Mark Allen is an environmental activist who has a particular interest in behavioural change, sustainable town planning and food ethics. He started the Holistic Activism movement in 2018 as a means of finding better ways to collaborate and work towards long-term behavioural and systemic change. Mark started Town Planning Rebellion in 2020 with the intention of bringing a renewed focus to land-use planning (and urban planning in particular) into the wider environmental movement. He is a qualified town planner with a keen interest in eco-psychology.
Mark Allen has hosted 31 Episodes.
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Beyond the Petri Dish with George Tsakraklides
May 8th, 2025 | Season 7 | 47 mins 35 secs
collapse, degrowth, ecological overshoot, george tsakraklides, holistic activism, population, post-growth
In this latest episode we speak with scientist, researcher, and author George Tsakraklides about the deeper roots of humanity’s many crises. Drawing on his rich scientific background and corporate insight, George explores how our evolutionary wiring, societal structures and cultural narratives hinder meaningful change. We unpack the psychological forces driving self-destruction, the limitations of rational thought and the need to reconnect with a deeper sense of being. From the inherited challenges of activism in a world of algorithms to the quiet strength of grounded action and grief, this conversation offers a powerful lens on navigating despair and cultivating meaning in a collapsing world.
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Protecting Australian forests against the endless growth paradigm with Susie Russell
April 4th, 2025 | Season 7 | 54 mins 39 secs
australian forests, degrowth, direct action, john seed, post-growth, rainforest information centre, save bulga forest, susie russell
Susie Russell is a long-time activist and campaigner for protecting Australia’s forests who holds committee positions in The North East Forest Alliance, the North Coast Environment Council, 4Nature and The Rainforest Information Centre. Susie was awarded the Miles Dunphy Award in 2024 and soon after was arrested as part of the Save Bulga Forest movement for obstructing logging in endangered glider habitat. In this episode we explore several critical issues including the persistent effects of growth-driven capitalism on the natural environment as well as the urgent need for deep, systemic change to avert impending ecological collapse. Drawing on decades of experience in environmental and social justice activism, Susie goes on to offer a distinctive and holistic vision for a post-growth future where humanity can thrive in harmony with the natural world.
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PGAP Presents: UNSW Centre of Ideas –Degrowth
February 27th, 2025 | Season 7 | 1 hr 13 mins
bronwen morgan, centre for ideas, degrowth, jess scully, panel discussion, sabrina chakori, tommy weidmann, unsw
In 2024, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) held a panel discussion on Degrowth as part of their Centre for Ideas series. The panellists were Tommy Wiedmann (Professor of Sustainability Research), Bronwen Morgan (Professor of Law and member of NENA), and Sabrina Chakori (CSIRO researcher). The discussion was hosted by former Deputy Lord Mayor and author of Glimpses of Utopia, Jess Scully. The panel explored sustainability and the urgent challenge of ensuring human needs are met without compromising a sustainable and inclusive future. With the kind permission of UNSW Centre for Ideas, the recording of this panel discussion is now available to listen to on the Post-Growth Australia Podcast (PGAP).
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Isaac Kabongo: Degrowth, COP talks and Family Planning in Uganda
February 2nd, 2025 | Season 7 | 1 hr 6 mins
cop talks, ecological christian organisation, family planning, isaac kabongo, sustainable population australia, uganda
Isaac Kabongo is the CEO of the Uganda-based Ecological Christian Organisation (ECO), a faith-driven initiative dedicated to fostering environmental stewardship at the grassroots level. ECO works to integrate sustainability with community-led action, including raising awareness about family planning and contraception. By reframing the relationship between Christianity, family planning, and discussions around population, the organisation provides an important bridge between faith and sustainability.
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PGAP Welcomes Back Anne Poelina New Patron of SPA
January 16th, 2025 | Season 7 | 26 mins 29 secs
In late 2024, Sustainable Population Australia (SPA) proudly welcomed Professor Anne Poelina as its newest Patron. This mini-episode features the audio recording from a video interview that co-host Michael Bayliss conducted with Anne as part of SPA's Meet the Patrons series.
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In Memoriam: Dr John Coulter
December 13th, 2024 | Season 7 | 1 hr 3 mins
australian democrats, conservation, degrowth, john coulter, post-growth, sustainable population australia
In this episode of Post-Growth Australia Podcast (PGAP), we pay tribute to Dr. John Coulter, who sadly passed away in September 2024. John Richard Coulter (3 December 1930 – 6 September 2024) was a trailblazer in the conservation movement, most notably serving as Leader of the Australian Democrats in the early 1990s. In 1971, he organized an open letter published in The Australian newspaper, addressed "to those who shape Australia’s destiny," urging them to recognize the limits to growth.
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Post US Election Blues: Where Do We Take Our Activism from Here?
November 29th, 2024 | Season 7 | 47 mins 58 secs
commentary and opinion, counting backwards, degrowth, holistic activism, post-growth, us election results
The aftermath of the US election has left many of us in a state of shock. Voters were faced with a stark choice between more growth-based neoliberalism or alt right extremism, choosing the latter. It was a great day for billionaires either way. As Australia looks to face a very similar choice in mid-2025, it is clear that activists must take stock, recalibrate and work together effectively to advocate for a third alternative that celebrates people and planet. PGAP co-hosts Mark Allen and Michael Bayliss discuss their responses to the election and their recent engagements toward a Degrowth future.
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PGAP presents Rethinking Sustainability Radio Documentary
November 17th, 2024 | Season 7 | 57 mins 26 secs
clive hamilton, degrowth, ecological economics, ian lower, michael kirby, modern monetary theory, post-growth, rethinking sustainability, rod taylor, will steffen
Welcome back to a brand-new Season Seven of Post Growth Australia Podcast!
As our world teeters on the edge of an increasingly perilous environmental future—extending beyond climate change—we must ask: what does true sustainability entail? How far are we from it, what are the root causes of our current trajectory, and what paths could lead us there?
Rod Taylor (author, columnist, radio host) asks these very questions to eleven esteemed Australian scientists and thinkers in a brand-new radio documentary. PGAP is proud to be the first platform to share this thought-provoking documentary, which explores ecological economics, planned Degrowth and Modern Monetary Theory.
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A Post Growth Approach to Urban Planning with Michael Buxton
August 14th, 2024 | Season 6 | 48 mins 52 secs
degrowth, michael buxton, planning democracy, population, steady-state, town planning, urban planning
The way in which we plan our cities and towns has a huge impact on the way we live. This in turn impacts our carbon emissions and ecological footprints. Fortunately, there are a few urban planners who recognise that transitioning to a degrowth, steady-state system is imperative for the future of urban planning. Our special guest, Emeritus Professor Michael Buxton (OAM) is one such expert.
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Mini Episode: Shane Simonsen on Farming, Podcasts, Books and Population
July 26th, 2024 | Season 6 | 15 mins 13 secs
degrowth, going to seed podcast, our vitreous womb, population, shane simonsen, taming the acocalypse, zero input agriculture
We caught up with Shane to get an update of the farm - including the addition of some new four legged residents - only to discover that Shane has branched out accross many projects including: Cohosting the 'Going to Seed' podcast; authoring 'Our Vitreous Womb' and 'Taming the Apocalypse' as well as two articles on overpopulation written for 'Zero Input Agriculture'.
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World Population Day 2024 Special
July 10th, 2024 | Season 6 | 42 mins 42 secs
degrowth, holistic activism, mark allen, michael bayliss, post-growth, sustainable population australia, world population day 2024
Welcome to PGAP’s “World Population Day 2024” special episode, where your co-hosts Mark Allen and Michael Bayliss share their recent contributions to the sustainable population movement. World Population Day is an annual event, observed on July 11 every year, which seeks to raise awareness of global population issues
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Post Growth Guide with Marcus Feldthus
June 24th, 2024 | Season 6 | 1 hr 7 mins
degrowth, degrowth in business, marcus feldthus, post growth guide
For our first full length episode for this season, our special guest is Marcus Feldthus from Post Growth Guide. Post Growth Guide is a company based in Denmark, where Marcus Feldthus Oscar Haumann work within the business community to assist other organisations in transitioning toward Post-Growth ways of operation. This is crystalised in the handbook "Setting Limits To Growth:How to make better business decisions in the 21st century" which also serves as a document of their own journey, still in progress, toward becoming a Post-Growth business.
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Mini Episode: Alex Baumann on Public Housing and Degrowth
June 6th, 2024 | Season 6 | 21 mins 42 secs
alex baumann, degrowth, land tenure, public housing, sustainable futures
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Season Finale: Going deep into Deep Ecology with John Seed
April 2nd, 2024 | Season 5 | 59 mins 12 secs
deep ecology, holistic activism, john seed, rainforest information centre, world bank song
For the final episode of season 5, PGAP welcomes special guest John Seed (OAM). John is founder and director of Australia’s Rainforest Information Centre and is an Australian figurehead for the Deep Ecology Movement. A long time hero of both co-hosts Mark and Michael, John combines decades of successful environmental activism with an emphasis toward re-establishing a deep emotional connection with the natural world. It is the disconnection from nature which has resulted in the endless growth paradigm which is tearing apart our societies and our planet. John shares his thoughts on why system change is not enough and why a fundamental shift in our collective psychology is needed to get us out of this mess.
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BONUS EPISODE: Sustainable Population Australia says NO to a Big Australia
March 22nd, 2024 | Season 5 | 11 mins 59 secs
jane o'sullivan, leith van onselen, martin tye, position statement, public forum, say no to big australia campaign, sustainable population australia
For this short bonus episode of PGAP, we welcome back Martin Tye, Social Media and Promotions Coordinator of Sustainable Population Australia (SPA). Martin shares with us the details of SPA's new campaign 'Say NO to a Big Australia!' He also gives us a heads up on SPA's public forum, being held in Adelaide on April 20th, "From housing crisis to eco-crisis: Why Australia's Population Growth is Unsustainable," including keynote speakers Leith van Onselen and Dr Jane O'Sullivan.
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Finding The Money with Maren Poitras
February 29th, 2024 | Season 5 | 49 mins 43 secs
degrowth, ecological economics, film tour, finding the money, maren poitras, mmt, modern monetary theory, post-growth, sustainable population
As this episode goes to air, a brand-new documentary on Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) is touring Australia and PGAP has been given the incredible opportunity to speak to USA based director of "Finding the Money", Maren Poitras. Maren has just embarked on a screening tour of South East Australia alongside Stephanie Kelton, who is a leading proponent of the MMT movement and author of ‘The Deficit Myth’.