Looking Sideways Action Sports Podcast

• The Announcement: John Elkington and Louise Kjellerup-Roper

  In this third follow-up episode of The Announcement, I'm sharing my original January 2024 conversation with John Elkington and Louise Kjellerup Roper of Volans in its entirety.This conversation addresses perhaps the most significant yet under-discussed aspect of the Patagonia ‘Earth is our only shareholder’ story - its relevance as a model for most businesses, especially publicly-traded or shareholder-owned companies.Because the uncomfortable reality is that structural and organisational constraints make a similar action nearly impossible for most businesses. That’s why I decided to dedicate episode three of the Announcement series to an in-depth exploration of a simple question: what can ‘ordinary’ businesses do to have an impact? And if you want to understand the history of what tends these days to be referred to as ‘business for good’, and how it impacts most companies, there is really only one place to start: John Elkington.It really is difficult to understate John's profound influence on how we conceptualise the relationship between business and sustainability. For decades, he has defined and shaped sustainable business conversations, whether that’s through his ‘triple-bottom line’ framework, or groundbreaking works like Green Swans. For this chat, I was joined by his equally brilliant colleague Louise Kjellerup Roper, CEO of Volans, and expert on helping business with ‘transformation’ as they seek to lessen their impact. From this in-depth conversation, you'll gain insights into:Why capitalism, in John’s view, is the ‘least worst’ model. The historical context of the ‘business for good’ movement, and where it stands todayHow a backlash comes hand-in-hand with progressive policies. What meaningful corporate transformation might actually look like beyond Patagonia's unique example.After listening, I'd welcome your thoughts on how these practical pathways compare to the more radical restructuring we explored in the series proper, and whether they offer sufficient solutions to our current challenges.For bonus and behind-the-scenes material, click here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wearelookingsideways.com/subscribe

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• Episode 248: Lucy Walker - Ways of Seeing

  Use LOOKINGSIDEWAYS10 for 10% off anything from Finisterre--What happens when one of the world's foremost documentary filmmakers turns her lens on the world of action sports and mountain culture in vital films such as Mountain Queen and The Crash Reel?That’s the question at the heart of this conversation with the brilliant Lucy Walker, a filmmaker who I think is one of the most important nonfiction storytellers of our era.Bold statement, perhaps, but one I'm happy to stand by – and I think if you've seen Lucy's work, you'll likely agree.Take her exceptional The Crash Reel, which documented Kevin Pearce's traumatic brain injury and its aftermath. What struck me immediately was how Lucy avoided the typical pitfalls that usually stymie outsiders when they attempt to tell action sports stories.Here, clearly, was a grown-up, accomplished filmmaker at the height of her powers creating something that was nuanced, cerebral, and an important contribution to our culture.Since then, I've followed Lucy's career closely, which brings us to her latest triumph – Mountain Queen – the story of Lhakpa Sherpa, ostensibly about the most successful female Everest summiteer of all time, but in typical Lucy Walker fashion, about so much more.I won't explain further because if you haven't seen it yet, it's streaming on Netflix, and I'd rather you experience firsthand the craft, guile, artistry, wit, and intelligence with which Lucy approaches her subjects.I've wanted to interview Lucy for years and, with some help from our mutual pal Jamie Brisick, we made it happen on Lucy’s last trip to London.What follows is an in-depth exchange about documentary filmmaking, storytelling, and the unique lens through which Lucy views the world – whether that’s the mountains of Nepal or the wildfire-ravaged landscapes of California (the subject of Bring Your Own Brigade, another of her must-see documentaries).It's a conversation that goes well beyond action sports into questions of representation, climate change, the craft of documentary film-making, and what it means to truly capture someone's story.I had a great time chatting to Lucy, who really opened up about her career process and influences. Once you’ve listened, I’d love to hear what you think.--To find out more about what I do, you can sign up as a subscriber to my Substack newsletter here. There's a brilliant community and much more than just the podcasts. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wearelookingsideways.com/subscribe

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• The Announcement: We Are Citizens, Not Consumers

