uplift

here are some uplifting words for the new year drawn from 9 episodes of conscient podcast et 3 extraits du balado conscient

This posting of a calm presence was designed as an audio listening experience though it also exists in written form, here.

Ceci est un episode bilingue. Afin de faciliter la compréhension des extraits en anglais, j’ai ajouté une transcription de l’épisode en français dans les notes d’épisode. J’ai aussi ajouté un petit sommaire oral en français à la fin de chacun des épisodes en anglais. Personnellement, je trouve intéressant d'écouter quelqu'un parler dans une autre langue, car je peux me concentrer sur le ton et l'intonation de la voix. 

This is a bilingual episode. For those who do not understand French I have added a transcript in English in the episode notes. I also created a short English language oral summary for each of the French language episodes. Personally, I find it interesting to listen to someone speak in another language because I can focus on the tone and inflection of the voice.

Please note that the pace of my narration is rather slow with the occasional short silence.

This is how I like to listen to narrations, with lots of space to ponder what is being said but also to consider what might lie in between the words and in the timbre of the voice. I’m also recording this reading in one take, flubs and all, similar to a late night radio monologue where it’s ok to be imperfect and where time is suspended. 

Finally, a reminder that I now publish a calm presence postings one  at a time, for a few weeks and then replace it with a new one and so on. In other words, what you’re listening to now, recorded on January 1, 2026 at 8.51 am it will be erased sometime in February 2026, never to be published again but I hope it might be retained in memory for those who  need it, which is why I created this Substack in the first place, for those in need of a calm presence.

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END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Hey conscient listeners, 

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020. It’s my way to give back.

This Indigenous Land Acknowledgement statement was developed by members of the Algonquin community for my former employer the Canada Council for the Arts. I have adapted slightly to make it my own.

• I acknowledge that my studio, located in Ottawa, is on the unceded, unsurrendered Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial.
• I recognize the Algonquins as the customary keepers and defenders of the Ottawa River Watershed and its tributaries. I honour their long history of welcoming many Nations to this beautiful territory and uphold and uplift the voice and values of our Host Nation.
• Further, I offer my respect and affirm the inherent and Treaty Rights of all Indigenous Peoples across this land and honour commitments to self-determination and sovereignty that have been made to Indigenous Nations and Peoples.
• I acknowledge the historical oppression of lands, cultures and the original Peoples in what we now know as Canada and fervently believe the Arts contribute to the healing and decolonizing journey we all share together

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish a free ‘a calm presence' monthly Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.

Your feedback is always welcome at [email protected] and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack.

Share what you like, etc

I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on January 9, 2026

(note: to read the original a calm presence Substack posting click here)

It’s Thursday November 27th, 2025, at about 10pm. 

I’m sitting by a fireplace at our cottage in Duhamel Québec and I want to tell you a story called 4%.  

When I turned 50 on December 3rd, 2009, I decided to take 50 days off from my work, which was not easy at the time. My goal was to sort through the many boxes of stuff in our basement: letters, sketches, notes, articles, posters, booklets and so on.  

At the end of the 50 days I wrote a Facts and Arguments article, ‘I took 50 days of when I turned 50’ that published in the Globe and Mail on February 18, 2010 about how and why I got rid of 80% of my archives during those 50 days off. 

Here are two excerpts from that article: 

• I dug a hole in the snow and spent the next three hours burning the documents, page by page. Sometimes I would hesitate over an item but decided to see the process through. As paper transformed into ash, I internalized the voices and messages frozen in those documents. They will now die with me. I thanked the authors and my collaborators. This felt good and right. I smelled like a forest fire. 
• I started composing music when I was 12 in North Bay and have been active in a number of cultural fields since, including music, arts administration, programming and event production. Like many people, I kept records of my work - photos, recordings, scores, correspondence, programs and essays. I'm not quite sure why I kept it all, but I figured one day I would know. Perhaps it was vanity, but more likely an act of self-preservation.

It's 16 years later now and I have no regrets. 

In fact, as I turn 66 in a few days I’m about to get rid of another 80% or so of the remaining 20% of my archives which leaves me with about 4% of my original belongings and that feels just about right. 

Why did I do it?  

Mostly it’s because I don’t want to leave a mess for my family when I die but there’s another reason…

I’m currently taking a course called Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet(ZASP), which is a learning journey to nurture insight, compassion, community, and mindful action in service of the Earth, based on the work of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and has been developed by the monks at Plum Village in France. 

One of the course’s many teachings refers to the Diamond Sutra, a 9th century Mahāyāna Buddhist text that focuses on concepts of emptiness, reality and wisdom. 

What caught my attention during the course, and made me think about my archives, was how the Diamond Sutra questions the notions of self (separation), of what it means to be human, of our relations with all living beings and of one’s life span. As I processed these teachings, I felt it was a good time to let go of non-essential things. 

So, what did I get rid of and why? 

Gone are my cassette and DAT tape collection of field recordings from the 1980’s and 1990’s. Many of these sounds are in my compositions but the rest have no value. I threw out some back in 2010 but it’s now time to let them all go as the tapes fall apart. I create a little ritual to thank the voices recorded before letting them go.  

Gone are piles and piles of articles and essays about acoustic ecology, climate change, environmental art and so on. I don’t think I’ll ever get around to reading them, so I gave away those that had value and burned the rest. 

Gone are documents and minutes from organizations that I helped to incorporate like the WFAE, CASE, SCALE and so on. I trust that my colleagues in those organizations have kept key documents in their corporate archives so my files are now redundant.

I’ve streamlined my digital footprint on the internet, for example, I removed all 80 of my a calm presence Substack postings, which I now publish one at a time, this posting being the latest, which replaces erasure and so on. This lightens things up and keep me more anchored in the present. 

I love books but gave away most of my books in the ‘take one - leave one’ community library in front of our house and trust that they will find their way to the right people.  

I also gave away unused clothing and objects around the house are no longer required but that others might be able to use.  

I’m telling you this because you might go through a similar process at some point in your life. It’s good to think about what we leave behind and in what kind of order. 

So, what did I keep? 

A few binders, organized chronologically, with original manuscripts, photos, letters, certificates, etc. and an SSD drive with my digital originals (essays, podcasts, my Substack, electroacoustic compositions, etc.). I also kept a few t-shirts but that’s about it. It all fits in a medium sized box. 

That’s it. 

I plan to continue learning and engaging with issues I care about, of course, but it’s a bit of fresh start. I’ll be going to the library more. I might even buy a new book or audio book once in a while, but the idea now is to keep knowledge flowing in the present – to read listen to things as they come out - and to keep the archives very light.  

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END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Hey conscient listeners, 

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa). 

It’s my way to give back.

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish a free ‘a calm presence' monthly Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.

Your feedback is always welcome at [email protected] and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack.

Share what you like, etc

I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on December 5, 2025

• Take care of the earth. We have grandsons and great-great-grandsons, and we have to, we, our generation, has to teach the young people what we lived, the beauty of the world that we lived, not the disaster we have today.

Hello conscient podcast listeners,

Many of us do international travel, probably a bit too much. 

When I travel, I consider it a privilege that comes with responsibilities. 

For example, whenever we can we try to give back by donating to local charities in the region where I’m visiting or maybe making sure that we tip appropriately and that the people we am with get a fare wage. We also try to by buy credible carbon offsets. That kind of thing. 

You might recall e235 lallan – art from the soil, which I recorded while in the Tirthan Valley in Northern India :

• My advice to artists would be drop every garb that you have, drop every piece of knowledge that you think you have. Head to the jungles, head to the rural places. We are living in a time of crisis.

You might also recall e236 keiko torigoe – the power of listening, which was recorded in Tokyo, Japan:  

• The environmental issues currently at hand, including global warming, are related, but I believe that at their root lies the decline of our listening ability and the power of listening as humanity.

Both episodes were recorded quite spontaneously on my iphone. I hadn’t planned to record these interviews, but as I listened to some of the stories around me and I thought it could be a gesture of reciprocity to make these voices available on this podcast to help raise awareness about activities in that country but also to point out commonalities between us all in the world. 

So, what you’re about to hear is my third conversation in this series, this time with Francisco Rodriguez, a Chilean born banker, who with his wife Sylvia, manage the Anaconda Lodge on the shores of the Napo River near Tena, in Ecuador, where my wife Sabrina and daughter Clara were doing some eco-tourism. 

So we had the pleasure of staying there and meeting Francisco and others from the region. 

I sat down with Francisco – you’ll hear some birds and insects in the background - about his relationship with the Amazon forest as a living entity as well as their collaborations with the Kichwa indigenous people who are the traditional custodians of these lands and waters. 

You’ll hear some beautiful sounds and good stories about the Amazon, which I found uplifting but you’ll also hear about some of the very serious challenges that they currently face, which call upon increased solidarity from the rest of the world, given that the Amazon is the lung of the earth. 

You’ll notice this episode is a bit more than 15 minutes. I added some soundscapes that makes it a bit longer than usual, which I hope you’ll enjoy.

Warm thanks Francisco, Sylvia, all the guides and staff at Anaconda Lodge for their kindness and hospitality. 

Episodes notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI

Key Takeaways:

• Support Indigenous communities by living alongside them and understanding their challenges, rather than offering temporary aid.
• Learn about the Amazon’s diverse cultures and ecological fragility through reading and authentic resources.
• Reduce your carbon footprint by making small, conscious changes in daily habits to support global environmental efforts.
• Recognize the Amazon as a single, interconnected entity, not divided by national borders, but by Indigenous territories.
• Understand the impact of Western influences, such as processed food and consumer goods, on uncontacted tribes and their traditional way of life.

Story Preview

Discover the journey of Francisco Rodriguez, who left the banking world to dedicate his life to protecting the Amazon and working its Indigenous peoples. Hear how he and his wife Sylvia created Anaconda Lodge as a bridge between cultures, fostering understanding and solidarity for the ‘lung of Mother Earth.’ 

Chapter Summary

00:00 Introduction to Amazon and Indigenous Voices
02:44 From Banker to Amazon Advocate
05:50 Living with Indigenous Communities
09:58 Ecotourism and Amazonian Consciousness
14:25 Understanding the Amazon from Afar
20:00 Sustainable Living and Jungle Communication

Featured Quotes

• We always hope that when they go back home, they use less fossil fuel.
• You have to think one thing, these people have been beating up by our, by we Western people for over 500 years.
• Our main goal is to make our guests to understand where they are.

Behind the Story

Claude  shares his third recording from international travel, this time from the Anaconda Lodge near Tena, in Ecuador. He, his wife Sabrina, and daughter Clara experienced ecotourism firsthand which led to this conversation with Francisco Rodriguez. The episode highlights the value of reciprocity when traveling and making voices from different regions accessible to a global audience.

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END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Hey conscient listeners, 

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020. It’s my way to give back.

This Indigenous Land Acknowledgement statement was developed by members of the Algonquin community for my former employer the Canada Council for the Arts. I have adapted slightly to make it my own.

