Best Dimmer Podcasts (2024)

1
Discussing Right Story, Wrong Story, by Tyson Yunkaporta 1:06:31

2M ago1:06:31

1:06:31

Embracing different perspectives and understanding the long-term impacts of our actions, particularly in terms of cultural shifts and societal evolution, can give us valuable insights to navigate our present and future more effectively. Author Dougald Hine rejoins Ben to discuss a new book by Tyson Yunkaporta, who suggested that the best thing to d…

1
PT Shorts: Where do ideas come from? 13:48

2M ago13:48

13:48

Where do new ideas come from? Your mind regenerates from the outside in, teased to life by artists, innovators, agitators playing on the margins. Their work inspires yours. This is the spark, the stuff of new ideas. As with your mind, so too an old city. Berlin in 1992 was a tired place, run dry by 50 years of division, devoid of life, energy and n…

1
The Heroine’s Journey – a universal path towards wholeness 1:07:15

3M ago1:07:15

1:07:15

There’s a way of seeing personal growth and transformation as a cycle of rupture, descent, emergence, and return – an inward journey that challenges us to confront our own demons, integrate different aspects of ourselves, and ultimately find a way to contribute to the collective good. Christine Raine is a speaker, facilitator, and podcaster. She de…

1
The missing link between mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing 1:06:22

3M ago1:06:22

1:06:22

Bringing movement into our daily routines is beneficial not only for our physical health, but our mental and emotional wellbeing too. Consciously integrating activity into our lifestyles helps us counteract the sedentary nature of modern life, especially for leaders and entrepreneurs sat in front of a laptop all day. Sal Jefferies is an embodiment …

1
Living a dimmer-free life, with Cecily Mak 1:00:46

4M ago1:00:46

1:00:46

Embracing discomfort and experiencing emotions to the fullest can give us the guidance needed to navigate positive life changes, even in difficult circumstances. But sometimes those emotions are too difficult or too stark, and so we use things like alcohol to turn down the volume. But by doing so, we dim ourselves. Today, Ben is in conversation wit…

1
Korean Monk, wise mind and best selling author, Haemin Sunim 49:02

5M ago49:02

49:02

Our willingness to embrace and make space for all aspects of ourselves, both the good and the bad, can lead to greater peace and contentment in our lives. By practicing gratitude and mindfulness, we can shift our mindset and find joy in the present moment. And the way we perceive the universe, whether as benevolent or something to fear, shapes our …

1
Sujith Ravindran: are we accidentally raising lost boys? 53:08

5M ago53:08

53:08

Society is facing a crisis of masculinity, which is leading to harmful behaviour and violence towards women. Many cultures understand the need to initiate boys to men. We, in the west, have lost that understanding, that opportunity. As a consequence, are we inadvertently raising lost boys? Is it time to rediscover initiation? This is some of Sujith…

1
What a 1,000km trek can teach us about the workplace 47:30

6M ago47:30

47:30

Exchanging ideas too early and too often hinders innovation, but promoting absurdity in the workplace can lead to new and creative solutions. The workplace shouldn’t simply be a task-focused environment, but a place to nurture our human traits, like our capacity for absurdity. Agustin Chevez is a workplace architect and researcher who focuses on st…

1
Life Without a Tie 1:03:02

6M ago1:03:02

1:03:02

Life can take unexpected turns, inviting us to reevaluate our priorities and make difficult decisions. When that happens, it’s up to us to listen to our inner voice, and take up the challenge of living a life in alignment with our true selves. Ray Martin is an author and former management consultant. He embarked on a journey of self-discovery after…

1
We share a dream 38:23

7M ago38:23

38:23

Embracing creativity and storytelling can help us navigate through uncertain times and find hope and connection. Through writing and sharing our thoughts and experiences, we can unlock new perspectives, gain a better understanding of ourselves and the world, and contribute to a more positive future. This is the second of a two-part conversation wit…

1
Crafting a story for a world worth leaving to our children 26:55

7M ago26:55

26:55

Humans have the opportunity to imagine a better future and weave new stories into our culture. By embracing the uncertainty and ambiguity inherent in life, we can start the journey towards a world we’re proud to leave for future generations. Through poetry and storytelling, we can create a narrative arc that inspires hope and encourages action in t…

1
Meet these three wise angels – a conversation with teacher, Martin Aylward 1:04:18

7M ago1:04:18

1:04:18

Leaders who embody the qualities of availability, presence, and wisdom can create a culture of trust and empowerment within their organisations. When we prioritise personal responsibility and community, we foster a sense of safety and contentment among our team, ultimately leading to greater happiness. Martin Aylward helps create a culture of trust…

