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We all know the car of civilization is heading into climate meltdown. In a rare radio interview, Dr. Jem Bendell explains “Deep Adaptation”. Keep listening for Skeena Rathor, co-founder of Extinction Rebellion. Then a quick look at what a different Elon Musk was …
In this latest episode we speak with scientist, researcher and author George Tsakraklides about the deeper roots of humanity's many crises. Drawing on his rich scientific background and corporate insight, George explores how our evolutionary wiring, societal structures and cultural narratives hinder meaningful change. We unpack the psychological forces driving self-destruction, the limitations of rational thought and the need to reconnect with a deeper sense of being. From the inherited challenges of activism in a world of algorithms to the quiet strength of grounded action and grief, this conversation offers a powerful lens on navigating despair and cultivating meaning in a collapsing world. George Tsakraklides is author of The Unhappiness Machine, In The Grip of Necrocapitalism, Beyond the Petri Dish, Frankenpolitics and other works exploring the deeper drivers of civilisational collapse and humanity's self-destructive trajectory. With degrees in molecular biology, chemistry, food science, and Earth sciences, George spent two decades in social research, data analytics, and global brand strategy, working with major multinationals, gaining insight into the inner workings of profit-driven systems. After leaving the corporate world, George turned his focus to humanity's broken relationship with nature and the repeating patterns of societal failure. This work has featured on Radio Ecoshock, Collapse Chronicles, Post-Doom Conversations and other platforms addressing environmental and civilisational crises. In this episode, we dive into the intersection of science, philosophy and ecological activism, as explored in George's latest book, Beyond the Petri Dish. We examine why rational thinking alone falls short and the importance of reconnecting with the expansive Infinity State, a realm beyond reason, to achieve full embodiment. The conversation also delves into the psychological and societal forces steering humanity away from ecological wisdom, including the role of social media in fuelling addictive, reactionary behaviours. We critique the environmental movement's entanglement with growth-based paradigms and explore the need for a more honest, existential reckoning with what it means to be human in an age of collapse. From the pitfalls of call-out culture in activism to the quiet power of tending a conservation garden, we reflect on the value of small, grounded acts in a world that often feels overwhelming. Finally, we explore the role of grief, acceptance and grounded hope in moving beyond paralysis, offering insight for those struggling with eco-anxiety and despair. For those who want to explore George's work further, you can check out his website HERE (https://tsakraklides.com/). You can also find George on Substack here: (1) The George Tsakraklides View | Substack (https://georgetsakraklides.substack.com/) George's latest articles on Substack are all recommended and highly pertinent to this episode. Some examples include: A Brief History of the Dopamine Dystopia (https://georgetsakraklides.substack.com/p/a-brief-history-of-the-dopamine-dystopia) Finding Meaning in An Increasingly Absurd World (https://georgetsakraklides.substack.com/p/finding-meaning-in-an-increasingly) The Meta Terror State: A Do-It-Yourself Guide for Aspiring Dictators (https://georgetsakraklides.substack.com/p/the-meta-terror-state-a-do-it-yourself) George also has an Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/george_tsakraklides/?hl=en) where you can view his garden restoration among other things. In this episode we also discuss how George's work connects with Holistic Activism. You can read/download the 2025 edition of the Holistic Activism Booklet HERE (https://holisticactivism.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/holistic-activism-booklet-may-2025.pdf). Please feel welcome to support the work of PGAP through subscribing (https://pgap.fireside.fm/subscribe), through sharing this and other episodes with your networks, or by rating and leaving a review on Apple podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/post-growth-australia-podcast/id1522194099) or your favourite platform. We also welcome your feedback and ideas. Please contact us anytime on our contact form here (https://pgap.fireside.fm/contact). Post Growth Australia Podcast (PGAP) is made possible by the support of Sustainable Population Australia (SPA (https://population.org.au/)). All opinions, past work and legacies of our guests so not necessarily reflect those of PGAP or SPA. Special Guest: George Tsakraklides.
