Tune in to this episode with Dr Ruth Backstrom – author, facilitator and public professor – to explore why we need to rethink our democratic political systems, what a new democracy could look like and how we can make it happen.

When we talk about politics, we often associated it with the ‘us and them’ – the distant, polarised landscape we see in the news, and in our discussions with those around us.

Instead, Ruth’s idea of a new democracy rests on citizen assemblies – a place to make a difference and learn through conversation – a participatory form of governance!

Ruth focuses on the importance of teaching emotional intelligence to find empathy not only with other people, but with the planet too. To learn about a holistic form of approaching politics and the stories we share around it, listen to this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Youtube, or any of your preferred streaming platforms!

Dr Backstrom has recently released a book ‘Igniting a Bold New Democracy: Empowering Citizens Through Game-changing Reforms‘ – a great guide into how we can create positive change in our political decision-making processes! Check out her work at www.ruthbackstrom.com to explore more.

This podcast is an initiative of the Permaculture Education Institute

Our way of sharing our love for this planet and for life, is by teaching permaculture teachers who are locally adapting this around the world – finding ways to apply the planet care ethics of earth care, people care and fair share.

We teach permaculture teachers, host permaculture courses, host Our Permaculture Life YouTube, and offer free monthly film club and masterclass.

We broadcast from a solar powered studio in the midst of a permaculture ecovillage food forest on beautiful Gubbi Gubbi country. I acknowledge this is and always will be Aboriginal land, pay my respects to elders past and present, and extend my respect to indigenous cultures and knowledge systems across the planet.

You can also watch Sense-Making in a Changing World on youtube.