1
Kings of Extraction, Queens of Accumulation, and Emperors of Generosity 58:13

8M ago58:13

58:13

If we’re going to imagine an alternative to capitalism, we need to create spaces for ideation, thinking, and researching. We must cultivate reciprocity with people we trust, and experiment with different models of regenerative and healing systems. We need to align with the poetic patterns of meaning that may be heard beneath the noise of everyday l…

1
The story of growth, part 3 – Giving 16:51

8M ago16:51

16:51

Economic growth can be responsible and in service of giving, rather than pure extraction and consumption. In this final part of Ben’s conversation with James William Harrup, they explore the idea of “decent work”, what the Buddha has to say about earning well, how growth can be in the service of giving, and the importance of having a personal metap…

1
The story of growth, part 2 – Greed 32:29

11M ago32:29

32:29

Pre-made mashed potato and out-of-season avocados won’t last forever. In this second part of Ben’s conversation with James William Harrup, we explore how a drive for perpetual growth and boundless consumption could be linked to an underlying trauma. It looks a lot like addiction, so if we can address that need to consume – and say a fond farewell t…

1
The story of growth, part 1 – Why things need to die 27:04

12M ago27:04

27:04

There is an over-emphasis on the story of growth in our culture, particularly when it comes to work and the economy. This story of growth can lead to ecological destruction, as well as personal and social destruction. We need to recognise the interconnectedness of everything and understand that there are many things that can grow, and that there is…

1
A Second Reformation and the Psychedelic Future of Politics 57:57

1y ago57:57

57:57

The first Reformation led to social phenomena like the English civil war, where people overthrew the corrupt Papacy and government. The Second Reformation allows people to directly experience the visions and revelations of prophets through psychedelic catalysts. By going deeper and dealing with the root cause of the crises, writer Daniel Pinchbeck …

1
Topping you up when you feel down 40:14

1y ago40:14

40:14

More and more people feel lonely and depressed - and that's in a time of ever greater (technology fueled) 'connection'. 65% of University students in the US say that they're so anxious that they have trouble functioning. A high percentage suffer from anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. And it's not just students. Varun Soni is the Dean of R…

1
A Tale of Two Gardens – Finding Presence and Calm in Unlikely Places 16:56

1y ago16:56

16:56

Nature teaches us ways we can set up the system of our lives to promote presence and calm. We can do this by rewilding – leaving things alone, and letting them find their own course. On this episode, Ben reflects on two gardens that have left a lasting impression on him. One garden has been intentionally given back to nature, whereas the other is c…

1
At Work in the Ruins - with Dougald Hine 1:24:54

1y ago1:24:54

1:24:54

This is a beautiful conversation about endings, among other things. Dougald is / was a long term climate campaigner - working alongside scientists, often picking up the story where their work ends. He joins Ben to talk about his new book, the beautifully titled ‘At Work In The Ruins’. Picking a path through the various crises of our times, the book…

1
The caterpillar's poetry: a tale of transformation and creative expression 55:32

1y ago55:32

55:32

Richard Wain decided to become a mathematician instead of a rock 'n roll star. He made this decision on a whim with only a month or two of preparation, because it would bring him closer to his now wife. Later, he and his wife left behind stable jobs with guaranteed contracts. Richard became a primary school teacher before setting up a business with…

1
Become crew on Spaceship Earth 1:04:53

1y ago1:04:53

1:04:53

“Once you start looking under the lid of climate change, it's hard to deny what you've seen”. Dan Burgess discovered this in 2006, and it’s informed his work ever since. Dan is an activist and researcher who has been involved in the environmental and ecological movement for close to 20 years. His Spaceship Earth podcast explores our relationship wi…

1
How do we make meaning and beauty? 45:22

1+ y ago45:22

45:22

Casper ter Kuile went into divinity school as a gay atheist, and emerged with a rich spiritual life that is not anchored in a specific religious tradition. Casper is an author, podcaster and community leader who’s interested in the future of communion and religion and is passionate about understanding how people make meaning, experience beauty, and…

1
Surrendering to the mystery 52:49

1+ y ago52:49

52:49

Marcus Link, co-founder of New Foundation Farms and the Holos Project, speaks with Ben about his personal journey towards self-discovery and expression. Marcus shares his experience of learning to let go of the "doer" mentality and embracing being present and authentic in all aspects of life, even in uncomfortable situations like networking or busi…

1
Walking your promise 54:00

1+ y ago54:00

54:00

Danny didn’t fit in as a child. Nowadays he might be considered neurodivergent, but his parents never tried to change or “fix” him. He spent much of his youth with the nomadic Sawad people near Galilee. For Danny, the desert represents oneness on a cellular level – being a part of nature, not separate from it. But forty years spent in the desert ca…

