Hello, and welcome to our 2020 Summer Series!

Every Thursday in January we’ll be revisiting some of our favourite podcast episodes while we walk the slow living walk over the summer break. Also it turns out podcasts, just like fine wine, really do get better with age, so whether you missed them the first time around, or are having another listen, we hope you enjoy these poggies as much as we did!

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“If we really want to change the world, we need to slow down.”

Katie Patrick

Often on the podcast we dance around the topic of technology – usually viewing it as something that gets in the way of our efforts to slow down and live a more mindful, sustainable life. But what if we embraced technology and viewed it as the greatest opportunity we have to change (or maybe even save) the world?

In this week’s episode I chat with Katie Patrick, an environmental engineer and designer who applies data-driven, gamification, and behavior-change techniques to solve the world’s environmental problems.

And upon reading that you might think, “What does that have to do with slow living?” but let me share with you that it has everything to do with slow living.

In our conversation today, Katie shares how it’s only possible to access our full creative potential (the same creative potential that we need to access if we want to create world-changing solutions) if we learn to slow down. (Yes I said “Woah,” out loud when I first heard this.)

And in further narrative-shattering news, Katie tells me that our brain does not function in its optimal, problem-solving state if we spend all of our time stressed out and rushing. So in that sense, day-dreaming and doodling and working on creative projects with no specific outcome attached is not only good for our health, but it’s good for our brains and the planet itself.

There are a lot of people who listen to this podcast who want to change the world in both big and small ways. Maybe you want to reduce plastic waste or encourage people to compost. Maybe you’re spreading peace throughout your neighbourhood by teaching meditation or simply being that oddball aunt or uncle who teaches young kids random facts about flowers in the hope that one day they will grow a love of nature and a desire to protect it.

No matter how you want to change the world, this episode is full of strategies and suggestions on how to do it. Not only in your own efforts, but in inviting others to join your efforts too. Because I think that’s one of the biggest hurdles we face right now in making big, world-changing efforts: how do we get others onboard?

Katie brings with her a completely new perspective on what it’s going to take to change the world, and it’s a refreshing, hope-filled, imagination-fuelled joy to listen to. This episode has so much juicy goodness for us to think about and I can’t wait to see what world-shaking changes it brings about in all of us.

Questions featured in this episode: 

• What role does optimism play in our ability to change the world?
• Why do we need to slow down in order to access our creative potential?
• If we lead busy, full lives, how can we make space and time for creativity, particularly when it feels like a ‘nice to have’ rather than a necessity?
• What’s the link between optimism and taking action?
• Why do you think the current environmental, climate crisis messaging is falling flat for so many people? What can we do to change it?

Head over to iTunes to subscribe to the show and play the episode.

Or you can listen to the show directly, simply by hitting the Play button above. Enjoy!

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Things to Check Out After Today’s Episode:

• Katie’s website: katiepatrick.com
• Grab a copy of Katie’s book, How to Save the World
• The Psychology Podcast with Dr Scott Barry Kaufman
• The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
• The Artist Within by Whitney Ferre
• Connect with Katie on Instagram

As always, thank you for listening!