As we hover on the edge of the Great Turning, how can we find a spiritual practice that draws from the roots of who we are and yet provides the sustenance we need to help us navigate our changing world? Sue Philips of Sacred Design Labs explores the possibilities.  Sacred Design Lab is a soul-centred research and development lab that explores and interprets the changing landscape of spiritual and community life. The Lab collaborates with divinely restless, intellectually curious and entrepreneurially practical leaders to help design and prototype the spiritual communities and infrastructure of the future, interpreting ancient best practice in the service of transformation. Sue Philips, one of the co-founders of the Lab says of herself that, 'I am relentlessly curious about liberating ancient wisdom to solve complex problems. I’m passionate about inspiring spiritual flourishing, designing for meaning making, and witnessing the transformation that happens when people roam around in what matters most.My wife and I share our 30-minute “family chapel” every morning, to remember who we want to be and what we care about, and to cultivate imagination for “the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible.”1I’m part business strategist, part design geek, and part monastic. On any given day I might read liberation theology, human-centered design briefs, or business school case studies. Ideally all of them side by side. I graduated from Colgate University and the Episcopal Divinity School, and taught at Harvard Divinity School, where I am a Ministry Innovation Fellow. My wife and I live in Tacoma, WA with whichever of our five children is passing through.'As we hover on the edge of the Great Turning, increasingly, we seek a spiritual foundation that is fit for purpose in the twenty-first century. In this week's podcast, we discuss how that might come about, how we might recognise broad spiritual foundations that are universal and useful to support our connection with a numinous world. Links: Sacred Design Lab: https://sacred.design

In a world that is literally burning, with politicians whose positions of power are predicated on their not listening, what are the most creative, thoughtful, caring people on the planet doing to bring about change?   Sophie Miller of Ocean and Extinction Rebellions was an integral part of the stunningly impressive actions at the G7 summit earlier this summer. In this second of two parts, she reflects on her experience - and looks ahead to future actions.  Sophie Miller trained at Central St Martins before moving on to a decade-long career in television design.  Now, she gives her time and energy to Extinction Rebellion as a Red Rebel - and to Ocean Rebellion, of which she is a co-founder.   She lives in Cornwall, and so when she discovered that the first post-Covid G7 summit was taking place in her country and her county, she had to ask. In this week's second inspiring podcast, she describes what it actually takes to mount a successful action in the current political climate.  She talks of the growing support from all aspects of the Fourth Estate and - movingly - of the practical - and spiritual - path that has brought her to this place and this time. She speaks as an activist who understands the damage done to the Oceans, knowing that there is still time to change what we're doing.   We discuss the nature of policing, of totalitarianism - and the ways we can all work to transcend the crushing forces of authority to bring something deeper and more profound to our world.  https://oceanrebellion.earthhttps://rebellion.globalhttps://extinctionrebellion.uk

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.'  As our world burns ever faster and our politicians cling ever more desperately to the old ways of being and behaving, Sophie Miller of Ocean Rebellion commits her creativity, artistry and courage to bringing truth to power. Sophie Miller trained at Central St Martins before moving on to a decade-long career in television design.  Now, she gives her time and energy to Extinction Rebellion as a Red Rebel - and to Ocean Rebellion, of which she is a co-founder.   She lives in Cornwall, and so when she discovered that the first post-Covid G7 summit was taking place in her country and her county, she had to ask. In this week's inspiring podcast, she describes the practical - and spiritual - path that has brought her to this place and this time - as an activist who understands the damage done to the Oceans -and that there is still time to change what we're doing.   We discuss the nature of policing, of totalitarianism - and the ways we can transcend the crushing forces of authority to bring something deeper and more profound to our world.   This is the first of two parts. Next week, we'll be back to find out how the activism transpired and where we all go from here. https://oceanrebellion.earthhttps://rebellion.globalhttps://extinctionrebellion.uk