1
Why should leaders know all the answers? 54:57

1+ y ago54:57

54:57

For community architect Claire Perry-Louise, the often overused and somewhat clichéd word “community” means connecting people through shared experiences, shared values, or shared identity. Claire doesn’t just advise others how to create community, she hosts her own. She founded Like Hearted Leaders so she and the people she’d met through a Do Lectu…

1
Living systems and regenerative business 54:08

1+ y ago54:08

54:08

Carol is a visionary and guiding light, seeding, teaching (although she'd challenge the idea!), pointing to genuinely regenerative thinking in the world. She is an author, activist and entrepreneur who has been living and learning her work for decades. Her questions and perspective will help you think about your work and place in the world in a com…

1
Might you imagine food entirely differently? 42:48

1+ y ago42:48

42:48

We believe that small is mighty, small is power. Our money, support and energy goes to David over Goliath every time... And there are few more inspiring David's, so to speak, than Ruth, co-founder of HiSBE, a plucky, fighting, challenger super market in Brighton and Worthing, UK. Our food system is broken- which includes much of how it's produced a…

1
An unconventional recipe for success 58:30

1+ y ago58:30

58:30

This podcast is a home for the creative pioneer, the friendly problem child. Like Dashal Beevers. Dash left school at 13. Reading and writing not his friends. Constraint is the mother of all invention, said nobody ever, but maybe should have. Needing to create his own work and opportunity, Dash's work journey oozes creativity and entrepreneurial wi…

1
Who Doesn’t Want a Little Peace and Calm? 55:48

2y ago55:48

55:48

Episode description Who doesn’t want a little peace and calm? In this episode of Peripheral Thinking, I speak to Martin Alyward. Martin is a long established Buddhist meditation teacher - my teacher, as it happens. As humans, we create drama - our needy, greedy, crazy, lazy minds need no invitation. We obsess about what we did or didn’t say, did or…

1
The role of Daoism in 2022 and beyond 53:06

2y ago53:06

53:06

This week on Peripheral Thinking, I speak to George Thompson, film maker, teacher and wise Daoist explorer. Daoism was born in a time of war: in China’s Warring States period. What role for this ancient philosophy today? Is it a fast track to passively doing nothing or super power lending you strength, resilience and wise perspective? I know where …

1
Beginning the regenerative journey 1:19:23

2y ago1:19:23

1:19:23

Marcus is an entrepreneur, researcher and writer, Chief Operating Officer of New Foundation Farms, a UK agri-food enterprise on a mission to disrupt the entire ‘farm to fork’ journey: yep, that’s breaking and remaking everything that’s wrong and harmful about how you get your food. In this episode, we talk regenerative business - work which creates…

1
The economy, leadership, and you 38:58

2y ago38:58

38:58

The decisions we make today are based on the world we think we’ll have tomorrow. But the world is changing so rapidly that the decisions we made even three weeks ago bear little relevance to today. In his discussion with Ben, Graham Boyd sets out the dangers of running a business in isolation, rather than in concert with others, and how success doe…

1
Atopia: God, Stories, Facebook and Mushrooms 50:36

2y ago50:36

50:36

I enjoyed this conversation. Professor Sam North is a teacher and writer. In his words, he’s “developing a cross-disciplinary bite of education that has three components: religious stories as networks of growth and cooperation (Theology and Religion), mycelial (fungal) networks as prosecutors of growth and cooperation (Biology) and social networks …

1
Buddhist Economics 55:40

2y ago55:40

55:40

What wisdom can Buddhism provide in today’s world? That’s the subject of Buddhist Economics, by UC Berkeley Professor of Economics, Clair Brown. Professor Brown’s book opens with three Buddhist teachings: that people are caring, people are interdependent with people and nature, and all life is impermanent. Clair believes that if we take those three…

1
An Economy of Well-Being 58:53

2y ago58:53

58:53

As an accountant and a “performance measurement guy”, Mark Anielski understands global economics and GDP, but is interested in how we measure happiness and wellbeing as opposed to measuring output in financial terms. In his conversation with Ben, he discusses The difficulty we all have in understanding where money actually comes from How money is c…

1
The Web of Meaning, with Jeremy Lent 59:39

2y ago59:39

59:39

Jeremy Lent has been rightly described by Guardian journalist George Monbiot as “one of the greatest thinkers of our age”. His recent book, “The Web of Meaning: Integrating Science and Traditional Wisdom To Find Our Place In The Universe” is a richly researched and inspiring guide / call to arms, charting a route through and beyond the myriad ecolo…