The People Factor

What does psychology have to do with overpopulation and/or population growth?  In this episode, Dr. Sally Augustin helps us understand our underlying connections to place including place attachment and cultural influences that help shape who we are and how we approach life on this planet.  This episode features Part 1 of a May 2014 interview with Dr. Augustin for The People Factor film series.  To learn more about Dr. Augustin and her work, please visit www.designwithscience.com . Please record questions or comments about this episode here at Anchor's People Factor page or at [email protected].  

Due to a severe ice storm where I live, I'm not able to produce a new episode for my audience today.  So, instead, as so many of us are currently experiencing extreme weather, take a moment to ponder how many years it has been since scientists first reported that human activity was changing our climate and possibly not for the better.  And there are still climate change deniers out there, even with all that we know.

Overpopulation has been recognized as a serious issue for many years longer than climate change.  But, like climate change, overpopulation is remaining unacknowledged by mainstream society and policy makers.  We have to start including it in our important societal, economic and environmental conversations.  by listening to The People Factor, you're taking those first steps.  Thank you!

Another great podcast on overpopulation that I just learned about is The Population Factor with Phillip Cafaro.  It is on Earthx TV.  Check it out at earthx.org.

In this episode we look at redefining growth to be qualitative rather that quantitative.  There's a big difference and, if population discussions can focus on a new understanding of growth like a tree rather than an invasive blackberry, in time population growth will self-regulate, making room for all humans to thrive.  Included is a clip from Jane's 2014 film Finding Home in Austin.

To find out more about Alexandra Paul's seminar on Overpopulation and Climate Change, please visit https://bit.ly/36WXrZ5 .  There won't be a bonus feature or Part 2 this week so please join us again next Wednesday for an exciting new episode of the People Factor.  Have a great week.

In Part 2 of our talk about migration, we’ll explore exactly who migrates and what their impact is on both the receiving country as well as their country of origin.   In the continuation of his interview, Dr. Castelli discusses the important role of shared language and how social media impacts migration in both negative and positive ways.  Data from this episode can be found at https://www.iom.int .  The International Organization for Migration is affiliated with the United Nations and studies the impacts of migration globally.

Join host Jane Turville as she discusses migration as a component of population growth.  With Dr. Francesco Castelli, author of Drivers of Migration:  Why Do People Move? Jane explores exactly who a migrant is, what motivates migration, and how migrants have been viewed throughout history.  Interesting data is included and more can be found at the International Organization for Migration website https://www.iom.int.   If you have any questions about today’s episode, please record them on The People Factor page on Anchor or send them to me at [email protected].  Part 2 of Dr. Castelli's interview will be live on Friday, February 5th.

In Part 2 of our discussion on aging, host Jane Turville and Dr. Lisa Hollis-Sawyer discuss how attitudes toward death influence attitudes toward aging.

In this episode, host Jane Turville talks about the changing shape of the traditional population pyramid and with the help of her friend Dr. Lisa Hollis-Sawyer, explores how we are redefining aging as the pyramid shifts to a rectangle. For more information on population pyramids and how they have changed over time, please visit populationpyramid.net. The data shared in this episode can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsus/VSUS_1950_1.pdf, https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2019/popest-nation.html and https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr-8-508.pdf. If you have any questions about this episode, please record them on The People Factor page on Anchor (anchor.fm/jane-turville7) or send them to me at [email protected].

In Part 2 we tackle the idea of overpopulation advocates, at their core, dislike children. Tied to this is also the insinuation that to not want a baby is selfish and somewhat unnatural. And while things are changing as births in industrialized nations decrease, the old prejudices run pretty deep in society.  Join host Jane Turville's fascinating interview with filmmaker Maxine Trump who's film To Kid Or Not To Kid explores these prejudices as she shares her journey to decide whether or not motherhood is right for her.  To learn more about Maxine and To Kid or Not To Kid, please visit http://tokidornottokid.com.  

In Part 1 of Fertility, host Jane Turville shines a light on why saying "Having a child is the most Earth unfriendly thing a person can do" is a catalyst for halting conversation around population growth and over-population.  In this episode, we'll highlight the difference between planned and unplanned pregnancies, including recognition that intentional family planning can yield current and future advocates for environmental sustainability.  We'll talk with environmentalist and author Deborah McNamara about her intentional journey into motherhood, lessons learned and how motherhood changed and enhanced her answers to the questions "Who am I?" and "How do I fit in?"

Statistics from this episode can be found at https://www.worldcounts.com and The Center for Health Statistics https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr-8-508.pdf .  Information about Deb's book The Invitation to Motherhood can be found at https://www.debmcnamara.com .

Join us for Part 2 of Fertility for an amazing interview with with guest Maxine Trump, producer of To Kid Or Not To Kid.

In this second part of my interview with filmmaker Stephanie Welch, we explore how racism is embedded in American policy and the role Eugenics has played and continues to play in maintaining racist attitudes throughout modern American society.