Future Ecologies

Sometimes it feels like we're all living in a garbageosphere – an ecosystem of trash and detritus. But despite the extent of anthropogenic impacts, life is resilient and infinitely creative.Hyper-ecologies, novel ecosystems, freakosystems – different names for the same thing: never-before-seen assemblies of lifeforms, born of human disturbance. These profoundly weird ecologies are persistent, and (through a certain lens) often functional.In this final chapter of "Nature, by Design?", we meet again with Oliver Kellhammer and Eric Higgs to discuss what we can learn from these ruderal places, and how they can empower a new way of thinking about ecological restoration.This episode is the last in a 3-part series. Before listening to this one, you may want to catch up with Part 1: Taking the Neo-Eoscenic Route [FE3.1] & Part 2: The Path to the Wilderness Lodge [FE3.2]– – –For musical credits, citations, and more, click here.Please consider adopting an episode for transcription💖 Support the show and join our Patreon community

This episode is the second in a 3-part series. Before listening to this one, you may want to catch up with FE3.1 - Nature, by Design? Part 1: Taking the Neo-Eoscenic RouteAs we continue to discuss the practice of ecological restoration, an important question emerges: is wilderness itself an illusion? We all have a picture of wilderness in our minds, but how did that image come to be? Join us for a tale of two simulacra.For musical credits, citations, and more, click here.Please consider adopting an episode for transcriptionSupport the show and join our Patreon community

For a new season of bonus Patreon mini-episodes, we’re going beyond kelp worlds to meet the rest of our seaweed sojourners.Today, we’re stepping into a world of colour – of light, and shadow. Our first algal introduction is a stunning seaweed, known to some as rainbow leaf (or Mazzaella).We're unlocking this first episode of of our Patreon-exclusive series: “Seaweed Sojourning”, as we explore The Curious World of Seaweed with Josie Iselin. Pay what you can – as little as a $1 per month – to get the rest of the series, and our whole back catalogue of bonus content.https://www.patreon.com/futureecologiesEpisode artwork by Josie Iselin (from The Curious World of Seaweed). For more images of Mazzaella in its iridescent glory, check out our Instagram

Is “Nature” a real thing, or is it just an idea? When we talk about restoring ecosystems, what are we restoring them to? Or more precisely, when?This episode is the first part of a conversation between Mendel, Adam, and two of Adam’s mentors, wherein we explore what it means to practice ecological restoration as a form of art.Click here for photos and details of Oliver’s artwork / restoration project in the Grandview Cut.For musical credits, citations, and more, click here.Two corrections for this episode:Prototaxites and giant horsetails (Calamites) were extant ~350 million years before the EoceneIt is indeed a telescope, and not binoculars.Please consider adopting an episode for transcription Support the show and join our Patreon community

Ama Josephine Budge, Macarena Gómez-Barris, and Jack Halberstam discuss queer ecology, climate justice, decolonial perspectives, and the intersection of queerness in ecology. The speakers explore themes of transformation, desire, pleasure, resistance, and affinity within apocalyptic world making. They emphasize the importance of recognizing diversity, cohabitation, and joy in studying the natural world. They also challenge humanism and oppressive mechanisms while embracing diverse perspectives and the need for transformation.

While we work on Season 3, we're featuring an episode from one of our favourite podcasts: Plastisphere–––We want to know what you want to listen to! Take our 2020 Listener Survey and help shape the sound of Future Ecologies Season 3.–––Finally, we're releasing 2 albums: the official soundtracks of Season 2 and our Scales of Change series, featuring the instrumental compositions of Sunfish Moon Light (a.k.a. Adam Huggins), Loam Zoku, and Vincent van Haaff. We hope these help you pass the time before we kick off our next season. You can download both and name your price.From Mountaintop to Seafloor – The Music of Future Ecologies Season 2Scales of Change – The Official Soundtrack

This is our final chapter, and our last genus of Dragon: Immobilis – the dragons of Limited Behaviour. This genus contains only two species: Immobilis signum, or the Dragon of Tokenism, and Immobilis jevonsii, or the Rebound Effect. They are among the most pernicious dragons, especially for people who already care deeply about the climate.As we unpack this small but important genus, we discover how they are tied to the global movement to divest from fossil fuels. Once again we find ourselves with the themes that have run throughout our entire series: the power and flexibility of language & narrative.Visit futureecologies.net/dragons to learn more about the Dragons of Inaction (including their names, descriptions, and phylogeny), and find all of our citations, guest speakers, and musicians.

In our sixth genus, we dive deep into the Dragons of Sunk Cost – the investments that work against our climate interests.Some of these may simply be financial, but they may also be emotional: our goals and aspirations, our patterns of behaviour, and our attachments to the places around us.In this episode, we focus our attention on Place Attachment, as we tag along with the ṮEṮÁĆES Climate Action Project: a W̱SÁNEĆ-led eco-cultural revitalization project.To learn more about the Dragons of Climate Inaction (+ musical credits, citations, and more) visit futureecologies.net/dragons

Our fifth genus includes the Dragons of Perceived Risk: functional, temporal, financial, social, and physical. These dragons are at the root of all fears – steering our decisions in a continuous assessment of risk versus reward.When it comes to climate change, the risks are global, but distributed unequally. In this chapter, we explore what physical risk can mean to the people dedicated to the health of the planet, as we follow one woman’s journey to becoming a force of nature.To learn more about the Dragons of Climate Inaction (+ musical credits, citations, and more) visit futureecologies.net/dragons

Join Robert Gifford, a professor of environmental psychology, alongside social psychologist Reuven Sussman and behavioral scientist Christine Kormos, as they tackle the 'Dragons of Discredence.' They delve into climate denial's subtle impacts on policy trust and the importance of effective communication strategies. The conversation highlights innovative approaches for promoting sustainable choices, emphasizing self-interest as a motivator in environmental action, and how aligning incentives can drive transformative change. Tune in for insights that mix psychology with real-world impact!