Episode 21 - Ali Katz w/ Dr. Ashley Colby and Steven Morris

On this episode of Doomer Optimism, guest hosts Anarcho-Contrarian (@anarcontrarian) and Joe Norman (@normonics) chat with Ben Falk, the mastermind behind Whole Systems Design, and an expert on permaculture, homesteading, and ecology. About Ben Falk Ben developed Whole Systems Design, LLC as a land-based response to biological and cultural extinction and the increasing separation between people and elemental things. Life as a designer, builder, ecologist, tree-tender, and backcountry traveler continually informs Ben’s integrative approach to developing landscapes and buildings. His home landscape and the WSD studio site in Vermont's Mad River Valley serve as a proving ground for the regenerative land developments featured in the projects of Whole Systems Design. Ben studied architecture and landscape architecture at the graduate level and holds a master’s degree in land-use planning and design. He has conducted more than 300 site development consultations across the US and abroad, and has facilitated dozens of courses on property selection, permaculture design, and resilient systems. He has given keynote addresses and presented dozens of workshops at venues ranging from Bioneers to the Omega Institute. Ben is the author of the award-winning book The Resilient Farm and Homestead (Chelsea Green, 2013) and serves as an Advisory Council for the international regeneration group Ecosystem Restoration Camps. About Anarcho-Contrarian They're anonymous so honestly not that much to share here. But here's their Twitter bio: Scale-Reductionism, Localism, Agrarianism, New Village-ism, Distributism... i.e. Redundant, Nostalgic & Politically Homeless. About Joe Norman Joe is a complex systems scientist researching risk in large-scale systems, pattern formation in biological systems, physiological patterns for improving human health, and military strategy for international and global security.

8 Nov 20211h 30min

On this episode of Doomer Optimism, host Tres Crow (@dogeatcrow) and guest host Patrick Fitzgerald (@rizomaat) tease out some gems from the Twitter anon Anarcho-Contrarian (@anarcontrarian). Topics range from the importance of cities for a just transition to what it means to be politically homeless. About Anarcho-Contrarian They're anonymous so honestly not that much to share here. But here's their Twitter bio: Scale-Reductionism, Localism, Agrarianism, New Village-ism, Distributism... i.e. Redundant, Nostalgic & Politically Homeless. About Patrick Fitzgerald Patrick is one half of the power duo Rizoma Field School. He's been a Spanish teacher for over a decade at both the high school and college levels in the United States. He has a BA in Spanish Teaching from the University of Illinois and my MA in Foreign Languages and Cultures from Washington State University. Along with different kinds of language instruction (formal grammar and/or immersion training), he's also taught Spanish language literature and art, and currently teaches AP Spanish Literature through Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. He almost got a hole in one once, and he used to be able to dunk. About Tres Crow Tres is making the world a greener place one urban space at a time with my friends Roots Down. He's a storyteller and marketing dude. He loves natural urbanism and climate justice

2 Nov 20211h 13min

On this episode, Dr. Ashley (@rizomaschool) is joined by guest host Dr. Joe Norman (@normonics) and the indomitable Tucker Max (@tuckermax) as they wind their way through a freewheeling conversation that runs the gamut from wokism to psychedelic therapy. About Tucker Max Tucker Max is the co-founder of Scribe Media, a company that helps you write, publish, and market your book. He's written four New York Times Best Sellers (three that hit #1), which have sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide. He's credited with being the originator of the literary genre, “fratire,” and is only the fourth writer (along with Malcolm Gladwell, Brene Brown and Michael Lewis) to have three books on the New York Times Nonfiction Best Seller List at one time. He was nominated to the Time Magazine 100 Most Influential List in 2009. He received his BA from the University of Chicago in 1998, and his JD from Duke Law School in 2001. He currently lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife Veronica and three children. About Dr. Ashley Colby Ashley is an Environmental Sociologist who studied at Washington State University, the department that founded the subdiscipline. She's interested in and passionate about the myriad creative ways in which people are forming new social worlds in resistance to the failures of late capitalism and resultant climate disasters. I am a qualitative researcher so I tend to focus on the informal spaces of innovation. She's the founder of Rizoma Field School and Rizoma Foundation. About Joe Norman Joe is a complex systems scientist researching risk in large-scale systems, pattern formation in biological systems, physiological patterns for improving human health, and military strategy for international and global security.

27 Okt 20211h 16min

On this episode, we have a gaggle of hosts interviewing our esteemed guest, Julie Fredrickson, serial entrepreneur and astute political observer. In the discussion, we tackle a bunch of topics, ranging from decentralization, DAO, guerilla gardening, and much, much more. About Julie Fredrickson I'm a founder, and now investor, with extensive experience across the internet and software industry. As a serial entrepreneur, I have overseen multiple venture and private equity fundraises for companies as diverse as direct to consumer cosmetics and online advertising networks. I have managed multi-million dollar P&Ls and successfully exited two of my companies. I'm currently the founder and managing partner of Chaotic Capital, a seed stage investment vehicle that invests in ideas that adapt humanity to complexity. We capitalize on chaos. We like companies that adapt our lives and systems to the opportunity that chaos brings. We invest in 4 key areas Personal Flexibility Organizational Agility, Systemic Arbitrage and Climate. I began my entrepreneurial career as the Co-Founder of Coutorture Media, a luxury affiliate publishing and e-commerce network of fashion websites that was acquired by Sugar Inc. I also founded and ran playAPI, a developer tool kit and SaaS platform for digital brand marketers. Most recently I was the CEO and Co-Founder of Stowaway Cosmetics a direct to consumer makeup brand re-making how premium cosmetics are manufactured, marketed, merchandised and sold online (acquired by WIN Brands Group). I have extensive experience user acquisition, audience development, digital and social marketing, communications and brand marketing for Fortune 500 brands. I've created digital, e-commerce & brand marketing strategies for brands as diverse as Pepsi, Tropicana, Nike, Michael Kors, Club Monaco, and The Gap. I have spent time in-house at Equinox as well as at Ann Taylor overseeing ecommerce and digital brand growth. About Chris Dancy Featured on Showtime’s Dark Net, the cover of Businessweek, interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, NPR, the BBC, Fox News and Wired. Purveyor of TED talks. Subject of TED talks. Chris Dancy is touted as “the Most Connected Man on Earth,” and the world is watching those connections carefully. For 25 years, Dancy has served in leadership within the technology and healthcare industries, specializing in the intersection of the two. Chris entered the public dialog concerning digital health as the media started to focus on wearable technology. He earned his moniker by utilizing up to 700 sensors, devices, applications, and services to track, analyze, and optimize his life--from his calorie intake to his spiritual well-being. This quantification enables him to see the connections of otherwise invisible data, resulting in dramatic upgrades to his health, productivity, and quality of life. A noted keynote speaker and executive workshop retreat facilitator, Chris guides organizations and audiences on a journey--a disruptive, breathtaking journey--into the future of computing, when behavior becomes the ultimate interface. As a author his digital wellness journey will transform how we look at the technology of our lives. "Don't Unplug" is available now. About Dr. Ashley Colby Ashley is an Environmental Sociologist who studied at Washington State University, the department that founded the subdiscipline. She's interested in and passionate about the myriad creative ways in which people are forming new social worlds in resistance to the failures of late capitalism and resultant climate disasters. I am a qualitative researcher so I tend to focus on the informal spaces of innovation. She's the founder of Rizoma Field School and Rizoma Foundation. About Tres Crow Tres is making the world a greener place one urban space at a time with my friends Roots Down. He's a storyteller and marketing dude. He loves natural urbanism and climate justice.

13 Okt 20211h 11min

In this episode, Dr. Ashley Colby chats up poultry farmer and all-around great guy Josh Heling in what is his very first podcast appearance. Tres hangs around in the background, but has nothing of interest to add to the conversation, per usual. A survey of topics covered: getting over imposter syndrome in the homesteading movement, the meaning of Doomer Optimism, why an oak savanna is freaking important, and whether cottagecore is based or cringe. About Josh Heling Josh Heling and his family run Hidden Savanna Farm, a permaculture-inspired small farm in the countryside outside of Madison, WI whose mission is to contribute to its local food economy while connecting people to each other and the natural environment. He's spent the last eight years starting the process of converting 10 acres of overgrown woodland to a perennial food system supporting the farm's pastured poultry and sheep operations. Hidden Savanna also acts as a hands-on learning lab for a variety of educational enrichment programs for elementary and middle-school aged kids. Indoors, Josh has almost three decades of experience driving software product development as an executive and founder in organizations ranging from bootstrapped prototypes to VC-funded startups to scaled-up global enterprises. He is motivated by a passion for finding ways for network connectivity to unleash new opportunities for human collaboration and innovation. About Ashley Colby Ashley is an Environmental Sociologist who studied at Washington State University, the department that founded the subdiscipline. She's interested in and passionate about the myriad creative ways in which people are forming new social worlds in resistance to the failures of late capitalism and resultant climate disasters. I am a qualitative researcher so I tend to focus on the informal spaces of innovation. She's the founder of Rizoma Field School and Rizoma Foundation.

20 Sep 20211h 20min