Nic Adams on AI, Rare Earth Minerals, and Human Talent in Cybersecurity and Advanced Electronics

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): A Further Inquiry

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/11/02

Nic Adams is the Co-Founder and CEO of 0rcus, the first privatized U.S. commercial hacking startup built by elite black hats to outpace nation-state threats and redefine modern cybersecurity. With roots in offensive threat design and non-attributable operations, Adams has advised both national security stakeholders and private sector leaders on advanced exploitation and AI-driven attack surfaces. A frequent commentator in Forbes, DowJones MarketWatch, and SC Magazine, he brings real-world adversarial expertise to building proactive, resilient security systems. Represented by Brenda Christensen of Stellar Public Relations, Adams is a recognized voice in cybersecurity, AI security, and digital defense.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: How is the future of AI and advanced electronics linked to rare earth minerals?

Nic Adams: The future trajectory of artificial intelligence and advanced electronics is intrinsically linked to the availability of specific rare earth minerals and critical metals, whose unique properties are indispensable for next generation hardware. Neodymium and Dysprosium are paramount due to their critical role in high strength permanent magnets, essential for efficient electric motors in robotics, actuators in advanced AI hardware, and cooling systems in high density data centers. Gallium and Germanium are vital for advanced semiconductors, particularly in high frequency and high power applications that enable faster processing and greater energy efficiency in AI chips and specialized processors. Lithium remains fundamental for high capacity, high density batteries powering mobile AI devices, autonomous systems, and energy storage for data centers. Beyond these, Terbium and Europium are crucial for phosphors in advanced display technologies and sensors, while Yttrium is critical in specialized ceramics and as a component in certain superconductors. These elements are chosen for their superior magnetic, electrical, and optical properties that cannot be economically replicated by more abundant alternatives, directly impacting computational performance, energy efficiency, and miniaturization capabilities.

Jacobsen: How is insecurity globally working in this context?

Adams: The current global supply chains for rare earth minerals and critical metals are characterized by significant insecurity, largely due to extreme geographical concentration and the resulting geopolitical risks. China dominates the extraction, processing, and refining of many of these critical materials, controlling approximately 60% of global rare earth mining and over 80% of refining capacity. This near monopoly creates a profound single point of failure and provides China with considerable economic leverage. Geopolitical risks include the potential for export restrictions, as observed with past Chinese limitations on certain rare earths, which could severely disrupt global manufacturing. Trade disputes, such as those involving the United States, can lead to the weaponization of supply chains. Furthermore, environmental regulations in major producing nations, or increased domestic demand within those countries, can also impact global availability. The long lead times for developing new mining and refining capacities outside of dominant producers, typically 10 to 20 years from discovery to production, exacerbate this insecurity, leaving consumer nations highly vulnerable to supply shocks. Diversification efforts are underway but are projected to progress slowly over the next 5 to 10 years, meaning heavy reliance on existing concentrated supply chains will persist.

Jacobsen: What about the factor of human talent in this environment?

Adams: Human talent constitutes the foundational bedrock for advancing AI and hardware innovation, far beyond the mere availability of raw materials. Chip designers are the architects of the physical infrastructure, translating complex computational demands into efficient silicon designs that underpin AI processing. Their expertise in materials science, quantum physics, and semiconductor engineering directly dictates the speed, power consumption, and form factor of AI hardware. AI ethicists are equally critical, albeit in a non technical capacity, guiding the responsible development and deployment of AI systems. Their role involves identifying and mitigating algorithmic bias, ensuring data privacy, establishing frameworks for accountability, and addressing the societal implications of autonomous AI. Beyond these, data scientists are indispensable for curating, processing, and interpreting the massive datasets that train AI models. Machine learning engineers translate theoretical models into practical applications. Software engineers develop the operating systems and applications that run on advanced hardware. The interplay of these diverse human skills, from theoretical abstraction to practical implementation and ethical oversight, is what drives the entire innovation lifecycle in AI and hardware. Without this human capital, even abundant material resources remain inert.

Jacobsen: AI research scientists are a limited resource. What does that mean in this context?

Adams: The AI and electronics sectors face significant talent gaps, primarily in highly specialized interdisciplinary roles. The most acute shortages are observed in AI research scientists with expertise in areas like reinforcement learning and natural language processing, machine learning engineers capable of deploying and scaling AI models, and specialized hardware engineers proficient in ASIC design, quantum computing architecture, and novel materials science. Data from Randstad in late 2024 indicates that the demand for AI skills has grown fivefold in the last year, with 64% of organizations struggling to hire AI professionals. Furthermore, there is a notable gap in AI ethics and governance professionals, a field that saw 65% year over year job growth in 2024, highlighting the emergent need for responsible AI deployment. To close these gaps, multi faceted strategies are required. Increased investment in STEM education at all levels, from K-12 to postgraduate, is fundamental, emphasizing hands on learning and problem solving in AI and electronics. Industry academia partnerships are essential to align curricula with market demands. Reskilling and upskilling programs for the existing workforce can rapidly transition professionals into AI roles. Finally, fostering diversity and inclusion in STEM fields can broaden the talent pool by actively engaging underrepresented groups, leveraging untapped intellectual capital.

Jacobsen: How can people invest in human capital more and what will be the effects?

Adams: Investments in education, retraining, and diversity within STEM fields are fundamental determinants of long term technological competitiveness, yielding profound and multifaceted impacts. Education, particularly at advanced levels, directly cultivates the fundamental research capabilities and engineering prowess necessary for breakthroughs in AI and advanced electronics. It builds the pipeline of qualified professionals who can innovate, develop, and deploy cutting edge technologies. Retraining programs address immediate skill mismatches, rapidly upskilling the existing workforce to adapt to evolving technological demands, thereby maximizing human capital utilization and minimizing talent bottlenecks. This ensures a responsive and agile workforce capable of absorbing new advancements. Diversity in STEM fields is a critical, often underestimated, accelerant of innovation. Diverse teams, encompassing varied cognitive styles, cultural perspectives, and lived experiences, demonstrably lead to more robust problem solving, enhanced creativity, and a reduction in inherent biases within technological solutions. A 2020 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that diverse teams outperform homogeneous teams, even if the latter are considered individually more capable, due to the broader range of perspectives. While women comprise only 35% of STEM occupations and Black individuals 9%, despite making up 11% of all jobs, increasing their representation unlocks significant untapped innovative potential. By expanding the talent pool and enriching intellectual discourse, these investments directly translate into superior technological innovation, enhanced global competitiveness, and a more resilient national economy capable of adapting to future technological paradigm shifts.

Jacobsen: How can technological advancement in materials science introduce more efficient and novel means of producing the needed materials, even less reliance on virgin rare earth minerals?

Adams: Yes, both technological innovation in materials science and advancements in recycling can significantly reduce dependence on virgin rare earth minerals, though the timeline for substantial impact varies. Technological innovation focuses on developing alternative materials or redesigning components to minimize or eliminate the need for rare earths. This includes research into rare earth free magnets (e.g. using manganese bismuth or iron nitride), advancements in solid state batteries that reduce reliance on lithium, and optimizing semiconductor designs to use less critical elements. While promising, these are long term initiatives, with widespread commercialization and substitution likely taking 5 to 15 years, depending on the specific application and R&D breakthroughs. Recycling innovations, particularly for end of life products containing rare earth elements (e.g. consumer electronics, electric vehicle batteries, wind turbine magnets), offer a more immediate and tangible pathway to reduced dependence. New processes like hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, and direct magnet recycling using copper salts or selective extraction have demonstrated high recovery rates (up to 98% for certain REEs). China currently leads in rare earth recycling patents, but Western nations are rapidly investing. Significant scaling of domestic recycling facilities, incentivizing consumer recycling, and improving collection infrastructure for electronic waste could yield measurable reductions in primary demand within 3 to 7 years, providing a faster, more sustainable route to supply chain security.

Jacobsen: People and critical materials are scarce. Any final thoughts on this points of contact?

Adams: The challenges of sourcing critical materials and human talent are deeply intertwined and represent a dual constraint on sustainable innovation. The development of advanced AI and electronics hardware, which drives innovation, is directly reliant on the availability of rare earth minerals. However, the expertise to efficiently extract, refine, and integrate these materials into complex systems (from materials scientists to chemical engineers) is itself a critical talent pool facing shortages. The intersection becomes particularly acute in areas such as developing new rare earth free materials or implementing advanced recycling technologies. These solutions, vital for long term material sustainability, cannot progress without highly specialized research scientists, engineers, and technicians. Conversely, without access to these critical materials, even the most brilliant human talent cannot translate innovative designs into physical products, leading to a bottleneck in hardware development. For sustainable innovation, this means a holistic strategy is required. Investments in materials science research and pilot recycling plants must be coupled with parallel investments in STEM education and workforce development specifically for these niche areas. Failure to address either the material or the human capital deficit will inevitably impede the pace and scale of future technological advancements, creating an unsustainable innovation ecosystem where theoretical breakthroughs cannot be materialized or deployed.

Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Nic.

Last updated May 3, 2025. These terms govern all In-Sight Publishing content—past, present, and future—and supersede any prior notices.  In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons BY‑NC‑ND 4.0; © In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen 2012–Present. All trademarks, performances, databases & branding are owned by their rights holders; no use without permission. Unauthorized copying, modification, framing or public communication is prohibited. External links are not endorsed. Cookies & tracking require consent, and data processing complies with PIPEDA & GDPR; no data from children < 13 (COPPA). Content meets WCAG 2.1 AA under the Accessible Canada Act & is preserved in open archival formats with backups. Excerpts & links require full credit & hyperlink; limited quoting under fair-dealing & fair-use. All content is informational; no liability for errors or omissions: Feedback welcome, and verified errors corrected promptly. For permissions or DMCA notices, email: [email protected]. Site use is governed by BC laws; content is “as‑is,” liability limited, users indemnify us; moral, performers’ & database sui generis rights reserved.

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AI, Chips, and Global Power: Joshua Charles on Geopolitics and Energy Resilience

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): A Further Inquiry

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/11/01

Joshua Charles is the CEO and Founder of Frontier Dominion, a strategist and policy entrepreneur specializing in great power competition, U.S. foreign policy, energy resilience, cybersecurity, and frontier markets in Africa and the Middle East. With a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University, he brings expertise in econometrics, national security, and emerging technologies. At Frontier Dominion, Charles provides institutional investors and policymakers with forward-looking intelligence on critical minerals, market entry strategies, and AI-driven innovation. His insights on geopolitics, defense, and economic resilience are regularly featured in policy commentary and global media.

In this interview with Scott Douglas Jacobsen, Charles examines how AI and semiconductor dynamics are transforming global power structures. Charles highlights the strategic rivalry between the U.S. and China while noting the potential for nations like Japan, Vietnam, and African countries to play pivotal roles. He emphasizes safeguarding chip production through Indo-Pacific security, domestic investment, and Africa’s leverage in rare earth alternatives. Charles also identifies rising AI threats such as cyberattacks and deep fakes, while stressing energy resilience through infrastructure, regulation, and partnerships. He concludes that AI-chip diplomacy will eventually stabilize global power, though not yet.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: How do you see AI development reshaping great power competition?

Joshua Charles: I envisage AI development reshaping great power competition by materially enhancing the power and influence of countries that are able to gain either a competitive advantage or absolute advantage in AI tools and infrastructure. China and the United States are two powers to monitor, though countries like Japan and Vietnam, for instance, may leapfrog in global power dynamics relative to other nations should their diplomatic strategies in AI and geopolitics serve them well.

Jacobsen: What strategies should the U.S. adopt to safeguard chip production?

Charles: The U.S. should increase its military resources in the Indo-Pacific region to protect the existing supply chain in Taiwan, while it bolsters its chip production domestically. The U.S. government may acquire stakes in different chip producers to inject more capital into existing suppliers that may have financial deficits to produce chips domestically as quickly as they likely desire.

Jacobsen: How can Africa leverage resources to become a decisive player in semiconductor supply chains?

Charles: Africa can leverage its resources to become a decisive player in semiconductor supply chains by scaling assembly, packaging & test hubs for AI accelerator packaging. Furthermore, serving as a location point for the refinement of gallium and germanium alternatives would shift the global reliance on China, which has recently added regulation to protecting its rare earth elements.

Jacobsen: What emerging threats should governments and private actors be prepared for with AI?

Charles: Governments and private actors should be prepared to face emerging threats such as increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks and information manipulation such as deep fakes.

Jacobsen: How can the U.S. and its partners ensure energy resilience?

Charles: The U.S. and its partners can ensure energy resilience by addressing three core issues stalling sufficient energy production: (1) mobilizing financial resources to construct transmission lines expeditiously, (2) cautiously removing regulatory red tape for environmentally friendly projects, and (3) form public-private partnerships to create the ecosystem required to finance large scale energy projects.

Jacobsen: How might the Middle East’s growing role in energy and digital infrastructure intersect with the U.S.-China rivalry?

Charles: I postulate that the Middle East will continue to invest in the Global South, with a strong focus on African countries in Southern Africa such as Zambia, Botswana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will likely lead these investments from the Middle East.

Jacobsen: What signals or market indicators can anticipate geopolitical shifts in the AI-chip race?

Charles: I would argue that it is the physical vulnerability of supply chains, ranging from fabs in East Asia to corridor transportation and logistics, that can anticipate geopolitical shifts in the AI-chip race.

Jacobsen: Do you foresee AI and chip diplomacy stabilizing global power structures?

Charles: In the future, certainly. However, in the interim, no. I believe global power structures are highly adaptative to whoever dominates across AI and chip diplomacy.

Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Joshua.

Last updated May 3, 2025. These terms govern all In-Sight Publishing content—past, present, and future—and supersede any prior notices.  In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons BY‑NC‑ND 4.0; © In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen 2012–Present. All trademarks, performances, databases & branding are owned by their rights holders; no use without permission. Unauthorized copying, modification, framing or public communication is prohibited. External links are not endorsed. Cookies & tracking require consent, and data processing complies with PIPEDA & GDPR; no data from children < 13 (COPPA). Content meets WCAG 2.1 AA under the Accessible Canada Act & is preserved in open archival formats with backups. Excerpts & links require full credit & hyperlink; limited quoting under fair-dealing & fair-use. All content is informational; no liability for errors or omissions: Feedback welcome, and verified errors corrected promptly. For permissions or DMCA notices, email: [email protected]. Site use is governed by BC laws; content is “as‑is,” liability limited, users indemnify us; moral, performers’ & database sui generis rights reserved.

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Magnesium: Arlena Crouch on Wellness, Energy, and Recovery

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): A Further Inquiry

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/11/01

Arlena Crouch is the founder of Heavenly Hands Massage and Bodywork, where she integrates massage therapy, holistic health coaching, and biblical nutrition principles to support women’s wellness and inner healing. With expertise spanning movement medicine, natural health, and hormone balance, she empowers clients to pursue vitality through sustainable lifestyle practices. Arlena emphasizes recovery, functional strength, and authentic beauty over aesthetics, guiding women toward resilience and long-term health. A writer and practitioner, she shares insights on fitness, nutrition, and minimalist self-care, championing holistic health rooted in wisdom, faith, and the body’s innate ability to heal and thrive.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Why does magnesium matter to the body?

