Scott London :: Interviews



					Touching the Essence of Things - An Interview with Stephen Mitchell A dialogue with renowned translator, scholar, and poet Stephen Mitchell about his new book, The Second Book of the Tao, his perspectives on writing, and the rich tradition of wisdom literature that informs his work. (This interview was held at the Lobero Theater in Santa Barbara in March 2009 as part of Santa Barbara City College's "Mind & Supermind" series.) A View from the Melting Pot - An Interview with Richard Rodriguez Mexican-American writer and cultural critic Richard Rodriguez looks at the dilemmas of cultural identity in a world of porous borders and blurring boundaries. Forthcoming in the Little, Brown Reader, edited by Marcia Stubbs, Sylvan Barnet and William E. Cain. The Politics of Place - An Interview with Terry Tempest Williams A conversation with prize-winning author and naturalist Terry Tempest Williams about the meaning of home, community, and our changing relationship to the land. Published in A Voice in the Wilderness: Conversations with Terry Tempest Williams, edited by Michael Austin (Utah State University Press, 2006) The Ecology of Magic - An Interview with David Abram Ecologist, philosopher and sleight-of-hand magician David Abram reflects on language, perception and what he sees as a deepening divide between human beings and the natural world. From the public radio series Insight & Outlook. Also available in an Italian translation by Carlo Martini (from the October 2006 issue of comeDonChisciotte). Permaculture: A Quiet Revolution - An Interview with Bill Mollison "The ethics are simple: Care of the earth, care of people, and reinvestment in those ends." Renowned Australian biologist and founder of permaculture talks about his revolutionary approach to food production and ecological design. Published in the journal Green Living, Summer 2005. The Politics of Race - An Interview with Harry Ashmore The late Pulitzer Prize-winning political writer Harry Ashmore looks back on half a century of American race relations, arguing that the ideals expressed by Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders of the civil rights movement are still a long way from being realized. Appears in the book American Decades 1950-1959 (Thomson Gale, 2005). The City of Tomorrow - An Interview with Peter Calthorpe In this tour of the modern American metropolis, architect and urban planner Peter Calthorpe calls for a new kind of community design, one that promotes connectedness and "an aesthetic of place." Published in the architectural journal CRiT, Fall 2002. Renewing Our Sense of Wonder - An Interview with Sam Keen Philosopher Sam Keen reflects on the art of trapeze, the complexities of love, the role of non-competitive sports, the disappearance of the American counterculture, the importance of wonder, and, not least, how to be free. Published in Saga: The Best New Writings in Mythology, edited by Jonathan Young (White Cloud Press, 2001). Megatechnology - An Interview with Jerry Mander According to cultural critic Jerry Mander, every new technology alters the world in unanticipated, and unfortunate, ways. But usually the changes advance in such tiny increments that we never realize how much our world is being altered. As Mander sees it, we need to reevaluate our relationship with technology and develop better tools for understanding and assessing its impact. It's not about turning back the clock, he says, so much as going forward more cautiously and consciously. From Friction Magazine, December 2001. Also available in a Czech translation. The End of Rationalism - An Interview with John Ralston Saul A spirited conversation with the Canadian cultural critic and bestselling author of Voltaire's Bastards about what he calls "the dictatorship of reason" in the West. Excerpted in the Ottawa Citizen, December 2001. The Perils of Globalization - An Interview with Jerry Mander Social critic and bestselling author Jerry Mander makes a forceful case against economic globalization arguing that we need to take a harder look at the hidden costs of deregulation and global free trade. From HopeDance magazine, January 2000. Holistic Politics - An Interview with Marianne Williamson Bestselling author Marianne Williamson calls for a new kind of spiritually-motivated political activism, one that draws on America's unique democratic heritage while paying greater attention to the role of values and spiritual principles. The conversation ranges widely, from politics and the media to the men's and women's movements, from the challenges of single parenthood to the need for spiritual practice in everyday life. Published in Kindred Spirit magazine, Spring 1999. Also featured in Deep Planet magazine. From Mechanics to Organics - An Interview with Elisabet Sahtouris Visionary biologist Elisabet Sahtouris examines the shift to a more organic and holistic perspective now occurring in the natural sciences and what it may tell us about our future. Published in a Portuguese translation in the Brazilian journal Thot, February 1999. Also featured in Deep Planet magazine, April 2001. Illuminating the Shadow - An Interview with Connie Zweig For psychotherapist Connie Zweig, the shadow represents one of the most important yet least understood aspects of human nature. We all have a shadow, she says. The challenge is to meet it face-to-face, for if we don't come to terms with the soul's hidden face, we are condemned to be its victim. From Kindred Spirit, Autumn 1998. Also featured in Deep Planet magazine, April 2001. The Future of Religion - An Interview with Ninian Smart Ninian Smart, the late authority on world religion, examines how the cross-pollination of different religious values and traditions is changing both how and what we believe. From The Witness magazine, June 1998. On Soul, Character and Calling - An Interview with James Hillman James Hillman, the renowned psychologist, takes up the thorny questions at the heart of his brilliant bestseller, The Soul's Code — the nature of soul, destiny, character, and calling. From The Sun magazine, March 1998. Also available in a Spanish translation by Enrique Eskenazi, and an Italian translation by Rinaldo Lampis. In the Footsteps of Gandhi - An Interview with Vandana Shiva Noted Indian physicist and environmentalist Vandana Shiva talks about the pernicious effects of economic globalization, the rise of "biopiracy," the challenges of overpopulation, and the need to reclaim Mahatma Gandhi's ideas of "satyagraha" and "swadeshi" if we want to realize the true promises of democracy. Also available in a Portuguese translation by Mário Sérgio Mieli. February 1998. Business and Social Responsibility - An Interview with Willis Harman In one of his final interviews, Willis Harman, the late futurist and co-founder of the World Business Academy, explores green economics, socially responsible business, alternative currencies, and other trends shaping the future of commerce. From Deep Planet magazine. The Mysterious Powers of Body and Mind - An Interview with Michael Murphy A conversation with the co-founder of the Esalen Institute, Michael Murphy — the man some describe as the father of the human potential movement — about his pioneering research into extraordinary mental and physical capacities. From Online Noetics Network, October 1997. On Soul, Shadow, and the American Psyche - An Interview with Jean Houston Mythology has the power to shape history, says psychologist and bestselling author Jean Houston, because the stories we tell ourselves affect the choices and decisions we make about our future. What are the myths and stories emerging today? From Salt Journal, September 1997. Toward a Nuclear Weapons-Free World - An Interview with Alan Cranston The late California Senator and noted peace activist Alan Cranston discusses how to reprioritize America's military strategy in the wake of the Cold War, as well as the need for a new kind of visionary leadership as we look to a new era in global politics. From the radio series "Insight & Outlook." September 1997. The New Science of Leadership - An Interview with Margaret Wheatley Popular management philosopher and consultant Meg Wheatley talks about chaos, complexity, and the "natural laws" of social systems. From the radio series "Insight & Outlook." January 1997. Sex, Myth and Politics - An Interview with Riane Eisler Anthropologist Riane Eisler looks at today's "war of the sexes" against the backdrop of 5,000 years of human history, arguing that we need to set aside the pervasive "dominator" mentality in our culture in favor of a more enlightened "partnership" ethic. From the radio series "Insight & Outlook." October 1996. Social Entrepreneurship - An Interview with Robert Theobald Robert Theobald, the late British economist and author, makes a case for "new communities" and "social entrepreneurships" as keys to a more humane and sustainable future. September 1996. Postmodern Tourism - An Interview with Pico Iyer Pico Iyer, the eloquent travel writer and cultural critic, talks about a new borderless world in the making, the increasing mongrelization of culture and identity, and the prospect — for better or worse — of a truly "universal civilization." From The Sun magazine, January 1996. Understanding Our Moment in History - An Interview with Richard Tarnas Intellectual historian Richard Tarnas discusses the challenges of our present moment in history against the backdrop of 2,000 years of Western civilization. We have reached a pivotal break-point in the developement of Western culture, he contends, and the future of the planet and the future of the human spirit now hang in the balance. From the radio series "Insight & Outlook." January 1996. Reassessing Adoption - An Interview with Suzanne Arms Photojournalist and author Suzanne Arms explores the complexities of adoption in the United States. From the Insight & Outlook radio series, 1995. Science, Evolution, and the Human Quest - An Interview with Roger Bingham Award-winning film-maker and science journalist Roger Bingham discusses the further evolution of the human brain and science's latest discoveries about the nature of consciousness. From the Insight & Outlook radio series, 1996. Technology and its Discontents - An Interview with Chellis Glendinning A conversation with psychologist and social critic Chellis Glendinning about the hidden costs of modern technology and the burgeoning neo-Luddite movement. From the Insight & Outlook radio series, 1996. Turning the Century - An Interview with Robert Muller The former assistant secretary general of the UN reflects on the emerging global society and suggests we need to fundamentally rethink our social and political systems as we look to the future. From the Insight & Outlook radio series, 1996. Life on the Electronic Frontier with Howard Rheingold Net prophet and bestselling author Howard Rheingold looks at the human side of cyberspace and the emergence of what he calls virtual communities. From the Insight & Outlook radio series. The Future of Feminism with Christina Hoff Sommers Sommers looks at the "gynocentric turn" of establishment feminism arguing that we need a more inclusive vision for women in the 21st century. From the Insight & Outlook radio series, 1995. The Politics of Education - An Interview with Benjamin Barber Benjamin Barber, one of America's most prominent political philosophers, looks at the problems of education, diversity, political correctness, and the narrowing of public discourse. Broadcast on WYSO-FM, December 1992.