The Unplug Podcast: Activated Living for Truth Seekers and Critical Thinkers in a Collapsing World

At this pivotal time in our history as a species on planet Earth, we are collectively operating from a state of overwhelming fear. Our resourcefulness is profoundly inhibited. Our capacity to trust is severely compromised, and the masses are reverting to primal instincts of survival. Safety in our world is quickly falling by the wayside. There are so many holes in the antiquated story of our world—the illusion—that the masses are grasping for something…anything that is familiar to ease their growing sense of unease. As a result, we’re witnessing a revival of days gone by when racism, sexism, speciesism, homophobia, etc. was ‘just the way it is’.

As this social regression plays out, violence is escalating—all while the biosphere is collapsing at an accelerated rate. There is no denying that we are living in frightening times.

Linear time has always been the great buffer to point us in the direction of a future. It has also served as an excuse for us to postpone our lives. But the accelerating changes with Gaea and the uncertainty of where we collectively stand means that our buffer of time is now severely compromised. In other words, there are no guarantees for a future anymore—especially a future that includes homo sapien.

Hostility and disbelief are typical responses when the buffer of time is removed from our lives. But the compression of time can also be great motivation to live fully now.

Gaea has removed the safety net of a future and is forcing us into the now. This is the essence of this week’s powerful conversation.

This week I speak with my friend and mentor, Louise LeBrun, a woman who has been pivotal in my personal evolution—a woman who challenges me to think more expansively and see the world through the limitlessness of my capital ‘S’ Self.

Louise sees the world in ways that are often difficult to articulate. She is gifted in her ability to put words to unspoken truths.

This week‘s episode is intense. My partner, Deb Gleason joins the conversation to bring greater dimension to this reality altering conversation.

This week, we shatter paradigms with topics such as:

* The complexity of closure.

* How fear cannot tolerate the increasing complexity of our world.

* How the brevity of our existence converts to motivation to live now.

* How linear time is a buffer to postpone our lives.

* An important conversation about timelines.

* How personal evolution leads to non-compliance.

* The liberation of impermanence.

* The sacredness of moments.

* How letting go frees oneself to finally live!

* RIG: A new take on love.

* How climate change is a reflection of a collective mindset.

* Why presence is so elusive.

* How the living organic system of humanity is not separate from Gaea.

* How does a spiritual being live in a human world?

* Releasing the notion of permanence.

* How evolution of our Selves is a purpose we all share.

This week’s conversation is probably the most important conversation I’ve had to date and I’m grateful to now be able to share it with you.

SHOW NOTES:

* Louise LeBrun’s website.

* Guy McPherson’s New Zealand interview with Paul Henry.

* Guy McPherson’s website.

If Deb’s words hit home and you find value in her work, please donate:

Abrupt anthropogenic climate change is here and has now taken on a life of its own. It’s no longer a question of if or when, it’s a question of how to cope in a rapidly collapsing world where the masses just don’t give a damn.

Despite increasing episodes of epic flooding, drought, wildfire, earthquakes, Arctic sea ice melt, and the frightening rise of methane and CO2 in our radically altered climate system, business-as-usual arrogantly plods along. Abrupt climate change is not to be taken lightly however. As it now stands, planet Earth may become totally uninhabitable in a matter of months or years (single digit) rather than decades or centuries. Many scientists are deeply alarmed by the accelerating changes that are becoming increasingly unpredictable. One of these scientists is Paul Beckwith.

Paul is a climatologist and part-time professor at the University of Ottawa in my hometown of Ottawa, Canada. After months of trying to connect for this podcast, Paul and I finally made it work only days after Donald Trump was crowned king of the USA. Needless to say, the conversation I originally planned to have with Paul was tossed out the window in favor of a spirited discussion about the beginning of a very dark new world order—including the very real possibility of expedited biosphere collapse.

Paul is well known for his comprehensive Youtube videos of sometimes daunting subjects, especially in relation to the climate, weather, oceanography and Earth Sciences. He has a knack for explaining complex issues in language that is easily understood.

