Have you ever felt powerless to change the system—wondering if one person's actions can truly make a difference in a world overwhelmed by complex challenges? In this provocative and inspiring episode of The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations, we confront the limiting belief that individual actions don't matter—a mindset Otto Scharmer and Katrin Kaufer describe as the "illusion of insignificance." Joined by hosts Dr. John Izzo and Alain Gauthier, we directly address elders and regenerative activists, empowering listeners to reclaim their agency and become active participants in reshaping our collective future.

In this deeply insightful conversation, Otto and Katrin share transformative concepts such as "islands of coherence," the essential "social soil" that nurtures societal change, and "fourth-person knowing," a profound form of collective intelligence. Drawing practical connections from their new book Presencing, they illuminate how aligning attention, intention, and agency can empower individuals and communities to break free from outdated systems. You’ll discover how your small yet intentional actions can create powerful ripples of change, building on ideas explored in previous episodes such as intergenerational collaboration, climate adaptation, and regenerative elderhood.

Otto Scharmer is a Senior Lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Founding Chair of the Presencing Institute, an organization dedicated to activating awareness-based systems change through action research. Otto co-authored the influential books Theory U and Leading from the Emerging Future, introducing the transformative practice known as "presencing"—learning from and responding effectively to emerging futures. Drawing inspiration from his regenerative farming upbringing, Otto emphasizes nurturing "social soil," referring to the quality of relationships, awareness, and collective capacity crucial for profound systemic transformation. His work has significantly influenced leadership practices, organizational behavior, and societal change globally.

Katrin Kaufer is the Managing Director and oversees research activities at the Presencing Institute, of which she is also a co-founding member. She serves as a Lecturer and Program Director at MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning, where her research focuses on leadership, social transformation, and mission-driven finance. Katrin co-authored Leading from the Emerging Future: From Ego-system to Eco-system Economies with Otto Scharmer and authored Just Money, exploring principles of mission-based banking and sustainable finance. Through her research and practice, Katrin highlights how the quality of our relationships significantly defines collective outcomes and advances practices that align attention, intention, and agency, deepening our understanding of transformative leadership and "fourth-person knowing."

About the Presencing Institute and U-School:

The Presencing Institute, founded by Otto Scharmer, is a global organization committed to enabling profound societal transformation through awareness-based systems change and innovative action research. Known worldwide for its groundbreaking Theory U methodology, the institute actively collaborates with leaders, organizations, and communities to cultivate deeper collective understanding and facilitate meaningful change across sectors.

The U-School is an innovative global platform within the Presencing Institute dedicated to helping change-makers, educators, and leaders deepen their understanding and mastery of Theory U. U-School provides transformative learning journeys, workshops, and community initiatives that empower individuals and teams to respond creatively and effectively to complex societal challenges by fostering greater personal and collective awareness, intention, and agency.

Learn more about their impactful work at Presencing Institute.

About The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations:

The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations podcast is proudly supported by the Elders Action Network and Elders Climate Action. We extend our deepest gratitude to these organizations for their steadfast commitment to empowering elders and addressing critical environmental, governance, and social challenges, helping create a thriving world for generations to come. If this conversation inspires you, please subscribe to our YouTube channel and Apple Podcast to ensure you never miss an episode. Join our growing community and explore additional transformative resources at wayforwardpodcast.com.

In a time of deep division and rising authoritarianism, what if we could reimagine democracy—not for the next election, but for the next generation? In this inspiring and provocative episode of The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations, co-hosts Dr. John Izzo and Alain Gauthier speak with two visionary leaders who are doing just that.

Suzette Brooks Masters, leader of the Better Futures Project and advisor to the School of International Futures, and Clint Wilkins, retired educator and intergenerational climate action leader with Elders Climate Action, introduce us to the practice of Future Design—a foresight method that invites participants to role-play as future generations.

Together, they explore:

• Why U.S. democracy feels broken—and how Future Design can help renew it.
• What happened when elders, youth, and midlifers “time-traveled” to the year 2049.
• How elders can serve as conveners for intergenerational healing and bold democratic imagination.
• Why local communities—not Congress—may be democracy’s best hope.

If you're restless about the state of our world but still believe in the power of human imagination and agency, this episode is your invitation to help shape what comes next.

Subscribe. Share. Start a Future Design conversation in your own community.

Show Notes

Episode Title: Designing Democracy: Future Generations at the Table

Guests: Suzette Brooks Masters – Strategic foresight leader and director of the Better Futures Project

• Website: Democracy Funders Network
• Report: Imagining Better Futures for American Democracy (PDF)
• LinkedIn: Suzette Brooks Masters

Clint Wilkins – Educator, intergenerational facilitator, and leader at Elders Climate Action

• Elders Climate Action: https://www.eldersclimateaction.org
• Elders Action Network: https://www.eldersaction.org

Topics Covered:

• What is Future Design and how it works
• Role of imagination and intergenerational empathy in civic renewal
• Inside the ECA Future Design retreat
• How to bring Future Design into your local town hall
• Why elders are essential catalysts in shaping long-term democratic vision

Production Team:

• Hosts: Dr. John Izzo & Alain Gauthier
• Producer: Jim Burke
• Editing: Camtasia 2025

Watch more episodes of The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations: https://www.youtube.com/@RegenerativeConversations

Special Thanks We’re grateful to our sponsors, Elders Action Network (EAN) and Elders Climate Action (ECA), for supporting this intergenerational exploration of democracy, imagination, and the future. Your leadership shows that elderhood can be a time of action, not retreat.

In this powerful episode, renowned climate philosopher and activist Dr. Rupert Read challenges us to confront the stark realities of climate breakdown and political instability. Offering a unique blend of radical honesty and transformative action, Read illuminates pathways forward through emotional resilience, transformative adaptation, and community empowerment. This isn't a conversation about easy fixes; it's a compelling call to face our crisis head-on, together.

Dr. Rupert Read PhD is a prominent British climate activist, and author. He holds degrees from Balliol College, Oxford, and Rutgers University, where he earned his PhD in Philosophy. Currently, Read is an Emeritus Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of East Anglia, UK. He has authored several influential books including Transformative Adaptation, The Climate Majority Project, This Civilization Is Finished, do you want to know the TRUTH, and Deep Adaptation, co-authored with Jem Bendell. Read is also well-known for his involvement with Extinction Rebellion and is co-director of The Climate Majority Project, advocating for practical and systemic responses to the climate crisis. His work blends rigorous philosophical thought with frontline activism, emphasizing emotional resilience, transformative action, and community engagement.

We extend special thanks to Elders Climate Action and the Elders Action Network, whose support makes these essential conversations possible. Their ongoing commitment empowers elders to lead and inspire transformative actions on climate, democracy, and resilience, truly embodying the power and wisdom of elder activism.

If you enjoy this podcast and YouTube channel, please subscribe. You can also find us on Substack and on Bluesky.