In Conversation with Nathalie Nahai

For the last episode of the series, I speak with V (formerly known as Eve Ensler) - distinguished American playwright, performer and feminist, whose work and activism has positively impacted the lives of millions of women and people around the world.Renowned for her infamous play, The Vagina Monologues, a global phenomenon that has been published in 48 languages and performed in over 140 countries, V is also the author of The Apology, the New York Times bestseller I Am an Emotional Creature, the highly praised In the Body of the World, and her most recent book, Reckoning, which was just recently published.In 1998, V launched V-day, a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls, which has successfully raised over $100 million for local anti-violence groups and supported more than 13,000 community-based programs. Having founded One Billion Rising, the largest global mass action to end gender-based violence in over 200 countries, V is also the co-founder of the City of Joy, a revolutionary centre for women survivors of violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, alongside Christine Schuler Deschryver and 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Denis Mukwege.V’s groundbreaking work has earned her many accolades including the Isabelle Stevenson Award at the 2011 Tony Awards, and she has been named among Newsweek’s ‘150 Women Who Changed the World,’ and the Guardian’s ‘100 Most Influential Women’. Through her work and activism, V continues to shape the dialogue around social justice, women's rights, and our relationship with and as part of nature, and her creativity and fierce commitment to improving the lives of women worldwide continues to impact and inspire new generations of activists and artists.KEY THEMESV highlights the collective grief, trauma, and sorrow felt worldwide due to recent events, including the impact of violence and conflict on children and civilians.We delve into the origins of violence, focusing on systemic issues like occupation, racism, and colonialism. V emphasises the importance of understanding and addressing the root causes of violence to create a more peaceful world.Personal and political reckoning, the process of introspection and societal reflection prompted by the pandemic and recent social justice movements, stressing the need for honest examination of past actions and systemic inequalities.How moving towards pain, rather than avoiding it, can open doors towards healing, transformation and change.The role of genuine apology in reconciliation, and the healing of personal and collective wounds.Our relationship with the Earth, our disconnection from nature and how reconnecting with the natural world can foster healing, compassion, and a sense of belonging.Art, creativity and imagination as catalysts for change, and the importance of artistic expression in social movements.The importance of standing together in solidarity, supporting each other's voices and struggles, and the power of collective action in addressing global challenges.Personal growth, empowerment, and the journey to find and use one's voice for advocacy and change.Finally, we explore a vision for a future characterised by equality, justice, compassion, and ecological harmony.WEBSITEShttps://www.vday.org/  https://www.onebillionrising.org/https://www.cityofjoycongo.org/splash/https://www.eveensler.org/ FILMShttps://www.cityofjoyfilm.com/

Today, I speak with Darcia Narváez, award-winning author and Professor of Psychology Emerita at the University of Notre Dame.Darcia is the founder of the public and professional educational outreach project The Evolved Nest Initiative, whose nonprofit mission is to share her science research into developing appropriate baselines for lifelong human wellness by meeting the biological needs of infants. This wellbeing baseline is imperative at this time as the United States ranks 41st out of 41 developed countries in public policies that support families. The former executive editor of the Journal of Moral Education, Darcia was listed among the top 2% of scientists worldwide in 2020, and she currently serves as the president of the award-winning, venerable nonprofit Kindred World, who has been "serving the re-generation since 1996." A board of directors member of Attachment Parenting International, Darcia is also an advisory board member of the Association for Pre- and Perinatal Psychology and Health, APPPAH. Her pioneering book, Neurobiology and the Development of Human Morality: Evolution, Culture and Wisdom, won the 2017 Expanded Reason Award, and received the William James Award from the American Psychological Association in 2015. In 2022 Darcia was elected a fellow to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the largest international body of professional scientists in the world and publisher of the prestigious journal Science, where she was honored for her distinguished contributions illuminating typical and atypical development in terms of well-being, morality and sustainable wisdom. Having held interdisciplinary conferences at the University of Notre Dame regarding early experience and human development in 2010, 2012, and 2014, in 2016 Darcia organized a conference on Sustainable Wisdom: Integrating Indigenous Know How for Global Flourishing, which touched upon some of the themes she explores in her recent book, Restoring the Kinship Worldview: Indigenous Voices Introduce 28 Precepts for Rebalancing Life on Planet Earth, which she co-authored with Wahinkpe Topa.  KEY THEMES Returning to our species' normal way of raising children is crucial for promoting wellness and flourishing.The Evolved Nest consists of nine components that optimize normal development.Reconnecting with the present moment and practicing gratitude can help individuals foster a more flourishing mindset.Conscious parenting and engaging in meaningful relationships are essential for creating a more flourishing future. The separation from our bodies can lead to a lack of awareness of our own health and well-being.Attachment and trust are crucial for developing healthy relationships and the ability to judge whether someone is trustworthy.Social media can enhance the us-against-them mentality and exacerbate disconnection.Combatting disconnection requires turning off screens and creating opportunities for community gatherings.Orienting ourselves towards beauty and wholeness can be achieved through practices like connecting with nature and engaging in play.Enhancing the living beings we are with is a powerful way to contribute to a more connected and compassionate world. WEBSITEShttps://evolvednest.org/https://kindredmedia.org/https://darcianarvaez.com/VIDEOS6-minute film: Breaking the Cycle (in Spanish and Subtitled in 16 languages at YouTube)12-minute film: Reimagining Humanity (in Spanish and Subtitled in 16 languages)2-minute trailer8-minute film: The Evolved Nest: Nature's Way of Raising ChildrenBOOKSThe Evolved Nest: Nature's Way of Raising Children and Creating Connected CommunitiesRestoring the Kinship Worldview: Indigenous Voices Introduce 28 Precepts for Rebalancing Life on Planet Earth (North Atlantic)Indigenous Sustainable Wisdom: First Nation Know-How for Global Flourishing (Peter Lang)Basic Needs, Wellbeing and Morality: Fulfilling Human Potential (Palgrave-Macmillan)Embodied Morality: Protectionism, Engagement and Imagination (Palgrave-Macmillan)Neurobiology and the Development of Human Morality: Evolution, Culture and Wisdom (winner of the 2017 Expanded Reason Award and the 2015 APA William James Book Award)Evolution, Early Experience and Human Development (OUP)Ancestral Landscapes in Human Evolution (OUP)Young Child Flourishing: Evolution, Family & Society (OUP)

