Solarpunk Presents Podcast

This episode’s guest is Dr Anne Pasek, Canada Research Chair in Media, Culture, and Environment, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cultural Studies and the School of the Environment at Trent University. Dr Pasek is co-founder of the Low Carbon Research Methods Group, and she talks to Ariel all about what Low Carbon Research is (and can look like!), the “carbon footprint” of academic research, new innovative ways for research to respond to the climate crisis, the importance of zines, and even hosting her own solar server in her backyard!

https://youtu.be/lDQp6zvpRxo

Low Carbon Methods for Doing and Communicating Research With Dr Anne Pasek This episode’s guest is Dr Anne Pasek, Canada Research Chair in Media, Culture, and Environment, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cultural Stu...

S2E7 is out on YouTube!

Although the battle lines have shifted down through the years from heliocentrism to evolution (and let’s not get started on the age of the Earth), it feels like there’s a fundamental conflict between science and religion, especially with respect to the Abrahamic religions like Christianity and Islam. I (Christina), the host of this podcast episode, as a scientist and atheist who tends to assume all scientists are atheists—because how could they not be?—am definitely guilty of thinking this.

Yet, there is a long tradition of curiosity, inquiry, and, yes, science within the Abrahamic religions and no shortage of devout scientists working hard to this day to understand the workings of the world and cosmos. I decided that it was time to confront my assumptions by talking to one of my religious colleagues. Thank you in advance to Dr Norm Nelson—an oceanographer whose Christianity is a core part of his life—for discussing whether or not there is a conflict between science and Christianity, and where the roots of that conflict might lie.

Don’t forget, dear listener, we need your support! So, recommend us to a friend and/or sign up for our Patreon or make a one-time donation via PayPal.

Science and Christianity: Is There a Conflict? With Norm Nelson Although the battle lines have shifted down through the years from heliocentrism to evolution (and let’s not get started on the age of the Earth), it feels l...

In this episode, Christina talks with hacker and enthusiastic solarpunk Paweł Ngei about the power of solarpunk narratives to open our eyes to the ways in which we do things and invite us to critically examine them. Why is tech built this way? Who are we disenfranchising by not having more or different designs for things? Who are we handing over too much power over our lives to mindlessly letting them thrust their tech into our lives without us knowing how it works?

For more info about and thoughts from Paweł, you can check out his blog (alxd.org), be inspired by his podcast (podcast.tomasino.org ) read his short story about a disabled inventor at glider.ink, or read his review of Kim Stanley Robinson’s The Ministry for the Future at his blog.

Other solarpunk media Paweł recommends are the book A Half Built Garden by Ruthanna Emrys and to a great solarpunk engineering wiki: www.appropedia.org

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilMcperL3U8

Tech and the Power of Solarpunk Narratives, with Paweł Ngei In this episode, Christina talks with hacker and enthusiastic solarpunk Paweł Ngei about the power of solarpunk narratives to open our eyes to the ways in wh...

Hey friends, come follow us on Mastodon https://climatejustice.rocks/! We post a lot of content there, and Ariel is a lot more active with replies over there (usually….).

Mastodon is a decentralized social media platform that isn’t owned by big business, or subject to the whims of billionaires, or funding wars and genocide with cash it gets from your clicks, or harvesting your data for who-knows-what (...as far as we know right now!). We feel that the federated internet is a lot more in keeping with a solarpunk values set, and we really like climatejustice.rocks as a platform to find out about cool solarpunk-style projects in the present! Come join us! (here’s a good getting-started guide…https://techcrunch.com/2023/07/24/what-is-mastodon/)

Solarpunk Presents Podcast (@[email protected]) 471 Posts, 98 Following, 1.1K Followers · Solarpunk Presents is a podcast that explores the people and projects working on bringing us a better world today. Solarpunk is more than just an idea, more than just an aesthetic. Those inspire us, but where do we go from there? Hosts Ariel Kroon and Chris...

Friends, we’re on YouTube!

Just a reminder that you can listen to us in video form, if you prefer to stream your podcasts on that platform. We are also vlogging and making shorts about our daily lives, paying attention to the details that we think solarpunks of different stripes might find interesting (although Christina is much better about this than Ariel, currently…)

Solarpunk Presents - YouTube Solarpunk Presents is a podcast that explores the people and projects working on bringing us a better world today. Solarpunk is more than just an idea, more ...

Hello solarpunks, here’s your reminder for the day that we have a Patreon and we need support!

