Solstice Cheer: Three Friends uphold a Podcasting Tradition with Della Duncan, Nathalie Nahai and Manda Scott
Dec 18, 2024
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Della Duncan, a renegade economist and co-host of the Upstream Podcast, joins Nathalie Nahai, author and tech ethics speaker, for a heartfelt winter solstice gathering with Manda Scott. They reflect on a tumultuous year, celebrate Della's news, and discuss the importance of community amidst chaos. Topics include ethical AI implications, anti-capitalism strategies, and the need for emotional balance through mindfulness. They also emphasize nurturing future generations and the vital role of service in creating positive change.
The podcast highlights the necessity of collaboration and community as essential elements for fostering positive societal change and resilience amidst turbulence.
Della emphasizes shifting focus from capitalist critiques to the geopolitical implications of imperialism, showcasing interconnected social issues through diverse conversations.
Nathalie discusses the ethical dilemmas posed by AI and the importance of asking better questions around technology's impact on trust and societal norms.
Deep dives
Collective Vision for a Better Future
The speakers emphasize the belief that a better world is possible if people collaborate. They reflect on their collective journey over the past five years, highlighting their ongoing commitment to working together to influence positive change for future generations. The importance of community is underscored, as they share their excitement about the traditional three-way conversation during the winter solstice, a time for reflection and forward-looking intentions. This spirit of camaraderie sets the tone for discussing not only past achievements but also the challenges facing society.
Expanding Awareness of Imperialism
Della discusses significant highlights from her podcast, particularly the need to shift focus from a workplace-centered critique of capitalism to understanding its geopolitical implications. She emphasizes the role of imperialism in sustaining capitalist systems and how this perspective has been explored through conversations with various thought leaders and activists. The podcast has delved into vital topics, from the exploitation of the Global South to the workings of third-party candidates in U.S. elections, showcasing the interconnectedness of social issues. This raised awareness pushes for a more comprehensive analysis of the systems underpinning societal structures.
Navigating the Complexities of Technology
Natalie shares her insights on technology, especially the emergence of AI, and the ethical dilemmas it presents. She raises critical questions about trust, agency, and the value systems being reinforced in technology design. The conversation explores how AI impacts human behavior and societal norms, while also emphasizing the importance of asking better questions before implementing these technologies. Through discussing the complexities and implications of AI on everyday life, Natalie urges a conscientious approach to how society embraces and integrates technology.
Cultivating Inner Transformation and Connection
Amanda reflects on the need for inner and spiritual work to navigate the urgent changes needed in society. She explains that true transformation begins with recognizing and connecting to the web of life, advocating for a shift in values rather than merely restructuring existing systems. Citing various thought leaders, she highlights the importance of healing trauma, both individually and collectively, as a means to enable conscious evolution. This inner work is seen as essential to foster a different value set and promote systems that prioritize flourishing over extraction.
Actionable Paths for Transition Strategies
Della presents a categorization of strategies for a transition away from capitalism, proposing four key approaches: smashing capitalism, taming capitalism, eroding capitalism, and escaping capitalism. Each strategy carries potential benefits and challenges, opening up a discussion on their practicality and efficacy in the current socio-economic landscape. The commentary encourages reflecting on which avenues may resonate more with ongoing efforts to create systemic change. Ultimately, a collaborative and multifaceted approach to these strategies is deemed essential for fostering lasting transformation.
This is the fifth year of our traditional Winter Solstice podcast gathering in which Nathalie Nahai of 'In Conversation with Nathalie Nahai, Della Duncan of The Upstream Podcast and I sit around our virtual dark-nights fire to reflect on the podcasting year just gone and explore what has changed for us since the last time we three met in one place. By any measure, this year has been pretty turbulent and our capacity to predict anything at all for 2025 is fairly ragged, but that doesn't stop us from celebrating Della's news, and sharing the ways we find stability and maintain sanity in a world that feels increasingly precarious. Whatever else is happening, friendship is the glue that builds community and all of us - we who make the podcasts and everyone who listens - are building a de facto community of passion and purpose. So thank you for being there. I hope you enjoy what follows.
Della Z Duncan is a Renegade Economist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a co-host of the Upstream Podcast, a Right Livelihood Coach, a faculty member at the California Institute of Integral Studies, a Senior Fellow at the London School of Economics, a founding member of the California Doughnut Economics Coalition, and the designer and co-facilitator of the Cultivating Regenerative Livelihood Course at Gaia Education.
Nathalie Nahai is an author, keynote speaker and host of the Nathalie Nahai in Conversation podcast enquires into our relationship with one another, with technology and with the living world. She’s author of the international best-sellers Webs Of Influence: The Psychology of Online Persuasion and, more recently, Business Unusual: Values, Uncertainty and the Psychology of Brand Resilience which has been described as “One of the defining business books of our times”. She’s a consultant, artist and the founder of Flourishing Futures Salon, a project that offers curated gastronomical gatherings that explore how we can thrive in times of turbulence and change.
