prepare, bend, sustain
what I learned in the first 3 weeks of surviving the future 2025
Note: the original posting on my a calm presence Substack is here.
Sarah Heynen, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Food & Ecology, suggested I take Surviving the Future : The Deeper Dive (StF), a 10 week course offered by Sterling College, in Vermont. The course is informed by the work of English economist, cultural historian and writer David Flemingand is led by British author and activist Shaun Chamberlin.
Sarah was right about taking the course.
So far it has been very intense, quite a bit of fun, with moments of, I would call it… terror.
I'm going to share some of my findings with you.
I noted what I learned (and unlearned) during StF 2025 from amazing presentations, engaged conversations, creative exercises, bold documentaries, vigorous debates and mutual support sessions : all kinds of interesting and enriching learning.
However, it all boiled down to this slide that our first guest presenter Nate Hagens (host of The Great Simplificationpodcast) shared with us in the first week.
My reading of this slide is that we need to :
Nothing else really matters.
It might seem simplistic to bring it down to 3 words but it really helped me focus.
As the course unfolded, I made note of some of my favorite sayings and moments.
And much more.
My hope (see when spirit becomes one for more on hope) is that once combined and coordinated, these efforts will become unstoppable forces of change and renewal.
That’s a bit utopic but I’ve always believed that once combined these things are very powerful.
During the course one of our assignments was to respond to Nate Hagens’ presentation. I wrote this poem:
So this gives you an idea of the kind of fun we are having with complex issues… but will all of this be enough?
Qui sait?
What I’ve learned in these first 3 weeks is incredible. So much useful information and helpful discourse with like-minded people. But in terms of what I retain in day-to-day life there are 3 words that guide me:
More soon on the rest of the course. I’ll do another posting including links to my favorite articles and videos.
With deepest gratitude and respect to Nate Hagens for his presentation and use of his slide (also see Power vs Life: Towards Wide Boundary Sovereignty), to the wonderful stf 2025 team (Shuan, Nakasi and others) for their leadership and to my stf 2025 colleagues for our rich exchanges, generosity and - oh so precious - solidarity.
Photo: Beach at Hornby Island, British Columbia by Claude Schryer
Note: This is a transcription that is provided for those who prefer to read this conversation and for documentation.
prepare, bend, sustain
what I learned in the first 3 weeks of surviving the future 2025
Sarah Heynen, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Food & Ecology, suggested I take Surviving the Future : The Deeper Dive (StF), a 10 week course offered by Sterling College, in Vermont. The course is informed by the work of English economist, cultural historian and writer David Flemingand is led by British author and activist Shaun Chamberlin.
Sarah was right about taking the course.
So far it has been very intense, quite a bit of fun, with moments of, I would call it… terror.
I'm going to share some of my findings with you.
I noted what I learned (and unlearned) during StF 2025 from amazing presentations, engaged conversations, creative exercises, bold documentaries, vigorous debates and mutual support sessions : all kinds of interesting and enriching learning.
However, it all boiled down to this slide that our first guest presenter Nate Hagens (host of The Great Simplificationpodcast) shared with us in the first week.
My reading of this slide is that we need to :
Nothing else really matters.
It might seem simplistic to bring it down to 3 words but it really helped me focus.
As the course unfolded, I made note of some of my favorite sayings and moments.
And much more.
My hope (see when spirit becomes one for more on hope) is that once combined and coordinated, these efforts will become unstoppable forces of change and renewal.
That’s a bit utopic but I’ve always believed that once combined these things are very powerful.
During the course one of our assignments was to respond to Nate Hagens’ presentation. I wrote this poem:
Friends who do not judge
Colleagues who are present
Kindred spirits who make me feel
More-than-humans who help me heal
Friends who guide me through the unknown
Colleagues who comfort me when I’m gone
Kindred spirits who help me respond
More-than-humans’ gift of mycelia
Friends who help me sit
Colleagues who help me prepare
Kindred spirits who bend not break
More-than-human sustainability
So this gives you an idea of the kind of fun we are having with complex issues… but will all of this be enough?
Qui sait?
What I’ve learned in these first 3 weeks is incredible. So much useful information and helpful discourse with like-minded people. But in terms of what I retain in day-to-day life there are 3 words that guide me:
More soon on the rest of the course. I’ll do another posting including links to my favorite articles and videos.
With deepest gratitude and respect to Nate Hagens for his presentation and use of his slide (also see Power vs Life: Towards Wide Boundary Sovereignty), to the wonderful stf 2025 team (Shuan, Nakasi and others) for their leadership and to my stf 2025 colleagues for our rich exchanges, generosity and - oh so precious - solidarity.
Photo: Beach at Hornby Island, British Columbia by Claude Schryer