Accidental Gods

How can we get from the current edge-of-catastrophe to a world where we have addressed the huge issues of the climate and ecological emergency?  Only in fiction can we bring the answers together in a vision of a better world.  Author Kim Stanley Robinson talks about his 'The Ministry for the Future' - One of Barack Obama's favourite books of last year. 'If I could get policymakers and citizens eve...

How can we shape our economies in a post-COP, decarbonising world?   How can we build a way of exchanging value that actually works in favour of our planet, not against it?  Dr James Meadway, former economic advisor to John McDonnell on how redistribution can take place, and how to reshape our political landscape.    Dr Meadway's work has focused on developing viable alternatives to neoliberalism,...

How do we evolve the radical new sense of community, connectivity, mutual support - and resilience - that we need as we move into a world of climate breakdown?  Jeremy Lent's book The Web of Meaning is the 2nd of 3 that build a picture of an eco-civilisation.  In this week's episode, we explore the ways we can all be part of the solution. Jeremy Lent, described by Guardian journalist George Monbio...

As we lurch towards irreversible climate chaos, how can we begin to pull back from the edge?  This week, we look specifically at the area of transport: how can we be mobile and yet reach the 3 Zeroes of Death, Emissions and Carbon?  What would it mean to live in an area with fair, free, extensive public transport? And how can we make this happen. Our lively, inspiring conversation with Dr John Whi...

If the stories of our culture are of separation, scarcity and powerlessness, how can we build new stories, new myths, new ideas of how we can be different?  Alina Siegfried has explored the deep concepts of the stories of our world, and how we can reshape them.  We are the stories we tell ourselves - about who we are and where we're going. In our small day to day decisions, we think how our storie...

Anthea Lawson is a campaigner who’s interested in the connections between our inner lives and the world we create together.    In a world of such astonishing inequity, where ever fewer people hold ever more power, how do those of us whose lives are given to change, meet the reality that we are embedded in the system? If we are an integral part of the problem, how can we live the solution into bein...

What is the bare minimum we need world leaders to agree at COP26 and what can we do if they fail?  Rupert Read, academic philosopher, author and climate activist discusses the urgency of the moment - and how a 'moderate flank' of climate activists can grow out of the COP.  Dr Rupert Read is a long term climate activist.  On the day after this podcast goes out, he'll be in court on charges of Crimi...

If we are going to meet the challenges of the climate, ecological and cultural crisis, we're going to have to change the systems that surround us: Education systems, health care systems, food systems, economic systems... ultimately systems of government.  How can we do so peacefully and kindly without leaving vast numbers of people in freefall?   The systems around us have grown up in a world that...

As we understand more of the climate and ecological emergency, it becomes increasingly clear that Regenerative Agriculture needs to be one of the mainstays of our plans for systemic change.  Part 2 of 2 with Ffinlo Costain of Farmwel and the Farm Gate podcast. We live in an era of empty food, vast food miles and a burgeoning ecosystem emergency that is largely pushed by a chemical-based agricultur...

How can we reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide, build living soil from the chaos of industrial farming, while growing healthy nutritious food and restoring our devastated ecosystems?  Regenerative farming has so many of the answers and this week we speak to the host of the FarmGate podcast, Ffinlo Costain. Two parts - this is Part One. We live in an era of empty food, vast food miles and a burgeonin...

How can we build a progressive political movement that spans the world and that will take us to where we need to be: a future we can be proud of and towards which all of us will want to work?  Taking politics, activism, progressive ideals with Jeremy Gilbert, Professor of Cultural and Political Theory at the University of East London. This is one of our most nakedly political conversations - becau...

How can we embrace our humanity and use it in service to the earth and all that lives?  How can we bring the best of ourselves to the best of the Web of Life in full understanding of the chaos of the moment, with full and open hearts?  Deena Metzger has given her life to finding answers - and shares them here. From her experience at three years old when she saw the spirit of her grandmother at the...

In a world of uncertainty, transformation and potential catastrophe, how can we find our own truth and, from there, speak with authenticity to the children and young people in our lives about the world that is coming?  Louis Weinstock is a celebrated psychotherapist who finds ways to help people of all ages connect with their own truth and share it.  In this episode, we explore our attitudes to de...

