conscient podcast

Claude Schryer

e243 was the last episode of season 6. I’m now on a break from hosting and producing conscient podcast and balado conscient until further notice. I will continue my monthly ‘a calm presence’ Substack written posting. The narrated version will continue to be published here and replaced with the next posting. I will publish occasional ENCORE episodes. Comments and questions are always welcome: claude@conscient.ca.

  1. a calm presence - uplift

    2 DAYS AGO · BONUS

    a calm presence - uplift

    uplift here are some uplifting words for the new year drawn from 9 episodes of conscient podcast et 3 extraits du balado conscient This posting of a calm presence was designed as an audio listening experience though it also exists in written form, here. Ceci est un episode bilingue. Afin de faciliter la compréhension des extraits en anglais, j’ai ajouté une transcription de l’épisode en français dans les notes d’épisode. J’ai aussi ajouté un petit sommaire oral en français à la fin de chacun des épisodes en anglais. Personnellement, je trouve intéressant d'écouter quelqu'un parler dans une autre langue, car je peux me concentrer sur le ton et l'intonation de la voix.  This is a bilingual episode. For those who do not understand French I have added a transcript in English in the episode notes. I also created a short English language oral summary for each of the French language episodes. Personally, I find it interesting to listen to someone speak in another language because I can focus on the tone and inflection of the voice. Please note that the pace of my narration is rather slow with the occasional short silence. This is how I like to listen to narrations, with lots of space to ponder what is being said but also to consider what might lie in between the words and in the timbre of the voice. I’m also recording this reading in one take, flubs and all, similar to a late night radio monologue where it’s ok to be imperfect and where time is suspended.  Finally, a reminder that I now publish a calm presence postings one  at a time, for a few weeks and then replace it with a new one and so on. In other words, what you’re listening to now, recorded on January 1, 2026 at 8.51 am it will be erased sometime in February 2026, never to be published again but I hope it might be retained in memory for those who  need it, which is why I created this Substack in the first place, for those in need of a calm presence. * END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES Hey conscient listeners,  I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa).  It’s my way to give back. In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish a free ‘a calm presence' monthly Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com. Your feedback is always welcome at claude@conscient.ca and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack. Share what you like, etc I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible.  Claude Schryer Latest update on December 5, 2025

