I recorded myself counting down from 100 to 1 in the snow and played in backwards, hoping, against all odds, to turn back time
TRANSCRIPTION OF EPISODE
(bell and breath)
(Ambiance and footsteps in the snow played backwards)
On December 29, 2022, I recorded myself counting from 100 to 0 in crusty snow at our cottage. My goal was to explore what it felt like to cross over the tipping point into irreversible climate catastrophe.
But, you know, to be fair, I like to just count my steps when I walk in the snow, so you can interpret it either way, either as a countdown to Armageddon or playing in the snow. Maybe a bit of both.
Anything this ambiguity around the severity of the ecological crisis is in my mind these days and something I listen for, and I’ve noticed during this season about ‘sounding modernity’, which is coming to an end soon, that most people suffer from eco anxiety and don’t know what to do about it. They feel disempowered. I do too and sad and yet life goes on. That kind of dilemma.
I have a lot of empathy for all of us, for living beings as we try to work our way through this crisis.
So, I think it’s helpful, though it might seem strange, to count from 100 to 0 but I suggest we do it backwards, just for fun. Here we go.
Can you turn back time?
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Recorded on December 29, 2022 at 1.19pm in Duhamel, Québec.
I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this episode. (including all the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation and infrastructure that make this podcast possible).
My gesture of reciprocity for this episode is to the alter-ciné foundation.
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END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES
Hey conscient listeners,
I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa).
It’s my way to give back.
In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I Ipublish free ‘a calm presence' Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.
Your feedback is always welcome at claude@conscient.ca and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads,BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube andSubstack.
Share what you like, etc
I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible.
Claude Schryer
Latest update on July 8, 2025