Denizen

DemocracyNext founder and CEO Claudia Chwalisz returns to the Denizen podcast to explore the intersection of deliberative democracy and artificial intelligence.  Here we are particularly interested in how we might crease democratic resilience by leveraging AI to scale deliberative processes.  Governance innovation is the AI application we're most enthusiastic about so we're excited to bring this conversation to the Denizen audience. Claudia and Jenny discuss broader trends of rising autocracy, weakening civil societies, and attacks on basic rights, while situating deliberative democracy as a counterforce to these issues.  They explore what aspects of the deliberative process are fundamentally human, giving rise to the limitations and risks of certain applications of AI.  They also break down five different ways we can think about scaling deliberative democracy, which enables a more nuanced conversation about the opportunities AI presents.  Claudia stresses that technology is not a silver bullet, but must be integrated with the human elements of social and political change.   00:00 Introduction to the Episode 00:32 Meet Claudia Swi: Expert on Deliberative Democracy 00:43 Exploring Deliberative Democracy and AI 00:55 The Importance of Democratic Resilience 03:03 Understanding Populism and Authoritarianism 04:49 Challenges and Limitations of Representative Democracy 08:26 Defining Deliberative Democracy 09:49 The Role of Sortition in Deliberative Processes 13:54 In-Person vs. Virtual Deliberative Processes 23:13 The Human Element in Deliberative Democracy 31:23 How AI Can Support Deliberative Structures 35:18 Exploring Tech-Enabled Trackers and Feedback Loops 35:56 Understanding the Lifecycle of Deliberative Processes 36:27 Defining and Breaking Down 'Scale' in AI and Democracy 37:08 The Five Dimensions of Scaling in Deliberative Democracy 37:19 Scaling Out: Increasing Participation in Deliberative Processes 40:29 AI's Role in Scaling Out and Up 46:24 Scaling Across: Spreading Deliberative Processes 49:37 Scaling Deep: Institutionalizing Deliberative Processes 52:45 Scaling In: Enhancing Quality and Impact 59:56 The Broader Implications of AI and Deliberative Democracy 01:06:03 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions   Resources: * DemocracyNext: https://www.demnext.org/ [https://www.demnext.org/] * Five Dimensions of Scaling Democratic Deliberation: With and Beyond AI [https://www.demnext.org/projects/five-dimensions-of-scaling-democratic-deliberation-with-and-beyond-ai] * The Populist Signal: Why Politics and Democracy Need to Change [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-populist-signal-why-politics-and-democracy-need-to-change-claudia-chwalisz/997420762d381888?ean=9781783485420&next=t], Claudia Chwalisz * The People's Verdict: Adding Informed Citizen Voices to Public Decision Making, [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-people-s-verdict-adding-informed-citizen-voices-to-public-decision-making-claudia-chwalisz/zg6Z1J7VNAF8mKSa?ean=9781786604361&next=t] Claudia Chwalisz * Denizen podcast Citizen's Assemblies episode [https://www.becomingdenizen.com/podcast/citizens-assemblies] * Denizen Citizen's Assemblies overview [https://www.becomingdenizen.com/essentials/citizens-assemblies] To stay connected to all things Denizen, you can sign up for our newsletter at www.becomingdenizen.com [www.becomingdenizen.com].  There we share our latest content alongside community events, educational opportunities, and announcements from our many partner organizations.

In this final episode of a three-part series on essential capabilities for a regenerative future with Robert Gilman, founder and president of The Context Institute. Robert and Jenny tie the first two episodes of the series together to bring you this conversation on collaboration.   We’ve all heard the term “omni-win” and talked about needed paradigms from zero sum to win for all.  I don’t know about you, but we are tired of hearing that high level language without real tactics to bring that to life.  This is what this conversation brings to you.  Jenny and Robert discuss the “dominator hierarchy” mindset that leads to zero sum problem solving, where the strategy for success is to seek power over others.  Rewriting this dominator narrative is essential for win for all outcomes, where all includes all life on Earth. They also highlight the need to redefine success as win-win-win, and the new patterns of working together that are required to get there.  This includes the concept of leadership as service, which I’m sure is music to most of your ears.  As always it’s an honor to host Robert and share his 80 years of wisdom with you!   00:00 Introduction to the Series and Guest 01:23 Exploring Collaboration and Omni-Win Solutions 03:09 The Obsolescence of Dominator Models 05:39 Redefining Success and Systemic Thinking 08:18 The Role of Stewardship and Hierarchies 11:40 AI and Governance 12:09 The Importance of Design Processes 13:36 Addressing Dominator Behaviors and Adversarial Paradigms 19:10 Systems Consciousness and Collaborative Design 25:07 The Importance of Feedback Culture 26:37 Building Trust in Organizations 27:37 From Transactional to Relational Paradigms 28:49 Optimal Zones and Collaborative Outcomes 31:00 Design Thinking and Sociocracy 33:41 Consent vs. Consensus in Decision Making 36:25 Integrating Nature into Decision Processes 38:38 The Role of AI and Information Flows 42:50 Leadership in Collaborative Groups 47:25 Conclusion and Call to Action To stay connected to all things Denizen, you can sign up for our newsletter at www.becomingdenizen.com [www.becomingdenizen.com].  There we share our latest content alongside community events, educational opportunities, and announcements from our many partner organizations.

