The Modern Maze

When I say the word “narcissism” - what emotions, feelings, or thoughts arise in your body or mind? It’s a word with heavy implications. Because of this, we tend not to associate ourselves with it. I can speak for myself when I say I’ve had a strong aversion to admitting my own narcissistic tendencies. And I know I’m not alone in this. But what if these patterns show up more subtly than we expect?...

On our previous episode, Adrian Röbke and myself discussed the process to identify your unique niche to contribute to a regenerative and just future. If you did not, check out part one of this conversation here . But what now? You might feel: * ⁠ ⁠Uncertain on how to create collaborative & impactful projects * ⁠ ⁠Anxious about being able to pay your bills when you pivot your career. * ⁠ ⁠Overwhelm...

We live in a time of overlapping crises. It's a lot to take in. You may feel: ⁠ ⁠- Overwhelmed by global problems, which create so much suffering. ⁠ - ⁠Frustrated about the slow pace of change while time is running out. ⁠ - ⁠Confused on how you can best contribute your talents to make a difference. It often feels like a Modern Maze that keeps us powerless. But, we can choose a different story. In...

Wow what a year 2024 has been. In our final episode of the year, we pause to reflect on the state of our hearts, minds and souls as we navigate the turbulence we've faced. Together, we'll craft a vision for 2025 - one born from our collective yearning for change and our shared journey. What lies ahead for The Modern Maze will be shaped by our desire for wholeness, healing and a deeper connection t...

How can we empower individuals and communities to shape their collective future? In this episode, we welcome Caroline Sanz-Veitch from Regen Melbourne to explore the transformative power of participation in city planning. Caroline dives into Regen Melbourne’s work on new urban governance, emphasising community engagement, storytelling, leadership archetypes and innovative democratic models. Togeth...

With our summers growing hotter and longer, we are confronting relentless heat that reshapes daily life. Heat waves have become our deadliest environmental disaster and will increasingly become more common as the planet continues to heat up.   We are joined by Emma Bacon, the founder and executive director of Sweltering Cities.   Sweltering Cities, founded in 2020, focuses on advocating for liveab...

In our latest episode, we'll explore how our modern worldview has fractured our understanding of reality, dividing us from nature, each other, and ourselves. For most of human history, people lived with an intimate connection to the natural world, understanding that we are part of a living, breathing ecosystem. But over time, empires rose, and the European Enlightenment introduced a new way of thi...

During the COVID-19 lockdowns in Melbourne, I began a daily gratitude practice to cope with rising anxiety and uncertainty. While life’s pace caused the practice to fade, the first half of 2024 brought intense challenges that made gratitude feel distant. However, once those challenges passed, I realised that gratitude had quietly sustained me, evolving from a daily ritual into a deep, unconscious...

In today’s episode, I have the privilege of speaking with Alison Whitten, the Director of Systems Lab at Regen Melbourne. Launched in November 2023 and inspired by Doughnut Economics, the Greater Melbourne City Portrait (also known as the Melbourne Doughnut) is a platform that applies diverse inputs and perspectives to create a holistic picture of Melbourne’s movement towards a safe and just place...

In this episode, we continue our exploration into the origins of capitalism. Following the enclosures of Europe, the next chapter of this story follows the Age of Discovery, as Europeans took to the seas in search of resources, wealth and new trading routes. When Europeans started to colonise the Americas after 1492, they were not driven by the romance of 'exploration', 'discovery' and 'adventure'...

I am so honoured and delighted to welcome Rachel Donald from Planet: Critical as our inaugural guest on The Modern Maze. Rachel is a climate corruption journalist whose work at Planet Critical illuminates the intricate links between the climate crisis and global geopolitics. In this episode, Rachel and I explore the ongoing global resource crises, highlighting how competitive resource acquisition...

Recently, I've been unable to get off my phone when I start looking at the news; it usually begins with one story, and then before I know it, it's been half an hour, and I've gone down the rabbit hole. After that, I feel emotionally and physically drained. Has something like this happened to you before? This is more common than you might think. Named "doomscrolling", refers to a state of media use...

A question that I asked myself often but never knew the answer to was, "How did our economic structures emerge? Was it by accident, by design or a natural evolution of trades and markets?" I finally began getting the answers I was seeking when I read the book "Less is More" by Dr Jason Hickel, which revealed the history of capitalism and its not-so-gentle rise from the collapse of feudalism.    In...

In this episode, we embark on a journey through the provocative insights of Kate Raworth's "Doughnut Economics", the book that began my journey towards the Modern Maze. Diving into the heart of our modern economic system, we question the long-held pursuit of endless economic growth and its alignment with the realities of our planet and society.    We explore the ambitious quest to redefine the ver...

To ensure humanity's continued thriving, we must create an ecologically safe and socially just planet. Despite remarkable efforts by individuals and communities worldwide, we're currently grappling with multifaceted crises—from climate change to economic challenges, which threaten us with prolonged instability.    Instead of racing collectively towards our shared goal of a safe planet that is just...