“Is Trump a Symptom—or a Wake-Up Call? Reflections on 2025”

Was 2025 a year we should forget—or the year everything finally became undeniable? As we step into 2026, the hosts of The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations take on the hardest questions of our time: polarization, democracy, violence, climate disruption, and the collapse of shared meaning. This conversation is honest, provocative, and deeply personal—and we don’t all agree. If you’re wondering where to put your energy now, this episode is for you.

🧭 Show Notes – Episode Summary

In this special 2025 Reflections / 2026 Looking Forward episode, all three hosts—John Izzo, Alain (Alon) Gauthier, and Jim Burke—come together to examine what 2025 revealed about the state of humanity, democracy, and the planet.

They explore:

• How social media algorithms curate entirely different realities—and fuel polarization
• Why the rule of law and social norms are breaking down globally
• Whether figures like Donald Trump are causes—or symptoms of a deeper systemic failure
• The rise of narcissism at every level: individual, national, and even species-wide
• Why mitigation alone is no longer enough for climate change—and why adaptation and regeneration must happen together
• The twin inflection points of democracy and artificial intelligence in 2026
• Why the real work ahead is inner and outer, personal and systemic

The conversation moves beyond headlines and elections to ask a deeper question: Who are we becoming—and how will we choose to respond?

This episode also gives listeners a rare chance to get to know the hosts personally: what grounds them, what challenges them, and where they’re putting their energy in the year ahead.

👥 Host Bios

Dr John Izzo, PhD

John Izzo is a bestselling author, speaker, and former Presbyterian minister whose work focuses on purpose, meaning, leadership, and the future of humanity. He brings moral clarity, historical depth, and a gift for asking the questions most people avoid. John is the author of multiple books, including The Purpose Revolution: How Leaders Create Engagement and Completive Advantage in an Age of Social Good, and a longtime voice calling for deeper reflection in times of disruption.

Alain Gauthier

Alain is a systems thinker, facilitator, and co-creator of the Regenerative Elder process. Drawing from Indigenous history, lived experience, and spiritual inquiry, he helps individuals and communities integrate inner transformation with outer action. His work focuses on regeneration, resilience, and the re-emergence of elder wisdom in a fractured world.

Jim Burke

Jim Burke is the producer of The Way Forward and a lifelong health professional, systems thinker, and climate activist. He serves on multiple local and regional committees focused on infrastructure, climate resilience, and regenerative community development. Jim is deeply interested in longevity, lifestyle medicine, clean energy, and redefining elderhood for the 21st century.

🔗 Links & Where to Find Us

Podcast & Website: 👉 https://thewayforwardrc.com

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🙏 With Gratitude to Our Sponsors

This podcast is made possible by the generous support of Elders Action Network and Elders Climate Action.

Their work empowers elders across the country to step into leadership on climate, democracy, and social justice—exactly the kind of engagement this moment calls for.

Learn more and get involved:

• https://eldersaction.org
• https://eldersclimateaction.org