What happens when a military engineer walks away from the defense industry to challenge the domination paradigm and choose a life rooted in peace, sustainability, and partnership? Filmmaker and author Jim Merkel shares how awakening to the human cost of war led him to embrace “radical simplicity,” create award-winning documentaries, and dedicate his life to building a more caring, equitable world.

We explore real-world examples of partnership-based societies in Kerala, Cuba, and Slovenia—places where gender equity, sustainability, and community care are transforming lives. Jim’s story is both an urgent call to dismantle systems of domination and an inspiring roadmap for living in alignment with our deepest values. Whether you’re curious about living with less, creating lasting social change, or bridging divides in a polarized world, this episode offers wisdom, hope, and practical ways forward.

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Saving Walden’s World (Connecting with Jim Merkel) https://savingwaldensworld.org/

Books by Jim Merkel (https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/233048.Jim_Merkel)

The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future, Riane Eisler (https://centerforpartnership.org/resources/books/the-chalice-and-the-blade-our-history-our-future/)

The Power of Partnership: Seven Relationships that will Change Your Life, Riane Eisler (https://centerforpartnership.org/resources/books/the-power-of-partnership/)

Center for Partnership Systems (https://centerforpartnership.org/)

center@partnershipway.org

Resilience, Rising Appalachia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx17RvPMaQ8

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