    52 min
  2. e243 francisco rodriguez – amazon awareness

    26/11/2025

    e243 francisco rodriguez – amazon awareness

    Take care of the earth. We have grandsons and great-great-grandsons, and we have to, we, our generation, has to teach the young people what we lived, the beauty of the world that we lived, not the disaster we have today.Hello conscient podcast listeners, Many of us do international travel, probably a bit too much.  When I travel, I consider it a privilege that comes with responsibilities.  For example, whenever we can we try to give back by donating to local charities in the region where I’m visiting or maybe making sure that we tip appropriately and that the people we am with get a fare wage. We also try to by buy credible carbon offsets. That kind of thing.  You might recall e235 lallan – art from the soil, which I recorded while in the Tirthan Valley in Northern India : My advice to artists would be drop every garb that you have, drop every piece of knowledge that you think you have. Head to the jungles, head to the rural places. We are living in a time of crisis.You might also recall e236 keiko torigoe – the power of listening, which was recorded in Tokyo, Japan:   The environmental issues currently at hand, including global warming, are related, but I believe that at their root lies the decline of our listening ability and the power of listening as humanity.Both episodes were recorded quite spontaneously on my iphone. I hadn’t planned to record these interviews, but as I listened to some of the stories around me and I thought it could be a gesture of reciprocity to make these voices available on this podcast to help raise awareness about activities in that country but also to point out commonalities between us all in the world.  So, what you’re about to hear is my third conversation in this series, this time with Francisco Rodriguez, a Chilean born banker, who with his wife Sylvia, manage the Anaconda Lodge on the shores of the Napo River near Tena, in Ecuador, where my wife Sabrina and daughter Clara were doing some eco-tourism.  So we had the pleasure of staying there and meeting Francisco and others from the region.  I sat down with Francisco – you’ll hear some birds and insects in the background - about his relationship with the Amazon forest as a living entity as well as their collaborations with the Kichwa indigenous people who are the traditional custodians of these lands and waters.  You’ll hear some beautiful sounds and good stories about the Amazon, which I found uplifting but you’ll also hear about some of the very serious challenges that they currently face, which call upon increased solidarity from the rest of the world, given that the Amazon is the lung of the earth.  You’ll notice this episode is a bit more than 15 minutes. I added some soundscapes that makes it a bit longer than usual, which I hope you’ll enjoy. Warm thanks Francisco, Sylvia, all the guides and staff at Anaconda Lodge for their kindness and hospitality.  Episodes notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI Key Takeaways: Support Indigenous communities by living alongside them and understanding their challenges, rather than offering temporary aid.Learn about the Amazon’s diverse cultures and ecological fragility through reading and authentic resources.Reduce your carbon footprint by making small, conscious changes in daily habits to support global environmental efforts.Recognize the Amazon as a single, interconnected entity, not divided by national borders, but by Indigenous territories.Understand the impact of Western influences, such as processed food and consumer goods, on uncontacted tribes and their traditional way of life.Story Preview Discover the journey of Francisco Rodriguez, who left the banking world to dedicate his life to protecting the Amazon and working its Indigenous peoples. Hear how he and his wife Sylvia created Anaconda Lodge as a bridge between cultures, fostering understanding and solidarity for the ‘lung of Mother Earth.’  Chapter Summary 00:00 Introduction to Amazon and Indigenous Voices 02:44 From Banker to Amazon Advocate 05:50 Living with Indigenous Communities 09:58 Ecotourism and Amazonian Consciousness 14:25 Understanding the Amazon from Afar 20:00 Sustainable Living and Jungle Communication Featured Quotes We always hope that when they go back home, they use less fossil fuel.You have to think one thing, these people have been beating up by our, by we Western people for over 500 years.Our main goal is to make our guests to understand where they are.Behind the Story Claude  shares his third recording from international travel, this time from the Anaconda Lodge near Tena, in Ecuador. He, his wife Sabrina, and daughter Clara experienced ecotourism firsthand which led to this conversation with Francisco Rodriguez. The episode highlights the value of reciprocity when traveling and making voices from different regions accessible to a global audience. * END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES Hey conscient listeners,  I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa).  It’s my way to give back. In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish a free ‘a calm presence' monthly Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com. Your feedback is always welcome at claude@conscient.ca and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack. Share what you like, etc I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible.  Claude Schryer Latest update on December 5, 2025

