In this conversation, filmmaker Robin McKenna and I discuss her new film, GIFT, which is inspired by Lewis Hyde's classic book, The Gift. I consider Hyde to be an elder of an intellectual/spiritual lineage that has also informed a lot of my work, in particular the book Sacred Economics and the course, Living in the Gift.  Here we travel through many dimensions of the gift universe as well as the process, content, and impact of this film, which opens in theaters on Oct. 11. 

From the film description, "GIFT is a tribute to something that can’t be measured or counted, bought or sold. Exploring the parallels between artists’ work and a gift economy, it’s a reflection on the creative process, the reasons we labour in service of our gifts."

GIFT Trailer: https://vimeo.com/283716447

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GIFTdocumentary/

Information on upcoming screenings:
http://www.giftitforwardproject.com/the-film/screenings/ 

Also, check out my book Sacred Economics http://charleseisenstein.org/books/sacred-economics/ and the course, Living in the Gift https://charleseisenstein.org/courses/living-in-the-gift/ to explore this subject in depth.

Robin McKenna: GIFT(E40)

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Description: Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. shares stories of his childhood, his family, the origins of his environmental activism, and the spiritual beliefs that keep him sane. The campaign website is https://www.kennedy24.com/.

Why we care: Charles Eisenstein in conversation with RFK, Jr.

Swaady Martin is the daughter of a militant Black Panther who fled to
Africa. She grew up in the Ivory Coast and ended up pursuing an elite
education and corporate career, yet remains at heart and in spirit a
revolutionary. We covered many topics: her background, colonialism, the Covid narrative and attitudes about it in West and South Africa, and the spiritual crisis of the developed world.

Bio: Swaady Martin is an internationally recognized African leader.
Spirituality and African identity are at the heart of all Swaady’s many
and varied roles. Her academic background includes London School of Economics (LSE) and Harvard Divinity School. She is also an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow. A former Corporate Executive at General Electric (GE), Swaady is the founder of Yswara African Tea, Tounché Global Consciousness Summit & Events and LovingKindness Boma (through which she publishes mindful, multicultural picture books for children). She sits on several boards, including the African Leadership Institute(Afli).

More about Swaady Martin, please visit https://www.swaady.com/

Swaady Martin: Fugitivity to Interconnection (E61)

Playwright, satirist, and political commentator CJ Hopkins, creator of the website Consent Factory, joins me for a conversation on totalitarianism, safety, and the ideology of control. We go a little beyond his political writings on these topics to talk about the inner life of a dissident. Another major topic is the phenomenon of the cult, as a lens through which to understand our historical moment.

CJ Hopkins' writings can be found on Substack https://cjhopkins.substack.com/
and the Consent Factory https://consentfactory.org/.

CJ Hopkins: The New Totalitarianism (E60)

Nathan Riley is a medical doctor trained in OB/GYN and palliative care. In this episode, birth and death, we talk about the role of medicine in society, what
is has been and could be, its beauty and limitations, working in the
system and outside the system. Be sure to listen to the last 15 minutes
especially, where Nathan shares a story that brought tears to my eyes
and is still working me from the inside.

More about Nathan Riley and his work, please visit:
https://www.belovedholistics.com/

Nathan Riley: Birth and Death (E59)

People call Daniel Raphael a "wizard," for reasons that may become apparent in this interview. He weaves an inspiring life story with his work with the body, subtle energies, and spiritual teachings. We touch on topics of perception and reality, self-forgiveness, and the limitations of the modern view of the real.

More about Daniel, please visit:  www.danielraphael.org

Robin McKenna: GIFT(E40)

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