Catalyzing Radical Systemic Change Alistair Langer

When we observe the state of affairs on a broad scale, we become painfully aware that the institutions governing the planet are operating on outdated systems. For new pluralistic governance models to emerge, we need to rethink the foundations, mechanisms, and processes at play on a fundamental level and prepare for an inevitable transition.

It’s my great pleasure to share this podcast with Anastasia Kalinina, co-founder of the reState Foundation, which aims to reimagine the future of governance and global collaboration.

Find here the most exciting nuggets we explored:


After discovering the ceilings of what legacy systems are capable of in senior positions at international organizations and institutions, like the UN and WEF, with reState Foundation, we’re aiming to reimagine the future of governance, global collaboration, and accelerating the transition to more desired futures as a human family. 
Governance systems worldwide struggle to harness the full potential of emerging technologies, limiting people's ability to shape agendas on both local and global levels. 
On a global level - we need better planetary coordination mechanisms to define and manage global commons. Peer-to-peer, participatory, global citizen assemblies, new planetary institutions, etc.
We are sleepwalking toward the edge of a cliff, against the backdrop of a planetary catastrophe that is only beginning to unfold, destined to drastically reshape our lives. What we need is calm and non-delirious systems thinking, a skill that can be developed over time.
We need to enhance cooperation to the level of a mature Technosphere. This is really what the new ecosystemic technologies such as Web3, blockchain, open source and the like are about, to move from a narcissistic vision of isolated entities, unaware of their impact, to cooperative and ecologically aware ecosystems.
We're failing to convey the magnitude of the shift we're experiencing. It is our generation that is being called upon to make this transition. Our lifestyles are destined to transform, whether we like it or not. While history has seen a few collapses of civilizations, what sets this moment apart is that we're now part of a fully entangled planetary civilization — where food systems, energy systems, oceans, technology, and everything else are intricately intertwined and impact one another.
Transitioning from the enlightened Newtonian worldview to a quantum worldview, how can we broaden the notion of agency and rights to include all forms of life? Considering that the Earth's population encompasses not only humans, how do we design for a more-than-human world? How does this expand accountability vis-à-vis the wholeness of life?
How can we reimagine energy systems, food systems, urban design, education, logistics, data, policy, finance, future of monetary systems, economic systems, healthcare, governance and organizational culture? 
A case for the planetary commons: I advocate for cosmo-localism, i.e. the subsidiarity of material production, but the supersidiarity of immaterial collaboration. The evolution of civilization can be seen as a pulsation of the commons, with the extractive institutions of markets and states in charge of ascending periods, followed by a popular striving to re-invent the only regenerative and protective institution that is the commons. 
Planetary commons recognize the complexities and interdependencies inherent in the Earth system and acknowledge the potential of an all-encompassing commons approach that extends its focus beyond facilitating equal access to resources (current international law around commons), to one that is focused on safe-guarding critical Earth system regulating functions. 
When we look at the future of network states, we recognize that there are roughly 35 million digital nomads in the world, with the financial power equal to the GDP of Germany, so people choose kinship based on shared visions and aspirations as oppo

It seems our culture appropriates, wraps and repackages almost anything it can get its hands on. So, after yoga, meditation, plant medicine, the newest buzz word seems to be trauma. But beyond it being - in my eyes often banalized - what is actually trauma? And how does it relate to NeuroBalancing?

It’s my great pleasure to be in this virtual room together today with Johannes Eisenburger, one of my closest friends and a trained trauma therapist. So, like always in this podcast series, before we dive into the topic itself: What were the pivotal moments in your life that made you the human being that you are - and how do they relate to the overarching topic of today?


Let’s start defining trauma: The difference between shock, developmental and attachment trauma.
Survival strategies and coping mechanisms.
Your near death experience and the biggest aviation accident in German history.
Why do people - depending on the depth of their trauma - continuously retraumatize themselves?
The Drama Triangle - and how to break free of that vicious cycle. 
Our healing journeys: Let’s share some commonalities in our healing journey (shock trauma) and maybe also some differences. Especially where the different modalities helped us. 
Neuro-states dictate how we feel, think and engage with the world. 
Nervous system eats strategy for breakfast.
How does trauma relate to a dysregulated nervous system?
The dark side of the psychedelic renaissance, like psychosis or spiritual narcissism.
Choose your guides wisely! 
Finally - why did you consciously coin your work neuro-balancing, instead of trauma healing?

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.johannes-eisenburger.com 

 

Johannes EisenburgerEmerging from a backdrop of profound adversities and enlightening triumphs, Johannes has woven his life challenges into a powerful narrative of empowerment, passion, and transformation. His journey is a testament to his unwavering commitment to not just survive but thrive in the face of adversity.Johannes' story takes a profound turn when he faced a near-death experience following a severe accident.



In that moment, he journeyed into the light, encountering his grandfather and experiencing a profound sense of peace. This encounter with the divine shifted his perspective on life and death, dispelling his fear of mortality.Motivated by a desire to break free from societal pressures that emphasized outer achievements over inner authenticity, Johannes embarked on a path of self-discovery.

He discovered an innate ability to read people and situations, adapting himself to societal norms to seek validation and love. Like many, he wore a facade to navigate life's challenges, concealing his true emotions beneath layers of achievement, overthinking, and relentless activity.However, life's inevitable trials struck with the loss of two close friends to cancer, both within the same week. Johannes found himself falling into a deep well of suppressed sadness and pain, leading to a profound period of depression. It was in this dark abyss that he confronted his inner demons and began the transformative work of healing.Johannes' journey shifted from running and escaping to facing his shadows head-on.



He took responsibility for his emotions, setting him on a path of profound personal growth. From pain emerged purpose, and Johannes emerged from his trials as a beacon of resilience, strength, and authenticity. Today, Johannes draws upon his personal experience and expertise in somatic trauma-therapy to guide high-achieving entrepreneurs, helping them confront the immense stressors of rapid business scaling.



He is an expert in navigating trauma, transforming it into a source of strength and wisdom. Johannes' story is a testament to the power of facing one's deepest fears and emerging stronger, grounded, and purpose-driven. He is here to hold space for those on their own transformative journeys, helping them unlock their truest nature an

Millions of people use plant medicine every year under various circumstances. Little focus is often taken on how to integrate and embody these visionary states into everyday life. 

It’s my great pleasure to be in this virtual room together with Dr. Katherine D. Coder, who is working in this field for over 10 years. 

There’s three main areas of focus that we will touch upon in this episode:


How do we best integrate plant medicine after the ceremony ends?
What role does trauma play in integration?
The intersection of spiritual awakening and social change.



Like always in my podcast series, and handing over to you:

What are the pivotal biographical moments that made you the human being that you are and show up with your purpose in the way you do?

When the Ceremony ends: How do we best integrate plant medicine?


Psychedelics are very seductive! Introducing Visionary Plant Medicine Integration: Power and Pitfalls
How much ceremony is too much ceremony? And, when is ceremony not the best next step?
If your shaman is not from your culture or local to you, what can you do to integrate after a ceremony? Who do you turn to? Especially highlighting the differences in traditional and “western/integrated/neo-shamanic settings”
What do you do when ceremony reveals trauma? How can you find and trust the “right guides” with a trauma informed background.
What kind of support do you need post-ceremony to help yourself fully heal? 
How can you ground your work with visionary plants and walk the teachings in your daily life? Especially focus on psycho spiritual discipline and practices.



What role does trauma play in integration?


somatically informed and trained facilitators
bringing the visionary state back into soma to be fully embodied, importance of working with dissociation and gently shifting out of the trauma-based identity

Example – deep sense of something being “wrong” with me
Archetypal death-rebirth cycle

Sharing some of your own healing practice & offerings

The intersection of spiritual awakening and social change


Promotion of Compassionate Action in Premodernity: Indigenous traditions, The Axial Age, Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions, Indian religious traditions: Hinduism and Buddhism, Ancient Greek traditions
Moving Toward the Interdependence of Social Action and Spirituality & Reconsidering the path of spiritual development
Contemporary Socially Engaged Spirituality

Social action as a spiritual practice
Varieties of socially engaged spirituality

How can we ensure that all these peak experiences people get do not further spiritual narcissism? 

Dr. Katherine Coder

is an awakener of evolutionary potential and a guide to remember one’s birthright and soul essence. She weaves the ancient wisdom into the now, serving as a vessel for the Divine Feminine in modern times. She holds the form and the formless, facilitating the integration of the known with the unknown.

Her transformative work connects body, mind, heart and Soul and seeks to meet each person as and where they are in the journey of life. Her stance is to recognize the fundamental Truth in each person, honor them as that Truth, and begin the work that needs to be done to bring a person to this essential nature.

Her specialties include trauma resolution, attachment challenges, codependency, childhood and family wounding, women’s work, and motherhood. From a transpersonal perspective she helps her clients with deeper awakenings and integrations. She brings together Western clinical psychology, Eastern spiritual teachings, indigenous wisdom, and the continuous cultivation of the deep feminine in the world.

She has taught lunar wisdom, elemental wisdom, herbal plant wisdom, elements of ceremony, and facilitated women’s work, council circles, workshops, retreats, year-long women’s feminine spirituality schools, and transformative book clubs.

Co-creation has been one of the most abused buzzwords in the last years, alongside maybe sustainability. So, why should cocreation as a cultural change technique be of such importance for the many challenges we face as humanity, from local communities, to city planning, to global governance issues?

It’s my pleasure today to share this virtual room together with Jascha Rohr, who works with participatory design and cocreative processes and formats for over 25 years, on a micro, meso and macro scale.

Like always, starting the podcast, and before we dive into the concepts, the scaffolding and architecture of the design of cocreation, I want to start with the human being.


Jascha sketched his biography from the ecological question and exponential growth, permaculture and participatory design. 




Basics of cocreation: What exactly does the term “cocreation” mean and why did you decide to write a whole book about it?


Areas of application: In what social and organizational contexts do you see the greatest potential for the principles of cocreation? Jascha shares two examples, one to inject cocreative DNA into a process design on the parliamentary level in Germany around nutrition and another one on a whole city level, in the city of Frankfurt/Main for innovation in the schooling sector. 


Discerning the basic ingredients: When we look at the models, concepts and methods such as the Cocreative Commune, Governance Design, and the Field Process Model - they all have a radically nondual process orientation and the breakdown of mental silos (e.g. in between inner and outer work).


Challenges: What obstacles and challenges often arise when people try to cocreate, and how can they be overcome? Experience is the only way to understand, so we need opportunities to participate in good facilitated processes.


What role does tech play in the area? I reckon through a full stack lens, there are many different layers and applications that are needed. So, what tech is available, and what tech solutions are lacking in the space to facilitate a co-creative process? Instead of again putting nature, society, and technology into mental and emotional silos, we explore the concept of “Gaia the Cyborg” from Donna Haraway.


Future of cocreation: How do you see co-creative processes developing in the future? Are there any trends or developments that might become particularly relevant in the coming years? The pivotal moment will be a shift from methods to processes, to attitude, to paradigm. 


Practical Tips: For listeners who are excited about the concept of cocreation after this conversation: What first steps do you recommend they take to implement co-creative principles in their own work or communities? It’s always the same principles: create a field of playfulness, potentiality, and agency, invite people to it, protect the qualities, otherwise let go and, above all and anything, trust the process.



Jascha Rohr



is philosopher, social entrepreneur, developer and facilitator of participatory and co-creative design processes. He works on new ways of collaboration that enable us to discover our collective potentials and develop solutions and ideas for acute social problems. My goal is to enable participation that can change the world we live in for the better.



He is also founder, benefactor and board member of the Cocreation Foundation. I see myself as a process artist and hands-on intellectual. Using models, concepts and methods such as the Cocreative Commune, Governance Design and the Field Process Model, I believe I can support new attitudes and ways of seeing and working towards a more vibrant, sustainable world.

He lives with his partner and wife Sonja Hörster, my son and a demented cat in an eco-settlement in the countryside near Oldenburg and in Berlin. Two co-daughters have already left home.

https://www.partizipativ-gestalten.de 

https://cocreation-foundation.org/ 

https://www.murmann-verlag.de/pr

From “Breaking Open the Head”, “Quetzalcoatl Returns”, “How Soon is Now?”, “Conspiranoia”, and “When plants dream”, I’ve been following the footsteps of Daniel Pinchbeck for over a decade now. I appreciate his radical honesty, speaking truth to power, slaughtering holy cows, and bridging many different areas of exploration.

Sometimes, your writing seems like advocating doomsday scenarios - and albeit many of the signs point

in the wrong direction, I want to distill in our conversation today what gives you hope.

Before that, let’s start with giving the listeners an overview of your body of work.

Easiest is to run through your oeuvre, the books, and articles you have written. I want to know what made you write these pieces, as well as how they shaped your reality forward.


Please sketch from a meta-perspective how you see your body of work evolving from “Breaking Open the Head”, “Quetzalcoatl Returns”, “How Soon is Now?”, “Conspiranoia”, “When plants dream”.
What were the crucial, pivotal points that moved you from one paradigm to the other?
How do your personal experiences link to your body of work?
What’s the quintessence from your own work? 
What body of work are you currently working on?
What gives you the most hope? I know you reference yourself more on the pessimistic side but nevertheless, what are signs of hope?

http://www.pinchbeck.io/

 

Key Arguments from Post-Capitalist Philanthropy:


Capitalism has inherent flaws that perpetuate inequality, environmental degradation, and social injustices.
Philanthropy, as practiced within the capitalist system, often maintains the status quo and fails to address root causes.
Post-capitalist philanthropy seeks to transform the underlying systems and structures that create and perpetuate societal problems.
Philanthropists should prioritize systemic change, challenge power imbalances, and support movements working towards equitable and sustainable futures.
Collaboration and solidarity among philanthropic organizations and grassroots movements are essential for effective systemic change.



Key Arguments from Alnoor Ladha


Capitalism's focus on profit maximization and growth leads to exploitation of people and the planet.
Philanthropy, in its current form, acts as a Band-Aid solution that fails to address the root causes of systemic problems.
Philanthropists must shift their focus from charity and individual projects to challenging and transforming the systems that perpetuate inequality and environmental destruction.
Genuine change requires redistributing wealth and power, democratizing decision-making, and centering marginalized communities.
Social and environmental justice movements are critical catalysts for systemic change, and philanthropists should support these movements by leveraging their resources and networks.



Podcast Questions


How can post-capitalist philanthropy challenge the systemic flaws of capitalism and contribute to radical systemic change?
What are the limitations of traditional philanthropy in addressing root causes, and how can we move towards a more transformative approach?
What strategies can philanthropists employ to actively challenge power imbalances and support movements working towards equitable and sustainable futures?
How can collaboration and solidarity between philanthropic organizations and grassroots movements strengthen the impact of systemic change efforts?
What role does wealth redistribution, democratizing decision-making, and centering marginalized communities play in catalyzing genuine and lasting change?
How can philanthropists effectively leverage their resources and networks to support social and environmental justice movements?
Finally, since the book is about anything post-capitalist: How do you envision a post-capitalist society?



Alnoor Ladha

is Co-director of Transition Resource Circle, Council Chair for Culture Hack Labs and Co-author of “Post Capitalist Philanthropy”.

From 2012 to 2019 he was the co-founder and executive director of the global activist collective The Rules. He holds an MSc in Philosophy and Public Policy from the London School of Economics.

He lives in Costa Rica at Brave Earth, a center for applied cultural transition.