Best of TGS: What Would You Do With a Magic Wand?
The Great Simplification #157
This year on The Great Simplification, we heard from 54 guests, 18 Reality Roundtable panelists, and I shared my thoughts across 31 Frankly episodes. But even after releasing 300+ hours of conversations and reflections since this show began, we are only just beginning to connect all the moving parts that make up The Human Predicament.
As 2025 approaches, we invite you to reflect on this compilation of answers to a question that I ask every guest: “If you could wave a magic wand – and there was no personal recourse to your decision, what is one thing you would do to improve human and planetary futures?”
While some of these answers would truly take magic to achieve, and others involve actions that we have the power to enact on the individual level and within the communities around us right now, we hope you feel motivated and inspired by the magical thinking of these experts to wave a wand wherever you find yourself in the unfolding story of The Great Simplification.
Thank you so much for your continuing support, and for caring so deeply about the topics of this show.
So, what would you do with a magic wand?
In case you missed it…
In last week’s Frankly, I took us on an imaginative journey exploring a potential movie script idea that blends systems, science and fiction. What if someone who deeply understood the challenges of today's global economic Superorganism could travel back in time? Armed with the knowledge of our current ecological and economic trajectory, what would they change? What could they change?
If you appreciate The Great Simplification podcast…
This week, I was joined by local organizer and activist Christian Sawyer, to discuss how he’s built a pro-social community in rural Arizona. Christian emphasized the power of local collaboration and demonstrates how the cultivation of social capital builds resilience in the face of challenges, as well as creates better lives for those who live in the community. Together, we explored the dynamics of community work parties, the skills learned through cooperation, and the significance of trust and friendship in building a supportive network.
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With the first wave of my magic wand, I would (magically) remove all plastics and forever chemicals from our oceans, environments and ecosystems. Second wave of my very magic wand would remove the built-up carbon in the global atmosphere, returning it to 300ppm. Third, and final (like a genie), wave of my magic wand would immediately download (matrix style) all TGS episodes into the minds of the world's population, so that everyone would have a broad understanding of how the world and its myriad systems works. Which would hopefully lead to a respect for, and reduction of, fossil energy. Thanks for your incredibly important work, Nate, and merry Christmas!
Thanks Nate, for all your wise thoughts and work in the face of insanity. I've watched a majority of your videos, and they give us hope.
As for the magic wand, I'd have everyone go on a bullshit diet, as posted by Shalom Auslander this week:
https://open.substack.com/pub/shalomauslander/p/the-bullshit-diet?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2nzl7