Endless economic growth sounds normal until you put it next to one stubborn fact: we live on a finite planet. Live from the State Library of Victoria, a full house gathers with globally renowned writer and speaker Charles Eisenstein, to name the bind many people feel but rarely say out loud. In our current financial system, even slowing growth can trigger real instability, from corporate layoffs to shaky retirement savings. So we stop arguing about whether growth is ‘good’ and start asking what kind of money and economy could actually deliver security without constant expansion. And why, despite the glaring reality, we can’t yet seem to manage that transition, but how we could, and are, moving towards it. This episode called itself forward from where last week’s left off. Particularly the quote I patched in from Charles towards the end of that episode. This is the rest of the very special event from which that quote was drawn. It was somewhat of an oracle back in 2015, and in other ways, could well have been held today. I organised this one with friends and colleagues as convenor of the Understandascope, a group originally founded by my old Professor mate, Frank Fisher. Today it continues as a home for his work and legacy. But more on that another day. On this day, Charles starts us off with a 15-minute fire-starter, taking us deeper than policy talking points and into the culture underneath economics. He challenges the story of separation that treats nature as a pile of resources and other people as competitors, then offers a different foundation: interbeing. When we remember that what we do to the world we do to ourselves, ‘sustainable economy’ stops being a niche idea and becomes common sense. We explore how GDP growth often means converting community, caregiving, and everyday skills into paid services, while the qualitative parts of life that make us feel whole quietly disappear. Then it’s Q&A, with former corporate executive Keith Badger putting the sceptic’s case to Charles, on corporate incentives, shareholders, and globalisation. Then we delve into practical levers like taxes on pollution and extraction, corporate charters like benefit corporations, universal basic income, and a concept that could help a steady-state economy function: negative interest, where money decays like bread so it must circulate instead of being hoarded. Then Charles invites a couple of stories of personal transformation from the audience. Before another former colleague, Carly Williams, heralds a final 15 minutes of Charles answering some terrific questions from the floor. Sarah McConnell live-scribed an incredible illustration of the event too, which you can find on the episode web page. And you can hear some recent episodes that pick up on the latest on all this, such as the Purpose Pledge and the EU’s post-growth announcement, as well as a look back on pioneering legend Hazel Henderson’s ‘love economy’ (you’ll hear why this came to mind). If you’re wrestling with de-growth, regenerative finance, 'sacred economics', or what comes after the old story collapses, this conversation gives you language, tools, and a path forward. More shout outs and listener mail at the end too. With thanks to my old teammates at the Understandascope, and Chris Grose from Scout Films for the recording. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review or send us a message below, telling us what you thought of today's episode. If you’d like to go straight to a particular part of this episode, essentially viewing a table of contents, you can navigate via the chapter markers & transcript. Recorded 22 January 2015. Title slide: from the event flyer used at the time (image supplied). Hope to see you tonight at our next live audience podcast online, free and exclusive for paid subscribers, with special guests Stacey Curcio and Dr Terry McCosker OAM. Thanks for listening. Music: Circle of Life, by Letra (from Artlist). Working the Fields, by Falconer (from Artlist). Regeneration, by Amelia Barden. Send us a voicemail Support the show Please share this episode or the trailer with a friend, follow the podcast, and subscribe if you can. The RegenNarration is independent and ad-free, with hundreds of episodes freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. If you're enjoying the podcast, I hope you'll consider becoming a paid subscriber, from as little as around $1 a week, to gain access to a great community, subscriber events and giveaways, and to help keep the show going, on Patreon or Substack (where you'll find some writing, photography and tunes too). You can also donate directly via the website (avoiding fees) or PayPal. I hope to see you at an event soon, even the shop. Thanks so much for your support!