    23 min
  3. e242 roundtable - dissolving boundaries

    24/11/2025

    e242 roundtable - dissolving boundaries

    In an era where pressures on climate and environments grow even stronger, we should not underestimate the transformative power of art. (Ambassador of the European Union to Canada Geneviève Tuts)When you do the trigger, the emotional part, you can go down hope and fear both. Both lead to action but ultimately, we need to transform being passive into really active contributors to solving this and what a better way than art? (Akash Rastogi, Chief Capital Strategy Officer at Canada’s Ocean Supercluster) We want to activate the creativity of communities through the arts to create the cities of the future, basically, right, the cities we want to live in (Juan Eraso, leader of international programs at Culturans)‘Change happens. There's always going to be ways to adapt. That's not to say that the initial change might not be catastrophic but there was always going to be something left and you have to work with that’. (e208 clara schryer - science as story). Now it breaks my heart to hear that because for a young person to say that means that they don't anticipate there won't be a lot left and yet… (Claude Schryer)We know that when we work with green spaces, we work with life, we work with art, we can rebuild, we can regenerate, but we have to do it differently. (Claude Schryer)Yes, to doing things differently.  Yes, to more evocative, emotionally resonant art. Yes, to dissolving boundaries. (Background sound from Jubilee Queen Cruise Ship in podcast) When I got an invitation from Jana Macalik, Director of the Global Centre for Climate Action at OCAD University to participate on a panel about art and climate - one of my passions - I was excited and honoured to accept.  This panel was part of an event called Dissolving Boundaries that took place on October 4, 2025, as part of Nuit Blanche Toronto, which of course went on all night. It featured the premiere of a large scale, beautiful large-scale art projection by Alessandro Gisendi and Marco Noviello of the OOOPStudio in Italy. Their work was projected onto the massive Canada Malting Silos on the shores of Lake Ontario in Tkaronto.  Dissolving Boundaries was co-presented by the Global Centre for Climate Action at OCAD University and the European Union (EU), through its Delegation to Canada. I want to thank them for their hospitality and congratulate them their vision in collaborating, partnering and bringing this work and this conversation to us.  The timing was good for me. I was wrapping up season 6 of my conscient podcast / balado conscient after some 350 episodes since I started it in 2020 and I was about to take a break, but then I got a call to talk about how arts and culture can help move audiences from awareness to action and I could not refuse that. I felt good about speaking freely and really listening to the different points of view.  We were on a ship called the Jubilee Queen Cruise Ship so it quite moving, literally, to be on a boat looking out onto the projection and talking about art, culture and climate.  Here’s Ana Serrano, OCAD University’s President and Vice-Chancellor explaining what the event was about:  But we can't stop, really. We don't really have much of a choice. So, convening like this, trying to figure out ways to create evocative, emotionally resonant works that will catalyze people into thinking about their relationship with the land, with water, with climate and their daily actions is what tonight is all about.First you’ll hear Ana Serrano shares some inspiring opening remarks, followed by an engaging speech by the Ambassador of the EU to Canada, Geneviève Tuts. You’ll then hear panelists, with Ana as facilitator, speak one by one. First Alessandro Gisendi, Akash Rastogi (Chief Capital Strategy Officer at Canada’s Ocean Supercluster) myself, Juan Erazo (Culturans) and Alice Xu (Director of Policy, Planning and Program Enablement; Environment, Climate and Forestry Division at the City of Toronto).   At the end of the recording you’ll hear a question from an audience member, who happens to be a friend of mine, Coman Poon (e202 coman poon - what are you doing with your life ?) ask about ‘extraction for the sake of economic autonomy’, which we all commented upon. The conversation continued until it was time to view the art projection! I want to express my warmest thanks to the organizers, fellow panelists, audience members and in particular to OCAD sound technician Omar Qureshi, who recorded this session for me. Enjoy. It’s good to talk about these things with creative energy.  May the conversations continue. * Episodes notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI Key Takeaways: Activate community creativity through art to design future cities and foster positive change.Bridge the gap between rational climate data and emotional engagement to motivate action.Reassess economic models to prioritize natural assets and foster international cooperation for scalable solutions.Integrate nature-based solutions into urban planning and daily life, celebrating local initiatives.Leverage cross-sector collaboration, including Indigenous wisdom, to address complex climate challenges with accountability and compassion.Story Preview In a world grappling with urgent climate pressures, this episode reveals how art can ignite powerful emotions, transforming passive observers into active contributors. Hear how artists, scientists, and policymakers converge to create evocative experiences that inspire hope and drive tangible solutions for a sustainable future. Chapter Summary 00:00 Art’s Transformative Power in Climate Action 05:42 OCAD U’s Vision for Climate Action 12:55 EU’s Commitment to Sustainable Future 18:11 Dissolving Boundaries: Art Installation 23:02 Oceans, Innovation, and Emotional Triggers 27:44 Art as a Tool for Community Creativity 33:14 Nature-Based Solutions and Urban Greenery 37:26 Reconnecting with Nature 39:55 Cross-Sectoral Collaboration for Future Cities 42:44 International Cooperation for Ocean Climate Solutions 45:26 Art’s Role in Changing Habits 47:40 Building Connections for Climate Action 49:16 Addressing Societal Values and Economic Flaws 52:05 Indigenous Wisdom and Future Paths 53:41 Closing Remarks and Art Installation Details Featured Quotes In an era where pressures on climate and environments grow even stronger, we should not underestimate the transformative power of art. (Ambassador of the European Union to Canada Geneviève Tuts)When you do the trigger, the emotional part, you can go down hope and fear both, both lead to action, but ultimately, we need to transform being passive into really active contributors to solving this. And what a better way than art? (Akash Rastogi, Chief Capital Strategy Officer at Canada’s Ocean Supercluster)We know that when we work with green spaces, we work with life, we work with art, we can rebuild, we can regenerate, but we must do it differently. (Claude Schryer)Behind the Story This panel discussion, “Dissolving Boundaries,” was recorded on October 4, 2025 on the Jubilee Queen cruise ship during Nuit Blanche Toronto. It featured the premiere of a large-scale art projection by Alessandro Gisendi and Marco Noviello of Oops Studio, projected onto the Canada Malting Silos. Co-presented by OCAD University’s Global Center for Climate Action and the European Union, the event brought together diverse art and climate experts to explore the role of art and collaboration in addressing climate change. * END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES Hey conscient listeners,  I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa).  It’s my way to give back. In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish a free ‘a calm presence' monthly Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com. Your feedback is always welcome at claude@conscient.ca and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack. Share what you like, etc I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible.  Claude Schryer Latest update on December 5, 2025

