Episode 64 - Existential Risk roundtable

Josh catches up with Tom for a second conversation (first interview here) about two new series on Tom’s excellent Do The Math blog. Tom has produced a “Metastatic Modernity” series of 18 short (~10 min) videos accompanied by write-ups providing a succinct but comprehensive explication of the poly crises of modernity, along with a convenient index to the series. Tom also became an ad hoc demographer after examining population and fertility data and noticing anomalies in the official UN population projections for this century. Turns out, we may be facing peak population, peak energy throughput, and peak economic growth much earlier than anticipated!  Demography series: Watching Population Bomb—could we actually start to deflate before 2050? Peak Population Projections—demographic models supporting earlier peaks Whiff After Whiff—the U.N. models don’t capture/predict recent fertility declines Population “What If” Games—exploring population limiting cases Peak Population Video—why U.N. models may overestimate peak population Brace for Peak Impact—demographic driver for civilization’s peak power (soon) Peak Power Video—why we might hit peak power in the next decade Stubborn Expectations—U.N. models for fertility barely react to recent trends

17 Dec 20241h 28min

DO 245 - Regenerative Ag Technology W/ Josh Jenske and Ashley

10 Dec 20241h 15min

DO 245 - Regenerative Ag Technology W/ Josh Jenske and Ashley

10 Dec 20241h 15min

In this episode, Going Godward guest hosts X’s Audrey Horne in a Doomer Optimist/e-girl crossover. GG and Audrey discuss how the Machine affects women and its consequences on beauty standards, self-image, and identity.

3 Dec 202447min

In this episode I link up with my new buddy from a recent Doomer Optimism event in Margaretville NY, Travis Logan. Travis brought an essay to my attention, Techne-Zen and the Spiritual Quality of Global Capitalism, by Yale professor R. John Williams. We decided to call John up to see if he would discuss his work, and where he lands with trying to navigate technology, spirituality and religion. One of my (Ashley’s) favorite conversations yet!! Discussing: https://rjohnwilliams.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/williams-techne-zen-and-capitalism.pdf&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1731775211585824&usg=AOvVaw1ZTYOktfC-mKHhdUCdnVma Bios and links R John Williams is Associate Professor of English and Film Studies at Yale (https://filmstudies.yale.edu/people/r-john-williams) Travis Logan reviews books on Substack: https://postliberalbookreviews.substack.com/

26 Nov 20241h 23min

Ashley met Michael Sellas as a couple recent Doomer Optimism events and they immediately hit it off. After discussing urban planning’s connection to DO, Michael suggested some writing by his friends Dr. Timothy Patitsas, who not only thinks a lot about cities, but worked with Jane Jacobs!Michael Sellas, M.Div, is the founder of Michael Sellas Photography, and the Audio Producer for the No-Till Growers Podcast Network. Photography: michaelsellasphotography.comMusic: SpotifyTimothy Patitsas is the author of The Ethics of Beauty and the assistant professor of Ethics at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Boston.For his book: https://www.stnicholaspress.net/store/the-ethics-of-beautyFor his film work: https://www.beautyfirstfilms.com

19 Nov 20241h 36min

This is an interview Sean Blanda of Sabbatical did with Ashley on her approach to moving to Uruguay for a time when her kids were young. A write-up of the interview is here:https://sabbatical.email/interviews/ashley-colby-how-i-took-a-working-parent-sabbatical

14 Nov 202441min

Ashley speaks with Tessa Carman and her uncle Dwight about his journey to Guatemala from a small farming family in the Midwest. We discuss the push and pull of moving abroad, learning ecological farming, where to find home, and more.

12 Nov 20241h 4min