• I acknowledge that my studio, located in Ottawa, is on the unceded, unsurrendered Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial.
• I recognize the Algonquins as the customary keepers and defenders of the Ottawa River Watershed and its tributaries. I honour their long history of welcoming many Nations to this beautiful territory and uphold and uplift the voice and values of our Host Nation.
• Further, I offer my respect and affirm the inherent and Treaty Rights of all Indigenous Peoples across this land and honour commitments to self-determination and sovereignty that have been made to Indigenous Nations and Peoples.
• I acknowledge the historical oppression of lands, cultures and the original Peoples in what we now know as Canada and fervently believe the Arts contribute to the healing and decolonizing journey we all share together

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish a free ‘a calm presence' monthly Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.

Your feedback is always welcome at [email protected] and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack.

Share what you like, etc

I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on January 9, 2026

• In an era where pressures on climate and environments grow even stronger, we should not underestimate the transformative power of art. (Ambassador of the European Union to Canada Geneviève Tuts)
• When you do the trigger, the emotional part, you can go down hope and fear both. Both lead to action but ultimately, we need to transform being passive into really active contributors to solving this and what a better way than art? (Akash Rastogi, Chief Capital Strategy Officer at Canada’s Ocean Supercluster) 
• We want to activate the creativity of communities through the arts to create the cities of the future, basically, right, the cities we want to live in (Juan Eraso, leader of international programs at Culturans)
• ‘Change happens. There's always going to be ways to adapt. That's not to say that the initial change might not be catastrophic but there was always going to be something left and you have to work with that’. (e208 clara schryer - science as story). Now it breaks my heart to hear that because for a young person to say that means that they don't anticipate there won't be a lot left and yet… (Claude Schryer)
• We know that when we work with green spaces, we work with life, we work with art, we can rebuild, we can regenerate, but we have to do it differently. (Claude Schryer)

Yes, to doing things differently. 

Yes, to more evocative, emotionally resonant art.

Yes, to dissolving boundaries.

(Background sound from Jubilee Queen Cruise Ship in podcast)

When I got an invitation from Jana Macalik, Director of the Global Centre for Climate Action at OCAD University to participate on a panel about art and climate - one of my passions - I was excited and honoured to accept. 

This panel was part of an event called Dissolving Boundaries that took place on October 4, 2025, as part of Nuit Blanche Toronto, which of course went on all night. It featured the premiere of a large scale, beautiful large-scale art projection by Alessandro Gisendi and Marco Noviello of the OOOPStudio in Italy. Their work was projected onto the massive Canada Malting Silos on the shores of Lake Ontario in Tkaronto. 

Dissolving Boundaries was co-presented by the Global Centre for Climate Action at OCAD University and the European Union (EU), through its Delegation to Canada. I want to thank them for their hospitality and congratulate them their vision in collaborating, partnering and bringing this work and this conversation to us. 

The timing was good for me. I was wrapping up season 6 of my conscient podcast / balado conscient after some 350 episodes since I started it in 2020 and I was about to take a break, but then I got a call to talk about how arts and culture can help move audiences from awareness to action and I could not refuse that. I felt good about speaking freely and really listening to the different points of view. 

We were on a ship called the Jubilee Queen Cruise Ship so it quite moving, literally, to be on a boat looking out onto the projection and talking about art, culture and climate. 

Here’s Ana Serrano, OCAD University’s President and Vice-Chancellor explaining what the event was about: 

• But we can't stop, really. We don't really have much of a choice. So, convening like this, trying to figure out ways to create evocative, emotionally resonant works that will catalyze people into thinking about their relationship with the land, with water, with climate and their daily actions is what tonight is all about.

First you’ll hear Ana Serrano shares some inspiring opening remarks, followed by an engaging speech by the Ambassador of the EU to Canada, Geneviève Tuts. You’ll then hear panelists, with Ana as facilitator, speak one by one. First Alessandro Gisendi, Akash Rastogi (Chief Capital Strategy Officer at Canada’s Ocean Supercluster) myself, Juan Erazo (Culturans) and Alice Xu (Director of Policy, Planning and Program Enablement; Environment, Climate and Forestry Division at the City of Toronto).  

At the end of the recording you’ll hear a question from an audience member, who happens to be a friend of mine, Coman Poon (e202 coman poon - what are you doing with your life ?) ask about ‘extraction for the sake of economic autonomy’, which we all commented upon. The conversation continued until it was time to view the art projection!

I want to express my warmest thanks to the organizers, fellow panelists, audience members and in particular to OCAD sound technician Omar Qureshi, who recorded this session for me.

Enjoy. It’s good to talk about these things with creative energy. 

May the conversations continue.

*

Episodes notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI

Key Takeaways:

• Activate community creativity through art to design future cities and foster positive change.
• Bridge the gap between rational climate data and emotional engagement to motivate action.
• Reassess economic models to prioritize natural assets and foster international cooperation for scalable solutions.
• Integrate nature-based solutions into urban planning and daily life, celebrating local initiatives.
• Leverage cross-sector collaboration, including Indigenous wisdom, to address complex climate challenges with accountability and compassion.

Story Preview

In a world grappling with urgent climate pressures, this episode reveals how art can ignite powerful emotions, transforming passive observers into active contributors. Hear how artists, scientists, and policymakers converge to create evocative experiences that inspire hope and drive tangible solutions for a sustainable future.

