Episodes

  • INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES

    INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES
    Jul 31 2025
    AN OVERVIEW OF THE IMAGINATIVE FUTURES IDEAS TO BE PRESENTED ACROSS THE SERIESTIME ELAPSED MARKERS IN MINUTESWHAT’S IS THIS SERIES ALL ABOUT? – 0.53WHY FOCUS ON THE PUBLIC USE OF IMAGINATION? – 2.38 THIS PODCAST AS AN ANTIDOTE TO BUSINESS AS USUAL – 10.57THREE CORE IMAGINATIVE EXERCISES IN THE SERIES – 12.13OUR FOUR PILOT GUEST EPISODES TO KICK OFF THE SERIES – 16.28RECAP OF MAIN GOALS IN THE SERIES AND LISTENERINVOLVEMENT – 17.50RESEARCH FOUNDATIONS – 19.35CLOSING REFLECTIONS – 20.49END OF EPISODE – 25.45FURTHER READING RESOURCESBOOKSMiller, R. (2018). “Transforming the future: Anticipation in the 21st century. Free UNESCO book resource on Futures Literacy and Foresight. Geoff Mulgan: Another World Is Possible: How to Reignite Social and Political Imagination (2022) IMAGINATION DEFICIT AND FUTURES LITERACYThe Imagination Deficit – recent article on the problem (2025)TINA acronym – ‘There is no Alternative.’ Economic research article from (2023)Planetary boundaries – Stockholm Resilience CentreFutures Literacy – recent TED Talk on subject (2023)Futures Literacy – various information resources provided by UNESCO (2025)System Change most effective leverage points to intervene in a system. Website (2025)Leaving no one behind – concept from United Nations SDG projectIMAGINATIVE AND STRATEGIC FUTURES THINKINGWays of thinking about possible and preferable futures – and the Futures Cone graphic (by futures thinker Joseph Voros).An Australian example of imaginative futures scenario creation - concerned with developing better climate change and public health approaches. (2020)A UK example of imaginative scenario creation - to visualise possible future low carbon lifestyles (2024)The HOPE Inc. (Australia) website will also have some literature on futures and foresight thinking – follow the weblink below to find the podcast series web pages. And see relevant future links on our social media Facebook and Instagram sites.SOME MARKERS OF FAILING FUTURESAustralian nature decline – Ken Henry’s TV address to National Press Club (2025)Public health and lifespan declines. World Health Organisation report (2025)Global nature and natural system declines – WWF Living Planet Report (2024)Planetary Boundaries being exceeded – research article (2023) Vested interests state capture of government in Australia and how to resist. Article (2025)Vested interests disproportionate influence on government policy in Australia. Article (2015) FLOURISHING VERSUS FAILING FUTURES Have a look at some of the brilliant economic system analysis work of the Earth for All Earth4All group and initiative. This renowned group of future vision thinkers have produced two possible future scenarios that map closely onto the failing and flourishing futures framings offered in this podcast. The Earth4All group name these as ‘Too Little Too Late’ (failing futures) and ‘Giant Leap’ (flourishing futures).The group’s recent book on their work: Earth for All : A survival guide for humanity (2022) was published on the 50th anniversary of the seminal Limits to Growth report and is currently available free online.OTHER PODCAST SERIES WITH SUBSTANTIAL FUTURE VISION IMAGINATION CONTENT The From What if to What Next podcast series – used imaginative future vision framings across 100 episodes of guest interviews conducted between 2020 and 2024. Hosted by UK based imaginary thinker Rob Hopkins. A short, three minutes animated video compilation of clips from some of the episodes is available. Also see his manifesto of preferable future development ideas entitled the Ministry of Imagination. The If I ruled the World podcast series commenced in late 2023 - hosted by former UK wildlife presenter and natural history broadcaster Gillian Burke. The Accidental Gods podcast series also originates in the UK. It has been running since 2019 with a cumulative total of over 300 episodes. The show is hosted by UK author, Manda Scott.
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    26 mins
  • IMAGINING BETTER INFORMED, SMARTER AND FASTER CITIZEN COLLABORATIVE URBAN PLANNING BY 2040

    IMAGINING BETTER INFORMED, SMARTER AND FASTER CITIZEN COLLABORATIVE URBAN PLANNING BY 2040
    Jun 17 2025
    How could we plan development differently? How could we ensure that urban and regional development truly serves people and the planet? One major shift could lie in how we involve citizens—not just in consultations, but in shaping decisions from the ground up. Can we, for instance, imagine future planning processes in which communities co-design solutions using the same tools as experts—like real-time data visualisation, interactive spatial models and scenarios, and digital platforms that make complex information easier to understand? Helping me unpack these topics are my two wonderful guests:Dr Lara Mottee, Research Fellow, John Grill Institute for Project leadership, School of Project Management, The University of Sydney. ANDDr. Anthony Kimpton, (He/Him/His, Lecturer (Urban and Regional Planning) School of Surveying and Built Environment, University of Southern Queensland. INTERVIEW TALKING POINT SEGMENTS FOR EACH GUEST – approximate time elapsed in minutes. GENERIC AND SERIES INTRODUCTION – 0.00GUEST FORESHADOWING COMMENTS – 2.52EPISODE INTRODUCTION – 3.34GUEST SELF INTRODUCTION AND WORK IN 2025 – 6.08IMAGINATION EXERCISE 1 - TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 – 30.52EXERCISE 2 - SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE IN 2025 – 43.00EXERCISE 3 - THREE-ASSERTVE ACTIONS FOR 2025 – 55.12CLOSING GUEST COMMENTS - 1.08.44 AUDIENCE INVITATION – 1.13.07 END OF EPISODE – 1.16.18RESOURCES DR. LARA MOTTEE: Carlos Moreno Ted Talk about Paris’ 15min city plan: Carlos Moreno: The 15-minute cityHis book: New book! The 15-Minute City: A Solution to Saving Our Time and Our Planet - Carlos MorenoMarco Te Brömmelstroet Speaking about the Australian Context (2024):Marco’s Research Lab at the University of Amsterdam: The Lab of ThoughtFuture-making methods in projects Whyte, J., Mosca, L., Comi, A., & Liu, L. X. (2025). Project leadership for futuremaking. Project Management Journal, 56(2), 173-181. Comi, A., Mosca, L., & Whyte, J. (2025). Future making as emancipatory inquiry: A value‐based exploration of desirable futures. Journal of Management Studies.Social Impact Assessment in Transport Planning By Dr Lara K Mottee, fact sheet about Social Impact Assessment and best practice project-based assessments of impacts on communities and societies from infrastructure projects: University of Technology Sydney – ResourcesTalk with your local Council planners! E.g., Toowoomba Regional Council: Contact CouncilReal Deal placed-based projects to support community-led transition using the practices of community organizing. DR ANTHONY KIMPTONPlanning Institute Australia (2021) State of the ProfessionPlanning Institute Australia (2025) Understanding PlanTech Australian Government (2025) Occupation Shortage List Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021) TableBuilder Australian Automobile Association (2024) Transport AffordabilityHackathon (2025) Discover the Latest Hackathons and STEM Challenges in Australia Australian Data Research Commons (2025) Research Bazaar Ebeneezer Howard Garden City concept – a short introductory article(2022) Jared Diamond book Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed (2013 ed.) Google Books review. The Jetsons TV series was a pioneering 1960s USA comedy animation about a family of the future. It has been ascribed both utopian and dystopian interpretations over the years.Dr Karl Australian science populariser (2025)GUESTS AND CONTACT DETAILS:Dr. Anthony Kimpton, (He/Him/His) +61 7 3470 4511 - email:Anthony.Kimpton@unisq.edu.auDr Lara Mottee, email: lara.mottee@sydney.edu.auAUSPICE PARTNERHOUSEHOLDERS’ OPTIONS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT HOPE Inc. (Australia).T: 07 4639 2135 E: office@hopeaustralia.org.au WEB⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ PRODUCTION: Produced for HOPE Inc. (Australia) by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 17th June, 2025 Music: James Nicholson Artwork: Andrew Nicholson.
