Hi friends,
I just released my first ever video interview on Youtube—finally surrendered to the medium of our times. I will always love audio podcasts, and I felt it was time to reveal the beautiful faces—and energy—of our guests.
I invite you to subscribe to my Youtube channel, and share it with friends you think will appreciate it too.
It was on an On Being episode that I heard the quote: the soul is contained in the human voice. I agree. And I also think it can be contained in a deep gaze, the gracefulness of a hand gesture, a shy smile.
While the medium is new, the episode is not. If you were paying attention to my last emails perhaps you already listened to my conversation with Jem Bendell. Either way, I hope you enjoy the video format.
There’s still room for improvement, of course. After recording I realized I forgot to put away my sibling’s princess books. Oh well. Besides surrendering to the medium of our times, I’ve been surrendering the perfectionism that gets in the way of creative progress…
That said, if anyone has tips about lighting (or video podcasting in general), please reach out. I still prefer human conversations to Youtube tutorials.
Soon I’ll write back with new video episodes, each with two camera angles. Among them are conversations with Courage & Renewal facilitator Brian Braganza, sacred activist and former member of Tamera Martin Winiecki, and my esteemed yoga teacher Carmen Mitroi.
In other news, this Thursday I’ll be testing a new initiative: a deep listening circle. I don’t want to reveal too much yet. But if you are curious, write me an email. A small group will gather from 6 to 7.30pm (GMT+1) to sit with the questions: What work is mine to do, and what isn't? Where am I currently giving beyond my capacity? What brings me a sense of joy and purpose? How do I distinguish between the callings of my inner teacher, and the stories of my conditioning, moralism or superego?
With love,
Carlota
P.S. Below are some words I shared on social media about the episode with Jem Bendell in case you want to learn more about it and what it means to me.
I believe we're approaching the collapse of our civilization. When? I have no idea. I'm not preparing at the material level for it—I don't subscribe to a bunker mentality. I'm preparing at the psychological and spiritual one, to let go of my attachment to our modern way of life as much as I can. I'm far from perfection: I still haven't let go of specialty coffee, or crispy seedless grapes shipped from South Africa, or occasional flights to visit friends abroad.
I assume this belief, that our modern way of life is approaching collapse, is radical for some of you. I know it is a bodily reality for others. What accepting our predicament did for me is that I care less about what others think of me. Including what others might think of my professional choices.
I went to one of the most prominent business schools in Europe, and since I graduated, I never had a corporate job. I'm not interested in climbing the proverbial "corporate ladder".
I'm dedicating my professional life to writing and hosting podcast interviews about collapse instead, about regeneration, vocation, wisdom, social transformation. I'm facilitating book clubs and programs and retreats about these very same themes. I'm teaching yoga. I'm learning about what it means to restore local community, resilience and sovereignty while nurturing international networks.
One of the thinkers that most contributed to my current worldview is Jem Bendell. I interviewed him for the Wiser Now Podcast. In his past life, he worked in sustainable development, as a researcher, NGO manager, professor, and consultant to businesses, political parties, and UN agencies. In 2012, he was nominated as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He thought the system could be changed from within.
Then, he took a sabbatical to look at the climate science for himself and changed his mind. In 2018, Jem published 'Deep Adaptation', an article that went viral and inspired the growth of the Extinction Rebellion movement. In 2023, he published 'Breaking Together: A Freedom Loving Response To Collapse'.
It's a powerful book. I knew things in our world were bad, but not that bad. What I appreciated most about 'Breaking Together' was how profoundly philosophical and spiritual it was too. How can we live our most meaningful, beautiful lives not despite the fact our civilization is approaching collapse but because of it? - is one of the main questions the second half of the book poses.
You can find our conversation below. Please excuse the princess books in the background. That's what happens when you don't go for a corporate job and can't afford to rent a proper studio yet.