In this engaging discussion, Michael Shuman—an economist and a thought leader on community economics—shares his insights on revitalizing local economies. He emphasizes the power of local action in combating global despair while presenting innovative financial strategies to support community businesses. Michael introduces the concept of 'pollinator businesses' and highlights successful examples of collective action that transformed neglected areas. He encourages listeners to embrace local investment and collaboration as pathways to resilience and fulfillment in the face of global challenges.

Today, I speak with Patricia Moguel Viveros - an ecologist and environmental educator, and the co-founder of the NGO Etnoecologia A.C.An expert on issues of sustainable community development, agroecology, resilience and environmental education, Patricia received her Master of Science in Environmental and Sustainable Development Studies from National Autonomous University of México (UNAM), a Ph.D. in Agroecology from the University of Andalucía, Spain and she is associated with the Sustainable Development and Environment of the College of México.During her career as an ecologist, she has focused on projects related to the conservation of indigenous agroforests, community resilience, environmental education, and artistic human development. Her vast experience led to her creating and founding the Art Ecology and Culture Center, also known as ECOFE, to help train and educate aspiring environmental leaders and also NIDO (a Cultural and Artist Center in Morelia) whose name refers to the bird shelters that house the artistic and cultural communties projects.As of late, Patricia has focused on reconstruction and resilience through the means of dance, music, and movement as seen with her “Affective Resilient Ecopedagogy” ideology, and her methodology of combining the arts and environmentalism has been applied to workshops at institutions in Mexico and Japan.Published in national and international journals and books, Patricia has been an advisor to multiple organizations in the rural and urban sector in Mexico, as well as in other countries such as Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Japan on the issues of sustainable development, conservation of biodiversity and biocultural richness in indigenous agroforests, and environmental education.  KEY THEMESThe global human psyche is experiencing a civilizational crisis due to multiple ecological, climate, and energy risks.Flourishing means beautifying every place, building trust, and living with hope and the belief in our capacity to transform ourselves and the world.Indigenous agroforestry practices can help preserve nature and culture, and contribute to the defense of human rights and the strengthening of local economies.Art and culture provide social cohesion, encourage hope and joy, and develop empathy, generosity, and creativity.Effective resilient eco-pedagogy combines ecology with art to work on resilience and restore healthy capacities.Art, including dance, music, and other forms, can help us express and transform our emotions, develop empathy, and imagine and create a better world.Engaging in artistic practices can help us navigate stress and anxiety, and tap into our creativity and imagination. Caring for animals and participating in local and regional movements are important ways to connect with and protect life.The connection between the body and the earth is crucial, and empathy is essential for healing and transforming our relationship with the earth.Building resilience through various activities, such as dance and music, can help navigate difficult times.Changing our perspective on our personal history can lead to a more positive outlook and growth.Connecting with others in solidarity and love is a powerful way to overcome egocentrism and work towards a better future.  WEBSITEShttps://www.ecofe.eu/www.centroculturalnido.com

