conscient podcast

• I think there's a lot of roles for art generally, and one of my favorite ones is kind of imagining that art helps you imagine, even if it has nothing to do with it. It helps. You can be a springboard to help you dream and stuff like that. The project that we're going to talk about today has a lot more to do with the kind of solace or companionship or remembering melancholy, maybe. Although I think it's also about joy and surprise so there's a few levels of which I guess are all things that you hope to get from art.

My conversation with an artist who prefers to remain anonymous. We went for a walk under the Gardiner Expressway in Tkaronto on March 11, 2025 to discover or rediscover the downtown critters project, a series of large printed drawings of local animals, birds, insects and amphibians in Southern Ontario. The idea is to create little moments of surprise and joy for pedestrians and motorists around some of the most bleak and industrial stretches of Toronto and Ottawa. The drawings are quite moving and made me want to go back in time…

Show notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI

Action points

• Recognize the presence of local wildlife in urban environments through art installations.
• Understand the role of art in creating moments of surprise and joy in unexpected places.
• Appreciate the interplay between urban spaces and the natural world.
• Explore the use of graffiti art as a medium for environmental awareness and community engagement.
• Consider the impact of public art on personal well-being and community connection.

Story Preview

Imagine stumbling upon a vibrant drawing of a local animal beneath the cold, concrete of a city expressway. This is the reality created by Downtown Critters, a public art project sparking joy and reflection in Toronto’s urban landscape. Discover the story behind the art, the artist’s motivations, and the unexpected connections it fosters between city dwellers and the natural world.

Chapter Summary

00:00 The Role of Art in Imagination
01:00 Introducing Downtown Critters
02:42 The Inspiration Behind the Critters
04:55 The Emotional Connection to Urban Wildlife
06:31 The Joy of Discovery
09:00 The Ephemeral Nature of Art
10:41 Art as a Reflection of Loss
12:26 Connecting Species and Spaces

Featured Quotes

• So I guess part of it is like, part of it is remembering that the animals are here.
• It’s sort of brutal to think of animals in that situation underneath the gardener. But it’s also us who’s underneath the gardener.
• It makes me so happy when I’m, you know, I go for my jog and it’s like under the traffic… and then you’re like, oh, look, a frog.

Behind the Story

Downtown Critters began with a simple observation: a family of bunnies living under a dumpster in a construction site near Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway. This sparked the artist’s desire to remind people of the animals that still inhabit, or once inhabited, the city. The project uses large-format drawings and wheat paste to create ephemeral art installations in unexpected places, prompting viewers to consider their relationship with the natural world.

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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

• How do we restore our connection with nature? Because I think that part of the crisis that we're in, especially with the climate, stems from the fact that we've been disconnected from our relationship to nature. And so how do we restore that? How do we get back in touch with non-human beings? You know, with these trees in front of us here we're standing in High Park, and with the trees and with the waters and the lakes, whatever natural environment we're in, how do we. And how can we. And is it even possible? I guess the question could be to establish some sort of relationship which is obviously going to be different than a human relationship. And how can that connection ultimately impact the way that we choose to organize our societies and choose to live?

My conversation with composer, sound healer and performance artist Wendalyn Bartley. I first met Wende when we were both doing a master degree in composition in the 1980’s at McGill University, and I was happy to reconnect with her work that explores the human voice and it’s relation to rituals, the sacred, spirituality, ancestors and so. We went for a walk in High Park in Tkaronto on March 11, 2025. Our conversation focused on her Buried River Soundworlds project – a way to rediscover the natural waterways of Tkaronto - and I was pleased that Wende accepted my request to perform a song in relation to Grenadier Pond in High Park to conclude this episode, which I found enchanting.

Show notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI

Action points

• Reconnect with nature to address environmental crises
• Explore buried waterways and natural spaces to rediscover natural spaces
• Connect with ancestral spirits through meditation and sounding
• Utilize vocal improvisation to deepen your relationship with nature
• Practice simple vocal exercises to connect with trees and alter your consciousness

Story Preview

Imagine uncovering hidden rivers beneath a bustling city, then giving voice to the forgotten spirits of the land. Explore the transformative power of sound and ancestral connection with Wendalyn Bartley in Tkaronto’s High Park.