    56 min
  4. e241 roundtable – everyday habits for transforming systems

    27/07/2025

    e241 roundtable – everyday habits for transforming systems

    The question the book asks is obviously transforming the system is not an individual task, it's a collective activity. But it still begs the question, if we're trying to contribute to that, what do we need to do? Not every four years when we vote, not every year when we go to a strategy workshop, but what do we do every day? And so the title is very straightforward: Everyday Habits for Transforming Systems. And that's the question the book is offering an answer to.My second conversation with writer, facilitator and consultant Adam Kahane (the first was episode e219) and with the audience at the Ottawa launch of Everyday Habits for Transforming Systems, the Catalytic Power of Radical Engagement at Perfect Books on July 2, 2025. This episode is part of my roundtable series, open-ended conversations about what a group of citizens are passionate about. And passionate they were!  I started by asking Adam why he wrote the book and why does he think it’s relevant today, in particular here in the nation’s capital at a time when there are great tensions with our neighbours to the south and when Canadians are talking to each other more than ever about our shared values, and the challenges that we face such as the ecological crisis and climate emergency, which sadly seems to have temporarily fallen off our collective radar.  Show notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI Action points Embrace radical engagement: Lean into understanding diverse perspectives and actively seek common ground.Recognize the power of everyday habits: Focus on daily actions to create lasting systemic change.Navigate complexity: Balance working towards a larger goal with acknowledging individual interests and power dynamics.Collaborate across differences: Seek opportunities to work with those who hold different views to achieve meaningful progress.Act responsibly: Consider the broader impact of your actions on all living beings.Story Preview What if the key to changing the world lies not in grand gestures, but in the small, often overlooked habits of our daily lives? Adam Kahane shares his journey from facilitating transformative dialogues in South Africa to uncovering the power of radical engagement, inviting us to rethink how we contribute to a better future.  Chapter Summary 00:00 The Collective Task of Transformation 01:19 Introducing Adam Kahane 04:01 Setting the Stage for Discussion 09:40 The Motivation Behind the Book 15:42 Everyday Habits for Transformation 22:39 Exploring the Seven Habits 29:12 The Slippery Slope of Disagreement and The Challenge of Acting Responsibly 35:20 Power Dynamics in Collaboration 39:40 Trust and Collaboration 44:00 Balancing Urgency and Everyday Habits 54:25 Art, Culture, and Collaboration 56:13 Radical Engagement in Action 01:00:05 Navigating Power Dynamics and The Importance of Agency 01:12:51 Redefining Power and Responsibility 01:17:04 Risks and Realities of Engagement 01:23:13 The Complexity of Multiple Systems Featured Quotes Transforming the system is not an individual task. It’s a collective activity.Radical engagement is the opposite of standing back with your arms crossed saying, take it or leave it.Ring the bells you still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in. (quoting Leonard Cohen)Behind the Story Adam Kahane’s latest book, ‘Everyday Habits for Transforming Systems,’ stems from a moment of confusion during an interview with South African leader Trevor Manuel. This experience led Kahane to explore what it means to contribute to systemic change, focusing on the everyday actions that shape our world. This episode explores themes of power, collaboration, and social responsibility and how the arts weave their way through all of this.  Credit: cover photo by Conyer Clayton * END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES Hey conscient listeners,  I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa).  It’s my way to give back. In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish a free ‘a calm presence' monthly Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com. Your feedback is always welcome at claude@conscient.ca and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack. Share what you like, etc I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible.  Claude Schryer Latest update on December 5, 2025

