In this episode, our guest, Jeremy Lent, discusses the profound global upheaval in early 2025. We explore themes of hope and grief amid political, cultural, and environmental crises. Lent provides deep insights into systems thinking, emphasizing the importance of interconnectedness and unpredictability in complex systems. The conversation also holds space for the impact of reductionist thinking, the power of technology, and the potential for societal transformation through integrated intelligence. The episode concludes with discussions on individual and systemic change, indigenous wisdom, and the need for a life-affirming future.

Jeremy Lent is an author and speaker exploring the root causes of civilization’s crises and pathways to a sustainable future. Described by The Guardian’s George Monbiot as “one of the greatest thinkers of our age,” he is the author of The Patterning Instinct and The Web of Meaning, which integrate science and traditional wisdom to reimagine our place in the universe. He founded the Deep Transformation Network and Liology Institute to foster an ecological civilization and writes on cultural and political patterns at Patterns of Meaning.

Topics

00:00 Introduction

00:52 Introducing Jeremy Lent

01:50 Navigating Hope and Grief

03:18 Systems Thinking and Interconnectedness

10:08 Cultural Narratives and Political Polarization

17:37 Technology's Role in Connection

26:10 Blockchain and Decentralization

27:43 Integrative Intelligence and Human Flourishing

32:32 Indigenous Wisdom and Reciprocity

49:42 Conclusion and Future Engagements

Resources

Jeremy Lent’s Website

Deep Transformation Network

Patterns of Meaning

Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters by Brian Klaas

Sounds of SAND #108 Thrutopian Dreams: Manda Scott

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