Doomer Optimism

This episode of Doomer Optimism sees frequent contributor Anarcho-Contrarian (@AnarContrarian)and DO newbie Kara Marshall (@karakara98) sit down with the founder and president of Strong Towns, Charles Marohn (@clmarohn). Naturally, the conversation drifts toward community resilience and building...well...strong towns, as well as the future of community building.  About Charles Marohn Charles Marohn—known as “Chuck” to friends and colleagues—is the founder and president of Strong Towns. He is a professional engineer and a land use planner with decades of experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning, both from the University of Minnesota. Marohn is the author of Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity (Wiley, 2019) and Confessions of a Recovering Engineer: Transportation for a Strong Town (Wiley 2021). He hosts the Strong Towns Podcast and is a primary writer for Strong Towns’ web content. He has presented Strong Towns concepts in hundreds of cities and towns across North America. About Kara Marshall Kara Marshall works to promote energy efficiency and, with her husband, takes care of and old house and five acres in Connecticut. About Anarcho-Contrarian Anarcho-contrarian is a nostalgia-poasting Twitter Anon who is passionate about the resiliency of rural places.

If Jordan Hall were a gin and tonic, then this, Jordan's second Doomer Optimism episode, would be a G&T with special elderberry simple syrup. By which I mean, the addition of this episode's hosts, Ashley Colby and Jason Snyder, unearths a few special nuggets about cosmo-localism and a variety of adjacent topics. So, get your lime juice, we're diving in! About Jordan Hall Jordan is the Co-founder and Executive Chairman of the Neurohacker Collective. He is now in his 19th year of building disruptive technology companies. Jordan’s interests in comics, science fiction, computers, and way too much TV led to a deep dive into contemporary philosophy (particularly the works of Gilles Deleuze and Manuel DeLanda), artificial intelligence and complex systems science, and then, as the Internet was exploding into the world, a few years at Harvard Law School where he spent time with Larry Lessig, Jonathan Zittrain and Cornel West examining the coevolution of human civilization and technology. About Jason Snyder Metamodern localist | homesteading, permaculture, bioregional regeneration | meditation, self inquiry, embodied cognition | PhD from Michigan State University, faculty Appalachian State University. About Ashley Colby Ashley is an Environmental Sociologist who studied at Washington State University, the department that founded the subdiscipline. She's interested in and passionate about the myriad creative ways in which people are forming new social worlds in resistance to the failures of late capitalism and resultant climate disasters. I am a qualitative researcher so I tend to focus on the informal spaces of innovation. She's the founder of Rizoma Field School and Rizoma Foundation.

On this episode of Doomer Optimism Ashley Colby (@RizomaSchool) and her husband Patrick Fitzgerald (@RizomaAt) discuss the future of American democracy and the prospects for a new dark ages with author and soothsayer Morris Berman. About Morris Berman Morris Berman is an American historian and social critic. He earned a BA in mathematics at Cornell University in 1966 and a PhD in the history of science at Johns Hopkins University in 1971. Berman is an academic humanist cultural critic who specializes in Western cultural and intellectual history. About Ashley Colby Ashley is an Environmental Sociologist who studied at Washington State University, the department that founded the subdiscipline. She's interested in and passionate about the myriad creative ways in which people are forming new social worlds in resistance to the failures of late capitalism and resultant climate disasters. I am a qualitative researcher so I tend to focus on the informal spaces of innovation. She's the founder of Rizoma Field School and Rizoma Foundation. About Patrick Fitzgerald Patrick is one half of the power duo Rizoma Field School. He's been a Spanish teacher for over a decade at both the high school and college levels in the United States. He has a BA in Spanish Teaching from the University of Illinois and my MA in Foreign Languages and Cultures from Washington State University. Along with different kinds of language instruction (formal grammar and/or immersion training), he's also taught Spanish language literature and art, and currently teaches AP Spanish Literature through Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. He almost got a hole in one once, and he used to be able to dunk.

On a very special Doomer Optimism we have three Twitter powerhouses on one episode! Chelsey Norman (@quachelsey), Willow Liana (@willlowthewhisp), and Ashley Colby (@RizomaSchool) mix it up about the modern housewife, RETVRNING, child-rearing, and the future of the home. About Chelsey Norman Chelsey, aka Kitchen Marm, is a mother of two and practitioner of the domestic arts in rural New England. About Willow Liana Willow is a professional social butterfly and mother of a wee babe whom she is raising in the Canadian countryside. About Ashley Colby Ashley is an Environmental Sociologist who studied at Washington State University, the department that founded the subdiscipline. She's interested in and passionate about the myriad creative ways in which people are forming new social worlds in resistance to the failures of late capitalism and resultant climate disasters. I am a qualitative researcher so I tend to focus on the informal spaces of innovation. She's the founder of Rizoma Field School and Rizoma Foundation.

This episode of Doomer Optimism sees host Ashley Colby (@RizomaSchool) chats with writer and philosopher Nina Power. The two discuss gender politics, the meaning of Doomer Optimism, and the definition of the "female" Chad. About Nina Power Nina Power is an English writer and philosopher. Power received her PhD in philosophy from Middlesex University on the topic of humanism and anti-humanism in postwar French philosophy, and also has an MA and BA in philosophy from the University of Warwick. About Ashley Colby Ashley is an Environmental Sociologist who studied at Washington State University, the department that founded the subdiscipline. She's interested in and passionate about the myriad creative ways in which people are forming new social worlds in resistance to the failures of late capitalism and resultant climate disasters. I am a qualitative researcher so I tend to focus on the informal spaces of innovation. She's the founder of Rizoma Field School and Rizoma Foundation.

On this, the 29th episode of Doomer Optimism, first time hosts Tara Thieke (@TaraAnnThieke) and Donald Antenen (@riversofeurope) dive into the work and themes of Ivan Illich, the preeminent Roman Catholic priest, theologian, philosopher, and social critic. They're joined for the discussion by writer and broadcaster, David Cayley. About David Cayley David Cayley is a Toronto-based Canadian writer and broadcaster, who is known for documenting philosophy of prominent thinkers of the 20th century - Ivan Illich, Northrop Frye, George Grant, and Rene Girard.   About Tara Thieke Tara Thieke is a homemaker and writer. Her writing can be found at Mere Orthodoxy, Front Porch Republic, The American Mind and many more. About Donald Antenen Donald Antenen lives with his wife and daughters in the Pacific Northwest. He is translating Genesis: https://bibletranslation.substack.com/

On this episode of Doomer Optimism, hosts Ashley Colby (@RizomaSchool) and Jason Snyder(@cognazor) sit down with none other than the regenerative guru himself, Neal Spackman (@NealSpackman). For the regenerative landscape and farming folks out there, this is a high-powered episode filled with inspiring stories from Neal's work, as well as plenty of practical tips for participating in the regeneration movement. About Neal Spackman Neal Spackman is an internationally recognized pioneer of hyperarid agroforestries. He is now the Cofounder/CEO of Regenerative Resources https://regenerativeresources.co/ He was cofounder and Director of the Al Baydha Project in Saudi Arabia, where he lived and worked with tribes of bedouin to convert deserts into savannahs. He founded the webinar series Sustainable Design Masterclass, and has taught and consulted in the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. About Jason Snyder Metamodern localist | homesteading, permaculture, bioregional regeneration | meditation, self inquiry, embodied cognition | PhD from Michigan State University, faculty Appalachian State University. About Ashley Colby Ashley is an Environmental Sociologist who studied at Washington State University, the department that founded the subdiscipline. She's interested in and passionate about the myriad creative ways in which people are forming new social worlds in resistance to the failures of late capitalism and resultant climate disasters. I am a qualitative researcher so I tend to focus on the informal spaces of innovation. She's the founder of Rizoma Field School and Rizoma Foundation.

On this episode of Doomer Optimism, Tres Crow (@dogeatcrow) chats up frequent DO contributor William Wheelwright (@ploughmansfolly) about his now infamous Twitter thread, how America can be saved with ice cream, and a path forward for right and left DOers. About William Wheelwright They're anonymous, soooo.... About Tres Crow Tres is making the world a greener place one urban space at a time with my friends at Roots Down. He's a storyteller and marketing dude. He loves natural urbanism and climate justice.

In a very special episode of Doomer Optimism, Jason Snyder (@Cognazor) and first-time host Dave (@aspiringpeasant) have a striking convo with Mr. Donkey himself, Jeff McFadden (@homemadeguitars). Naturally, the conversation touches on donkey power, but that's just the starting point for an important conversation about regenerative agriculture, ecological collapse, and slowing down. About Jeff McFadden Walking beside a donkey, working for a living Earth. About Aspiring Peasant None of your business. About Jason Snyder Metamodern localist | homesteading, permaculture, bioregional regeneration | meditation, self inquiry, embodied cognition | PhD from Michigan State University, faculty Appalachian State University.

On this episode of Doomer Optimism, Ashley Colby (@RizomaSchool), Jason Snyder(@cognazor), and Steven Morris (@lifesmyth) sat down with the incredible John Michael Greer, previous founder of the Archdruid Report and current founder of Ecosophia. Topics discussed range from regenerative futures to the collapse of industrial civilization. Doomer Optimists everywhere won't be disappointed with this one! About John Michael Greer John Michael Greer is a widely read author, blogger, and astrologer whose work focuses on the overlaps between ecology, spirituality, and the future of industrial society. He served twelve years as Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America, and remains active in that order as well as several other branches of Druid nature spirituality.  He currently lives in East Providence, Rhode Island, with his wife Sara. About Jason Snyder Metamodern localist | homesteading, permaculture, bioregional regeneration | meditation, self inquiry, embodied cognition | PhD from Michigan State University, faculty Appalachian State University. About Ashley Colby Ashley is an Environmental Sociologist who studied at Washington State University, the department that founded the subdiscipline. She's interested in and passionate about the myriad creative ways in which people are forming new social worlds in resistance to the failures of late capitalism and resultant climate disasters. I am a qualitative researcher so I tend to focus on the informal spaces of innovation. She's the founder of Rizoma Field School and Rizoma Foundation. About Steven Morris Steven Morris started his journey into Doomer Optimism in 2011 when during the time of a divorce he stumbled upon 3 of the many early doomer optimist voices: Chris Martenson's Crash Course, John Michael Greer's  blog The Archdruid Report, and KMO's C-Realm podcast. These 3 identified the many issues of decline in the world that he could sense but didn't have words for. At the same time they all provided positive possibilities for the future. Steven considers himself an amateur Renaissance Man and Polymath of sorts with a wide variety of interests including, appropriate use of technology, regenerative systems, explorations in consciousness, alternative (sometimes called complementary) currency systems, computer technology, and complex systems. He has worked on multiple award winning independent films, managed warehouse logistics for a small business, run a college radio station and lead ecstatic dance workshops. He is a trained Host for Nora Bateson's People Need People gatherings. He currently generates income from running the audio visual technology behind corporate events and is working with the Commons Engine as the video editor for their upcoming Currency Design for Change Agents master class to be launched this spring.