Special Encore Presentation: The End of Growth
August 1, 2011
Hosted by John D. Schmidt
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Guest Information
Episode Description
Richard Heinberg, senior fellow of the Post Carbon Institute and author of nine award-winning books including The Party’s Over, Powderhorn, Peak Everything, and Blackout, joins ZOOM’D to review his forthcoming book: The End of Growth. Richard describes how, as debt levels explode and energy and food prices escalate, our pathways that formerly led to economic prosperity now lead to disaster. Richard proposes a startling diagnosis: the global economy has reached a fundamental turning point—the end of growth—and the Great Recession we are in will not end in recovery. Still, we can thrive in coming years if we abandon the futile pursuit of growth in consumption and aim instead for improvements in quality of life. Join Richard and host John Schmidt as they re-evaluate cherished economic theories and describe what policy-makers, communities, and families can do to build a new economy that operates within the Earth’s budget of energy and resources.
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John D. Schmidt
John D. Schmidt is the founder and CEO of Avastone Consulting, an international consultancy committed to the vitality and sustainability of client organizations and the larger global community. He serves as advisor to global corporations and nongovernmental enterprises, and is a thinker, designer, and practitioner in integral approaches to complex challenges and human development.
John’s expertise offers a rich foundation for ZOOM’D. He is a seasoned consultant with 30 years experience in getting to the heart of matters, discerning what is really going on, and framing appropriate actions. He focuses on deep understanding—listening for surface realities—and deeper truth. He makes sense of complexity, integrating the long view with the here-and-now.
John values the interiority of life and how the developmental nature of mindsets shapes the world we live in—across economic, social, and environmental arenas. He is dedicated to his own growth and contemplative practice, spending 25 days per year in retreat. He is creatively gifted in developing other leaders through deep immersion experiences.
John serves as guest faculty and contributor to learning institutes, universities, and community service organizations. He is a board member of the SHIFT Foundation (which develops young global leaders) and Kosmos Journal (a voice of global awakening). He passionately pursues active enjoyments of life—he is a road cyclist, skier, fly fisher—and lover of the ocean.