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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • IMAGINING MORE EFFECTIVE SYSTEM CHANGE LEVERAGE APPROACHES TO SOCIAL AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADVOCACY

    IMAGINING MORE EFFECTIVE SYSTEM CHANGE LEVERAGE APPROACHES TO SOCIAL AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADVOCACY
    Jun 10 2025
    In this episode my guest is Dr Andrew Joyce, Senior Research Fellow with the Centre for Social Impact at Swinburne University of Technology. In our discussion we delve into how systems thinking, social movements, and policy innovation could come together to spark transformative change—locally, nationally, and globally.Our core discussion focussed on past research conducted by Dr Joyce and colleagues which found that not all policy demands and actions have the same potential to create the changes needed to mitigate climate change. It is important therefore to understand to what extent different demands have the leverage to create change in the system. By unpacking the types of leverage points for change most commonly mentioned by climate advocacy groups in Australia, research identified which were missing. Such insights can assist advocacy groups in choosing demands that might be more impactful in leveraging change.INTERVIEW TALKING POINT SEGMENTS – with approximate time elapsed in minutes. GENERIC INTRODUCTION – 0.00GUEST FORESHADOWING COMMENTS – 2.52EPISODE INTRODUCTION – 3.24GUEST SELF INTRODUCTION IN 2025 – 4.52IMAGINATION EXERCISE 1 - TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 – 7.59EXERCISE 2 - SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE IN 2025 – 14.18EXERCISE 3 - THREE-POINT ACTION PLAN 2025 – 19.0HOST TAKEAWAYS ON SYSTEM LEVERAGE – 30.23CLOSING COMMENTS AND AUDIENCE INVITE – 33.46END OF EPISODE DISCUSSION – 36.55SELECTED RESOURCES BASED ON GUEST COMMENTSINITIATIVES AND ORGANISATIONS AUSTRALIATwo examples of Australian NFP organisations that have had explicit environmental advocacy objectives aimed at achieving higher levels of system change influence/intervention.The Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA)‘For over a decade, CAHA and its many alliance members have advocated for a national Australian strategy on climate health and wellbeing.’ The Wilderness Society‘The Wilderness Society is pushing for governments and corporations across Australia to enshrine and activate community rights in environmental decision-making. If the public is empowered with laws, policies and regulations that recognise our right to a fair say in decision-making, we’ll ensure a better future for people and nature.’INTERNATIONALThe Donella Meadows Project The late Professor Meadows was an internationally renowned thinker and researcher on system change intervention going back many decades.BOOKS AND ARTCLES Research paper by Dr Joyce and colleagues A systems science leverage point analysis of climate change advocacy (December 2023)Original paper with abstract online - Health promotion International Free and accessible extensive digest of paper findings from Swinburne Centre for Social Impact.Miller, R. (2018). Transforming the future: Anticipation in the 21st century. Free UNESCO book resource on Futures Literacy and Foresight. Geoff Mulgan: Another World Is Possible: How to Reignite Social and Political Imagination (2022)CONCEPTSThe Intervention Level Framework as developed by Dr Finegood and colleagues. On this site there are some good graphics and links to other research on system change approaches – in this case relevant to public health. Part of the complex systems frameworks collection of Simon Fraser University, BC Canada.GUEST AND CONTACT DETAILS:GUEST: Dr Andrew Joyce, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Impact, Swinburne CSI, Australia.AUSPICE PARTNER (HOPE INC. AUSTRALIA) Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE) T:07 4639 2135 E: office@hopeaustralia.org.au WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSWEBSITE FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM LINKED INPRODUCTION: Produced for HOPE Inc. Australia by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 10th June 2025Music: James Nicholson Artwork: Andrew Nicholson.
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    37 mins
  • IMAGINING VISIONARY COMMUNITY ALLIANCE TO SUPPORT STRONGER CITIZEN-LED RESISTANCE TO STATE CAPTURE

    IMAGINING VISIONARY COMMUNITY ALLIANCE TO SUPPORT STRONGER CITIZEN-LED RESISTANCE TO STATE CAPTURE
    Jun 4 2025
    My guest in this episode is Dr Mark Diesendorf, Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Humanities & Languages, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, UNSW Sydney. During our discussion, Dr Diesendorf outlines how we could weaken state capture of governments and institutions by vested interests - and push for a fairer society through building a mass movement and alliances; and implementing visionary policies, such as transitioning to a steady state economy and providing universal basic services. In some of his most recent work he has identified the interconnected, damaging effects produced by politically powerful vested interests supported by an economic system based on the exploitation of the environment and most people for the benefit of a wealthy minority. Along with other researchers in this space such findings point toward a highly probable dystopian future involving the continued loss of nature, massive social disruption and even the ultimate collapse of modern civilisation.The good news is that we do not have to follow that trajectory into failing futures. We can and must change our development pathways - which is what the bulk of the discussion is focussed on.INTERVIEW TALKING POINT SEGMENTS FOR EACH GUEST – with approximate time elapsed in minutes. GENERIC INTRO AND GUEST FORESHADOW – 0.00EPISODE INTRODUCTION – 3.38GUEST SELF-INTRODUCTION – 5.37GUEST WORK IN 2025 AND GOING FORWARD – 8.23IMAGINATIVE EXERCISE 1 - TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 – 17.39 EXERCISE 2 - SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE IN 2025 – 30.36CLOSING COMMENTS AND AUDIENCE INVITATION– 41.27END OF EPISODE – 45.17SELECTED RESOURCES BASED ON COMMENTSDr. MARK DISENDORF RESOURCES His portal WEBSITE with links to a wide range of his research publications, presentations and ideas.A recent paper covering many of the ideas discussed in the episode. A Strategy for Resisting the Vested Interests Driving the Collapse of the Biosphere and Civilisation (2025).Some of Mark’s thinking on ecological economics and non-orthodox economic solutions to multiple interconnected challenges we are facing. (May 2025).Mark’s landmark book dealing with the impacts of state capture by vested interests – and strategies of resistance The Path to a Sustainable Civilisation: Technological, Socioeconomic and Political Change (Palgrave Macmillan, 2023)Selection of other research publications from Mark - listed by UNSW Sydney.INITIATIVES AND ORGANISATIONS DiEM25‘Europe will be democratised, once the oligarchy is overthrown! (DiEM25 06 2025).Australian Democracy Network 'We are creating an Australia where civil society isrobust and vibrant; public debate is informed, fair and diverse; citizens are engaged, government is clean, open and accountable and the wellbeing of people and the planet comes first.' (ADM 2025)BOOKS:Yanis Varoufakis - Another Now: Dispatches from an Alternative Present (2020). Google book review of an intriguing fictional approach to imagining a preferable more sustainable future. Geoff Mulgan – Another World Is Possible: How to Reignite Social and Political Imagination (2022) Miller, R. (2018). Transforming the future: Anticipation in the 21st century. Free UNESCO book resource on Futures Literacy and Foresight. CONCEPTS:Ecological economics – a short video introduction to principles and examples by Dr Dan O’Neill of the European Society for Ecological Economics.CONTACT DETAILS:GUEST: Dr. Mark DiesendorfE: m.diesendorf@unsw.edu.au WEB: Facebook: LinkedIn. AUSPICE PARTNER (HOPE INC. AUSTRALIA)Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE) T: 07 4639 2135 E: office@hopeaustralia.org.au WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSWEBSITE FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM LINKED INPRODUCTION: Produced for HOPE Inc. Australia by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 4th June 2025Music: James Nicholson Artwork: Andrew Nicholson * ANY SPOTIFY COMMENTS TO OFFER?
