2025 onwards – Podcast Project: “Imagining 2040 – Pathways to Flourishing Futures”
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.
Developed by: Andrew Nicholson (consultant) on behalf of Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE) Inc. (Australia)
Introduction:
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.
The episodes are presented in descending chronological sequence so that the viewers/listeners may experience the most recent interviews first.
Episode 18. A ROLE FOR PUBLIC FUTURES FORESIGHT TO HELP US MOVE TOWARD FLOURISHING TIMES AHEAD
GUEST: Dr Marcus Bussey: Senior Lecturer in History and Futures Studies in the School of Law and Society, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia
Marcus Bussey is an author, editor, historian, futurist, and educator whose scholarship explores how cultures imagine, remember, and create futures. His research brings history, futures studies, education, relational philosophy, sustainability, and creative practice into dialogue, examining how individuals and communities cultivate the capacities to participate consciously in creating more just, resilient, and life-affirming futures.
Dr Bussey suggests our capacity to imagine different futures draws on distinct human senses — memory, foresight, voice, optimism, and yearning. Together those senses orient us toward what’s possible and worth pursuing over time. This framing matters because it opens futures thinking beyond experts and planners to ordinary citizens. It could ultimately help invite whole communities into the act of imagining — and then working toward — preferable, flourishing futures worth having and worthy of following generations
Spotify link to episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3vL8fJ0OxnuH5cQ4Mk6bfP?si=hezokz9dSI-_oam_rnL9OQ
Recorded 4th September 2026 – published 04 10 26.
YouTube: https://youtu.be/6ZHHtYsYqlE – published 04 10 26
PROMO TILE
Episode 17. IMAGINING SUSTAINABLE HEALTH CARE TO HEAL PEOPLE AND PLANET
GUEST: Dr Forbes McGain, Director of Intensive Care at Footscray Hospital, anaesthetist and intensive care physician at Western Health, and Associate Dean for Sustainable Healthcare at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Dr McGain’s comments in this interview represent his personal views solely and may not represent the views of his employers.
In this episode of Imagining 2040, hosts Andrew Nicholson and Sophie O’Brien are joined by Dr Forbes McGain, Director of Intensive Care at Footscray Hospital. Melbourne. Dr McGain is an anaesthetist and intensive care physician at Western Health, and Associate Dean for Sustainable Healthcare at the University of Melbourne. Dr McGain is also a member of the influential advocacy group Doctors for the Environment Australia. His research and practice explores how healthcare can reduce waste, emissions and costs while maintaining rigorous standards of patient care. In this episode we explore the question of whether healthcare care for patients and the planet can be provided at the same time. We discuss what a better, healthier hospital system could look like by 2040 and what could be needed to achieve it.
IMAG40 podcast series: Dr Forbes McGain episode: Imagining sustainable health care to heal people and planet. Recorded 31 08 2026. Published to Spotify/YouTube 28 09 2026
This episode on Spotify at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/36X5gUOwlXH8AnnIQU1VOJ?si=c6aa6fe7ed4045f6
IMAG40 series on Spotify at: https://open.spotify.com/show/5iNpw91NOGcci4A9nwI9Iy?si=5767d03702ba4113
This episode on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/MnCOzokghMI
IMAG40 series on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnCOzokghMI&list=PLj1PUiZ3u_6z5zEgQha0Cl8QvJzR2Vw0a
PROMO TILE
Episode 16. IMAGINING THE WELLBEING ECONOMY/ECONOMIES WE COULD DEVELOP
GUEST: DR. KATHERINE TREBECK
Katherine is a political economist, writer, and advocate for economic system change. She is Economic Change Lead at The Next Economy NFP, and Strategic Advisor to the Centre for Policy Development, and teaches at the University of Edinburgh. She co-founded the Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll) and also WEAll Scotland, its Scottish hub. She also instigated the group of Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo) – comprising Scotland, New Zealand, Finland, Wales, Iceland, and Canada. To get a further understanding of Katherine’s many other significant roles, and her recent presentations and writing dealing with the root causes of today’s great challenges please visit her dedicated website.
Almost everything in our daily lives runs through the economy. Our jobs, our housing, our healthcare, our food on the table, the parks we walk through and the air we breathe — all of it is shaped, funded, or constrained by economic decisions usually made far above our heads. For generations, we’ve been told that if the economy grows, wellbeing follows. When GDP goes up, life gets better. It’s a simple story, and for a while, it seemed to hold.
