Headspace_logo_svg
Try for freeTry for free
PodcastPart Three: Once Upon an Economy

Part Three: Once Upon an Economy

In this episode, we learn how short-termism is baked into our economy, and why we need to change the narrative. We meet poet, podcaster, and economics student GEORGE THE POET and visit The Bank Of England, where we start to reimagine a new economic storyline. Then, we talk to people from across the world who are creating new economic systems for the long-term future of this planet. This is economics for people who feel like economics isn’t for them.

Try 14 days free
Share:

Better mental health starts with Headspace. Unrivaled expertise to make life feel a little easier, using guided meditations, mindfulness tips, focus tools, sleep support, and dedicated programs.

Better mental health starts with Headspace

(mouse clicking) (soft music) Headspace Studios. (soft music) My name is George the Poet. When I was 17, 18, there was a musical revolution across my community, and this was called "Funky House". (bumping music) So it was an adaptation of house music, but it was interesting that funky house took off among young Londoners at the time because we were used to grime, rap, and dancehall Jamaican music. And in all of those forms, it's like an energy shot. But funky house was a different style altogether. It, first of all, was a slow burner. It would take a long time for the main melody to kick in. It didn't give you a chorus. It didn't give you a single lyric for the first three minutes of the song. Secondly, it was really long. We were learning seven minute songs, us young Londoners. I had only ever seen us as having a very short attention span. And that really just moved me profoundly because I still loved it. We all loved it. That taught me that people can listen differently. I'm saying, all right, if we can listen to longer songs, I wonder if we can listen to more elaborate ideas. Like what if I could tell more detailed stories? And my writing became more and more like that. Everyone knew me. In rap circles, they knew me as a storytelling rapper. And I just invited my audience to trust that. I invited them to not be impatient 'cause that's what funky house taught me. Whatever I can say, just like funky did, these are my terms. In embarking on my podcasting journey I sought to do what funky house did for us as teenagers. I sought to give the listener an opportunity to enter a new world. I talk about the relationship between crime and music in street culture. I talk about the migrant crisis of 2015 and how it spoke to a wider context. I talk about Ugandan politics. I talk about the Grenfell tragedy. World events that will allow me to indicate to a young person how they might wanna respond to society and contribute. That might not be for everyone, and maybe, yeah, I'm not getting many views and many listens in the first year. But in the second year we like won every single award. The listeners proved me right. (bumping music) If you're not familiar with this voice, meet George the Poet, spoken word artist, social commentator, and the Peabody Award-winning creator of "Have You Heard George's Podcast?" This story about being inspired by funky house carries so many of the Long Time ideas, taking your time and not rushing, seeing the bigger picture, highlighting and exploring the structures that shape our lives, and finding new stories for them. But there's another reason George is with us today. He's just begun a PhD in economics. In which I look at the role of black music in creating value across black life worldwide. The...

Details

TypePodcast
Duration66 min

About your teachers

  • A former Buddhist monk, Andy has guided people in meditation and mindfulness for 20 years. In his mission to make these practices accessible to all, he co-created the Headspace app in 2010.

    More about Andy
  • Eve is a mindfulness teacher, overseeing Headspace’s meditation curriculum. She is passionate about sharing meditation to help others feel less stressed and experience more compassion in their lives.

    More about Eve
  • As a meditation teacher, Dora encourages others to live, breathe, and be with the fullness of their experiences. She loves meditation’s power to create community and bring clarity to people’s minds.

    More about Dora
  • Kessonga has been an acupuncturists, therapist, and meditation teacher, working to bring mindfulness to the diverse populations of the world.

    More about Kessonga
  • Rosie Acosta has studied yoga and mindfulness for more than 20 years and taught for over a decade. Rosie’s mission is to help others overcome adversity and experience radical love.

    More about Rosie
Look After Your Mind

Look after your mind

Proven guided meditations and programs to help you stress less, sleep more soundly, and better navigate life’s challenges

Science Backed

Science-backed

Studies show that using Headspace for 30 days can reduce stress, increase resilience, and improve overall well-being

Explore Content

Explore 1000+ 
expert-led exercises

Access our library of meditations, breathing exercises, and guidance videos for stress, sleep, focus, everyday anxiety , parenting, and more.

Member reviews

Hear from some of our members

Your app brings so much peace and tolerance to our home.

Rachel

UK

Member-Icon-01

Changing my thoughts has allowed me to change my life.

Davide

London

Member-Icon-04

The stress and loneliness courses … taught me how to comfort myself.

Alicia

Canada

Member-Icon-03

Headspace provides me with … a connection to myself, and a disconnection from negative thoughts, feelings, and sensations.

Keri

UK

Member-Icon-02

Related to 'Part Three Once Upon An'

More to explore

Beginning Meditation

Explore-More-Icon-02

Reframe Stress and Relax

Explore-More-Icon-01

New and Popular

Explore-More-Icon-03

Becoming a Mindful Parent

Explore-More-Icon-04
    • Terms & conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Consumer Health Data
    • Your privacy choices
      Privacy Choices Icon
    • CA Privacy Notice
  • © 2024 Headspace Inc.
  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Consumer Health Data
  • Your privacy choices
    Privacy Choices Icon
  • CA Privacy Notice