Thoughtful explorations of how people live together, navigate differences, and shape culture, grounded in the nature of society and the dynamics of politics.
How do we create healthy conditions of discourse in an increasingly polarized, and ideologically volatile world? What does it mean to cultivate an online culture of curiosity and care?
Metaphors matter. When too many of our core conceptual analogies about people and politics try to bring a knife to a gun fight, are we left trying to eat soup with a fork?
Liberalism nobly attempts to transcend the messiness of politics through a reliance on law and a vision of universal principles. But in its pursuit of a rational and conflict-free societal order, does liberalism undermine the political agency and ethical discourse necessary for a vibrant democracy?
Few things divide us more than politics, yet one thing almost all of us can agree on is that our politics is broken. Liberal democracy itself is in crisis - why? Can there be hope of a more beautiful politics before it all falls apart?
A deeply reflective exploration of how an insistence on curiosity and care can transform our engagement with the world by re-enchanting our attention, deepening human connection, and challenging the transactional nature of modern society.
Lara is a New Zealand-based planner with over 10 years of experience in the field, working across the public and private sectors at the intersection of policy, science, and community engagement. We discuss breaking down institutional knowledge barriers and public participation in planning.
A conversation all about doing things in a different way and order than you’re supposed to. Not doing what you’re told, leaning into life’s sudden twists and turns, feeling behind, and taking flight, all while figuring out adulting and navigating the complexity and expectations of cultural identity.
