Imagining 2040 - Pathways to Flourishing Futures

GUEST: Dr Marcus Bussey: Senior Lecturer in History andFutures Studies in the School of Law and Society, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia   Marcus Bussey is an author, editor, historian, futurist, and educator whose scholarship explores how cultures imagine, remember, and create futures. His research brings history, futures studies, education, relational philosophy,sustainability, and creative practice into dialogue, examining how individuals and communities cultivate the capacities to participate consciously in creating more just, resilient, and life-affirming futures. Dr Bussey suggests our capacity to imagine different futures draws on distinct human senses — memory, foresight, voice,optimism, and yearning. Together those senses orient us toward what's possible and worth pursuing over time. This framing matters because it opens futures thinking beyond experts and planners to ordinary citizens. It could ultimatelyhelp invite whole communities into the act of imagining — and then working toward — preferable, flourishing futures worth having and worthy of following generations INTERVIEW TALKING POINTS with approximate time elapsed GUEST FORESHADOW EPISODE INTRO - 0.43 GUEST INTRO - 3.53 TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 - 11.45SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE IN 2026- 19.56THREE BOLD ACTIONS - 42.28 GUEST CALL TO ACTION - 53.38 HOSTS REFLECTION AND CALL TO ACTION -53.38 CONTACT DETAILS AND END OF EPISODE - 1.07:14 SELECTED RESOURCES LINKED TO INTERVIEW COMMENTS  DR MARCUS BUSSEY – web page at theUniversity of Sunshine Coast Australia – contains a comprehensive overview of his professional work, research and publications. Contact Dr Bussey directly to gain access to his structured futures educational courses. Some of his videosare also available for instant access on YouTube.  Dr Bussey’s concept of futures senses – researchpaper (2016)  Our Future World – a megatrends report by CSIRO Australia (2022)  EPISODE RELATED ARTICLES  FUTURES FORESIGHT Decolonising futures – the need to incorporate marginalisedvoices into futures foresight work (2017) Experiential futures foresight –  introductory overview on experiential futures thinking by Professor Stuart Candy - article (2019) The Futures Cone conceptual tool for thinking about the future graphic and article by Joseph Voros (2017) The Futures Triangle - conceptual tool for thinking about the future - short article (2012) Futures Literacy - the ‘competency that is built on thefoundation of the diversity of reasons and methods for imagining the future.’ Riel Miller presentation on futures literacy for the OECD (2026)  Memory and imaginative future vision – a short article on brainfunction links between these processes (2025) THE SUNSHINE COAST REGION OF EASTERN AUSTRALIA  The Harvest - a communitygarden and creative gathering place in the small settlement  of Witta.  Mary Caincross scenic reserve - a brief recent history of this small conservation area in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.  Sunshine Coast region overview  UK PODCAST SERIES - mentioned by the guest  ScrewThis - Let’s Try Something Else (2026)  Rob Hopkins From What if To What Next and Rob’s portal website  SURVEYS – three recent examples of mass international public survey support for greater action on climate change and protection of nature (2023 – 2024)   GUESTS AND CONTACT DETAILS:  Dr Marcus Bussey E: mbussey@usc.edu.au   T: +61 7 5459 4889 AUSPICE PARTNER:  Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE): T 07 4639 2135 E office@hopeaustralia.org.au  PRODUCTION:Produced for HOPE Inc. Australia by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on  4th September 2025. Music: James Nicholson. WEBSITE:    Instagram    LinkedIn       Facebook:    SpeakPipe:voicemail app.  

GUEST: Dr Forbes McGain, Director of Intensive Care at Footscray Hospital, anaesthetist and intensive care physician at Western Health, Associate Dean for Sustainable Healthcare and Professor of Medicine at the University of Melbourne,Australia. Dr McGain’s comments in this interview represent his personal views solely and may not represent the views of his employers. He gave this interview with the acknowledgement of Carmela Ferraro, Media Manager for Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) In this episode of Imagining 2040, hosts Andrew Nicholson and Sophie O’Brien are joined by Dr Forbes McGain. In addition to his many important medical roles, Dr McGain is a member of the influential advocacy group Doctors for the Environment Australia. His research and practice exploreshow healthcare can reduce waste, emissions and costs while maintaining rigorous standards of patient care. In this episode we explore the question of whether healthcare care for patients and the planet can be provided at the same time. We discuss what a better, healthier hospital and health care system could look like by 2040 and what could be needed to achieve it.  INTERVIEW TALKING POINT SEGMENTS with approximate time elapsed FORESHADOW EPISODE AND GUEST INTRO 0.0    TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 –  5.00 BACKCASTING – 13.58   SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE IN 2026 – 22.03UPSTREAM/DOWNSTREAM THINKING -36.54GUEST CALL TO ACTION – 46.4HOSTS REFLECTION & CALL TO ACTION - 50.36CONTACT DETAILS AND END OF EPISODE 59:42 RESOURCES LINKED TO INTERVIEW COMMENTS  PVC recycling for hospitals. Detailsof the Baxter related scheme in Australia/NZ (2026) Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) ‘aleading medical voice on health and climate.’ Gloves Off Campaign – international application as reported by the Sustainable Emergency Care initiative (2026) Healthcare Carbon Lab website (2026) Lancet MedZero initiative (2026) Medical Pantry initiative Victoria, Australia Melton hospital electrification project in Victoria, Australia – article (2024) Obesogenic – things that cause or promote obesity and excessive weight gain. Measures mentioned to counter such trends included fat and sugar taxes. Sophie O’Brien’s article Healing People, Healing the Planet: How Sustainable Healthcare is Creating Hope for the Future (2026) GUESTS AND CONTACT DETAILS: GUEST: Dr Forbes McGain – professional profile on the find an expert page of the University of Melbourne, Australia website. AUSPICE PARTNER: Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE): T 07 4639 2135 E office@hopeaustralia.org.au  PRODUCTION:Produced for HOPE Inc. Australia by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 31st August 2026 Music: James Nicholson or other credited composer.   WEBSITE:         Instagram     LinkedIn       Facebook:  SpeakPipe:

GUEST: Dr.Katherine Trebeck Katherine is a political economist, writer, and advocate for economic system change. She is Economic Change Lead at The Next Economy NFP, Strategic Advisor to the Centre for Policy Development, and  teaches at the University of Edinburgh. She co-founded the Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll) and also WEAll Scotland, its Scottish hub. She also instigated the group of Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo) – comprising Scotland, New Zealand, Finland, Wales, Iceland, and Canada. To get a further understanding of Katherine’s many other significant roles, and her recent presentations and writing dealing with the rootcauses of today’s great challenges please visit her dedicatedwebsite. Our conventional economy, for all its power and reach, is in many respects no longer fit for purpose. It was never actuallydesigned to deliver wellbeing directly — only to grow — and we're increasingly living with the gap between those two things. This is where the idea of a wellbeing economy enters the conversation — not as a total rejection of current economics, but as a redesign of its purpose. To develop economies that treat human and ecological flourishing as the goal itself, not a hoped-for by-product of growth. The possibilities for achieving better wellbeing centred economies driving better times ahead is one of the more promising signals of the future we've already touched upon in this series. Here is a genuine option to help steer us away from our current failing development trajectories and toward the flourishing futures we know are plausible to achieve by 2040 and beyond. TALKING POINT SEGMENTS – with time elapsed in minutes. GUEST FORESHADOW – 0.35 EPISODE INTRODUCTION – 1.35       GUEST SELF-INTRO PAST/PRESENT/NEAR FUTURE – 4.43       TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 – 25.18   SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE IN 2026 – 33.02     TAKING BOLD ASSERTIVE ACTIONS - 44.22       GUEST CLOSING COMMENTS - 52.50       HOST REFLECTION – 55.57         END 1.02.25 RESOURCES LINKED TO INTERVIEW COMMENTS The Next Economy NFP, Australia, and the EconomyWe Could Have report (2025) along with mini case histories (2026) Frank Geels – academic article on the Multi-Level Perspective onSustainability Transitions (2024) The Greater Melbourne Foundation – reimagining local economies initiative (2026) Nightingale Housing – an Australia wide, not-for-profit organisation delivering homes that are socially, financially, and environmentally sustainable (2026) Erinch Sahan – leading thinker on transforming the deep design of businesses to enable them to pursue regenerative and distributive strategies. Profile on DEAL (2026) Triodos Bank – an article on its wood built HQ office in The Netherlands (2020) Upstream and Downstream systems change. Good short paper co-authored by Katherine Trebeck (2025) The Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll) - a collaboration ofchangemakers working together to transform the economic system. The Australia and Scotland alliance members   GUESTS AND OTHER CONTACT DETAILS:  Dr Katherine Trebeck Economic Change Program Director, The Next Economy k.trebeck@nexteconomy.com.au   AUSPICE PARTNER: Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment: HOPE Inc. (Australia) T 07 4639 2135 E office@hopeaustralia.org.au   PRODUCTION:Produced for HOPE Inc. Australia by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 23rd July /2025 Incidental music: James Nicholson. Further information and audience feedback options WEBSITE:   Instagram     LinkedIn       Facebook: SpeakPipe

GUEST: James Nicholson, Bachelor Fine Art, Film and Television, Bond University (2018) Master of Science; Psychology (University of Sunderland, 2025) In this episode host Andrew Nicholson explores one of the most culturally powerful and creatively ambitious industries on the planet: video gaming. With an estimated 3.6 billion players worldwide in 2026—around 42% of the global population—gaming has become a major arena of storytelling, social connection, artistic experimentation, and community participation. Far from the old stereotypes of mindless escapism or niche hobbyism, today’s video games blend design, psychology, ethics, world‑building, and collective imagination at a scale few other mediums can match. Moreover, they are shaping how billions of people learn, collaborate, problem‑solve, and envision alternative futures. This conversation looks ahead 15 years to consider some of the ways the video games industry could contribute further to the achievement of more climate safe, nature protected, socially supportive and fairer futures for all. Andrew is joined by James Nicholson — games and media researcher, industry consultant, musician, cultural creative, and entrepreneur. James specialises in understanding how entertainment software shapes human behaviour and culture, and how games might now help shape a better world. INTERVIEW TALKING POINTS - with approximate time elapsed FORESHADOW AND EPISODE INTRO - 0.0 GUEST WORK OVERVIEW – 3.50  TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 – 7.48 SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE IN 2026 – 17.18 TAKING BOLD ACTIONS NOW – 26.14 GUEST CLOSING COMMENTS – 32.07 HOST CLOSING REFLECTION – 34.52  CLOSING CALL TO ACTION - 37.46 CONTACT DETAILS AND END OF EPISODE – 40.39 RESOURCES LINKED TO INTERVIEW COMMENTS Initiatives articles, reports, podcasts   Games for Good – consultancy portal website focussed on games developed to achieve social impact. Good Game Club Podcast – a new series (from 2025) covering the ‘positive impact that digital play can have on people and planet.’ Playing for the Planet - an alliance that supports the video games industry to act on the environment. UN Environment Programme (UNEP) thought piece by Sam Barratt – chief of youth, education, and advocacy at UNEP. Considers the video games industry's role to play in the climate disruption agenda. Recent academic paper (2025). Literature review on how commercial video games engage with biodiversity and conservation. One conclusion is that much more definitive research on this linkage is needed. The Power of Play (2023) report on some social, mental, and emotional benefits of video game from the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association and Power of Play (2025) report from the Entertainment Software Association. Specific games or initiatives Disco Elysium (2019) a non-traditional role-playing game Frostpunk (2018) city-building and environment themed survival game Next Level Collaboration (2026) Melbourne, Australia - selected video games for children as a tool to build specific social and collaborative teamwork skills. Papers Please (2013) a game presenting hard moral choices. Other games of interest Longleaf Valley (2023) –a free downloadable game built around biodiversity conservation themes and linked to the funding of substantial, real-world tree planting. Crossing Lines (2024) – short indie game visual novel explores reproductive rights of young women. ⁠Are you listening?⁠ (2023) – short indie game visual novel encourages practice of empathic listening skills. GUESTS AND CONTACT DETAILS: GUEST: James Nicholson AUSPICE PARTNER: Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE): T: 07 4639 2135 E: office@hopeaustralia.org.au   PRODUCTION: (acknowledgement): Produced for HOPE Inc. Australia by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 16th July  2026. Music: James Nicholson  WEBSITE    Instagram     LinkedIn     Facebook  SpeakPipe - for voicemail

Fiona Caniglia, CEO of housing advocacy NFP Q-SHELTER One of the most urgent and deeply human challenges facing Queensland — and Australia — in 2026: the housing crisis. It’s a crisis touching almost every community. Home ownership is slipping out of reach for younger generations. Rents havesurged far beyond wages. Essential workers are being priced out of the very towns and cities they serve. And homelessness is rising at a pace unmatched in decades. As with many interconnected challenges explored across this series, today’s housing crisis is driven by deeper, system‑level forces. In Queensland and across Australia, these include: • decades of under investment in social and affordable housing • population growth and demographic shifts outpacing supply • speculative investment treating housing as a wealth building asset rather than a human right • climate driven displacement and mounting insurance stress • a fragmented planning system spread across multiple agencies without shared long term goals But what if we applied the imaginative, future‑focused lens used throughout this podcast series and flipped the script of this urgent challenge? Why not ask quite simply: What if we could house everyone who needs a home in Queensland in the decades ahead? Thankfully, some visionary organisations, policy innovators, and communities have been asking exactly that. One of the most important and longstanding leaders in this space is Q Shelter —Queensland’s peak body for ending homelessness and unmet housing need. Today, they are doing something rare in Australian public policy: setting a bold, long‑term, whole‑of‑system vision to help ensure every Queenslander has a home by 2045. Helping me unpack Q Shelter’s role as an exemplar of visionary advocacy — and what it will take to solve Queensland’s housing crisis — is my inspiring guest, FionaCaniglia, CEO of Q Shelter. INTERVIEW TALKING POINT SEGMENTS – with approximate time elapsed in minutes.     GENERIC INTRODUCTION – 0.00      GUEST FORESHADOWING COMMENTS – 0.36 EPISODE INTRODUCTION – 1.09   GUEST SELF INTRODUCTION - WORK IN 2026 –4.39IMAG EXERCISE 1 - TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 – 23.35IMAG EXERCISE 2 - SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE 2026 – 35.28   IMAGIN EXERCISE 3 - ASSERTIVE ACTIONS IN 2026 – 42.43  GUEST WRAP UP COMMENTS – 49.57HOST REFLECTION AND AUDIENCE INVITATION – 52.53     END OF EPISODE – 57.14 SELECTED RESOURCES LINKED TO INTERVIEW COMMENTS  Q-Shelter – the organisation’s ⁠portal website⁠ Rental Increase Limitations or rent caps. Here is a well-considered 2024 research-based article. And this shorter 2023 article from The Guardian  The 2032 Olympic Games event to be held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. A number of researchers including Q-Shelter have pointed to the possible impacts of displacement and homelessness - and the need for well-considered strategic planning in the run up to the event and its aftermath.  Q-Shelter – the organisation’s portal website OTHER RESOURCES Book by Henry David Thoreau – American visionary thinker and early environmentalist -Walden: or Life in the Woods (1854). CONCEPTS Co-benefits regarding housingMore than human - eco philosophy  Wisdom of the Market – a general critique of neoliberal /economic rationalist / laissez-faire economics Podcast- The Home Front with Anthony Burke. Australian podcast series on the housing crisis in this country - and solutions. GUESTS AND CONTACT DETAILS: Fiona Caniglia Email: fiona.cagnilia@qshelter.asn.au T: 07 38315900  AUSPICE PARTNER:  Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment : T 07 4639 2135 E office@hopeaustralia.org.au  WEB    Instagram   LinkedIn    Facebook SpeakPipe PRODUCTION: Andrew NicholsonThis episode recorded in Toowoomba, Australia on 20th April 2026 Music: James Nicholson .

