What Can We Do In These Powerful Times?

I've been working in the field of sustainability and climate change for some 20 years. It feels like the need for change is growing faster than the impact we are delivering. So, I am wondering what I can do next that is useful. Speaking with others, they have the same challenge.Which is why I’m doing this interview series. In 30 minute bites, I ask some brilliant people what they are doing now and why. All to inspire and enable the audience (which may turn out to be just me!) through stories grounded in experience. Please do listen, be inspired and suggest who I should be interviewing.Thank you -- David (powerfultimespodcast@gmail.com)

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What Can We Do In These Powerful Times?

Briony Greenhill

October 09, 2022 • David Bent • Season 1 • Episode 22

Briony Greenhill a folk-soul improvisational artist who teaches Collaborative Vocal Improvisation (CVI) internationally, plus political activist (Twitter, Bandcamp, YouTube, Patreon).

She tells her story of performing different sorts of music when she was young, but not fitting with a music degree. After her 20s in political campaigning, she stopped believing we could have 'business as usual, but greener'. An experience of Indian improvised music then inspired her to a different direction, which became Collective Vocal Improvisation.

Our conversation asks: what could politics (and all of our society become) if we acted like people do in Collective Vocal Improvisation: not placing one person as most important; creating positive sum games; and starting in the void and working through the mess to get deep?

Briony uses the word 'sh1t' a few times, in reference to the state of the world.

The interview was on Mon 18 July, the first day of 40C heat in the UK.

Links

Debut studio album Crossing the Ocean.

Briony's history of Collaborative Vocal Improvisation, a modern approach to vocal music emerging in the last 40 years in the US. The most famous practitioner is Bobby McFerrin (of 'Don't Worry, Be Happy').

Four Columns form the HEART Community Group: 1. Mainstream; 2. Business as Usual but Greener; 3. Emergency; 4. Collapse Aware.

Hospicing Modernity by Vanessa Machado de Oliveira (also know as Vanessa Andreotti of Gestures Towards Decolonial Futures).

Rhiannon, one of Briony's teachers.

Spiral Dynamics is a model of the evolutionary development of individuals, organizations, and societies.

Edge Retreats with Kim.

Alex Steffen on how the planetary crisis is not an issue, but a change in era.

Briony's app Your Song - "Learn to improvise: set your voice free. Magnificently."

Timings

0:50 - Q1 What are you doing now? And how did you get there?

10:41 - BONUS QUESTION: Why do you think you responded so strongly to this improvisational approach to music, and what is igniting the community around your teaching?

19:31 - Q2. What is the future you are trying to create, and why?

34:02 - Q3. What are your priorities for the next few years, and why?

39:09 - Q4. If someone was inspired to follow those priorities, what should they do next?

42:34 - Q5. If your younger self was starting their career now, what advice would you give them?

45:36 -

Twitter: Powerful_Times

Website hub: here.

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Thank you for listening! -- David

People on this episode

David Bent

Host