Solacene

Logically we covered the secrets of nature in this week's episode: from the purpose of life to waste management. An introduction to what ecotourism is and how people of the Solacene may travel differently, and an attempt to tear down curtain on how things are actually recycled. Tune in for a beautiful melange of science, philosophy, and passion. Contact and Zine: https://www.solacene.org

Did you know our hobbies have an environmental impact? This week we discuss how the Solacene will facilitate green activity not just in the economy and government, but in all aspects of our lives. But first- we dive into the natural origins of many of our favorite mythological creatures! Zine and contact information are available here: https://www.solacene.org

The deep sea retains a certain sense of mystique amongst humans today, a unique holdover from the days of explorative frontiers and mythologized wilderness. It also happens to contain many cool and potentially innovative species. This episode features a discussion of the possible ways in which the Solacene can take inspiration from dark ocean depths. We then cover briefly the intersection of natur...

Diving into the philosophy of nature's intrinsic value after a discussion of all the things in nature that annoy us, we cover the highs and lows of what it means to live as one with nature. This week is a mix of comedy and philosophy with an introduction to concepts such as the perception gap, anthropocentrism, natural-historic perspective, and more! Zine and contact information are available here...

This week we begin a discussion on the ethics of human interference in nature in the form of medicine and genetic modification. Given that this is the nature series we also provide an introduction to the nine planetary boundaries and discuss what they mean and imagine how they will be maintained in the Solacene. Check out our new zine, 'A Walk Through the Wilderness', available via the link below....

Environmentalism as outlined in the bible can be interpreted in various ways. From different definitions of words like "subdue", to the matter of earthly versus heavenly attention, and even the persistent mentions of wildlife in psalms and parables, this episode discusses the topic of Christian views on nature in some detail. We also talk about how Solacene media outlets will present environmental...

Almost everybody has a different perception of the place and purpose of our species in the world. Are we a part of, or apart from, nature? Various ideologies, religions, and philosophers seek to answer that question in different ways, and while it may seem a semantic difference, in this episode we explore how these perspectives inform our individual and collective environmental impact. Then we tal...

This week we kick off our newest Solacene series, Nature, by talking about our favourite ecosystems, the biggest problems facing nature, and how this will relate to our other semesters. Tune in for all things wetlands, and an optimistic conversation about how we can combat climate change. Check out our Nature Zine, A Walk Through the Wilderness, available on our website. All profits go towards Eco...

Follow this link to check out all our zines! www.solacene.org

Frog and Toad, Little Bear, Franklin and Friends, The Berenstain Bears, Arthur. These are just some of the formative stories from our childhood that contain, along with their entertainment and memorable messages, certain threads of simple living that manifest in our adult personalities. This episode discusses children's stories through this lens of simple living, as well as how the medium can best...

So much of the human experience is made up of small moments that either make you smile or frown. This episode focuses on the former- various little nice things we wanted to feature that are all too rare in today's world, but will be commonplace in the Solacene. What a happy conversation! Buy the zines, sign up for field notes, or contact the hosts: https://www.solacene.org

"We’re making Earth our only shareholder. I am dead serious about saving this planet." These are the words of Yvon Chouinard, founder and longtime sole owner of Patagonia, in a recent open letter announcing the future of the company. This episode of Solacene is dedicated to celebrating the impact of Chouinard's last fifty years in business, and what makes Patagonia such an inspiring and forward-th...

Inspired by a recent trip we took to Europe, this episode is devoted to the pros and cons of travel, both personal and societal. Will it be different in the Solacene, when everyone has 'a life they don't need a vacation from'? In what ways is local travel underrated? How does seeing new places help us generate new ideas? We discuss all these questions and more on this week's edition of SOLACENE th...

We conclude the storytelling semester with a simple discussion on the significance of circumstance and serendipity to a story's reception. Also discussed are the 'narratives' we construct when talking about other people, and how that will be done more positively in the Solacene. Lastly, Alicia introduces the Solacene book club, currently discussing Richard Powers' 'The Overstory'. Join by contacti...

This is a fun episode in which we each nominate an artist who embodies the Solacene, and why we think they would be good at portraying that beautiful, sustainable, tactile world. It is uplifting to consider the world as a story and ourselves its tellers. We also feature some feminist literature and talk about the distinct role of actors through history. Buy the zines, sign up for field notes, or c...

Across history and different cultures, many of our stories are populated by similar characters. These are archetypes- different elements of human psychology made narrative- and can be useful in understanding both storytelling and people. This episode sees us discuss this concept as well as the use of cliches in general, especially in advertising, and their presence in the Solacene. Buy the zines,...

From ancient forest spirits to modern serial killers, humans have always been fascinated with the narratives of fear. Our imagination is boundless in creating and exaggerating real-world horror in stories. In this episode we discuss the state of scary stories in the Solacene, including the impact of urbanization and the concept of healthy vs damaging terror. We also talk about the spookiest develo...

Imagination is at the heart of storytelling, both in the process of creation and that of 'consumption', so why do so many features of the modern world seemingly exist to crush it? In this episode, we discuss ways that imagination will be fostered and encouraged in the Solacene. We also share our outlines for solarpunk stories that embody the major themes of that aesthetic. Buy the zines, sign up f...

'Romance' can be an amorphous term. It's love letters and medieval adventures, Call Me By Your Name and The Hobbit, idyllic and fraught with peril. At least, that's how we discuss it on this episode of Solacene. We discuss romance in love stories as well as in the general sense of passion we feel for certain fictional worlds, all in the context of a beautiful, sustainable, tactile future. Enjoy :)...

Do you daydream about what films you wish were in the theaters or which ones you'd make if you were a producer? This week's episode was an indulgence in such a daydream where we plan out a year of box office hits in the Solacene. This week we also had fun imagining the ideal hero and learning about the history of fan fiction. Buy the zines, sign up for field notes, or contact the hosts: www.solace...

Plankton, Thanos, Satan. What makes these villains so terrifying and memorable? In this episode, we discuss this question in depth as well as questions of 'character' in architecture and fashion. Buy the zines, sign up for field notes, or contact the hosts: www.solacene.org

Look at graphs mapping different types of human activity over time and you will most likely see a spike in the last ~hundred years. This period of rapid infrastructural, technological, and cultural acceleration affects us in a milieu of ways known and unknown. In this episode, we discuss its impact on the types of stories we tell, and how they are received. We also talk about both music and variou...

This special edition of Solacene is an interview with two of the editors of the new book, Degrowth and Strategy: how to bring about social-ecological transformation. A throw-back to our first semester all about Degrowth, this conversation discusses practical solutions to the social and ecological challenges of today. I encourage you to check out the link to the free PDF of this significant work or...

Hollywood: depending on who you talk to, it's a magical capital of culture, an inspirational dream factory, or a den of corruption and degeneracy. What would it look like in an ideal world? This episode attempts to answer that by painting a picture of a new Hollywood existing in a beautiful, sustainable, tactile future. We also discuss the intersection of fact and fiction in our retellings of hist...

This is a fun and imaginative discussion themed around storytelling of place. We share our designs for the Solacene move theatre (one of our favourite types of places), our thoughts on 'narrativized nationalism', and ideas for new mediums for storytelling that use new technology to interact with the real world. Buy the zines, sign up for field notes, or contact the hosts: www.solacene.org