Today I speak with Bill Liao, Chinese-Australian-Irish entrepreneur, author, investor and philanthropist who has left an indelible mark on the business, social and sustainability sectors.With a diverse career spanning decades, Bill is not only the co-founder of the popular CoderDojo movement (a free global network formed to assist young people with learning computer programming), his career in tech and business also encompasses two unicorn companies and the launch of the world’s first bio-tech accelerator.A general partner of SOSV, a venture capital fund of over $1B, and founder of the SOSV Momentum Pre-accelerator program, Bill is also Chair of the SENS board, and his focus on health, longevity and environmental sustainability plays a central role in much of his work.As co-founder of Weforest, a non-profit organization dedicated to reforestation efforts that has planted a hundred million trees globally, Bill has also made significant contributions to combating climate change and promoting ecological balance.Bill also co-founded XING, a pioneering enterprise social networking platform, prior to which he served as COO of Davnet, a telecommunications carrier. The author of three books, Bill has been a speaker at global events such as The World Economic Forum, The Globe Forum in Sweden, TED, and TEDx, and at institutions such as The London School of Economics and The House of Commons. This was a rich and surprising interview for me, as we wended our way beyond the themes I had planned to explore, towards questions surrounding our search for beauty, purpose and longing… It’s a conversation that has stayed with me, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.KEY THEMES Sentience is difficult to measure, but it is often recognized through the ability to suffer.Machine learning algorithms focused on making money have created an attention economy driven by dopamine and cortisol.Creating local, connected groups can lead to a more fulfilling and scalable local information economy.Exploring philosophy and science fiction can provide deep insights and perspectives on the world.Using comedy and entertainment can be an effective way to convey messages and make them memorable.Challenging myths and pseudoscience is necessary for progress and innovation.The politics of division and the deification of personal fulfillment are existential threats to society.Collective fulfillment should be prioritized over individual fulfillment.It is important to move beyond appearance and visuals to truly experience and engage with the world.On dark days, orienting oneself towards life and wholeness can provide strength and resilience.BOOKSForests – Bill Liao (Foreword by Desmond Tutu)Stone Soup: The Secret Recipe for Making Something from Nothing – Bill LiaoWEBSITEShttps://coderdojo.com/en/https://www.weforest.org/https://sosv.com/ First ever standup gig: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uJ7EM_tEo0&ab_channel=BillLiao

In today’s conversation, I have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Bayo Akomolafe - a widely celebrated international speaker, teacher, public intellectual and essayist, whose convening of the concepts of ‘postactivism’, ‘transraciality’ and ‘ontofugitivity’ have ignited richer, more vibrant explorations of what it means to deepen into our collective potential. The author and editor of We Will Tell Our Own Story! with Professors Molefi Kete Asante and Augustine Nwoye, and These Wilds Beyond our Fences: Letters to my Daughter on Humanity’s Search for Home (North Atlantic Books, 2017), Bayo is a recipient of the 2021 New Thought Walden Award, which honors people who use empowering spiritual ideas and philosophies to change lives and make our planet a better place.   Currently writing his third book as part of a trilogy of creative publications, Bayo is the author of multiple essays on matters ranging from the nature of science, the coronavirus pandemic, and racism, to tricksters, climate chaos, and unschooling.Having been invited to be the Coordinator/Special Envoy of the International Alliance for Localization, a project of Local Futures (USA) in 2014, Bayo temporarily left his lecturing position in Covenant University, Nigeria, to help build this Alliance for a more beautiful world. Among other universities, Bayo has been Visiting Professor at Middlebury College, where he taught on postactivism and ‘transraciality’ (his neo-materialist take on racialization), and he has taught at Sonoma State University (CA, USA), Simon Fraser University (Vancouver, Canada), and Schumacher College (Totnes, England). He is a widely appreciated author and facilitator, globally recognized for his poetic, unconventional, counterintuitive, and indigenous take on global crises, civic action and social change. Bayo currently teaches with the Community, Liberation, Indigenous, and Eco-Psychologies (CLIE) program at Pacifica Graduate Institute (CA, USA) and as Associate Adjunct Professor at the University of Vermont. I had the precious opportunity to meet Bayo at the Planet Local Summit in 2023, and I was so captivated by the poetic way in which he shared his provocative, shape-shifting ideas, that I simply had to invite him to join me here in conversation, so I could share this with you.Recorded on 5th December 2023.WEBSITEShttps://www.bayoakomolafe.net/ https://www.dancingwithmountains.com/https://www.emergencenetwork.org/  https://scienceandnonduality.com/POSITIONSHost – We Will Dance with Mountains: Into the Cracks!Executive Director – The Emergence Network (A Post-Activist Project)Board Member – Science and Non-Duality (USA)Board Member – Mutual Aid Network (USA)Consultant – UNESCO / Imagining Africa’s FutureBoard Member – Real Economy Lab (UK)Lecturer – CLIE, Pacifica Graduate Institute, California (USA)

Today, I speak with Professor Rupert Read – eco-philosopher, academic, author, campaigner, UK Green politician, and environmental activist. An incisive and respected thought-leader, Rupert has influenced public and academic opinion on issues including climate, genetic engineering, technological development and advertising to children. Having (co-)authored books including A Film-Philosophy Of Ecology And Enlightenment and This Civilisation Is Finished, he was a key spokesperson for the Extinction Rebellion movement, and now co-directs the ‘Moderate Flank’ Incubator. Until recently, Rupert served as Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of East Anglia, but after 26 years in this position, he recently took voluntary severance to dedicate himself to the Climate Majority Project as its Co-Director.While many of us might know Rupert through his work as a spokesperson and political strategist for XR, he has also worked as a national and European parliamentary candidate, and councillor for the Green Party of England and Wales, and he formerly chaired the ecological think tank Green House.With extensive experience arguing for ecology in media, Rupert has written for The Guardian, The Independent, The Ecologist and many other newspapers and websites. A frequent guest on the Today programme, he has also been a panellist on QuestionTime, Newsnight, and Good Morning Britain. Rupert has made regular contributions on Radio 4’s Free Thinking, BBC’s Politics Live, several shows on LBC Radio and various podcasts, and he is a sought-after speaker at many events.Recorded on 17th October 2023.WEBSITEShttps://rupertread.net/https://climatemajorityproject.com/LINKSAccidental Gods – Rupert Read in conversation with Manda Scott: https://bit.ly/AG-RupertRead

As we approach the Winter Solstice and the longest night of the year, I’m delighted to share with you what has become a cherished tradition of reflection, contemplation, and looking ahead to the year to come.In this conversation, I rejoin Manda Scott and Della Duncan for a collaborative midwinter offering from myself, Accidental Gods, and the Upstream Podcast.As we gather to reflect on what’s been an extraordinarily turbulent, confronting and unexpected 12 months, we share some of the key themes of enquiry and growth we’ve explored on our podcasts, we trace what we find when we each go upstream from the challenges we’re facing today, and we explore some of the gifts, stories and resources that can support us as we step into the months ahead.At the end of the conversation, Manda will lead us through a special guided meditation to help us reach into and connect with this moment of the season.To introduced my companions…Manda Scott is a novelist, podcaster and smallholder. Formerly a veterinary surgeon, Manda’s novels have been shortlisted for the Orange Prize, the Edgar and the Saltire Award and has won the McIlvanney Prize. She is host of the Accidental Gods podcast, which showcases individuals and organisations at the emerging edge of our world, to set the foundation for a future we’d be proud to leave to the generations that come after us. Her latest novel, Any Human Power is available for pre-order here: https://septemberpublishing.org/product/any-human-power-hb/ We’re joined by Della Z Duncan, a Renegade Economist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a co-host of the Upstream Podcast, a Right Livelihood Coach, a faculty member at the California Institute of Integral Studies, a Senior Fellow at the London School of Economics, a founding member of the California Doughnut Economics Coalition, and the designer and co-facilitator of the Cultivating Regenerative Livelihood Course at Gaia Education.This is always a special episode for me, and I’m very grateful to be able to dive into conversation with these two brilliant women. I hope you find it inviting and inspiring, and I wish you a peaceful Winter Solstice and a fruitful new year.Recorded on 1st December 2023.RESOURCESNathalie’s:Podcast: The way out is in: Grief and Joy on a Planet in Crisis: Joanna Macy on the Best Time To Be Alive (Episode #12)(https://plumvillage.org/podcast/grief-and-joy-on-a-planet-in-crisis-joanna-macy-on-the-best-time-to-be-alive-episode-12)Flourishing Futures Salon: https://www.ffsalons.com/ Planet Local Summit: https://planet-local-summit.localfutures.org/ and videosDella’s:Poem: The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer (https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/words-of-wonder/the-invitation-oriah-mountain-dreamer/)Theory: Two Loop Theory by Meg Wheatley and Deborah Frieze (https://transformationallearningopportunities.com/two-loop-theory)Conversation: Marxism & Buddhism with Breht O'Shea on the Upstream Podcast (https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Y9H9A5b7kkoodUmxrYnzO?si=8f735a62a6d54b96&nd=1&dlsi=e65675e3a9d84cc6)Conversation: A Marxist Perspective on Elections with August Nimtz on the Upstream Podcast (https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Y9H9A5b7kkoodUmxrYnzO?si=8f735a62a6d54b96&nd=1&dlsi=d8e03de837e5464d)Conversation: Beyond the Clock with Jenny Odell on the Upstream Podcast (https://open.spotify.com/episode/1awmJZYYp4N9OWxz1mXeo7?si=28bd15af74774472&nd=1&dlsi=2df1b0bebfdb47b9)Organization: California Doughnut Economics Coalition, https://caldec.org/Manda’s:Indy Johar: talking about Inter-Becoming and the model of the autonomous house (https://accidentalgods.life/becoming-intentional-gods-claiming-the-future-with-indy-johar-of-the-dark-matter-labs/)Alnoor Ladha and Lynn Murphy: on shifting from a Trauma Culture to an Initiation Culture (https://accidentalgods.life/the-animate-earth-responds-initiation-in-a-time-of-crisis-with-alnoor-ladha-and-lynn-murphy/)

