I no longer think that the increasing relevance of your interviewees to me (and no doubt to others!) is coincidental let alone random. It feels very much like the crystallisation of an approach - a philosophy of the human condition.
The importance of process over the material outcome; the need to subordinate rationality and logic to subjective experience - to feel more than to think; to embrace the seamlessness of the material and spiritual and recognise that seamlessness relates to all human and non-human life.
It is so far from where we are and what we have lived through for centuries in the 'developed' nations, at least, that it can seem a little fantastical. It is still a story, I guess, but one that speaks to union over disintegration and to individual meaning that is most truly expressed as part of the collective.
A lot came together in this episode and your honesty, Rachel, in your experience in the Amazon was an essential part of the flow and of the resonance this conversation produced.
To try and bring this down to more common terms the takeaway for me is to be with others, not as 'man' and 'woman' or European and Asian (etc), privileged and under-privileged but as a fellow traveller, neither 'bad' nor 'good'. We need to discover what each of us can bring to joy of life and perhaps the answers will emerge as we build this new way of being.
Thank you so much, this was so profound and 'soothing'. Embodiment, resonance, dreaming - and the understanding ;) that nature is not here to be of value and benefit for us (and this involves us, too).
Just adding my appreciation for this engaging conversation. Always in your work is the both/and—so necessary to curiosity and humility. I have been reading Hospicing Modernity for months and this conversation enlivens the book even more. I also especially appreciate the concept of re-storying; worlding the world. As a writer I depend on words —and I know there are many other languages imagined and expressed by earthly beings. It is at our peril that we fail to recognize them. Thanks to the folks who commented below, deepening the conversation. I concur with Nathan. I bow down to farmers and plants who sustain our bodies. And Rachel, what you do nourishes us as well.
Learn a craft, a real one that will allow you to connect with the land and animals that form the basis of that craft. What a great conversation, thank you. There are no answers and but there are processes and they are very simple and available to us and they will be the thing that stands us in good stead. There is no secret to the existing indeginous life ways and embodied knowledge, they are based in crafts that have allowed community sufficiency - both social and technical - which underpin the ceremonies which express reverence for the basis of the materials for the continuation of those life ways.
The embodied knowledge you speak of here is accessed through crafts, directly transforming the abundance of nature respectfully through appropriately scaled practice, usually hands, usually human powered to co-create the care objects of a good life. Thinking through land based embodied craft (which already forms the basis of language, however bastardised), allows for the reconfiguration of communities centered in care.
I found it really funny when you where downplaying the work you do and said it wasn't as important as people growing regenerative food. I work all day as a regenerative farmer and have started a few different growing projects here in ireland over the years. Often when listening to your podcast I think “ Jesus maybe i should be doing something more productive and tangible for the movement like Rachel does”
I think it's just an aspect of our human nature as manifest in these times to doubt the validity of our contribution.
As was mentioned in this thoughtful interview, we need new prevailing narratives since the existing narratives have normalized our separation from each other and the natural environment that sustains us. One such prevailing narrative is the establishment characterization of the pervasive rejection of establishment, neoliberal governments as a rise in fascist authoritarianism. The rejection of governments in virtually every major democracy in the global north is due to the fact that globalization has created the wealthiest billionaire and professional class at the expense of the middle and working classes. This betrayal has severely damaged trust for experts, business leaders, and establishment politicians in our public discourse. To bridge the lack of trust, we need new narratives that resonate with broad audiences. Truth is the essential currency. In geopolitics, which is a stifling distraction from the climate crisis, Jeffrey Sachs is an unimpeachable commentator on both Ukraine and Gaza. Please see his address to the European Parliament in March 2025. In terms of new prevailing narratives, I utilize our shared experiences as the basis for claiming the U.S.-centric virtues of independence, self-interest and competition are self defeating lies that fuel the polycrisis.
A wonderful conversation between another expert and a journalist about how we find ourselves facing the polycrisis. Have you ever considered the contributions of journalists and experts in normalizing and justifying the Business-as-Usual model that created the polycrisis? Why do you persist in thinking the same closed loop of discussions are going to reach the critical tipping point with the broad affected populations around the globe? Maybe one day you will realize talking with us and not at us is how you will participate in the real change we all seek. Please consider expanding the discussion beyond the chattering class to include the wealth of wisdom and insights not currently platformed.
As was mentioned in this thoughtful interview, we need new prevailing narratives since the existing narratives have normalized our separation from each other and the natural environment that sustains us. One such prevailing narrative is the establishment characterization of the pervasive rejection of establishment, neoliberal governments as a rise in fascist authoritarianism. The rejection of governments in virtually every major democracy in the global north is due to the fact that globalization has created the wealthiest billionaire and professional class at the expense of the middle and working classes. This betrayal has severely damaged trust for experts, business leaders, and establishment politicians in our public discourse. To bridge the lack of trust, we need new narratives that resonate with broad audiences. Truth is the essential currency. In geopolitics, which is a stifling distraction from the climate crisis, Jeffrey Sachs is an unimpeachable commentator on both Ukraine and Gaza. Please see his address to the European Parliament in March 2025. In terms of new prevailing narratives, I utilize our shared experiences as the basis for claiming the U.S.-centric virtues of independence, self-interest and competition are self defeating lies that fuel the polycrisis.
I no longer think that the increasing relevance of your interviewees to me (and no doubt to others!) is coincidental let alone random. It feels very much like the crystallisation of an approach - a philosophy of the human condition.
The importance of process over the material outcome; the need to subordinate rationality and logic to subjective experience - to feel more than to think; to embrace the seamlessness of the material and spiritual and recognise that seamlessness relates to all human and non-human life.