GUEST Dr. Bronwyn Kelly - Australian Community Futures Planning initiative (ACFP) Dr Kelly is one of Australia’s most original thinkers on how this country could build fit for purpose, democratic capability for the challenges of the 21st century. Across her books: By 2050, The People’s Constitution, The Public Interest Economy, and in the vision document Australia Together, Dr Kelly has described  an ambitious model of collaborative citizen democracy. One of her core insights is that Australia’s traditional, government-centred decision making systems are no longer sufficient for navigating complex problems such as climate disruption risk, growing social inequality, increasing ecological decline, and the threats to long-term economic security. She argues that only by integrating the public directly into long-range planning — through structured, transparent, participatory frameworks — can Australia generate the kind of joined-up, future-ready strategies these highly challenging times demand. Dr Kelly’s work aligns well with the sort of citizen led, democratic innovation we hope to amplify at IMAG40. And she offers a process by which we can ensure such citizen-led forums operate efficiently - to offer democratically designed plans which will maximise our chances of arriving at the sort of 2040 that Australians have said they want. INTERVIEW TALKING SEGMENTS FOR GUESTS/HOST – with approximate time elapsed in minutes. GENERIC INTRODUCTION – 0.00 GUEST FORESHADOWING COMMENTS – 0.36 EPISODE INTRODUCTION – 1.19 GUEST SELF INTRODUCTION AND WORK IN 2025 – 3.51 IMAG EXERCISE 1 - TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 – 17.06 IMAG EXERCISE 2 - SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE IN 2025 –25.23 IMAG EXERCISE 3 - ASSERTIVE ACTIONS FOR 2025 – 37.15 GUEST WRAP UP COMMENTS – 46.38 HOST REFLECTION AND AUDIENCE INVITATION – 51.21 END OF EPISODE – 57.56  SELECTED RESOURCES LINKED TO INTERVIEW COMMENTS  INITIATIVES AND ORGANISATIONS  AUSTRALIA  The Australian Community Futures Planning initiative(ACFP). Has a portal website on community futures planning. The publications page lists Dr. Kelly’s books and major documents. And her Substack found here. The ACFP’s comprehensive State of Australia (2025) report mentions that the country is ‘not progressing towards a better Australia, we are traveling away from that preferred destination.’ The ACFP’s podcast series The Australia Together Podcast is hosted by Dr Kelly Australian Citizen survey research. Some recent examples of  background attitudinal trends, and public perception of future threats and risks at a national level. Alongside citizen demands on climate disruption and stronger nature protection laws. Existing examples of Australian, pro-community planning approaches by sub-national government. In Victoria, the Local Government Act (2020) mandated citizen ‘deliberative engagement practice’ for local councils in that State.  INTERNATIONAL Citizen Juries and Assemblies – a recent short explanatory article (2025) The vTaiwan initiative. An ‘open collaboration platform for public policy, dedicated to promoting dialogue between government and citizens.’ CONCEPTS Deliberative democracy as an improved model of governance. Neoliberalism -some general critique of the neoliberal /economic rationalist / laissez-faire way of running an economy Universal Basic Income  (UBI) Many UBI trials have taken place in a wide diversity of locations including the USA, the UK, India and the Pacific GUESTS AND CONTACT DETAILS: Dr Bronwyn Kelly: info@austcfp.com.au WEB:  www.austcfp.com.au AUSPICE PARTNER: Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE): T 07 4639 2135 E office@hopeaustralia.org.au  WEBSITE   Instagram    LinkedIn    Facebook SpeakPipePRODUCTION: by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 29th April 2025 Music: James Nicholson or other credited composer.

GUEST: Dr Millie Rooney, Executive Director of Australia reMADE My wonderful guest today on Imagining 2040 is Dr Millie Rooney, Executive Director of Australia reMADE -  an organisation described as being an independent, non-profit, visionary alliance of leaders, thinkers, and practitioners dedicated to promoting a vision for a "best version ofAustralia". Australia reMADE acts as a community of practice that seeks to shift from simply fighting against existing, outdated systems to actively building new, fairer ones.  Dr Rooney has a social science research background in community and social capital building and a keen interest in championing citizen inclusion to help create better forms of participatory democracy and politics. She has been presentthroughout the evolution of Australia reMADE as it has developed one of the most imaginative, values‑rich visions for this country’s future. The organisation’s nine‑pillar framework — ranging from a First Peoples’ heart to a thriving democracy, from flourishing communities to a protected natural world —invites all citizens to pause, reflect, and picture the Australia we could become if we truly listened to what matters most for everyday people - and acted upon their concerns - assertively.  The work of Australia reMADE offers us a compelling reminder that better, flourishing futures will not just happen by default. They must first be imagined and built together. INTERVIEW TALKING POINT SEGMENTS FOR EACH GUEST  – with approximate time elapsed in minutes. GENERIC INTRODUCTION – 0.00 GUEST FORESHADOWING COMMENTS – 0.35 EPISODE INTRODUCTION – 3.00 GUEST SELF INTRO AND WORK IN 2025 –5.44 IMAG EXERCISE 1 - TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 – 12.15 IMAG EXERCISE 2 - SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE IN 2025 –20.21 IMAG EXERCISE 3 - ASSERTIVE ACTION PLAN FOR 2025 – 34.55 GUEST WRAP UP COMMENTS – 39.35 HOST REFLECTION AND AUDIENCE INVITATION –46.04 END OF EPISODE – 52.25 SELECTED RESOURCES LINKED TO INTERVIEW COMMENTS  INITIATIVES AND ORGANISATIONS In Australia  Australia reMADE the portal site of Dr Millie Rooney’s organisation. A rich portal site holding a range of information and links to community initiatives including their Reading Group BOOKS OR ARTCLES MENTIONED Pirate Care(2025)- also the associated website Solidarity book review (2025) Radical Abundance (2025)   CONCEPTS Future theft- or stealing from the future – an imaginative way of framing the idea that over exploitation of present-day resources or restriction of democratic rights will limit the opportunities of future generations. Various books, articles and TV from 1998, 2006 and 2020.  The Public Good –see the explanation of this concept provided by the Australia reMADE organisation  Story theft – A form of propaganda, malinformation or disinformation which can result in the hijacking of community-led, progressive, or grassroots stories of development by powerful vested interests—such as corporations, state actors, or international organizations—who then replace these narratives with self-serving, sanitized, or overtly false versions.  OTHER WORK Book by historian Timothy Synder – review of Tyranny-Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. This book contains the idea, inter alia, of not obeying perceived authority in advance GUESTS AND CONTACT DETAILS:  Dr. Dr Millie Rooney Contact page for Australia ReMADE AUSPICE PARTNER:  Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE): T 07 4639 2135 E office@hopeaustralia.org.au   WEBSITE    Instagram     LinkedIn       Facebook SpeakPipePRODUCTION:(acknowledgement): Produced for HOPE Inc. Australia by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 13th April 2026.  Music: James Nicholson or other credited composer.  

