Rob Hopkins, author of "From What Is to What If" and founder of the Transition Network, joins to discuss envisioning a hopeful future. They explore the transformative power of imagination in fostering community engagement and tackling environmental issues. Topics include the importance of reframing societal challenges, grassroots activism, and innovative solutions for local food systems. Hopkins emphasizes creativity and diverse voices as essential to driving positive change, urging listeners to engage actively in shaping their futures.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Punk Rock Inspiration
The punk rock movement encouraged people to form bands with just three chords.
This DIY ethos inspired Rob Hopkins to focus on accessible, actionable solutions.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Practical Application of Ideas
Focus on ideas with practical applications in the world.
Avoid purely intellectual ideas without real-world use.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Earth Repair
Permaculture, with its 'earth repair' concept, showed Hopkins a path to positive change.
This shifted his focus from dismantling to rebuilding and repairing.
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How to See the Future Coming and Feel Ready for Anything—Even Things That Seem Impossible Today
Jane McGonigal
In 'Imaginable', Jane McGonigal draws on the latest scientific research in psychology and neuroscience to show readers how to train their minds to think the unthinkable and imagine the unimaginable. The book invites readers to engage in thought experiments and future simulations designed to build collective imagination, develop creative problem-solving skills, and take actions that shape a desired future. It aims to help readers access 'urgent optimism' and become fearless, resilient, and bold in the face of an uncertain future[1][3][4].
Permaculture
A Designer's Manual
Bill Mollison
Published in 1988, this manual outlines the fundamental ethics, principles, and design strategies that form the core of permaculture philosophy. It covers design methodologies and strategies for both urban and rural applications, including property design, natural farming techniques, and discussions on various climatic factors, water management, soils, and more. The book emphasizes a holistic approach to sustainable living, ecological awareness, and regenerative design, making it a timeless resource for creating resilient and self-sufficient systems.
Time Travel
James Blake
Crack-Up Capitalism
Quinn Slobodian
Falling in Love with the Future
Falling in Love with the Future
Rob Hopkins
Poetry from the Future
Poetry from the Future
Sveshko Horvath
Radical Futurism
Radical Futurism
T.J. Demos
a beautiful in viv albertine's book that she wrote about being in the slits
a beautiful in viv albertine's book that she wrote about being in the slits
Viv Albertine
From What Is to What If
Unleashing the Power of Imagination to Create the Future We Want
Rob Hopkins
The man made of rain
Brendan Kennelly
This is the first in a series of episodes on How To Live in 2025, focusing on the thoughts, feelings, and actions we need to thrive, develop, create, and resist. At the end of each of these episodes, I’ll offer an exercise - a thought exercise, spiritual exercise, or practical exercise - that brings an experiential dimension to what I and the shows guests talk about. That way, you won’t only be participating by listening, but you can actually bring some of the vitality of the conversation forward.
The theme and action of this episode is ENVISION. And my guest is ROB HOPKINS.
Rob is the author of From What Is to What If: Unleashing the Power of Imagination to Create the Future We Want and the forthcoming Falling in Love with the Future. He's also the host of the excellent 100-episode podcast, From What If to What Next which features a different conversation with big thinkers on each episode. He's also a founder of the Transition Network, which works via multiple initiatives (planting trees, local food sufficiency, alternate modes of transport, mental health support, and more) to usher towns and communities out of their entanglement with cultural, political and economic death, and into thriving and healthy sufficiency.
Against Everyone with Conner Habib 
