In this episode of Sticks & Stones, Jason talks about the interconnectedness of environmental history, capitalism, and social theory in our current social dynamic. He highlights the urgency of the planetary crisis, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and inequality. We discuss the impact of ideologies on various global issues, such as gender, race, religion, and culture. Moore explains that capitalist ideologies instrumentalize the world and perpetuate a binary mode of thought. The conversation touches on the role of technology, capitalism, and power in shaping the current state of the world. We discuss the relationship between capitalism, climate crisis, and imperialism. Moore argues that the origins of the climate crisis can be traced back to the crisis of feudalism during the Little Ice Age, which led to the invasion and conquest of the Americas. He emphasizes the militarized and coercive nature of capitalist rule and the need for climate justice movements to challenge the capitalist mode of thought.

Tzeporah Berman, an environmental activist and campaigner, talks about her work at Stand.earth and her role in campaigns to stop fracking, protect forests, and clean up the fashion industry. She emphasizes the need to replace fossil fuels and prevent their overproduction, as they contribute to climate change. Berman reflects on her journey as an activist and the challenges of finding common ground with different stakeholders.

Our conversation explores the importance of understanding different perspectives and managing emotions during challenging dialogues. Tzeporah shares her approach of finding common ground and understanding the lived experiences of others. Our discussion also addresses issues of inclusivity, systemic biases, and the need for individuals to actively engage in unlearning and understanding complex issues to drive positive social change.

Bob Joseph has spent more than twenty years training corporations and government organizations to work effectively and respectfully with Indigenous communities through his business, Indigenous Corporate Training. He has been an associate professor at Royal Roads University and a guest lecturer at other academic institutions. He is the author of the Canadian best-seller 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act and Indigenous Relations: Insights, Tims & Suggestions. In this episode, we talk about the pathway to Reconciliation, and Bob provides his own personal insight into how to navigate difficult conversations.

Please have a look at our show notes with the transcript of this episode for more information.

In this episode, we catch up with Jessie Sutherland. Jessie developed Intercultural Strategies and the Belonging Matters framework to provide the knowledge, processes and tools that can bridge the gap between people with lived experience and system influencers in order to create lasting and sustainable personal and community change. We talked about many things, but I'm still thinking about naming the system that we've been born into the habits we have developed and the invitation to change them.

I've started a new series here and I'm calling it Sticks & Stones, Roots & Bones. It's part of my dissertation research project with the University of British Columbia as I explore the power of the words we use in a polarized world with experts who research, and study how to navigate difficult conversations.

In this episode, we're joined by Teun van Dijk. Teun is a Dutch linguist who studies language structure, development, and use. He has made significant contributions to discourse analysis, and he is an expert at how language both reflects and constructs the social world. We talk about his earlier work as well as how discourse has been used to manipulate public opinion and reinforce power relationships. we also bump into pre-modernism and populist movements and their impact. The interview concludes with advice on navigating difficult conversations and touches on debates within social movements.

Teun was a professor of discourse studies at the University of Amsterdam until 2004 and now teaches at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona. He is the Founding Director of the Centre of Discourse Studies.

Connie Zweig is a retired Jungian psychologist and therapist, author, Climate Reality Project Leader, and Citizens Climate Lobbyist. In this episode, we talk about her latest book, Meeting the Shadow on the Spiritual Path: The Dance of Darkness and Light in Our Search for Awakening and how our "shadow" affects the conversations we have.

This is the trailer and introduction to Sticks & Stones, Roots & Bones. A new podcast produced at the conversation lab with a focus on the words we use and the hope that we will learn how to change hearts and minds one conversation at a time.

Naomi Klein is an award-winning journalist, columnist, filmmaker, and author. I had the opportunity to speak with her a few years ago when she wrote No Is Not Enough. While this conversation was a few books ago, when I went back to listen to it I found it eerily relevant as she discusses the political climate and the rise of Trump as a brand. She highlights the dangers of equating wealth with wisdom and the role of billionaires in policymaking. Naomi also discusses the need for an alternative vision and transformative change to address the underlying crises of inequality, climate change, and white supremacy. A suitable and timely addition to this podcast series about the cause and effect of polarization and how the words we use open up or shut down our conversations.