Chapter Summary

00:00 Reconnecting with Nature
01:04 Meet Wendalyn Bartley
02:01 The Evolution of Voice Work
03:35 Questioning Ownership of Nature
04:49 Buried Waterways and Ancestral Connections
06:20 The Role of Art in Nature Connection
09:14 Grounding and Ancestral Dialogues
12:18 Sounding by the Water

Featured Quotes

• How can we own the pine trees?
• I wanted to visit places in Europe, in the Mediterranean… to see if I could tap into ancestral memory using my voice (in particular, the ancient cultures in Greece, Crete and Malta)
• I feel like I’ve met the tree and the tree has met me.

Behind the Story

Wendalyn Bartley’s journey started with a curiosity about the buried waterways of Tkaronto and evolved into a profound exploration of ancestral connection through vocal improvisation. This episode highlights her Buried River SoundWorlds project and offers listeners actionable techniques for deepening their own relationship with nature. The conversation took place in High Park next to Grenadier Pond.

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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

This bonus episode is a narration of my a calm presence posting called 'a sense of communion'. See the 'Transcript' tab of this episode for the original text. 

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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 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

• People maybe are used to being bombarded at this point with the news of what's happening. And that's the reality. And we need to face that. I think alongside that, we need to make moments of grounding, of rootedness and remembering our real belonging to this earth. Because without that, we don't quite have the energy. I think we're really zapped of that based from stress or from what we're hearing. It is oppressive to hear what's happening and to experience it for those of us who are experiencing that and have been. I guess for me, that's really what draws me to arts-based kin making is that we have to find ways to reconnect. And that's inevitably going to shift, in my opinion, how we then act in the world and that kind of transformation is deeply important in times of crises. 

- annais linares

My conversation with annais linares and Ben Finley, artists, researchers, sound makers, about their performance of Alchemizing Earthfullness a composition that explores self-rootedness, community connectedness and earth intimacy. The concert was as part of a Westben Chalk Talk Concert on November 9, 2024 on the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg nation near what is now known as Campbellford, Ontario.This episode is bit unusual because you’ll hear excerpts from the concert combined with a post-concert conversation with annais and Ben about this composition and how it addresses issues of crisis and collapse, renewal and joy. Quite a bit of joy. A reminder that you can learn more about Green Dreamer’s alchemize program in e161 alchemize circle - a conversation with kamea chayne, of this podcast.  

Show notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI

Action points

• Explore the themes of self-rootedness, community connectedness, and earth intimacy through the arts.
• Understand how the “Alchemize” program influenced the creation of original songs focused on regeneration and healing.
• Recognize the importance of balancing awareness of global crises with moments of grounding and reconnection.
• Consider how artistic expression can foster a sense of belonging and inspire action in the face of collapse.
• Discover the cyclical nature of creation and return, using art as a compost-like process for renewal.

Story Preview

Imagine a world where music heals, communities connect, and the earth feels closer. Join annais linares and Ben Finley as they share their journey of creating “Alchemizing Earthfulness,” a performance born from a desire to reconnect and find joy amidst crisis.

Chapter Summary

00:00 Facing Reality and Finding Grounding
01:34 Introduction to Alchemizing Earthfulness
02:58 The Venue and the Event
04:00 Composing Alchemizing Earthfulness
07:02 Themes of Connection and Healing
10:16 Breathing Through Crisis
12:11 Musical Reflections and Cycles

Featured Quotes

• annais linares : We need to make moments of, you know, of grounding, of rootedness and remembering our real belonging to this earth.
• annais linares : That kind of transformation is deeply important in times of crises.
• Ben Finley : …just being there opens something in us, too.

Behind the Story

annais linares and Ben Finley, inspired by the Green Dreamer’s “alchemize” program, co-composed five thematic songs exploring self-rootedness, community, connectedness, and earth intimacy. Their performance at the Westben Schoolhouse aimed to offer a space for healing and regeneration, a “breath out” from the constant barrage of crisis news. The cyclical nature of their music, beginning and ending with a similar “scaling” motif, symbolized a composting process of renewal.

*

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

• What is art? What is art anyway? It's a new term, really. I think we need to go a little bit beyond that. I think of myself as a sound practitioner, so what can I offer? If someone has a visual acuity, if someone has acuity with body and movement and voice, you know, what is it that we can do in our communities to help people to listen, to be in their bodies, to breathe?

My conversation withcomposer, sound artist, media artist and facilitator Tina Pearson, whose work explores nuanced sonic investigations of perception, presence and place. suggests we slow down and listen, which I often hear artists suggest on this podcast but how does one do that? Well, soundwalking is one way to do, which what Tina and I did during our 90-minute conversation, recorded in September 2024 at PKOLS park, translates to ‘White Head’ or ‘White Rock’ in the SENĆOŦEN language of the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, also known as Mt. Douglas Park inVictoria, British Columbia. I edited down our long conversation to 15-minutes, which as you will hear is accompanied by rainfall and the magnificent Pacific Ocean. 

Action points

• Practice deep listening to places and communities to understand their needs 
• Question whether current artistic practices perpetuate harmful systems
• Consider how artistic work can offer service and benefit to a specific place 
• Explore alternative ways of being a sound practitioner beyond traditional concerts and touring
• Pause and reflect on the impact of our actions and practices on the environment

Show notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI:

Story Preview

Imagine walking through a park, not just seeing, but truly listening. What if our art could heal, not harm, the world around us? Join me and Tina Pearson as we explore the profound act of listening to place and the courage it takes to question our creative practices.

Chapter Summary

00:00 Defining Art and Sound Practice
01:06 The Art of Sound Walking
02:16 Reciprocity with Nature
03:49 Untethering from Modernity
05:02 The Gift of Listening
06:36 Rethinking Artistic Practices
09:14 Community-Centric Art Practices
12:19 Listening to Place and Community

Featured Quotes

• I think of myself as a sound practitioner. So what can I offer?
• One of the biggest gifts you can give someone is to really truly, deeply listen to them. And similarly to a place.
• It’s the construct of how we’ve got here that’s the problem. Not the actual things as much.

Behind the Story

This conversation, recorded at PKOLS Park in September 2024, dives into Tina Pearson’s philosophy of sound and place. It challenges the conventional approaches to art and climate action, advocating for a deeper, more reciprocal relationship with the environment. Pearson’s personal background as a first-generation North American informs her perspective on decolonization and untethering from harmful systems.

*

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

Here is a narration of my latest ‘a calm presence’, inspired by this quote from Indy Johar’s May 12th, 2025 Substack posting, The Stickiness of Want  - And the Systemic Amnesia Behind It :

• We—you, me, everyone in this room—are the last generation with viable agency before degenerative volatility locks us into conflict and collapse. The window is painfully small but gloriously open.’

This posting was written while traveling in India and Japan in April and May of 2025.

The narrated version was recorded in one take on May 21, 2025 on the streets of Hakone-Yumoto, Japan with the Haya River and lively birdsong in the background.

See the Transcript of this episode for the complete posting. 

*

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

• Radical engagement with the system doesn't mean participating in that system, distractedly resigned, knowing it all hierarchically at arm's length, with arms crossed, superficially, impatiently. Saying take it or leave means taking part in it alertly, with hope and curiosity, horizontally, leaning forward, hands on, digging deep, persisting, and above all, reciprocally and relationally. So that's the core idea of radical engagement and Claude, that's how I experience your way of being in the world.

My conversation with writer, facilitator and consultant and many other hats Adam Kahane, which took place on April 8, 2025, on the very day of the launch of his latest book and Everyday Habits for Transforming Systems, the Catalytic Power of Radical Engagement. Adam talks about seven habits that enable ordinary citizens to become extraordinary agents of transformation. We talked about the process of co creating the book with over 300 individuals, including myself, and how these habits can apply to the arts.

Show notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI

Action points

• Understand the concept of radical engagement and its role in societal change.
• Identify the seven everyday habits for transforming systems: acting responsibly, relating in three dimensions, looking for what’s unseen, working with cracks, experimenting a way forward, collaborating with unlike others, and persevering and resting.
• Recognize that systems are human-made and can be rebuilt through collective action.
• Explore how artists and individuals can apply these habits in their daily lives to contribute to meaningful change.
• Consider the importance of “acting responsibly” as a foundational habit for engaging with complex systems.

Story Preview

Imagine a world where everyday actions can ripple through complex systems, sparking real change. Adam Kahane shares the journey behind his book, revealing how a frustrating interview led to a deep exploration of how ordinary people can transform the world around them.

Chapter Summary

00:00 Radical Engagement: A New Perspective
01:00 The Birth of a Book
03:30 Understanding Systems Change
06:00 The Collective Nature of Transformation
09:00 The Seven Habits of Transformation
12:00 Art and Systems Change

Featured Quotes

• It’s now completely obvious that these systems were largely built by humans and can be rebuilt by humans… This idea that things are just the way they are and they’ll always be the way they are to me is now obviously not true.
• We might think of systems as these solid, immovable things that you can only change them by using a sledgehammer or dynamite, but that’s not true.
• This idea that things are just the way they are and they’ll always be the way they are to me is now obviously not true. They can be transformed. They are being transformed.
• There’s a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” - Leonard Cohen (referenced by Adam Kahane)

Behind the Story

Adam Kahane’s book, ‘Everyday Habits for Transforming Systems,’ emerged from a desire to understand how individuals can contribute to large-scale change. Inspired by a challenging interview and co-created with a community of over 300 people, the book outlines seven practical habits for engaging with complex systems in a meaningful way. The process involved deep exploration, iteration, and a commitment to uncovering the essence of effective systems change.

*

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

This posting was written and recorded while on a trip to northern India. It explores the inter-relations of culture and climate. The audio version is fun because of the soundscapes of Delhi in the background (car horns, bird song, sweeping of leaves, music, etc)

It features excerpts from my comments to the Create Canada project which is important given its potential to deepen conversations about the role of culture as Canada faces existential threats from the regime of our southern neighbour.

I did not agree with all their postings but I saw merit in their efforts.

In parallel, I produced e214 roundtable – this moment in canadian culture, which Owais and SGS kindly joined.

I hope Create Canada and this conscient roundtable are a couple of many such conversations and reflections from coast to coast to coast, in as many different languages and formats as possible.

You’ll hear me read excerpts from

• e194 owais lightwala and sgs - manifesting for now
• e214 roundtable – this moment in canadian culture: 
• e209 robert and peter janes – telling the truth through art

My conclusion is that this moment in culture in Canada and the climate emergency are one and the same.

Both culture and climate are agents of change who need each other. It’s only a question of time before they synergize to help us find Annette Hegel’s ‘new ways’.

*

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

Hey there faithful, brave and patient conscient podcast listeners, 

Welcome to the 3rd conscient roundtable. Live radio style again. First take, only take, kind of thing so please bear with me. This is an exciting and unique episode coming up, with an international scope. 

It was recorded on Thursday, March 20, 2025 on Zoom with participants Kashee in India, Shaun and Marcela in Ireland (though Marcela is originally from Venezuela), Greg in the United States and myself in Vancouver. So the five of us chatted for over an hour. 

At the beginning, you’ll hear me acknowledge the original stewards of so-called Vancouver followed by a minute of silent contemplation. 

Normally, conscient roundtables feature a group of artists and cultural workers talking about their passions, fears and dreams and, in fact, we did do this, but this was special roundtable episode about the Surviving the Future 2025 course led by Shaun Chamberlin, who will explain to you what it is all about in just a minute. BTW It’s a course I highly recommend if you’re ready to do a deeper dive into our collective future. 

I asked my fellow learned to share the highlights of their learnings and some of the best stories and they did, including the following questions:

• Which presentations and resources were the most impactful for you?
• How do you plan to apply this knowledge in your day to day life?
• What are some of the outstanding questions that you are still sitting with? (I certainly have a lot)
• What do you think the role of art and culture could be or should be in times of crisis, collapse and renewal could be?

FYI, I’ve already written a couple of posting on my a calm presence Substack for those who want to know more.

And it went very well. I want to thank my colleagues for their generosity, courage and wisdom. Luckily, we will continue to exchange after the course in a digital space providing by Sterling College in Vermont, so big thanks to Shaun, Nakasi, Nicole and all the StF team for their support and generosity. 

And if you want to comment on what you hear please go to conscient.ca and use any of the conscient podcast social media to share your thoughts.

If you like what you hear then I invite you to share it within your networks and-or give conscient podcast a review on Apple podcasts. 

My email is [email protected]

So, I invite you to sit back, relax – maybe grab a drink - and enjoy e218 roundtable – surviving the future. 

*

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

• What can I do to support the grieving? There's so much to grieve. Whether we think about the crisis of climate, whether we think about the political crises, the issue of displacement, which is around the world. Forced displacement, such a huge crisis. How do we manifest the kinds of spaces that people need to be able to individually and collectively get in touch with how they're feeling and do it in such a way that opens the possibility for what you're talking about with the renewal, or, you know, a post traumatic growth, if you will. And in my experience, you can't get to that post traumatic growth until you actually sit with the emotions, however difficult they are.

My conversation with interdisciplinary artist-researcher, educator, and community-engaged practitioner Devora Neumark and their 30 + years of contemplative practice most recently as a Forced Migration and Refugee Studies Fellow at the Centre for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg. This conversation was recorded on the unceded lands of the Algonquin-Ainishinaabe nation, in Ottawa, on February 21, 2025, while Devora was on their way back home to Iqaluit, Nunavut and spoke mostly about Displacement Codes, a collaboration with Karina Kesserwan, which centers around 13 prompts, adapted from AI-generated outputs, each designed to inspire reflection and performance-based responses to the lived experiences of displacement. 

Action points

• Acknowledge and sit with difficult emotions to facilitate post-traumatic growth
• Engage in contemplative practices, such as meditation, to regulate emotions
• Collaborate across disciplines to broaden perspectives and create impactful change
• Prioritize understanding the present moment before planning for the future
• Reinforce community connections through dialogue and shared thinking

Show notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI

Story Preview

Can art help us process the overwhelming grief of climate change and displacement? Devora Neumark shares how their project, Displacement Codes, uses contemplative performance and collaboration to explore these complex emotions. Discover how artists and citizens alike can find solace and action through mindful engagement and cross-disciplinary dialogue.

Chapter Summary

0:00 - The weight of global crises and the need for emotional processing.

0:56 - Introduction to Devora Neumark and the Displacement Codes project.

1:57 - Exploring emotions through performance art and holding space for others.

3:02 - Addressing colonization’s impact and mental health disparities.

3:53 - Art as a tool for acknowledgement, support, and co-creation.

4:44 - The importance of present-moment awareness before future planning.

6:05 - The collaboration with lawyer Karina Kesserwan on Displacement Codes.

7:05 - Newmark’s fellowship in Germany and focus on aesthetics in asylum housing.

7:55 - The process of developing performance prompts related to displacement.

8:32 - Incorporating AI and the dialogic nature of the project with Karina.

9:53 - Finding gestures and enacting responses to prompts.

11:13 - Navigating challenges and the evolving nature of collaboration.

12:31 - The power of cross-disciplinary collaboration, especially with non-artists.

13:08 - Actionable steps: contemplative practices and dialogic communication.

14:19 - Reinforcing community connections and shared thinking.

Featured Quotes

• You can’t get to that post traumatic growth until you actually sit with the emotions, however difficult they are.
• The role of arts, first and foremost, to acknowledge what is happening, to be able to support people to go through their processes and to co-create new possibilities.
• I think we have to step outside of our worlds as artists and collaborate.

Behind the Story

Devora Neumark, an interdisciplinary artist and educator, draws on 30 years of contemplative practice to create Displacement Codes. This project, born from their Forced Migration and Refugee Studies at the Centre for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg fellowship in Germany, addresses the emotional toll of forced migration and climate change. By collaborating with Karina Kesserwan, a lawyer, Neumark bridges the gap between art and law, demonstrating the power of cross-disciplinary dialogue in addressing complex global issues.

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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