Fractal Friends

Hi Fractal Friends.
Sorry, it’s been a while. I have some bittersweet news for you…
After wrapping up the last series of episodes coming into the beginning of 2021, I found myself really wanting to find a way to put together my love for podcasting, my passion for conflict transformation and my real interest in trying to figure out how to improve our democracy.

 And so, I've launched the Omni-Win Project. I’ve been making videos and essays which you can find at omniwin.substack.com and on YouTube. And…

I’m making a new podcast!!!

The Omni-Win Project Podcast launches on Monday, July 18th, and the trailer is available NOW.

Search for The Omni-Win Project Podcast in your feed. Listen and subscribe.  

And listen to the new episode on MONDAY, JULY 18th.

If you’re a fan of the Fractal Friends podcast, you're going to love this new podcast.

If you want to be really helpful, here are some steps you can take…
1) Listen to the new episode on the day it comes out. 2) Give it a rating and review.
3) Share it with your friends and on social media.
4) Tell the world how much you enjoyed Fractal Friends and how much you look forward to listening to this new podcast.

Here are all the links you will want/need:

Use this link for all podcast apps: https://pod.link/omniwin

Subscribe to the Omni-Win Project newsletter: https://omniwin.substack.com/

Watch the podcast and other Omni-Win Project videos on YouTube: bit.ly/omniwin-youtube

Episode Page: https://www.fractalfriends.us/fractalfriends/omni-win

Bill Shireman is a republican environmentalist and activist dedicated to supporting solution-based politics. He is the co-author of In This Together: How Republicans, Democrats, Capitalists and Activists are Uniting to Tackle Climate Change and More and the Founder and CEO of Future 500.

We talk about how our political system is designed to be ineffective, encourages us to fight with each other and will lead to the ongoing destruction of our lives and planet. 

We talk about how we the people can and must take responsibility for fixing this system. It is time for us to realize that we are giving all of our power to the government and to businesses, but that they don't really exist. It's all people.

A vast majority of us are eager and able to find solutions to our problems. We talk about complex systems, economics, the future of democracy and the fundamental importance of listening. 

Episode Page: fractalfriends.us/fractalfriends/bill-shireman

Bill Shireman: www.inthistoghetheramerica.org
Future 500 https://www.future500.org/

Duncan Autrey: linktr.ee/fractalfriends

Music: "Cripto Tango" by Tanghetto

Major Jim Uhlmann is a former green beret commando, father, neighbor, gardener, citizen and libertarian. He is a stewardship consultant and a full stack human system(s) engineer. 

In this conversation we talk about facing the fact that we are humans who are living in a biological reality, with a drive to avoid pain and fear and move towards what we like, as well as survive and reproduce.
We talk about strategies for creating change in the world, how stewardship is more effective than control, and the importance of mission focus.
We talk about “Sensemaking” and how easily people are manipulated by information warfare; the enthusiasm of youth and the value of ensuring that leaders have experience and wisdom. 

This is part of a series of episodes where I interview forward-thinking people from the conservative side of the political spectrum in the spirit of facilitating cultural healing, exploring new perspectives and demonstrating the power of compassionate conversation that is rooted in mutual human dignity. 

More Info at: fractalfriends.us/fractalfriends/jim-uhlmann

Duncan Autrey Links: linktr.ee/fractalfriends

Music: "Clean Up Your Room" & “Make It Beautiful” by Akira the Don (feat: Dr. Jordan Peterson)

https://linktr.ee/akirathedon

This is part of series of episodes where I interview forward-thinking people from the conservative side of the political spectrum in the spirit of cultural healing.

Michael Brodeur is a minister and proud follower of Jesus. Michael was raised in the heart of 1960s counterculture in San francisco, Michael is not your typical minister and this is not your typical conversation. Michael calls himself a bridge builder.

He is the author of Revival Culture: Preparing the Church for the Next Great Awakening, co-founder and CEO of Destiny Finder, an online personal discovery and development system that helps individuals identify their spiritual gifts and passions, and the co-founder and CEO of Pastor’s Coach.

In this conversation we talk about Michaels journey from a life sex, drugs and rock & roll and the Summer of Love of San Francisco to becoming a follower of Jesus. We talk about what it means to be imperfect humans in an imperfect world and the power of forgiveness to heal ourselves and others We talk about the implications of living in a secular pluralistic nation that’s struggling with ethical and other value-based decisions. And we talk about the importance of finding your purpose, calling or destiny in this life. 

More Info at: fractalfriends.us/fractalfriends/michael-brodeur

Michael Brodeur:
michaelbrodeur.com
destinyfinder.com
pastorscoach.com

Facebook: @michaelvbrodeur
Instagram: @michaelvbrodeur

Music: "Amazing Grace" by Kevin MacLeod

In this episode I talk with Alixa Garcia, a musician, poet, visual artist, filmmaker, activist, and educator. She is a visionary and radical solutionary of our time. Along with Naima Penniman, Alixa co-created the amazing duo Climbing Poetree. For 17 years, Alixa and Naima have dedicated themselves to “harnessing creativity as the antidote to destruction” through music, poetry, and popular education.   

In this conversation, Alixa and I talk about the power of art to address intersectional social and environmental themes, and how art can give audiences a lived understanding of their interrelatedness. Alixa expands the traditional idea that “hurt people hurt people” and emphasizes the fact that "healed people heal people.” This episode reminds us of the power of forgiveness and the necessity of healing our own inner wounds in order to become more effective at healing the world.

This episode features the exclusive global debut of “The American” written by Ryan Amador featuring Alixa Garcia. It's coming out soon on BioSoul Records.

More Info & Resources at: www.fractalfriends.us/fractalfriends/alixa-garcia

Alixa Garcia:
Website: www.alixagarcia.com
Instagram: @alixagarcia_artist
Facebook: @alixa.garcia.33

Climbing Poetree: www.climbingpoetree.com

Ryan Amador:
Facebook, BandCamp, Spotify, YouTube or Instagram

In this episode I talk with Mansi Kakkar. Mansi is a Pattern transcriber, mindset weaver, warrior goddess ad she is human fireweed.

Mansi convener in complexity for regeneration. She is also a performing artist for the revolution and social transformation.

In this conversation we talk about the power of ritual to help us mark transitions and call in forces that are beyond us. We talk about the process of integrating history and letting go so that we can consciously step into the process of evolution. We talk about the value of listening to desire and intuition as essential driving forces. And we talk about relationships as the elemental feature of the super organism that is humanity. And that opens the door to an exploration of powerful strategies for healing, transforming and rebuilding the world that we are in.

More Episode Info & Resources at: fractalfriends.us/fractalfriends/mansi-kakkar

Mansi: www.mansikakkar.com and www.regenerativeinnovation.com

Music: "Aasman Se” by The Snake Charmer

Wendy Wood is a conflict transformation colleague of mine. She's one of the co-founders of The Karuna Center for Mindful Engagement, the co-author of the book Do No Harm: Mindful Engagement for a World in Crisis, and a founding member of the Democracy Politics and Conflict Engagement (DPACE) Initiative of Mediators Beyond Borders International.

Wendy's has worked on trauma healing and reconciliation in Rwanda and the transformation of conflicts throughout the United States.

Wendy and Duncan work together on the DPACE Initiative where we are dedicated to bringing helping professionals bring conflict engagement skills to political organizations and social change movements.

In this conversation we talk about the dual role of compassion, healing both ourselves and others. how great that is given the fact that harm also works in two directions. We talk about taking responsibility and increasing our ability to respond to the needs of others. We talk about the huge challenges that we face in the United States and the world, and we celebrate the fact that we have the solution to those challenges, if we choose to use them.

Learn more about Wendy Wood at www.thekarunacenter.org

Learn about the DPACE Initiative at www.dpaceinitiative.org

Work with Duncan at: www.spokeandwheel.co

More Episode Information & Resources at: www.fractalfriends.us/fractalfriends/wendy-wood

Music: "Om Mani Padme Hum" from Orange Free Sounds

Cheryl Davila is an elected member of the Berkeley City Council. Councilmember Davila is currently up for reelection and this conversation provides an intimate window into the experience of an elected representative who is working at the local level to address global and national issues while also communicating directly with the people she represents, who are also neighbors, family and friends.

In this conversation we talk about her experience as a passionate yet common citizen coming into politics an outsider, and the tension between being a voice for her people and the pressure to play political games. We talk about her vision for laying the foundations for an economic and cultural recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, while also addressing racial justice, climate change, demilitarizing the police and addressing homelessness. We talk about the need of all legislators to make difficult short term choices that also support long term change.

While so much of the United States is paying attention to national politics, it is actually the local politicians like Councilmember Davila that are making the decisions that affect our day to day lives.
Wherever you are, I hope that this conversation inspires you to reflect deeply on the importance of local politics during this election season. I hope it helps you remember that politics is made up of people like you and me.
Your voice matters. So speak up, talk to your representatives and please vote.

Here is Councilmember Davila’s Official Site.
Here is Councilmember Davila’s Campaign Site.
Visit Cheryl on Facebook @CouncilmemberCherylDavila and Instagram @cheryldavila.vote

More Info at: fractalfriends.us/fractalfriends/cheryl-davila

Music: "Remember Me" by the thrThrive Choir
Watch the video here.

Austin Willacy is a musician, producer and musical mentor. Austin is a member of the Thrive Choir of Thrive East Bay, and The House Jacks.

In this conversation we talk about finding your passion and then doing the work of growing into your best self. We talk about the role of mentorship and developing resilience through vulnerability.

We talk about the power of music to connect our minds and hearts, and its power to build bridges across our differences. And we talk about the importance of slowing down, allowing space for long slow thoughts, creating space for our creativity to shine through and removing the barriers of shame and fear that hold back our highest expression.

More Info at: www.fractalfriends.us/fractalfriends/austin-willacy

Music: "We Are One Love" by Austin Willacy and Patricia Bahia. Here it’s sung by the Thrive Choir:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-nZnhXZW0Y

Work with Duncan.
DPACE Initiative: www.dpaceinitiative.org
Spoke & Wheel: www.spokeandwheel.co

Pablo Lumerman is a conflict transformation colleague from Argentina.

In this conversation we talk about the power of living in the present moment, the importance of remembering deep history and enacting our visions for the future. We discuss a comparative history of colonialism, race and racism between Argentina and the United States.

We draw parallels between colonialism and gentrification and ponder how laws and bureaucracy are forms of cultural colonization that undermine indigenous culture and dialogue.

As conflict transformation practitioners we talk about the greatly needed capacity of dialogue to help us reach across our differences and facilitate healing. And, given where we started, we talk about how the transformation of conflict requires us to think beyond neutrality to avoid repeating patterns of oppression.

Pablo Lumerman
Twitter: @plumerman
Facebook: pablo.lumermansirote

More Info at: fractalfriends.us/fractalfriends/pablo-lumerman

Work with Duncan: www.spokeandwheel.co

Music: "Klezmer Tango" by Duó Lerner Moguilevsky