I've been talking more and more about de-growth and I'm seeing more and more articles and media out there talking about de-growth. It's becoming a bit of a buzzword but what does it really mean?
I interviewed that new chat bot, the one that can create the written word from artificial intelligence. It has creators and writers wondering if their jobs are about to be taken over by AI. Did it write this podcast? Who is CHAT GPT?!!? Let's go inside and find out.
Enjoying the podcast? I am fiercely independent, and rely on listeners like you to help me stick around.
Can you share the episode on social media, or write a
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review in Apple podcasts?! I would be so grateful.
I've been talking more and more about de-growth and I'm seeing more and more articles and media out there talking about de-growth. It's becoming a bit of a buzzword but what does it really mean?
I interviewed that new chat bot, the one that can create the written word from artificial intelligence. It has creators and writers wondering if their jobs are about to be taken over by AI. Did it write this podcast? Who is CHAT GPT?!!? Let's go inside and find out.
Enjoying the podcast? I am fiercely independent, and rely on listeners like you to help me stick around.
Can you share the episode on social media, or write a
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review in Apple podcasts?! I would be so grateful.
Who Is Chat GPT and Did it Write this Podcast?
[00:00:00] Miranda Black: That's just the sound of my dog.
[00:00:03] Miranda Black: Lying down.
[00:00:06] Miranda Black: Um,
[00:00:07] Miranda Black: Okay. I think, I think she's done it. Hello. Welcome to what's this place. The podcast that goes behind the bricks and mortar of sustainability and what that even means. My name is Miranda black, the de-growth diva.
[00:00:21] Miranda Black: And I want to do a little new year's check-in because I've been talking more and more about de-growth and I'm seeing more and more articles and media [00:00:30] out there talking about de-growth. So I want to make sure we're all on the same page about what exactly de-growth is. Uh, to do that, I use that new chat bot, the one that can create the written word from artificial intelligence and has all creators and writers wondering if their jobs are about to be taken over by AI. Cause this bot chat GPT, it can write copy for newspapers. Editorials for magazines. Heck it could write the script for this podcast. [00:01:00] Maybe it did it. Didn't. But what I did do is
Ask some questions about.
[00:01:05] Miranda Black: What exactly de-growth is. And I got some pretty interesting
Transcribing...
[00:01:15] Miranda Black: answers.
[00:01:16] Miranda Black: First of all, I asked it, explain de-growth to me as if I'm in kindergarten. And this is what chat GPT came up with.
[00:01:25] Miranda Black: Do you grow this a way of living where you try and use less things and not waste [00:01:30] as much? Like when you have a toy that you don't need anymore and you give it to someone else to play with. That way we reuse our resources and take care of the earth and make sure it stays healthy for us to live in. That's the chat GPT, basic explanation as if you're a toddler.
[00:01:46] Miranda Black: And then I typed in. Explain de-growth to me like I'm in fourth grade.
[00:01:50] Miranda Black: And this is what they wrote:
[00:01:52] Miranda Black: de-growth is a way of thinking about how we use resources and live our lives. It's about using less [00:02:00] stuff, specifically plastic and energy. So that the earth can have a break and we can have a better life. It's like when you're playing a game and you have a limited number of pieces, you have to be careful not to use them all too quickly. So you can keep playing. That's what de-growth is like for the earth and our resources. That's pretty good. Right? This thing's going to put a lot of people out of a job. Then I asked her to explain de-growth to a teenager .
[00:02:25] Miranda Black: Dear teen. I am sorry. The earth is so messed up, but [00:02:30] please do not despair. There are solutions.
[00:02:32] Miranda Black: One is de-growth, which is an economic and social theory that suggests reducing consumption will decrease the negative impacts of economic growth on the environment and society. Instead of continuously seeking to grow like some sort of mad scientist on a Frankenstein binge, we should aim for a more sustainable and equitable way of living.
[00:02:55] Miranda Black: Like shifting our focus to non-monetary [00:03:00] forms of wealth, such as community leisure and wellbeing. It also means re-evaluating the things we consider necessary. Okay. I actually collaborated with Chad GPT on that one. Cause Chad GBT is a bit dry and doesn't have my sense of humor. So we edited that one together.
[00:03:18] Miranda Black: But what I really liked was how the bot suggested shifting our focus to non-monetary forms of wealth, because that's crazy. Wealth is monetary. It's really [00:03:30] hard for me to separate the two. And I'm just not sure people are going to be motivated to think of community and leisure and wellbeing as a form of wealth. So I turned to the bot for advice.
[00:03:42] Miranda Black: I said, Chad GPT, what's the best way to make de-growth more mainstream. Like how do we convince people? This is a valid way forward. And this is what Chad GBT says. The best way to mainstream de-growth would be to conduct, research and gather data to [00:04:00] support the claims made by the de-growth movement. Well, we should consider that done at. This point there's tons of data. Next we use the research to create educational materials, to raise awareness and educate the public about the benefits of de-growth. Well, that's what this podcast is finding out how we do business with a de-growth mindset.
[00:04:19] Miranda Black: Also politicians could be educated about de-growth so they can take action and implement policies that support de-growth goals. Well, that's probably not going to [00:04:30] happen. And have chats G P T had a sense of humor. They would insert image of Caesar fiddling while Rome burns right here. But they don't, instead they say, finally, it's extremely important to communicate and engage with the public in ways that are accessible and understandable to help people realize that de-growth can improve their lives and communities.
[00:04:52] Miranda Black: Wow. That actually makes me feel really hopeful. Because generally people there.
[00:04:59] Miranda Black: There's this [00:05:00] unhappy undercurrent right now. I don't know if you feel it, or if you notice it with your friends and your colleagues, but maybe de-growth is a way forward or through that. Now, January and February, they're traditionally months where.
[00:05:13] Miranda Black: We're just naturally less happy. But we actually also don't feel like buying much. In the winter months de-growth is naturally occurring. Humans don't hibernate in the true sense of the word. But for thousands of years, the winter was a major downtime [00:05:30] and I'm not talking vacation or spot days like a hundred years ago, 1923.
[00:05:36] Miranda Black: Less than half of all American homes had electric power, no lights, no thermostats. No air fryers. Oh, Without heat and light. We spent most of our day sleeping to keep warm and conserve energy and food. We were sleeping with our animals, not necessarily cute ones. If you feel extra tired, these days is a good reason why most of your [00:06:00] ancestors, unless you're royalty, they were sleeping the month away.
[00:06:04] Miranda Black: Our clothing was damp or Belize. We're hungry. So don't be hard on yourself. If it's a drag to get yourself outdoors and you'd rather be eating chocolate, it's a natural impulse to stay warm and dry and pad the calories a bit. But now when the sun goes down at four 30, we have lights and heat.
[00:06:22] Miranda Black: And computers that think faster than our brains. And air fires. Thank God. So there's this illusion that it's still [00:06:30] summer, but it's not, and our bodies are not completely tricked. So can we just pause for a moment to remember the miracle of how far we've come in, such a short period of time and also do a little mid-winter reflecting on what's naturally happening in our deep brains.
[00:06:47] Miranda Black: So collectively we're a bit more introverted in the winter. It's harder to get inspired and stay inspired. We're less inclined to want new and more inclined to reflect on who we are, [00:07:00] where we want to go and what we really want to do. And all that introspection and primal fear of going outdoors for long leisurely strolls. It is not good for the economy of stuff.
[00:07:11] Miranda Black: That's why I would hammer my clients with sales in January and February, because if everything was full price, You all stay home, warm and cozy. Thinking about your plans for the year, connecting with your inner self or your family. It was my job to distract you, to lure you in, to [00:07:30] make the offer so attractive that you felt compelled to put your boots on, leave your nest and venture out.
[00:07:37] Miranda Black: That's why you might notice a frantic uptick in the sales pitches in your inbox, on your socials. And I'd like to suggest. A little resistance. I'm not saying don't buy anything, but can you D grow the number of items you buy only because they're on sale. Can you foster a more conscious way of buying, because stay with me here. [00:08:00] It's uncomfortable to go within sometimes to accept where you are physically, emotionally, socially, maybe you don't feel satisfied with your wardrobe, your body, your connections with friends or your job. So going within can feel a little bit like torture and being lured by that 70% off. What's it is the welcome distraction you need.
[00:08:24] Miranda Black: What I'm suggesting. As you lean in to that inward energy. It's okay to feel [00:08:30] fallow. Fallow is an agricultural term. When you don't plant anything, you leave your fields unsold for a period in order to restore its fertility, its passion for growth. It's actually a necessary process in order to have growth.
[00:08:45] Miranda Black: But our society is super scared of taking a break from growth, even though we'd probably be a lot more productive if we just power down a bit more in the winter.
[00:08:54] Miranda Black: Being fallow preps your inner self for what's to come in order to sow [00:09:00] seeds. That really matter to you. And if you don't do it, There's a bunch of corporations lining up to take your money in exchange for an illusion of satisfaction. So here are some tips to D grow just a bit. In winter. If you want to be lured by sales, get lured by local. They have sales to.
[00:09:20] Miranda Black: You know, the number one reason people tell me they don't buy local is that it's more expensive. Well, now's the time to just dip your toe in a bit local stores, they all have sale tabs. [00:09:30] Find it on their website. And maybe instead of buying three crappy things from a mass producer, you buy one special thing made by or curated by someone who's making a go of it. And maybe even lives in your neighborhood, reward them with that sale. The second thing.
