Continuing IMAGINING 2040: Pathways to Flourishing Futures podcast series
Developed by: Andrew Nicholson (consultant) on behalf of Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE) Inc. (Australia)
- BSc (Hons) Environmental Science, University of East Anglia, UK (1977)
- Master of Arts in Social Work, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK (1984)
- Master of Environmental Education, Griffith University, Brisbane (2000)
- Master of Science by research. The Role of Exhibited Environmental Art in Public Engagement with Environmental Sustainability, University of New England, Armidale (2018)
Introduction:
In response to an encouraging early audience response to our 4-part pilot series of Imagining 2040: Pathways to Flourishing Futures, we have directed our consultant Andrew Nicholson to expand the project into a broader, more diverse exploration of themes. The first of those new themes deals with the severe problems of nature and biodiversity loss in Australia in 2025 – and how those challenges could be better addressed by 2040. Four new episodes are being devoted to that topic and will soon be completed.
Overall, this experimental podcast series from HOPE Inc. (Australia) is driven by a central purpose: to ignite public imagination about what flourishing futures might look like, and to inspire citizen-led advocacy that brings us closer to achieving them.\
At its heart, the project seeks to answer two key questions:
- How can we encourage everyday citizens to envision futures that are climate-safe, ecologically protected, socially supportive, and economically fair?
- And how can we mobilize more people, working together, to press for the progressive pathways that make those futures possible?
We warmly invite our listeners to become collaborators in this journey—not only by tuning in, but by actively enriching the conversation. Share your feedback, your bold ideas, and your hopeful visions for 2040 and beyond.
Episode 6 — Interview of Dr Michelle Malony – Convenor of Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA) – www.earthlaws.org.au
On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5CHNMAV9NbUW8DMKttLYzO?si=QJlW0T3lRcGcs2Ut3C6D0A
On You Tube: https://youtu.be/J1uEkolIwyY?si=xdD44pazQvq4Uc7K
Episode 7 — Interview of Ahri Tallon – Coordinator of Darling Downs Environment Council (DDEC) —
Google Drive link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tmkXNN_6ELa3Sfdl3NmmYQsSAFcAeh2s/view?usp=sharing
Episode 8 — Interview with Scott McPhie – Ornithologist, Film maker, and Coordinator Lockyer-Toowoomba Birds on Farms Project at Birdlife Australia
Episode 9 – Interview with Liz Addie, President of Friends of the Escarpment Parks (FEP) Toowoomba – https://fep.org.au/
Exploring various perspectives on the challenges of nature and biodiversity loss and degradation – and potential solutions to address them including:
- The need to increase citizen led stewardship and advocacy for proper nature protection.
- The value of using tried and tested methods (e.g., microforests) to increase urban nature restoration rates.
- The general value of drawing upon examples of current best practice, e.g., better government support of community efforts to improve nature protections (signals of the future).
- The particular value of framing these and other challenges and solutions through an imaginative future vision lens.
Episode 10 – Series end of year mini report for 2025
On Spotify: 10. Series end of year mini report for 2025