Richard Heinberg: Envisioning Sustainable Living Amidst Societal Transformation

The RegenNarration Podcast

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Richard Heinberg is widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost advocates on the urgent need, and inviting prospects, of a transition away from fossil fuels. He’s the author of 14 books including some of the seminal works on our current energy and environmental crises. I remember reading The Party’s Over 20 years ago, and have followed Richard’s work right through to his most recent book (and excellent parallel podcast series), Power: Limits and Prospects for Human Survival – and what praise that one drew, from people like Bill McKibben, Joanna Macy, Wes Jackson, Maude Barlow, Peter Buffet, Dahr Jamail, Douglas Rushkoff and Dennis Meadows.
Richard also features in countless film and other productions, along with the online course developed with the Post Carbon Institute, where Richard is a founder and Senior Fellow. And seven years ago, Richard was kind enough to be a special guest on a panel event I brought together on energy transition, which attracted a couple of hundred people and later became episode 23 on this podcast. Richard is also an outstanding musician, with an extensive tour and back catalogue extending from the ‘60s. All the more reason that after the event we did in 2017, we resolved to catch up if I ever made it to Santa Rosa.
That’s where this sweeping conversation took place, on transformations in energy and food systems, us humans, and his own fascinating life. Culminating in Richard’s crystalised framing of the unprecedented challenge facing us, and how we might pull it off.
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 by a restored Santa Rosa Creek on 30 April 2024.
Title slide: Richard & AJ in Santa Rosa (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.
The RegenNarration playlist, music chosen by guests (thanks to Josie Symons).
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Chapters

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

2. By a restored Santa Rosa Creek (00:04:00)

3. How do we shift norms? (What are we doing today that will seem stupid tomorrow?) (00:06:30)

4. Exploring Human Nature and Transformative Experiences (00:12:20)

5. What changed Richard? (00:16:30)

6. The resurgence of psychedelics (00:19:20)

7. Richard’s biggest influences helping him go on with the insights & change (& his musical career) (00:21:10)

8. Visiting Aboriginal peoples for the first time in the 80s (00:27:30)

9. Delving into Native American cultures (& what human capacities we trade out for technology) (00:28:30)

10. The commonality in all traditions & modern religions that can hold us in good stead now (00:31:00)

11. Reflecting on Richard’s culminating life’s work ‘Power’ (& the coming election) (00:35:30)

12. The future of agriculture? (& coming from a farming family) (00:41:15)

13. Among all the ag & energy transition work, what’s inspiring Richard most? (00:44:00)

14. Flipping the script on collapse patterns (finding other ways we humans might be able to change?) (00:48:00)

15. Reconnecting with the Living World and Music (00:52:19)

16. What can we imagine as a sustainable level of energy use? (And how to help get there) (00:53:00)

17. The punchline on reconnection to our biological roots – the benefits of breathing less too? (00:57:40)

18. Back to music (with a fable for our times) (01:01:40)