This podcast is run by two people who are actively trying to figure out the very technology that we’re trying to use to broadcast solarpunk content out to the world, and that means we’re pretty busy and paying for this out of our own pockets. We are currently able to cover our hosting fee, but we aren’t able properly compensate ourselves, our guests, or pay for better equipment yet. It’s a goal we’re working on.

So if you like what we do, or you want some of that sweet sweet bonus content and early access to episodes, or just want to support solarpunk work in the present, please support us financially through Patreon (starting as low as $3 a month) or make a one-time donation through PayPal. If you’re hard up for cash, but still would like to support us and solarpunk in general but just can’t financially right now, it would still go a long way if you could take a moment to write us a review on your podcatcher of choice, or subscribe to our YouTube channel and leave us a comment on your favourite video. Sometimes we feel like we’re shouting into the void, and as writers we do thrive on feedback. If you really liked a certain episode, please share it with someone you know who you think would like it!

As I’ve said before, it's rough out there for anyone valuing the environment, social justice, compassion, and more, and we want to keep doing our part to keep hope alive. We want to broaden the imagination of what it's possible to do to contribute to a better world, no matter who you are, where you live, or what life stage you're at.

-Ariel
https://www.solarpunkpresents.com/support
https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkpresents

Support Us — Solarpunk Presents Support Solarpunk Presents Podcast with a Patreon subscription, one-time PayPal donation, or share an episode (or the whole podcast) with someone you think would like it. We love word-of-mouth recommendations! Speaking of which, if you really like us, you can write us a review on your podcatcher of

In 2023, the inaugural Solarpunk Conference was held in virtual space, bringing together over 150 attendees, 18 presenters, and creating a palpable sense of the solarpunk community. This episode, Ariel chats with conference organizers Charles Valsechi, Lindsay Jane, and Kees Schuller about the genesis of the conference, the inspiration for its theme, as well as a little preview of what they are hoping to see at the 2024 Solarpunk Conference: Rays of Resilience.

You can go their website to check out The Solarpunk Conference, access The Solarpunk Conference Journal, and buy tickets. You can also check out the channel on YouTube for recordings of last year’s presentations, and stop by Lindsay Jane's channel for more solarpunky content!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlRP093qm_k

Behind the Scenes with the Solarpunk Conference Organizers In 2023, the inaugural Solarpunk Conference was held in virtual space, bringing together over 150 attendees, 18 presenters, and creating a palpable sense of ...

The YouTube upload of Season Two Episode Five is here!

On today’s episode, Ariel talks to Lindsay Jane of The Solarpunk Scene where she showcases her solarpunk life in Toronto, as well as shining a spotlight on solarpunk projects locally and internationally. Lindsay tells us about how she discovered solarpunk and the ways that she lives a solarpunk life in the city - both the upsides (gardens! architecture! effective transit!) and the downsides (sky-high rent, expensive food, difficulty cultivating outdoor gardens). She also emphasizes the importance of getting involved in your local community and politics as a city-dweller, and lets listeners in on the behind-the-scenes inspiration for The Solarpunk Scene: tune in to learn more!

'rights

Creating a Solarpunk Society in the Big City with Lindsay Jane On today’s episode, Ariel talks to Lindsay Jane of The Solarpunk Scene where she showcases her solarpunk life in Toronto, as well as shining a spotlight on s...

Hey solarpunks, we’re truly sorry for having riled people up over our latest podcast interview. We realize now that we provided no context for the conversation and that is totally our bad. It wasn’t our intention to stir up controversy or to wave the flag for cryptocurrencies. We’re a team that values open discourse and inquiry, and we are already looking into having an episode with someone who can tell us (and listeners who may not be aware of the issues with crypto) about why they are critical of crypto technologies and have a conversation around that. We’ve heard concerns from a number of you and we’re glad that some of you took the time to let us know. Going forward we’re going to be more mindful of contextualizing our conversations when necessary, and in response to feedback from our listeners.

Here is a blog post which replicates a post from our Patreon that Christina made back in March, which includes her thoughts specifically on the energy and resource costs of cryptocurrencies and might help give a bit of background to where she was coming from in the interview.

Meanwhile, please don’t forget that we’re imperfect human beings who are doing our best and that we’re volunteering a considerable amount of our own time and energy to create the podcast.

How Do We Power Down? — Solarpunk Presents ICYMI, here’s a post I put up on our Patreon back in March that, in anticipation of Season 5 (which we’re now partway into), considers the environmental problems posed by the use of cryptocurrencies and generative AI and the general problem of how do we power down our societies a bit without bei...

Hey friends, come follow us on Mastodon https://climatejustice.rocks/! We post a lot of content there, and Ariel is a lot more active with replies over there (usually….).

Mastodon is a decentralized social media platform that isn’t owned by big business, or subject to the whims of billionaires, or funding wars and genocide with cash it gets from your clicks, or harvesting your data for who-knows-what (...as far as we know right now!). We feel that the federated internet is a lot more in keeping with a solarpunk values set, and we really like climatejustice.rocks as a platform to find out about cool solarpunk-style projects in the present! Come join us! (here’s a good getting-started guide…https://techcrunch.com/2023/07/24/what-is-mastodon/)

Solarpunk Presents Podcast (@[email protected]) 442 Posts, 98 Following, 1.04K Followers · Solarpunk Presents is a podcast that explores the people and projects working on bringing us a better world today. Solarpunk is more than just an idea, more than just an aesthetic. Those inspire us, but where do we go from there? Hosts Ariel Kroon and Chri...

In Season 5 Episode 3 of Solarpunk Presents, Christina chats with transdisciplinary technologist Stephen Reid about relationship solarpunk and lunarpunk have to crypto and web3. If lunarpunk is what solarpunk gets up to in the shadows of a moonlit night, that suggests that lunarpunk is inherently more interested in privacy, security, and anonymity, especially from the watchful eye of the state. That would further mean that where solarpunk is interested in renewable energy, sustainability, appropriate technology, and social justice, lunarpunk is interested in the tools, like cryptography, cryptocurrencies, and web3, that safeguard our privacy and anonymity and potentially protect us from tyranny. Do we need lunarpunk’s fixation with using tech to protect our privacy to counterbalance solarpunk’s sunny optimism that everything will all be fine to break through to a better world? To learn more about Stephen, his philosophies, and his work, check out https://stephenreid.net/

youtu.be/WoURYvc3pLQ

Solarpunk, Lunarpunk, Crypto, & Web3 In Season 5 Episode 3 of Solarpunk Presents, Christina chats with transdisciplinary technologist Stephen Reid about relationship solarpunk and lunarpunk have...

Listeners, we’re on YouTube!

Just a reminder that you can listen to us in video form, if you prefer to stream your podcasts on that platform. We are also vlogging and making shorts about our daily lives, paying attention to the details that we think solarpunks of different stripes might find interesting (although Christina is much better about this than Ariel, currently…)

Solarpunk Presents - YouTube Solarpunk Presents is a podcast that explores the people and projects working on bringing us a better world today. Solarpunk is more than just an idea, more ...

In this bonus chat, Ariel and Christina talk about the 1984 Studio Ghibli film - and solarpunk inspo par excellence - Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Does the film live up to its significant reputation and deserve its cred? Is Nausicaä a solarpunk role model, or is this more of a princess-on-a-mission-style of legend? Tune in as we discuss this and more!

BONUS CHAT: Is Nausicaä a Solarpunk Film? In this bonus chat, Ariel and Christina talk about the 1984 Studio Ghibli film - and solarpunk inspo par excellence - Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Doe...

In this week's podcast, host Ariel has a chat with Aaron and Alicia, the team behind Solacene podcast in Montreal, Canada. They talk about the meaning of “Solacene”, their goals, the semester-structure of their show, zines, community, upcycled clothing, embodied reality, environmental positivity, and a sneak peek at what is next for Solacene in the future… just to name a few topics. Tune in on your favourite podcatcher or streaming service today!

Podcasting Dreams of the Solacene In this podcast, host Ariel has a chat with Aaron and Alicia, the team behind Solacene podcast in Montreal, Canada. They talk about the meaning of “Solacene”...

All those who are interested in participating in the writing group, please fill out this poll with you availability. https://www.when2meet.com/?24484901-NNTM1

If you have any questions or comments, please email Christina directly at [email protected], since she doesn't tend to check in here too often :)

Solarpunk Writing Group Kickoff - When2meet

If technology wasn’t such a central aspect of solarpunk, we’d all just be hippies redux. Yet not all tech, right? Because solarpunk is also about living the good life while building a just, inclusive, and sustainable society. So, what is solarpunk’s attitude toward and relationship with tech? How do solarpunks decide what’s worth it and what’s beyond the pale? And what’s all this about appropriate technology?

Let's Talk Tech, Solarpunks! With Ariel & Christina If technology wasn’t such a central aspect of solarpunk, we’d all just be hippies redux. Yet not all tech, right? Because solarpunk is also about living the ...

S2.3 now on YouTube!

The situation in Lebanon today is bleak. Carved out of the remains of the Ottoman Empire and subjected to years of colonialism-lite administration by France, its economy and infrastructure have been devastated by a long civil war, overlapping occupations by Syria and Israel, and corruption on a massive scale. Since 2019, Lebanon has been in the midst of a severe financial crisis, with widespread unemployment and hyperinflation. Now 80% of the population is poor and Lebanon is on the brink of becoming a failed state.

And yet, JD Harlock, Poetry Editor at Solarpunk Magazine, who lives in Beirut, believes in solarpunk. Join us for this episode to find out how that can be and what day to day life is like in Beirut right now.


SolarpunkMagazine poetry

Beirut: Finding Your Future in a Nearly Failed State, With JD Harlock The situation in Lebanon today is bleak. Carved out of the remains of the Ottoman Empire and subjected to years of colonialism-lite administration by France,...

Hey friends, come follow us on Mastodon https://climatejustice.rocks/! We post a lot of content there, and Ariel is a lot more active with replies over there (usually….).

Mastodon is a decentralized social media platform that isn’t owned by big business, or subject to the whims of billionaires, or funding wars and genocide with cash it gets from your clicks, or harvesting your data for who-knows-what (...as far as we know right now!). We feel that the federated internet is a lot more in keeping with a solarpunk values set, and we really like climatejustice.rocks as a platform to find out about cool solarpunk-style projects in the present! Come join us! (here’s a good getting-started guide…https://techcrunch.com/2023/07/24/what-is-mastodon/)

Solarpunk Presents Podcast (@[email protected]) 415 Posts, 97 Following, 986 Followers · Solarpunk Presents is a podcast that explores the people and projects working on bringing us a better world today. Solarpunk is more than just an idea, more than just an aesthetic. Those inspire us, but where do we go from there? Hosts Ariel Kroon and Christ...

March's Bonus Chat is now publicly available! The cyberpunk aesthetic tells us right off the bat that whatever we’ve sat down to read/watch/play is set in ~the future~. Right?

In this episode, Ariel and Christina discuss cyberpunk’s origins not just as an intentional intervention into the science fiction genre imagination, but how it currently is used as a shorthand for a certain type of future - and whether it can really be said to be a future at all.

Cyberpunk Visions of the Future (ft. The Matrix) The cyberpunk aesthetic tells us right off the bat that whatever we’ve sat down to read/watch/play is set in ~the future~. Right?In this episode, Ariel and C...

Hello solarpunks, here’s your reminder for the day that we have a Patreon and we need

This podcast is run by two people who are actively trying to figure out the very technology that we’re trying to use to broadcast solarpunk content out to the world, and that means we’re pretty busy and paying for this out of our own pockets. We are currently able to cover our hosting fee, but we aren’t able properly compensate ourselves, our guests, or pay for better equipment yet. It’s a goal we’re working on.

So if you like what we do, or you want some of that sweet sweet bonus content and early access to episodes, or just want to support solarpunk work in the present, please support us financially through Patreon (starting as low as $3 a month) or make a one-time donation through PayPal. If you’re hard up for cash, but still would like to support us and solarpunk in general but just can’t financially right now, it would still go a long way if you could take a moment to write us a review on your podcatcher of choice, or subscribe to our YouTube channel and leave us a comment on your favourite video. Sometimes we feel like we’re shouting into the void, and as writers we do thrive on feedback. If you really liked a certain episode, please share it with someone you know who you think would like it!

As I’ve said before, it's rough out there for anyone valuing the environment, social justice, compassion, and more, and we want to keep doing our part to keep hope alive. We want to broaden the imagination of what it's possible to do to contribute to a better world, no matter who you are, where you live, or what life stage you're at.

-Ariel

Why is solarpunk called solarPUNK? What is so punk about it, and does it have anything to do with the original meaning of … or cyberpunk, or steampunk, or any -punk for that matter?

In this episode, Christina and Ariel dive into the thorny question of what exactly it is that they are talking about when they say “solarpunk” … because as it turns out, they both have very different points of reference. Neither Christina’s Gen-Xer ideas of the ‘80s punk-rocker or Ariel’s Millennial idea of the Hot Topic pop-punk fit in with … or do they? Tune in to find out more!

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What Does the Punk in Solarpunk Even Mean? Ariel & Christina Discuss Why is solarpunk called solarPUNK? What is so punk about it, and does it have anything to do with the original meaning of … or cyberpunk, or steampunk, ...