Wild with Sarah Wilson

Dr Gladys McGarey (102 years old, founder of the “holistic” medicine movement) has lived a big, wild life and joins me to chat through her secrets for doing it (life) like you really only have one of them. Recognised as *the* pioneer of alternative medicine, Dr Gladys is a founding diplomat of the American Board of Holistic Medicine and cofounder of the American Holistic Medical Association.In her long life, Gladys practiced as a general practitioner for seven decades, had six kids, lived with dyslexia (before it was a supported thing) and almost died twice. At 86 she went to Afghanistan to work in a war zone; at 94 she says she finally “found her voice”; and at 100  she did her first TED talk. Today, nudging 103, she’s still a practicing doctor and has just published a new book, The Well Lived Life.We talk through her daily step count, recovering from divorce at 70 and hone in on her #1 tip for living longer – “Spend your energy wildly”.SHOW NOTESThe Well Lived Life is available hereYou can follow Glady on InstagramYou might like to listen to the interviews with Julia Cameron, Margaret Atwood and Sister Helen PrejeanIf you need to know a bit more about me… head to my "about" pageFor more such conversations subscribe to my Substack newsletter, it’s where I interact the most!Get your copy of my book, This One Wild and Precious LifeLet’s connect on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chess grandmaster and metamodernist philosopher Jonathan Rowson joins the podcast to discuss the concept of metacrisis and how it underlies all other crises. They explore the application of chess mindset to problem solving and the relationship between metacrisis, perma-crisis, and poly-crisis. They also delve into the concept of metamodernism and the urgency for radical change in various aspects of life.

Gaya Herrington, a global collapse expert and adviser for the Club of Rome, reveals alarming insights from her work, underscoring the predictions from the 1972 MIT study about imminent societal collapse by 2040. She argues that unchecked economic growth is pushing us toward disaster. Gaya discusses the importance of systems thinking, advocating for a shift in priorities towards sustainability and human well-being. She highlights the role of indigenous knowledge and proposes transformative changes needed to avert these looming crises.

Luke Burgis, ethical entrepreneur and mimetic desire expert, discusses how humans mimic others' desires, the role of scapegoating in conflicts, and the importance of pursuing deep desires that reflect our true identity. The podcast explores the concept of mimetic desire, its impact on human behavior, and the connection to social media and collective guilt. It also delves into the historical significance of scapegoating and the responsibility to defend marginalized individuals.

Clancy Martin (professor of philosophy, multiple suicide survivor) has tried – unsuccessfully, obviously – to depart this mortal coil a dozen-plus times and has just published a book, How Not to Kill Yourself, that explores the complexity of one the most fundamental question we can ever ask – why live? Clancy teaches philosophy at the University of Missouri, is a Guggenheim Fellow, bestselling novelist, a father and… “suicide addict”. In the wake of having lost one of my closest friends to suicide, I reached out to Clancy to get his insights and wisdoms on this challenging topic. He shares the mindsets that can change a despairing person’s mind, how to deal with the sense of betrayal and anger after a loved one takes their life and how his own “suicidal addiction” started at 3. This beautiful conversation is mostly a reminder to live fully and wildly and… to care (particularly for those who care so deeply they despair).Get hold of Clancy’s book How Not to Kill Yourself: My life in suicide.If you or someone you know is struggling, the suicide and crisis lifeline can be reached by diallingIn Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 and the Suicide Call Back Service on1300 659 467In the US, call 988 and you will be connected to the National Suicide and Crisis LifelineIn the UK, contact the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 0800 689 5652If you need to know a bit more about me… head to my “about” pageFor more such conversations subscribe to my Substack newsletter, it’s where I interact the most!Get your copy of my book, This One Wild and Precious LifeLet’s connect on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susan Neiman (world-leading moral philosopher, socialist, Einstein Forum director) joins me to clear up a wholly frustrating and destructive dialogue stopper – wokeism. Susan is the Director of the Einstein Forum, in Potsdam, Germany. She has a doctorate in philosophy from Harvard and has written big, influential tomes on German guilt, the value of evil and how we all need to grow up, all through a philosophical lens. Her latest book is titled Left is Not Woke and in this episode, she explains why woke has become a loaded term, weaponised by the Right and has inverted to contradict Left or progressive principles. Susan plants the wild idea we need to abandon wokeism and become truly awake to the threat so much infighting is distracting us (sigh) from the rise of fascism. Much as Left infighting enabled Hitler to rise to power in the 1930s.The Show NotesLeft is Not Woke is available nowSusan mentions Paul Robeson’s performance at the Sydney Opera HouseI mention my Substack post listing centre-right writers, you can read it hereIf you need to know a bit more about me… head to my "about" pageFor more such conversations subscribe to my Substack newsletter, it’s where I interact the most!Get your copy of my book, This One Wild and Precious LifeLet’s connect on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Frances Haugen, the Facebook whistleblower, discusses her motivation for exposing Facebook's negligence and the dangers of AI manipulation. They also explore the vulnerabilities of individuals to internet conspiracy theories and the limitations of Facebook's fact-checking program. The podcast covers the challenges of whistleblowing, the parallel between the media industry and AI, and the potential benefits of exposing Facebook's actions globally.

Bestselling travel writer Pico Iyer discusses the balance between global travel and inner stillness, reflecting on the paradox of moving to feel moved. He shares insights into Leonard Cohen's creation of 'Hallelujah' and concludes that paradise is mostly lost in our divided world.

Tyson Yunkaporta, an Aboriginal scholar and founder of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Lab, delves into how Indigenous wisdom offers essential solutions for today’s global crises. He critiques Western linear thinking, emphasizing the importance of interconnectedness and community responsibility. The conversation explores the impacts of narcissism on societal dynamics and highlights the significance of holistic recovery over apocalyptic narratives. Tyson’s insights challenge us to embrace complexity and redefine our relationship with the world around us.

Will Storr, award-winning UK journalist and author, explores the concept of status games and their influence on human behavior. They discuss selfie culture, the role of status in shaping behavior, the connection between social class and health, and the paradox of high-status individuals. The guest also talks about the power of personal stories and the push-pull between individualism and belonging.