John Timmer, Senior Editor of Ars Technica explains why they can't just switch the power back on. Reviews and on-the-ground reporting from the blackout in Spain and Portugal. Off to Shangri-La. A world expert on Deep Time Professor Robert Spicer joins us. Is …
Professor Antonio Lazcano: repression of science in the U.S. through the lens of political strongmen in Latin America. What can science-killing in Nicaragua, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico tell us about the Trump repression? Followed by latest news – like Goddard Institute for …
California climate scientist and Weather West blogger Daniel Swain covers the latest U.S. purge of weather and climate science. But first, a new public health study about your body. How much heat before lasting damage kicks in? From the T.H. Chan School of …
Killer summer heat in Spring? Don't worry. Donald Trump shoots the messengers. Closing down climate in NASA and NOAA, the news from Paul Voosen at the American Academy. The voice of Canadian weather and science David Phillips help us process the news. Plus …
Yes, yes the stock market, the not-so-great Depression. Does it matter water is being sucked out of the land and dumped into rising seas? What about emissions as we industrialize the ocean? Will growing conflict slow heat or speed it up? We have …
Climate and security analyst Genevieve Guenther and her new book “Fossil-Fuel Propaganda and How to Fight It”. Canadian climate scientist Paul Beckwith: very serious new studies, like turbocharged extreme weather on every continent, planetary insolvency by 2070, and “jaw-dropping” increases in hurricanes. Plus …
The atmosphere is changing much faster than ever before. CO2 increased by 25% in 2024. Explore declining carbon capture by plants with world recognized expert Dr. Pep Canadell, Chief Research Scientist CISRO Australia & Exec. Dir. of the Global Carbon Project. Computer guru …
Shut down science. Forget all that climate hoax stuff! We still get hotter faster. Seas rise higher, sooner. Expect more super-storms, wildfires, and closed down rescue services. Disaster management specialist Dr. Samantha Montano joins us. “Stand Up for Science” rally – short speeches …
Best friends become enemies. Enemies are friends. Business is great. The market tanks. Winter yesterday, summer today, new rules tomorrow. Welcome to whiplash, the time of self-inflicted wounds. What to do? We talk with Dana R. Fisher, expert in social action and author …
We take you deep inside the hidden core of the new bubble: data centers. After 10 years exploring data farms in America, Singapore and beyond, Anthropologist Steven Gonzalez Monserrate published his paper “The Cloud Is Material: On the Environmental Impacts of Computation and …
I'd like to report a murder. Trump's fossil lobby wants to strangle American climate science. You can't even talk about it. We track the worst with Romany Webb from the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, and reporter Bob Berwyn from Inside Climate …
Are we ready for desperate measures? Veteran climate activist/author Mike Tidwell: the year of despair in his new book “The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue – A Story of Climate and Hope on One American Street”. Award-winning conservation biologist and author Thor Hanson …
How could madness dominate social media and politics? People are getting stupider. Brain damaging trends are dumbing down the population. Heavy metals, toxic chemicals, COVID, wildfire smoke an aging population, and climate stress all threaten intelligence. Now add…“TikTokfication”. We talk with scientist “Mr. …
“If you’ve been feeling confused and as though everything is impacting on you all at the same time, this is not a personal, private experience. This is actually a collective experience.” From the University of Bristol UK, scientist Dann Mitchell points to cumulative …
Coal industry dwindling? That myth is blown up by German environmentalist Heffa Schücking. Then: 17,800 years ago, methane shot up in decades. Rapid ice melt changed the rain and an age of wildfire broke out. Is it happening again? We ask Ben Riddell-Young …
Remember Romans becoming stupider due to Lead in their plates and goblets? Mercury poisoning drifts to the farthest corners, even the Poles – and reduces IQ just like Lead. Scientist Ari Feinberg from The Spanish National Research Council explains Mercury in the stratosphere. …
In 2019 late American Author Mike Davis told us on Ecoshock Malibu would burn. Meanwhile, the mystery of hot 2023 and 24 is solved. NASA scientist George Tselioudis reports shrinking cloud cover as planet warms. Plus: the rate of CO2 change can weaken …
Extreme flooding, drought, and wildfires – why? Why did scientists leave out models showing extreme warming? UK expert Ranjini Swaminathan takes us inside the future-forecast machine. Then eco-feminism revisited: U.S. Green Party founder Charlene Spretnak & Susan Griffin on “Women & Nature – …
Life in a new hot atmosphere. Alex with the greenhouse gas breakdown and outlook. Can machines claw them back? MIT carbon capture expert Dr. Howard Herzog. From Australia, science led by Dr. Milton Speer confirms: we experience new seasons in a changed world.