  In this second follow-up episode of The Announcement, I explore a crucial counterbalance to the billionaire-driven change narrative: the power of citizenship and grassroots movements in reshaping our collective future.I'm joined by Jon Alexander, co-founder of the New Citizen Project and co-author of the increasingly influential book Citizens - a work that offers a compelling, necessary vision about who we are and how we might move forward together.This exchange builds directly on themes discussed in my original three-part Announcement series. While those conversations examined top-down change models driven by government, business and the philanthropic sector, Jon presents a fundamentally different vision: one where citizenship, not consumerism, takes the leading role in driving societal transformation.In the months since my original series aired, we've witnessed the increasing tension between communities, grassroots movements and wealthy power brokers playing out across global politics. As we all navigate these complex dynamics, Jon's perspective - that ‘to change the future, we must change the story’ - couldn't be more timely.In this conversation, you'll gain insights into:Jon’s view of the three dominant post-war stories - the consumer story, the subject story, and the citizen story.Why citizenship represents a more historically accurate and hopeful vision of human potential than the consumerist tale we’re currently shackled to.How grassroots movements can effectively counterbalance billionaire and corporate power.What a collaborative, empathetic vision of society might actually look like in practice.Once you've had a chance to listen, I'd love to hear your thoughts on how Jon's citizenship framework might complement or challenge the perspectives presented in previous episodes. For bonus and behind-the-scenes material, click here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wearelookingsideways.com/subscribe

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• Episode 247: Truls Brataas - How I Built Db

  Use LOOKINGSIDEWAYS for 15% off anything from Db Journey.--The notion of the visionary founder is the most ubiquitous of modern tropes.It is also one of the most harmful, as one glance at the madness that unfolds on LinkedIn on any given day ably demonstrates.And in a way the idea that the founder is fuelled by a weird diet, 4am starts and a particularly itchy social media trigger-finger reminds me of another toxic stereotype - the myth of the anointed creative.Both rely on this idea that these roles are only open to a particular type of borderline toxic gunslinger, operating slightly outside the margins of society.I was reminded of this during my recent Creative Exchange conversation with Db founder Truls Brataas, which I am sharing today.Because Truls’ tale is a much-needed reminder that kindness, gentleness, and a constant striving for evolution, are equally valid foundations when it comes to running a successful, visionary company.Truls’ story of how he steered Db from plucky winter sports start-up, to renowned global luggage brand, is the perfect demonstration of the value of doing things with care, and on your own terms.That’s why, if you’ve ever wondered what it takes to run your own company, harbour ambitions to begin something yourself, or have launched your own start-up, my conversation with Truls is a must-listen.Plus! A special Housekeeping Corner Db Fund update as we whittle down a record number of entries. --To find out more about what I do, you can sign up as a subscriber to my Substack newsletter here. There's a brilliant community and much more than just the podcasts. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wearelookingsideways.com/subscribe

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• The Announcement: The Myth of the 'Good' Billionaire

  In this first follow-up Announcement episode, I explore a question which I began to examine in episode two of The Announcement, and which is now at the centre of global politics: are billionaires fundamentally damaging to democracy, regardless of their political leanings?I'm joined once again by Carl Rhodes, academic and author of Woke Capitalism: How Corporate Morality is Sabotaging Democracy and his new book Stinking Rich: The Four Myths of the Good Billionaire.This conversation builds on our earlier examination of Patagonia's decision to transfer ownership to a climate-focused trust, which formed a large part of episode two of the original series. When we first spoke, many viewed the critique Rhodes espoused as a nuanced and even obscure point (particularly to partial commentators inclined to see Patagonia and Chouiniard’s actions as ‘good’ by default).In the months since, especially following Trump's inauguration, this critique has become one of the most contentious topics in global politics. The growing influence of Elon Musk and his DOGE cadre, for example, has suddenly made Rhodes' arguments much more accessible to millions of people worldwide.Which is why I decided to release my first conversation with Rhodes in its entirety, and record a follow-up conversation in which we explore billionaire influence in our current political landscape, and discuss alternatives to billionaire-led social change.From this conversation, you'll gain insights into:How billionaire philanthropy can undermine democratic processesWhy the "good billionaire" narrative is problematic for public policyWhat democratic alternatives to billionaire-led social change might look likeOnce you've had a chance to listen, I'd love to know what you think about these conversations with Carl and the topics we discussed.For bonus and behind-the-scenes material, click here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wearelookingsideways.com/subscribe

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