Chapter Summary

00:00 Art’s Transformative Power in Climate Action
05:42 OCAD U’s Vision for Climate Action
12:55 EU’s Commitment to Sustainable Future
18:11 Dissolving Boundaries: Art Installation
23:02 Oceans, Innovation, and Emotional Triggers
27:44 Art as a Tool for Community Creativity
33:14 Nature-Based Solutions and Urban Greenery
37:26 Reconnecting with Nature
39:55 Cross-Sectoral Collaboration for Future Cities
42:44 International Cooperation for Ocean Climate Solutions
45:26 Art’s Role in Changing Habits
47:40 Building Connections for Climate Action
49:16 Addressing Societal Values and Economic Flaws
52:05 Indigenous Wisdom and Future Paths
53:41 Closing Remarks and Art Installation Details

Featured Quotes

• In an era where pressures on climate and environments grow even stronger, we should not underestimate the transformative power of art. (Ambassador of the European Union to Canada Geneviève Tuts)
• When you do the trigger, the emotional part, you can go down hope and fear both, both lead to action, but ultimately, we need to transform being passive into really active contributors to solving this. And what a better way than art? (Akash Rastogi, Chief Capital Strategy Officer at Canada’s Ocean Supercluster)
• We know that when we work with green spaces, we work with life, we work with art, we can rebuild, we can regenerate, but we must do it differently. (Claude Schryer)

Behind the Story

This panel discussion, “Dissolving Boundaries,” was recorded on October 4, 2025 on the Jubilee Queen cruise ship during Nuit Blanche Toronto. It featured the premiere of a large-scale art projection by Alessandro Gisendi and Marco Noviello of Oops Studio, projected onto the Canada Malting Silos. Co-presented by OCAD University’s Global Center for Climate Action and the European Union, the event brought together diverse art and climate experts to explore the role of art and collaboration in addressing climate change.

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END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Hey conscient listeners, 

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020. It’s my way to give back.

This Indigenous Land Acknowledgement statement was developed by members of the Algonquin community for my former employer the Canada Council for the Arts. I have adapted slightly to make it my own.

• I acknowledge that my studio, located in Ottawa, is on the unceded, unsurrendered Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial.
• I recognize the Algonquins as the customary keepers and defenders of the Ottawa River Watershed and its tributaries. I honour their long history of welcoming many Nations to this beautiful territory and uphold and uplift the voice and values of our Host Nation.
• Further, I offer my respect and affirm the inherent and Treaty Rights of all Indigenous Peoples across this land and honour commitments to self-determination and sovereignty that have been made to Indigenous Nations and Peoples.
• I acknowledge the historical oppression of lands, cultures and the original Peoples in what we now know as Canada and fervently believe the Arts contribute to the healing and decolonizing journey we all share together

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish a free ‘a calm presence' monthly Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.

Your feedback is always welcome at [email protected] and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack.

Share what you like, etc

I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on January 9, 2026

erasure

emulating sand mandalas

(note: you can read the original posting here)

It's November 1st, 2025 and as you can hear, I'm not at home. We've been traveling for the last couple of weeks in Ecuador. We're now in the Amazon near Tena in the territory of the Kichwa people (Anaconda Lodge).

I'm reading you this a calm presence posting called erasure. What I've just done, or I will do soon, is erase all 81 postings that I have made in French and in English, on this Substack.

I’m starting from scratch, and it feels good.

Let me explain…

When I first launched a calm presence in February of 2024, my intentions were to share my learnings ‘for those in need of a calm presence’. That's a term that I borrowed from Dharma teacher Catherine Ingram.

And it was successful. People would respond and I would essentially think out loud.

But I've come to realize that these essays and opinion pieces - heartfelt as they might be - are snapshots in time that quickly become outdated. 

They weren't meant to be kept, really, but I kept them anyway, because that's the way we do things.

We don't throw things out, partially because of vanity, but also to have a trail of one's work or thinking. 

A few days ago we were hiking in the Andes and the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of sand mandalas came to mind, so I went to Wikipedia. Sand mandalas are defined as :

• the creation and destruction of mandalas made from colored sand. Once complete, the sand mandala's ritualistic dismantling is accompanied by ceremonies and viewings to symbolize Buddhist doctrinal belief in the transitory nature of material life. 

The transitory nature of material life, which is more or less what a calm presence is about. 

This got me thinking : what if, with all due respect to Tibetan culture and any cultural borrowings, I emulated the creation and the destructive process of sand mandalas with the content and form of a calm presence. 

If not emulate, then at least be inspired by this way of creating, knowing that it will be returned to the Earth, so to speak.

And since this is a digital art or digital project, I started thinking about what it meant for all those digits that retain the knowledge somehow, or at least carry it, what happens when they get dispersed? 

And so it opened up a whole new world, new way of thinking about writing and dissemination and memory and related issues. 

I was inspired by the sand mandala tradition. 

I'll read you a quote of how it's described : 

• into flowing water to symbolize the cycle of life and the dissolution of the physical world.

So when the sand is returned, it is through water and then dispersed back into nature. And there's the healing energy side to things that also interests me and that I will explore further. 

I think the idea is when somebody reads a calm presence posting, it is metabolized. 

They retain whatever they want to retain. It can be a word or two, a couple of thoughts, and then that's it. There's no need to go back to it. After a few weeks of it being present in our lives, it disappears.

And another comes along when it's relevant and so on and so forth. There isn't the accumulation, there's simply an experiencing that goes on as part of day-to-day life. 

I like that and I'm going to give it a try. 

And if you so wish, you can continue to follow and hear or read these postings, which won't be much longer than this one today. 

And before leaving, I want to thank the 290 subscribers to a calm presence. It's been good to have the company and the exchange, but I also want to remind you that you're more than welcome to unsubscribe if you want to take a break. Don't feel obliged, I won't be offended.

This is a kind of word-of-mouth activity. 

The way that I read and share, I think, is the way I like to work. If something inspires you or motivates you or resonates somehow, I just let that be shared in whichever way you want. Sometimes it's a story, sometimes it's an electronic transfer passing on. 

This is the first of these new postings, the Sand Mandela inspired series which will disappear soon. 

I wish you all the best.

*

Cover photo of moss at 4100 meters, Quito, Ecuador by Claude Schryer

*

END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Hey conscient listeners, 

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa). 

It’s my way to give back.

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish a free ‘a calm presence' monthly Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.

Your feedback is always welcome at [email protected] and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack.

