Stay Calm In the Midst of Chaos | Ian Brown

I’ve long felt that every experience we have, and the people we interact with, is an opportunity to leave that interaction either better or worse. – Ian Brown

HOW TO STAY CALM IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS

No matter where in the world you live, it’s hard to miss the tension out there these days. Shouting matches, name-calling and one-sided debates are the new norm. With all of this emotion fuelling the political arena, where does this leave us?

In this episode, we discuss what it takes to stay calm in the face of chaos. My guest, Ian Brown, is an award-winning photographer whose work focuses on the human condition. Long fascinated by the elusive American Dream, Ian set out to document what this notion means to Americans of all ages, races, identities, classes, religions, and ideologies.

Over the course of twelve years, Ian travelled more than eighty thousand miles in an old truck, visiting all fifty states and connecting with hundreds of individual Americans. As a Canadian investigating the fabric of America, Ian offers an intimate look at this divided country. His stunning portraits, and collection of hand-written stories from the Americans he met along the way, are showcased in his new book, “American Dreams”.

In our conversation, Ian shares what he learned about true diversity on his journey into the heart of America. He explains how listening is a key to bring us closer together, and why he remains hopeful for the future.

Subscribe to Wake Up Shake Up in your favourite listening app: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Overcast. While you’re there we would greatly appreciate if you take a moment to rate and review the show. 

MORE ABOUT IAN BROWN

Ian Brown is an award-winning photographer whose work focuses on the human condition. He survived cancer at the age of 19, a heart attack at age 32, and being shot at in the middle of a civil war in Colombia while on assignment with Doctors Without Borders. When he’s not on the road, Ian lives in Toronto, Canada.

• American Dreams Project
• Website
• Instagram

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT…

• Ian’s new book, “American Dreams”, published by Penguin Random House: for release on August 25 and now available to pre-order 
• The American Dreams project, as featured in this New York Times piece
• The Ingenuity Gap by Thomas Homer-Dixon
• Experiencing the moment as it happens, in this memorable scene from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
• Fake news websites and their role in dividing American society
• David Letterman’s interview with President Barack Obama on My Next Guest

ABOUT WAKE UP SHAKE UP

If you enjoy this podcast, we would greatly appreciate if you could take a moment rate and review the show in Apple podcasts.

For more bits of inspiration everyday, be sure to sign up to receive our newsletter. You’ll receive exclusive content and updates about the latest episodes of Wake Up Shake Up.

Aimée DuBrule, CultureRISE
Host and Producer

Jenn MacLeod, Jenneve Digital
Media Production

(All photos courtesy of Ian Brown)