Carbon, The Book of Life: With legendary best-seller Paul Hawken

The RegenNarration Podcast

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Paul Hawken is the legendary author behind myriad best-sellers, including most recently Regeneration: Ending the climate crisis in one generation, and before it, Drawdown: The most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming. Both books were accompanied by comprehensive online portals that continue to engage people from all walks, all around the world. Paul’s next book is a more personal volume – perhaps his most personal. It’s called Carbon: The book of life. And ahead of its release, it was my privilege to join him at his place just outside San Francisco, to talk about the book, and so much else, in what might be his most personal podcast too.
You might say the upcoming book puts carbon back into perspective, as no less than the centerpiece of life itself. If you’re anything like me, be prepared to have your mind blown. You won’t see, or perhaps more pointedly hear, the world the same way again. In some ways, this book feels like a legacy piece. And so too this podcast. Not that they’re the last we’ll hear from Paul (the next book is already in mind). But this feels like a very special moment in time with this extraordinary writer, journo, entrepreneur, consultant to world leaders, and so much more. And it culminates in a world premiere reading, of the rousing finale to the book – accompanied uncannily by some notable sounds from around the garden.
Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers and a transcript, also available on Apple and some other apps. (Note the transcript is AI generated and imperfect, but hopefully serves to provide greater access to these conversations for those who need or like to read.)
Recorded 27 April 2024.
Title slide: Paul & AJ in conversation (pic: Olivia Cheng).
See more photos on the episode web page, and to see more from behind the scenes, become a member via the Patreon page.
Music:
Green Shoots, by The Nomadics.
Regeneration, by Amelia Barden, from Regenerating Australia.
Cascade Falls in Mill Valley.
The RegenNarration playlist, music chosen by guests (thanks to Josie Symons).
Find more:
Hear the most popular episode ever on this podcast, my conversation with Paul on the release of Regeneration, for episode 96.
And my previous conversation with Paul, in late 2022 from the Kimberley, is on episode 145, Regeneration: A Year On.
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Chapters

1. Music, Preview, Introduction & Supporter Thanks (00:00:00)

2. Paul's place (00:03:23)

3. The old-growth redwoods that were saved (00:08:20)

4. The singing planet - the incredible field of eco-acoustics (00:12:10)

5. Listening to the Language of Nature (00:15:36)

6. A pattern of ridiculed pioneers later becoming accepted (00:17:20)

7. On the cusp of a revolution in human thinking? (00:20:05)

8. The upcoming book Paul just finished (and the psychosis around carbon) (00:21:40)

9. The sort of stories that can help bridge our rupture with nature (and the story of Monica Gagliano) (00:28:20)

10. Interconnectedness of Nature and Indigenous Knowledge (00:31:01)

11. Indigenous peoples forecasting major climatic events, ‘super-smellers’ & other extraordinary human capacities (00:33:20)

12. Languages as guides – their endangerment, and their reclamation (00:42:20)

13. The origins of Paul’s continuing faith in people and regeneration (00:44:55)

14. Community and Change (00:47:01)

15. Where regeneration comes from & the work to do vs the jobs we have (00:52:20)

16. Some soul searching on my part (00:55:45)

17. Understanding Regeneration and Kindness (01:00:17)

18. Consider that the earth might be trying to save you (01:02:20)

19. Weaving back to the upcoming book (01:04:50)

20. Rethinking Climate Change Solutions (01:07:40)

21. Closing with a rousing finish (01:10:40)

22. Restoring Life on Earth With Wisdom (01:16:54)

23. Working with CEOs of some major companies (01:18:50)

24. How Paul thinks about his spirituality today (01:23:30)

25. Mortality, Flow, and Human Connection (01:25:37)

26. A world premiere reading of the end of the upcoming book (01:33:10)