In this episode, Helena Norberg-Hodge, founder of Local Futures and pioneer of the localization movement, zooms out to reveal the deeper roots of our chemical-dependent food system. Drawing from decades of experience in Ladakh and beyond, Helena connects glyphosate to globalization—tracing how industrial agriculture, free trade, and corporate power have separated people from the land and each other. She makes a powerful case for localization as the antidote: rebuilding local food systems, restoring community, and rekindling our relationship with nature. This conversation is both a history lesson and a hopeful roadmap toward reconnection, resilience, and real food sovereignty. Social Handles  Personal: Instagram: @helenanorberghodge  LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/in/helena-norberg-hodge⁠ Website: ⁠helenanorberghodge.com/⁠  Local Futures:  Instagram: @localfutures Facebook: @LocalFutures.TheEconomicsofHappiness YouTube: @ISECeconofhappiness Vimeo: @theeconomicsofhappiness Website: www.localfutures.org⁠ Bio: Helena Norberg-Hodge is a linguist, filmmaker, and global thought leader whose work champions the renewal of local food systems and the cultural wisdom they carry. As founder of Local Futures, Helena has spent decades working alongside Indigenous communities in Ladakh, Bhutan, and beyond, gathering insights that speak to the root causes of ecological and societal disconnection. She is the author of Ancient Futures and Local is Our Future, and producer of acclaimed films including The Economics of Happiness and Planet Local. Through these works, she invites a reimagining of progress, one that places wellbeing, relationship, and biodiversity at the heart of economic life. In this series, Helena brings a deeply grounded view of how global systems impact local resilience, and why reclaiming the right to shape our food and farming futures is one of the most powerful actions we can take. Podcast website: ⁠theinvisibleingredient.org⁠ Citations Link: https://www.notion.so/295b38c5b1e28092ab9cfea68aa9521f?v=295b38c5b1e2803fa5b7000cf5684c89&source=copy_link Special thanks to the incredible teams at ⁠farmersfootprint.us⁠ and ⁠farmersfootprint.org.au ⁠as well as the ⁠podbyron.com.au for their amazing support in producing the show. ⁠ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in The Invisible Ingredient podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Farmer’s Footprint or any affiliated organisation. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical, legal, or professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making decisions relating to health, farming practices, or environmental management. The Invisible Ingredient shares conversations that awaken awareness of how our food systems, environment, and health are intertwined. We invite you to listen with curiosity, explore the research, and carry forward what resonates on your own path toward healthier people, land, and communities.

Welcome to the Bristol Conversations, an eight-part podcast and video series by Local Futures featuring Helena Norberg-Hodge in conversation with some of the great minds who joined us in Bristol for the Planet Local Summit. In the fifth episode of The Bristol Conversations, we hear from Iain McGilchrist, the author of the groundbreaking book ‘The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World’. Iain is a neuroscientist, psychiatrist and scholar; a man who has shed light not only on some fascinating truths about our minds and our experience of the world, but also on how these truths relate to many of the seemingly intractable predicaments we find ourselves in today. He helps us see the world and its problems with a new eye. In this conversation with pioneer of the new economy/localization movement, Helena Norberg-Hodge, the two draw connections between their seemingly quite different bodies of work. They discuss human psychology, community, connection to nature, spirituality, technocracy, and AI. They illuminate how the struggle between the brain’s left and right hemispheres relates to the global techno-economic system, the damage it’s doing, and exactly how we might change it. Listen to the podcast with Iain McGilchrist here: https://www.localfutures.org/programs/global-to-local/local-futures-podcast/ Find all episodes in The Bristol Conversation series here: https://www.localfutures.org/programs/the-bristol-conversations/ The series is produced by Local Futures, an international non-profit organization dedicated to renewing ecological and social well-being by strengthening communities and local economies. Learn more about Local Futures here: https://www.localfutures.org/ Sign up to Local Futures´newsletter: https://www.localfutures.org/sign-up-to-our-newsletter/

On this episode of Death in The Garden, we’re sharing our most recent interview with Helena Norberg-Hodge that we did while we were in Ladakh, India. Helena is the director of Local Futures (https://www.localfutures.org/), the organization leading the global localization movement. This interview was recorded following the events of the Planet Local Summit, which was a profoundly inspiring event that brought brilliant people from all over the world to discuss the most pressing issues of the day. We learned so much from our time at this summit, and are filled with a renewed sense of common humanity and inspiration, knowing that there are people all over the world resisting the machinification of the world, and turning toward life. In this episode, we discuss the problems of globalization, the global monoculture, and the breakdown of our relationships with each other and the living economy. We discuss how localization is an antidote to many of the complex problems we face in modernity, as localization prevents the invisibilization of negative externalities that has become commonplace since the creation of the global economy. We discuss how localization brings people back into contact with communities, with nature, and what it means to be a human being, allowing people to return to a life of meaning once again. We also talk about the relationship between cultural diversity and ecological diversity, and how protecting biodiversity is inextricably linked to protecting cultural diversity. We also discuss “big picture activism” and the importance of resisting the myth of a mechanical world. Near the end, we discuss the invention of greed under our modern economy and the artificial scarcity in engenders. Contact us: deathinthegarden@gmail.com Become a paid subscriber on Substack: https://deathinthegarden.substack.com/ Appreciate our work, but don't want to subscribe? Buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/deathinthegarden This video is made without the use of AI in any capacity. If you would like to listen to podcast version of this interview, please follow this link: https://deathinthegarden.substack.com/p/64-helena-norberg-hodge-resisting

