The Ecology of Ideas Podcast

In a world that celebrates innovation, productivity, and constant growth, good-enough can sound like a failure. But what if it’s actually a strength? In this episode, we talk with Paula Bialski , Professor of Sociology at the University of St. Gallen, about the overlooked value of good-enoughness — especially in the context of software and digital work. She invites us to rethink our obsession with...

We often think of ecology as something related to planetary nature. What if it’s about the entire universe? In this episode, we talk with Thomas Nail , Professor of Philosophy at the University of Denver, who introduces us to the idea of cosmic ecology . At the center is the notion of entropy as the natural tendency of energy to dissipate across the cosmos. Thomas challenges the common view that e...

What is the difference between thinking ecologically and thinking about ecology? In this episode, we speak with Nora Bateson , systems thinker, ecological philosopher, writer, and filmmaker, whose work has been highly influential for this podcast. Nora carries forward a remarkable intellectual legacy. Her father, Gregory Bateson, was a pioneering anthropologist and ecological thinker, and her gran...

If you had to choose between being rich or being well, chances are you'd choose your own well-being. And yet, we live in a world shaped by an economic system that prioritizes wealth over wellness. In this episode, we’re joined by Inge Røpke , professor of ecological economics at Aalborg University in Denmark. Inge invites us to reflect on the limits of conventional economic thinking, and how it sh...

None of us would say we want war, poverty, or environmental collapse. And yet, these crises continue to unfold around us. Why is it so hard to collaborate and prevent the very things we all oppose? In this episode, we’re joined by Maja Göpel , German political economist and transformation researcher, to explore this question. According to Maja, the problem lies in the deep structures of our instit...

Facing the ecological crisis can feel overwhelming, often leading to despair or the belief that individual action is pointless. In this episode, we speak with Alexis Shotwell , professor of sociology and anthropology at Carleton University in Canada, who challenges this mindset. Alexis introduces the concept of purity politics - the idea that only those who meet certain moral or ideological standa...