    1h 29m
  5. e240 claudia salguero – community, beauty, nature

    26/07/2025

    e240 claudia salguero – community, beauty, nature

    To me, there's three key things and it's community, beauty and nature. I think if we connect with nature and if we produce beauty, that is something that we as humans I think is our biggest gift. And I'm not just talking about creating art : speaking beauty, listening to beauty, creating beauty, opening our hearts to beauty in community. Because if we don't have a sense of the other in ourselves, then we're lost, we cannot do it alone. And this has been proved forever. But I think if we have these three things, to me, as the kind of person I am, we have it all. We're connected with nature, understanding that we are nature, we are part, we are one with nature and we are interacting with other human beings. And we create beauty and we inspire by beauty. It would be a completely different world. And that to me is like the mission of the arts.My conversation with Claudia Salguero, a Colombian Canadian community engaged artist based in Ottawa, where I live on the unceded lands of the Algonquin-Anishinaabe people. Claudia is well known for her vibrant and expressive murals. They are literally all over Ottawa and explore themes of identity, culture and social justice. You'll hear the color and the energy in her voice. I asked Claudia to give an example of one of her projects. She spoke about The Wisdom Mural, which is inspired by the teachings of Ottawa based knowledge keepers. I love the way Claudia identifies three key elements of… community, beauty, nature.  Show notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI Action points Recognize the vital role of community, beauty, and nature in art creation and appreciation.Explore the Wisdom Mural project and its inspiration from diverse knowledge keepers.Understand how art can facilitate healing and connection, especially in times of crisis.Value the importance of listening and understanding different perspectives to foster communication.Support community-engaged art as a means of giving voice to marginalized communities.Story Preview Discover the story behind Ottawa’s vibrant murals and the artist who uses art to connect communities and heal hearts. From a vision inspired by nature to a powerful encounter with a grieving stranger, explore the transformative power of community-engaged art. Chapter Summary 00:00 The Essence of Community, Beauty, and Nature 00:56 Meet Claudia Salguero 01:37 The Wisdom Mural: A Dream Project 03:51 Engaging with Knowledge Keepers 05:30 Symbolism and Meaning in the Mural 08:02 Community Engagement Through Art 11:54 Art as a Healing Tool Featured Quotes To me, there’s three key things and it’s community, beauty and nature.The important part of this community mural creations is not the mural itself. It’s all that happens around it or before or behind the mural.We need to learn to listen, to understand why somebody think the way they think. Because it’s not for free. You have reasons to be who you are and to act in the way you act.Behind the Story Claudia Salguero shares the inspiration behind her Wisdom Mural, a project that brought together ten knowledge keepers from around the world to explore the unifying power of nature. The mural, a towering piece of public art in Ottawa, has become a symbol of connection and healing, especially poignant during the pandemic and the discovery of unmarked graves at indigenous residential schools. One moving story highlights how the mural helped a grieving man find solace after years of pain. * END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES Hey conscient listeners,  I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa).  It’s my way to give back. In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish a free ‘a calm presence' monthly Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com. Your feedback is always welcome at claude@conscient.ca and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack. Share what you like, etc I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible.  Claude Schryer Latest update on December 5, 2025

    15 min
  6. e239 roundtable – imagining in public e2 - artist perspectives on social impact

