Politics, Power and Permaculture

This weeks episode takes a look at politics, power, and why the world feels so upside down right now. Geoff and the team jump from America’s political gridlock to the bold changes happening in Burkina Faso and what it teaches us about leadership, resources, and real community empowerment.

Instead of getting lost in the chaos, the crew keeps circling back to a simple truth: local action beats political promises every time. When people organise, grow food, and build resilient communities, they create real change—no matter what’s happening on the world stage. If you’re tired of the noise and want a grounded path forward, this conversation will get you thinking (and hopefully planting).

Key Takeaways:

00:00:00 – 00:03:13: Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré redirects resources to citizens, focusing on trees, food security, free housing—a stark contrast to Western politics.
00:04:17 – 00:07:27: Leaders who try to nationalize resources or challenge global banking systems often face resistance or assassination; debt is used to trap nations and individuals alike.
00:09:21 – 00:10:57: True freedom means liberation from unpayable debt—politicians, left or right, rarely deliver real change.
00:21:22 – 00:22:46: Bill Mollison once said: “Don’t enter a corrupt system to change it—you’ll be corrupted.” Instead, imagine a Permaculture People’s Party with no intention of being elected, only to share its manifesto.
00:23:06 – 00:24:50: Disaster capitalism uses crises to pass pre-written laws and strip freedoms, as seen after 9/11.
00:28:19 – 00:29:14: Companies like Palantir push predictive policing and social credit systems, raising concerns about surveillance and control.
00:31:00 – 00:32:30: Permaculture is a simple, grounded solution to overwhelming global chaos—millions of small local actions could transform the world.
00:44:14 – 00:46:37: Information overload and political tribalism keep people divided; pattern recognition and honesty are key to breaking free.
00:56:11 – 00:57:40: Like forests after fire, collapse can open the way for regeneration—real power is local, patterned, and rooted in permaculture systems.
01:02:40 – 01:03:24: We already have the information we need to act; the task now is to inform, connect, and build alternatives together.

🌏 Guests

Sam Parker-Davies — Sam is a global permaculture designer, teacher, and consultant with projects spanning deserts, forests, and mountains across 12+ countries. He blends hands-on implementation with deep design thinking, helping communities regenerate both ecosystems and the social systems that depend on them. Sam’s teaching and consulting showcase how practical permaculture can create abundance in even the most challenging environments.
🔗 Website: https://samparkerdavies.weebly.com
📸 Instagram: @samparkerdavies
▶️ Youtube:    / @sam.parkerdavies  
📘 Facebook:   / sam.parkerdavies  

Eric Seider — Eric is a permaculture consultant, designer, and educator since 2008. He has helped communities around the world create resilient systems, working across deserts, forests, and urban landscapes. As the leader of the Permaculture Community Group in Fair Oaks, California, he cultivates a local hub for education, hands-on learning, and collaboration. Eric turns ideas into thriving ecosystems and empowers others to do the same.
🔗 Website: https://www.ericseider.com
📸 Instagram: @ericseider
▶️ Youtube:    / @ericseider  
📘 Facebook:
  / ericseider22  
🌾 Permaculture Community Group: https://www.permaculturefairoaks.org
🌿 Community Facebook:   / permaculturefairoaks  

Ben Missimer — Ben is a regenerative designer and technologist who uses LiDAR, drone imaging, and GIS tools to reveal the hidden patterns of the land. From remote landscapes to urban projects, he transforms terrain data into actionable designs that restore ecosystems. His work combines science, technology, and permaculture principles to guide landscapes from degraded to abundant.
🔗 Website: https://www.pearlriverecodesign.com
📸 Instagram: @benmissimer
▶️ Youtube:    / @benmissimer  
📘 Facebook:   / pearlriverecodesign