IMAGINING 2040: Pathways to a 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
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