    26/07/2025

    e239 roundtable – imagining in public e2 - artist perspectives on social impact

    I love policy because it allows for surrealism, it allows for creativity, it allows for dancing, it allows for all the skills and disciplines and interests and tools that as artists we have gravitated towards. We need to enter it with both the courage and the fear that all bets are off, that the house is on fire, that the dominant narratives of - whether it's the Canadian provincial governments, the Canadian Federal Governments, the US Federal Governments - they are all bankrupt. They're all meaningless. Their stories don't appeal to people. They may still be in denial of that, but I think we are able to come up with better stories, better frames, better concepts of how to support arts and how to support culture.If I was the head of an arts-funding organization, one that had resources and gave them out, I would be doing events like this every week: because the appetite to have these conversations, the appetite for this kind of sense-making, is tremendous, and there isn't really any institution that's trying to meet that or create opportunities that come from that.Futurist Jesse Hirsh, June 9, 2025 This is a special edition of a conscient podcast roundtable - my long form episode series - presented by the Public Imagination Network in collaboration with Mass Culture – Mobilisation culturelle.  June 9th, 2025 was a lot of fun. I recorded two roundtables that day, e238 with the sonic research group on low technology and the one you’re about to hear, which is the second in a series of conversations by the Public Imagination Network called Imagining in Public (the first one was e183 imagining in public - cultural leadership in a changing world).  This second iteration is called imagining in public e2 - artist perspectives on social impact, in other words, how artists shape social change beyond traditional definitions of impact but also how the evaluation of artistic contributions can shape public life. You’ll hear a panel formed of Public Imagination Network Fellows: Shary Boyle, Kevin Loring, Shannon Litzenberger, Kevin Ormsby and Evalyn Parry as well special guest, futurist Jesse Hirsh (you can read more about his work on his Substack, Metaviews: Future of Authority). To help guide your listening here are the framing questions that the organisers developed for the event:  What does social impact truly mean in the context of artistic practice?If artists are catalysts for new imaginaries and drivers of transformation, how can their impacts be amplified outside of the arts and culture sectors?What systems and practices are necessary to sustain and amplify the relational work of artists?The recording is in 5 parts (each section separated by a musical drone): a quote from Jesse Hirsh and my introductionopening thoughts by the panelbreakout group on storiesbreakout group on structuresclosing thoughts by the panelTo see an image created by Robin Sokoloski of participants responses to the question : 'What does "arts impact" mean to you?' please see this link.  Warm thanks to the Public Imagination Network and their special guest Jesse Hirsh as well as Robin Sokoloski at Mass Culture as well as all participants for allowing their voices to be shared in this way.  À la prochaine. Note: a link to this gatherings’ chat storms (audience responses to a question) and a resource list (mentioned during the episode) will be provided at a later time. * END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES Hey conscient listeners,  I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa).  It’s my way to give back. In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish a free ‘a calm presence' monthly Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com. Your feedback is always welcome at claude@conscient.ca and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack. Share what you like, etc I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible.  Claude Schryer Latest update on December 5, 2025

    2h 17m
  7. e238 roundtable – sonic research group - low tech

    21/07/2025

    e238 roundtable – sonic research group - low tech

    This is a special edition of conscient roundtable featuring Aaron Lui-Rosenbaum, Barry Truax, Jacek Smolicki (for more on Jacek’s work also see conscient e113 part 1 and e133 part 2)  Kathy Kennedy, Lindsey French, Natalie Dusek, Sabine Breitsameter (all see conscient e175) Vincent Andrisani and myself. We are part of the Sonic Research Group out of Simon Fraser University (for more from this group see episodes 157 and 170). This time our topic was ‘low technology’ or low tech in the sense of what do we do when we have less energy and technology, which is coming and how does it relate to our field of acoustic ecology. Being a research group, we pondered 3 questions :   How can we continue our work in acoustic ecology in a world with less energy and in perpetual crisis, including the climate emergency, the depletion of non-renewable resources, loss of biodiversity and so on ?What role can artistic practice in acoustic ecology play in the transition towards sustainability? What steps can we take now to prepare a better future for generations of acoustic ecologists to come? The group shared some convincing answers and some new questions. You’ll find a set of resource links in the episode now (below).  Resource List AI's impact on energy and water usageAlexis Zeigler –  Living Without Fossil Fuels: How Living Energy Farm Created a Comfortable Off-Grid Lifestyleclimate amnesia : canada’s cultural moment and the climate emergency are one and the sameDecomposed : The Political Ecology of MusicHow to Build a Low-tech InternetMusic, Soundscape and Acoustic SustainabilityPeter Strack – 2000-Watt Society: The Realities of Living a Lower Energy LifestyleRegenerative Energy CommunitiesSun ThinkingTrapped by Industrialism: Civilization's Daily Resource Demands * END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES Hey conscient listeners,  I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa).  It’s my way to give back. In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish a free ‘a calm presence' monthly Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com. Your feedback is always welcome at claude@conscient.ca and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack. Share what you like, etc I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible.  Claude Schryer Latest update on December 5, 2025