Share what you like, etc

I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on December 5, 2025

This is my narration of October 16, 2025  ‘my arcanum’ a calm presence Substack.

You’ll hear that I’ve added some keyboard music here and there generated on a Yamaha e353 keyboard which I bought to help me learn my tenor 2 parts for the Canadian Centennial Choir here in Ottawa but as I recorded the narration I started playing a muted banjo patch in chuck boom boom style and it reminded of listening to radio artist Joe Frank in the 1980s who often had this kind of marimba sound in his radio plays and it always mesmerized me and so I had some fun adding the different sounds of this synthesizer, integrating it with the narration and I think what I was trying to is to lighten up a bit as I narrate these rather dark thoughts. 

Excerpt from the beginning of the posting:  

It was inspired by tea with artist and family friend Barbara Cuerden on September 27th, 2025. 

While chatting, Barbara mentioned Saul Bellow’s 1987 novel More Die of Heartbreak, notably this excerpt from page 27 : 

• An arcanum is more than a mere secret; it's what you have to know in order to be fertile in a creative pursuit, to make discoveries, to prepare for the communication of a spiritual mystery.

Ah-ha.

I told Barbara and my wife Sabrina, quite spontaneously, and perhaps foolishly : 

• I think my own arcanum is full. I don’t think I need to know anything more at this point… 

I didn’t mean to say that I know everything, not by any means, but rather that I have heard and produced so many podcasts, read so many books, seen so many films, read and written so many essays, organized and attended so many webinars and workshops, had so many conversations etc. so that I don’t think, at this point, more knowledge will help.

My learning and unlearning journey with conscient podcast and balado conscient has come full circle and it was time to let all that knowing settle, consolidate and metabolize.

However, one topic in particular continues to haunt me: 

• How to be an activist in the context of societal collapse? 
• How to genuinely stay positive and hopeful? 
• How to behave normally knowing that our species is in freefall? 

I hope these words are helpful to you. Maybe some of them resonate. 

Feel free to share any comments in this forum or to me directly: [email protected]

Warm thanks to Kamea Chayne, Lyla June Johnston, Vanessa Andreotti, Shaun Chamberlin, Indy Johar, Clara Schryer and Riel Schryer for using their words with special thanks to Barbara Cuerden for telling me about arcana.

*

END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Hey conscient listeners, 

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa). 

It’s my way to give back.

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish free ‘a calm presence' Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.

Your feedback is always welcome at [email protected] and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack.

Share what you like, etc

I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on September 28, 2025

This is a narrated version of my 'hunkering down' essay on a a calm presence.

This essay is inspired by interviews with and writings by David Suzuki, Seth Klein, Joanna Macy and Thich Nhat Hanh. 

The episode also features excerpts from conscient podcast episodes é55 – un petit instant with France Trépanier, e177 - unknownness as a playground for artists with Asma Khan, e231 – what can we contribute?  with Kelly Wilhelm, e239 roundtable – imagining in public e2 - artist perspectives on social impact with Jesse Hirsh and e235 – art from the soil with Lallan.

My conclusion is that:

‘I don’t think humans will survive much longer as a species on earth and I worry about the suffering of current and future human and more-than-human communities.’

And

‘My own balance point between hope and despair lies in my belief that we are all living energy and that life in the cosmos will unfold as it should and the best course of action for someone like me is to be as calm a presence as I can while looking up at the stars in wonder and doing everything I can to reduce suffering and prepare for the future.’

The narration was recorded on August 11, 2025 while drifting in a kayak on the Preston River in Duhamel, Québec. This is an uninterrupted recording except for 10 seconds of silence in between sections. Quoted texts have been slightly processed for clarity. See the Transcript tab for a complete transcription. 

As always, feel free to respond in the public comments section of any of my social media or privately to me : [email protected].

Thanks for listening. 

Below is there I list 15 resources that I narrate (also available in the written essay and in the episodie transcript): 

