Episode #69: Anne Macksoud and John Ankele on Singing About the Dark Times

The Discomfort Practice

In this episode, it is my honour to introduce to you the (amazing people and) filmmakers, Anne Macksoud and John Ankele of Old Dog Documentaries. I first came across them through their film with Joanna Macy: ‘Climate Crisis As A Spiritual Path.’ It has reached international audiences with its powerful message on climate change and reconnection and personally moved me. John Ankele started his career as a producer of radio and TV programming in the 1960s, using mass media to empower faith communities advocating for civil rights, protesting the Vietnam War or struggling against apartheid in South Africa. He’s also an ordained Presbyterian minister and a student of Zen and Shambala Buddhist traditions who has been involved for many years in interfaith dialogue around contemplative practice and social justice.

Anne Macksoud spent 17 years as a teacher of English literature, photography, and music, first bringing documentaries into her own classroom on a regular basis before transitioning into filmmaking herself. She believes that film is a powerful means to an end to open minds and hearts and, as a result, has been working with John since 1985. Together, Anne and John produce documentary films focused on the subtleties of human experience and the complexities of our collective challenges. In this episode, we talk about Anne’s and John’s formative life experiences and how that brought them together and eventually led them to interview Joanna Macy.We weave in quotes and references to Joanna Macy’s life’s work as an educator and activist, so we consider her our third guest on this episode. Together, we talk about the value of discomfort and we can all face our current collective discomfort over issues like climate change and pandemic with hopeful hearts. So, enjoy this chance to get to know Anne and John, the work they passionately give to the world, and get familiar with Joanna Macy. I hope that it gives you a deeper awareness of your connection to us, to others and to everything.

Key Points Discussed:

• A quote by Joanna Macy - Environmental Activist, author, and scholar of Buddhism, General Systems Theory, and Deep Ecology (00:32)
• Moments in Anne’s life that shaped her passion for social justice (07:49)
• When John lost his mother, father, and then his brother, all during his time in East Africa and realized that nothing lasts and set him on a spiritual path with a mission to the world (10:21)
• What led Anne and John to interview Joanna Macy(13:48)
• Overcoming the narrative of disconnection (21:58)
• How the Joanna Macy interview video eventually reach international audiences (22:56)
• Anne and John’s intention for the Joanna Macy interview and what they want to bring to the world - Leading people to productive discomfort and hope in action (25:51)
• How knowing and/or meeting people who are doing the work of the moment benefits and empowers us (35:41)
• The importance of supporting each other in expressing sorrow (39:06)
• We owe it to the young people, to not allow ourselves to breakdown, fall apart, and not get back up and show up (46:28)
• What gives us hope? (49:10)

Resources Mentioned:

• Joanna Macy: Climate Crisis As A Spiritual Path
• Joanna Macy

Connect with Anne M. and John A. on the Old Dog Documentaries:

• Old Dog Documentaries
• Old Dog Documentaries on LinkedIn
• Old Dog Documentaries on Vimeo
• Old Dog Documentaries on Facebook
• Old Dog Documentaries on Pinterest

Connect with Betsy:

• Betsy on Instagram
• Betsy on Twitter
• Betsy on Linkedin

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