In this episode of The Infinite Search, host John explores the creative journey of Eric Von Haynes, a printmaker, artist, and community builder, who finds balance between personal creativity and community service. As the founder of Flatlands Press and co-founder of the Love Fridge Chicago initiative, Eric shares how he creates art that fosters social connection. From his leadership in the Chicago Printers Guild to his impactful work in community aid, Eric offers insights into how art can transcend the individual and empower communities. Tune in to hear how Eric's creative journey intertwines with service, collaboration, and a philosophy of slow media and patient practice. This episode is perfect for those interested in art, social impact, printmaking, and the power of community-driven creativity.

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If this episode inspired you, please share it with your friends and family. Join the conversation on Instagram at ⁠⁠@infinite.search⁠⁠ and visit our website at ⁠⁠www.theinfinitesearch.com⁠⁠ for extended show notes, further readings, and full transcripts.

Join Bill Diamond, CEO of the SETI Institute, as we embark on a journey through the vastness of space in search of extraterrestrial intelligence. In this episode, Bill shares insights into SETI's cutting-edge work, exploring the mysteries of the universe, and listening for signals that could reveal intelligent life beyond Earth. Discover how SETI bridges science, philosophy, and wonder, and how the search for life in the cosmos reflects our own quest for meaning. Bill dives into the ethical implications of discovering alien civilizations, the science behind listening to the stars, and the boundless curiosity that drives humanity’s exploration of the unknown. This episode is essential listening for anyone fascinated by space exploration, the search for alien life, and the deep questions about our place in the universe.

Resources Mentioned:

• SETI Institutehttps://www.seti.org

• James Webb Space Telescope https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/

• Kepler Mission (NASA) https://science.nasa.gov/mission/kepler/in-depth

• The Golden Record https://science.nasa.gov/mission/voyager/voyager-golden-record-overview/

• Jill Tarter and SETI's Founding https://www.seti.org/our-scientists/jill-tarter

Join The Infinite Search Community

If this episode inspired you, please share it with your friends, family, or anyone passionate about space exploration. Join the conversation on Instagram at ⁠@infinite.search⁠ and visit our website at ⁠www.theinfinitesearch.com⁠ for extended show notes, further readings, and full transcripts.

Join Azzedine Downes, CEO of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), as he shares his impactful journey in wildlife conservation. Learn how his leadership is protecting endangered species, preserving habitats, and fostering a global movement for environmental stewardship. Through compelling stories and insights, Azzedine reveals the vital connections between humans, animals, and ecosystems, and how they are essential to our planet's future. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about conservation, wildlife protection, and creating a sustainable world.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Couscous Chronicles by Azzedine Downes

• International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) - www.ifaw.org

Join The Infinite Search Community

If this episode inspired you, please share it with your friends, family, or anyone passionate about wildlife conservation. Join the conversation on Instagram at @infinite.search and visit our website at www.theinfinitesearch.com for extended show notes, further readings, and full transcripts.

Today, our search lands us in conversation with Sunaura Taylor, a professor, artist, writer, and activist whose scholarship explores the entanglement of disability and ecological thought.

Her work at the intersection of disability studies, environmental justice, multi-species studies, and art practice invites us to see beyond traditional environmental narratives to appreciate the vital contributions of all forms of life, advocating for a more inclusive understanding of our planet’s health and our species' future.

Her latest book, Disabled Ecologies: Lessons from a Wounded Desert, is a powerful analysis and call to action that reveals disability as one of the defining features of environmental devastation and resistance.

Through her art and scholarship, Sunaura reveals the overlooked parallels between disabled bodies and the Earth's landscapes—both bearing marks of history and resilience.

In this time of ecological uncertainty and social change, her insights compel us to question how we perceive health, harm, and harmony in the natural world. To challenge us to think differently about ecology and disability, to embrace a broader, more inclusive vision of environmentalism, and the rights of nature, and ultimately, what it means to be human.

Today, we accept Sunaura’s invitation to experience the environment and our place within it as deeply entangled—where the conditions of Earth reflect and influence the conditions of all living beings. And to propose a solidarity that spans species and systems, leading to a deeper understanding of resilience and regeneration, and teaching us new ways to live and heal together.

About Sunaura

Sunaura Taylor is a professor, artist, and writer. She is the author of “Beasts of Burden: Animal and Disability Liberation”, which received the 2018 American Book Award, and her latest book Disabled Ecologies, Lessons from a Wounded Desert. Taylor has written for a range of popular media outlets and her artworks have been exhibited widely both nationally and internationally. She works at the intersection of disability studies, environmental justice, multi-species studies, and art practice. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at the University of California, Berkeley.

Sunaura lives in the Bay Area with her daughter Leonora, husband David, and their two cats, Rosie and Pirate. You can find out more about Sunaura and her work by visiting:

www.sunaurataylor.net

In a world obsessed with progress and growth, John Stuart Heers offers a simple yet profound insight: Perhaps the most significant transformations occur not through what we gain, but through what we give and how we choose to engage with the world around us. John’s path takes us into a conversation that challenges the essence of our relationships in communities both near and far—a conversation about what it means to cultivate genuine understanding and care.

