

Under Pressure with Donnie Maclurcan
Sep 14, 2025
Donnie MacLurcan, a professor of economics and social entrepreneur at the Post-Growth Institute in Patagonia, shares insights on the connection between our bodies and economic systems. He introduces grounding techniques like the 'stop and drop' method to enhance mindfulness amidst chaos. The conversation covers how our gut instincts can influence economic decisions under stress and emphasizes the importance of empathy in building community connections. Donnie also encourages envisioning a post-growth economy centered on well-being and reciprocity.
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Bodies Know System Limits
- Our bodies intuit limits that economic models ignore; embodied sensing reveals ecological boundaries.
- Donnie links human movement studies with economics to highlight somatic knowing.
Use Stop And Drop Regularly
- Do practice “stop and drop”: pause, lower your gaze, and check in with your body several times a day.
- Use it to create micro‑spaciousness when formal meditation feels impossible.
Skydiving Revealed Disconnection
- Donnie visualized a calm skydiving jump but felt nothing during the fall due to self‑induced disconnection.
- That experience taught him how easily the mind can disconnect from natural bodily responses.