How can sound edge us closer to the centre of ourselves, bring us closer into connection with our own authenticity and with the heart of the earth?  Caro C has produced the Accidental Gods Podcast since its inception.  Here, she talks about the wild magic of sound in all its forms.  Caro C has been described as a Soul Enchantress (BBC Radio 3) and a 'One Woman Electronic Avalanche' (BBC Introducin...

Ece Temelkuran is an astonishingly astute, great-hearted writer. Joining us from Zagreb, she gave us an hour of wisdom, insight and compassion, based around her book 'TOGETHER: 10 Choices for a Better Now' - with an international audience and some cracking questions, this is our gift to you this weekend.  Ece Temelkuran is an international columnist, political analyst, novelist and sharp, brillian...

How can we embed circular thinking in our food, energy, water & waste to benefit people and the planet?  LEAP Micro Anaerobic Digestion is building the systems in the UK, Nigeria, Malaysia and around the world to create local zero waste cultures that provide food and energy to their communities.   Rokiah Yaman is the Project Director for LEAP Micro Anaerobic Digestion. A part of the project fr...

In a world where the only constant is change, how can we find the best of our wisdom?  How can we find true connection to the spirits of the places we live so that we might learn better how to be in the transition that is coming?  How, above all, can we approach death with equanimity, and even joy?  This week, we explore all of this with author, mythicist - and elder - Sharon Blackie. Dr. Sharon B...

How are we going to create the power that we need in a world where fossil fuel use has to end?  How can we end the central control of power and keep safe our data in a world where data-mining is a pernicious - and lucrative - as coal mining?  Howard Johns has spent all his professional life finding answers. He shares them here.  Howard was a climate activist on the front lines until he realised th...

How can we begin to reverse the destruction of our countryside, the pollution of our rivers - and our disconnection from the Natural World?  Beavers, of course.  Eva Bishop of the Beaver Trust tells of the UK introduction of beavers and puts it in a whole-system context.   The Beaver Trust is a small group of committed individuals who understand the deep interconnectedness of life.  By bringing be...

When Forrest Landry was 16 years old, he took a vow to meet the Natural World openly, fully, without any projection or expectation on his part - he was not going to take one step and wait for the rest of the world to take 99 steps to him - he was going to go all the way.  His life has been shaped by the experience - and he talks to us this week about where that has taken him.    " Love is that whi...

COP26 takes place in Scotland in November. How can ordinary people persuade our elected Overlords that they need to change the system?  Across the UK, Climate Actions are being prepared. We speak to two people involved in Pilgrimages to Glasgow about what drives them and what they hope will change.  COP26 takes place in Glasgow, Scotland in November of this year.  This is our best  - possibly our...

What is it that makes us human? How can we bring the best of ourselves to the current crises – individually, and as a civilisation? In this episode, we talk to Matthew Taylor, CBE FAcSS, and explore his ideas around ‘co-ordination theory’ and how we can use them to create new politics and new ways of organising our society to give more people a better, more equitable say in how we make things happ...

As our world hurtles towards tipping points, how can we be part of the solution? How can we find resilience, in ourselves, our lives and our communities? Above all, how can we bring Active Hope to the world?  Dr Chris Johnstone and Madeleine Young have set up an online training course based in Joanna Macy's work that reconnects and we talk about it in this week's podcast. With a background in medi...

As we hover on the edge of the Great Turning, how can we find a spiritual practice that draws from the roots of who we are and yet provides the sustenance we need to help us navigate our changing world? Sue Philips of Sacred Design Labs explores the possibilities.   Sacred Design Lab is a soul-centred research and development lab that explores and interprets the changing landscape of spiritual and...

In a world that is literally burning, with politicians whose positions of power are predicated on their not listening, what are the most creative, thoughtful, caring people on the planet doing to bring about change?   Sophie Miller of Ocean and Extinction Rebellions was an integral part of the stunningly impressive actions at the G7 summit earlier this summer. In this second of two parts, she refl...