Team Human with Douglas Rushkoff

Latest Episodes:

Merrelyn Emery "Having a Role in Your World" Jan 31, 2018

Show notes

Playing for Team Human today is world renowned social scientist and systems thinker, Merrelyn Emery. Emery, with her partner the late Fred Emery, advanced Open Systems Theory and applied it to management of organizations and government. Open Systems Theory, or OST is the idea that autocracies make for bad governments, companies, and organizations. In this conversation, Merrelyn and Douglas discuss the power of community and collective organizing. They also discuss the social environments conducive to true grassroots, systemic change. As Merrelyn explains it, “By working together with collective responsibility, people can regain control over their own affairs, in their own communities and organizations, by cooperating to meet shared goals rather than competing or peeling off as individuals to do ‘their own thing’.”

Douglas begins todays show announcing the first of exciting new Team Human live events in 2018. Rushkoff will be hosting two evenings of no-holds-barred Team Human discussions in San Francisco at GrayArea.org. On Friday, February 16, Douglas will host a conversation with guests Howard Rheingold and Annalee Newitz. On Saturday the 17th, Douglas will be joined by Erik Davis, author of Techgnosis, artist Lauren McCarthy, and Gray Area founder Josette Melchor. Get your tickets here.

Team Human Patreon supporters have special access to guest passes for both nights, so if you’re in the San Francisco area and considering supporting the show via Patreon, now is the time to sign up!

You can also help by sharing a review on iTunes.

Today’s music is thanks to Fugazi and Dischord Records and Stacco Troncoso of the P2P foundation.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Quince and use my code TEAMHUMAN for a great deal: https://www.quince.com
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ep. 70 Danielle Butin "It Starts With Listening" Jan 24, 2018

Show notes

Playing for Team Human today is Danielle Butin, founder of the Afya Foundation. Afya collects and sends surplus medical supplies from the US to those who need them around the world. In today’s conversation with Douglas, Danielle shares not only stories of the good accomplished through Afya, but also a broader strategy for human intervention. How did Danielle, an occupational therapist and geriatric care provider, come to launch an organization that has shipped more than six million pounds of medical and humanitarian supplies into areas of crisis? Danielle describes the change that can come by the simple act of listening and then responding to need. She shares her zeal for deep human encounters and teaches that great ideas are "dancing among us” if we choose to be awake and aware enough to take notice.

Douglas begins today’s episode with a monologue about the “might makes right” mentality that may just be the key to deconstructing the underpinnings of the racist rhetoric and policy so prominent under this administration.

Team Human is supported entirely by listeners. Visit patreon.com/teamhuman to sustain the show. You can also help by sharing a review on iTunes.

Today’s music is thanks to Fugazi and Dischord Records, RU Sirius, and Stacco Troncoso of the P2P foundation.

Stay tuned for info on Team Human Live events and meet ups this Spring.

Ghislaine Boddington "Full Immersion" Jan 17, 2018

Show notes

Playing for Team Human today is immersion experience artist and pioneer, Ghislaine Boddington. Ghislaine joins Douglas for a conversation about the nature of immersive technologies and how we might bring our bodies with us into the digital realm. Rather than diminish the role of the physical body, Ghislaine’s work celebrates the body as an integral part of enhanced immersive experience. As Creative Director at body>data>space Ghislaine’s art and practice embraces technologies that amplify connection, collectivity, and togetherness. In the course of their conversation, Ghislaine and Douglas discuss the virtues of such body-positive, community-minded use of tech while simultaneously questioning how we might we explore digital immersion in a way that avoids paving the way for those who would exploit us. Thus emerges the question, in the process of embedding digital devices within our physical selves, do we risk becoming the raw materials for the next frontier of technology-driven extractive capitalism? How might we steer this ship toward team human values?

Douglas begins today’s show with a monologue about the threat of technology usurping human agency. It’s a personal story about his neighborhood UPS driver who refused to conform to the GPS route, opting instead to become part of the local community rather than be a mere delivery “robot.”

This week’s episode features our usual intro and outro music thanks to Fugazi and Dischord Records. At the midroll music was composed and recorded by last week’s guest, Stacco Troncoso of the P2P foundation.

Thanks to all our supporters on Patreon for making this show possible. If you enjoy Team Human consider becoming a subscribing Patreon member. You can also help us by sharing a review on iTunes and telling a friend about the show.

Ep. 68 Stacco Troncoso "The Commons Is The Glue" Jan 10, 2018

Show notes

Playing for Team Human today is Stacco Troncoso of the P2P Foundation. Stacco brings with him deep knowledge and enthusiasm for the power of the commons. Stacco and the Commons Transition team put their faith in people, believing in the potential of diverse, empowered communities to address complex problems. Far from a utopian fantasy, P2P offers a wealth of resources including models from groups who have already successfully transitioned to a commons approach in governance, finance, and culture. Stacco and crew have just launched a new Commons Transition Primer, loaded with case studies and beautifully designed research on ways to make the commons transition a reality in your community.

Today’s show features music interludes composed, recorded, and performed by our guest, Stacco Troncoso. Overlaid are excerpts from a talk Stacco gave at Prix Ars in 2016. The page header illustration is from the Commons Transition Primer website, by Mercè Moreno Tarrés. Our opening song is Foreman's Dog by Fugazi.

Opening today’s episode, Rushkoff looks at the Trump-Russia collusion narrative. In his “by any means necessary” moment, why does Trump even bother to deny collusion with Russians? And is media’s obsession with the Russia story distracting us from Trump's dangerous policies and appointments?

If you enjoyed this episode, dig deeper:

This and all Team Human shows are made possible by listeners like you. You can help support the show by subscribing via Patreon.

Please review Team Human on iTunes. Your review helps us reach more listeners.

Genesis Breyer P-Orridge "Weaponized Pleasure" Dec 20, 2017

Show notes

Genesis Breyer P-Orridge has been one of my dearest and most human friends for the past few decades. Gen’s a musician, icon, cut-and-paste artist, occultist, and pandrogyne with whom I’ve worked and played in many ways over the years.

Gen founded The Coum Transmissions, Throbbing Gristle, and Psychic TV, with whom I played keyboards in the early 2000’s. Gen also embarked on a very personal cut-and-paste experiment with partner Jackie, where they both sought to unite through psychic and physical remixing.

Gen is currently challenged with a case of leukemia and has to stay close to the oxygen machine. But it seemed like a good excuse to bring out the portable recorder (generously funded by our Patreon subscribers!) and have a conversation.

Visit the GoFundMe Campaign for Genesis Breyer P-Orridge https://www.gofundme.com/genesis-breyer-porridge

Stephen decided to leave this mostly unedited, to give y’all a taste for what it’s like to sit in Gen’s apartment and just have a real conversation. Don’t worry, though - a conversation with Gen is a conversation about the fate of our species and reality itself.

Please accept it as our holiday gift.

-Douglas

All the music on today's show comes from Genesis' extensive catalog:

Just Like Arcadia from Allegory and Self (PTV 1988)
Caresse Song from Allegory and Self (PTV 1988)
Distant Dreams-Part Two from Mission of Dead Souls (Throbbing Gristle)
Thank You Part II from Thank You (PTV/PTV3 2011)
Walkabout from 20 Jazz Funk Greats (Throbbing Gristle 1979 )
Hot On The Heels of Love from 20 Jazz Funk Greats (Throbbing Gristle 1979)
Lies and Then from Hell is Invisible, Heaven is Her/E (PTV3 - 2007 feat. Douglas Rushkoff!)
Dead On Arrival (Throbbing Gristle 1978)
Exotic Functions (Throbbing Gristle 1983)
Being Lost from Allegory and Self (PTV 1988)
United (Throbbing Gristle 1978)
Thee Dweller from Allegory and Self (PTV 1988)
Zyklon B Zombie from Second Annual Report (1977)
Thank You - Part One from PTV/PTV3 2011)

Mitch Horowitz "Radical Optimism" Dec 13, 2017

Show notes

Playing for Team Human today, occult scholar and author Mitch Horowitz. Mitch, the author of Occult America (Bantam); One Simple Idea: How Positive Thinking Reshaped Modern Life(Crown); and Mind As Builder: The Positive-Mind Metaphysics of Edgar Cayce(A.R.E. Press) joins Douglas for a conversation about the shared histories of magic, capitalism, and American political thought. It’s a conversation that asks questions about the nature of the mind and the power of enthusiasm. What about optimism? What about celebration? What about anomalous behavior? Horowitz and Rushkoff make an argument for the progressive power of wild possibility – including the possibility that humans are not reducible to mere fleshy robots.

The music you hear in the intro and outro is thanks to Fugazi and Dischord Records. In the middle is a clip by Team Human friend and episode 31 guest, RU Sirius.

Please share a review of Team Human on iTunes. Thank you for sustaining support via Patreon!

Erin Barnes "In Our Backyards" Dec 06, 2017

Show notes

Playing for Team Human today is Erin Barnes co-founder of ioby. Ioby (in our backyards) is a “crowd-resourcing” platform for citizen-led, neighborhood-focused projects. Rather than just raise money, ioby mobilizes civic engagement by putting resources in the hands of local leaders who want to steward positive change in their neighborhoods.

Erin shares with Douglas how ioby harnesses the power of solidarity and real world connection. In doing so, ioby not only ignites civic participation, but also flips the script on the NIMBY mentality (not in my backyard). Ioby demonstrates the positive potential of local communities playing an active role in shaping public spaces and creating public good.

Visit ioby.org to learn about the many diverse community efforts and start your own project today!

Opening today’s show, Rushkoff looks at the reversal of subject and object, figure and ground. Have we lost perspective on the two?

The music you hear in the intro and outro is thanks to Fugazi and Dischord Records. In the middle is a clip by Team Human friend and episode 31 guest, RU Sirius.

Please share a review of Team Human on iTunes and you can support the show on Patreon.

Nikki Silvestri "More Than Mere Dirt" Nov 29, 2017

Show notes

What can we learn from a mere handful of dirt? For Nikki Silvestri, soilis both a metaphor and the literal “fertile” ground through which complexity and diversity thrive. Having worked on issues of food systems, sustainability, and public health, Silvestri describes soil as the link through which to engage in the work of building community, resilience, and social equity. Today, in her conversation with Douglas Rushkoff, Silvestri offers a unique approach to systems thinking, grounded in a deep sense of humility in the face the immensely complex natural systems that thrive just below our feet.

Nikki Silvestri is the founder of Soil and Shadow and the the former executive director of Green for All and the People's Grocery. Visit http://www.nikkisilvestri.com and https://www.soilandshadow.com/ to learn more about Nikki and her work.

Today Douglas launches the show with a monologue on the Republican tax plan and the ulterior motives behind who it targets.

Team Human intro and outro music are thanks to Fugazi and Dischord Records and the midroll music is a Team Human original. Thank you to all those supporting us on Patreon. Your contributions sustain the work that goes into these shows.

Please review Team Human on iTunes or your favorite podcast app.

Frances Moore Lappé and Adam Eichen "The Thrill of Democracy" Nov 15, 2017

Show notes

Playing for Team Human today are Frances Moore Lappé and Adam Eichen from the Small Planet Institute. Lappé and Eichen are out on the road with a mission to reinvigorate “civic courage” and inclusive participation in democracy. Their latest book Daring Democracy Igniting Power, Meaning, and Connection for the America We Want offers a diagnosis of what has come to ail our democracy and recommends the necessary cures, offering concrete examples of ballot initiatives, reforms, and collective organizing happening across the country. Counter to a despairing narrative on the current state of democracy in the U.S., Lappé and Eichen argue that people are indeed rising to take the reigns. Inspired by examples of deep organizing and the convergence of movements in places such as Democracy Spring, Democracy Awakening, and Occupy Wall Street, Lappé and Eichen see power shifting back into the people’s hands. Their analysis of how we got to where we are, coupled with their passion and optimism for change, is both contagious and empowering. In this Team Human conversation, Lappé and Eichen join Douglas to make a case for hope, courage, and optimism in this moment of turmoil and division.

Rushkoff begins today’s show with a monologue on the theme of democracy inspired by this conversation. Though it may have been easy to have lost faith in democracy after the 2016 election, perhaps election day is the wrong place to look if we really see democracy in action. It’s a monologue that asks: where does democracy begin for team human?... and lucky for us, today’s guests Frances Moore Lappé and Adam Eichen are ready with the answer.

This episode was made possible thanks to listener support. If you enjoy this show, consider subscribing via Patreon. There you’ll find subscriber rewards and the opportunity to connect with other listeners through the Team Human Slack Channel.

Also, if you enjoy this show and want to spread the word, please review Team Human on iTunes or your favorite podcast platform.

Hugh Gallagher "An Outsider's Approach" Nov 08, 2017

Show notes

Today on Team Human, we share a conversation with author, musician, humorist, and culture hacker Hugh Gallagher. Gallagher began his professional writing career thanks in part to a college entrance essay that went viral in the 90s, earning the distinction of being an early, if not the first, internet comedy meme. With lines like, “I am a dynamic figure, often seen scaling walls and crushing ice... I can pilot bicycles up severe inclines with unflagging speed, and I cook Thirty-Minute Brownies in twenty minutes…” Gallagher broke the mold, winning a national writing award, a beer with John Kennedy Jr., and a gig writing for Rolling Stone.

Douglas and Gallagher look back on Gen X culture hacking, discuss the professional career landscape for creatives, and talk about the inspiration behind Hugh’s latest novel Lifted, a work of digital fiction available via Radish Fiction. It’s a freewheeling Team Human conversation that embraces stepping out of binaries and defaults, and embracing the fringes.

All the music you hear on today’s show is thanks to Hugh’s alter ego, the 80s Belgian pop star VON VON VON.

Rushkoff begins today’s show with a monologue on penetrating consciousness though art, theater, and creative cultural expression.

This show was made possible thanks to our supporters and subscribers on Patreon. If you’d like to join the team, visit teamhuman.fm and click on support. You can also support the show by reviewing Team Human on iTunes.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Team Human with Douglas Rushkoff

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected