The Steady Stater

Beverly Hills isn’t the first place most people would think of harboring a steady-state government. Yet, led for three terms by past Mayor John Mirisch (who still serves on the city council), the enclave west of Hollywood has pushed back against the pro-growth strictures emanating out of the statehouse in Sacramento. This experience has turned Mr. Mirisch into a die-hard steady stater, a badge he wears proudly. John's website: https://cityofbh.org

In the second part of our conversation with Chris Matthews, the former Hardball host ponders the mixed legacies of Al Gore, George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, and FDR. He also shares his opinions on where to look for political support for the steady state economy, and which former president came closest to steady statesmanship.

In the first part of a two-part special, Chris Matthews of MSNBC fame joins Brian to discuss the steady state economy. The CASSE signatory comments on his favorite episodes of Hardball, his recent book This Country: My Life in Politics and History, his insights as a speechwriter for Jimmy Carter, and the resource impacts of population growth. Tune in next Monday for part 2!

For Woody Tasch, founder of Slow Money Institute, it’s all about balance. Every moonshot needs an Earthshot; diversity and efficiency; simplicity and complexity. That’s where the “deceptively simple” concept of Beetcoin comes in. Providing crowdfunded, 0% loans to organic and local food projects, Beetcoin is a challenge not just to the food system but the growth economy at large. Hear Woody and Brian dig into the details on this week’s Steady Stater. Beetcoin: https://beetcoin.org/

The future, as they say, is unwritten. But that didn’t stop authors Christina Conklin and Marina Psaros from speculating, in their acclaimed book The Atlas of Disappearing Places: Our Coasts and Oceans in the Climate Crisis. We spoke with Christina about some of the 20 locations covered, combining artistry with science, and seaweed. Can our cultures and economies leap forward in acts of transilience? Christina's website: www.christinaconklin.com What's Next For Earth art project: www.whatsnextforearth.com

In our first podcast episode of the year, Brian Czech takes a moment to remember some of the steady staters who left us in 2021: David Schindler, Valerius Geist, Mason Gaffney, Dick Lamm, Thomas Lovejoy, E.O. Wilson, and Lisa Vandemark. Brian lists their achievements, shares personal encounters, and reflects on life, death, and limits. Our conversation with Dick Lamm: The Almost Steady-State President (October 2020)

Heading into the holidays we take a rare optimistic detour in the world of conservation. Our guest is Dr. Chris Haney, President of Terra Med Applied Sciences, a public interest ecological research company. He and Brian discuss the fate of the ivory-billed woodpecker – the bird that keeps scientists guessing no matter how often it’s declared extinct. Hear the only known recording of the woodpecker, and consider: is it really gone? Or is Woody getting the last laugh? Chris's book, Woody's Last Laugh: https://www.johnhuntpublishing.com/changemakers-books/our-books/woodys-last-laugh-making-thinking-errors

Ann Vileisis is an author and environmental historian, intrigued by stories of food, ecology, and the connections between the two. This week, Brian traverses his fond memories of Ann’s vivid wetlands book, Discovering the Unknown Landscape, as they discuss these often-misunderstood ecosystems. They also explore Ann’s other books on the loss of traditional food knowledge, and the iridescent wonders of California’s abalone shellfish. Get stuck in! Ann's website: https://www.annvileisis.com/

Michael Bayliss of the Post-Growth Australia Podcast likes all kinds of communication, whether it’s hosting thoughtful and conversational interviews, his communications role at Sustainable Population Australia, or spreading ecological messages with his band, Shock Octopus. This week, Brian puts Michael in the hotseat to discuss these projects, Blockade Australia and direct action, Green Party-backed housing sprawl and a whole lot more. Michael's website: https://michaelbayliss.org/ Post-Growth Australia Podcast: https://pgap.fireside.fm/

Stephen Mulkey from the University of Florida is known to some as “Dr. Doom.” Yet the “doom” is in the data; Mulkey is just exceptional at compiling and communicating it. A better title might be “Dr. Do.” Consider for example his pivotal role in the divestment movement. His vision for education in a sustainable world goes much further, too. Hear Stephen and Brian—two scientists with track records of censorship—explore the vision in this week’s episode. Stephen's website The Environmental Century: https://environmentalcentury.net/

How should the past inform the future? How should the global inform the local? To get an idea, Brian chats with Helena Norberg-Hodge, founder and director of the long-running non-profit Local Futures. They discuss all manner of topics from the Economics of Happiness and the urbanization of India, to Noam Chomsky and the Localization Action Guide. This conversation on the future of local societies is available globally, right now.

Our guest this week is Dr. Phoebe Barnard, CEO and Executive Director of Stable Planet Alliance, a new organization working to "bend the curve" on population and hyper-consumption. Brian and Phoebe discuss this budding alliance, the World Scientists’ Warning Into Action, and GirlPlanet.Earth, among other topics. If you want to know what forward-thinking scientists are up to, be sure to catch this one.

This week The Steady Stater podcast reaches its milestone 50th episode. To celebrate we’re doing something a little different: going behind the scenes of CASSE’s history, meeting its staff, and looking to the projects of the future. Plus, Brian shares some of his thoughts on a new biography of Herman Daly. Warning: The review is not entirely positive. Thanks for listening!

This week Brian is joined by Jonathan Clough, one of the nation’s foremost experts on sea-level rise and its effects on ecosystems. Jonathan and Brian discuss the different methods for observing sea-level rise, the sophisticated SLAMM model, and the potential rates of sea-level rise we might expect. If you’re interested in how these important calculations are made, this one is for you!

Timothée Parrique joins us for a record third appearance on The Steady Stater! Following previous discussions exploring the social limits to growth and the European degrowth movement, Tim and Brian discuss the final part of his dissertation "The Political Economy of Degrowth,” which focuses on policy design. That includes property, work, money and more: don't miss it!

Sandy Irvine was a prominent figure in the early days of the Green Party of England and Wales and an Associate Editor at The Ecologist magazine. This week on The Steady Stater, Sandy joins Brian to discuss everything from supergrids to soccer, and Green New Deals to green old people. Sandy Irvine's Green Blog: https://sandyirvineblog.wordpress.com/

Our episode this week covers the delightful (and occasionally dark) world of insects with Professor Dave Goulson, author of the new book Silent Earth. Brian and Dave discuss fireflies, glow-worms, bumblebees and butterflies. They also discuss eating insects, cleaning up cow pies and what can be done to assist our tiny friends. Plus, is Dave the new E.O. Wilson?

Richard Heinberg has written a lot of powerful (and power-themed) books throughout his career. But his recent release — simply titled 'Power' — is the one that he hopes to be remembered for. Brian talks with the Senior Fellow of the Post Carbon Institute about the role of power in shaping human history, the pathology of power, and whether we as a species can understand our power enough to keep it from destroying us.

The Steady Stater podcast returns for Season 2! Our first episode also sees the return of our very first guest Laurel Hanscom, CEO of the Global Footprint Network. Laurel and Brian discuss the 2021 rebound of Earth Overshoot Day, the #100DaysOfPossibility campaign in the run up to COP26, acknowledgements of limits to growth creeping into government organizations, and the ecological poverty trap. Enjoy!

In a first for the Steady Stater, Brian hosts two guests at once. These guests have a lot in common: scientists, civic-minded citizens, organic farmers, and certainly steady staters. As a bonus, they happen to be married, which makes for a smoothly flowing episode. If you want to hear how steady statesmanship percolates at the local government level, don’t miss this episode!