Paul is a proponent of geoengineering, of which I’m not because I feel that we’ve already tampered with the Earth more than enough. Despite my beliefs however, Paul offers many nuggets of wisdom about the state of emergency we are now in with our climate, along with some interesting thoughts about the uncertain direction of the world with Donald Trump at the helm.

This week, we chat about:

* The uncertainty of Trumpism.

* Why we should be concerned about record low levels of Arctic sea ice.

* How the swing to the far right is a desperate attempt to revive the familiar in deeply troubling times.

* How the turn towards nationalism creates racism.

* The twilight zone of climate change denial.

* How Trump manipulated the media to destabilize the country.

* How climate change is a threat multiplier.

* How we are now living in a climate emergency.

* The oceans are sick with acidity and warming.

* What is a blue ocean event?

* What is biomimicry and geoengineering?

* The problem with human overpopulation.

With his extensive scientific knowledge and profound critical thinking skills, Paul Beckwith offers a sobering perspective that can no longer be denied: we are living in a climate emergency in deeply troubling times.

SHOW NOTES:

* Paul Beckwith’s website.

* Paul’s prolific Youtube channel.

* Paul on Twitter.

* Farewell to Ice by Peter Wadhams.

If Deb’s words hit home and you find value in her work, please donate:

Francis Weller is a psychotherapist, writer and soul activist. He’s a master of synthesizing diverse streams of thought from psychology, anthropology, mythology, alchemy, indigenous cultures and poetic traditions. The core of his work is creating pathways to reclaiming our indigenous soul—the “unforgotten wisdom” that resides in the heart of the psyche.

Francis is also the founder and director of WisdomBridge, an organization that offers educational programs that seek to integrate the wisdom from traditional cultures with the insights and knowledge gathered from western cultures to inspire soul activism.

Francis also helped to create Men of Spirit, an intensive year-long initiation program designed to restore the masculine community as a resource for cultural renewal.

This week’s conversation delves deep into the heart—the very soul of who we are. We speak intimately to the necessity for grief in our lives as a pathway to wholeness. Our exploration takes us to sacred places including:

* How grief requires sacred community.

* How grief is a pathway to delight.

* How grief inspires fluidity and opening to joy and gratitude.

* How blocking our own pain prevents us from feeling the pain of the Earth.

* Holding love and grief as one.

* The necessity for grief ritual.

* The connection between sorrow and joy.

* The difference between joy and happiness.

* The feral nature of grief and how it shapes us as emotionally mature adults.

* How our addiction to control suppresses the soul.

* The difference between grief as a ‘verb’ or an identity.

* What is conscious grieving?

* How grief changes shape and never leaves.

* Navigating Earth grief.

* How grief can be our salvation.

* The grace of grief.

I am so honored to bring this beautiful conversation to your hearts and minds this week. Please welcome the profound wisdom of Francis Weller and the transformative power of grief.

SHOW NOTES:

* Francis Weller website.

* The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief on Amazon.

* Wisdom Bridge website.

If Deb’s words hit home and you find value in her work, please donate:

I have had the pleasure of meeting the coolest people through the Unplug podcast! This week’s guest is no exception. Paul Marcotte is a fellow Canadian whose life of simplicity gives the word a whole new meaning.

My first introduction to this interesting man was during a conversation with Guy McPherson this past summer. The two men are long-time friends. With our similar mindsets, Guy knew that our paths were meant to cross. After releasing my podcast with Guy, Paul reached out to me with an email introduction that went straight to my heart. When I checked out his blog, I knew he had to be on the podcast.

Paul calls himself, “The Thoughtful Wanderer”—an appropriate moniker for the unconventional life he lives. You see, Paul has chosen a life of intentional homelessness. He travels around the globe with little more than a backpack and a bicycle. His vocation as a professional home and pet sitter offers the opportunity for great adventure.

Adding a little more spice to this story is Paul’s keen awareness of the dire reality of our collapsing world. Because of his friendship with Guy McPherson, Paul is not afraid to explore the spaces and places that most fear to go. In that fearlessness, he has reached a level of acceptance that inspires him to live fully now—with presence, compassion and humor.