Today I speak with Suzanne Pellican, Vice President of Ads User Experience at Google. In this role, she oversees a multidisciplinary team working to define and design user-centric, industry-leading experiences across Google Ads products, while keeping trust, usefulness, and relevance at the center. Beyond product efforts, Suzanne also sponsors WE, a community of women in senior UX roles across Google focused on community, connection, and collaboration.Prior to joining Ads, Suzanne led UX for Google's Geo organization, where she focused on democratizing user-centered design practices. Her efforts led to re-architecting and branding for Google Maps, more verticalized and actionable local search and transportation experiences, and merchant and contributor experiences that allowed users to get more things done in the real world.Before Google, Suzanne worked extensively on small businesses at Intuit, where she helped transform the company into a design-driven organization, fundamentally changing how it built products that people love.Now it’s not often that I dive into the world of UX, ads and marketing on this podcast, but with the upcoming changes to data and cookie policies now on the near horizon, I wanted to have a conversation that touched upon the themes of trust, business, advertising and the open internet, that look set to shape our online experiences to come.Recorded on 7th November 2023.

Today, I have the joy and privilege of being in conversation with Jo Confino, an executive coach, facilitator, journalist, sustainability expert and Zen mindfulness practitioner, whose work at the intersection of personal transformation and systems change has been an inspiration to me and to many, many others around the world. If you’ve followed Jo’s journey, you may have encountered his thoughtful conversations on the popular podcast, “The Way Out is In” – a beautiful and uplifting series he co-hosts with Brother Phap Huu, the abbot of Little Hamlet at Plum Village, who for 17 years was the personal attendant to Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Having worked closely with this community for the past 14 years, Jo is also an advisory board member of Parallax Press, which publishes books on mindfulness in daily life. With 40 years of experience as a journalist, Jo has worked on regional and national newspapers and websites, with an emphasis on business and finance, including three years as Wall Street correspondent for the Daily Telegraph. Until recently, he was the executive editor, Impact & Innovation and Editorial Director of What’s Working at the HuffPost in New York, where he served as a member of the senior leadership team. During his five years there, Jo developed long-term editorial projects based on social, environmental and economic justice. Before joining HuffPost, Jo was executive editor of the Guardian, where he created and managed the sustainability vision and strategy for the Guardian and its parent company Guardian Media Group. Chairman and editorial director of the Guardian Sustainable Business website, during his 23 years there, Jo set up and managed a unique multi-stakeholder development project in the Ugandan village of Katine, and he helped create the Guardian’s environment and global development websites.A fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, Jo is also a trustee of Theatre for a Change, whose purpose is the empowerment of women and girls, particularly in their sexual and reproductive health. Having chaired and facilitated events and conferences all over the world for the past 20 years, Jo also runs workshops and roundtables for attendees including CEOs, prime ministers and NGO heads. He is currently working with Leaders Quest, which helps leaders and companies align profit with purpose as well as Future Stewards, a coalition of partners working together to build a regenerative future.Recorded on 14th September 2023. WEBSITEShttps://leadersquest.org/https://futurestewards.com/https://www.tfacafrica.com/ PODCASTThe Way Out Is In: https://plumvillage.org/podcasts/the-way-out-is-in