But look around today. Inequality keeps widening even as economies expand. Nature keeps declining even as production keeps climbing. Many people are working longer and harder just to stand still – while the planet’s life-support systems strain under the weight of a model built for endless throughput rather than genuine flourishing. Put simply: our conventional economy, for all its power and reach, is in many respects no longer fit for purpose. It was never actually designed to deliver wellbeing directly — only to grow — and we’re increasingly living with the gap between those two things.
This is where the idea of a wellbeing economy enters the conversation — not as a total rejection of current economics, but as a redesign of its purpose. An economy that treats human and ecological flourishing as the goal itself, not a hoped-for by-product of growth. This fresh notion of a better economy is one of the more promising signals of the future we’ve already touched upon in this series. A genuine option to help steer us away from our current failing development trajectories and toward the flourishing futures we know are plausible to achieve by 2040 and beyond.
Platform links for this episode:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3GEsySPLCYNkU8RWe5rZs7?si=e4bd14c180f043b2
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNcfDJbejmA&list=PLj1PUiZ3u_6z5zEgQha0Cl8QvJzR2Vw0a&index=17
Episode 15
IMAG40 podcast project
GUEST: JAMES NICHSOLSON – GAMES AND MEDIA RESEARCHER, INDUSTRY CONSULTANT, MUSICIAN, CULTURAL CREATIVE AND ENTREPRENEUR
TITLE: THE FUTURE-BUILDING POWER OF VIDEO GAMES: IMAGINING A NEW ROLE FOR THE INDUSTRY
In this episode host Andrew Nicholson explores one of the most culturally powerful and creatively ambitious industries on the planet: video gaming. With an estimated 3.6 billion players worldwide in 2026—around 42% of the global population—gaming has become a major arena of storytelling, social connection, artistic experimentation, and community participation.
Far from the old stereotypes of mindless escapism or niche hobbyism, today’s video games blend design, psychology, ethics, world‑building, and collective imagination at a scale few other mediums can match. Moreover, they are shaping how billions of people learn, collaborate, problem‑solve, and envision alternative futures.
This conversation looks ahead 15 years to consider some of the ways the video games industry could contribute further to the achievement of more climate safe, nature protected, socially supportive and fairer futures for all.
Link to episode on
YouTube (published 20/07/26) https://youtu.be/g2py5bAz0iA
Episode 14
GUEST: FIONA CANIGLIA, CEO OF QUEENSLAND BASED HOUSING ADVOCACY NFP Q-SHELTER
TITLE: ‘IMAGINING A SECURE AFFORDABLE HOME FOR EVERYONE WHO NEEDS ONE IN QUEENSLAND BY 2040’ Published 8th May 2026
Links to episode on
Spotify: Episode 14 in the series https://open.spotify.com/episode/3kOqOAlXw1J7jNC1nepj5a?si=2b61350144944d04
You Tube: https://youtu.be/3fFD-osIWDY
Episode 13
DR BRONWYN KELLY – Australian Community Futures Planning
‘IMAGINING AN INTEGRAL DECISION MAKING ROLE FOR CITIZENS WITHIN A NATIONAL COMMUNITY PLANNING FRAMEWORK FOR AUSTRALIA’ – published May 6th, 2026
LINKS TO Dr BRONWYN KELLY’S EPISODE:
On Spotify – Episode 13 in the series https://open.spotify.com/episode/0vwuNiWWRmcPp8nSaAPfxm?si=eb26041b0f264595
On HOPE Inc.(Australia) YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmM1-IjVaA0
Episode 12
DR MILLIE ROONEY – Australia reMADE
IMAGINING A CARE CENTRED ECONOMY AND CULTURE TO SUPPORT IMPROVED CITIZEN DEMOCRACY BY 2040. Published 4th May 2026
LINKS TO DR MILLIE ROONEY’S EPISODE ON
On Spotify – episode 12 in the series https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Av7ukmNzH5R5gQTRmedKE?si=6c2d892202264c88
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQCy9KywhgY&t=12s
Episode 11 – Introduction to new podcast content in 2026 on Spotify.
On Spotify – Episode 11 in the series https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Z2ZY4KZ9Pqy4NphM33iDp?si=58c211b893974d59
Episode 10 – Series end of year mini report for 2025
On Spotify: 10. Series end of year mini report for 2025
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.