In this week’s episode, we free-flow into topics such as:

* Living an intentionally homeless life.

* Learning presence, love and truth from animals.

* Self-trust and presence.

* Living with a spirit of adventure.

* The liberation of simple living.

* The salve of nature.

* The stasis of mainstream activism.

* Our planetary crisis: From denial to acceptance to presence.

* Redefining abundance.

* The luxury of simple living.

* The synergy between intention and abundance.

* Trusting feeling over perception.

* Living with death in mind to prompt passion and presence.

I’m co-hosting once again with my wonderful partner, Deb Gleason. We were both excited to get to know this man who has chosen a life of the heart. Paul Marcotte proves to us in this episode that home definitely is where the heart is. Enjoy!

SHOW NOTES:

* The Thoughtful Wanderer blog.

* Does the Damn Thing Work post on Paul’s blog.

* Letting Go of a World in Collapse essay.

* The Hand Sculpted House on Amazon.

* Guy McPherson’s website.

* The Weather Makers on Amazon.

If Deb’s words hit home and you find value in her work, please donate:

You may be thinking, “What a weird title for a podcast. Methane? Buddhism? New consciousness?”

In a nutshell, that’s the essence of this week’s inspiring guest. Jennifer Hynes is a climate researcher and the creator of two significant climate change videos addressing escalating climate trends. In particular, her focus has been on the methane hydrate situation in the Arctic.

As a highly trained IT professional with an emphasis on large data migrations and data trends analysis, she has a passion for connecting the dots of the climate world, and spreading awareness of the looming climate catastrophe.

Jennifer also has a deep and abiding interested in Tibetan Buddhism. Growing up in Laos and Ghana, she learned the intrinsic value of being internally guided and spiritually connected at a young age.

While she’s not a formally trained climate scientist, her first video, “The Arctic Methane Monster’s Rapid Rise” was widely viewed and went viral. Her second video, “Methane Monster II: Demise of the Arctic” has also garnered considerable attention.

Jennifer’s awakening to the dire reality of our climate situation is a fascinating story—one which we explore in great depth on the show. She’s a gifted storyteller whose passion for life is palpable!

This week, we discuss topics such as:

* Intuition and spiritual pursuits.

* The power of vulnerability to create connection.

* The importance of like-minded community to navigate abrupt climate-change awareness.

* How the melting Arctic affects us all.

* Speaking out: the path of the warrior.

* How authenticity and clear-thinking empower a message.

* What is a pioneer in consciousness?

* How despair is not a state of the heart (and why it’s important to allow it to move).

* How emotion and passion moves us far more than scientific information.

* Why we should be concerned about methane.

* How the human mind is conditioned to normalize the abnormal to preserve the status quo.

* What is the “hot blob” and the “ridiculously resilient ridge”?

* Living with the knowledge of near-term human extinction.

* The myths of grief.

* How gratitude and joy walk hand-in-hand.

* The liberation of acceptance.

Jennifer is passionate, warm, smart and funny. I’m grateful to have her in my life and I suspect you will too after listening to this inspiring conversation.

SHOW NOTES:

* Jennifer Hynes website.

* Sam Carana’s Arctic News Blogspot.

* Carolyn Baker’s books.

* Peter Wadhams, Ice free Arctic article.

* Andrew Harvey’s website.

If Deb’s words hit home and you find value in her work, please donate:

This week, Deb Gleason and I speak about our move away from the Sunshine Coast to a new location. Our conversation explores the depths of what it means to live courageously with deep trust; how we manifest what we need when we take the required action.

We also speak about the accelerating Earth changes and how they’re affecting our ability to discern our internal cues with more clarity.

We also explore topics of conversation such as:

* Living simply.

* Living from essence in our collapsing world.

* How the body never lies.

* The power of (wo)manifesting (i.e. thought, choice, action).

* Trusting our internal cues.

* What is deep courage?

* How grief and pain transform us.

