Equity and justice are fundamental principles, but do they exist in small-scale fisheries, especially related to access to resources, management and regulations, and from the historical perspective? 

In this episode, Michael speaks with:

• Paul Foley, Memorial University, Canada
• Edith Samson, Sir William Ford Coaker Heritage Foundation, Canada
• Lil Saul, Fisherwoman, Twillingate, Canada
• Ryan, a fish harvester from Petty Harbour, Canada

Ocean Frontier Institute 

Fishing, fish processing and maritime work are risky occupations. What needs to be done to provide better protection, and enhance occupational health and safety for those involved? 

In this episode, Michael speaks with:

• Barb Neis, Memorial University, Canada 
• Joel Finnis, Memorial University, Canada 
• Desai Shan, Memorial University / Dalhousie University, Canada

Ocean Frontier Institute

What is the future of small-scale fisheries, in Newfoundland and Labrador? Who’s going to fish? What will make people stay in the fisheries? What’s the vision of the communities for their own future?  

In this episode, Michael speaks with:

• María Andrée López Gómez, Memorial University, Canada / Center for Demographic Research, Spain
• Rachael Cadman, Dalhousie University, Canada 
• Dawn Mercer, DFO, Canada

Ocean Frontier Institute  

Ocean and coastal connections start at home, with youth, and in communities. In a time of big change – climate, demography, policy, what kind of transformation is needed? What’s the starting point? 

In this episode, Michael speaks with:

• Jan Negrijn, Coastal Connections, Canada
• Kimberly Orren, Fishing for Success, Canada
• Monica Engel, Memorial University, Canada
• and previous guests

Ocean Frontier Institute
Fishing for Success 

Michael is off to St. John's Newfoundland to connect with the ocean and learn about why small-scale fisheries and governance matter to conservation and sustainability.

In Over My Head will take a short break until November to allow time to work on a big upcoming season. Listen to Michael’s message for a sneak peek of what’s coming. 

Michael chats with the University of Geneva’s Marlyne Sahakian about rethinking growth and the good life. They focus the conversation around the book Consumption Corridors: Living a Good Life within Sustainable Limits and discuss why setting upper and lower consumption limits is so important. Marlyne explains the difference between human desires, needs and satisfiers. They touch on the normalization effect, the elusive goal of happiness, freedom, social lock-in, embracing enoughness, and the challenge of imposing constraints. Marlyne also shares some of her research around citizen action labs and changing normative assumptions. Lastly, she offers advice on what you can do to have an impact.

Consumption Corridors Book
Dialogues Project
WEFEL Cartoons

Michael chats with the University of Florida's Susan Paulson about the human side of rethinking growth. They discuss the problem of exploitation and inequality and how to make our system more equitable. Susan touches on the benefit of the commons including worker-run cooperatives and time-banks. They cover alternatives to GDP for measuring well-being such as the National Happiness Index. Susan stresses the importance of policy in making a change and shares her vision of what a good life looks like. Finally, she offers advice on what you can do to have an impact.

Michael chats with Yale-NUS College’s Michael Maniates about the role of higher education in rethinking growth. They talk about the connection between economic growth and post-secondary, and what a genuinely sustainable campus should prioritize. Professor Maniates highlights the importance of a university's adaptive function in a post-growth world and the power of research to advance human prosperity. He also links higher education to degrowth ideas such as reduced working hours, prosumerism, worker-owned businesses, and cooperatives. Lastly, Michael touches on tenure and offers advice on what you can do to have an impact. 

Michael chats with Erasmus University Rotterdam's Julien-Francois Gerber about how debt impacts our ability to rethink growth. They discuss the relationship between credit and growth, and how debt affects the environment and us as people. Julien gives us a history lesson on why we traditionally borrowed money and brings to life past monetary alternatives like decaying money, social credit, and prosperity certificates. He also covers anti-debt conflicts, debtors unions, community alternatives to debt, and the role of shame in perpetuating debt. Lastly, he offers advice on what you can do to have an impact.