[00:09:45] Miranda Black: Take advantage of the energy of winter, the opportunity it gives you to reflect. Reed take stock of what you own. Except where you are and what you have. It's just for now. It's not forever. Summer will come. You got a [00:10:00] pen and paper, do a little journaling. Got eggs, flour and oil bake. You got some paint or paint alternatives? Do some art explore. What's really important to you.
[00:10:12] Miranda Black: This is also a perfect time to reflect on your career, what you do. I know that January and February have been times for me when I really tapped into what do I want to get out of my work this year? What do I want to improve on? What do I want to learn? For me, my burning question in [00:10:30] 2023 is how do I make a solid business out of a de-growth mindset? How do I sell something? When I'm telling people to mind what they buy.
[00:10:38] Miranda Black: What does a career that aligns with my ethics look like. That's something chat GPT was not able to answer, unfortunately, but it's where I'm going with the podcast. This season. I'm going to interview people who have started businesses that align with their ethics. Maybe they got out of retail or finally ditch that job that crushed their soul.
[00:10:59] Miranda Black: And we're going to [00:11:00] find out how they did it because listening to inspiring stories. Is like mapping a path. Someone else did it. I can too. I'm mostly, I'm going to be talking about retail and shopping and stuff. Cause I love those things, but these questions, they apply to all vocations. There's not one employment sector that isn't undergoing a massive transformation right now from healthcare to manufacturing,
[00:11:25] Miranda Black: to chatbots taken over creative writing. It's a scary time, but it's [00:11:30] also super exciting. Now. I have a poem on de-growth that the chat bot road. Yep. Chatbots write poetry. We live in crazy times. But before I share the chat bots poem. I want to share some really great news for this podcast.
[00:11:45] Miranda Black: I sold my first advertising spot this season yet you're going to be listening to some paid advertisements, but I promise to make super fun to listen to. My first contract it's for a store I truly adore. And an owner I'd interviewed back in [00:12:00] season one, Sarah Dougal, you should check out her episode.
[00:12:02] Miranda Black: Her business story is so inspirational. I wrote the ad all by myself, no chatbots. And then I pitched the ad. And then I got to say, when I got the, yes to that ad, making that sale. It was sweet, like making your first sale when you opened a store. So here it is my first paid advertisement. And then we're going to listen to a poem made by a chat bot.
If you're a Jenny from the block or a Johnny from the block and you want a new rock, you should check out, [00:12:30] made you look jewelry. It's one of those. Where have you been? All my life stores. Now if you're also a Jenny or Johnny from the block who likes your bling made fairly by willing participants then made you look is for you, the artists, Jamal adjusts, alchemists. Okay. They're jewelers. They work right on site giving you confidence that your precious was made by consenting adults.
One of the things that I love on the major look website is being able to ask real time questions to actual staff working the floor of the website. [00:13:00] Just like you're walking into a real store. You can ask anything like how heavy is that bracelet? Will that ring fit? My fiance's finger? What gems go best with pink hair? Hint. Hint made you look jewelry for all the Jenny's and Johnny's from the block who love feeling good about their rocks.
[00:13:15] Miranda Black: A little behind the scenes of my process, that ad was totally inspired by journaling and going within to ask myself what I want from my career this year. Okay. So. Here's the poem on de-growth written by my [00:13:30] friend chat GPT.
[00:13:32] Miranda Black: Growth is good. They say it brings us wealth, but what of the earth? It's health. We take and take until it's bare. And then we wonder what's up with the air. But what if we stopped this endless chase and looked at our lives with a new face? What if we value things, not made of gold, like community leisure and stories told.
[00:13:54] Miranda Black: De-growth as a way to live a new, where we use less and waste less too. It's about [00:14:00] finding balance, not access and taking care of the earth, not just for us. So let's rethink our ways and our needs and strive for a future where everyone succeeds, where the earth is healthy. And so are we.
[00:14:15] Miranda Black: That's the kind of growth we should all agree. It's not about less. It's about more of what matters. De-growth is a new chapter. A new chapter.
[00:14:26] Miranda Black: It kind of Peters out at the end. There are repeating new chapter twice. It's a [00:14:30] bit lame. But how is an 11th grade teacher going to know that was written by a bot
[00:14:34] Miranda Black: in 0.1 seconds. . Oh,
[00:14:37] Miranda Black: If you want to go on a de-growth journey with me, make sure you're subscribed to what's this place podcast cause we're going to get real with some very interesting small businesses. It's 2023. Y'all. What does de-growth look like for businesses and entrepreneurs? Let's go inside.
[00:14:51] Miranda Black: And find out.