Accidental Gods

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

How would the world flourish if our politics were based on trust?  And how can we make that happen?  Eva and Justin are co-creating the 'ReWorlding' online conference in late May and we came together to explore how even the making of this has been an exploration of what it is to be human, to trust, to grow and to dare to be different.  Eva and Justin were guests of podcast 44 [https://accidentalgods.life/re-democratising-democracy/] - in which we explored the links between personal and collective trauma -and they outlined the work they were doing in Scotland to build towards a constitutional convention that would help to weave new democratic structures for an independent Scotland. Now they are weaving a new Gathering into being - an online week, bringing together people from all over the world to find new ways to be human in the 21st century - ways that will take us forward into a world that is regenerative for the human and more than human worlds. In their own words: "Reworlding is asking: how can we develop new decision making processes - and integrate with enduring ones - in order to collectively create a decolonised, just, empathic and regenerating world at every level?This is not a call to get involved in politics. This is a call to help create a new politics.Reworlding will bring together people who have:experience of working with their own and others’ trauma, and/ orexperience of decision making systems that seek to enable a mutual world, and/ orexperience of resisting domination to protect and enable a just and regenerative worldThis week is an exploration, a scouting out of what is already happening, and a searching ahead: imagining and working towards assembling a politics of wholeness, including through deepening our awareness of what colonises within and between us - and what liberates us."Links: More on the Gathering here: https://heartpolitics.squarespace.com

Regenerative Farming - or Agro-ecology - is being widely recognised as one of the best ways to mitigate the climate crisis. But how does it actually work? What can we do with our back gardens, our rooftops, our local verges to make a difference?  Navona Gallegos explains the science - and the spirit - of working with the land. We first spoke with Navona Gallegos  in podcast #55 (here) when she had newly moved onto the land she was starting to farm in New Mexico. In this podcast, she returns to talk about how her work is progressing there - and to talk more deeply about the actual mechanisms we can use to draw carbon down into our soils.  She says this: "Where I am called is to bring more focus on the fungi, as that really is the 'how' of soil regeneration, be it agricultural, forest, greening deserts, whatever, and I don't hear people talking about that enough. We know fungi and their glomalin are what sequester carbon (mitigate climate change, reverse ocean acidification, etc.) and cycle macro and micro nutrients thereby increasing abundance and nutrient content in foods thereby increasing the capacities of those who eat those foods. Last time I spoke about fungi in relation to the soil food web, but I'd like to really make clear how and why fungi are the keystone to soil health and therefore human health, land health, etc. and how we support them and get out of their way. Fungi are the neural network of the Earth, communicating the state of the environment to plants and giving them the tools to respond. By facilitating plant growth, fungi are also changing climate patterns; there are many examples of how revegetating an arid area brings more rainfall. And so, I have a vision I'd like to speak on (that is SO possible) of vast stretches of land, even whole continents, once again connected in mycelial webs. I think that is a goal we should set for our species for the next seven generations because if we have that, we have connected ecosystems and watersheds that are clean, abundant, biodiverse, adaptable, and full of so much food, fiber, and fuel for humans and more than humans. Just like disease is broadly described as a breakdown of communication within the body, the destruction of those mycelial networks through tillage and other harmful practices marked the start of the wetiko culture. The 'how' is simple: plant a wide diversity of plants, mostly annuals; bring more wood into systems via mulch and hugel culture and leaving woody debris (and I can go into how that lignin is decomposed by fungi into humic substances, which are the storehouses of the soil for carbon and other nutrients and even DNA information of other types of life forms that is stable for thousands of years as well as cleans contaminated soil by binding contaminants, AND how fungi are the gatekeepers to those stores and information, choosing when to draw on them); use fungal​ composts (not bacterial dominated); stop​ disturbing the soil (there are ample resources now for no-till and I can elaborate); rotational grazing with animals to increase plants vigor and diversity; do not pull weeds, rather create a more fungal soil and watch the 'weeds' back off on their own (ie, create what we want rather than resist what we don't want). As far as the 'how' socially/politically, it's all about changing our thinking and viewing the world as alive. Rather than paving over an empty lot or growing mono-crop grass lawns, let's create ordinances that promote more ground cover and diversity. This advocacy doesn't just have to be about making more human food. We need rooftop gardens everywhere possible to mitigate the heat island effect and create positive feedback loops of rainfall and temp. that allow more growth. Mulch your leaves instead of bagging and throwing them away. Everyone can find a way to promote this either in stopping destructive gardening and growing practices or by advocating for community growing spaces or by guerilla hugeling, planting, seed-saving, foraging, and buying locally. Long-lived indigenous cultures all have practices that support fungal networks. One of the main issues I see when I consult on soil building is a psychological clinging to control when the system really needs to just be left alone and supported in simple ways. The more we rewild our minds and our communities, the more we will get away from the perceived need to micro-manage, the more we can hear the voices of the land so our actions are efficient and effective, AND simultaneously build the equivalent of human mycelial networks where we can trade tools and information in an open-source way. "I don't have a lot of concrete ideas myself around how to build political will. Rather, where I'm at is simply the acknowledgement that we need to change our thinking fundamentally and let go of scarcity/wetiko culture by reconnecting. Fungi are literally the (re)connectors of terrestrial life. My personal path toward reconnection is by changing how we grow food in our gardens and farms so that fungi thrive and imbue us with better nutrition as well as inoculate our guts us with, well, themselves and their voices (heard through our microbiome, cravings, hormonal regulation, etc.). Personally, the more I do this, the more I am connected to my (new-to-me) land through dreams of when it will rain, when a certain plant will drop seeds, etc. Or I am visited by a honey bee who spends twenty minutes walking on my hand and I am left with the knowledge that they are there, that they need me to plant flowers to them to pollinate. The more time I spend inoculating myself with the flora around me (eating the wild plants, grasses, bark), the more I am able to safely drink the water on this land without filtration, which I couldn't do when I arrived in Dec. When I do actions like mulching, I am walking the talk of my earth-based spirituality and the land spirits take notice and support."

Imagine a world where money works differently. Where there's enough for everyone's needs, not their greed and where we work together for a life we all want.  In this week's podcast, Jonathan Dawson, head of the Regenerative Economics program at Schumacher college explores how. Jonathan Dawson, co-creator of the Masters in Regenerative Economics at Schumacher college, is a sustainability educator and a former President of the Global Ecovillage Network. He has around 20 years experience as a researcher, author, consultant and project manager in the field of small enterprise development in Africa and South Asia and before joining the College he was a long-term resident at the Findhorn ecovillage.Jonathan is the principal author of the Gaia Education sustainable economy curriculum www.gaiaeducation.org, drawn from best practice within ecovillages worldwide, that has been endorsed by UNITAR and adopted by UNESCO as a valuable contribution to the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. He teaches this curriculum at universities, ecovillages and community centres in Brazil, Spain and Scotland. He has also adopted the curriculum to virtual format and teaches it through the Open University of Catalunya in Barcelona.In this week's wide-ranging discussion, we explore the differences between the hard, mechanistic view of economics and the wider, more regenerative view that is based in moral philosophy. From there, we look at the ways we can change the stories we tell ourselves about value and worth and the ways we are moving forward in an ever-changing world. Links: Articles:  DAWSON J.   Teaching Economics for the 21st Century, Resilience.org.  http://www.resilience.org/stories/2015-10-06/teaching-economics-for-the-21st-centuryDAWSON J.  Changing Stories: Using narrative to shift societal values, Resurgence (March, 2015) http://newstoryhub.com/2014/08/changing-stories-using-narrative-to-shift-societal-values/DAWSON J.  A wave of disruption is sweeping in to challenge neoliberalism, Guardian, March 12, 2015 http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/mar/12/disruption-challenge-neoliberalism-commons-political-systemBooks: Kate Raworth: Doughnut Economics https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Doughnut-Economics-by-Kate-Raworth-author/9781847941398Mariana Mazzucato: The Mission Economy: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Mission-Economy-by-Mariana-Mazzucato-author/9780241419731Tim Jackson: Post Growth:  https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Post-Growth-by-Tim-Jackson-author/9781509542529Kim Stanley Robinson: The Ministry for the Future (fiction): https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Ministry-for-the-Future-by-Kim-Stanley-Robinson-author/9780356508832Bill Gates: How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/How-to-Avoid-a-Climate-Disaster-by-Bill-Gates-author/9780241448304TED TALKRupert Sheldrake (banned by TED) https://youtu.be/JKHUaNAxsTg