A brief overview of some of the forthcoming episodes to drop in 2026 - along with a description of the new logo for the series. CONTACT DETAILS for Householders' Options to Protect the Environment - HOPE Inc.(Australia) We look forward to hearing from you! T 07 4639 2135 E office@hopeaustralia.org.auWEBSITE   Instagram     LinkedIn    Facebook    SpeakPipe

SERIES HOST: Andrew Nicholson This brief 3 minute audience feedback report describes the achievements of the series across its first 5 months - and where we plan to take it next year commencing in April 2026, following a break. For those wanting more future vision imagination podcast content before that date - please consider listening in to the excellent series described in the shownotes for our introductory episode at No 5 in our series. The links to the text based content there should also give you plenty to chew on before we come back in April 2026 - more visionary and energised than ever! * CARRY OVER RESOURCE LINKS FROM EPISODE 9. ON MICROFORESTS REGENERATION OF LOST AND DEGRADED URBAN ECOSYSTEMS Lack of space prohibited us from including the following important links at the end of Episode 9 - following a wonderful discussion with Liz Addie from the Friends of theEscarpment Parks Toowoomba Inc, S.E. Queensland. Examples of Miyawaki forests in Australia  The story of the microforest created by Friends of the Escarpment Parks in Toowoomba – local community group partnering with the broader community. Funded by grants.  Pocket Forests W.A. partnering with schools  Microforest Collective - ACT and NSW – partnering with local community Tiny Forests Wollongong - led by local government Practice examples of Miyawaki forests overseas  IVN Nature Education, Netherlands - Aanbod Tiny Forest Urban Forests Organisation – Europe  SUGi organisation Community Bushcare groups:  Friends of the Escarpment Parks Toowoomba Inc (FEP) NFPorganisation based in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland. FEP has published two guidebooks describing local plant species in the Toowoomba region’s bushland parks. Habitat Brisbane: provides a good example of a well resourced council supported community Bushcare volunteer program in the S.E. Queensland region.Protect Trees Toowoomba : is a grassroots community campaign supported by the Darling Downs Environment Council. (DDEC). The campaign is dedicated to safeguarding the region’s significant trees and ensuring that development respects Toowoomba’s unique ‘Garden City’ character. Perhaps listen to Episode 7 of the series to hear more about DDEC's work. First Nations Peoples are custodians of our land:  Bunya People's Aboriginal Corporation – has a stated mission of ‘healingcountry, strengthening songlines, living and sharing Culture’. The organisation’s Bunya Mountains Aboriginal Aspirations and Caring for Country Plan is available for downloadfrom the Corporation's website.  Queensland Truth Telling Commission   Native Plant Nurseries: Crows Nest Community Nursery Brisbane community native plant nursery Sunshine Coast Community native plant Nurseries OTHER INTERESTING LINKS: Gardening Australia TV show – the ABC streaming website, IVIEW, holds many editions of the production. Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) – Green Infrastructure Strategy (2025) and Greening Toowoomba information page  Wollongong City Council – Greening your Suburb initiative and urban greening strategy(2017-2037) BOOKS AND ARTICLES  Hannah Lewis, (2022). Mini-Forest Revolution: Using the Miyawaki Method to Rapidly Rewild the World. Chelsea Green Publishing. Sarah Barnes, Scott Hawken, Grey Coupland, Kazuo Asahiro (Oct 2025) Miyawakiforests-in-the-making: Enlivening values of human–nature care and gatheringthrough the cultivation of Miyawaki forests About Akira Miyawaki  

GUEST:  Elizabeth Addie, President of  Friends of the Escarpment Parks Inc. In this episode we are going to focus on the exciting prospects for extending future Microforest plantings as one important element in repairing and restoring some of the huge damage done to native plant and animal species in this part of urban Australia, and in other urban settlements across the continent.  And joining me in this imaginative exploration of microforests and their wonderful future regenerative potential for our region is my inspiring guest today, Elizabeth Addie, President of  Friends of the Escarpment Parks (FEP) based in the city of Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia. Elizabeth has a professional background in applied psychology, guidance and counselling. She has also pursued a long term interest in natural environments which has developed into a passion for native plant and bushland protection. FEP has a future vision that eventually all of Toowoomba’s bushland parks will be regenerated with local native plant species and be free of weeds. Within the last few years, and in alignment with that vision, Elizabeth and her FEP colleagues have championed the establishment of the first Microforest in Toowoomba and S. E. Queensland. INTERVIEWTALKING POINT SEGMENTS FOR EACH GUEST  – time elapsed in minutes. GENERIC INTRODUCTION – 0.00  GUEST FORESHADOW - 0.30    EPISODE INTRODUCTION – 1.04        GUEST INTRO TO WORK IN 2025 AND AHEAD – 6.45 HOW TO PLANT A MICROFOREST – 8.45     IMAGINE EXER 1 - TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 – 11.15 IMAGINE EXER 2 - SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE IN 2025 – 19.23 IMAGINE EXER 3 – TAKING BOLD ACTIONS IN 2025 – 27.49  GUEST CLOSING WORDS - 33.36   HOST TAKEAWAYS – 36.24     AUDIENCE INVITATION – 38.27  END OF EPISODE – 40.55 RESOURCES - * due to space constraints please go to the show notes resource listing for Episode 10 to find links to examples of Australian and International Miyawaki forest projects Prior to undertaking the microforest project, Elizabeth and her FEP colleague Bev Yates undertook research into how to create a microforest and investigated many examples. Links below are on “how to” and best practice examples. Introductory talk by Shubhendu Sharma explaining the microforest concept. Open Source video tutorials from Afforest - teaching the entire process of microforest creation Handbook of Tiny Forest Planting Methods  -microforest creation focussed on the northern hemisphere. Miyawaki in Australia (and see Ep 10) The story of the microforest created by Friends of the Escarpment Parks in Toowoomba – local community group partnering with the broader community. Funded by grants. INITIATIVES AND ORGANISATIONS - and also see Episode 10 show notes listings for more information. Microforest creation has a unique place in regenerating lost and degraded ecosystems, within a broader scope of the environmental conservation of natural ecosystems and nature based solutions for urban areas. A key component of all of these endeavours is understanding ecosystems and creating habitat to promote biodiversity. Community Bushcare regeneration groups play a vital part in this work identifying plants, sourcing seed, growing local species, removing invasive weeds, campaigning for bushland protection. Community Bushcare groups:  Friends of the Escarpment Parks Toowoomba Inc (FEP) NFP organisation based in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland. FEP has published two guidebooks describing local plant species in the Toowoomba region’s bushland parks. GUESTS AND CONTACT DETAILS: GUEST: Elizabeth Addie- President of  Friends of the Escarpment Parks Toowoomba Inc (FEP) E: president@fep.org.au Web: Facebook: Instagram AUSPICE PARTNER: Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment:  T: 07 4639 2135 E: office@hopeaustralia.org.au  WEB:  Facebook:  Instagram: PRODUCTION: Produced for HOPE Inc. Australia by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 2nd December 2025  Music: James Nicholson.  

GUESTS: Scot McPhie My guest in this episode, Scot McPhee, trainedin Anthropology, Ornithology and Creative Arts and over time has occupied many roles as an environmental protection advocate, bird enthusiast, writer, filmmaker, performer and podcaster. One of Scot’s main nature protection advocacy actions in recent years in this region has been to support calls on local government to take a more assertive stand in managing infrastructure development proposals - so as to achieve abetter balance between the closely linked needs of our human and more than human, natural world communities. So, what if we could achieve a better development balance in the years ahead? And what might it take to reach that goal? INTERVIEW TALKING POINT SEGMENTS FOR EACHGUEST  – approximate time elapsed in minutes..  GENERIC INTRODUCTION – 0.00       GUEST FORESHADOWING COMMENTS – 0.30   EPISODE INTRODUCTION – 1.02GUEST SELF INTRODUCTION AND WORK IN 2025 – 3.27IMAGINE EXERCISE 1 - TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 – 15.00 IMAGINE EXERCISE 2 - SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE – 23.37 IMAGINE EXERCISE 3 - THREE-POINT ACTION PLANFOR 2025 – 30.50    GUEST CLOSING COMMENTS – 36.48 HOST TAKEAWAY IDEAS – 43.36    HOST AUDIENCE INVITATION TO IMAGINE – 45.09      END OF EPISODE – 47.41 SELECTED RESOURCES AUSTRALIA A recent scientific report (2025) on the seriousenvironmental impacts of continued native vegetation destruction in Queensland, Australia. Controversy over tree removal as part of infrastructure development in the Toowoomba region of S.E. Queenslandand public protest in response (2025) Wellbeing based Economies  The Next Economy - a visionary capacity building organisation with a mission to work 'to accelerate the transition to a climate-safe, regenerative and socially just Australian economy.’ Their recent report paper The Economy we Could Have (October 2025) sets out how Australia could transform to ‘embed a wellbeing economy – one that puts dignity, fairness, connection and ecological care at its centre.’  INTERNATIONAL The Limits to Growth report (1972). Research has continued to confirm the validity of the report’s initial findings on possible 21st century earth system level collapses - if damaging forms of economic growth were pursued. The associated Earth4All organisation reports on possible failing and flourishing future development scenarios and the need to stay within nature determined planetary boundaries. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) – Living Planet Report (2024) –notes a 73% decline in wildlife between 1970 and 2020 CONCEPTS Birds – the important cultural history of birds as representatives of nature and linked spiritual meaning Box ticking and tokenism versus genuine public participation in government and institutional decision making – some recent ideas on how far we may have come. Citizen juries and assemblies – short article on the use of citizen juries (2023) and a recent (2024) vox pop on what Irish citizens think about greater citizen participation ingovernment decision making. Dunbar’s number - a theoretical measure of the influential extent of social networks Nature Connectedness – ideas on the mutual health and wellbeing benefits of creating closer ties between nature and humans From the University of Derby, UK (2025) Utopias and Dystopias – short read article on the differencesbetween the two worldviews and their relevance to the exercise of imagination (2024). GUESTS AND CONTACT DETAILS: Scot McPhie  WEB:   Facebook:   LinkedIn. AUSPICE PARTNER: Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment : T: 07 4639 2135 E: office@hopeaustralia.org.au   WEB:Facebook:  Instagram: PRODUCTION:Produced for HOPE Inc. (Australia) by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 27th November 2025  Music: James Nicholson.

GUEST: Mr Ahri Tallon: coordinator of the Darling Downs Environment Council (DDEC) based in Toowoomba S.E. Queensland. DDEC amplifies community voices for nature protection and sustainability across inland Southern Queensland. Ahri has a background in youth work, community organising and development. His own future professional vision centres on helping create a more connected, thriving and sustainable world. EPISODE OUTLINE Australia has no shortage of impressive sounding nature protection regulations, at least on paper. Yet, despite this seeming abundance– on the ground itself, it can be a different story. Too often our unique natural areas are not receiving adequate protection or being regenerated and expanded. Native vegetation and species in this part of the world continue to decline as they have been for many years. To reverse those trends; and to provide a proper, respected and protected place for nature here and elsewhere in the country, we need genuine reforms of our laws and regulatory protocols, not cosmetic tinkering around the edges. Business-as-usual approaches to looking after our natural areas are clearly not fit for purpose. Without a well-protected, well-connected, and community-stewarded place for nature going forward, both the natural world and the human health and wellbeing that relies upon it—will continue to deteriorate. So, what if we could organise a better way forward on nature protection by 2040 and beyond? And what if we could encourage new, genuinely bold, imaginative thinking about the ways to do that -  within our wider communities? • GENERIC INTRODUCTION – 0.00 • GUEST FORESHADOWING COMMENTS – 0.30 • EPISODE INTRODUCTION – 1.01 • GUEST SELF INTRODUCTION AND WORK IN 2025 – 4.12 • GUEST STARTING TO LOOK FORWARD – 9.20 • IMAGINE EXERCISE 1 - TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 – 16.12 • IMAGINEEXERCISE 2 - SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE – 27.38 • CLOSING COMMENTS/AUDIENCE INVITATION – 31.09 • END OF EPISODE – 39.08 SELECTED RESOURCES LINKED TO EPISODE COMMENTS Australia Darling Downs Environment Council (DDEC) – based in Toowoomba S.E. Queensland, Australia Gummingurru - is an Aboriginal Bora, or ceremonial, site. Gummingurru is a very special place. Before Europeans arrived it was where Aboriginal people would meet their friends, have ceremonies, dance and sing. International Film: An Inconvenient Truth (2006) - significantly raised public awareness of climate change, influencing public opinion, increasing knowledge and concern, and inspiring action like the founding of The Climate Reality Project. BOOKS AND ARTCLES Book by Geoff Mulgan: Another World Is Possible: How to Reignite Social and Political Imagination (2022). Mulgan is one of the foremost thinkers on the value of increasing the exercise of public imagination. CONCEPTS AND IDEAS Citizen led decision making to help protect nature Research on the ways to improve public involvement in development decision making. Citizen science as one way for the public to get directly involved in nature protection. Achieving better future democracy via citizen juries and assemblies A good New Zealand public service resource showcasing national and international examples of citizen participatory democracy in action. CONTACT DETAILS: GUEST: Mr. Ahri Tallon - coordinator of  the Darling Downs Environment Council (DDEC) T: 0455 619 454  E: info@ddec.org.au  AUSPICE PARTNER:  Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment - HOPE Inc.(Australia) E:  WEB:  Facebook: X  Instagram   LinkedIn T: +61746392135 PRODUCTION: Produced for HOPE Inc. Australia by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on  4th November2025   Music: James Nicholson.        

