• There are a lot of people that don't have the kind of talent that you do, Claude, or for that matter, I do and they have voices, but you can't hear them. So our job in the art world, I would say, is to amplify those voices in a way that's comprehensive and understandable by the folks who should be paying attention to what's going on around them and not talking at people. So my complaint these days at the art world is we're just talking at people, we're not listening to them. And if we did listen to them, you'll find that the world is actually quite a hopeful place. And then, in many respects, what Trump 2.0 is doing – is what Hazel Henderson was suggesting - is the soft path to change is collapse. He's exacerbating a situation that we've been hanging onto for perhaps far too long in even in the art world.

Don Hill is a sound designer, immersive & multimedia artist, science journalist, broadcaster & public speaker. Don and I were both raised in Northern Ontario and are both sound based artists with a keen interest in technology and spirituality. I’ve have had long series of email exchanges over the years with Don about this podcast and my a calm presence Substack about some my doomist tendencies where Don often helped me considered more balanced points of view. We don’t always agree on all the issues but that’s part of the fun of art and listening. 

Show notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI

Action points

• Amplify marginalized voices within the art world and beyond to foster inclusivity and understanding.
• Challenge the commodification of fear and cortisol in media by promoting empathy and collective experiences.
• Embrace a slower, more contemplative approach to art and technology to counteract the accelerating nature of modern life.
• Recognize the limitations of hyper-individualized art and strive for collective, grounded emotional connections.
• Consider the future of humanity in the context of space exploration, incorporating elements of spirituality and acknowledging physiological limitations.

Story Preview

Can art save us from our hyper-accelerated, fear-driven world? Journey with Don Hill as he explores how slowing down, listening deeply, and amplifying unheard voices can create collective empathy and a hopeful vision for the future.

Chapter Summary

00:00 Amplifying Voices in the Art World
01:06 The Shift in Artistic Values
03:06 Navigating Personal and Collective Grief
05:01 Commodifying Fear in Art and Media
07:19 The Evolution of Story Trees
09:30 Slowing Down in a Fast-Paced World
12:47 Future Visions and the Role of Art

Featured Quotes

• We’re just talking at people, we’re not listening to them.
• The art world as I understand it, is more about real estate, you know, perceived value and hoarding.
• We’ve commodified fear, we’ve commodified cortisol, and that seems to be the ingredient that makes social media so attractive.

Behind the Story

The episode delves into the state of the modern art world, critiquing its focus on real estate, perceived value, and the commodification of fear. It contrasts this with a call for art that fosters collective empathy and addresses societal challenges. The discussion highlights the importance of slowing down in a technologically accelerated world, drawing on personal anecdotes and experiences to illustrate the transformative power of mindful engagement with art.

*

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