Futuring Is… with Rob Hopkins
In which we learn about longing-driven activism, why imagination is a tool for change, the necessity – and practicality of hope, and ideas for going out and FINDING futures that are already herre.
Show notes & resources
Just three things:
Obviously we talked about more than three things, but if you only remember three things about this episode, here they are:
Imagination is a tool for change:
If we don’t actively imagine better futures, the future will be shaped by those with power and money. Reclaiming our imagination is an act of resistance.
Hope is necessary—and practical:
People are more likely to take action when they long for a future, rather than when they’re paralyzed by fear. We need stories of possibility, not just crisis.
The future is already here—go find it!
Instead of waiting for solutions to appear, look at the pockets of progress happening in communities worldwide. These are the signals of a better future, and we need to amplify them.
“This is a time when we need optimists more than we have at any point in the last 60 years..”
—Rob Hopkins / Time traveller, activist, and co-founder of the Transition Movement
The discussion explores:
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The Power of Longing for Better Future(s):
Rob describes how he uses a metaphorical “time machine” to help people imagine and emotionally connect with a better 2030—a near-future in which humanity has made great strides toward sustainability. -
Multi-sensory Futures: The importance of engaging all senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste) when imagining the future. Rob shares vivid descriptions of a future where urban air is fresh, bird song is louder, and people live with purpose and connection.
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The Role of Storytelling: Rather than relying on fear-driven climate activism, Rob advocates for storytelling that fosters longing and excitement for a better world. He draws inspiration from movements like Afro-futurism, which create visions of hopeful, inclusive futures.
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Practical Approaches to Change: Rob discusses how his work extends beyond community activism to engaging with municipalities and businesses, encouraging them to think beyond their immediate roles and responsibilities.
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Upcoming Projects:
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Rob’s book, How to Fall in Love with the Future: A Time Traveler’s Guide to Changing the World, focuses on how longing for a better future can be a powerful tool for activism.
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The Field Recordings from the Future music project, combining electronic music with sound recordings from real-world sustainable projects to create immersive auditory experiences.
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The Field Recordings from the Future Time Portal, a traveling, immersive experience that allows people to “step into” the future through projections, music, and storytelling.
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The Importance of Optimism: Rob shares a powerful anecdote about a former French Resistance member who noted that all the people she knew in the movement were optimists—suggesting that optimism is a crucial trait for those working toward systemic change today.
“The air smells different—cleaner, fresher. You can smell herbs growing in the city, the blossom from fruit trees. The bird song is louder. People look you in the eyes more. There’s a sense of shared purpose, of unclenching.”
—Rob Hopkins / Time traveller, activist, and co-founder of the Transition Movement
For your reading list
- Kindred (Octavia Butler)
https://www.libristo.eu/en/book/kindred_01247825 - The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman (Angela Carter)
https://www.libristo.eu/en/book/the-infernal-desire-machines-of-doctor-hoffman_10971995 - In Search of Lost Time (Marcel Proust)
https://www.libristo.eu/en/book/in-search-of-lost-time_04405514 - Doughnut Economics (Kate Raworth)
https://www.libristo.eu/en/book/doughnut-economics_18184808 - Imaginable (Jane McGonigal)
https://www.libristo.eu/en/e-book/imaginable_40338619
Start exploring
- Afro-futurism:
See Wikipedia for an overview: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrofuturism - Temporal Fluidity:
See “Concepts of Time and Temporality in the Storytelling and Sensemaking Literatures: A Review and Critique” for a wide-ranging literature-related introduction: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ijmr.12178 - Transition Movement:
See The Transition Network: https://transitionnetwork.org/about-the-movement/
“The future must enter into you a long time before it happens.” (paraphrasing poet Rilke)
—Rob Hopkins / Time traveller, activist, and co-founder of the Transition Movement
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Meet Rob Hopkins
Rob Hopkins is a cofounder of Transition Town Totnes and Transition Network, and the author of The Transition Handbook, The Transition Companion, The Power of Just Doing Stuff, 21 Stories of Transition and most recently, From What Is to What If: unleashing the power of imagination to create the future we want. He presents the podcast series ‘From What If to What Next‘. In 2012, he was voted one of the Independent’s top 100 environmentalists and was on Nesta and the Observer’s list of Britain’s 50 New Radicals. Hopkins has also appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Four Thought and A Good Read, in the French film phenomenon Demain and its sequel Apres Demain, and has spoken at TEDGlobal and three TEDx events.
An Ashoka Fellow, Hopkins also holds a doctorate degree from the University of Plymouth and has received two honorary doctorates from the University of the West of England and the University of Namur. In November 2022 he was made an Honorary Citizen of Liège in Belgium by the Mayor of the city. Rob runs ‘Imagination Catalyst’ trainings for organisations as diverse as Balenciaga, London Marathon Group, local councils and Museum Booster. He has collaborated with musician Mr Kit on a project called ‘Field Recordings from the Future‘, due out in 2025, to coincide with his next book, ‘How to Fall in Love with the Future’. He is a keen gardener and a director of Totnes Community Development Society, the group behind Atmos Totnes, an ambitious, community-led development project. He blogs at transitionnetwork.org and robhopkins.net and tweets at @robintransition.
Reach out to Rob to:
- Learn more about his soon-to-be-released new book, ‘How to Fall in Love with the Future’
- Invite him to come and deliver a talk or an “imagination training”
- Start discussing how to bring him over to your venue for a pop-up multi-sensory experience for for the radical imagination…
Links:
- Transition Network
transitionnetwork.org/ - Transition Town Totnes
transitiontowntotnes.org/ - ‘Field Recordings from the Future‘
robhopkins.net/field-recordings-from-the-future/ - ‘How to Fall in Love with the Future’
robhopkins.net/the-book/ - Publications
robhopkins.net/about/
Meet your host, Suzanne Whitby
Suzanne Whitby is a “futurer” and futures researcher, facilitator, communicator, storyteller and the host of the Futuring Is… podcast. She is convinced that it is possible for humanity to co-create hopeful, sustainable futures, and this shapes everything that she does. She brings 20+ years of international experience to her work as the founder of Futures & Foresight consultancy, Futures Fit and the award-winning science communication consultancy, SciComm Success. She leads the initiative, klimafit, where she delivers talks and workshops about climate change, climate solutions and sustainability. She created the popular sustainability event format, People. Planet. Prosecco. Suzanne developed the senstoryscapes approach to climate and sustainability communication and she researches its efficacy at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She lives a life full of awe and wonder with her (rather marvellous) husband, and in her free time can be found telling stories, sailing, walking, playing with puppets and attempting to play the ukulele.
Links:
- Futures Fit
futures.fit - SciComm Success
scicommsuccess.com - And better
andbetter.eu - Klimafit
klimafit.eu - Planet. Prosecco.
www.peopleplanetprosecco.eu - All things Suzanne
suzannewhitby.com - LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/suzannewhitby