GUEST:  Dr. Michelle Maloney national convenor of the Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA).  Michelle trained in political science, history and law. See Michelle’s AELA and professional web page links for more details. Nature-based governance and bioregionalism are twovisionary, system-level approaches to ecological land management explored in this episode. TALKING POINT SEGMENTS FOR EACH GUEST  – time elapsed in minutes. GUEST FORESHADOWING COMMENTS – 0.00 HOST EPISODE INTRODUCTION – 1.04 GUEST INTRODUCTION AND WORK IN 2025 – 04.30IMAGINE EXERCISE 1 - TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 - 19.00 IMAGINE EXERCISE 2 - SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE – 26.45 IMAGINE EXERCISE 3 - THREE BOLD ACTIONS - 39.58 GUEST CLOSING COMMENTS AND AUDIENCE INVITATION – 54.22 END OF EPISODE DISCUSSION – 59.02 SELECTED RESOURCES RE INTERVIEW COMMENTS ORGANISATIONS WESITES AND INITIATIVES Australia The Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA) this website is a rich information resource on the subject of Earth based governance. Michelle Maloney’s website – holds a marvellous selection of resources on Michelle’s writings research and thinking on Earth based governance. Michelle’s cited book chapter on ImaginingEcocentric Bioregional Law in Australia (2024) The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) Works across a ‘broad range of projects with Traditional Owners, remote communities and land and sea management practitioners through collaborative and scientific partnerships across north Australia.’ The Yarra River (Victoria) recognised as a living entity. An article outlining the story behind the Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarungmurron) Act 2017. From The Conversation (September 2017) BOOKS AND ARTCLES Rob Hopkins: From What Is to What If: Unleashing the Power of Imagination to Create the Future We Want (2020) Google Books overview. Miller, R. (2018). Transforming the future:Anticipation in the 21st century. Free UNESCO book resource on Futures Literacy and Foresight. Geoff Mulgan: Another World Is Possible: How to Reignite Social and Political Imagination (2022).Mulgan is one of the foremost thinkers on increasing the exercise of public imagination. CONCEPTS Governance – a definition and framing from an Australian indigenous perspective (2025) Kinship –article explaining this concept as an imaginative and protective framing of the human-nature relationship (2019) Nature based governance and bioregionalapproaches to land management –information from the Australian Earth Laws Centre section of the Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA) website (2025). Indigenous ethics and the relationist ethos  –  some ideas from Dr. Mary Graham Rights of Nature – a snapshot of the evolution and application of the concept in Australia. From an article in The Conversation (2023) Utopia and dystopia – short read article on the differences between the two worldviews and their relevance to the exercise of imagination (2024). OTHER PODCASTS LINKED TO THE FUTURE VISION IMAGINATION SPACE The From What if to What Next podcast series (UK)– hosted by visionary thinker Rob Hopkins. The If I ruled the World podcast series (UK) - hosted by former UK wildlife presenter and natural history broadcaster Gillian Burke. The Accidental Gods podcast series (UK). Is a podcast ‘where we believe that another world is still possible, and together, we can create a future we’d be proud to leave to the generations that come after us.' GUESTS AND CONTACT DETAILS: Dr. Michelle Maloney – convenor of the AustralianEarth Laws Alliance. E: aela@earthlaws.org.au  WEB:  Facebook: Twitter: AUSPICE PARTNER: Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment. HOPE Inc. (Australia) T: 07 4639 2135 E office@hopeaustralia.org.au PRODUCTION: Produced for HOPE Inc. (Australia) by AndrewNicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 16th October 2025. MUSIC: James Nicholson

AN OVERVIEW OF THE IMAGINATIVE FUTURES IDEAS TO BE PRESENTED ACROSS THE SERIES TIME ELAPSED MARKERS IN MINUTES WHAT’S IS THIS SERIES ALL ABOUT? – 0.53 WHY FOCUS ON THE PUBLIC USE OF IMAGINATION? – 2.38  THIS PODCAST AS AN ANTIDOTE TO BUSINESS AS USUAL – 10.57 THREE CORE IMAGINATIVE EXERCISES IN THE SERIES – 12.13 OUR FOUR PILOT GUEST EPISODES TO KICK OFF THE SERIES – 16.28 RECAP OF MAIN GOALS IN THE SERIES AND LISTENERINVOLVEMENT – 17.50 RESEARCH FOUNDATIONS – 19.35 CLOSING REFLECTIONS – 20.49 END OF EPISODE – 25.45 FURTHER READING RESOURCES BOOKS Miller, R. (2018). “Transforming the future: Anticipation in the 21st century. Free UNESCO book resource on Futures Literacy and Foresight. Geoff Mulgan: Another World Is Possible: How to Reignite Social and Political Imagination (2022) IMAGINATION DEFICIT AND FUTURES LITERACY The Imagination Deficit – recent article on the problem (2025) TINA acronym – ‘There is no Alternative.’ Economic research article from (2023) Planetary boundaries – Stockholm Resilience Centre Futures Literacy – recent TED Talk on subject (2023) Futures Literacy – various information resources provided by UNESCO (2025) System Change most effective leverage points to intervene in a system. Website (2025) Leaving no one behind – concept from United Nations SDG project IMAGINATIVE AND STRATEGIC FUTURES THINKING Ways of thinking about possible and preferable futures – and the Futures Cone graphic (by futures thinker Joseph Voros). An Australian example of imaginative futures scenario creation - concerned with developing better climate change and public health approaches. (2020) A UK example of imaginative scenario creation - to visualise possible future low carbon lifestyles (2024) The HOPE Inc. (Australia) website will also have some literature on futures and foresight thinking – follow the weblink below to find the podcast series web pages. And see relevant future links on our social media Facebook and Instagram sites. SOME MARKERS OF FAILING FUTURES Australian nature decline – Ken Henry’s TV address to National Press Club (2025) Public health and lifespan declines. World Health Organisation report (2025) Global nature and natural system declines – WWF Living Planet Report (2024) Planetary Boundaries being exceeded – research article (2023) Vested interests state capture of government in Australia and how to resist. Article (2025) Vested interests disproportionate influence on government policy in Australia. Article (2015) FLOURISHING VERSUS FAILING FUTURES  Have a look at some of the brilliant economic system analysis work of the Earth for All Earth4All group and initiative. This renowned group of future vision thinkers have produced two possible future scenarios that map closely onto the failing and flourishing futures framings offered in this podcast. The Earth4All group name these as ‘Too Little Too Late’ (failing futures) and ‘Giant Leap’ (flourishing futures).The group’s recent book on their work: Earth for All : A survival guide for humanity (2022) was published on the 50th anniversary of the seminal Limits to Growth report and is currently available free online. OTHER PODCAST SERIES WITH SUBSTANTIAL FUTURE VISION IMAGINATION CONTENT  The From What if to What Next podcast series – used imaginative future vision framings across 100 episodes of guest interviews conducted between 2020 and 2024. Hosted by UK based imaginary thinker Rob Hopkins. A short, three minutes animated video compilation of clips from some of the episodes is available. Also see his manifesto of preferable future development ideas entitled the Ministry of Imagination.  The If I ruled the World podcast series commenced in late 2023 - hosted by former UK wildlife presenter and natural history broadcaster Gillian Burke.  The Accidental Gods podcast series also originates in the UK. It has been running since 2019 with a cumulative total of over 300 episodes. Hosted by UK author, Manda Scott. *ANY SPOTIFY COMMENTS?  

