conscient podcast

• There's a sort of pulling back and forth between these two ideas. Out of the idea of fundamental inferiority comes slavery. And out of the idea of cultural inferiority come things like residential schools, right? The logics that fuel those two things are different, but they both obviously have negative results. And I think in the modern world sometimes we still fall into that trap of thinking that moving away from just beliefs of fundamental inferiority is enough. When, you know, beliefs of cultural inferiority can be similarly damaging.

Riel Schryer is a student of history, a gamer and … my 26-year-old son. In December 2023 we spoke about how history informs the present, ethical issues in science, gaming as a form of ecological awareness and his feelings about the theme of this 5th season of the conscient podcast 'preparing for the end of the world as we know it and creating the conditions for other possible worlds to emerge'. 

You’ll also hear excerpts from a winter soundwalk we took around the block of our home here on the unceded traditional territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin nation, in the city of Ottawa.  

It’s especially interesting for me to start this 5th season with the thoughts from a young adult (such as this one):

• I don't think there's going to be any serious response to the climate crisis until real catastrophes start happening. That tends to be how it works. And once you start seeing that, then you'll start seeing very serious action being put in place. Although, we'll see at that point, if it's too late or not.

*

END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Note : I'm currently 'pressing pause' and am not producing new content until further notice. 

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 claude [at] conscient [dot] ca 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. 

Thanks for listening. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on March 21, 2026

Trailer for season 5 of the conscient podcast : conversations about the ecological crisis with brilliant, passionate, and visionary artists and cultural workers' on the theme of 'preparing for the end of the world as we know it and creating the conditions for other possible worlds to emerge'.

*

END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

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 and be present.

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and it's francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I publish a Substack newsletter called ‘a calm presence' which are 'short, practical essays about collapse acceptance, adaptation, response and art’. To subscribe (free of charge) see https://acalmpresence.substack.com. You'll also find a podcast version of each a calm presence posting on Substack or one your favorite podcast player.

Also, please note that a complete transcript of most conscient podcast and balado conscient episodes from season 1 to 5 is available on the web version of this site (not available on podcast apps) here: https://conscient-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes.

Your feedback is always welcome at [email protected] and/or on conscient podcast social media: Facebook, X, Instagram or Linkedin. 

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 October 26, 2024

The final episode of season 4 and my conclusion from my sounding modernity learning and unlearning journey featuring an exchange with Catherine Ingram about 'a calm presence'.

See the web version of this site on a laptop or desktop computer for a complete transcription of this episode.

*

*

END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Note : I'm currently 'pressing pause' and am not producing new content until further notice. 

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 claude [at] conscient [dot] ca 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. 

Thanks for listening. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on March 21, 2026

a selection of questions and observations from the end of episodes this season

My gesture of reciprocity for this episode is to the Resilience.

*

END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Note : I'm currently 'pressing pause' and am not producing new content until further notice. 

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 claude [at] conscient [dot] ca 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. 

Thanks for listening. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on March 21, 2026

i was listening to the sound of rain falling in a small cabin by a stream with distant thunder in the background… 

TRANSCRIPTION OF EPISODE

(bell and breath)

(Rain from inside a cabin with thunder in the distance)

You’re listening to the sound of rain falling in a small cabin by a stream with a bit of distant thunder in the background. 

Is it raining where you are now? Maybe it is snowing? If so, what does it sound like? 

Now, this particular recording is quite evocative for me, with the distant rumbling of thunder that might be threatening to ignite a fire, a wildfire, as we have seen throughout Canada this year or maybe… a tornado brewing behind that storm that could suddenly break this cabin to pieces, myself included. 

Or maybe this rain will go on for days and days as it did in 2019 and fill this cabin with water and take it down the river to Lac Simon?

Who knows what might happen in this era of permanent climate emergencies…

Now, unfortunately, listening to soundscapes, like rain and thunder…  now terrify me. It makes me think back to the very first episode of this podcast, terrified : 

In May 2019, my climate denial bubble burst. 

It was a terrifying and disorienting experience that made me question everything about my life. 

In retrospect, I realize this was a zen-like gift of ‘terrified awakening’, of ‘clear seeing’, but at the time, I was paralyzed with emotion and dread. 

What triggered my climate denial bubble to burst? 

Sweet rain, gentle thunder, thank you so much. Thank you for your gifts and for your warnings. 

We are changing our ways, aren’t we. We are making efforts to change our ways of being on this planet, incrementally, but we are making efforts. The problem is that science tells us that our efforts are not enough, not nearly enough to avoid catastrophe that is being announced. 

Can you hear the sound of catastrophe in the rain and thunder? 

*

Recorded on August 10, 2023 at 10.40am in Duhamel, Québec.

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

My gesture of reciprocity for this episode is to the AVAAZ.

*

END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Note : I'm currently 'pressing pause' and am not producing new content until further notice. 

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 claude [at] conscient [dot] ca 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. 

Thanks for listening. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on March 21, 2026

i heard a strange tapping sound from my window one morning and had a chat when the workers repairing the street 

TRANSCRIPTION OF EPISODE

(Bell and breath)

(sound of me walking towards a machine on a city street)

I heard a strange tapping sound from my window one morning and decided to walk towards the sound.

Claude: It's okay. I was interested in that machine, but you're not using it right now. Oh…

Worker :  I actually turned it off because I saw that… I did not want to blow out your ear drums. I was actually being considerate.

Claude : It’s very kind of you. 

Worker : I tried, I do, I do try.

Claude : What is it called? 

Worker : It's a tamper. It just packs. Yeah. It's so, the real name is…  it's scary. 

Worker : The real name is a plate Compactor. The actual name you'll find, uh, on..,

Claude: I heard it and I was trying to imagine what it was. I thought it must be this big machine dragging somebody along, you know... Are you planning to use it again or are you done? 

Worker: I’ll turn it right on for you. 

(Transformation of the tamper sound)

Are there strange sounds on your street? 

*

Recorded on Chapel Street, Ottawa on December 2, 2022. With thanks to the street repair workers for their consideration. 

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

My gesture of reciprocity for this episode is to Indigenous Climate Action.

*

END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Note : I'm currently 'pressing pause' and am not producing new content until further notice. 

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 claude [at] conscient [dot] ca 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. 

Thanks for listening. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on March 21, 2026

i came upon a 1980’s era ‘discman’ portable CD player that still work, sort of and listened to it trying to spin up

TRANSCRIPTION OF EPISODE

(bell and breath)

(old cd player trying to spin up)

While going through a box of old technologies to be recycled, I came upon a 1980s era discman portable CD player that still sort of worked. 

I listened to it, trying to spin up to speed to do its job, but it wasn't able to, it didn't have enough power, energy, or ability left in it. But the sound was really interesting because it kept trying to get up to speed, so to speak. 

So, it feels to me like this is a symbol, as an example of modernity falling apart, not able to deliver. 

So, there's something about that fascinated me in this sound, and so I made it a type of sonic meditation, and I suggest you listen to it without any particular story in mind. 

Just let the sound take you wherever it might in your imagination.

*

The idea for this episode came from my wife Sabrina. Thank you. 

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

My gesture of reciprocity for this episode is to the Centre for Sustainable Practice in the Arts.

*

END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Note : I'm currently 'pressing pause' and am not producing new content until further notice. 

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 claude [at] conscient [dot] ca 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. 

Thanks for listening. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on March 21, 2026

A special episode of The Place of Sound podcast featuring highlights from a project I did in 2017 for Bivouac Recordings, in Hong Kong, called 60 minutes Cities Ottawa, a series of winter time field recordings of Ottawa.

Note: This episode is also available in French.

This is a special episode of The Place of Sound podcast. You’ll hear highlights from a project I did in 2017 for Bivouac Recordings, a sound label based in Hong Kong, called 60 minutes Cities Ottawa - featuring winter sounds in Ottawa - curated by Terrence Lloren, which is a series of albums focused on an individual’s genius loci or the ‘spirit of a place’.

Each 60-minute cities album is a personal document of the recordists (re)discovery of their ‘city’ through sound. The 60 minutes of recordings are taken from the recordist’s own personal surroundings and include photos and text to describe the significance of these sounds to their own lives.

The result is a document that reveals the deepest character of a place through a native resident’s own experience so that (locals) and non-locals, as well as the recordist, can (re)connect with the city and (re)discover the beauty of their place.

You’ll hear excerpts from :

• Commemoration, recorded on November 11, 2016 at 10.58am at the National War Memorial on Elgin Street
• Running, recorded on New Year Day, 2017 at 11.28 am in Sandy Hill
• Protest, recorded on January 21, 2017 at 11am at the corner of Elgin and Gloucester street
• River, recorded on January 29th, 2017, at 1.34pm, on the Ottawa River west of downtown
• Office, sound of office towers and entry and exits at 150 Elgin St.
• Skateway, the rideau canal skateway, on January 26th, 2017
• Parliament Hill on February 18, 2017, at 11.58am

TRANSCRIPTION OF EPISODE

Note: below is my original script which I improvised from during the recording

(Choir singing O Canada at Remembrance Day ceremony, November 11, 2016, Ottawa)

Please stand for O Canada… 

(Fade to silence) 

My name is Claude Schryer. Welcome to a special episode of The Place of Sound, a radio show/podcast produced in Carleton University’s Communication and Media Studies Program by Dr. Vincent Andrisani and airing on CKCU FM, campus radio. 

The Place of Sound explores the idea of ‘place’ through the ears of students and sometimes, guest producers, like me. Check it out. 

I’m speaking to you from Ottawa, which is on the unceded and un-surrendered territory of the Algonquin-Anishinaabe nations, who are the customary keepers and defenders of the Ottawa River Watershed and its tributaries.

What you’ll hear today are highlights from a project I did for Bivouac Recordings a sound label based in Hong Kong. In 2017 I produced 60 minutes Cities Ottawa as part of Bivouac’s 60-minute cities project, curated by Terrence Lloren, which are a series of albums focused on an individual’s genius loci or the ‘spirit of a place’, which is closely related to the objectives of this podcast. 

Each 60-minute cities album is a personal document of the recordists (re)discovery of their ‘city’ through sound. The 60 minutes of recordings are taken from the recordist’s own personal surroundings and include photos and text to describe the significance of these sounds to their own lives. The result is a document that reveals the deepest character of a place through a native resident’s own experience so that (locals) and non-locals, as well as the recordist, can (re)connect with the city and (re)discover the beauty of their place.

But first, who am I? Qui. Suis-je? 

Until September 2020 my day job was as a senior strategic arts advisor at the Canada Council for the Arts but then I decided to focus on the climate emergency and co-founded an art and climate organization called SCALE, the Sectoral Climate Arts Leadership for the Emergency, that I encourage you to check out. 

In 2020 I also started up a bilingual podcast called the conscient podcast, balado conscient en français, exploring art and the ecological crisis. I’m just completing season 4 now exploring the sounds of modernity which will take me to episode 153 on December 31, 2023. I invite you to check it out at conscient.ca. You’ll find various subscription options, including a monthly blog where I share my learnings and more importantly my unlearnings and so on.

However, today, I’m taking a break from the darker side of podcasting and invite you to listen to some soundscapes with me from Ottawa where I was born in 1959 and where my wife Sabrina and two children have lived since 1999. 

(fade in Remembrance Day recording)

Let’s pause for a minute of silence. 

This recording is called Commemoration and was recorded on November 11, 2016 at 10.58am at the National War Memorial on Elgin Street a few steps away from Parliament Hill. This is Remembrance Day, our national day to remember those who died in military service. 

(running sounds in Ottawa)

Will you join me for a run? This sequence was recorded on New year day, 2017 at 11.28 am. Back then I was a marathon runner, so this sequence is me running at a good pace through Ottawa. Can you hear the slush? I love Ottawa in the wintertime. 

(Outdoor protests) 

There’s always a lot going on and it being our capital city there are often protests, such as this one recorded on January 21, 2017 at 11am at the corner of Elgin and Gloucester street. On this day, all around the world, women (and some men) marched in solidarity with The Women’s March on Washington: a grassroots effort to protest the Donald Trump Presidency, one day after his inauguration) and to stand together in solidarity and to recognize that vibrant and diverse communities are a strength.

The sound of a public march has always been moving to me: inspirational chants, solidarity slogans, cries of anger, echoes of hope. In this Ottawa women’s march, you hear the slogans ‘no limits for women’, ‘the people united will never be divided’ and ‘tiny hands, tiny feet, all Trump does is tweet-tweet-tweet’. 

Hopefully we won’t have to protest again on January 21st, 2025.

(Ottawa River)

Now let’s move now to the mighty Ottawa River or the Kichisìpi as it is known in the Algonquin language: This recording was captured on January 29th, 2017, at 1.34pm. Now the Ottawa river is very large: 1,271 kilometers in length with a drain area of 146,300 square kilometers. 

You’re listening to a recording I made west of downtown. The current is strong here and the sound is a deep rumble of rushing water and breaking ice. The recording also includes the high-pitched sound of cross-country skiers along a path by the river. 

Shall we go inside?

(Elevators and office sounds) 

Ottawa is many things, including a city of office towers and bureaucrats. I love office tower sounds: hums, clicks, echoes, voices, drones, rhythms, patterns, etc. 

This recording explores the spaces where people enter and exit the building. I love transitions like this. You hear going up and down stairs and elevators, which btw ‘talk’ both French and English.

(skating on rideau canal)

How’s about a skate on the infamous rideau canal skateway? It’s January 26th, 2017, and we’re skating at a rapid pace. Can you feel the wind on your face? Can you feel the rumble of the ice under your feet? 

The Rideau Canal Skateway is the largest skate way is 7.8 kilometers long). 

However last year it did not open due to warming temperatures in Ottawa, which is a sign of the times and the reason why I dedicated a lot of my time to promoting the role of art in the climate emergency. And I think deepening our listening can make a difference. 

Let’s conclude this portrait of winter sounds in Ottawa back on parliament hill. 

(crowd on parliament hill)

It’s February 18, 2017, at 11.58am people gather here from across the country all the time to protest, mourn or celebrate. Tourists from all around the world also come to witness parliament hill and listen to…  

(parliament hill bells)

Thanks for listening to this special episode of The Place of Sound. Thanks to Vincent Andrisani for his support and congratulations to the students of Carleton University on their excellent programming and to CKCU for broadcasting them and being a good community partner. 

And thank you for listening. I encourage you to listen to the place of the sound where you live.

I also encourage you to discover your own place of sound. 

*

This episode was produced in October 2023 in my home studio. Thanks to Bivouac Records for permission to reuse some of the material from 60 minutes Cities Ottawa.

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

*

END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Note : I'm currently 'pressing pause' and am not producing new content until further notice. 

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 claude [at] conscient [dot] ca 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. 

Thanks for listening. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on March 21, 2026

i asked chatGPT what was the ‘sound of modernity’ in 4 modes : normal, critical, radical and optimistic and got some feedback

TRANSCRIPTION OF EPISODE

(bell and breath)

On a rainy August 10th 2023, I asked Chat GPT: 

‘What is the sound of modernity?’ 

The bot responded:

The sound of modernity is a symphony of electronic devices humming, the rapid clicks of keyboards, the soft hum of air conditioning, intermittent smartphone notifications, the distant whirring of cars, and the bustling energy of city life woven together into a dynamic and ever-changing background.

The bit did not mention if those sounds were good or bad so I asked it to be ‘more critical’: 

The sound of modernity can often be characterized by the cacophony of relentless notifications, the endless drone of traffic, the mechanical beeps and blips of machines, and the superficial conversations drowned out by the noise of consumerism. It’s a discordant blend that sometimes drowns out genuine human connection and the natural world, leaving us more connected to our screens than to the realities around us.

I then asked it to be ‘more radical’:

The sound of modernity reverberates with the clash of ideologies, the digital uproar of social media, the primal screams for justice, and the defiant chants of those demanding change. It’s a symphony of revolution, where traditional norms are challenged, and the status quo is shaken to its core. Amid the chaos, whispers of hope and cries for a new world order crescendo, creating a radical anthem that dares to rewrite the script of society.

Finally… pushing the limits, I asked it to be ‘more optimistic’ :

The sound of modernity carries the vibrant beats of innovation and progress, the harmony of diverse voices coming together, and the uplifting melodies of collaboration and empathy. It’s a chorus of technological marvels, cultural exchanges, and global awareness that sings of a world connected like never before. In this symphony, the potential for positive change and a brighter future resonates, fueled by the belief that humanity’s collective efforts can create a harmonious and thriving world for all.

Here is some of the feedback I received on FaceBook about this posting :

The sound of one hand clapping?

Chat GPT n’a que finalement dit ce que ton esprit lui a aiguillé comme raisonnement. En fait, la machine ramasse ce qu’elle a comme infos et la réarrange en fonction de la satisfaction client. (Chat GPT only finally said what your mind told it to say. In fact, the machine picks up what information it has and rearranges it according to customer satisfaction.)

Interesting experiment!

WOW!!!

Good Lord, I’m glad I’m not teaching any longer.

Wow. I like your direction here.

Ugh, way too verbose is the sound of that modernity. I fear I am not modern enough to handle it.

Squeaky clean comes to mind. I hear the inordinate challenge this is for teachers on all levels. Ask students to do an essay, with a critical or sympathetic or ironic twist or whatever, and this chat GPT does it all tidy and seamless. So how can the prof know, except that it’s toooo smooth and trendy sounding?! In my day we could always tell when a less gifted student suddenly wrote like a New York Times editorialist. Then we could google, or harder yet, go to the library and check their sources!! aaargh!!!! But this raises even bigger challenges. Yikes!!!!!!!!!!

Or ask them to critique what AI wrote…teachers won’t be able to fight this stuff so we’ll just have to learn how to use it as a polemic.

AI is already out of control (too few parameters on its use) but like nuclear technology we’ll have to learn to manage it or risk the consequences… slowing it all down in key…

I bet you are the first one, Claude, to have asked that question! I like your requests for further refinement of the answers. Great way to develop skills in questioning this ‘entity’ and to listen to/process its answers! 

Not much ecology in this machine’s constructed notion of our world.

What a fascinating, extraordinary exchange! Gives me some hope, but not without apprehension, about AI in our lives.

This is totally fascinating and also gives me a weird sort of sense of apprehension. (also…I can’t write as well as Chat GPT and might be relegated to the heap.). But thanks. I’m going to share this…

Il faut peut-être revoir les “prompt” (Maybe we may need to review the “prompt”.)

Bizarre…

What is the sound of modernity for you?

*

With thanks to all those who provided feedback. The artificial voices were generated by Elelvenlabs.io.

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

My gesture of reciprocity for this episode is to the Green Dreamer.

*

END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Note : I'm currently 'pressing pause' and am not producing new content until further notice. 

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 claude [at] conscient [dot] ca 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. 

Thanks for listening. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on March 21, 2026

i learned about the concept of ‘worlding’ from Vanessa Andreotti’s Hospicing Modernity and I danced in the rain

TRANSCRIPTION OF EPISODE

(bell and breath)

(raindrops from https://simplesoundscapes.ca/e105-thunder/)

I learned about the concept of ‘worlding’ from page 184 of Vanessa Andreotti’s Hospicing Modernity.

Andreotti explains that :

Worlding stories are not focused on the aesthetic perfection of form but rather on the integration of form and movement.

Now this integration of form and movement made me think of that magical period when rain begins to fall and dryness is transformed into wetness is quite magical. Listen carefully. 

Andreotti goes on to say that :

Worlding stories are not supposed to be ‘thought about’ but rather thought, felt, and danced with and through…

Andreotti goes on further to explain that :

They play with the ambivalence and dynamic force of meaning. In this sense, meaning will change as a worlding story lands deeper into the body, a story will have many layers of changing meaning, and some layers will only reveal themselves years after the story arrives. 

Worlding stories invite us to experiment with a different relationship between language and reality. The stories do not require anyone to believe in anything; rather they invite you to believe with them. 

The stories do not require anyone to believe in anything; rather they invite you to believe with them. 

What worlding stories do you hear ? 

*

The rain and thunder sounds in this episode are from https://simplesoundscapes.ca/e105-thunder/ recorded during the summer of 2018 in Duhamel, Québec. 

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

My gesture of reciprocity for this episode is to Harmony House. 

*

END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Note : I'm currently 'pressing pause' and am not producing new content until further notice. 

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 claude [at] conscient [dot] ca 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. 

Thanks for listening. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on March 21, 2026