Episode 30: B. Lorraine Smith, systems spinner and weaver

Earth Converse Podcast

What is your story in the system?

This week’s #earthconversepodcast conversation is with B. Lorraine Smith - writer, creator and sustainability consultant. She is also a knitter “more of a spinner”, and a weaver – and a long-distance runner. And she brings this into her work and thinking. She is also a bridge, a source finder, kaleidoscope viewer, signal listener, gap filler, fluff finder, idea sharer, questioner and ‘random not-always invited guest’ amongst other things. We don’t do a linear 'relationship with nature' conversation (for that you can access the episode extras) but she weaves it in her journey. Moreover we explore what is emerging in nature awareness and being on the ‘fertile edges’. Important questions driving her are: 'how much is the problem me? and how can I contribute to solving it? And this leads to supply chains, industrial processes and transparency in corporates and “if I ever want to know an answer to a question, I will ask a farmer”.

We also talk of her understanding and exploration of human potential through her own experience of running. What happens when that exponential mindset filters into their drinking fountain? And she relates this to bigger issues such as urbanization and transport planning “what would it look like to be in the city and have those feelings?

And we explore the metaphor and art of spinning in systemic change: turning ‘fluff’ into something with integrity that is ‘ready to contribute to a structure’.

And we finish with compost! “my worms have told me so much about how life works”

EPISODE EXTRAS:

For a linear bio and a wonderful creative journey (trees, string and running), access Lorraine Smith’s presentation (Nov 2020) https://youtu.be/-bTGlqCs4dk

To access Lorraine’s website, including her bio etc https://www.blorrainesmith.com

In particular, her posting ‘The Future is Fluffy’ she mentioned (19/9/2019) https://www.blorrainesmith.com/single-post/the-future-is-fluffy

Lorraine’s Conversation with the St. Lawrence river (Oct 2020) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyhTUleU8AU

Harland, Maddy (2017) Fertile Edges: Regenerating Land, Culture and Hope https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/fertile-edges/

Here is the link to the Truth and Reconciliation report: http://www.trc.ca/about-us/trc-findings.html and the info on the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/

We didn’t talk explicitly about this but Lorraine recommends: Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds (2107) by Adrienne Maree Brown. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29633913-emergent-strategy

Other podcast’s: People and Planet (May 2020), Love-Based vs Fear-Based Decision Making in Businesses and Sustainability, https://anchor.fm/people-and-planet/episodes/Love-Based-vs-Fear-Based-Decision-Making-in-Businesses-and-Sustainability--with-B--Lorraine-Smith-ebivn5/a-a1n75ds

Nori (October 2018), Lorraine Smith, Reversing Climate Change https://open.spotify.com/episode/4vdJjWIUwFOlrvTIj1VCPo

NEW HERE? ABOUT EARTH CONVERSE AND I

Hi, I am Penelope Mavor, podcast host and founder of Earth Converse a nature-based leadership collaborative helping leaders have the conversations they need to: with themselves, each other and the earth. Please get in touch for executive coaching and leadership development programmes.

https://linktr.ee/EarthConverse

Email: [e-mail]

And the wind, the trees...