Emergence Magazine Podcast

In this enlightening conversation, Susan Murphy Roshi, an Australian writer and Zen teacher, explores how Zen koans can shift our consciousness during crises. She discusses embracing uncertainty and deep adaptation as essential for personal and ecological resilience. The dialogue delves into the transformative power of emptiness, encouraging connections between humanity and nature. Susan emphasizes that recognizing our interconnectedness can lead to greater compassion and healing, urging listeners to respond to suffering with openness and awareness of our relationship with the Earth.

Jenny Odell, author of "Saving Time" and "How to Do Nothing," invites listeners on a reflective journey through her Oakland neighborhood. She discusses how landscapes communicate stories and memories, emphasizing the importance of sustained attention to nature. Odell connects geological features with personal narratives, revealing how urban development invisibly impacts the environment. Her insights dive into the transformative power of observation, showcasing the rich history embedded in the terrain and highlighting our deep bond with the natural world.

Lily Kelting, a food and culture scholar, explores the essence of terroir in Pune, India, where urban landscapes meet rich cultural traditions. She immerses listeners in the sensory experiences of her community, from the sounds of construction to the fragrances of marigold and smoke. Kelting reflects on the unique coexistence of cows in urban settings, their cultural importance, and how local ecologies shape tastes and culinary identities. Her insights challenge conventional ideas about food, revealing deeper connections between flavor, environment, and community amid urbanization.

Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee discusses falling in love with Earth, embracing vulnerability, finding nature in urban spaces, honoring Earth's presence, and the transformative power of connecting with nature.

In anticipation of this year’s massive cicada emergence, we revisit a story from Anisa George, where she calls us into the wonder of encountering these tiny messengers. Immersing us in the sound—the buzzing, whirring, and clicking—of cicadas, this story invites us into a community beyond the human. What can it mean to participate in such a cycle? Why together? Why now?Read the transcript.Sign up for our newsletter to hear more stories as they are released each week.Design by Studio Airport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover how writer and activist Dara McAnulty explores finding joy in the unknown amidst ecological crises. Hear about his journey of writing, personal growth, and advocacy for understanding autism. Explore his profound connection to nature and winter landscapes, and delve into a poetic exploration of interconnectedness and existence.

Aboriginal scholar Tyson Yunkaporta discusses deep-time thinking and relational obligations, urging us to operate from a place of 'right relationship.' Topics include translating Aboriginal concepts of time, deep time diligence, intergenerational relationships, and the interconnectedness of memory, governance, and law. The conversation highlights the importance of preserving cultural laws for resilience and moving beyond superficial practices to confront fear and uncertainty.

Renowned mycologist Merlin Sheldrake and creative director Barney Steel discuss mycelial webs softening boundaries between bodies and nature. They explore the interconnectedness of science and art, the intertwined relationship between humans and plants, curiosity fueling inquiry, reevaluating intelligence in nature, and the role of mystery in cultivating wonder.

Taking us to the collapsing face of Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica, author Elizabeth Rush works to free the ice’s agency from both historical tropes and the confines of her own preconceptions. Contemplating the ways our own future is increasingly entangled with that of Thwaites, Elizabeth listens for the voice of the glacier, anticipating a quick, ready kinship. But as she recognizes the importance of time—“ribbons, reams, centuries, millennia” of temporal investment—in attuning oneself to the Earth’s responses, she surrenders to the slow unfolding conversation between humans and the more-than-human world.Read the transcript.Photo by Elizabeth Rush. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Held at our Shifting Landscapes exhibition in December last year, this panel discussion, moderated by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, brought together environmental justice activist and Climate in Colour founder Joycelyn Longdon, award-winning Cambodian-American filmmaker Kalyanee Mam, and folk singer, song collector, and author Sam Lee to consider how we might rekindle awe and reciprocity by remembering ourselves as extensions of the changing Earth. Centering narratives of kinship amid the uncertainty of our time—and inviting the surprise of spontaneous, emergent song—each share ways in which their work opens spaces of connection with the living world.Read the transcript. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices