On the main stage, we launch our first recurring segment—Schemas That Could Save the World—with Deborah Frieze, co-conceptualizer of “The Two Loops Model,” a tremendously useful map of how promising emergent systems can replace failing dominant systems. Tune in to learn how an ecosystem of roles—from Hospice Workers and Protectors on the inside to Trailblazers and Illuminators on the outside—are needed to transform any system.

In the sideshow, we enter the Realm of the Strange to meet Joshua Lengfelder, co-founder of Randonautica, a mysterious smartphone app that invites you to visit a randomized, real-world location…and see what you find. Tune in to learn about the origins of the intriguing Fatum Project, the promise of Noveltism, the latest verdict on Mind-Matter Interaction, and the announcement of Josh’s spiritual sequel to Randonautica: Chronomancy.

Timecodes:

* 00:00:55 Introducing Schemas That Could Save the World and The Two Loops Model

* 00:06:20 Interview with Deborah Frieze of The Two Loops Model

* 00:54:21 Entering The Realm of the Strange and introducing Randonautica

* 01:00:15 Interview with Joshua Lengfelder of Randonautica

Further reading:

* Deborah Frieze and Margaret Wheatley’s book Walk Out Walk On

* Deborah’s TED talk about The Two Loops Model

* The Berkana Institute’s website

* Randonautica’s website

* The Fatum Project’s Theory page, explaining Noveltism, Blind Spots, The Despair Meme, and more

* Josh’s latest project: Chronomancy, or “Randonauting for Time”

* Daytime Revolution — a recent documentary about John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s brief takeover of The Mike Douglas Show

* Walt Whitman’s “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer”

Subscribe to FESTIVAL on:

* YouTube

* Spotify

* Apple Podcasts

* RSS (can be used with most podcast players)

* Substack (If you are already subscribed to my main Substack, you are all set—episodes flow through here.)

And if you haven’t seen it yet, check out FESTIVAL’s trailer, which includes our wonderful theme song—“Last Dance at the Grove” by the great Boston band Noble Dust.

The rain has stopped. The afternoon sun slants through the pine trees: and how those useless needles smell in the clear air! A dandelion, long out of season, has pushed itself into bloom between the smashed leaves of last summer’s day lilies. The valley resounds with the totally uninformative talk of creeks and wild water. Then the quails begin their sweet whistling in the wet bushes. Their noise is absolutely useless, and so is the delight I take in it. There is nothing I would rather hear, not because it is a better noise than other noises, but because it is the voice of the present moment, the present festival. —Thomas Merton

To celebrate a festival means: to live out, for some special occasion and in an uncommon manner, the universal assent to the world as a whole. —Josef Pieper

Next week, I’m launching a new podcast. It’s called FESTIVAL.

The idea is to have almost everything that a festival has, except in podcast form:

* A main stage where we talk about what everyone’s talking about that month

* Ample sideshows where we enter the realm of the strange and particular

* And everything in-between—interviews, spotlights, investigations, experiments, reflections

These are dark times in our country—and we need to get to work turning things around. But that is exactly why we need to start with festivity, because celebration is the soil for everything new and good.

We have great friends, old and new, lined up to come join us each episode. And I want this to be a shared festival, where we are in conversation with viewers and listeners—so please reach out with ideas and suggestions.

To follow along, subscribe on:

* YouTube

* Spotify

* Apple Podcasts

* RSS (can be used with most podcast players)

* Substack (If you are already subscribed to my main Substack, you are all set — episodes flow through here.)

See you next week. For now, check out FESTIVAL’s trailer, which includes our wonderful theme song—“Last Dance at the Grove” by the great Boston band Noble Dust.