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

My second conversation with writer, facilitator and consultant Adam Kahane (the first was episode e219) and with the audience at the Ottawa launch of Everyday Habits for Transforming Systems, the Catalytic Power of Radical Engagement at Perfect Books on July 2, 2025. This final regular episode of season 6 is part of my roundtable series, open-ended conversations about what a group of citizens are passionate about. And passionate they were! 

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

Show notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI

Action points

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

Story Preview

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

Chapter Summary

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

Featured Quotes

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

Behind the Story

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

Credit: cover photo by Conyer Clayton

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END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Hey conscient listeners, 

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 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.

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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 July 8, 2025