(Conversation recorded on May 7th, 2025) Over the last few decades, humanity has globalized everything – from food production and supply chains to communication and information systems – making countries, businesses, and individuals more connected and reliant on each other than ever before. Yet, with this increased interconnectedness comes more complexity and fragility. What have we lost through the globalization process, and how might we fortify our communities by investing in local economies? In this episode, Nate is joined by Helena Norberg-Hodge – a leading voice in the localization movement – to explore the deep systemic challenges posed by economic globalization. Together, they examine how the global growth model has fueled environmental degradation, social fragmentation, and cultural erosion, and why shifting toward localized economies might be one of the most effective (and overlooked) responses to our predicament. Drawing on decades of firsthand experience, Helena invites us to question the assumptions underpinning our globalized lives and imagine a future rooted in local reconnection. How might we rekindle a sense of enough in a world that constantly tells us we need more? As globalization begins to retreat, what small but meaningful steps can we take to relocalize our lives and reconnect with each other? And what kind of futures might be possible if we centered our communities around systems that regenerate the very places we call home? About Helena Norberg-Hodge: Linguist, author and filmmaker, Helena Norberg-Hodge is the founder and director of the international non-profit organisation, Local Futures. She is also a pioneer of the new economy movement, the convenor of World Localization Day, and an expert in understanding the ecological, social, and psychological effects of the global economy on diverse cultures. Additionally, Helena is the author of several books, including ‘Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh’, an eye-opening tale of tradition and change in Ladakh, or “Little Tibet”. Together with a film of the same title, Ancient Futures has been translated into more than 40 languages, and sold half a million copies. Helena has continued to produce several other short films, including the award-winning documentary ‘The Economics of Happiness’. Helena specialized in linguistics, including studies at the University of London and with Noam Chomsky at MIT. Her work, spanning almost half a century, has received the support of a wide range of international figures, including Jane Goodall, HH the Dalai Lama, HRH Prince Charles and Indira Gandhi. Show Notes and More: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/helena-norberg-hodge-globalization-end-game-how-localization-builds-resilient-communities-amp-economies Want to learn the broad overview of The Great Simplification in 30 minutes? Watch our Animated Movie: https://youtu.be/-xr9rIQxwj4?feature=shared --- Support The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/support Join our Substack newsletter: https://natehagens.substack.com/ Join our Discord channel and connect with other listeners: https://discord.gg/ZFfQqtqMJf --- 00:00 - Introduction 03:07 - Localizing Economies 12:05 - Agriculture, Christianity, Colonialism, and the Superorganism 18:49 - Critiquing vs Building 22:14 - Consciousness Shifts 32:20 - Decentralization 37:00 - Fragility 43:08 - Local Economies in 2050 47:35 - Comparing Footprints 50:27 - First Steps 58:44 - Indigenous Wisdom 01:03:03 - What Can We Do? 01:12:56 - Closing Questions

In this video, Helena Norberg-Hodge encourages us to join the growing movement of people around the world who are returning to localization, i.e. decentralized, human-scale living. As with the growing movement toward locally produced foods, technology should be decided at the local level, and should be in service to all life. The corporate/government alliance should not dictate our tech future. Helena Norberg-Hodge is a pioneer of the new economy movement. She is the founder and director of the international non-profit organisation, Local Futures, and the convenor of World Localization Day. She is author of the inspirational classic Ancient Futures, and Local is Our Future and producer of the award-winning documentary The Economics of Happiness. She is the founder of the International Alliance for Localisation, and a cofounder of the International Forum on Globalization and the Global Ecovillage Network. Helena is a recipient of the Alternative Nobel prize, the Arthur Morgan Award and the Goi Peace Prize for contributing to “the revitalization of cultural and biological diversity, and the strengthening of local communities and economies worldwide.” And most of all, Helena is a kind, gracious and loving human being and an inspiration to so many around the world.

Helena Norberg-Hodge (SE) Autorka knih a dokumentů o lokální ekonomice Helena je lingvistka, spisovatelka, dokumentaristka a podporovatelka konceptu místních ekonomik. Je zakladatelkou a ředitelkou mezinárodní neziskové organizace Local Futures, která usiluje o obnovu ekologického, sociálního a duchovního blahobytu prostřednictvím ekonomických komunit po celém světě. SLEDUJTE NÁS Web ▶ https://www.meltingpotforum.com/ Facebook ▶ https://www.facebook.com/meltingpotforum Instagram ▶ https://www.instagram.com/meltingpotforum Twitter ▶ https://www.twitter.com/meltingpotforum

Dr. Gabor Maté is a truly holistic expert on addiction, stress, and childhood development. In this conversation with Helena Norberg-Hodge, he fathoms the profound impacts of social and economic structures on our most intimate experiences of what it means to be human. Together, Helena and Gabor dispel false ideas about human nature, and point to reconnection and localization as remedies to the most crippling and dehumanizing effects of living in today’s global consumer culture.

Part of the process of re-imaging Christchurch is taking a look at our place in the world, and in particular the rapid cultural shifts we've seen in the short existence of the city that urbanisation and the shift in economics have driven. One presenter who can help inform us about these issues is Helena Norberg-Hodge. Helena Norberg-Hodge is the founder and director of the International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC) and its predecessor, the Ladakh Project. She is the author of Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh and co-author of Bringing the Food Economy Home. Her articles have appeared in numerous journals such as The Ecologist, Resurgence, and YES! magazine. Norberg- Hodge's ground-breaking work in the Himalayan region of Ladakh is internationally recognized, and earned her the Right Livelihood Award. A particular focus of Norberg-Hodge's is the impact of the global economy on culture and agriculture and in particular the root causes of our social and environmental crises. She is on the International Commission on the Future of Food and Agriculture, launched with the support of the government of Tuscany. She is also a member of the editorial board of The Ecologist magazine and a co-founder of the International Forum on Globalisation and the Global Eco-village Network. TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

Environmental activist and writer Joanna Macy talks with Helena Norberg-Hodge (Director, Local Futures), about the end of business as usual, and about the buoyant intelligence arising as people come together to face a global crisis. This conversation took place in connection with World Localization Day, June 21, 2020. This event included a chorus of 100 voices from across the world speaking on localization, including messages from Russell Brand, Jane Goodall, Vandana Shiva, Noam Chomsky, Joanna Macy, Adebayo Akomolafe, Manish Jain, and Pat McCabe to name a few. You can watch the program here - https://www.worldlocalizationday.org. We're pleased to announce that World Localization Day will return on June 20th, 2021. Visit https://www.worldlocalizationday.org to RSVP. Sign up to our email newsletter here: https://www.localfutures.org/get-involved/join-email-update-list/ Follow Local Futures: http://www.facebook.com/LocalFutures.TheEconomicsofHappiness https://www.instagram.com/localfutures_ https://twitter.com/localfutures_

Helena Norberg-Hodge at the Brussels Economic Forum, alongside Marco Buti (Director-General for Economic and Financial Affairs at the European Commission), Arancha González (Executive Director, International Trade Center), and Hanneke Faber (President Food & Refreshment, Unilever).

Social critic and political activist Noam Chomsky and Helena Norberg-Hodge (Director of Local Futures), speak with guarded optimism about our chances to solve the multiple crisis we face, encouraged by the rise of mutual support community initiatives – from the rust-belt in the USA to impoverished favelas in Brazil. This conversation took place in connection with World Localization Day, June 21, 2020. This event included a chorus of 100 voices from across the world speaking on localization, including messages from Russell Brand, Jane Goodall, Vandana Shiva, Noam Chomsky, Joanna Macy, Adebayo Akomolafe, Manish Jain, and Pat McCabe to name a few. You can watch the program here - https://www.worldlocalizationday.org. We're pleased to announce that World Localization Day will return on June 20th, 2021. Visit https://www.worldlocalizationday.org to RSVP. Sign up to our email newsletter here: https://www.localfutures.org/get-involved/join-email-update-list/ Follow Local Futures: http://www.facebook.com/LocalFutures.TheEconomicsofHappiness https://www.instagram.com/localfutures_ https://twitter.com/localfutures_

Environmental activist and author Vandana Shiva (Founder, Navdanya) and Helena Norberg-Hodge (Director of Local Futures), discuss how the globalized world will move forward after the Covid-19 pandemic. Vandana explains that the current pandemic is a direct result of economic globalization, and that small-scale, diversified farming is hugely important if we are to heal the broken climate and travel a path towards localization. Localization, she says, is where the flourishing of life begins. This conversation took place in connection with World Localization Day, June 21, 2020. This event included a chorus of 100 voices from across the world speaking on localization, including messages from Russell Brand, Jane Goodall, Vandana Shiva, Noam Chomsky, Joanna Macy, Adebayo Akomolafe, Manish Jain, and Pat McCabe to name a few. You can watch the 2020 full program here - https://www.worldlocalizationday.org. We're pleased to announce that World Localization Day will return on June 20th, 2021. Visit https://www.worldlocalizationday.org to RSVP. Sign up to our email newsletter here: https://www.localfutures.org/get-involved/join-email-update-list/ Follow Local Futures: http://www.facebook.com/LocalFutures.TheEconomicsofHappiness https://www.instagram.com/localfutures_ https://twitter.com/localfutures_

Psychiatrist, writer, and scholar Iain McGilchrist joins Helena Norberg-Hodge (Director, Local Futures), to converse about the divided brain and the dangers of reductionist thinking and linear models. They discuss the uprooting of indigenous cultures, modernity’s separation from nature, and the opportunities and joy arising from connection to place. This conversation took place in connection with World Localization Day, June 21, 2020. This event included a chorus of 100 voices from across the world speaking on localization, including messages from Russell Brand, Jane Goodall, Vandana Shiva, Noam Chomsky, Joanna Macy, Adebayo Akomolafe, Manish Jain, and Pat McCabe to name a few. You can watch the program here - https://www.worldlocalizationday.org. We're pleased to announce that World Localization Day will return on June 20th, 2021. Visit https://www.worldlocalizationday.org to RSVP. Sign up to our email newsletter here: https://www.localfutures.org/get-involved/join-email-update-list/ Follow Local Futures: http://www.facebook.com/LocalFutures.TheEconomicsofHappiness https://www.instagram.com/localfutures_ https://twitter.com/localfutures_

Journalist Johann Hari (author of Lost Connections) and Helena Norberg-Hodge (Director of Local Futures) talk about the rise of depression and anxiety in a fragmented market-driven world, with a focus on both underlying causes and long-term solutions. Johann has a deep understanding of the innate human need for community, as well as connection to place and the natural world. During this heartwarming and inspiring conversation, Johann shares anecdotes about the healing of individuals – as well as an entire neighborhood – through the rebuilding of connections. This conversation took place in connection with World Localization Day, June 21, 2020. This event included a chorus of 100 voices from across the world speaking on localization, including messages from Russell Brand, Jane Goodall, Vandana Shiva, Noam Chomsky, Joanna Macy, Adebayo Akomolafe, Manish Jain, and Pat McCabe to name a few. You can watch the 2020 full program here - https://www.worldlocalizationday.org. We're pleased to announce that World Localization Day will return on June 20th, 2021. Visit https://www.worldlocalizationday.org to RSVP. Sign up to our email newsletter here: https://www.localfutures.org/get-involved/join-email-update-list/ Follow Local Futures: http://www.facebook.com/LocalFutures.TheEconomicsofHappiness https://www.instagram.com/localfutures_ https://twitter.com/localfutures_

Russell Brand The Trews (E180). PART 2 of yesterday's episode in which I speak to Helena Norberg-Hodge, an analyst of the impact of the global economy on cultures and agriculture & a pioneer of the localisation movement. Subscribe Here Now: http://tinyurl.com/opragcg and send links to video news items of topical stories that you'd like me to analyse. Produced & directed by Gareth Roy. Thanks to Jimi Mackay: @jimimackay and Urban Nerds: @urban_nerds for our creative services

Russell Brand The Trews (E179). I speak to Helena Norberg-Hodge, an analyst of the impact of the global economy on cultures and agriculture & a pioneer of the localisation movement. Subscribe Here Now: http://tinyurl.com/opragcg and send links to video news items of topical stories that you'd like me to analyse. Produced & directed by Gareth Roy. Thanks to Jimi Mackay: @jimimackay and Urban Nerds: @urban_nerds for our creative services

Many talk about climate change, but rare are those who dare to speak about its systemic, deeply-ingrained root cause. Depression, unemployment, racism and climate change indeed seem to be all interconnected through the invisible web of the power of multinational corporations. In this interview, Helena-Norberg-Hodge explains to me the history behind it all. She describes with great precision the economical culture that has been destroying our planet and communities for decades, and today threatens our very own survival. Not only that, but she offers an alternative supported by decades of evidence and ground studies, a path which she now calls localization (or decentralization). Helena-Norberg Hodge was awarded the Right Livelihood Award in 1986 and the Goi Peace Prize in 2012. In "Wisdom for a liveable planet", she was profiled as one of the eight visionaries changing the world, and The Earth Journal counted her among the world's ten most interesting environmentalists. This 10 minutes video is the short version of a 1-hour long podcast which can be found here: https://www.futureseeds.news/podcasts Helena Norberg-Hodge is the founder of Local Futures: https://www.localfutures.org