John is a pioneer in the world of humanitarian work, cultural immersion, and ethical leadership. His life’s work examines how personal sacrifice and attentive listening can dissolve barriers between diverse cultures, fostering a world rooted in empathy and solidarity.His formative years ignited a dedication to grassroots efforts that prioritize local wisdom and long-term impact. As the founder of First Things Foundation, he has championed a model of engagement that goes beyond aid, emphasizing models of partnership and co-creation with communities across the globe. Through projects in places like Guatemala, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, and the Republic of Georgia, John and his team embody a philosophy of humble service and transformative connection. Their work illustrates the profound changes that arise when we shift from giving solutions to facilitating empowerment, from acting as saviors to becoming allies.

Today, we explore the ripples of change that emanate from a commitment to deep, reciprocal care. We imagine a world where every gesture, every act, is imbued with the intention to not only help but to understand and grow together.

About John

John Stuart Heers is the founder of the First Things Foundation, an organization dedicated to deep, immersive community work and ethical leadership, and Greenville SC Keipi Restaurant, featuring Georgian-style cuisine and the community toastmaster or Tamada of the supra fest, toasting to the good and beautiful things in life so that we may experience ourselves in relation to our community at the table of love.

John's visionary approach emphasizes the importance of local wisdom and long-term partnership in fostering sustainable and meaningful change.

Growing up with a keen awareness of global disparities, John was inspired to create a model of engagement that goes beyond traditional aid. First Things Foundation has implemented projects in diverse locations such as Guatemala, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, and the Republic of Georgia, demonstrating the power of humble service and transformative connection.

John's work challenges us to reconsider our approach to humanitarian efforts, advocating for a shift from providing solutions to facilitating empowerment and from acting as saviors to becoming allies. Through over 20,000 hours of project consultation and 30+ active projects, John and his team have illustrated the profound impact of genuine, reciprocal care.

John Heers' dedication to fostering genuine understanding and mutual support has led to significant and lasting changes in the communities the First Things Foundation serves. His work encourages us to build trust, cultivate empathy, and engage deeply with the people and cultures we aim to support.

You can learn more about John and the impactful work of the First Things Foundation, by visiting their website at:

www.first-things.org.

And be sure to make a trip to Geenville SC to experience the Georgian feast and toast to life.

You can learn more about the restaurant at:

www.keipirestaurant.org

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Today, our search lands us in conversation with Dr. Rich Blundell, a scientist and cultural communicator who invites us to explore the profound wisdom of nature through the lens of his unique philosophy, Oika. Rich’s work challenges us to reimagine our relationship with the natural world, encouraging us to see ourselves as integral threads in a vast tapestry of life that has existed for over 13.8 billion years.

Rich's journies across the globe have shaped a worldview bridging scientific inquiry with the poetic wisdom of nature. Offering a pathway to personal and planetary healing, rooted in the deep continuities between humans and the environment.

In our increasingly fragmented world, Rich’s philosophy of Oika is a beacon of hope—representing a call to awaken to the beauty, the joy, and the resilience that nature offers, fostering a sense of interconnectedness that transcends conventional ecological and economic systems.

Rich’s insights are a reminder that by nurturing our relationship with the natural world, we can unlock a creative potential that is vital for our collective future.

Join us as we discover the power of curiosity, the beauty of ecological alignment, and the promise of a future grounded in the wisdom of nature.

Today, our search lands us in conversation with Phyllis E. Leavitt, a psychotherapist and author whose insights into the human condition challenge us to reflect on our own lives and the oh-so-moral fabric of our national well-being.

Phyllis lovingly explores the pitfalls and possibilities of the human condition. With a career spanning over three decades, she has been a quiet force in the field of psychology, focusing on the impact of family dysfunction and the transformative power of healing.In her latest book, "America In Therapy: A New Approach to Hope and Healing for a Nation in Crisis," Phyllis extends the intimate lessons from the therapy room to the vast complexities of a nation in conflict. She invites us to consider how the healing of personal trauma and dysfunction within families could be a blueprint for national and collective recovery.

Through her narrative we are invited to reexamine the intertwined paths of personal and societal health. Phyllis argues that the decline in our collective mental health poses the greatest threat to our survival—as individuals and as a society. Her call to action is not just to heal but to transform how we understand our own roles within the broader human family.

Phyllis’ work is a clarion call to awaken to the cycles of pain and violence that ripple through our lives and across our country. She believes profoundly in the power of psychology not only to interpret the world but to change it—offering hope, fostering peace, and nurturing love in places we might have thought impossible. With her, we explore what it means to bring an entire country to therapy, to heal not just in private rooms but in public spaces and policies. Fellow searchers, today on the Infinite Search, we explore the heart of Phyllis’ message: a vision of America renewed through the healing principles of psychotherapy, inviting each of us to participate in reimagining and reconstructing the narrative of our nation.

In a time when the intersection of art and nature has never been more crucial, certain storytellers captivate our imaginations and inspire us to cherish the world around us with wit, wisdom, and a good dose of wonder. Bonnie Kelso is one such artist. Through her work she reveals the unseen lives beneath our ocean's surface, in our suburban forests, and along a path in life never walked alone—urging us towards conservation and a deeper understanding of the world around us.

Her path is as layered as the ecosystems she loves. She is an alumna of the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, a former Smithsonian exhibit designer, muralist, and award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. But at her core, she is an educator passionate about conservation through storytelling.

Today, Bonnie shares her journey from childhood memories of the beach to becoming a celebrated author and advocate. We'll explore how her work inspires a connection with nature in young minds and the importance of preserving our planet for future generations.

You can explore more of Bonnie’s work and her efforts in conservation at: Website: www.bonniekelso.com