Arlena Crouch: Magnesium is essential to over 300 bodily processes and plays a critical role in nerve conduction, muscle function, and cellular energy production. At the mitochondrial level, the powerhouse of the cell, magnesium is required to generate ATP, the body and cell’s primary energy source. This makes it foundational for energy metabolism and physical recovery.

Jacobsen: What is its general role in maintaining health and balance?

Crouch: Magnesium helps regulate the balance between tension and relaxation in the body. It supports everything from cardiovascular balance to stress resilience and sleep. It also balances calcium, allows muscles to relax, supports electrolyte balance, and facilitates cellular repair by enabling mitochondrial density, which is essential for optimal cell integrity and nutrient absorption.

Jacobsen: What are the common signs of deficiency?

Magnesium deficiency often includes muscle cramps, tension, fatigue, brain fog, and poor sleep. Because magnesium is depleted through stress, sweat, and high activity, even active individuals with a “clean” diet could unknowingly have suboptimal levels, which can impair recovery and increase inflammation. 

Jacobsen: What are the potential benefits related to sleep, stress, or energy?

Crouch: Magnesium promotes deeper, restorative sleep by calming the nervous system and reducing cortisol spikes. It supports adrenal and mitochondrial health, which directly impacts your energy levels and stress resilience, making it a natural aid for anyone battling burnout or fatigue. Transdermal options, such as magnesium chloride gel, magnesium flakes (a form of Epsom salt that’s highly absorbable), and magnesium oils, are beneficial post-activity to replenish levels quickly and can aid in deeper sleep. 

Jacobsen: When and why supplementation might be necessary?

Crouch: In that world with soil depletion–which means vegetation depletion– supplementation has become necessary. In addition to this, dietary intake, absorption, or lifestyle factors, such as extreme stress and intense exercise, can create a need for supplementing magnesium, in addition to getting as much of it as possible in your diet. These factors named exceed what food alone can replenish in today’s world. One way to get magnesium into your body without any absorption barriers is topical magnesium chloride products (e.g., flakes, oils). These are highly bioavailable and effective options with minimal GI side effects, beneficial for muscle recovery and energy restoration, and can positively affect magnesium levels. When used appropriately, these products and internal magnesium supplementation are considered both safe and essential to long-term wellness and performance.

Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Arlena.

Last updated May 3, 2025. These terms govern all In-Sight Publishing content—past, present, and future—and supersede any prior notices.  In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons BY‑NC‑ND 4.0; © In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen 2012–Present. All trademarks, performances, databases & branding are owned by their rights holders; no use without permission. Unauthorized copying, modification, framing or public communication is prohibited. External links are not endorsed. Cookies & tracking require consent, and data processing complies with PIPEDA & GDPR; no data from children < 13 (COPPA). Content meets WCAG 2.1 AA under the Accessible Canada Act & is preserved in open archival formats with backups. Excerpts & links require full credit & hyperlink; limited quoting under fair-dealing & fair-use. All content is informational; no liability for errors or omissions: Feedback welcome, and verified errors corrected promptly. For permissions or DMCA notices, email: [email protected]. Site use is governed by BC laws; content is “as‑is,” liability limited, users indemnify us; moral, performers’ & database sui generis rights reserved.

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Fertility Specialist Dr. Madeline Kaye on PCOS, Egg Freezing, and Advances in Reproductive Care

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): A Further Inquiry

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/10/31

Dr. Madeline Kaye is a fertility specialist at the Texas Fertility Center who helps individuals and couples start and grow their families. Using advanced fertility treatments and personalized care plans, she diagnoses and treats the complex causes of infertility. With experience working as both an OB/GYN and later a fertility specialist, Dr. Kaye offers a comprehensive approach to women’s and reproductive healthcare. Although she cares for patients facing all types of infertility, she is especially passionate about providing integrated care for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and egg freezing patients. Her goal is to offer world-class care and compassion while empowering patients on the path to parenthood.

In this interview with Scott Douglas Jacobsen, Dr. Kaye highlights the importance of multidisciplinary care, mental health support, and emerging technologies, such as AI and stem cell research, in shaping the future of reproductive medicine.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: How do you help women with PCOS improve fertility outcomes?

Dr. Madeline Kaye: PCOS affects fertility primarily through two mechanisms: hormonal miscommunication between the brain and ovaries, and insulin resistance. Both contribute to irregular ovulation, the biggest barrier to conception. Because of this, treatment is multifaceted. We focus on lifestyle strategies—nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management—that strongly influence hormonal and metabolic health. Depending on individual needs, we may also recommend supplements or medications to improve insulin sensitivity. When ovulation remains a challenge, fertility-specific medications can help restore hormonal signaling and increase the chances of pregnancy.

Jacobsen: What are the most effective fertility treatments for PCOS patients?

Kaye: For some women with PCOS, lifestyle changes alone can be enough to restore ovulation. But many need additional support, and this is where fertility medications are highly effective. The most common first-line treatment is letrozole (Femara), which stimulates egg growth and maturation by altering estrogen signaling in the brain. Letrozole can be used alone or combined with intrauterine insemination (IUI) to improve success rates. In other cases, in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be recommended. IVF is often particularly successful in women with PCOS, since they usually have a higher egg reserve, allowing for more opportunities to create healthy embryos.

Jacobsen: How can lifestyle changes complement fertility treatments when there is polycystic ovary syndrome?

Kaye: Lifestyle changes are a powerful way to support fertility for women with PCOS. By improving insulin resistance and promoting hormonal balance, they can help restore more regular ovulation—and for some, this may be enough to achieve pregnancy without additional treatment. Even when medications or procedures are needed, a foundation of healthy eating, regular movement, adequate sleep, and stress management not only enhances treatment effectiveness but also supports long-term reproductive and overall health.

Jacobsen: What barriers exist in receiving early diagnosis and treatment for PCOS-related infertility?

Kaye: PCOS is complex and looks different for every patient, which can make diagnosis challenging. Many healthcare providers have limited training in PCOS or lack the time and resources to provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary care. In addition, education about what a normal menstrual cycle looks like is often insufficient. As a result, women may not realize their cycles are irregular—or that PCOS could be the underlying cause—leading to delays in both diagnosis and treatment.

Jacobsen: How does integrated, multidisciplinary care improve fertility success?

Kaye: Because lifestyle factors are central to managing PCOS, a multidisciplinary approach offers the best outcomes. In my practice, I often collaborate with dietitians, and ideally every patient would also have access to fitness professionals, mental health providers, and dermatologists. This team-based care ensures patients receive comprehensive support—addressing not just ovulation and fertility, but overall well-being.

Jacobsen: What role does mental health support play in fertility treatment?

Kaye: Mental health support is essential, yet too often overlooked. Infertility is an incredibly stressful journey, and chronic stress can worsen hormonal imbalances by raising cortisol levels. Having strong emotional support—whether from loved ones or mental health professionals—can make a meaningful difference. Practices like therapy, meditation, yoga, or other stress-reducing activities not only help patients cope but may also support better hormonal regulation and fertility outcomes.

Jacobsen: How are you advancing reproductive care for women with complex fertility conditions?

Kaye: I prioritize understanding each patient’s individual goals and concerns, then tailoring care accordingly. We dedicate time to addressing lifestyle factors that influence fertility while integrating evidence-based medical treatments. Collaborating with other specialists allows us to deliver more comprehensive, personalized care and maximize the chances of success for women facing complex fertility challenges.

