In Conversation with Nathalie Nahai 157. BONUS EPISODE: Towards Transformative Adaptation / Manda Scott and Rupert Read
Hello and welcome to a special episode of In Conversation with Nathalie Nahai – the podcast that explores our relationship with one another, with technology and with the animate world.
On this rare occasion, I have the pleasure of interviewing two friends of the podcast – Manda Scott and Rupert Read – about their powerful, compelling and practical new book, Transformative Adaptation.
A selection of essays by leading practitioners and pioneers this book lays out approaches for adaptation that work with, not against nature, and it is a theory and a practice, a community and an attitude, designed to support us in imagining and creating a flourishing future even in the jaws of adversity.
Rupert Read is an eco-philosopher, academic, author, campaigner, UK Green politician, and environmental activist. Having been a key spokesperson for the Extinction Rebellion movement, Rupert now dedicates his time to the Climate Majority Project as its Co-Director.
Manda Scott is a Thrutopian novelist, podcaster and smallholder. Formerly a veterinary surgeon, Manda’s novels have been shortlisted for the Orange Prize, the Edgar and the Saltire Award, and she has won the McIlvanney Prize. She is host of the popular Accidental Gods podcast, which showcases individuals and organisations at the emerging edge of our world, to set the foundation for a future we’d be proud to leave to the generations that come after us.
SUMMARY
In this conversation, Nathalie Nahai, Manda Scott, and Rupert Read explore the themes of collective awakening to climate risks, the importance of imagination in envisioning a flourishing future, and the vital role of art and creativity in shaping narratives. They discuss the necessity of community action for transformative adaptation and the significance of acknowledging despair as a pathway to empowerment. The conversation emphasises learning from the Global South's experiences and the evolving consciousness among politicians regarding climate realities. Ultimately, they call for individuals to recognise their power to influence change and to build a shared narrative of possibility for a sustainable future.
BOOK
- US edition of TrAd: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/801723/transformative-adaptation-by-edited-by-rupert-read-and-morgan-phillips-with-manda-scott/
- UK edition of TrAd: https://www.permanentpublications.co.uk/port/transformative-adaptation/
WEBSITES
- Edge Cities: https://www.edgecity.live/
- Edge City in California: https://www.edgeesmeralda.com/
- Our House (creating civil charters by Peoples’ Assemblies): https://ourhouseuk.org/
- OPUS in Sheffield: https://www.weareopus.org/
Rupert Read
Manda Scott
CHAPTERS
00:00 Awakening to Collective Realisation
01:55 The Role of AI in Society
05:10 Imagining a Flourishing Future
08:11 Transformative Adaptation and Climate Crisis
11:06 The Power of Narrative and Imagination
14:00 Creating Alternative Futures
17:07 The Role of Artists in Change
20:10 Building a Shared Vision
23:03 Gathering Spaces for Creative Collaboration
35:29 Reimagining Storytelling for a New Era
38:15 The Role of Emotional Literacy in Media
39:15 Welcoming Our Shadows for Healing
42:13 Embracing Despair as a Path to Growth
47:38 The Interplay of Love and Fear
51:21 Integrating Inner Conflicts for Collective Action
56:33 Transformative Adaptation: A Hopeful Future