* How acceptance liberates us.

* Living passionately in a collapsing world.

* The connection between joy and gratitude.

* The isolation of living an aware and awakened life.

* The fire of compassion.

Yet another conversation that will rock your world!

SHOW NOTES:

*  Unprecedented Green Ocean: Feeling Homesick at Home blog post.

*  The Illusion and Truth of Courage blog post.

* Navigating an Altered Planet with Grace podcast with Deb Gleason and Gigi Hoeller.

If Deb’s words hit home and you find value in her work, please donate:

This week’s guest is Dr. Guy McPherson: author, activist, grief recovery specialist, and award-winning professor emeritus of Natural Resources, and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona. He’s also the only person who openly speaks about the extinction of species homo sapien—not in some distant timeline, but in our lifetime.

Earlier this month, Louise LeBrun invited me to participate in her life-altering 10-day writing experience called, “Whispers From Within”. It’s a small group experience for women who are hungry to know more of themselves. Without revealing too much in these show notes, I will let you know that the experience is deeply personal and profoundly transformative. We speak at great length about what came up for us in this week’s lengthy podcast.

Carolyn Baker is the author of several books about our chaotic and collapsing times. She’s a truth-teller extraordinaire. Her background includes: adjunct professor of history and psychology for more than 10 years, psychotherapist in private practice for 17 years and she’s also a student of ritual and mythology with a personal meditation practice that spans more than 30 years. She offers life coaching both locally in her hometown of Boulder, Colorado and also internationally. She’s a prolific author with 11 books to her name, and she’s also the host of the New Lifeboat Hour podcast.

With abrupt climate change becoming an increasingly hot topic these days—both literally and figuratively—it’s becoming more clear that our altered planet is a source of great concern for many. We have now crossed many tipping points of no return.

One of the most profound tipping points relates to accelerated Arctic sea ice melt. Why is a lack of Arctic sea ice a concern? In simple terms, the white of the ice reflects the sun back into the atmosphere maintaining a cooler ocean and thus a cooler Earth. A lack of sea ice means a lack of albedo, otherwise known as “whiteness”. A lack of albedo means that things are darker. No Arctic sea ice means more dark water to absorb the heat of the sun and create a warming effect. Think of a hot summer day. Does it make more sense to wear a white t-shirt or a dark t-shirt? The warmer the water, the more things melt, which means even less albedo. This positive feedback loop becomes self-reinforcing with no way to stop it, and thus the ocean continues to warm.

Warming oceans also mean acidification, deoxygenation and expansion. Yes, warm water expands. This means sea level rise, altered ocean current patterns, methane release and many other feedback loops that spiral out of control. As feedback loops compound, the planet becomes less habitable for many plant and animal species…and eventually for us. A lack of Arctic sea ice is a very serious problem for our entire life-support system.

This week’s guest is adventurer, writer and biologist, Erin McKittrick. Originally from Seattle, Erin now lives in the North American epicentre of it all—Alaska—with her husband and two children in their yurt. Erin and her husband, Hig, have been trekking for over a decade, logging over 8000 miles of wilderness travel. On their website, they write that their human-powered trekking expeditions across Alaska give them the “ground truth” of everything from mine proposals to climate change, through observation and conversation with locals. They then combine this “ground truth” with “researched truth,” using their respective scientific backgrounds to create comprehensive and accurate articles on key issues across the state.

Their mission is to provide people with the knowledge they need to make smart decisions about the issues they uncover, now and into the future.

This week we talk about:

* The gratitude that comes from simple living.

* How so much of our lives are tied to the electric grid.

* How sea ice is a controlling factor in our global climate.

* What is albedo and why it matters.

* What is a self-reinforcing positive feedback loop and why it is a concern.

* The variability of weather in relation to climate change.

* Sea bird die-offs and climate change.

This is an important conversation that will both inspire and open your mind to the experiential truth of climate change to be found on the ground.

SHOW NOTES:

* Ground Truth Trekking website.

If Deb’s words hit home and you find value in her work, please donate: