We Are the Stewards of Our Future
A Conversation with Small Giants Academy
Last week, I was invited to speak to Small Giants Academy in conversation with co-Founder Danny Almagor. In this discussion, Danny and I go over who we are to each other and the world, the different paths that could emerge, why we need collective and systemic transformation, and what is needed for a just and ecologically-prosperous transition. In this conversation, I unpack a lot of the core themes of The Great Simplification, which will not be new to many of the listeners of the show. However, I think this less-than-an-hour exchange is a really great bird’s eye view of the story we’ve been exploring on the podcast, as well as offering insight into how people working in this space - including myself - have been processing and holding space for these heavy conversations.
I hope you'll find time to give this one a watch.
With Gratitude,
Nate
In case you missed it…
Yesterday, I was joined by storyteller and social thinker,
, to explore the importance of narratives in shaping our understanding of the world and how they can help us navigate the complexities of life, especially in the face of ecological crises. Together, we discussed the need for a reframing of conversations around environmental and climate issues, the importance of grassroots responses to systemic crises, and the concept of ‘engaged surrender’ as a way to navigate the challenges of modern life.Share Your TGS Story
In last week’s Frankly, I launched a community-driven project to capture and share these stories and examples of transformation - from small to large scales, with personal and global impact. We invite you to submit a short video (maximum three minutes) sharing how engaging with TGS has influenced changes in your life – whether through community projects, career shifts, consumption habits, or local initiatives. These submissions will be compiled into an upcoming episode, creating a tapestry of responses to, in turn, creatively inspire others to imagine how these ideas might 'rhyme' with possible changes in their own lives and communities.
(The link to submit videos will only be live for a few weeks, so if you’d like to share your story for this project, the time is now.)
If you appreciate The Great Simplification podcast…
Be sure to leave a review on your preferred podcast platform! Leaving reviews helps the podcast grow, which helps spread awareness of our systemic situation from experts in ecology, energy, policy, economics, technology, and community building so that we can better understand - and respond to - the challenges of the coming decade.
The Great Simplification podcast is produced by The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future (ISEOF), a 501(c)(3) organization. We want to keep all content completely free to view globally and without ads. If you’d like to support ISEOF and it’s content via donation, please use the link below.
The conversation with Small Giants was interesting - I left a long comment there .. much to say finding way forward is the focus now, well aware of the crisis at every turn we simply need to face forward and begin with what we have and who we are, and continue to build on that - I am loving the turn even the podcasts have taken in great simplification towards recognising our role more than ever, in my own work it isnt simply about knowing Life and the Living System that we live amongst it is how do we return to that and align with that so we walk in wholeness.. i look forward to more - thank you
I want to say thank you for The Great Simplification podcast. I am typically very shy about sharing my thoughts on a social media platform or any public space. But I feel compelled to tell you that the work you are doing is so necessary in our chaotic world and has made a difference to my ability to cope with what is ahead for us as a society and species.
I have been concerned about the environment just about my entire life. I read Rachel Carson in my late teens and subsequently discovered Aldo Leopold, Buckminster Fuller and others that changed the path of my life. In 1972 I moved from the midwest to Southern Idaho to live a sustainable life, although that’s not what we called it back then. We had our own hydro generator that only worked during runoff season and lived with lanterns the rest of the time. We had an outdoor toilet, carried buckets of water for household needs and had a large greenhouse. I learned how to grow, preserve and store food and basically was prepping for the end of the world. It was a beautiful space and full of wildlife and daily wonder. Obviously, the world didn’t end back then but in all the years since I’ve felt it was just a crazy ride headed in that direction. Even though I did eventually come out of the desert and live in a mountain ski town, work normal jobs and get on with life, I have stayed aware of the miracle of running water, flipping a light switch and having illumination and the wonders of an indoor bathroom. I think some of this kept me humble and aware of the illusion in which we all live and how fragile it is.
Now I’m old in human years and live on a small island in the north Pacific. I live as simply as I can, grow my food, don’t fly around the world, drive little, recycle ( I pretend it is really getting recycled), try not to purchase much and avoid plastics and on and on. But for a long time I have felt helpless about what I could possibly do to help slow the insanity. All the petitions, marches, letters, conversations, efforts and we are still going in the same direction but faster and faster each year. I haven’t given up but it seems the other side is so strong and has so much power that we are just going to have to let it play out while we do our small parts to appease our own souls.
I have two predominate emotions about the entire situation. One is fear. What will come next? How soon will it be here? What will it be like? ( I read dystopian novels too) Will I be able to survive? Will I want to survive? and on and on. The other emotion is one of great peace that everything is unfolding just as it should. I’ve always believed life is pretty much predestined and we are just going along with the program. When I feel that way I can be the observer of the story and know that it is okay.
I think the premise of The Great Simplification is exactly what can get the planet and perhaps humanity through the coming crisis. Listening to your amazing and intelligent guests and you talk it all through has brought me both insight and greater peace with whatever comes next in on this big beautiful planet. I think with pockets of people like you all around the planet there is a chance some of it may be saved and perhaps there is a future for young people if they are willing to change the script.
Thank you for your work.
JB - a listener and fan