This is music of resistance and despair: climate songs in a time of strong climate change. Most were written for Radio Ecoshock shows. One hour of music you won't hear anywhere else. Use these song and pass them around.
Following an “emergency summit” of Polar scientists in Australia, renowned expert Professor Matt King: tipping points in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean could re-arrange the world. Plus “Recovering neuroscientist” and climate sleuth Clayton Aldern on his new book “The Weight of Nature – …
Who are the wealthy wizards putting doubt in your mind – at your expense? From the Institute for Policy Studies, Chuck Collins' new report: “Fossil Fuel Philanthropy – How taxpayer-subsidized charities promote climate change disinformation and stall urgent action.” Then another shocker. Dr. …
Inside Climate News reporter Bob Berwyn on Sea Change Radio with sad COP29 protest rules . Hurricane seasons go strange: new science from Dr. Hosmay Lopez of NOAA. American Senator Sheldon Whitehouse with real news from COP29. He says climate action is going …
Two deadly myths made it to the top. From Australia, leading scientist Andrew King: climate change will continue for a thousand years after Net Zero. Swedish scientist Wim Carton introduces his new book with Andreas Malm: “Overshoot: How The World Surrendered to Climate …
The Arctic burns as never before. Scientist Jennifer Balch introduces new climate “fast fires”. Reports from the north fire-front: a panel on Arctic wildfires at the Arctic Circle Assembly in October. Changes in the Arctic change the world, but it is a lawless …
“We have misunderstood the planet we live on – and that misunderstanding has taken us to an extinction event in the 21st century.” Jeremy Rifkin is the big-picture man behind “the Third Industrial Revolution” in Germany and China, visionary of mega-trends like “The …
The United Kingdom could experience winters as cold as northern Canada – if warming waters from the tropics stop flowing in a collapse of the ocean system called “AMOC” – the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. You hear the latest science from Dr. Stefan …
From Vancouver to Asheville N.C., atmospheric rivers smash rain records, homes and lives. North Carolina scientist Dr. Orrin Pilkey: “nobody expected this” in a climate haven. Scientist Dr. Qinghua Ding says atmospheric rivers are changing both Poles. Alex with news beyond election theater …
Half of scientists polled think we are headed for a 3 degrees C hotter world within a single lifetime. From Exeter University UK, Professor Tim Lenton returns with the 2024 State of the Climate Report. His colleague at Exeter Dr. James Dyke fact-checks …
After Hurricanes Helene & Milton, four experts on disaster storms during human-made global warming. Storm-chaser Meteorologist Jeff Masters; Senior Research Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Dr. Michael Wehner; highly-cited storm scientist Kerry Manuel from MIT; Environmental Planner Patrick Marchman: will there …
When disaster comes, and governments can't help, people boil over. From Athens, we talk with foreign correspondent and climate security analyst Peter Schwartzstein. His new book is: “In The Heat and the Fury: On the Frontlines of Climate Violence”. Then: why are scientists …
This week's guest Vandana Shiva says it is no longer climate “change” but “climate havoc”. Then U. of California Distinguished Professor Michael Prather: methane stays in the atmosphere longer than we were told. Dr. Michael Polanyi on logging industry myths Canada tells the …
As extreme weather slams people and records around the world, Dr. James Carton points to super marine heat waves. Hotter oceans change everything. Carbon dioxide poured into the atmosphere faster in 2023. Even record fossil fuel use cannot explain it. A new study …
Did a South Pacific volcano cause extreme heat waves of 2023 and '24? Atmospheric scientist Mark Schoberl investigates. Bleak big picture with Greek author George Tsakraklides: climate collapse in necro-capitalism. Plus clips from two new climate songs.
