Time-Traveling Toward a Better Future with Rob Hopkins

What is radical imagination? What makes it so radical? How do we practice it? And does social media hurt our ability to radically imagine a better future?

Grab your space suits; it's time to time-travel and find some answers with guest Rob Hopkins. Rob shares his favorite definition of imagination as “the ability to see things as if they could be otherwise.” The radical part is that it helps us get to the root of what our world’s problems are and see potential solutions that might seem totally out of this world. Rob warns that social media erodes attention and deep understanding, and suggests practices like seeking solution stories, creating imaginative space, and learning improv. Zip zap zop for the climate?

But this isn’t just about imagining. It’s about doing. It’s ok if your imaginings seem ridiculous. Rob shares that in a world facing climate and ecological emergencies, solutions that aren’t at least a little ridiculous aren’t ambitious enough. We talked about The Transition Network, an organization Rob started in Totnes, England, that helps people do just that - ask bold questions and take even bolder action. The Transition Network, which began in Totnes 20 years ago to help communities wean off fossil fuels through local food, energy, and housing projects, now spans thousands of groups in about 50 countries.

Rob rightly reminded me that radical imagination is a muscle we need to practice. And while hope is important, many revolutions grow out of rage, desperation, and a commitment to act on that. But when you see the change that comes out of that rage and desperation, you can find hope in what’s possible. You find hope in doing the work.

Listen now to find out how Rob has been unwinding lately!

Find out more about Rob's work: robhopkins.net

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Music produced by M Baxley of Bear Witness Media