How could we plan development differently? How could we ensure that urban and regional development truly serves people and the planet? One major shift could lie in how we involve citizens—not just in consultations, but in shaping decisions from the ground up. Can we, for instance, imagine future planning processes in which communities co-design solutions using the same tools as experts—like real-time data visualisation, interactive spatial models and scenarios, and digital platforms that make complex information easier to understand? Helping me unpack these topics are my two wonderful guests: Dr Lara Mottee, Research Fellow, John Grill Institute for Project leadership, School of Project Management, The University of Sydney. AND Dr. Anthony Kimpton, (He/Him/His, Lecturer (Urban and Regional Planning) School of Surveying and Built Environment, University of Southern Queensland. INTERVIEW TALKING POINT SEGMENTS FOR EACH GUEST – approximate time elapsed in minutes. GENERIC AND SERIES INTRODUCTION – 0.00 GUEST FORESHADOWING COMMENTS – 2.52 EPISODE INTRODUCTION – 3.34 GUEST SELF INTRODUCTION AND WORK IN 2025 – 6.08 IMAGINATION EXERCISE 1 - TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 – 30.52 EXERCISE 2 - SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE IN 2025 – 43.00 EXERCISE 3 - THREE-ASSERTVE ACTIONS FOR 2025 – 55.12 CLOSING GUEST COMMENTS - 1.08.44 AUDIENCE INVITATION – 1.13.07 END OF EPISODE – 1.16.18 RESOURCES DR. LARA MOTTEE:  Carlos Moreno Ted Talk about Paris’ 15min city plan: Carlos Moreno: The 15-minute city His book: New book! The 15-Minute City: A Solution to Saving Our Time and Our Planet - Carlos Moreno Marco Te Brömmelstroet  Speaking about the Australian Context (2024): Marco’s Research Lab at the University of Amsterdam: The Lab of Thought Future-making methods in projects Whyte, J., Mosca, L., Comi, A., & Liu, L. X. (2025). Project leadership for futuremaking. Project Management Journal, 56(2), 173-181.      Comi, A., Mosca, L., & Whyte, J. (2025). Future making as emancipatory inquiry: A value‐based exploration of desirable futures. Journal of Management Studies. Social Impact Assessment in Transport Planning    By Dr Lara K Mottee, fact sheet about Social Impact Assessment and best practice project-based assessments of impacts on communities and societies from infrastructure projects: University of Technology Sydney – Resources Talk with your local Council planners! E.g., Toowoomba Regional Council:   Contact Council Real Deal placed-based projects to support community-led transition using the practices of community organizing.   DR ANTHONY KIMPTON Planning Institute Australia (2021) State of the Profession Planning Institute Australia (2025) Understanding PlanTech Australian Government (2025) Occupation Shortage List Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021) TableBuilder Australian Automobile Association (2024) Transport Affordability Hackathon (2025) Discover the Latest Hackathons and STEM Challenges in Australia Australian Data Research Commons (2025) Research Bazaar Ebeneezer Howard Garden City concept – a short introductory article(2022) Jared Diamond book Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed (2013 ed.) Google Books review.  The Jetsons TV series was a pioneering 1960s USA comedy animation about a family of the future. It has been ascribed both utopian and dystopian interpretations over the years. Dr Karl Australian science populariser (2025) GUESTS AND CONTACT DETAILS: Dr. Anthony Kimpton, (He/Him/His) +61 7 3470 4511 - email:Anthony.Kimpton@unisq.edu.au Dr Lara Mottee, email: lara.mottee@sydney.edu.au AUSPICE PARTNER HOUSEHOLDERS’ OPTIONS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT HOPE Inc. (Australia). T: 07 4639 2135    E: office@hopeaustralia.org.au WEB⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ PRODUCTION: Produced for HOPE Inc. (Australia) by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 17th June, 2025 Music: James Nicholson Artwork: Andrew Nicholson. * ANY SPOTIFY COMMENTS ?

In this episode my guest is Dr Andrew Joyce, Senior Research Fellow with the Centre for Social Impact at Swinburne University of Technology. In our discussion we delve into how systems thinking, social movements, and policy innovation could come together to spark transformative change—locally, nationally, and globally. Our core discussion focussed on past research conducted by Dr Joyce and colleagues which found that not all policy demands and actions have the same potential to create the changes needed to mitigate climate change. It is important therefore to understand to what extent different demands have the leverage to create change in the system. By unpacking the types of leverage points for change most commonly mentioned by climate advocacy groups in Australia, research identified which were missing. Such insights can assist advocacy groups in choosing demands that might be more impactful in leveraging change. INTERVIEW TALKING POINT SEGMENTS – with approximate time elapsed in minutes. GENERIC INTRODUCTION – 0.00 GUEST FORESHADOWING COMMENTS – 2.52 EPISODE INTRODUCTION – 3.24 GUEST SELF INTRODUCTION IN 2025 – 4.52 IMAGINATION EXERCISE 1 - TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 – 7.59 EXERCISE 2 - SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE IN 2025 – 14.18 EXERCISE 3 - THREE-POINT ACTION PLAN 2025 – 19.0 HOST TAKEAWAYS ON SYSTEM LEVERAGE – 30.23 CLOSING COMMENTS AND AUDIENCE INVITE – 33.46 END OF EPISODE DISCUSSION – 36.55 SELECTED RESOURCES BASED ON GUEST COMMENTS INITIATIVES AND ORGANISATIONS AUSTRALIA Two examples of Australian NFP organisations that have had explicit environmental advocacy objectives aimed at achieving higher levels of system change influence/intervention. The Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) ‘For over a decade, CAHA and its many alliance members have advocated for a national Australian strategy on climate health and wellbeing.’ The Wilderness Society ‘The Wilderness Society is pushing for governments and corporations across Australia to enshrine and activate community rights in environmental decision-making. If the public is empowered with laws, policies and regulations that recognise our right to a fair say in decision-making, we’ll ensure a better future for people and nature.’ INTERNATIONAL The Donella Meadows Project The late Professor Meadows was an internationally renowned thinker and researcher on system change intervention going back many decades. BOOKS AND ARTCLES Research paper by Dr Joyce and colleagues A systems science leverage point analysis of climate change advocacy (December 2023) Original paper with abstract online - Health promotion International Free and accessible extensive digest of paper findings from Swinburne Centre for Social Impact. Miller, R. (2018). Transforming the future: Anticipation in the 21st century. Free UNESCO book resource on Futures Literacy and Foresight. Geoff Mulgan: Another World Is Possible: How to Reignite Social and Political Imagination (2022) CONCEPTS The Intervention Level Framework as developed by Dr Finegood and colleagues. On this site there are some good graphics and links to other research on system change approaches – in this case relevant to public health. Part of the complex systems frameworks collection of Simon Fraser University, BC Canada. GUEST AND CONTACT DETAILS: GUEST: Dr Andrew Joyce, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Impact, Swinburne CSI, Australia. AUSPICE PARTNER (HOPE INC. AUSTRALIA)  Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE) T:07 4639 2135     E: office@hopeaustralia.org.au  WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS WEBSITE            FACEBOOK            INSTAGRAM      LINKED IN PRODUCTION: Produced for HOPE Inc. Australia by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 10th June 2025 Music: James Nicholson Artwork: Andrew Nicholson. * ANY SPOTIFY COMMENTS TO OFFER?  