Jacobsen: What emerging technologies and treatments shape the future of fertility care?

Kaye: Fertility care is rapidly evolving, with new technologies expanding what’s possible. Artificial intelligence is being harnessed to improve patient counseling, embryo and sperm selection, and treatment planning. IVF laboratories are becoming increasingly automated, reducing errors and potentially improving access. Researchers are exploring stem cell therapies to regenerate eggs, as well as novel diagnostic tools to better evaluate the endometrium and implantation. These innovations hold promise for making fertility care more precise, effective, and widely accessible in the future.

Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Dr. Kaye.

Last updated May 3, 2025. These terms govern all In-Sight Publishing content—past, present, and future—and supersede any prior notices.  In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons BY‑NC‑ND 4.0; © In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen 2012–Present. All trademarks, performances, databases & branding are owned by their rights holders; no use without permission. Unauthorized copying, modification, framing or public communication is prohibited. External links are not endorsed. Cookies & tracking require consent, and data processing complies with PIPEDA & GDPR; no data from children < 13 (COPPA). Content meets WCAG 2.1 AA under the Accessible Canada Act & is preserved in open archival formats with backups. Excerpts & links require full credit & hyperlink; limited quoting under fair-dealing & fair-use. All content is informational; no liability for errors or omissions: Feedback welcome, and verified errors corrected promptly. For permissions or DMCA notices, email: [email protected]. Site use is governed by BC laws; content is “as‑is,” liability limited, users indemnify us; moral, performers’ & database sui generis rights reserved.

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Vernon Oakes on Cooperative Principles, Economic Dignity, and the Power of Shared Ownership

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): A Further Inquiry

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/10/30

Part 2 of 2

Vernon Oakes hosts Everything Co-op, a weekly radio show and podcast on cooperative economics airing on WOL 1450 AM in Washington, D.C. He is the General Partner of Everything: Coop Communications LLC. In 2024, Oakes was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame for elevating cooperative leaders and educating listeners nationwide. His program features practitioners across credit unions, workers, consumers, housing, and purchasing co-ops, emphasizing democratic governance, shared ownership, and community wealth-building. A seasoned manager and educator, Oakes spotlights evidence-based strategies for under-resourced communities to build equitable, resilient local economies through cooperation in the United States.

In this two-part interview with Scott Douglas Jacobsen, Oakes frames strength as cooperation over domination and roots it in co-op values: self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, solidarity, and ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others. He explains consensus-building as respectful conflict resolution, where decisions may be slower, but implementation is faster. Oakes highlights lifelong education as the fifth principle and ties cooperation to emotional intelligence and community dignity. Examples include credit unions, worker co-ops such as ChiFresh Kitchen, and Ujamaa in Pittsburgh; he notes that federations like Mondragón demonstrate that co-ops can scale. His closing: “There’s a co-op for that,” and “co-ops help people to come out of poverty with dignity”.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: So, metrics for success could include member well-being, community reinvestment, retention, and wage equity. How do you assess those — at least qualitatively, if not quantitatively — to see the real impact in communities that organize for and by themselves?

Vernon Oakes: I like to look at it through the cooperative principles. There are seven in total. The first is Voluntary and Open Membership — meaning anyone can join regardless of race, gender, political affiliation, religion, or age. It’s voluntary and inclusive. The second is Democratic Member Control — one member, one vote.

The third is Member Economic Participation — members invest in the co-op, usually through a membership fee. When there’s a profit, the members decide what to do with it. Typically, those funds go into one of three “buckets.”

Some profits are retained within the organization to support its growth. Some are directed to the broader community — donations, sponsorships, charitable efforts. And some go back to members as dividends, or “patronage,” so that members share in the wealth they helped create — not just through wages but through ownership.

Then there’s the Fifth Principle — Education, Training, and Information. This is my favourite and, I believe, the most significant benefit of joining a co-op. Education and training before you start, while you’re growing, and after you’ve matured — you never stop learning. It’s the foundation of cooperative success.

I learned about co-ops through my work in property management. I started managing affordable housing cooperatives — most of them led by Black women in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Many of these women, despite having only a high school diploma, made brilliant business decisions. They knew how to run a business and how to hold everyone — the property manager, the auditor, the lawyer — accountable. They made sure people did what they were hired to do.

It was through this process of continuous education, training, and information that I saw the power of the cooperative model. The sixth principle is Cooperation Among Cooperatives — meaning co-ops within a community work together for the benefit of that community and each other. And the seventh principle is Concern for Community — concern not only for people but for the planet itself. These ideas are built into the DNA of the cooperative movement.

Based on these principles and the values I mentioned earlier, co-ops help people learn how to work together — with respect and trust at the core.

Jacobsen: Critics sometimes say co-ops are slow. What’s your response to that?

Oakes: They are — absolutely. When you have a hundred-member co-op trying to make a significant decision, like whether to buy another building, and you want everyone’s input, that takes time. Getting everyone’s opinion to reach a collective choice slows things down.

But here’s the key: while decision-making is slow, implementation is fast. Once a decision is made collectively, everyone’s on board, and things move quickly. Of course, if there’s an urgent decision to make — say, a sudden market change — co-ops have committees, boards of directors, and hired management who can act faster when necessary. But overall, yes, co-ops are slower in deliberation because inclusivity takes time.

Jacobsen: There are also large-scale examples — Mondragón in Spain, for instance, or credit unions, or SACCOs in Africa. What do these show us about the success of co-ops in vastly different cultural and linguistic contexts?

Oakes: Mondragón is the best-known example. It’s a federation of worker cooperatives in the Basque region of Spain, founded in 1956. I don’t recall the exact numbers now, but they’ve grown to around 81 cooperatives employing more than 70,000 people.

What’s remarkable is how they handle economic downturns. During the 2008 global recession, not one Mondragón worker was laid off permanently. Even when some businesses had to close, others absorbed those employees. Workers in healthier cooperatives took a 5–10 percent pay cut so everyone could keep earning a living. That’s humanity in action — philanthropy in its most valid form, caring for people.

And if we look at credit unions, they’re another kind of cooperative — consumer co-ops. The credit union movement in the United States was inspired by examples from Canada, particularly Alphonse Desjardins’ pioneering work in Quebec in the early 1900s. Those ideas spread south, becoming the foundation for the U.S. credit union system.

The people who deposit their money into a credit union own that financial institution. They can run for the board and help direct how the business operates. A credit union provides products and loans — to buy a car, a house, or even a computer for your children — at the lowest possible rates, because its purpose is to benefit its members.

Banks, on the other hand, serve shareholders. Their goal is to maximize profit by charging the highest rates possible for mortgages, car loans, computers, and student loans. Credit unions must still cover their expenses and maintain a margin to survive, but their focus is on what benefits the consumer, not outside investors.

There are many types of cooperatives beyond credit unions — rural electric co-ops in the U.S., and housing co-ops, which are especially strong in Canada, with some beautiful architectural examples. REI, the outdoor recreation retailer, is another consumer co-op. It began when a group of climbers — I believe in Seattle, not Colorado — pooled resources to import high-quality mountaineering gear that wasn’t otherwise available in the U.S.

My personal favorites, though, are worker co-ops — businesses owned and controlled by their employees. These are usually formed with extensive education and training, both at the start and throughout their growth. One example is ChiFresh Kitchen in Chicago. It was founded in 2020 by four Black women and one Black man, all formerly incarcerated. Because people returning from prison often face barriers to employment, they created their own jobs and ownership through a cooperative.

They began during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing prepared meals for churches, chartered schools, and hospitals. They succeeded — and then expanded, forming a housing co-op that now owns two buildings with nine units for ChiFresh workers. Over time, these interlinked cooperatives — housing, food service, and others — became a small ecosystem of mutual support.

There are also two other major cooperative models often used by farmers. The first is the purchasing co-op, where groups of farmers or small businesses come together to buy the equipment or supplies they need at a lower cost, like dairy farmers pooling resources for feed and machinery.

The second is the marketing or producer co-op, where farmers collaborate to sell their goods under a shared brand. Cabot Creamery and Ocean Spray are classic examples — farmer-owned cooperatives that process and market milk, cranberries, and other products collectively, ensuring stability and fair returns for their members.

These marketing cooperatives sell products to the marketplace and often add value by turning raw goods into finished products — for instance, Ocean Spray makes cranberry juice, or Cabot Creamery produces butter, cheese, and yogurt. This allows members to secure better prices and maintain more control over both what they buy and sell.

There’s also a cooperative in Pittsburgh called Ujamaa, founded primarily by Black women artists who create jewelry, paintings, and clothing. They maintain both a storefront and an online presence. Individually, the artists might not have been able to afford that space, but by working together cooperatively, they can.

Co-ops exist in countless forms and are all around us. ACE Hardware, for example, is a purchasing cooperative. These organizations do tremendous good for their communities. The money stays local — in worker co-ops, for instance, the workers live, earn, and spend in the same community.

In low-income areas, money might circulate only once — if it comes in at all — often leaving the community immediately through outside spending. In wealthier neighbourhoods, that same dollar might circulate five to eight times, supporting local growth and resilience.

Take Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Before it was destroyed in 1921, reports indicated that money circulated thirty-two times within the community before leaving it. Residents earned, spent, and reinvested locally — at barbershops, blacksmiths, and other small businesses — fueling a thriving, self-sustaining economy.

Jacobsen: Any favorite quotes — biblical or cooperative — that you’d like to share?

Oakes: There’s one I always like to repeat: “There’s a co-op for that.” Whatever the community problem, there’s a cooperative — or one can be formed — to solve it. But my favourite is from Dame Pauline Green, former president of the International Cooperative Alliance: “Co-ops help people to come out of poverty with dignity.”

That dignity — the sense of self-worth, voice, and participation — is perhaps the greatest reward of all. Co-ops offer many forms of compensation, financial and otherwise.

Jacobsen: Excellent. Thank you very much for your time and expertise today. It was a pleasure speaking with you.

Oakes: Thank you, Scott. I appreciate it.

Jacobsen: Thank you very much. Take care.

Last updated May 3, 2025. These terms govern all In-Sight Publishing content—past, present, and future—and supersede any prior notices.  In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons BY‑NC‑ND 4.0; © In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen 2012–Present. All trademarks, performances, databases & branding are owned by their rights holders; no use without permission. Unauthorized copying, modification, framing or public communication is prohibited. External links are not endorsed. Cookies & tracking require consent, and data processing complies with PIPEDA & GDPR; no data from children < 13 (COPPA). Content meets WCAG 2.1 AA under the Accessible Canada Act & is preserved in open archival formats with backups. Excerpts & links require full credit & hyperlink; limited quoting under fair-dealing & fair-use. All content is informational; no liability for errors or omissions: Feedback welcome, and verified errors corrected promptly. For permissions or DMCA notices, email: [email protected]. Site use is governed by BC laws; content is “as‑is,” liability limited, users indemnify us; moral, performers’ & database sui generis rights reserved.

#Copyright #CreativeCommons #licensing #TermsOfService

Eco-Friendly Digital Art: Sara San Angelo’s Pretty Lil Studio

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): A Further Inquiry

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/10/30

Sara San Angelo is the Owner and Chief Artist at Pretty Lil Studio Art, a Charleston-based brand specializing in eco-friendly digital downloads, printable art, and unique wall décor. With a passion for sustainable design, Sara offers instantly downloadable artwork that allows customers to print at home or through professional printers—saving costs while reducing waste. Her studio features an eclectic mix of abstract florals, historical themes, vintage photography, and inspirational quotes. Perfect for holiday gifts, housewarming presents, and minimalist décor, Pretty Lil Studio Art provides stylish, customizable, and affordable art for every occasion. Sara champions green gifting, mindful consumption, and digital creativity, helping customers add personality to their spaces while supporting sustainable living.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What inspired the creation of Pretty Lil Studio Art? 

Sara San Angelo: I come from a long line of graphic and commercial artists.  My Grandmother, back in the day, drew business logos by hand and painted them with an airbrush.  I loved watching her work.  My mother worked for many years as a graphic artist for our local newspaper, the Post & Courier. So I grew up in a very artistic and creative household.  My Dad, on the other hand, was a successful businessman and gave me that business sense and ambition which has stuck with me from a very early age.  At 11, I won a school-wide logo contest for the school mascot. I believe they still use it to this day. At 16, I was creating and selling bumper stickers at school. I attended college for Communications, but I filled my non-credit classes with art history and design courses. I learned Photoshop and Illustrator well enough to make basic designs, but I really blossomed when I discovered Canva, which is very easy to use. I created all these great designs and art, but didn’t know what to do with them.  Then I found Etsy, and found out you can sell digital art.  I almost fell out of my chair! So I started my Etsy business 5 or 6 years ago, and created my own website last year, and never looked back!

Jacobsen: How does offering downloadable digital art contribute to eco-friendly living?  

San Angelo: I love downloadable art because it is so eco-friendly! There is no packaging, no shipping, and you can print on recycled paper for truly green art.  Better yet, I sell digital art that is meant as screensavers and framed TV art, so it is almost completely eco-friendly.

Jacobsen: What are your favourite art themes or collections?  

San Angelo: My most popular collections are actually the historical photos I digitally remaster.  I’m a history buff, so I love finding old archival photos in the public domain and restoring them. I have one of the largest collections of rare JFK photos for purchase on the internet.  Historical quotes are also very popular. I receive a lot of teachers around back-to-school time who decorate their classrooms with my affordable educational supplies. Next is the clip art, which I love doing and harkens back to my graphic artist family, which must be in my blood.

Jacobsen: What is the creative process behind designing a piece of printable art? 

San Angelo: I have so many ideas throughout the day that I keep a sticky note pad with me (I’m old school, lol). Then, when I can, I sit down at my computer and start creating.  If it’s an inspirational quote, that is pretty easy, as I have a signature style for that. If it’s a work of art or logo, I can sit there for hours moving around one line here, another circle there. I like to think I have a keen eye for design and symmetry, so if one line is a millimetre out of place, I try to get it just right.  I’msuper OCD. Lol.

Jacobsen: What draws you to these themes of quotes and historicity? 

San Angelo: I am from Charleston, SC.  We are steeped in history here. This is where the first shot of the Civil War was fired (SC was the first to secede from the Union). The pirate Blackbeard blockaded the harbour in 1718. We were home to several Declaration of Independence and Constitution signers. When you go downtown, you are thrown back in time with all the historic buildings and cobblestone streets. I was really drawn to it. Then I worked for a pictorial history publishing company, which really sparked my interest in the field. 

Jacobsen: How do you see digitization transforming home décor, even gift-giving? 

San Angelo: I think it is going to be the wave of the future.  People are shopping online more than ever, so it is just a natural evolution of shopping in the digital world.  But instead of waiting for your art to arrive, you get it instantly, and in many cases, get it printed the same day. So this is the ultimate timesaver, especially for last-minute gifts. I think interior designers and people who stage homes for a living would really benefit from the speed of obtaining your décor. Another thing to consider is that more and more people are interacting and living in virtual worlds, such as The Sims.  They need to decorate their homes with digital art.  That’s where I come in. However, breaking into that space can be complicated. 