It is so far from where we are and what we have lived through for centuries in the 'developed' nations, at least, that it can seem a little fantastical. It is still a story, I guess, but one that speaks to union over disintegration and to individual meaning that is most truly expressed as part of the collective.
A lot came together in this episode and your honesty, Rachel, in your experience in the Amazon was an essential part of the flow and of the resonance this conversation produced.
To try and bring this down to more common terms the takeaway for me is to be with others, not as 'man' and 'woman' or European and Asian (etc), privileged and under-privileged but as a fellow traveller, neither 'bad' nor 'good'. We need to discover what each of us can bring to joy of life and perhaps the answers will emerge as we build this new way of being.
I always look forward to your take, Richard. Thank you!
Thanks, Rachel. I did wince at the bit about all the reading and listening to podcasts substituting for action. Truth hurts!
Thank you so much, this was so profound and 'soothing'. Embodiment, resonance, dreaming - and the understanding ;) that nature is not here to be of value and benefit for us (and this involves us, too).
Just adding my appreciation for this engaging conversation. Always in your work is the both/and—so necessary to curiosity and humility. I have been reading Hospicing Modernity for months and this conversation enlivens the book even more. I also especially appreciate the concept of re-storying; worlding the world. As a writer I depend on words —and I know there are many other languages imagined and expressed by earthly beings. It is at our peril that we fail to recognize them. Thanks to the folks who commented below, deepening the conversation. I concur with Nathan. I bow down to farmers and plants who sustain our bodies. And Rachel, what you do nourishes us as well.
Learn a craft, a real one that will allow you to connect with the land and animals that form the basis of that craft. What a great conversation, thank you. There are no answers and but there are processes and they are very simple and available to us and they will be the thing that stands us in good stead. There is no secret to the existing indeginous life ways and embodied knowledge, they are based in crafts that have allowed community sufficiency - both social and technical - which underpin the ceremonies which express reverence for the basis of the materials for the continuation of those life ways.
The embodied knowledge you speak of here is accessed through crafts, directly transforming the abundance of nature respectfully through appropriately scaled practice, usually hands, usually human powered to co-create the care objects of a good life. Thinking through land based embodied craft (which already forms the basis of language, however bastardised), allows for the reconfiguration of communities centered in care.
I found it really funny when you where downplaying the work you do and said it wasn't as important as people growing regenerative food. I work all day as a regenerative farmer and have started a few different growing projects here in ireland over the years. Often when listening to your podcast I think “ Jesus maybe i should be doing something more productive and tangible for the movement like Rachel does”
I think it's just an aspect of our human nature as manifest in these times to doubt the validity of our contribution.
That warms my heart, Nathan!!
We need to anew “story‴ )]}>∔<{[( IIIΞĐ𝒾/.\
As was mentioned in this thoughtful interview, we need new prevailing narratives since the existing narratives have normalized our separation from each other and the natural environment that sustains us. One such prevailing narrative is the establishment characterization of the pervasive rejection of establishment, neoliberal governments as a rise in fascist authoritarianism. The rejection of governments in virtually every major democracy in the global north is due to the fact that globalization has created the wealthiest billionaire and professional class at the expense of the middle and working classes. This betrayal has severely damaged trust for experts, business leaders, and establishment politicians in our public discourse. To bridge the lack of trust, we need new narratives that resonate with broad audiences. Truth is the essential currency. In geopolitics, which is a stifling distraction from the climate crisis, Jeffrey Sachs is an unimpeachable commentator on both Ukraine and Gaza. Please see his address to the European Parliament in March 2025. In terms of new prevailing narratives, I utilize our shared experiences as the basis for claiming the U.S.-centric virtues of independence, self-interest and competition are self defeating lies that fuel the polycrisis.
A wonderful conversation between another expert and a journalist about how we find ourselves facing the polycrisis. Have you ever considered the contributions of journalists and experts in normalizing and justifying the Business-as-Usual model that created the polycrisis? Why do you persist in thinking the same closed loop of discussions are going to reach the critical tipping point with the broad affected populations around the globe? Maybe one day you will realize talking with us and not at us is how you will participate in the real change we all seek. Please consider expanding the discussion beyond the chattering class to include the wealth of wisdom and insights not currently platformed.
Hi Kevin, welcome. Yes, I often think about this. Who would you like to platform?
As was mentioned in this thoughtful interview, we need new prevailing narratives since the existing narratives have normalized our separation from each other and the natural environment that sustains us. One such prevailing narrative is the establishment characterization of the pervasive rejection of establishment, neoliberal governments as a rise in fascist authoritarianism. The rejection of governments in virtually every major democracy in the global north is due to the fact that globalization has created the wealthiest billionaire and professional class at the expense of the middle and working classes. This betrayal has severely damaged trust for experts, business leaders, and establishment politicians in our public discourse. To bridge the lack of trust, we need new narratives that resonate with broad audiences. Truth is the essential currency. In geopolitics, which is a stifling distraction from the climate crisis, Jeffrey Sachs is an unimpeachable commentator on both Ukraine and Gaza. Please see his address to the European Parliament in March 2025. In terms of new prevailing narratives, I utilize our shared experiences as the basis for claiming the U.S.-centric virtues of independence, self-interest and competition are self defeating lies that fuel the polycrisis.
Please find three references which provide a very sobering assessment of the human situation in "2025"
http://beezone.com/current/the-big-picture.html 1995 talk
http://www.dabase.org/science-magic.htm
http://beezone.com/current/awakenfromword.html