On Spotify: 9. Imagining better urban nature regeneration using micro forest plantings in the Toowoomba and Southeast Queensland regions by 2040 – IMAGINING 2040 – PATHWAYS TO FLOURISHING FUTURES | Podcast on Spotify
Episode 8 — Interview with Scott McPhie – Ornithologist, Film maker, and Coordinator Lockyer-Toowoomba Birds on Farms Project at Birdlife Australia
Episode 7 — Interview of Ahri Tallon – Coordinator of Darling Downs Environment Council (DDEC) — https://ddec.org.au/
Google Drive link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tmkXNN_6ELa3Sfdl3NmmYQsSAFcAeh2s/view?usp=sharing
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
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:
Imagining 2040: Pathways to Flourishing Futures is an experimental podcast series from HOPE Inc.
(Australia). Its core goal is ambitious : to spark public imagination about what flourishing futures could look
like, and to inspire citizen-led advocacy that can push us closer toward achieving them.
The project is planned to unfold in two stages: Stage 1 has already piloted an introduction and four guest
interview episodes to test audience interest. If gauged to be successful, Stage 2 will then continue with
monthly episodes later into 2025 and beyond. We will also conduct an ongoing search for interagency
collaboration, and research partnerships across at least three years.
At the heart of the podcast are two related questions we hope to answer : Can we encourage more everyday
citizens to imagine preferred futures which are climate-safer, properly nature protected, more socially
supportive, and economically fairer? And can we encourage more people, in alliance, to push harder to get us
all onto the progressive developmental pathways which will make flourishing futures more likely?
We invite our listeners to become our collaborators in this project. Not just to tune in, but to join and enliven
the conversation—by sharing their feedback, their own bold ideas, and hopeful visions for 2040 and beyond.
- More ‘Supporting documents’ to just above ‘Listen on’
Supporting documents:
STAGE 1 – IMAG40 PILOT PROJECT
INTRODUCTION:
“We hope that you enjoy the pilot episodes of the podcast project Imagining 2040: pathways to flourishing futures – we want to get as much feedback from you, the initial market test audience, as possible. This is a preliminary feedback phase of the podcast project – ahead of its full public audience placement on podcast platforms and YouTube soon.
One of the main objectives of the podcast project is to determine whether it could help increase the exercise of public imagination in support of stronger citizen-led calls – and, ultimately, political pressure – to achieve better, flourishing futures.
Is this objective outlined sufficiently well within the episodes? Does the objective of increasing public imagination to help increase public environmental advocacy, come across clearly enough? If not, how could this be made clearer?
The definition of better, flourishing futures within the podcast episodes is given as futures which would be climate safer, properly nature protected, socially more supportive and economically fairer in the share out of resources. Each of these terms will be further ‘unpacked’ in an introductory episode not completed yet-but the question here is:
Does the definition of flourishing futures come across clearly in episodes and are the terms used sufficiently well understood to give the listener at least an initial sense of what is being defined as flourishing? If not, how could this aspect of definition be improved?
We want the podcast project to be genuinely collaborative with its audience – and in that context.
Do you think the invitation to the audience in each pilot episode – to collaborate via suggestions, feedback etc., is made clearly, strongly, and warmly enough? If not, how could this invitation be improved?
INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES
A warm welcome to Imagining 2040: Pathways to Flourishing Futures—a podcast from Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE) Incorporated (Australia).
At its heart, this podcast is an experiment. We’re exploring whether podcasting can spark greater public interest in imagining flourishing futures—and inspire listeners to push harder, politically and socially, for their realization.
Put simply, we want to reinvigorate the overlooked power of collective future vision—public imagination—as a force for genuine human development and progress.
Yes, these are ambitious goals for a humble podcast. Some might call it a pipe dream or mental kite flying. There will always be naysayers who insist it’s futile to try changing how people think or act. They’ll say there’s no alternative to the status quo—echoing Margaret Thatcher’s infamous “There is no alternative (TINA)” doctrine from the 1980s.
But we’ve chosen to ignore the naysayers and do something more imaginative.
In fact, it’s taken a leap of visionary thinking to create this podcast in the first place—and we’re proud to join a small but hopefully growing band of pioneering podcast shows that aim to strengthen public imagination and help visualise better futures ten, fifteen, twenty years ahead.
Listen on
HOPE Inc. Films YouTube Channel
HOPE Australia Films YouTube Channel
Imagining 2040 – Pathways to Flourishing Futures
IMAG40 Podcast series – YouTube
One Minute Promo Trailer on HOPE YouTube channel
Check out our podcast episodes below.
EPISODE 1: Imaging a stronger combined role for art, science and nature connectedness storytelling
EPISODE 2: Imaging stronger citizen-led resistance to state capture by vested interests
EPISODE 3: Imaging more effective system level approaches to social climate change advocacy
EPISODE 4 : Imaging better informed, smarter and faster citizen-collaborative urban planning by 2040