Rob Hopkins

In this engaging discussion, Rob Hopkins, co-founder of the Transition Network, delves into the importance of imagination and hope in tackling today’s challenges like climate change. He emphasizes that envisioning a just future is a political act and a source of empowerment. The conversation highlights the transformative role of art and community initiatives in envisioning change. Examples from Afro-futurism to successful urban projects illustrate how collective visioning can inspire active participation in shaping a more sustainable world.

Rob Hopkins, co-founder of the Transition Movement and climate activist, shares his radical approach to climate solutions. He takes listeners on a theatrical 'time machine' journey to a successful 2030, encouraging us to envision an 'irresistible' future. Rob discusses the importance of fostering hope through storytelling and practical visions, while advocating for small, collective actions. He emphasizes overcoming feelings of powerlessness and urges listeners to join local groups to initiate real change, combining urgency with optimism for a better tomorrow.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the history of Nihilism. The nineteenth-century philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, wrote, “There can be no doubt that morality will gradually perish: this is the great spectacle in a hundred acts reserved for the next two centuries in Europe”. And, with chilling predictions like these, ‘Nihilism’ was born. The hard view that morals are pointless, loyalty is a weakness and ‘truths’ are illusory, has excited, confused and appalled western thinkers ever since. But what happened to Nietzsche’s revolutionary ideas about truth, morality and a life without meaning? Existentialism can claim lineage to Nietzsche, as can Post Modernism, but then so can Nazism. With so many interpretations, and claims of ownership from the left and the right, has anything positive come out of the great philosopher of ‘nothing’?With Rob Hopkins, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Birmingham; Professor Raymond Tallis, Doctor and Philosopher; Professor Catherine Belsey, University of Cardiff.

Rob Hopkins, co-founder of the Transition Towns movement and author of How to Fall in Love with the Future, shares his insights on imagination activism. He discusses how imagination fuels permaculture and community resilience, emphasizing the power of cultivating longing over fear. Rob's Field Recordings from the Future project highlights sensory futuring as a tool for envisioning a vibrant future. He also dives into the importance of playfulness in activism and shares lessons learned from grassroots movements that can inspire transformative change.

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.