S3E2: The Polycrisis Is Here- Why Fighting Harder May Not Get Us Further

Episode Description We're living through a polycrisis: multiple overlapping crises accelerating each other, which has only intensified this year with the energy of the Year of the Fire Horse. In episode 2, recorded live in Albuquerque, host Norma Wong shares an important lesson. Our instinct to respond to crises by fighting harder, maneuvering for position, or escalating efforts can work against us strategically. Aggressive action is not necessarily forward-moving action. Chhaya Chhoum of Southeast Asian Freedom Network joins Norma to discuss the structural realities shaping this moment: a K-shaped economy, a wave of decentralization, and the vacuum it creates. They also explore burnout culture within movements, identity, and time. They even talk about time itself: that we're never only living in the present. Instead, we always carry the past and already see the future coming, like a driver holding the rearview mirror and the road ahead at once. The real discipline, Norma suggests, is acting on what we can already see coming. In This Episode -How the fast, "double fire" energy of the Year of the Fire Horse shows up in current events, and why things are escalating so quickly -Why lone wolf violence is a symptom of this moment, and what we can do about it. -Why maneuvering and aggressive action can feel like progress while actually being a step backward -How holding onto a fixed definition of who you are can limit how much you're able to grow Featured Guest Chhaya Chhoum- Organizer with SEAFN (Southeast Asian Freedom Network). Instagram: @seafnofficial | @chhayachhoum Facebook: SEAFN | Chhaya Chhoum Find us: thehorizonstory.com | Substack | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts If this conversation resonated with you, share it with someone who's ready to hear it. And if you'd like to help keep this work going, consider becoming a supporter of the show.