Subversion and Exertion - Jess Miller Wants to Have Fun, Win Hearts and Change Cities

Today's guest is the delightful Jess Miller. Jess has been and remains a totem here in Sydney for many important and successful socially and environmentally impactful campaigns and initiatives - from delivering improved cycling infrastructure in the early 2010s to the Garage Sale Trail to the 202020 Vision or Greener Spaces Better Places program. Add to that a five year side hustle as one of Sydney's youngest ever city councillors, plus mothering and you have the ingredients for someone who is made from audacity and insanity, depending on who you ask and at what stage her visionary process is at.Jess is here is to chat about her upcoming installation at the Vivid Festival in a couple of weeks - A New Normal. This is a fascinating initiative, that has been breaking ground in Melbourne by seemingly taking a product development approach to urban development and planning. Two worlds that are seemingly distinct with very little overlap. As you'll hear in this conversation it's an attempt to transition Sydney to greater self sufficiency, greater environmental stewardship, improving social value outcomes and delivering economic benefits along the way. This work is definitely not for the feint of heart, but just about everything Jess has pursued - from spending her initial year of university in Brazil, to A New Normal - isn't for the usual operator. In many ways A New Normal is the perfect brand for her - outside the usual paradigm of thinking and doing, going from vision to action and doing it with a flare of creativity and spirit of partying along the way.Her energy is infectious and even from just a small amount of time with her she reeled me in with the persuasion, power and potential of what she is doing with A New Normal. She is part humble, part curious, part audacious, part insane. She is going for it though, and what a role model she is at a time when radical and urgent action is a panacea to our challenges but also fears and doubts. I hope you enjoy this one.I'm hosting a very exciting night at Customs House on the 29th of May in Sydney, coincidentally in the middle of the Vivid Festival where the city comes to life in a nightly light show. That night I'm doing my first big house event experience with former NSW Premier and Australian Foreign Minister, plus Friend of The Pod, Bob Carr. On the night we'll be exploring the implications of future climate action when 40% of the world's population is voting in domestic elections in 2024. It's great to be working with a couple of really great operators as part of producing this show.The first is Souling - Natasha Ritz's first book. Add the code findingnature (al one word) at checkout for 10% off the book. The second is Gilay Estate. A phenomenal new off-grid hut on the Liverpool Plains. Add Finding Nature to the description of your booking for a free dinner and breakfast bundle . Production, graphic and social media support comes from the wonderful Rob Rogers. I couldn't do this without his expertise and generous support.Send me a messageThanks for listening. Follow Finding Nature on Instagram