    59 min
  8. e237 helen yung – art as refuge

    20/07/2025

    e237 helen yung – art as refuge

    Artistic practice, cultural traditions, cultural practice, folk traditions… These are all places where we have where wisdoms that might otherwise have been lost have been protected, sheltered or found refuge. And like, artists have this like hoarding tendency sometimes, right? Like maybe not all artists, but a lot of us, you know, we look for, for these neglected things, the things that people don't care about so much. We make special or we keep special. And then it's through the artists right now, through the peoples who've kept the stories, kept the cultures, kept the artifacts or the practices that we can reconnect and collapse time. We can close some of that distance between who I am, where I am today, and ancestors from way before through those practices.My conversation with interdisciplinary artist, researcher and consultant Helen Yung who leads the Laboratory for Artistic Intelligence, an artist-driven transdisciplinary research group that specializes in reimagining how things work in the world. Led by artists, this Lab collaborates with people in community, culture, astronomy, physics, psychology, medicine, immigration, mental health, information sciences, education, and more. Helen is a sparkplug of creativity and innovation. I had the pleasure of attending a presentation by Helen about her work at the Worldmaking as Creative Practice gathering in Tkaronto on May 29 and 30, 2025 which was hosted by the Creative Communities Commons at University of Toronto's School of Cities and led by Artist-Researcher-in-Residence Shannon Litzenberger. You’ll hear Helen and I refer to this Worldmaking gathering throughout our conversation, for example, when I ask Helen about art as refuge. At the end of the episode Helen invite listeners to join the to the Forum for Artistic Intelligence (ART/INForum).  A note of thanks to EM Luka, a good friend and collaborator of Helen's, who participated in the conversation but was not included in the final edit due to time constraints.  Show notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI Action points Recognize art as a refuge for spirituality, soulfulness, and cultural preservation in times of conflict.Explore your roots and kinship to tap into reservoirs of knowledge and wisdom.Understand the continuum between art for art’s sake and applied arts, and how they intertwine.Embrace the concept of pluriversalism to appreciate diverse perspectives and imaginations.Join the Forum for Artistic Intelligence to connect with like-minded individuals.Story Preview Imagine a world where art safeguards culture, bridges divides, and sparks imagination. Helen Yung shares her vision of art as a sanctuary and a catalyst for understanding our pluriversal world, challenging us to reconsider the role of creativity in society. Chapter Summary 00:00 The Value of Cultural Practices 01:24 Introducing Helen Yung 03:42 Pluriversalism and Artistic Practice 07:05 Art as a Refuge 11:14 Roots and Artistic Identity Featured Quotes Artists have this like hoarding tendency sometimes… we look for, for these neglected things, the things that people don’t care about so much. We make special or we keep special.Art has been a sort of holding space or a placeholder for many other things that humanity craves and needs.I believe very much in the role of the artist is to do our best to exhibit in our subjectivity in society… So to bring our artistic practice and our artistic being in relation to the rest of the world, to whatever extent you’re able to…Behind the Story Helen Yung discusses her work with the Laboratory for Artistic Intelligence, emphasizing the importance of bringing artistic methods into various societal sectors. The episode touches on the Worldmaking as Creative Practice gathering, where ideas of art as refuge were explored. Helen advocates for pluriversalism, highlighting the need to appreciate and integrate diverse perspectives in a global context. * END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES Hey conscient listeners,  I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa).  It’s my way to give back. In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish a free ‘a calm presence' monthly Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com. Your feedback is always welcome at claude@conscient.ca and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack. Share what you like, etc I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible.  Claude Schryer Latest update on December 5, 2025

    15 min
See All (240)

Trailer

About

e243 was the last episode of season 6. I’m now on a break from hosting and producing conscient podcast and balado conscient until further notice. I will continue my monthly ‘a calm presence’ Substack written posting. The narrated version will continue to be published here and replaced with the next posting. I will publish occasional ENCORE episodes. Comments and questions are always welcome: claude@conscient.ca.

Information

  • Creator
    Claude Schryer
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    240
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © CC BY 4.0 Claude Schryer
  • Show Website
    conscient podcast