In My Ears

There is a quiet, redemptive story of our time in this conversation — a radical way of approaching the gravest of our problems by attending to how original vitality functions. Biomimicry takes the natural world as mentor and teacher — for, as Janine Benyus puts it, “we are surrounded by geniuses.” Nature solves problems and performs what appear to us as miracles in every second, all around: running on sunlight, fitting form to function, recycling everything, relentlessly “creating conditions conducive to life.” Janine launched this way of seeing and imagining as a field with her 1997 book, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. Today she teaches and consults with all kinds of projects and organizations, including major corporations, as you’ll hear.

Welcome to this unfolding parallel universe in our midst, which might just shift the way you see almost everything about our possible futures.

There's something about the sound of walking along a pebble beach. The sound will transfix you...allow yourself to be transported with this 4 minute walking meditation. Brought to you by Audio Love, a newsletter that brings together sound and word.

Bud Hammes joins us on today’s episode to discuss his work with advanced care planning – the idea that as we get older, we should have discussions with our doctors and our loved ones on how we want to end our lives. Having such systems in place not only gives us control over our deaths but it also clarifies our final wishes for our family and friends. 

Bud is one of the foremost thought leaders on advanced care planning. In his hometown of La Crosse, Wisconsin alone, some 96 percent of people who die there have some sort of advance directive. On the episode, Adam and Bud discuss what constitutes a ‘good death’, the potential misuses of these planning processes, and its success in La Crosse and cities across the country.

Take that new year energy and boost your accountability, activism, emotional health and career goals with advice from some very wise women. Featuring Sabrina Hersi Issa, Sister District co-founder Lyzz Schwegler, friend of the podcast Virgie Tovar, and Shondaland's Jenn Romolini.