When Democracy Eats Itself: Navigating the Politics of Confusion

When Democracy Eats Itself: Navigating the Politics of Confusion

Mark Edwards and Bruce Alderman explore Jean-Pierre Faye's "Horseshoe Theory," which reveals that political extremes curve toward each other when they abandon democratic norms, explaining why some voters support both Trump and AOC as anti-establishment alternatives. The discussion introduces meta-theoretical tools including Roy Bhaskar's concept of "demi-reality," Bruno Latour's analysis of "modal confusion," and the possibility of "post-conventional coalitions" that transcend left-right polarization while maintaining democratic integrity.
Ride the Tiger: The Psychedelic Renaissance Is Here

Ride the Tiger: The Psychedelic Renaissance Is Here

Carter Phipps explores how psychedelics, postmodern values, and the reawakening of consciousness are reshaping the cultural landscape and laying the groundwork for an integral future. Arguing that we must embrace — and responsibly guide — the weirdness of this transitional moment, he calls for a worldview that integrates science, spirituality, and the deep interior dimensions of human experience.
Mapping an Ecology of Integrative Approaches to Addressing the Metacrisis

Mapping an Ecology of Integrative Approaches to Addressing the Metacrisis

IAM scholars Brandon Norgaard, Nicholas Hedlund, PhD, and Claudia Meglin provide a sweeping (albeit provisional) cartography of emergent frameworks rooted in an “Integrative Worldview“—ranging from metamodernism and integral theory to systems science, process philosophy, and critical realism—that are converging around a shared impulse to address the root causes of our civilizational predicament.
Making Sense of the New Right

Making Sense of the New Right

What happens when an entire political movement loses its center of gravity and fragments into conspiracy theories, tech libertarianism, and religious separatism? Philosopher David Storey uses Integral Theory to map the post-Trump American Right and explore whether a truly developmental conservatism might emerge from the chaos.
The End of America? How the Founders’ Genius Is Breaking Down (And What We Can Do About It)

The End of America? How the Founders’ Genius Is Breaking Down (And What We Can Do About It)

Can America still save itself — or is collapse inevitable? Drawing lessons from history, developmental psychology, and the meta-crisis, Keith explores why systems built on “enlightened self-interest” are faltering… and what kind of leadership could restore the balance.
How the Metacrisis is Birthing the New Human

How the Metacrisis is Birthing the New Human

Nick Hedlund introduces Visionary Realism, a synthesis of Integral Theory and Critical Realism that addresses the root causes of our global Metacrisis. Rather than offering surface-level solutions, he invites us to align with the deeper structure of reality through aletheic resonance — a participatory, reverent way of knowing that may be key to the emergence of a new kind of human.
Becoming Whole in a Divided World

Becoming Whole in a Divided World

In this thought-provoking episode of Integral Edge, Keith Martin-Smith sits down with executive coach and consciousness explorer David Arrell to explore what it truly means to become whole, both personally and collectively, amid ongoing division and conflict.
Return to the Roots: Tantra, Mormonism, and the Mystic Heart Behind All Things

Return to the Roots: Tantra, Mormonism, and the Mystic Heart Behind All Things

Kimberley Lafferty and Thomas McConkie explore how we can return to the spiritual traditions of our childhood with new eyes — not through regression, but through transformation. Drawing from Tantra, Mormonism, and Integral spirituality, they illuminate a shared mystical core that invites us to embody divinity through both transcendence and humble, concrete service.
The Cycles of Time: Mapping Evolution at the Edge of History

The Cycles of Time: Mapping Evolution at the Edge of History

In this wide-ranging conversation, Terri O’Fallon and Keith Martin-Smith explore how human development unfolds through increasingly complex relationships with time, from infancy’s timelessness to the transpersonal awareness of timelessness beyond time. They examine how cultural evolution is accelerating, why recurring societal crises reflect developmental recursions, and how future leadership must integrate ethical maturity, shadow work, and a multi-generational vision.
How Can DEI Survive? (And Should It?)

How Can DEI Survive? (And Should It?)

Keith Martin-Smith offers a bold, developmental critique of modern DEI, tracing its evolution from fairness-based policy to postmodern orthodoxy. He explores how inclusion can become exclusion when empathy gives way to ideology—and outlines how DEI might survive by embracing complexity, dissent, and shared humanity.
Terminal Crisis: The Economic World War Has Begun

Terminal Crisis: The Economic World War Has Begun

The global system isn’t collapsing — it’s transforming. In this urgent episode, Robb Smith reveals why the U.S. is facing a historic terminal crisis, what comes next in the 700-year cycle of capital accumulation, and how a new world order — or global anarchy — is already taking shape.
A Sociology of Big Pictures: Network Strategy for a 21st Century Worldview

A Sociology of Big Pictures: Network Strategy for a 21st Century Worldview

The Institute of Applied Metatheory (IAM) presents A Sociology of Big Pictures: Network Strategy for a 21st Century Worldview by Robb Smith, an in-depth exploration of how grand integrative frameworks emerge, compete, and evolve within the modern attentional landscape. As we enter the Transformation Age — marked by rapid geopolitical, technological, ecological, and epistemic shifts — Smith argues that the need for a coherent, integrative worldview has never been greater.
Polarization and the Algorithmic Undertow: Integral and Critical Realist Perspectives

Polarization and the Algorithmic Undertow: Integral and Critical Realist Perspectives

Bruce Alderman explores how our rapid transition into a globally networked information environment has created unprecedented challenges for human cognition, social cohesion, and collective meaning-making and sensemaking.
What Were They Thinking?!? Decoding the 2024 Election

What Were They Thinking?!? Decoding the 2024 Election

David and Keith explore how individuals intersect between different vertical developmental stages (Amber, Orange, Green) and cultural value stacks (traditional, modern, and progressive) in order to make meaning and navigate complex electoral decisions, with a specific focus on the 2024 U.S. election, unpacking the interplay between cognitive development, cultural alignment, and systemic factors in understanding the diverse rationales behind people's voting behavior.
Breakdown of the World System: Q&A with Robb Smith

Breakdown of the World System: Q&A with Robb Smith

Recorded on Election Night 2024, this Q&A session with Robb Smith offers an in-depth exploration of the profound challenges facing America in the wake of the election results. As the nation grapples with critical questions about the future — such as choosing between reform and revolt, addressing increasing polarization, and recognizing the urgent need for evolved leadership — Robb offers a deep exploration of these complexities through the lens of integral theory.
An Integral Metatheory of Conservatism

An Integral Metatheory of Conservatism

In a time of political upheaval and societal change, understanding the deeper currents that shape our worldviews is more crucial than ever. Join Robb Smith in this enlightening presentation recorded during our recent election watch party, where he delves into the rich tapestry of conservatism through the lens of integral theory.
SALT for Climate: Redefining Urgency and Transformation in Climate Leadership

SALT for Climate: Redefining Urgency and Transformation in Climate Leadership

Josh Leonard sits down with Gail Hochachka and Lisa Gibson, leaders of the SALT for Climate initiative, to explore their pioneering approach to climate action. They discuss the often-overlooked psychological and social dimensions of climate work, share insights from their work on collective sensemaking and leadership training, and explain why a focus on human dynamics may be the missing piece in our response to the climate crisis.
Faces of X: Making Peace with the Culture War

Faces of X: Making Peace with the Culture War

Stephanie Lepp talks with Corey deVos about her Faces of X project, which models how we can transcend culture wars by integrating opposing perspectives. The discussion explores how the polarization we see in society mirrors unresolved polarities within ourselves, and emphasizes the need for both personal and social integration. This discussion highlights the limitations of binary thinking and the importance of synthesizing conflicting viewpoints to create more inclusive, nuanced solutions.
The Myth of Evil: Why Polarities,  Not Villains, Drive Injustice

The Myth of Evil: Why Polarities, Not Villains, Drive Injustice

Barry Johnson introduces the concept of polarity thinking, offering a revolutionary framework for addressing complex societal issues like poverty, racism, and climate change. Rather than viewing problems as having singular solutions or evil sources, Barry explains how mismanaged polarities—such as justice vs. mercy and freedom vs. equality—are at the heart of many dysfunctions. By adopting a both/and mindset, we can break vicious cycles, foster balance, and create more sustainable solutions in our personal and collective lives.
Introducing the Cultural Complexity Index

Introducing the Cultural Complexity Index

The Institute of Applied Metatheory recently chose to organize, fund and incubate a significant new Applied Metatheory Initiative called the Cultural Complexity Index, which we see as holding the potential to act as a high-leverage project for long-term social emancipation.
How America Got Here: A 50 Year Journey to Polarization

How America Got Here: A 50 Year Journey to Polarization

Robb Smith and Josh Leonard look at the deep structures — in the form of actual events, policies and decisions between 1970 and 2024 — that radically shifted America from one form of system “regime” and associated equilibrium, that of relative national coherence in the early 1970s, into a new, radically- and qualitatively-different regime and equilibrium of extreme polarized decoherence of 2024.
Healing the Infosphere: How Integral Journalism Can Elevate Public Discourse

Healing the Infosphere: How Integral Journalism Can Elevate Public Discourse

Corey deVos talks to Stefan Schultz, a journalist at Der Spiegel magazine, about his model for integral journalism that he has been developing over the past few years. This model, staggering in both its depth and its breadth, examines journalism and media literacy through a developmental lens, looking at how the infosphere shapes society and how journalism can positively influence this process.
The Psychology of Climate Change

The Psychology of Climate Change

Climate change researcher, sustainable development expert, and activist Gail Hochachka works on the front lines of climate change research, asking—and answering—questions like: How does the way we make meaning, at all our different stages of development, relate to the ways we act on climate change? How can we foster more engagement with climate change? Is climate action scalable? And how are we going to show up for the people who are facing the greatest impacts?
Bringing Soul and Integrity to American Politics

Bringing Soul and Integrity to American Politics

More than a political talk, Marianne reveals a psychological and spiritual portrait of the United States, referencing the brilliant vision of our founding fathers, Martin Luther King’s goal of Beloved Community, and telling a stirring story of the way Abraham Lincoln’s second inauguration reflects the high morality of the populace at that time.
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