Jamie Bristow – Exploring Systems Change

About this episode

Jamie Bristow discusses key concepts of systems change and introduces a mini-series on contemplative based systems change.

In this episode, Mind & Life co-producer Phil Walker speaks with writer and policy advisor Jamie Bristow as a prelude to our upcoming mini-series on systems change. Over the coming weeks, Jamie will serve as guest host for five episodes with expert panelists diving into a variety of topics on contemplative based systems change. As our world grows in complexity, we also find ourselves more interconnected than ever with profound challenges that often require cooperation across diverse groups with different values or goals. Systems change refers to efforts to shift the underlying structures, relationships, power dynamics, and mindsets that shape how complex systems behave. These efforts increasingly recognize that inner dimensions—such as awareness, values, and ways of relating—play a critical role in enabling lasting change. In this interview, Jamie shares key concepts of systems change and highlight areas that will be explored throughout the five episodes of the mini-series: The Work that Reconnects: Enlivening our response with active hope Healing Systems: Integrating trauma for social change Theory U: Guiding awareness-based systems change Social and Ecological Mindfulness…

People in this episode

Host: Phil Walker

Guest: Jamie Bristow

Topics covered

• systems change
• contemplative practices
• social change
• interconnectedness
• awareness
• trauma integration

Keywords

• systems change
• contemplative
• social change
• awareness
• trauma
• mindfulness
• interconnectedness

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Mind & Life Institute

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• Trauma and Healing Systems – Laura Calderon de la Barca, Kazu Haga, and Thomas Hübl · May 8, 2026 · 1h 6m
• The Work That Reconnects – Shayontoni Ghosh, Chris Johnstone, Stephanie Kaza and Phoebe Tickell · April 24, 2026 · 1h 9m
• Wendy Hasenkamp – Widening the Aperture · February 27, 2026 · 1h 15m
• Jon Kabat-Zinn – The Heart of Mindfulness [From the Archive] · December 23, 2025 · 1h 42m