How did we get here?  How bad are things really? Is there still hope? (Yes!) and... crucially - what can we do, individually, collectively, in our businesses, in our governments, around the world, to turn the bus from the edge of the cliff?  Professor Mark Maslin is a climate scientist with a mission to explain in clear terms all we need to know.  And he does it with panache, enthusiasm and optimism.   How do we unpick the damage of Neoliberalism?  How can we break the connections between work and income and unsustainable consumerism?  Amidst the ideas of how our climate is changing, Professor Mark Maslin, FRGS, FRSA, offers answers to the social and economic ills of our time.  Mark Maslin FRGS, FRSA is a Professor of Earth System Science at University College London. He is a Royal Society Industrial Fellowship, Executive Director of Rezatec Ltd and Director of The London NERC Doctoral Training Partnership. He is a member of Cheltenham Science Festival Advisory Committee and sits on the Corporate Social Responsibility Board of the Sopria-Steria Group and Sheep Included Ltd. Mark is a leading scientist with particular expertise in past global and regional climatic change. He has published over 175 papers in journals such as Science, Nature, and The Lancet. His areas of scientific expertise include causes of past and future global climate change and its effects on the global carbon cycle, biodiversity, rainforests and human evolution. He also works on monitoring land carbon sinks using remote sensing and ecological models and international and national climate change policies, and has presented over 50 public talks over the last five years including Google UK, Twitter EU, New Scientist Live, UK Space conference, Oxford, Cambridge, RGS, Tate Modern, Royal Society of Medicine, Fink Club, Frontline Club, British Museum, Natural History Museum, Goldman Sachs, the Norwegian Government, UNFCCC COP and the WTO. He has also written 8 popular books, over 60 popular articles. His “Climate Change: A Very Short Introduction” by Oxford University Press is now in its fourth edition and has sold over 50,000 copies. In this podcast, we talk about his most recent book, 'How to Save our Planet: the Facts' which does exactly what it says on the tin. A crips, cleanly written, utterly absorbing book, this is one of the clearest books ever written on the nature of the problems that assail us, the fact that it's not too late to change - and what we need to do at every level of society to change things.  It's small enough to leave in the smallest room of the house - or by the kettle in the kitchen - so that everyone who comes by can pick it up and learn something useful.  This is how we change the world, one aphorism at a time. Links from the podcast How to Save Our Planet: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/320/320155/how-to-save-our-planet/9780241472521.htmlMark Maslin's home page: https://www.geog.ucl.ac.uk/people/academic-staff/mark-maslinReview of Bill Gates's book: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12115-021-00581-zThe Conversation: How bad could things be if we do nothing?: https://theconversation.com/climate-change-how-bad-could-the-future-be-if-we-do-nothing-159665

Imagine a world where we listen to the voices of the young as much as the old, the women as much as the men, all races, all abilities, all income streams - all species... where we honour difference, where compassion and empathy are our keynotes, not competition and separation.  If this is the world we want, how do we get there?  In this second of two parts, we explore the existential question of our time with behaviourist Alexandra Kurland.Alexandra Kurland is a horse clicker trainer, behaviourist, classical rider - and convenor of the annual (now bi-annual) Science Camp that explores the art and science of positive reinforcement. She is host of the Horses for Future podcast, co-host of the Equiosity podcast, and author of The Click that Teaches and a whole host of other books and online courses about horse training.  In today's podcast - the second of two - Alex and Manda continue to dive deeply into the fundamental question of our time - how do we bring people of widely disparate political views to a point where we all pull together to create a flourishing, generative future for people and planet?  We have the answers. We just need to see the possibilities and be emotionally and psychologically prepared to apply them.  So this is a behavioural problem now, not a technological one.  Which means it needs the brightest behavioural minds on the planet to begin to think about it.  And we can start now... The Clicker Center: https://www.theclickercenter.comEquiosity: https://www.equiosity.comHorses for Future: https://kurlanda.wixsite.com/sequestercarbonMary Hunter: PORTL shaping: https://behaviorexplorer.com/author/mary/An Introduction to PORTL shaping: https://www.artandscienceofanimaltraining.org/tools/portl-shaping-game/The New Climate War by Michael Mann: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-New-Climate-War-by-Michael-E-Mann-author/9781913348687

If we have all the technical and scientific answers to solving the climate and ecological crisis - which we do - how do we bring the greater mass of humanity to a place where we all work together, bringing our boundless creativity to the creation of a regenerative world?  Exploring the world of behaviour with Alexandra Kurland, behaviourist, horse trainer and regenerative farmer.  First of two parts.   Alexandra Kurland is a horse clicker trainer, behaviourist, classical rider - and convenor of the annual (now bi-annual) Science Camp that explores the art and science of positive reinforcement. She is host of the Horses for Future podcast, co-host of the Equiosity podcast, and author of The Click that Teaches and a whole host of other books and online courses about horse training.  In today's podcast - the first of two - Alex and Manda explore one of the fundamental questions of our time - how do we bring people of widely disparate political views to a point where we all pull together to create a flourishing, generative future for people and planet?  We have the answers. We just need to see the possibilities and be emotionally and psychologically prepared to apply them.  So this is a behavioural problem now, not a technological one.  Which means it needs the brightest behavioural minds on the planet to begin to think about it.  And we can start now... The Clicker Center: https://www.theclickercenter.comEquiosity: https://www.equiosity.comHorses for Future: https://kurlanda.wixsite.com/sequestercarbonMary Hunter: PORTL shaping: https://behaviorexplorer.com/author/mary/An Introduction to PORTL shaping: https://www.artandscienceofanimaltraining.org/tools/portl-shaping-game/The New Climate War by Michael Mann: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-New-Climate-War-by-Michael-E-Mann-author/9781913348687

Does the law take care of you?  Does it work in your interests, for a common sense of justice  - a genuine common-weal?  If not, why not? And what can we do to change the way things are going?  Mothiur Rahman of the New Economy Law Centre explores our current crisis of agency. Mothiur Rahman is founder of New Economy Law and a pioneer member of XR.  In his first podcast with us, we explored the work he has done, helping to create a law that works for ordinary people.  This week, we look at the ways the current system is breaking the law and how we can help to re-weave it into something that helps people and planet to flourish. New Economy LawArticle: Stir for Action - Land and PowerArticle: Resurgence & Ecologist - Extinction Rebellion, A Civil Rights MovementPresentation: UKELA Wildlaw Conference hosted at Sussex University (2019)Presentation: Vaults Festival 2019 - Decoloniality & Rewilding Psyche

How can be rebuild trust in politics, politicians and each other? How would it feel to be free of partisan divisions?  Could we heal our world in time?  Braver Angels is dedicated to helping people bridge divides - to find the better angels of themselves and each other.  Braver Angels - originally Better Angels - came into being after the divisive nightmare of the 2016 Presidential Election in the US.  It began with a group of people in a barn in South Lebanon Ohio and has since spread to 20,000 people around the US, with chapters in other nations around the world.  Their skill - their superpower - is to bring the social and humane technologies originally created to help bring together couples on the brink of the most acrimonious divorces.  With skills in listening and a good dose of empathy, they help us to see the humanity in each other and so find the best of ourselves to bring to the table.  John Wood Jr is an Ambassador for Braver Angels and has been working in the depths of the partisan divide.  In this podcast episode, he shares the experience and wisdom of his journey, and that of the Braver Angels project.  Details here:  https://braverangels.org

How does it feel to stand at the balance point between ancient Christian mysticism and the Druid's path of deep connection with the natural world?  What do we become if we marry the traditions of Christianity with the far older, land-based traditions of this land - and all lands?  In a living answer to these questions, Rev Sam Wernham founded the River Dart Wild Church and the Wild Monastics, as well as the Wild Spirit Community - all dedicated to a deep and sacred connection with the land. "When do you feel most alive? When are you most open and connected with a deeper sense of being? When do you fall in love with life and want to turn towards the world with hope and care?Perhaps, like us, your sacred ground is the earth under your feet… your sacred spaces are cathedrals of trees with branches filled with wind and rain, sunlight or stars… your baptismal pools are filled with deep brown river water or the wild and salty sea. Perhaps, like us, you yearn to share this… for spiritual community, for authentic meeting and deep silence with people and with all beings. So, welcome to wild church!"In this podcast, we explore Sam's journey to the founding of the Wild Church and Wild Monastics - how these fulfil the need for deep connection, and where her spiritual activism has taken her since the pandemic began.  Wild Church (including Wild Monastics): https://www.riverdartwildchurch.comWild Wisdom School: https://wildwisdomschool.comWild Spirit Community: https://wildspiritcommunity.com/founder/Blog Post: Returning to the Monastery of the Heart 

Imagine a world where dignity is valued over nationalistic pride; where we know that 'enough' is the opposite of 'more'; where we understand the bonds that draw us together. Author Ece Temelkuran launches her new book 'Together' - and shares with us its message of human resilience.  More at https://accidentalgods.life Ece Temelkuran is one of the Turkey’s best known novelist and political commentators. She has contributed to the Guardian, Newstatesman, New Left Review, Le Monde Diplomatique, Frankfurter Rundschau, Der Spiegel, The New York Times and Berliner Zeitung.Her books of investigative journalism broach subjects that are highly controversial in Turkey, such as the Kurdish and Armenian issues and freedom of expression.Her novel Women Who Blow on Knots won a PEN Translates award, sold over 120.000 copies in Turkey, and has been published in translation in Germany, Croatia, Poland, Bosnia and France with editions also forthcoming in China, Italy and the USA.Her non-fiction work: HOW TO LOSE A COUNTRY is a searing indictment of the rise of the neo-fascist right around the world, rooted firmly in her own experience in Turkey. TOGETHER breaks new ground - a series of ten essays, each exploring life - hers and the world's - and ways the human spirit rises above the exigencies and horrors that we can create - to manifest the bright points of human existence that signal hope for the world. The writing is lyrical, sharply insightful and deeply moving. In this podcast, we explore the woman beneath the words - and the ways we can take what she offers to bring us all closer together. Ece Temelkuran's Website https://www.ecetemelkuran.comTogether: the book -  https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Together-by-Ece-Temelkuran-author/9780008393809