Welcome back to a new season of Radio Ecoshock. Extreme weather expert Jeff Masters tells us when climate disasters turn the U.S.A. upside down, and what we can do to prepare. What caused the unexpected rise in heat? Former NASA scientist James Hansen …
Renewables for off-grid and cooling mirrors. Dr. Emilio Moran, lead author of “Advancing convergence research: Renewable energy solutions for off-grid communities”. Then sustainability expert Dr. Jem Bendell apologizes for “bright-siding” climate change. Scientist Ye Tao's fast run-down of the “Meer” project – cooling …
Three degrees C warming by 2050? Catastrophe, and what we have to do to avoid it – famous American scientist V. Ramanathan from his life work & new science. Dr. Andy Ridgwell from UC Riverside on the last great warming of 5 degrees …
With heat waves all over the world, are we on the edge of catastrophe? Renowned Swedish scientist Johan Rockström answers in a short TED presentation August 15, 2024. Chevron just announced a “new frontier” for oil: drilling deep below the sea. Alex checks …
Two environmental psychologists, Dr. Robert Gifford and Dr. Joseph Reser, on reasons why we don't react to the threat of catastrophic climate change. Plus film on Gregory Bateson, co-inventor of the “double bind” and eco-connection – by his daughter Nora.
“The Trouble with Billionaires, Why Too Much Money at the Top Is Bad for Everyone.” You hear directly from the authors of that book, tax Professor Neil Brooks, and journalist Linda McQuaig. As major political parties represent multi-billionaires to run the government, we …
“Silicon Dreams and Carbon Nightmares: The Wide Boundary Impacts of AI”. A hair-raising journey through developing dark futures. Bees, birds, and people as fodder for the system, while climate change is accelerated by corporate artificial intelligence. Dr. Nate Hagens is Director of The …
World cities projected to go 4 degrees C hotter and beyond – scientist Lei Zhao. Dr. Robert Nicholls of UK Tyndall Centre finds plans to green the planet with bio energy creates water stress for billions of people. Johannes Lohmann from the University …
Update 2024. How your body breaks down in extreme heat. We start with paper “Twenty-Seven Ways a Heat Wave Can Kill You: Deadly Heat in the Era of Climate Change”. Medical terms explained. Short clips from Ecoshock interview with lead author Dr. Camilo …
Will climate change foster super storms bigger than anything before? Dr James Hansen warns “yes” and Meteorologist Jeff Masters explains. First, we revisit a fundamental interview with MIT's Dr. Kerry Emanuel, surely one of the world's top hurricane experts. Get informed and get …
Science shows humans have left the stable patterns of former climates. From the Stockholm Resilience Center, Owen Gaffney explains. As Australia burns with heat, Tasmanian scientist David Bowman reveals great regions of the world where fire will strike.
Over 1000 worshipers died of heat in Mecca Saudi Arabia. During long extreme heat domes over India, Mexico, North Africa and the Middle East – nobody counted the dead. Only Europeans and North Americans matter to big media. After an extreme weather update, …
In a deadly dance of unbearable heat and extreme rains, people look for answers. Our guest Chris Kocher is a “recovering lawyer” who founded Extreme Weather Survivors. You also hear from author/activist Bill McKibben, Aaron Regunberg of Public Citizen, and Cathy Mulvey from …
Climate-driven extreme weather can suddenly change your life. Hear eight climate survivors from the U.S.A. and Canada, from stormy Louisiana to the Canadian Arctic. We travel to burned out Paradise California and drowned Vermont. If these stories don't move you, see a heart …