1. Climate Emergency Unit, led by Seth Klein, presses for the implementation of wartime-scale policies in Canada to confront the climate crisis. They produce the excellent Break In Case of Emergency podcast and campaigns such as the Youth Climate Corps. A good place to start is my conversation with their director of campaigns, Anjali Appadurai, e23 – what does a just transition look like? and my two conversations with Seith Klein : e26 – rallying through art and e77 seth klein – identifying a shared vision and a set of actions
2. Collapse 2050 by Sarah Connor (which is a pseudonym) explores the unspoken truth about humanity's frightening future. I’ve found her postings are grounded in fact and terrifying to read. I recommend it for those who want to deepen their understanding about how we got here and why we need to hunker down. In this vein, I also recommend Jessica Wildfire’s The Sentinel-Intelligence which is more focused on survival tactics. I recommend her From Collapse Awareness to Collapse Acceptance posting. Both are from the US and have that point of view.
3. Dark Optimism is a not-for-profit public interest research and activism structure featuring the writing of Shaun Chamberlin. I recommend subscribing to his newsletter and consider taking the Surviving the Future : The Deeper Dive course, which I took during the winter of 2025. For more on this see e218 roundtable - surviving the future where you can directly from participants including myself. This 3 month course is intended for those ‘seeking insights and allies to help themselves and their localities through profound change’. It’s hard work but transformative and liberating. A similar deep dive course is Facing Human Wrongs, which I mention below.
4. David Suzuki Foundation has a wealth of resources and regenerative projects. For example, I was deeply moved by the Rewilding exhibit at the Canadian Museum of Nature where thirteen Canadian artists bring the concept of rewilding to life, highlighting the vital role that nature plays in our communities through their compelling works of art. Two conscient podcast guests are part of the exhibit : sarah peebles in e230 – how can we reciprocate? and Kendra Fanconi in e36 – towards carbon positive work and e87 – on the artist brigade, ben okri, eco-restoration, eco-grief & reauthoring the world. I also recommend watching a conversation on Instagram between Suzuki and his daughter Sarika about hope and raising children.
5. Ecologies in Practice: Environmentally Engaged Arts in Canada is a book co-edited by Amanda White and Elysia French that explores ‘the ways in which cultural production informs perceptions, communications, and knowledge of environmental distress in a Canadian context’. I was pleased to discover this group of research based ecological artists who were mostly new to me. Amanda and Elysia also produce the excellent Ecologies in Practice Podcast.
6. Emergence Magazine is an ‘online publication with an annual print edition connecting the threads between ecology, culture, and spirituality’ which are three of my favorite things. An email arrives every Sunday morning in my inbox that invites me to read, listen and do exercises. I recommend subscribing to their podcast and viewing their film series.
7. How to Fall in Love with the Futureby Rob Hopkins, who I discovered this year, is a ‘deep dive into the people and movements throughout history who have used visions of the future to inspire positive change on a large and dramatic scale’. Rob is co-founder of Transition Network and of Transition Town Totnes. I recommend his From What If To What Next podcast series (2020-2024) and his Field Recordings from the Future.
8. Green Dreamerwith Kamea Chayne encourages us to ‘be more imaginative in dreaming up our futures and reorienting ‘growth’ towards what matters most to our well-being’. I’ve listened to hundreds of episodes of this podcast and am consistently engaged and inspired by these spirited conversations. Green Dreamer also produces the alchemize program which I have taken and recommend  (see e161 alchemize circle - a conversation with kamea chayne). The indefatigable Kamea also produces uprooted : ‘metabolizing the mess and immensity of our socio-ecological-cultural crises via expansive interviews, critical essays and heart-centered reflections.’
9. Gesturing Towards Decolonial Futures(GTDF) is an arts-research collective led by Vanessa Andreotti (author of Hospicing Modernity with a follow up book, Outgrowing Modernity: Navigating Complexity, Complicity, and Collapse with Accountability and Compassion which is out now). They operate as a workspace for collaborations around different kinds of artistic, pedagogical, cartographic, and relational experiments that aim to identify and de-activate colonial habits of being, and to gesture towards the possibility of decolonial futures. I took the first iteration of their Facing Human Wrongs course in 2022 which is an exploration of the ongoing systemic violence we perpetuate towards one another and the planet we are part. I produced a radio play about some of my learnings  in e111 - what are the traps in your life?
10. Ishmael is a 1992 philosophical novel by Daniel Quinn. The novel examines the hidden cultural biases driving modern civilization and explores themes of ethics, sustainability, and global catastrophe’. I was transfixed by this conversation between a gorilla and human about human supremacy and cultural myths. Ishmael is part of a trilogy that includes a 1996 spiritual sequel, The Story of B, and a 1997 ‘sidequel’, My Ishmael, which are both on my reading radar.
11. Life After Doom by Brian D. McLean explores the ‘catastrophic failure of both our religious and political leaders to address the dominant realities of our time: ecological overshoot, economic injustice, and the increasing likelihood of civilizational collapse’. McLean is a pastor who tackles the complexities of religion and spirituality with finesse and equanimity. His book helped me work through some of my current anxiety and grief. I wrote about his book in a sense of communion. I recommend the audio book version read by the author. In this vein about grief I also recommend Jennifer Atkinson’s Facing It, a podcast series about love, loss, and the natural world.
12. otherWise is a ‘cosmolocal learning community of wisdom-seekers and re-villagers - small, place-rooted gatherings - deep, slow virtual inquiry - shared rituals - commons-sense’. This initiative comes out of EcoGather, which now exists as a freely accessible digital archive of courses and a community learning network. otherWise is a good place to explore what ‘hunker down’ culture might look like through their otherWisdom Circles and otherGardens programs.
13. Reseed is a podcast hosted by Alice Irene Whittaker about ‘repairing our relationship with nature featuring thoughtful conversations about our collective journey from takers to caretakers’. I love their regenerative and grounded stories. Alice Irene is also author of Homing: A Quest to Care for Myself and the Earthwhich you learn more about in e196  - homing, a book review) and e187 - caring for the planet I love.
14. The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens is about ‘navigating uncertainty through understanding and building a resilient future together’. This is my ‘go to’ podcast for unfiltered and credible scientific knowledge but also Nate’s philosophical and spiritual insights. In particular, I enjoy Hagen’s Frankly series of personal opinions that often mirror my own vulnerabilities and musings. Their web site is a great resource, notably The Great Simplification Movie. 
15. Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet by Thich Nhat Hanh and collaborators is a ‘vital approach to combating climate change and creating a better world for us and our future generations’. I recommend this book for those interested in engaged buddhism and environmental spiritual practices. An online course is offered by Plum Village. In this vein, also see e29 loy – the bodhisattva path.

Note: New content comes my way every day that inspires and motivates me, for example, Kamea Chayne’s All eyes on Gaza, all ears everywhere else, too, and all hands in the dirt!! in Uprooted  and Robertson Work’s Coming Home to the Present Moment in Compassionate Conversations.

*

END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Hey conscient listeners, 

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa). 

It’s my way to give back.

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish free ‘a calm presence' Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.

Your feedback is always welcome at [email protected] and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack.

Share what you like, etc

I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on September 28, 2025

• The question the book asks is obviously transforming the system is not an individual task, it's a collective activity. But it still begs the question, if we're trying to contribute to that, what do we need to do? Not every four years when we vote, not every year when we go to a strategy workshop, but what do we do every day? And so the title is very straightforward: Everyday Habits for Transforming Systems. And that's the question the book is offering an answer to.

My second conversation with writer, facilitator and consultant Adam Kahane (the first was episode e219) and with the audience at the Ottawa launch of Everyday Habits for Transforming Systems, the Catalytic Power of Radical Engagement at Perfect Books on July 2, 2025. This episode is part of my roundtable series, open-ended conversations about what a group of citizens are passionate about. And passionate they were! 

I started by asking Adam why he wrote the book and why does he think it’s relevant today, in particular here in the nation’s capital at a time when there are great tensions with our neighbours to the south and when Canadians are talking to each other more than ever about our shared values, and the challenges that we face such as the ecological crisis and climate emergency, which sadly seems to have temporarily fallen off our collective radar. 

Show notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI

Action points

• Embrace radical engagement: Lean into understanding diverse perspectives and actively seek common ground.
• Recognize the power of everyday habits: Focus on daily actions to create lasting systemic change.
• Navigate complexity: Balance working towards a larger goal with acknowledging individual interests and power dynamics.
• Collaborate across differences: Seek opportunities to work with those who hold different views to achieve meaningful progress.
• Act responsibly: Consider the broader impact of your actions on all living beings.

Story Preview

What if the key to changing the world lies not in grand gestures, but in the small, often overlooked habits of our daily lives? Adam Kahane shares his journey from facilitating transformative dialogues in South Africa to uncovering the power of radical engagement, inviting us to rethink how we contribute to a better future. 

Chapter Summary

00:00 The Collective Task of Transformation
01:19 Introducing Adam Kahane
04:01 Setting the Stage for Discussion
09:40 The Motivation Behind the Book
15:42 Everyday Habits for Transformation
22:39 Exploring the Seven Habits
29:12 The Slippery Slope of Disagreement and The Challenge of Acting Responsibly
35:20 Power Dynamics in Collaboration
39:40 Trust and Collaboration
44:00 Balancing Urgency and Everyday Habits
54:25 Art, Culture, and Collaboration
56:13 Radical Engagement in Action
01:00:05 Navigating Power Dynamics and The Importance of Agency
01:12:51 Redefining Power and Responsibility
01:17:04 Risks and Realities of Engagement
01:23:13 The Complexity of Multiple Systems

Featured Quotes

• Transforming the system is not an individual task. It’s a collective activity.
• Radical engagement is the opposite of standing back with your arms crossed saying, take it or leave it.
• Ring the bells you still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in. (quoting Leonard Cohen)

Behind the Story

Adam Kahane’s latest book, ‘Everyday Habits for Transforming Systems,’ stems from a moment of confusion during an interview with South African leader Trevor Manuel. This experience led Kahane to explore what it means to contribute to systemic change, focusing on the everyday actions that shape our world. This episode explores themes of power, collaboration, and social responsibility and how the arts weave their way through all of this. 

Credit: cover photo by Conyer Clayton

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END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Hey conscient listeners, 

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020. It’s my way to give back.

This Indigenous Land Acknowledgement statement was developed by members of the Algonquin community for my former employer the Canada Council for the Arts. I have adapted slightly to make it my own.

• I acknowledge that my studio, located in Ottawa, is on the unceded, unsurrendered Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial.
• I recognize the Algonquins as the customary keepers and defenders of the Ottawa River Watershed and its tributaries. I honour their long history of welcoming many Nations to this beautiful territory and uphold and uplift the voice and values of our Host Nation.
• Further, I offer my respect and affirm the inherent and Treaty Rights of all Indigenous Peoples across this land and honour commitments to self-determination and sovereignty that have been made to Indigenous Nations and Peoples.
• I acknowledge the historical oppression of lands, cultures and the original Peoples in what we now know as Canada and fervently believe the Arts contribute to the healing and decolonizing journey we all share together

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish a free ‘a calm presence' monthly Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.

Your feedback is always welcome at [email protected] and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack.

Share what you like, etc

I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on January 9, 2026

• To me, there's three key things and it's community, beauty and nature. I think if we connect with nature and if we produce beauty, that is something that we as humans I think is our biggest gift. And I'm not just talking about creating art : speaking beauty, listening to beauty, creating beauty, opening our hearts to beauty in community. Because if we don't have a sense of the other in ourselves, then we're lost, we cannot do it alone. And this has been proved forever. But I think if we have these three things, to me, as the kind of person I am, we have it all. We're connected with nature, understanding that we are nature, we are part, we are one with nature and we are interacting with other human beings. And we create beauty and we inspire by beauty. It would be a completely different world. And that to me is like the mission of the arts.

My conversation with Claudia Salguero, a Colombian Canadian community engaged artist based in Ottawa, where I live on the unceded lands of the Algonquin-Anishinaabe people. Claudia is well known for her vibrant and expressive murals. They are literally all over Ottawa and explore themes of identity, culture and social justice. You'll hear the color and the energy in her voice. I asked Claudia to give an example of one of her projects. She spoke about The Wisdom Mural, which is inspired by the teachings of Ottawa based knowledge keepers. I love the way Claudia identifies three key elements of… community, beauty, nature. 

Show notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI

Action points

• Recognize the vital role of community, beauty, and nature in art creation and appreciation.
• Explore the Wisdom Mural project and its inspiration from diverse knowledge keepers.
• Understand how art can facilitate healing and connection, especially in times of crisis.
• Value the importance of listening and understanding different perspectives to foster communication.
• Support community-engaged art as a means of giving voice to marginalized communities.

Story Preview

Discover the story behind Ottawa’s vibrant murals and the artist who uses art to connect communities and heal hearts. From a vision inspired by nature to a powerful encounter with a grieving stranger, explore the transformative power of community-engaged art.

Chapter Summary

00:00 The Essence of Community, Beauty, and Nature
00:56 Meet Claudia Salguero
01:37 The Wisdom Mural: A Dream Project
03:51 Engaging with Knowledge Keepers
05:30 Symbolism and Meaning in the Mural
08:02 Community Engagement Through Art
11:54 Art as a Healing Tool

Featured Quotes

• To me, there’s three key things and it’s community, beauty and nature.
• The important part of this community mural creations is not the mural itself. It’s all that happens around it or before or behind the mural.
• We need to learn to listen, to understand why somebody think the way they think. Because it’s not for free. You have reasons to be who you are and to act in the way you act.

Behind the Story

Claudia Salguero shares the inspiration behind her Wisdom Mural, a project that brought together ten knowledge keepers from around the world to explore the unifying power of nature. The mural, a towering piece of public art in Ottawa, has become a symbol of connection and healing, especially poignant during the pandemic and the discovery of unmarked graves at indigenous residential schools. One moving story highlights how the mural helped a grieving man find solace after years of pain.

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END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Hey conscient listeners, 

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020. It’s my way to give back.

This Indigenous Land Acknowledgement statement was developed by members of the Algonquin community for my former employer the Canada Council for the Arts. I have adapted slightly to make it my own.

• I acknowledge that my studio, located in Ottawa, is on the unceded, unsurrendered Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial.
• I recognize the Algonquins as the customary keepers and defenders of the Ottawa River Watershed and its tributaries. I honour their long history of welcoming many Nations to this beautiful territory and uphold and uplift the voice and values of our Host Nation.
• Further, I offer my respect and affirm the inherent and Treaty Rights of all Indigenous Peoples across this land and honour commitments to self-determination and sovereignty that have been made to Indigenous Nations and Peoples.
• I acknowledge the historical oppression of lands, cultures and the original Peoples in what we now know as Canada and fervently believe the Arts contribute to the healing and decolonizing journey we all share together

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish a free ‘a calm presence' monthly Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.

Your feedback is always welcome at [email protected] and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack.

Share what you like, etc

I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on January 9, 2026

• I love policy because it allows for surrealism, it allows for creativity, it allows for dancing, it allows for all the skills and disciplines and interests and tools that as artists we have gravitated towards. We need to enter it with both the courage and the fear that all bets are off, that the house is on fire, that the dominant narratives of - whether it's the Canadian provincial governments, the Canadian Federal Governments, the US Federal Governments - they are all bankrupt. They're all meaningless. Their stories don't appeal to people. They may still be in denial of that, but I think we are able to come up with better stories, better frames, better concepts of how to support arts and how to support culture.
• If I was the head of an arts-funding organization, one that had resources and gave them out, I would be doing events like this every week: because the appetite to have these conversations, the appetite for this kind of sense-making, is tremendous, and there isn't really any institution that's trying to meet that or create opportunities that come from that.

Futurist Jesse Hirsh, June 9, 2025

This is a special edition of a conscient podcast roundtable - my long form episode series - presented by the Public Imagination Network in collaboration with Mass Culture – Mobilisation culturelle. 

June 9th, 2025 was a lot of fun. I recorded two roundtables that day, e238 with the sonic research group on low technology and the one you’re about to hear, which is the second in a series of conversations by the Public Imagination Network called Imagining in Public (the first one was e183 imagining in public - cultural leadership in a changing world). 

This second iteration is called imagining in public e2 - artist perspectives on social impact, in other words, how artists shape social change beyond traditional definitions of impact but also how the evaluation of artistic contributions can shape public life. You’ll hear a panel formed of Public Imagination Network Fellows: Shary Boyle, Kevin Loring, Shannon Litzenberger, Kevin Ormsby and Evalyn Parry as well special guest, futurist Jesse Hirsh (you can read more about his work on his Substack, Metaviews: Future of Authority).

To help guide your listening here are the framing questions that the organisers developed for the event: 

• What does social impact truly mean in the context of artistic practice?
• If artists are catalysts for new imaginaries and drivers of transformation, how can their impacts be amplified outside of the arts and culture sectors?
• What systems and practices are necessary to sustain and amplify the relational work of artists?

The recording is in 5 parts (each section separated by a musical drone):

1. a quote from Jesse Hirsh and my introduction
2. opening thoughts by the panel
3. breakout group on stories
4. breakout group on structures
5. closing thoughts by the panel

To see an image created by Robin Sokoloski of participants responses to the question : 'What does "arts impact" mean to you?' please see this link. 

Warm thanks to the Public Imagination Network and their special guest Jesse Hirsh as well as Robin Sokoloski at Mass Culture as well as all participants for allowing their voices to be shared in this way. 

À la prochaine.

Note: a link to this gatherings’ chat storms (audience responses to a question) and a resource list (mentioned during the episode) will be provided at a later time.

*

END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Hey conscient listeners, 

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020. It’s my way to give back.

This Indigenous Land Acknowledgement statement was developed by members of the Algonquin community for my former employer the Canada Council for the Arts. I have adapted slightly to make it my own.

• I acknowledge that my studio, located in Ottawa, is on the unceded, unsurrendered Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial.
• I recognize the Algonquins as the customary keepers and defenders of the Ottawa River Watershed and its tributaries. I honour their long history of welcoming many Nations to this beautiful territory and uphold and uplift the voice and values of our Host Nation.
• Further, I offer my respect and affirm the inherent and Treaty Rights of all Indigenous Peoples across this land and honour commitments to self-determination and sovereignty that have been made to Indigenous Nations and Peoples.
• I acknowledge the historical oppression of lands, cultures and the original Peoples in what we now know as Canada and fervently believe the Arts contribute to the healing and decolonizing journey we all share together

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish a free ‘a calm presence' monthly Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.

Your feedback is always welcome at [email protected] and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack.

Share what you like, etc

I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on January 9, 2026