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    45 mins
  • IMAGINING A STRONGER COMBINED ROLE FOR ART, SCIENCE AND NATURE CONNECTEDNESS STORYTELLING

    IMAGINING A STRONGER COMBINED ROLE FOR ART, SCIENCE AND NATURE CONNECTEDNESS STORYTELLING
    Jun 2 2025
    In this episode we imagine some opportunities for a future strengthening of the collaboration between art, science, and nature connectedness. How might the increased power of storytelling which emerges help us move toward achieving a climate safer, properly nature protected, socially fairer and genuinely more prosperous future? A flourishing future which leaves no-one behind.?I’m joined by two great guests to help explore this future vision imaginative question and others. Both are from Southern Queensland, Australia. Jennifer Waithman is co-ordinator of the Wide Bay Burnett environment council, and Dr.Sarah Pye is a staff member at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Both guests have great experience in combining art and science in imaginative storytelling aimed at helping educate audiences on the importance of proper protection of nature. For Sarah, that has included writing children’s books on the topic and Jennifer has extensive experience in interpretive guiding for nature.INTERVIEW TALKING POINT SEGMENTS FOR EACH GUEST – with approximate time elapsed in minutes. (00.00) GENERIC INTRODUCTION(02.52) GUEST FORESHADOW"(03.25) EPISODE INTRODUCTION (06.36) GUEST SELF INTRO AND WORK IN 2025(19.06) IMAGINATIVE EXERCISE -1 TIME TRAVEL TO 2040(29.38) IMAG EXERCISE 2 -SIGNALS OF FUTURE IN 2025 (41.41) IMAG EXERCISE 3 - ACTION PLAN FOR 2025 (51.58) CLOSING COMMENTS /AUDIENCE INVITATION (54.41) END OF MAIN EPISODE DISCUSSION BONUS CONTENT – ANTHROPOMORPHISM -NATURE STORYTELLING-EDUCATION.(1.06.34) EPISODE CLOSESELECTED RESOURCES RELEVANT TO INTERVIEW COMMENTSINITIATIVES AND ORGANISATIONS Interpretation Australia – portal websiteDr Pye’s academic publication record at University of Sunshine Coast, Queensland.The Wide Bay Burnett Conservation Council (WBBCC).BOOKSLesley Head: Hope and Grief in the Anthropocene: Reconceptualising Human-Nature Relations (2016) short review based on discussion with the author (2018)Miller, R. (2018). Transforming the future: Anticipation in the 21st century. Free UNESCO book resource on Futures Literacy and Foresight. Geoff Mulgan: Another World Is Possible: How to Reignite Social and Political Imagination (2022) Dr. Sarah Pye’s book, conservation and schools education work ⁠website⁠. Freeman Tilden - Interpreting our Heritage (1957)CONCEPTSAnthropomorphism - background on the ideaEcological Citizenship in relation to children’s play areas – taken from tertiary level academic course at Wrexham University, UK (2025)Ecological economics – a short video introduction to principles and examples by Dr Dan O’Neill of the European Society for Ecological Economics.Ecological or Eco Grief – a short 2018 Conversation article on this issue.Experiential Education - a USA perspective on basic principlesNature Connectedness - taken from the portal site of the University of Derby, UK (2025)Radical Hope - short introduction set in a museums context. Rights of Nature – an introduction from the portal Australian Earth Laws Centre site Planetary boundaries – Stockholm Resilience CentreGross Domestic Product – a brief history based on an article from the World Economic Forum (2025).GUEST AND OTHER CONTACT DETAILS: GUESTS: Dr.Sarah Pye WEBJennifer Waithman at Wide Bay Burnett Environment Council E: manager@wbbec.org.auAUSPICE PARTNER:Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE):T: 07 4639 2135 E: office@hopeaustralia.org.au WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSWEBSITE FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM LINKED INPRODUCTION:Produced for HOPE Inc. Australia by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on 2nd June 2025 Music: James Nicholson Artwork: Andrew Nicholson * ANY SPOTIFY COMMENTS TO OFFER?
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    1 hr and 7 mins