My guest in this episode is Dr Mark Diesendorf, Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Humanities & Languages, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, UNSW Sydney. During our discussion, Dr Diesendorf outlines how we could weaken state capture of governments and institutions by vested interests - and push for a fairer society through building a mass movement and alliances; and implementing visionary policies, such as transitioning to a steady state economy and providing universal basic services. In some of his most recent work he has identified the interconnected, damaging effects produced by politically powerful vested interests supported by an economic system based on the exploitation of the environment and most people for the benefit of a wealthy minority. Along with other researchers in this space such findings point toward a highly probable dystopian future involving the continued loss of nature, massive social disruption and even the ultimate collapse of modern civilisation. The good news is that we do not have to follow that trajectory into failing futures. We can and must change our development pathways - which is what the bulk of the discussion is focussed on. INTERVIEW TALKING POINT SEGMENTS FOR EACH GUEST – with approximate time elapsed in minutes. GENERIC INTRO AND GUEST FORESHADOW – 0.00 EPISODE INTRODUCTION – 3.38 GUEST SELF-INTRODUCTION – 5.37 GUEST WORK IN 2025 AND GOING FORWARD – 8.23 IMAGINATIVE EXERCISE 1 - TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 – 17.39 EXERCISE 2 - SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE IN 2025 – 30.36 CLOSING COMMENTS AND AUDIENCE INVITATION– 41.27 END OF EPISODE – 45.17 SELECTED RESOURCES BASED ON COMMENTS Dr. MARK DISENDORF RESOURCES His portal WEBSITE with links to a wide range of his research publications, presentations and ideas. A recent paper covering many of the ideas discussed in the episode. A Strategy for Resisting the Vested Interests Driving the Collapse of the Biosphere and Civilisation (2025). Some of Mark’s thinking on ecological economics and non-orthodox economic solutions to multiple interconnected challenges we are facing. (May 2025). Mark’s landmark book dealing with the impacts of state capture by vested interests – and strategies of resistance The Path to a Sustainable Civilisation: Technological, Socioeconomic and Political Change (Palgrave Macmillan, 2023) Selection of other research publications from Mark - listed by UNSW Sydney. INITIATIVES AND ORGANISATIONS DiEM25 ‘Europe will be democratised, once the oligarchy is overthrown! (DiEM25 06 2025). Australian Democracy Network 'We are creating an Australia where civil society isrobust and vibrant; public debate is informed, fair and diverse; citizens are engaged, government is clean, open and accountable and the wellbeing of people and the planet comes first.' (ADM 2025) BOOKS: Yanis Varoufakis - Another Now: Dispatches from an Alternative Present (2020). Google book review of an intriguing fictional approach to imagining a preferable more sustainable future. Geoff Mulgan – Another World Is Possible: How to Reignite Social and Political Imagination (2022) Miller, R. (2018). Transforming the future: Anticipation in the 21st century. Free UNESCO book resource on Futures Literacy and Foresight. CONCEPTS: Ecological economics – a short video introduction to principles and examples by Dr Dan O’Neill of the European Society for Ecological Economics. CONTACT DETAILS: GUEST: Dr. Mark Diesendorf E: m.diesendorf@unsw.edu.au WEB: Facebook: LinkedIn. AUSPICE PARTNER (HOPE INC. AUSTRALIA) Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE) T: 07 4639 2135     E: office@hopeaustralia.org.au   WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS WEBSITE           FACEBOOK           INSTAGRAM        LINKED IN PRODUCTION: Produced for HOPE Inc. Australia by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 4th June 2025 Music: James Nicholson Artwork: Andrew Nicholson * ANY SPOTIFY COMMENTS TO OFFER?

In this episode we imagine some opportunities for a future strengthening of the collaboration between art, science, and nature connectedness. How might the increased power of storytelling which emerges help us move toward achieving a climate safer, properly nature protected, socially fairer and genuinely more prosperous future? A flourishing future which leaves no-one behind.? I’m joined by two great guests to help explore this future vision imaginative question and others. Both are from Southern Queensland, Australia. Jennifer Waithman is co-ordinator of the Wide Bay Burnett environment council, and Dr.Sarah Pye is a staff member at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Both guests have great experience in combining art and science in imaginative storytelling aimed at helping educate audiences on the importance of proper protection of nature. For Sarah, that has included writing children’s books on the topic and Jennifer has extensive experience in interpretive guiding for nature. INTERVIEW TALKING POINT SEGMENTS FOR EACH GUEST – with approximate time elapsed in minutes. (00.00) GENERIC INTRODUCTION (02.52) GUEST FORESHADOW" (03.25) EPISODE INTRODUCTION (06.36) GUEST SELF INTRO AND WORK IN 2025 (19.06) IMAGINATIVE EXERCISE -1 TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 (29.38) IMAG EXERCISE 2 -SIGNALS OF FUTURE IN 2025 (41.41) IMAG EXERCISE 3 - ACTION PLAN FOR 2025 (51.58) CLOSING COMMENTS /AUDIENCE INVITATION (54.41) END OF MAIN EPISODE DISCUSSION BONUS CONTENT – ANTHROPOMORPHISM -NATURE STORYTELLING-EDUCATION. (1.06.34) EPISODE CLOSE SELECTED RESOURCES RELEVANT TO INTERVIEW COMMENTS INITIATIVES AND ORGANISATIONS Interpretation Australia – portal website Dr Pye’s academic publication record at University of Sunshine Coast, Queensland. The Wide Bay Burnett Conservation Council (WBBCC). BOOKS Lesley Head: Hope and Grief in the Anthropocene: Reconceptualising Human-Nature Relations (2016) short review based on discussion with the author (2018) Miller, R. (2018). Transforming the future: Anticipation in the 21st century. Free UNESCO book resource on Futures Literacy and Foresight. Geoff Mulgan: Another World Is Possible: How to Reignite Social and Political Imagination (2022) Dr. Sarah Pye’s book, conservation and schools education work ⁠website⁠. Freeman Tilden - Interpreting our Heritage (1957) CONCEPTS Anthropomorphism - background on the idea Ecological Citizenship in relation to children’s play areas – taken from tertiary level academic course at Wrexham University, UK (2025) Ecological economics – a short video introduction to principles and examples by Dr Dan O’Neill of the European Society for Ecological Economics. Ecological or Eco Grief – a short 2018 Conversation article on this issue. Experiential Education - a USA perspective on basic principles Nature Connectedness - taken from the portal site of the University of Derby, UK (2025) Radical Hope - short introduction set in a museums context. Rights of Nature – an introduction from the portal Australian Earth Laws Centre site Planetary boundaries – Stockholm Resilience Centre Gross Domestic Product – a brief history based on an article from the World Economic Forum (2025). GUEST AND OTHER CONTACT DETAILS:  GUESTS: Dr.Sarah Pye WEB Jennifer Waithman at Wide Bay Burnett Environment Council E: manager@wbbec.org.au AUSPICE PARTNER: Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE): T: 07 4639 2135     E: office@hopeaustralia.org.au  WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS WEBSITE           FACEBOOK           INSTAGRAM        LINKED IN PRODUCTION: Produced for HOPE Inc. Australia by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on  2nd June 2025  Music: James Nicholson Artwork: Andrew Nicholson * ANY SPOTIFY COMMENTS TO OFFER?