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.

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, 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.

This week’s guest is Rob Hopkins, a renowned author, musician, and co-founder of the Transition Network. He shares captivating insights from his upcoming book that dives into historical movements embracing future visions for social change. Rob discusses the empowerment of radical imagination in envisioning a flourishing future and critiques climate complacency. He emphasizes the transformative power of storytelling and community in combating global challenges while encouraging listeners to build a hopeful world together.

Rob Hopkins, cofounder of Transition Town Totnes and Transition Network, discusses the power of imagination in addressing climate change and the decline of play vs screen time. He also talks about the challenges faced by Extinction Rebellion during the pandemic, the design system of permaculture, and the benefits of slow travel. This dynamic and insightful interview explores various topics including positive change, citizen assemblies, speculative fiction, and The Fall.