EVENTS

“If the world is ending and the Messiah arrives, first plant a tree, and then see if the story is true.”
– Rabbinical teaching

Mon 6th Jan – Sun 16th Mar 2025

‘Surviving the Future: The Deeper Dive’

The annual ten-week shared online journey, led by Shaun, in partnership with Vermont’s Sterling College.
Enhanced by guests, who in 2024 included Iain McGilchrist, Vandana Shiva, Lyla June, Eve Annecke, Rob Hopkins, Isa Frémeaux, Mark Boyle and Nate Hagens.

Numbers strictly limited, to allow us to really connect and dig deeper into the challenges and joys of our times, together.

Click links above for more details or to book places at events.
Follow @DarkOptimism on Mastodon for more updates or to ask questions.
I look forward to seeing you at an event soon!

PAST EVENTS (2016 – PRESENT)


Fri 2nd – Sun 4th Sept 2016
Dark Mountain Basecamp festival, Embercombe, Devon:

 

Sat 10th Sept 2016Small Is Beautiful festival, with Natalie Bennett, Andrew Simms and others. Centre for Alternative Technology, Powys, mid-Wales

Sat 17th Sept 2016 – 9am-5pm – Towards a Localised Future: A New Economy Convergence, with Helena Norberg-Hodge, Molly Scott Cato, Rupert Read, Michael H Shuman… Friends House, Camden, London:

 

Mon 19th Sept 2016 – 11:30am-1:30pm – “Could Brexit lead to the rediscovery of culture grounded in place?”, celebration of the books with Jonathon Porritt. Trinity College, Oxford University:

 

Weds 21st Sept 2016 – 6:30pm-8:30pm – The launch party at Daunt Books Chelsea, London

Mon 26th Sept 2016 – 7pm-9pm – Studio guest of Dave Hampton on MarlowFM, 97.5‘s weekly environment show.  Listen here.

Weds 12th Oct 2016 – 8pm-10pm – Schumacher College Earth Talk on David Fleming, with Rob Hopkins. Dartington, Totnes:

 

Thurs 20th Oct 2016 – 7pm-8:30pm – “We, Not Me: Community and Unity”, a celebration of World Values Day. Global Co-operation House, Willesden, London

Sun 20th Nov 2016 – Permaculture Podcast interview with Scott Mann: “Lean Logic: The Work of David Fleming

Tues 6th Dec 2016Legalise Freedom interview with Greg Moffitt, “Surviving the Future” (also distributed through the global ‘Radio Ecoshock’ network of 91 radio stations):

 

Sat 10th Dec 2016 – Permaculture Podcast interview with Scott Mann: “Surviving the Future with Shaun Chamberlin

Sat 7th Jan 2017 – Peak Prosperity interview with Chris Martenson, “Surviving the Aftermath of the Market Economy“:

 

Mon 6th-Fri 10th Feb 2017 – Week-long course on David’s work at Schumacher College – Community, Place and Play: A Post-Market Economics, with Mark Boyle, Rob Hopkins and Stephan Harding:

 

Thurs 4th May 2017 – 2pm-4pm (UK time) – FEASTA webinar on David Fleming’s work:

 

Weds 10th May 2017 – 7pm – ‘Surviving The Future: Culture, Carnival and Capital in the Aftermath of the Market Economy’, at Housmans radical bookshop. 5 Caledonian Road, King’s Cross, London, N1 9DX

Tues 18th July 2017 – Greening the Apocalypse interview: “The Future, and How to Survive It” on Melbourne, Australia’s RRR FM:

Greening the Apocalypse team photo

 

Sun 30th July 2017 – Workshop hosted by video link at the first Transition US national gathering, discussing “Transition’s wider vision: David Fleming and Surviving the Future”:

 

21st-22nd Oct 2017Localize It: What Resilience Looks Like – author and activist Chuck Collins discussed the impact David Fleming’s Surviving the Future has had on him, as part of this exciting event. South Royalton, Vermont, USA.

27th-29th Oct 2017The Economics of Happiness conference – author Richard Heinberg discussed the importance of David Fleming’s Surviving the Future. Port Townsend, Washington, USA.

Sat 11th Nov 2017Spiritual Ecology confluence – All attendees received a complimentary copy of David Fleming’s Surviving the Future. Andreas Weber spoke briefly to the value of this gift. St. Ethelburga’s, London, UK.