Jacobsen: What are the key tips for printing at home? 

San Angelo: First, ensure you have a reliable printer and high-quality ink.  Next, select the type of paper you would like to use.  Do you want photo paper for the vintage photographs or maybe a matte finish for showing detail in the art? Most printers we have in our homes print out at a max of 8.5×11. In your printer settings, there are sizes, and it will show youwhat it looks like printed on the page. Most of my pieces can print out at a max of 16×20 or 18×24, but you can make them smaller to print at home. That’s why I like digital art.  It is extremely versatile in terms of sizing. Ensure your images are high resolution to prevent them from printing out blurry.  All mine are 300 DPI, which is high res for printing.  I wrote a whole blog on printing here: https://prettylilstudioart.com/printing-your-digital-art-a-comprehensive-guide/#tips-for-home-printing

Jacobsen: What is the role of art in green gifting during the holiday seasons? 

San Angelo: Well, with digital art, it is a viable option.  I don’t think people put art in a “green” category, perse. But with digital art, it checks so many of those boxes. I think the future of art is looking much greener!

Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Sara.

–

For more info:

https://prettylilstudio.etsy.com

https://prettylilstudioart.com/

Last updated May 3, 2025. These terms govern all In-Sight Publishing content—past, present, and future—and supersede any prior notices.  In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons BY‑NC‑ND 4.0; © In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen 2012–Present. All trademarks, performances, databases & branding are owned by their rights holders; no use without permission. Unauthorized copying, modification, framing or public communication is prohibited. External links are not endorsed. Cookies & tracking require consent, and data processing complies with PIPEDA & GDPR; no data from children < 13 (COPPA). Content meets WCAG 2.1 AA under the Accessible Canada Act & is preserved in open archival formats with backups. Excerpts & links require full credit & hyperlink; limited quoting under fair-dealing & fair-use. All content is informational; no liability for errors or omissions: Feedback welcome, and verified errors corrected promptly. For permissions or DMCA notices, email: [email protected]. Site use is governed by BC laws; content is “as‑is,” liability limited, users indemnify us; moral, performers’ & database sui generis rights reserved.

#Copyright #CreativeCommons #licensing #TermsOfService

Vernon Oakes: How Cooperation, Not Domination, Builds Strength and Dignity in Communities

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): A Further Inquiry

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/10/29

Part 1 of 2

Vernon Oakes hosts Everything Co-op, a weekly radio show and podcast on cooperative economics airing on WOL 1450 AM in Washington, D.C. He is the General Partner of Everything: Coop Communications LLC. In 2024, Oakes was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame for elevating cooperative leaders and educating listeners nationwide. His program features practitioners across credit unions, workers, consumers, housing, and purchasing co-ops, emphasizing democratic governance, shared ownership, and community wealth-building. A seasoned manager and educator, Oakes spotlights evidence-based strategies for under-resourced communities to build equitable, resilient local economies through cooperation in the United States.

In this two-part interview with Scott Douglas Jacobsen, Oakes frames strength as cooperation over domination and roots it in co-op values: self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, solidarity, and ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others. He explains consensus-building as respectful conflict resolution, where decisions may be slower, but implementation is faster. Oakes highlights lifelong education as the fifth principle and ties cooperation to emotional intelligence and community dignity. Examples include credit unions, worker co-ops such as ChiFresh Kitchen, and Ujamaa in Pittsburgh; he notes that federations like Mondragón demonstrate that co-ops can scale. His closing: “There’s a co-op for that,” and “co-ops help people to come out of poverty with dignity”.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Today, we’re here with the lovely Vernon Oakes, host of Everything Co-op, the leading weekly national radio program on cooperative economics airing on WOL 1450 AM in Washington, D.C. Everything Co-op is also available as a podcast. Thank you very much for joining me today. I appreciate it.

Vernon Oakes: Well, I want to thank you for having me on. I look forward to our conversation.

Jacobsen: I want to start on a positive note. You’ve received several awards, including your induction in 2024. There have been others as well. What were those, and after decades of service, what did they mean to you?

Oakes: When I came to D.C. in 1986, I worked with the Stanford Alumni Consulting Team, or ACT. I joined a team to work with Community of Hope, a nonprofit providing homeless services and health care to low-income residents. The founder asked me to join the board, and I served for 18 years; I also served as interim general manager for six months and helped hire the current general manager.

Community of Hope recently gave me the Tom Nees Award for Exceptional Service, recognizing my 39 years of involvement with that community. Last week, I attended a celebration at Stanford on Friday. Stanford Graduate School of Business is celebrating its centennial — 100 years — and they selected 100 alumni who have provided high-impact service to their communities. I was one of those 100.

What it means to me is that it’s exciting and humbling. I grew up in Bluefield, West Virginia, on Tank Hill. I’m a Black boy from working-poor parents. To go to Stanford, to be recognized, or to come to D.C. and realize that, but for the grace of God, I could be homeless at any given point — and that I could take the skills I’ve learned, both leadership and business knowledge, and use them to help that organization — that’s very powerful to me. Very rewarding.

Jacobsen: This is Bluefield in Mercer County?

Oakes: Mercer County, West Virginia.

Jacobsen: Beautiful, green country. I love green spaces. Old trains run through my hometown, too.

Oakes: Yes.

Jacobsen: You mentioned the phrase, “but for the grace of God, go I.” We have a little extra time, so let’s explore it. We’re in an era of black-and-white thinking. People want to demonize secular people as immoral and hopelessly lost, and they want to demonize religious people as fundamentalists who wish to take over the government. Reflections like yours matter. Within your Christian faith, how does that inform your spirit of service — to the community, the world, or even to an individual you might encounter on the street?

Oakes: There’s a scripture to the effect that man is the head of the household as Christ is head of the church, which means being a servant leader. A man is to serve his spouse, his children, and his community — to lead through service. For me, that’s the foundation of my leadership and training, including when I earned my MBA. When I got the MBA, I wasn’t particularly spiritual. I was in it for the money — that was clear. Later on, it became something deeper…

A spiritual leader. And the thing I like about cooperation and cooperatives is the set of values: self-help, self-responsibility — it always starts with self, helping oneself and being responsible — then democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. Solidarity means working and making decisions together in a way that lifts everyone; when the boat rises, everyone rises with it.

There are also the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility, and caring for others. These principles of cooperation truly align with my value system, making it exciting to work in this cooperative space with like-minded individuals.

Jacobsen: You argue that strength begins with cooperation, not domination. How are you defining strength for men in 2025?

Oakes: Strength for men is found when we come together. In Black, Brown, and Native communities — really, since the beginning of time — when there are hardships like what we’re going through now with this political climate in the U.S., or during the Great Depression, we’ve had to pool our resources to survive. During slavery, Black people had to pool together.

That strength came from the group — from the collective, from solidarity, from cooperation. Sometimes it wasn’t called a co-op, because the formal structure came later, with the Rochdale Pioneers in 1844 in England. But the spirit of cooperation has existed, for me, since the beginning of time.

If we were in the Sahara Desert fighting the sabre-toothed tiger, we had to do it together. If we were in the Ice Age, trying to survive in caves when it was minus fifty degrees, we had to do it together to make it through. Togetherness, I believe, is the core of humanity — finding strength through cooperation.

Not the John Wayne ideal of “I’m the toughest, I’ll pull myself up by my bootstraps” — especially when you don’t even have boots — but the question of how we work together to move our community forward in a positive way.

