CTM 4: Boring Revolution with Indy Johar

Our 4th episode features Indy Johar, founding director of Zero Zero and Dark Matter Labs, discussing the need for a “boring revolution” to transform the underlying systems and values that are driving our current crises.

Indy argues we need to move beyond an extractive, ownership-based system to one based on shared value creation and recognizing our interconnectedness.

Key themes include reimagining profit as a proof of value rather than extraction, investing in societal assets like collective intelligence, reinventing bureaucracy for the digital age, and designing new civic economies that are closer to where value is generated. Indy also discusses the invisible violence embedded in current systems, the need for a “great peace” and mutually assured thriving, decentralizing organizing for compound learning, the organizations of the future, and giving language to emergent realities many are sensing,

Key Takeaways

We need a “boring revolution” to transform the deep codes, values and systems underlying today’s crises

Must move beyond ownership, dominion and separation to embracing interconnectedness

Profit should show value created, not just extracted; must invest in shared goods

Reinvent bureaucracy and governance for complexity of 21st century

Design new civic economies and organize for collective & relational intelligence

Our system causes invisible violence; need a “great peace”

Written and spoken language not sufficient to describe world we need, yet shapes and gives meaning to what many sense is happening

Below are links to articles, podcasts and other references I mention and I consulted in preparation for this episode:

- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/amitpaul-changemaker_accounting-revolution-bureaucracy-activity-7068911355528933377-ms8I

- https://futureofgood.co/mutually-assured-thriving-indy-johar-on-the-future-of-caring-for-one-another/

-https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7065052478186102784 ... continue at https://youtu.be/IrJVjrPsPus?t=2734

- https://www.thedeepdivepod.com/135

- https://boundaryless.io/podcast/dark-matter-labs/

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvmgf-8bVCo — Indy @ Creative Bureaucracy Festival

- https://www.samrye.xyz/on-relational-infrastructure/

- https://provocations.darkmatterlabs.org/dm-note-8-on-art-and-imagination-infrastructure-8b3cee1d32c6

- https://provocations.darkmatterlabs.org/innovation-needs-a-boring-revolution-741f884aab5f

- https://provocations.darkmatterlabs.org/how-do-democracies-innovate-in-a-complex-world-8f26342d164b

- https://provocations.darkmatterlabs.org/dmls-manual-of-us-d41b1c235869

- https://creativebureaucracy.org/discover/videos/the-boring-revolution-remaking-bureaucracy-for-this-century/

- https://www.ft.com/content/b1604232-bfcd-49a5-99eb-9ac540d22748

- https://www.futurebuild.co.uk/guest/indy-johar-co-founder-project-00-dark-matter-labs-senior-innovation-associate-young-foundation/

- https://forthewild.world/listen/the-edges-in-the-middle-bayo-and-indy

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhueZVPI0hU

About Curiosity That Matters

Curiosity involves lots of questions. Or just enough, good questions.

Curiosity That Matters is a series of conversation with thought leaders and experts working at the intersection of design, policy, innovation and impact.

Each episode, we spend around 45 minutes discussing a framework, concept, mental model or approach that my guest either created or is an expert on.

We cover topics such as collective imagination, expansive thinking, creative bureaucracy, nurture capital, dark matter in design & policy, the boring revolution and much more.

We talk about the guests' journey and their curiosity, and delve deep into the topics at hand.

As for the questions... I'm still working on mine

Curiosity That Matters - S01 / E04