Weds 29th Nov 2017Surviving the Future webinarShaun and Helena Norberg-Hodge hosted a buzzing webinar on Surviving the Future and David Fleming‘s legacy, in partnership with Transition US. Over 100 people took part, from four continents:

 

Thurs 30th Nov 2017Fleming anniversary event, Gaia Foundation – To mark the seventh anniversary of David Fleming’s death, Shaun hosted a special evening with The Gaia Foundation at the beautiful Burgh House, honouring their late friend and fellow Hampstead resident. London, UK.

Fri 1st/Sat 2nd Dec 2017Sterling College symposiumSterling College hosted a weekend symposium dedicated to David Fleming, featuring presentations from five influential devotees of his work: Peter Buffett, Chuck Collins, David Bollier, Margo Baldwin and Matthew Derr. The event was standing room only, with over 150 people in attendance to engage with Fleming’s legacy. Craftsbury Common, Vermont, USA.

 

Weds 7th Feb 2018 – Interview by Randy Powers of Practical Prepping Period, Georgia, USA: “Shaun Chamberlin talks Lean Logic and Surviving the Future“, via the Authors on the Air Global Radio Network:

 

Fri 6th Apr 2018Interview by Jean Vidler MBE of The Green Futures Show, Kingston, UK:

 

17-19th May 2018Sterling College short course on Surviving the Future. Sterling College hosted a three-day course built around David Fleming’s vision, led by Martin Kirk, Richard Heinberg and Matthew Derr.

Weds 19th Sept 2018 – The European Parliament discusses Fleming’s TEQs system, as described in Lean Logic:

Molly Scott Cato MEP chairs discussion of David Fleming's TEQs system

 

Sat 17th Nov 2018Shaun spoke to the rebels on Blackfriars Bridge about his recent arrest with Extinction Rebellion, and his dark optimism for the future.

Shaun Chamberlin, Dark Optimism, XR Rebellion Day 1

 

Tues 19th Feb 2019 – Inspired by the release of the Surviving the Future audiobook, Peter Buffett and Jimmy Buff have been hosting a weekly show on Radio Kingston NY, playing/discussing the chapters. Click the image below to catch up from the first episode, or hear the final episode, featuring an interview with Shaun Chamberlin, here.

Peter Buffett and Jimmy Buff pose with David Fleming's Surviving the Future

 

Weds 17th Apr 2019Shaun spoke as one of the rebels in Parliament Square, addressing many of the popular criticisms of Extinction Rebellion (at least until the talk was rudely interrupted by 200 police officers)

Shaun Chamberlin of Dark Optimism and Extinction Rebellion - Parliament Square - 17-04-2019

 

 Sat 13th July 2019 – 5:30pm-7:30pm – Preview screening of The Sequel: What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation?,
with introduction and Q&A from Shaun.
Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2PT, UK.

 

Sun 14th July 2019Shaun spoke to the Extinction rebels during the East London Uprising, on the inevitability of impending radical change, for better or worse, and the possibility that remains to tell a beautiful story with our time on this planet.

Extinction Rebellion, East London Uprising

 

Sat 20th July 2019 – Shaun spoke on ‘Dark Optimism – The Post-Growth Future I’m Rebelling For’ in the morning, and then screened The Sequel: What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation? in the evening, alongside the film’s director Peter Armstrong.
Both events at the Seed festival, Hawkwood, Stroud, UK:

 

Fri 14th August 2019 – A beautifully warm first conversation with bestselling theologian Michael Dowd,
to open his new PostDoom.com website:

Shaun Chamberlin and Michael Dowd - Post-Doom conversation

 

Sat 7th Sept 2019Shaun spoke at the end of the opening ceremony for Extinction Rebellion‘s North London Uprising. Downhills Park, N15 3NX.

Extinction Rebellion, North London Rebel Rising

 

Fri 20th Sept 2019The Global Peace Film Festival screened their official selection The Sequel: What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation?, with remote Q&A by the film’s executive producer Shaun. Orlando, Florida, USA.

 

Mon 23rd Sept 2019 – 50th anniversary screening of the newly beautifully restored 1969 classic The Moon & The Sledgehammer. Shaun joined director Philip Trevelyan for the post-screening Q&A, hosted by Extinction Rebellion’s Jessica Townsend. Curzon Bloomsbury, The Brunswick, London, WC1N 1AW.

 

Thurs 10th Oct 2019Shaun gave a packed-out talk for his fellow rebels in London, on his own arrest with Extinction Rebellion, and dark optimism for the future. Rebel Sanctuary, Trafalgar Square, Westminster, London.

 

Mon 16th March 2020 – Triple launch for our feature film The Sequel: What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation?, online course Surviving the Future: Conversations for Our Time, and the interactive LeanLogic.online. Livestreamed by Dark Optimism and Extinction Rebellion. Click below for the full one-hour film, and the ensuing discussion between Shaun, Caroline Lucas MP, Kate Raworth and Rob Hopkins

The Sequel - What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation?

 

Thurs 7th May 2020 – ‘Deep Change: Cultivating a Truly Regenerative Activism‘, organised by Advaya and Ulex.
Online panel discussion with Shaun, Ann Pettifor and Fran Boait of Positive Money:

Mon 6th April – Sun 31st May 2020 – Eight week online course Surviving the Future: Conversations for Our Time,
in partnership with Sterling College, Vermont.
Led by Shaun and Philip Ackerman-Leist, with 250 participants from 25 countries,
and guest teachers including Vandana Shiva, Kate Raworth and Rob Hopkins.

Sat 20th June 2020, 8-10pm UK time – Shaun hosted an online screening of The Sequel: What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation?, as part of Into The Wild’s ‘Wonderland’ online solstice festival, followed by a talk on the theme ‘Culture, Carnival and Capital – Living in the Aftermath of the Growth Economy’.

 

Sat 29th – Mon 31st August 2020Shaun joined/hosted a couple of panels at Medicine, the first authorised physical UK festival to go ahead in the time of COVID, discussing ‘Dark Optimism: Culture and Carnival in the Aftermath of Capitalism’.

 

Fri 6th November 2020, 1:30–2:30pm GMT

‘Life After Economic Growth: A Future Worth Fighting For’

Shaun‘s talk for Scientists’ Warning Europe’s Planet In Crisis series.

Thurs 26th November 2020, 7pm UK time

Reddit AMA

Shaun was invited to host an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on the Collapse subreddit.


 

Sun 29th November 2020, dawn-dusk ET

‘David Fleming: 10 Years on, Celebrating His Legacy’

A programme of online events to mark the 10th anniversary of David Fleming’s death
and celebrate the swelling ranks of those taking his inspiration forward!
Full schedule available here.

 

Sat 12th December 2020, 4-6pm UK time

‘A Journey Home’

Shaun led A Journey Home‘s participatory workshop on New Economies,
building on the earlier 1st December talk by Jason Hickel, Alnoor Ladha, Camila Moreno and Helena Norberg-Hodge.

 

Mon 4th January – Sun 28th February 2021

Surviving the Future: Conversations for Our Time

An eight week online course, capped at 100 participants for this second run, and led by Shaun, in partnership with Sterling College, Vermont.
Guest teachers included David Abram, Kali Akuno, Eve Annecke, Rob Hopkins, Richard Heinberg, Chris Smaje, Lucy Neal and Nate Hagens.

Fri 5th March 2021, 8:30pm-9:30pm UK time

Re-imagining Education conversation

Shaun in conversation with Dan Rudolph.
Other conference participants included Manish Jain, Eve Annecke, Rob Hopkins,
Bayo Akomolafe, Dougald Hine and Pat McCabe.

Tues 9th March 2021, 7pm-9pm UK time

The Sequel: What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation?

Online screening of the film, hosted by ReMode, followed by panel discussion.
Panel of Prof. Kate Fletcher (Centre for Sustainable Fashion), Niki Taylor (Fashion Revolution Scotland)
and Gillian Steel (ReMode), joined by Shaun.

Fri 20th August 2021, 5:15-6:30pm

Medicine Festival

Shaun‘s conversation with Brett Scott on the topic of How To Challenge A Corrupt Economic System

 

Sun Oct 31 2021

Interview on Emergency to Emergence podcast

Shaun joined Nakasi Fortune and Dakota Lacroix to discuss the moments that shaped his path, changing the world in ways more effective than lifestyle change or political campaigning, the true meaning of Dark Optimism, and his collaboration with Sterling College on developing the ‘Surviving the Future: Conversations for Our Time‘ program

Full episode details, followup links etc

 

 

Jan 31 – Mar 27, 2022

Surviving the Future: The Deeper Dive

An eight week online course, led by Shaun, in partnership with Sterling College, Vermont.
With guests David Abram, Vandana Shiva, Isa Frémeaux, Jason Hickel, Nate Hagens, Kali Akuno, Eve Annecke and Rob Hopkins.

In response to stated yearning, this third iteration of our live Surviving the Future courses ran with a smaller group, and dug a little deeper…

 

Mon Mar 28 2022, 4pm UK time

Homestead Incubator’

Shaun taught on the Homestead Incubator course,
organised by Ashley Colby of the Rizoma Foundation.

 

 

Fri Oct 28 2022, 11am-12:30pm UK time

The Jihlava Inspiration Forum, Czech Republic

Shaun joined a panel with Miki Kashtan and Prof. Max Koch
to discuss the topic ‘What If The Growth Stopped?’

 

 

Weds Nov 23 2022

Interview on Breaking Down: Collapse podcast

Shaun joined Kory and Kellan to discuss collapse today, and open the conversation about how we might respond

Full episode details, followup links etc

 

 

Jan 9 – Mar 5, 2023

‘Surviving the Future: The Deeper Dive’

The annual eight-week online course/gathering, led by Shaun, in partnership with Vermont’s Sterling College.

We were joined by Stephen Jenkinson, Vandana Shiva, Rob Hopkins, Tim DeChristopher,
Isa Frémeaux, Nate Hagens, Sherri Mitchell and Mark Boyle, and lives were changed.

Surviving the Future: The Deeper Dive, Jan 9 - Mar 5, 2023

 

Tues Mar 21 2023, 6pm-7:30pm UK time

TEQs: Could They Spark a Global Just Transition?

Shaun delivered a half-hour presentation on TEQs to Washington DC’s Institute for Policy Studies,
followed by discussion with Stan Cox and Ivonne Yanez.

 

Tues night, 28th March 2023, midnight UK time

The Good Work Hour

Shaun in conversation with Micah Blumenthal about their recent time together through
Surviving the Future: Conversations for Our Time, and what a life well-lived looks like in times like ours

Here’s the full interview: Dark Optimism, Joy and Love, with Shaun Chamberlin

 

 

Sun 30th April 2023, 1pm-2pm UK time

Re-imagining Education conference

Shaun in conversation with Eileen Walz and other alumni about
Surviving the Future: Conversations for Our Time

 

 

Thurs July 21 2023

Interview on Doomer Optimism podcast

Shaun joins Jason Snyder to discuss the recently-emerged ‘Doomer Optimism‘ network in the U.S.,
and the connections between their respective work on either side of the Atlantic

Tues Aug 29 2023

Doomer Optimism followup, with Chris Smaje

Shaun and Jason are joined by Chris Smaje, author of A Small Farm Future.
Chris listened to the previous show and suggested a followup
to get deeper into the cultural/spiritual aspects where his vision meets Lean Logic.

Weds 11th Oct 2023

‘As the world burns, what the hell
does it make sense to do with our days?’

Online discussion with Shaun, via the Climate Emergency Centres network.

A pleasurable hour chewing the question over, talking about Shaun’s choices in this regard, and discussing
Surviving the Future: Conversations for Our Time‘, where we really get into the guts of it.

Recording to be posted here

 

Mon 8th Jan – Sun 10th Mar 2024

‘Surviving the Future: The Deeper Dive’

The annual nine-week online shared journey, led by Shaun, in partnership with Vermont’s Sterling College.
Enhanced by our guests Iain McGilchrist, Vandana Shiva, Lyla June, Eve Annecke, Rob Hopkins, Isa Frémeaux, Mark Boyle and Nate Hagens.

Numbers strictly limited, to allow us to really connect and dig deeper into the challenges and joys of our times, together.

 

Sat 13th July 2024

At the Edge

Shaun spoke on ‘Transforming Our Relationship with the Future’ at this Hertfordshire reunion for attendees of
Kim Hare’s freely-offered The Edge Retreat, and launch for her book At The Edge.

Click links above for more details or to book places at events.
Follow @DarkOptimism on Mastodon for more updates or to ask questions.
I look forward to seeing you at an event soon!