The humanities as the bastion of heart

As we think about systems change, it's all too easy to get caught up the technical design of new institutions and 'system architecture'. But if we are being asked to consider a qualitatively different way governing, convening, educating, distributing resources - all of the fundamentals of society -then perhaps we can start by asking:

What has LOVE got to do with any of it?

As I share at the start of this episode, it's been clear to me that it's difficult to bring the concept of love into such discussions. So I really wanted to explore this a few courageous and amazing individuals, who I knew would be up for it!

In this episode you'll hear from four amazing people working in quite different sectors - from existential risk, climate resilience to cognitive science to leadership and communications to teacher training and education. But all united by the willingness to talk about love as central to their work. 

Dr. Laura Penn is an expert in leadership communication and the speaking arts. As the Founder of The Leadership Speaking School (https://www.theleadershipspeakingschool.com/), she transforms leaders and teams from the world’s most well-known companies, business schools and organizations into authentic communicators of the digital age. Her clients include the World Economic Forum, International Olympic Committee, United Nations, World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), IMD Business School, Ebay, Roche, Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH), Nespresso, Salesforce, Logitech, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), EHL Hospitality Business School and many more.

With her first career as a conservation biologist, Laura is also a distinguished voice in the sustainability sector, empowering her audiences to communicate sustainability with gravitas.

https://www.laurapennspeaker.com/

linkedin.com/in/laurapennphd

Jamie Bristow is a writer linking inner and outer transformation, and a policy advisor on the application of inner development and contemplative practices in public life. His work includes influential reports such as Reconnection: Meeting the Climate Crisis Inside Out and The System Within: Addressing the inner dimension of sustainability and systems transformation. Jamie is currently developing his work in a new direction, supported by a two-year fellowship, and is initiating a yet-to-be-announced project with Professor Rebecca Henderson at Harvard University (https://rebeccahenderson.com/). He is a co-founder of the Life Itself Sensemaking Studio; honorary associate of Bangor University; special advisor to the Inner Development Goals; from 2015 to 2023, Jamie played an instrumental role in the UK's All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mindfulness.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiebristow/ https://www.jamiebristow.com/

Khadija Shahper Bakhtiar is CEO and Founder of Teach For Pakistan - MPP, University of California, Berkeley; BSc Hons., LUMS; Rozan, Islamabad; UN Women, NYC; Fulbright Alum.

https://iteachforpakistan.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/khadija-shahper-bakhtiar-045b60122/

And Andrea Hiott, who you have heard on the podcast previously in episode 209 (https://www.goodimpactlabs.com/podcast/andrea-hiott) is Andrea is a philosopher, cognitive scientist and writer and host of the Love and Philosophy community and channel: https://lovephilosophy.substack.com/