Disarming Weapons of Mass Distraction

Lean to the Left podcast guest David Wann is passionate about sustainable lifestyles and designs.

At a basic level, are humans chasing wants but neglecting essential needs like health, a sense of belonging, a feeling that we are respected, trust, purpose, meaning? As our current era comes to a close, will we return instinctively to what really matters?

Those are some core issues tackled on the Lean to the Left podcast by David Wann, an author, filmmaker, and speaker who is passionate about sustainable lifestyles and designs.

He was a founder of the cooperative ("Cohousing") neighborhood where he's lived and gardened for 26 years. He's a proud husband and father who has recently adopted the title of "apocaloptimist." He knows how deep we're in but thinks we might make another evolutionary leap.

In his first novel, "Tickling the Bear: How to Stay Safe in the Universe," David draws upon his experience as an organic gardener, founder of a co-housing community, and amateur musician to create credible characters who navigate a threatened world and find acceptance and clarity on how to live with gratitude.

Altogether, David has written 10 books, including “Affluenza,” now in nine languages, which was followed by “Simple Prosperity”. A third book in the trilogy about creating a more sensible way of life is “The New Normal,” which presents 33 high-leverage actions that can shift our culture in a more sustainable direction.”

David also has produced 20 videos and TV programs, including the award-winning TV documentary “Designing a Great Neighborhood,” about the Holiday neighborhood in Boulder, Colorado. He worked for more than a decade as a policy analyst for the U.S. EPA and co-designed the cohousing neighborhood where he lives, in Golden, CO.

Some questions we asked David:

Q. First off, what is an “apocaloptimist”? What is the “evolutionary leap” you think can be taken?

Q. You’ve spent a lifetime working to enhance sustainability and protect our environment. The latest report on climate change by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change once again outlines the impacts of human action, including “widespread, pervasive impacts to ecosystems, people, settlements, and infrastructure that have resulted from increases in the frequency and intensity of climate and weather extremes.” What are your thoughts about that?

Q. Tell us about the cohousing neighborhood and how that contributes to sustainability and protection of our environment.

Q. How can sustainably-designed neighborhoods fight climate change and directly meet human needs?

Q. Tell us how convenience, fairy tales, addiction and poverty prevent humanity from rising to meet the crisis of climate change.

Q. You told me you wanted to be on this podcast “to help create beneficial shifts in the dominant paradigm, or value system, disarming “weapons of mass distraction.” What on earth do you mean? What are “weapons of mass distraction?”

Q. The trilogy I mentioned in the intro is focused on creating a more sensible way of life. Talk to us about that.

Q. Now, let’s talk about Tickling the Bear: How to Stay Safe in the Universe.” It’s a novel whose protagonist, anthropology professor Marc Blake, is trying to overcome a troubling medical diagnosis – a virus from a tick bite. Tell us more and what readers should take away from that book.

Q. Why did you decide to write a novel focused on these topics?

Q. Let’s go back to the latest climate change report, which states that “there is increasing evidence that degradation and destruction of ecosystems by humans increases the vulnerability of people. Unsustainable land-use and land cover change, unsustainable use of natural resources, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, pollution, and their interactions, adversely affect the capacities of ecosystems, societies, communities, and individuals to adapt to climate change. Loss of ecosystems and their services has cascading and long-term impacts on people globally, especially for Indigenous Peoples and local communities who are directly dependent on ecosystems, to meet basic needs.” What more should our government do now to help? What can we as individuals do?

Q. What can be done to stop unbridled destruction of forests and fields to make room for housing, shopping centers and gas stations?

Q. What if all of this continues?

Q. Where can people find your book, and how can they reach out to you?

Listen to the podcast: