Accidental Gods

Jenny Grettve, an author, philosopher, and systems thinker, discusses her upcoming book 'Mothering Economy.' She emphasizes the need for a cultural shift towards generosity and care, challenging us to rethink our connections and governance structures. Grettve explores the adverse impacts of technology on childhood and the importance of nurturing relationships. She advocates for redefining economic values to prioritize care and community over monetary gain, highlighting the need for deeper emotional maturity in addressing global inequalities.

In this discussion, Dr. Mary Booth, an expert from the Partnership for Policy Integrity, exposes the truth behind wood burning as a 'renewable' energy source. She reveals how biomass energy is not carbon neutral and the deceitful practices behind it. The conversation also highlights the environmental damage from transitioning to wood pellets and critiques government policies that neglect vulnerable communities. Dr. Booth emphasizes the need for real ecological solutions and grassroots involvement in forest conservation to combat climate change effectively.

Joe Flanagan, an expert in microbiomes from Ingenious Probiotics, dives into the world of trillions of microorganisms crucial for health. He discusses the harmful effects of conventional cleaning products and their impact on air quality. Joe highlights innovative probiotic solutions for healthier living environments and critiques industrial farming's impact on biodiversity. With insights into holistic pet care and the importance of maintaining microbial balance, he encourages individuals to rethink their cleaning choices and their broader implications for health and the planet.

Nathan Schneider, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and author of 'Governable Spaces,' discusses the need for a more liquid democracy online. He highlights how our online interactions shape democratic principles and posits that fostering agency in digital spaces can lead to healthier democracies in the real world. Schneider also addresses the detrimental impacts of Silicon Valley's homogeneity, the significance of inclusive governance, and innovative ideas like quadratic voting, urging a rethinking of accountability and participatory models in community governance.

Georgia Cameron, a policy strategist at Dark Matter Labs with a background in urban planning and regenerative economics, discusses reimagining urban living to foster sustainability and community pride. She highlights the Net Zero Cities initiative, aiming for climate neutrality by 2030 while addressing societal challenges. The conversation covers innovative urban designs that promote accessibility, civic engagement, and agricultural integration, emphasizing collaboration among cities to adopt life-enobling economic practices for a more equitable future.

Leah Rampy, author of Earth and Soul, discusses reconnecting with nature, weaving ancient wisdom into modern solutions for climate chaos. Topics include contemplative leadership, community responses to rat infestations, grief exploration using the Mobius Strip, transformative pathways, healing historical trauma, and reconnecting with the spiritual wisdom of trees.

Jenifer Toksvig, an expert in quantum theatre, explores transformative storytelling through the Copenhagen Interpretation. She discusses using fairy tales for reflection, personal connections through narratives, AI-generated images, and Skylark Island's quantum theatre experience. The podcast delves into responability in community engagement, transformative rituals, and challenging capitalist norms through inclusive and interactive storytelling.

Resilience Strategist Michael Haupt shares a transformative vision for a collaborative future, emphasizing sustainable practices over greenwashing. Topics include: transformative visions, systemic change, legal personhood for natural entities, coordination for positive change, shifting to stewardship models, and shaping a positive future through storytelling and collaboration.

Dr. Jenny Goodman, a doctor and author, discusses the health impacts of environmental degradation, including diseases in younger populations. Topics include toxins in food, water, and air, the need for restoring health, and healing the planet by improving soil, water, and air quality.

If the current electoral/governance system is not fit for purpose (and who could possibly imagine it was?) how can we lay the foundations for new ways of organising democracy, new ways of voting, new ideas of what governance is for and how it could work in the twenty-first century. How, in short, do we create space for future generations to be able to decide their own futures in ways that are not constrained by material or political strictures they've inherited from us?In this fourth election special, I have a profound conversation with Glen Weyl - economist, philosopher, film producer and visionary thought-leader for our time. We explore how we can break away from traditional governance structures and how spiritually acknowledging the complexity within each individual can pave the way for more inclusive, fluid, and efficient democratic systems. Glen is co-author with Audrey Tang of the ground-breaking book Plurality, which emerged partly Audrey's experiences in re-shaping the democracy in Taiwan towards connection, collaboration and - above all - peaceful resolutions of the many internal contradictions of that state. He introduces the concept of quadratic voting (of which he is the creator) as a significant innovation in this field. The conversation expands to the potential of technology in aiding governance reforms, and Glen shares insights from his work with the Plurality Institute and Radical Exchange. We also touch on the success of Taiwan’s innovative governance, influenced by Audrey Tang. Join us as we discuss creating experimental, adaptable governance systems aimed at ensuring peace and human flourishing in an ever-complex world.  Glen currently works at Microsoft where he is the founder and research lead of the Microsoft Research Special Project the Plural Technology Collaboratory, though he was previously GeoPolitical advisor to the CTO.  He also founded and serves on the board of the RadicalxChange Foundation the leading thing tank in the web 3 space, and is founder and chair of the Plurality Institute which coordinates an academic research network developing technology for cooperation across different disciplines. He's also senior advisor to the Getting-Plurality Research Network at the Harvard Edmond and Lily Saffra Centre for Ethics.  He previously lead Web 3 technical strategy at Microsoft's Office of the CTO and taught economics at the Universities of Chicago, Yale, Princeton and Harvard. 00:00 Introduction to Polarisation and Complexity01:04 Welcome to the Accidental Gods Podcast01:31 The State of Global Democracy02:15 Quadratic Voting and Governance02:51 Defining Governance in the 21st Century03:13 The Role of Peace in Governance04:36 Harnessing Human Diversity for Progress08:42 Challenges to Current Democratic Systems11:11 Expanding the Polity and Legal Innovations11:58 Lessons from Historical Societies13:42 Imagining Future Governance Systems19:42 Locality and Pluri-locality in Governance26:39 Metaphors and Toolkits for Governance27:33 Concrete Voting Designs28:55 Dynamic Voting Systems30:48 Quadratic Voting Explained35:06 Liquid Democracy and Emotional Literacy37:24 Taiwan's Unique Political Landscape41:27 Audrey Tang's Impact and Philosophy47:06 Glenn's Diverse Background and Vision54:43 Concluding Thoughts and Future DirectionsGlen's websiteThe Plurality InstituteRadicalxChange FoundationQuadratic voting explainedPLURALITY - the book Audrey Tang on Twitter Trailer for film biopic about Audrey Tang: The Good Enough Ancestor Project LibertyQuadratic Voting - with Ruth Catlow in Episode #193