This episode explores the importance of understanding and integrating various modes of cognition. It is the second in a three-part series with Robert Gilman, founder and president of The Context Institute, covering essential competencies for the regenerative era.  Jenny and Robert discusses the limitations of object perception and categorical thinking, the roles of visual and kinesthetic thinking, and the value of intuition. The episode also explores the concept of systems consciousness and its implications for living in harmony with life on Earth. Additional discussions include the impact of the Age of Enlightenment on modern thinking, the limitations of language, and the importance of cultural and contextual awareness in decision-making.   00:00 Introduction to Modes of Cognition 00:27 Meet Robert Gilman and Series Overview 01:03 Exploring Various Modes of Cognition 02:14 Understanding Cognition and Its Importance 03:43 Historical and Cultural Analysis of Cognition 05:50 Dominant Modes of Cognition 15:25 Visual Thinking and Its Richness 18:37 Kinesthetic Thinking and Somatic Awareness 24:51 The Importance of Intuition 25:07 Exploring the Concept of Intuition 26:32 The Role of Subconscious in Creativity 27:34 Interconnection of Consciousness 29:16 Balancing Different Modes of Cognition 34:02 Understanding Systems Consciousness 37:56 The Impact of Communication on Understanding 41:47 Developing a FUD Immune System 47:16 Sustainable Motivation and Future Pull 48:31 Conclusion and Resources To stay connected to all things Denizen, you can sign up for our newsletter at www.becomingdenizen.com [www.becomingdenizen.com].  There we share our latest content alongside community events, educational opportunities, and announcements from our many partner organizations.

This episode on psychodynamics is part one of a three part series on essential skills for a regenerative future, in honor of Rober Gilman's 80th birthday. Robert is the founder and president of The Context Institute and a pioneer in the sustainability movement. The conversation dives deep into psychodynamics and the importance of understanding our cognitive biases, nervous systems, and underlying motivations to foster cultural change. Robert explains how personal change is integral to cultural evolution, highlighting the interconnectedness of individual behaviors and societal transformation. Jenny and Robert discuss cultivating personal resilience, recognizing cognitive biases, healing past traumas, and fostering compassionate, curious, and creative interactions. ‍ 00:00 Introduction to Psychodynamics and Cultural Change 00:24 Meet Robert Gilman: A Pioneer in Sustainability 02:04 The Importance of Personal Change for Cultural Transformation 05:45 Historical Context: From Agrarian Empires to the Age of Enlightenment 10:53 The Limitations of Modern Culture and Proposed Changes 24:08 Understanding and Partnering with Our Nervous System 32:18 Exploring Cognitive Biases 33:31 Understanding Motivated Reasoning 35:30 The Role of Cognitive Biases in Media and Relationships 37:31 Layers of Motivation 40:20 The Importance of Relationships 48:58 Embracing Internal Complexity 54:51 The Future of Human Evolution 56:48 Conclusion and Next Steps To stay connected to all things Denizen, you can sign up for our newsletter at www.becomingdenizen.com [www.becomingdenizen.com].  There we share our latest content alongside community events, educational opportunities, and announcements from our many partner organizations.

In this episode of the Denizen podcast, host Jenny Stefanotti and activist Julia Rhodes Davis delve into the concept of 'white work,' which goes beyond confronting and dismantling racialized identities. They discuss the importance of understanding personal legacy, taking accountability for ancestors' actions, and taking actions individually to repair past harms. They also discuss the inner, interpersonal, and cultural aspects of this work. Julia emphasizes the importance of ongoing practice within a community setting.   00:00 Introduction to Solidarity and Whiteness 01:22 Meet Julia Rhodes Davis 01:34 Exploring White Work 02:13 Putting White Work within the Denizen Inquiry 02:32 Julia's Background and Evolution 05:25 Understanding Racialized Capitalism 07:51 Personal Stories and Ancestral Context 11:30 The Inner Work of Racial Justice 25:42 Misguided White Work and Diversity 32:17 White Work as a Lifelong Practice 33:17 Understanding Shame and Discomfort in Anti-Racism Work 34:57 Circles of Practice: Community and Storytelling 38:36 Depersonalizing and Understanding Racial Conditioning 46:41 The Role of Inner Work in Anti-Racism 48:28 Exploring Power Dynamics in Relationships 51:18 Rupture and Repair in Relationships 57:12 Building Solidarity Against Fascism 59:40 Closing Remarks and Community Engagement   Resources: * Julia's website and writings: https://www.jrdavis.me/ [https://www.jrdavis.me/] * White Supremacy Culture - Still Here [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XR_7M_9qa64zZ00_JyFVTAjmjVU-uSz8/view], Tema Okun To stay connected to all things Denizen, you can sign up for our newsletter at www.becomingdenizen.com [www.becomingdenizen.com].  There we share our latest content alongside community events, educational opportunities, and announcements from our many partner organizations.