorrds.com Instagram: @ConsultingGladiator LinkedIn: Gladiator Consulting / Rachel D'Souza Book a Discovery Call HereSupport the show Connect with the show: Watch the episode on YouTube; follow Maria Rio on LinkedIn for more conversations and resources. Or support our show. We are fully self-funded! Book a Discovery Call with Further Together: Need help with your fundraising? See if our values-aligned fundraisers are a fit for your organization.
Part 2 for Members: www.parallelmike.com Mike's Investing Community and Financial Newsletter – www.substack.com/@parallelsystems Consult with Mike 1-2-1: www.parallelmike.com/consultation Guest Links: Podcast & Links: https://linktr.ee/jonnyhodl
Biologist, philosopher, educator, facilitator, and historian of science Mette Miriam Böll is embodiment of the kind of life that emerges when we accept, recognize, and revere our profound interconnectedness. Her scholarship as her life are nourishment for returning to the task we are all called to: to human well, at once simple and complex, individual and civilizational. Origins Podcast WebsiteFlourishing Commons NewsletterShow Notes:Tibetan Book of the Dead (04:20)Dzogchen - Tibetan Buddhist Teachings (05:00)John P. Milton (05:40)drawing her out on interconnectedness (12:30)Krishnamurti (17:00)Systems awareness and change processes (17:25)Polycrisis (17:35)life is a creative journey (18:20)John Paul Lederach on Origins (19:30)systems thinking (20:15)Jesper Hoffmeyer (20:30)Peter Senge (22:00)Why most systems change efforts fail (22:40)industrial PhD program Denmark (e.g., here) (32:10)Presence: An Exploration of Profound Change in People, Organizations, and Society by Peter Senge (34:00)compassionate systems framework (37:30)Otto Scharmer (37:30)compassionate systems workshops (42:40)generative social fields (44:00)Francisco Varela: The Logic of Paradise (53:00)"Keeping Quiet" by Pablo Neruda (59:00)Lightning round (58:30)Book: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor DostoevskyPassion: Regenerative futures fieldHeart Sing: Digital detoxScrewed up: Practicality Find Mette online:Center for Systems AwarenessLogo artwork by Cristina GonzalezMusic by swelo on all streaming platforms or @swelomusic on social media
“We're in the business of change – selling change and then delivering it.” - Gordon Donovan, Vice President Research - Procurement & External Workforce, SAP In an era of overlapping crises, procurement faces fast-evolving challenges… and opportunities. Senior leaders are tasked with not only keeping the engine running but also building resilient, future-facing teams that thrive in complexity. The recently published SAP Economist Impact research report, “The Resilient Edge: Procurement in an Era of Polycrisis,” provides a data-driven lens on what the next three to five years may hold, especially as outsourcing, skills, and technology reshape operating models. To dig into this new research, Philip Ideson welcomes Gordon Donovan, Vice President Research - Procurement & External Workforce at SAP, back to the show. Gordon combs through insights on what is driving procurement decision-making, current confidence in category management, and the practical implications of surging contingent workforce and outsourcing activity. Whether you want to understand why risk management is lagging, how AI will drive operating model transformation, or where procurement should focus next, Gordon brings both the latest data and his own hard-won advice for CPOs. In this episode, Gordon discusses how this latest research from SAP can help procurement: Identify how leaders' priorities are aligning for the first time in four years Rethink the value proposition beyond cost savings and communicate it upstream Advance risk management beyond basic compliance, especially in category strategies Harness outsourcing and the contingent workforce as proactive transformation levers Prioritize the right skills, even those that rarely make the official list Links Gordon Donovan on LinkedIn Procurement's Path Through an Era of Polycrisis Visit the SAP Website Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube
Paris Marx is joined by Kate Mackenzie and Tim Sahay to discuss the geopolitics behind China's investments in green tech and electrification, and how it presents the prospect of a new development model based on renewables instead of fossil fuels. Kate Mackenzie is an adjunct fellow at Macquarie University. Tim Sahay is co-director of the Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab at Johns Hopkins University. They are the co-writers of the Polycrisis newsletter from Phenomenal World. Tech Won't Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Tim and Kate wrote about the potential role of the BRICS in future geopolitics. The Financial Times explored the implications of China as an electrostate. China leads the growing electric vehicle market, by a lot. Pakistan imported 17 gigawatts of solar panels in 2024 alone, as Africa is in the midst of its own surge in Chinese solar panel imports. Trump's policies are pushing China and India to strengthen ties.
Paris Marx is joined by Kate Mackenzie and Tim Sahay to discuss the geopolitics behind China's investments in green tech and electrification, and how it presents the prospect of a new development model based on renewables instead of fossil fuels.Kate Mackenzie is an adjunct fellow at Macquarie University. Tim Sahay is co-director of the Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab at Johns Hopkins University. They are the co-writers of the Polycrisis newsletter from Phenomenal World.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
It's Emmajority Report Thursday! On today's show: After facing significant backlash, Scott Bessent makes a half-hearted attempt to walk back his comments about using Trump "accounts" as a backdoor to privatize Social Security. Silky Shah, author of Unbuild Walls: Why Immigrant Justice Needs Abolition, joins us to discuss how immigration policy fuels mass incarceration. Then, Tim Sahay, co-editor of the Polycrisis newsletter, stops by to talk about the crumbling foundations of neoliberalism and what comes next. In the Fun Half: Brandon Sutton and Matt Binder join us as we kick things off with Cory Booker's passionate floor speech—no, not about Gaza, Epstein, or austerity—but about a procedural technicality in a bill he supported twice. We break down the Senate vote on Bernie Sanders' failed proposal to block additional arms shipments to Israel—and Bernie's ongoing refusal to say the word “genocide.” Plus: a deep-pocketed centrist enters the race for Jerry Nadler's seat, borrowing stylistic cues from Zohran Mamdani, minus the actual policy platform. All that and more, plus your calls and IMs! The Congress switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. You can use this number to connect with either the U.S. Senate or the House of Representatives. Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com: https://fans.fm/majority/join Follow us on TikTok here!: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorityreportfm Check us out on Twitch here!: https://www.twitch.tv/themajorityreport Find our Rumble stream here!: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Check out our alt YouTube channel here!: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the ESVN YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/esvnshow Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! https://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: https://majority.fm/app Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code majority to get 10% off your purchase Check out today's sponsors EXPRESS VPN: Get up to 4 extra months free. Expressvpn.com/Majority ZOCDOC: Go to Zocdoc.com/MAJORITY and download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE and book a top-rated doctor. SUNSET LAKE: Right now at sunsetlakecbd.com, you can try our new Lifted Teas for 25% off when you use the coupon code DrinkUp. That's “drink up,” all one word with no spaces. Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on YouTube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com/ The Majority Report with Sam Seder – https://majorityreportradio.com
Our editor Brandy Jensen joins us for a good old fashioned neighborly feud. Read Brandy's essay, which she wrote for the Yale Review, called the Polycrisis here.Get your tickets for the Normal Gossip Live tour here!Subscribe to our newsletter for writing from Rachelle, Se'era, Jae, Alex, and Kelsey, plus blog recommendations and secrets!You can support Normal Gossip directly by buying merch or becoming a Friend or a Friend-of-Friend at supportnormalgossip.com.Our merch shop is run by Dan McQuade. You can also find all kinds of info about us and how to submit gossip on our Komi page: https://normalgossip.komi.io/Episode transcript here.Order Kelsey's book, You Didn't Hear This From Me, here!Follow the show on Instagram @normalgossip, and if you have gossip, email us at normalgossip@defector.com or leave us a voicemail at 26-79-GOSSIP.Normal Gossip is hosted by Rachelle Hampton (@heyydnae) and produced by Se'era Spragley Ricks (@seera_sharae) and Jae Towle Vieira (@jaetowlevieira). Alex Sujong Laughlin (@alexlaughs) is our Supervising Producer. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor. Show art by Tara Jacoby.Normal Gossip is a proud member of Radiotopia. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices