The reMAKERs

Is it really possible to build an economy that works better for people and planet? How?

Few leaders understand this question from as grounded, practical and hopeful a perspective as Dr Amanda Cahill. In 2014, Dr Cahill was invited to help present to a regional community in Queensland, Australia, worried about their economic future amidst falling demand for their coal. At the time, she was doing economic development work…in Fiji.

“Don’t worry,” she was told, “no one’s going to listen to you anyway, they’ll all think you’re a greenie.” Instead, requests for meetings snowballed: within five days of her presentation she’d heard from 54 people — local businesses, councils, heads of industry — all of them scared about the changing economics of climate change.

The calls never stopped, and today Dr Cahill leads this work full-time as CEO of the The Next Economy. In this conversation, we explore how to bring people together based on what matters to them, what’s changed since the bushfires and pandemic, and what each of us can do to help chart a better way forward. We also talk puppies, being young and idealistic, and owning what you have to offer with radical humility.

Dr Cahill is a 2020 Churchill Scholar. She has a PhD in Human Geography from the Australian National University, and associate positions at The University of Queensland and the University of Sydney’s Policy Lab. To learn more about Dr Cahill’s work visit www.nexteconomy.com.au or follow on Facebook.

Show notes

Things we reference:

Naomi Klein on 'Disaster Capitalism'

What is geo-engineering?

Amanda’s book recommendations:

Hope in the Dark, Rebecca Solnit

Joanna Macy’s work (list of books)

Films and TV projects Amanda has been in:

2040 film

Fight for Planet A

Dan Ilic is a comedian for good trouble. He is one of the most prolific comedy voices in Australian media — with a resume that spans tv, radio, digital and live performances in Australia, the US and beyond. As the creator and host of A Rational Fear, winner of Best Comedy Podcast in 2020, Dan and his cohort of merry mischief-makers rip apart the news and drill down into climate change in particular.

In this episode we talk about how humour can give us a gentle way into difficult topics; about the power of laughing at the things that scare us most, about his time working in America during the rise of Donald Trump and whether it’s possible to do political satire without fuelling political polarisation.

Dan’s resume is way too long to list, but his Australian tv shows include At Home Alone Together, Tonightly with Tom Ballard, as well as Hungry Beast. He helped create an eight-part comedy series Audible Original called Riot Act. You can find more Dan at www.ARationalFear.com and on social media: @DanIlic or @ARationalFear.

(Head’s up: explicit language in this episode.)

Show notes

Things we reference:

“Getting serious about funny: Psychologists see humor as a character strength,” The Conversation

How Self-Initiated Laughter Can Make You Feel Better, Psychology Today

How Superman Singlehandedly Thwarted the Klu Klux Klan

State of Superstition (Iraqi TV)

Shabas (Israeli comedy sketch show set in a prison)

Videos Dan’s made that we mention:

Hicks’ Cribbs

“Introducing Apple’s Thinnest Product Ever”

Manus Island Refugees asking Scott Morrison “Where the Bloody Hell Are You?”

“Who’s Responsible for the Australian Bushfires?'“

Comedians he recommends:

Emily Johnston, HowToDelete1 on TikTok

Francesca Fiorentini

Jenny Yang

Craig Quartermaine

Andy Saunders 

Nakkiah Lui

Nayuka Gorrie

Kirsty Webeck

Zoë Coombs Marr

Alice Fraser

James Colley 

Sami Shah

“Bo-Bo and Flex” podcast on Apple, Spotify

“Broriginals” on Apple, Facebook

Dr Emma Lee is a trawlwulwuy woman from tebrakunna country, north-east Tasmania. She is a leader, advisor and multi award-winning academic at the Center for Social Impact at the Swinburne University of Technology. 

We first came across Dr Lee in 2019, reading her article, “We love-bombed the Tasmanian government to win Indigenous rights.” In it, Dr Lee describes incredible advances in not only rights, but relationships, that she helped progress in just five years — using what she describes as ‘real, revolutionary love.’ 

In this conversation Dr Lee talks to us about love, about being a warrior who is gentle with herself and others, about loving Country and letting Country love us back; about loving and belonging to Country and to each other.  She offers a gentle, wise, warm and love-filled invitation into a different way of looking at failure, inclusion, activism, human relationships and so much more.

The reMAKERS is recorded on Darug Country and we celebrate the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters, honouring Elders past and present.

Show notes

Here are some of the things we mention:

“We love-bombed the Tasmanian government to win Indigenous rights,” by Dr Emma Lee,

“In this Reconciliation Week of healing country, are you an activist or a warrior?” by Dr Emma Lee

The Orb, world-leading Indigenous education in Tasmania

‘(R)evolutionary Love project from Ireland (referenced during episode, mentioned in Dr Lee’s love-bombing article)

‘The Rebellion will Prevail’

David Ritter has worn many hats: mischievous kid (“a real nuisance in class”), lawyer, author, husband, father and now CEO of Greenpeace Australia Pacific.

In this brilliant, wise and deeply-hopeful conversation, he gives the best answer we’ve ever heard to the question, ‘but what can I do about climate change?’

We also discuss the changing role of business, his favourite rock band, how he stays sane and happy while knowing and doing hard things… and why he believes that ultimately, the Rebellion will prevail. We talk about a court case, which was ongoing at the time of our recording. Update: Greenpeace won.

The reMAKERS is recorded on Darug Country and we celebrate the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters, honouring Elders past and present.

Show notes

Books, articles, recommendations:

“Our once and future home: Journeying with the climate pilgrims,” by David Ritter, Griffith Review

“What is hope?” by Ann Porcino, one of the co-founders of Australia reMADE

Hope in the Dark, Rebecca Solnit

Michael Mann, author and professor

Empire of the Dead, by David Ritter, Arena Magazine

Midnight Oil

The Mandarins, by Simone de Beauvoir

Books by David Ritter

The Coal Truth: The Fight to Stop Adani, Defeat the Big Polluters & Reclaim our Democracy

The Native Title Market

Contesting Native Title: From controversy to consensus in the struggle over Indigenous land rights

To find out more about Greenpeace, support their work and join their campaigns, visit Greenpeace Australia Pacific or Greenpeace International.

Show notes

Here are some of the things we mention:

Doing democracy differently in Australia — stories we’ve written

“From trepidation to transformation: democracy, Indi-style”

“Uncommon victories: lessons from Warringah and Indi”

The decade-long community campaign that led to a constitutional ban against fracking: ‘Always Look Up: Connecting Community for a Win Against Gas’

Voices4Indi — the grassroots movement inspiring others, and a guide to How to Host a Kitchen Table conversation.

What is deliberative democracy?

The deliberative democracy process they used for the Irish referendum on abortion

How to Host an Australia reMADE conversation: a guide for individuals and organisations on how to help people build a shared vision, wherever you live or work.

Welcome to the reMAKERS!