Jacobsen: That’s an important point. It brings to mind Peter Kropotkin’s 1902 book Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution. He wrote it as a counterpoint to the “tooth and claw” misreadings of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species from 1859. It took forty-three years for someone to respond to those distortions. Kropotkin offered one of the first proper readings of Darwin — that survival doesn’t mean being the strongest, fastest, or smartest. It means being best suited to one’s environment.

Human beings, through cooperation and mutual aid, have been able to thrive across all groups. Whether you look at Britain in that period or North America today, the same principle applies: cooperation is a key factor in survival.

Oakes: Yes, and I’d add that in the cooperative space, learning to get along is a skill. There are even classes on it. There’s always going to be conflict. You and I grew up in different times, we’re different ages, different cultures, even different countries. And if we’re in the same group trying to make something happen, we’re going to disagree.

And we could be 180 degrees apart — you may want to go left, and I want to go right. But what I’ve learned in cooperation is that if we can learn how to talk and really hear each other, we may find that going straight is better than either of those two ways. We might even discover a solution that neither of us had imagined. It’s about learning how to resolve conflict positively — respecting and trusting each other, and recognizing that we’re all working for the good of the group. That’s solidarity.

Jacobsen: How are co-ops better training grounds for character than traditional firms?

Oakes: I like that question — I really like that question. I told you I was at Stanford this past weekend. On Friday morning, I was sitting at breakfast with George Parker, a finance professor who taught me during my time there. He earned both his MBA and Ph.D. from Stanford and was one of the 100 alumni honoured for making a significant community impact.

He told me he liked co-ops, having been in the Peace Corps in the early 1960s and ran a credit union in Peru. He used the word Kumbaya about three times, describing co-ops as people coming together, loving each other, and getting things done. For me, that “love” isn’t necessarily about singing in a circle or hugging; it’s about respect and trust. That’s the core of cooperation — the core of humanity — learning how to get together and work as equals.

We live in a hierarchical world — at home, in church, and at work. We’re trained to function within a hierarchy. Learning to operate cooperatively as a group requires training. Education and training are central — in fact, “Education, Training, and Information” is the fifth of the seven cooperative principles. That’s the one I love most: training before you start, while you’re beginning, and after you’ve started. You never stop learning if you want to succeed in cooperation.

Jacobsen: This one’s particularly important. There’s a noted gap in emotional intelligence — often observed by women or by older, more experienced men — among many younger men, even adult men. Some of this might actually be developmental; boys and men tend to mature a bit more slowly in that area. How can the cooperative principles provide a space for cultivating emotional intelligence? I don’t mean book smarts, but sensitivity, awareness of context, nuance, and empathy.

Oakes: Emotional intelligence. My father’s father fought in World War I, and my father served in World War II. My parents didn’t say things like “I love you.” They didn’t hug. That was their culture — a distance, emotionally. But you still knew they loved you. You could see it in how they provided for you, not necessarily in what they said or showed.

I got hugs from my mom, but not from my dad. It was just a different culture, a different generation. Today it’s quite different. I just turned seventy-six, so that gap feels even more pronounced when I look back.

Jacobsen: Are you suggesting that many men of that generation expressed love for their families not by being with them, but by being away — through providing rather than presence?

Oakes: That’s right. If a father left his family, that was abandonment — no love there. But if he was working and away, that was his way of showing care. That wasn’t my situation, however. My father had a more traditional eight-to-five job.

My father worked an eight-hour shift, so he was around a lot. As I mentioned, we did the gardening together in the summertime. I had access to my dad, but affection wasn’t expressed the way it is today. Now it’s normal for a man to say “I love you” to his son, daughter, or spouse, to hug or kiss his spouse in front of the children. I never saw my father do that. I never saw my father kiss my mother.

Jacobsen: That’s striking. At the same time, there are international differences where public displays of affection aren’t frowned upon, but they’re done in private. It’s not that love isn’t there; the expression depends on cultural context — between the public and private faces of affection.

Oakes: In the co-op world, I define a cooperative as any business that is owned and controlled by its members for the benefit of its members. There are more technical and legal definitions, of course, but at its heart, that’s what it is — ownership and control by members, for members.

When members make decisions, they are usually made democratically — one member, one vote. Sometimes, though, co-ops use sociocracy, a form of governance based on consensus. That means everyone must agree 100 percent. I didn’t think that was possible until I learned methods to make it work. To reach consensus, you have to know people, understand them, listen to them, and respect their perspectives.

That process itself is a kind of love — not romantic love, but brotherly love. Say Scott and Vernon are in a group together: Scott wants to go left, Vernon wants to go right. We listen to each other, respect each other’s views, and look for the best path forward. I had to let go of the idea that I’m right. Instead, it becomes we’re right. We find the best choice together, and that becomes the right choice.

That takes respect. That takes trust. And within that trust and collaboration — that’s where love lives. That’s where emotion belongs in cooperation.

Last updated May 3, 2025. These terms govern all In-Sight Publishing content—past, present, and future—and supersede any prior notices.  In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons BY‑NC‑ND 4.0; © In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen 2012–Present. All trademarks, performances, databases & branding are owned by their rights holders; no use without permission. Unauthorized copying, modification, framing or public communication is prohibited. External links are not endorsed. Cookies & tracking require consent, and data processing complies with PIPEDA & GDPR; no data from children < 13 (COPPA). Content meets WCAG 2.1 AA under the Accessible Canada Act & is preserved in open archival formats with backups. Excerpts & links require full credit & hyperlink; limited quoting under fair-dealing & fair-use. All content is informational; no liability for errors or omissions: Feedback welcome, and verified errors corrected promptly. For permissions or DMCA notices, email: [email protected]. Site use is governed by BC laws; content is “as‑is,” liability limited, users indemnify us; moral, performers’ & database sui generis rights reserved.

#Copyright #CreativeCommons #licensing #TermsOfService

Oscar Trelles on Longevity: Breathwork, Training, and Mindset for Men Over 50

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): A Further Inquiry

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/10/29

Oscar Trelles is an entrepreneur, healthspan strategist, and certified Wim Hof Method (WHM) instructor helping people extend their healthspan through natural, science-informed practices. As founder of Breathing Flame in Málaga, Spain, he integrates breathwork, functional movement, fasting, cold and heat exposure, and mindset training into a practical, systems-based approach to healthy aging and age reversal. Through the Reverse Aging Challenge and the free Reverse Aging Academy, Oscar turns complex longevity research into clear, actionable routines for everyday life—prioritizing resilience, recovery, sleep, mobility, and stress regulation. He frequently comments on sustainable habit-building, hormetic stress, and the intersection of mindset and healthspan, emphasizing results without dependency on gadgets or pharmaceuticals. Media and practitioners seek Oscar for grounded, evidence-aware insights that bridge longevity science and real-world change. For more information:

https://breathingflame.com

In this interview with Scott Douglas Jacobsen, Trelles emphasizes consistency over volume in training, sleep as a stress reset, and slow nasal breathing for cardiovascular health. Nutrition strategies include time-restricted eating, protein prioritization, and anti-inflammatory foods. Trelles highlights the role of mindfulness, recovery, and resilience in building sustainable, low-injury routines that extend healthspan and empower men beyond 50 to thrive.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: How should men over 50 adjust strength, cardio, and mobility training?

Oscar Trelles: By 50, recovery speed isn’t the same, so the focus should shift from volume to consistency. Strength work should center on compound lifts at moderate loads, enough to preserve muscle and bone density without chasing personal bests, but optimizing for goals. Cardio should emphasize zones 2–3 (steady but sustainable) to build endurance and protect the heart. Mobility can’t be an afterthought: daily joint work, especially hips and shoulders, prevents the stiffness that sneaks in with age.

Jacobsen: How do sleep, breathwork, and heat–cold exposure effectively lower stress?

Trelles: Deep sleep is the body’s primary stress reset, but most men under-sleep without realizing how much it costs them. Breathwork regulates the nervous system in real time, shifting from fight-or-flight to rest-and-repair within minutes. Heat and cold add hormetic (acute but controlled and temporary) stress that teaches the body to tolerate discomfort better, so the everyday stressors feel lighter.

Jacobsen: How can breathwork protocols enhance cardiovascular health?

Trelles: Slow nasal breathing raises CO₂ tolerance, which improves oxygen delivery to tissues and reduces blood pressure. Short, controlled breath-holds condition vascular flexibility, similar to interval training but without strain. Over time, this builds efficiency: the heart works less to deliver more.

Jacobsen: Which nutrition and fasting strategies aid healthy aging?

Trelles: Time-restricted eating (e.g. 16:8) stabilizes insulin and supports cellular repair. Prioritizing protein (at least 1.6g/kg) preserves muscle, which is one of the top markers for healthy aging. For fats, choose olive oil, oily fish, and nuts; for carbs, favor slow-digesting sources tied to fiber. The key isn’t austerity, it is consistency in eating foods that don’t spike inflammation.

Jacobsen: What role do mindfulness and mindset training play in sustaining men’s wellness?

Trelles: At 50, ambition is rarely the issue. Rigidity is. Mindset work builds flexibility, helping men pivot when injuries, setbacks, or life stress inevitably show up. Mindfulness isn’t about being calm all the time; it’s about noticing stress early and choosing a response instead of reacting automatically. That choice is what sustains wellness over decades.

Jacobsen: How can men build sustainable, low-injury routines for long-term healthspan?

Trelles: Two rules: don’t max out, and don’t skip warm-ups. Train at 70–80% effort most of the time and cycle intensity so the body adapts without breaking down. Rotate through movement patterns (push, pull, hinge, squat, carry) rather than hammering the same muscles. Think durability, not records.

Jacobsen: What biomarkers and simple at-home measures best track progress in longevity?

Trelles: Grip strength, resting heart rate, HRV (heart rate variability), and waist-to-height ratio are simple but powerful. Add sleep quality and recovery for daily feedback. Check CO₂ tolerance weekly. Lab markers like fasting insulin and CRP (inflammation) round out the picture if checked yearly, but first learn to listen to your body.

Jacobsen: How does the cultural shift toward balance and recovery change men’s approach to training after 50?

Trelles: The old story was “more is better.” Now men over 50 are learning that sleep, recovery, and balance are what let them keep training long term. Ice baths, sauna, and yoga aren’t fringe anymore; they are the tools that make strength and cardio sustainable. This cultural pivot has given permission to train smarter, not just harder.

Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Oscar.

Last updated May 3, 2025. These terms govern all In-Sight Publishing content—past, present, and future—and supersede any prior notices.  In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons BY‑NC‑ND 4.0; © In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen 2012–Present. All trademarks, performances, databases & branding are owned by their rights holders; no use without permission. Unauthorized copying, modification, framing or public communication is prohibited. External links are not endorsed. Cookies & tracking require consent, and data processing complies with PIPEDA & GDPR; no data from children < 13 (COPPA). Content meets WCAG 2.1 AA under the Accessible Canada Act & is preserved in open archival formats with backups. Excerpts & links require full credit & hyperlink; limited quoting under fair-dealing & fair-use. All content is informational; no liability for errors or omissions: Feedback welcome, and verified errors corrected promptly. For permissions or DMCA notices, email: [email protected]. Site use is governed by BC laws; content is “as‑is,” liability limited, users indemnify us; moral, performers’ & database sui generis rights reserved.

#Copyright #CreativeCommons #licensing #TermsOfService

What Is Banksying? Sofie Roos on Ghosting’s Slow Fade

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): A Further Inquiry

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/10/29

Sofie Roos is a licensed sexologist and relationship therapist with 18 years of clinical experience. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, she specializes in sexual health, intimacy, and couples therapy. She works at Venhälsan and writes for Sweden’s Passionerad, where she offers clear, practical guidance on sex, relationships, sexually transmitted infections, and sex toys for diverse audiences. Roos is known for a warm, evidence-informed, and nonjudgmental approach that helps individuals and partners navigate desire, communication, and trust. Her practice centers on respectful, inclusive care that meets people where they are, translating complex topics into actionable advice that supports healthier, more satisfying relationships. Roos writes for Sweden’s Passionerad: https://passionerad.se/.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Why people engage in “banksying” and how it differs from ghosting

Sofie Roos: Banksying is closely related to ghosting, but with the difference that during ghosting, you abruptly stop answering your date’s attempts to make contact with you, while when banksying, you slowly let it come to nothing! 

This means that when banksying, you slowly stop answering or reaching out at the same frequency, you make up excuses for not meeting up, and you become more distant, so it’s a slow death of the relationship where you not really straight up end anything, but let the time and your less engagement lead to some sort of stop. 

It might sound cruel, and it is, but people banksying must not do it out of being mean, but often because they’re afraid of ending things, and feel it too overwhelming to say goodbye, so this feels like an easier way to go! 

Actually, many people who’s banksying does it because from their point of view, it’s less damaging for their partner than if ending things right away, because one thinks that the other person’s feelings will cool off and lead to a situation where it feels natural to let go, without any hard feelings, even though the suffering often becomes much bigger if being banksied than if straight up being dumped! 

Jacobsen: What are the psychological effects of being “banksied” on the person left behind?

Roos: To be a victim of banksying is extremely confusing and can be very emotionally draining since there rarely comes any explanation or ending, just excuses and weird explanations for this behavior. 

This puts the person being left behind in a very tricky situation where you don’t know if this is a phase the other person is going through and if they want you and it’ll turn better soon, if you have done anything wrong or if they simply aren’t interested anymore. 

The hope will in most cases be what’s strongest, so you’ll keep fighting, even though your partner often already has moved on, which is what makes banksying extra mean…! 

The effect of this is often temporary low self-esteem, that you start doubting your own worth, the whole relationship and your role in it, and you start questioning what you did or might not did that lead to this – even though it many times doesn’t have much to do with you at all, but with the partner! 

It can also become more difficult to really let go since there never comes any real ending, so this person can be difficult to stop thinking about, and they become a sort of opened wound that never truly heals. 

Jacobsen: What does this trend says about modern dating and emotional accountability?

Roos: Banksying says a lot about how people today treat close romantic relationships, often a person that much is invested in and that deserves a much better and way more fair treatment. 

In my opinion, it’s a clear sign that dating and relationships today go way too fast, and that we many times tend to consume them rather than treating it with the respect a relationship deserves. 

People have been afraid of ending things with their partner in all ages, but back in the day we still went up and said “I’m so sorry but this doesn’t work anymore”. So the dating apps and the modern way of meeting people has made us lose the respect for each other on the dating scene. 

Many today simply prioritize their own comfort instead of taking responsibility for the people that get invested in them, which is a big lack in emotional courage. 

I wouldn’t go so far and say that we’ve lost empathy, but the respect isn’t there anymore, much due to the rules for how you date today is completely re-written! 

Back in the day you often dated a person being related to your life in some way, such as a co-worker or a friend’s friend that required that you ended things nicely, but today you often don’t need to meet the person you dated again, so you simply don’t have to take the same responsibility for your actions anymore.

Jacobsen: How people can recognize it early and protect their emotional health?

Roos: If you begin to feel that the communication start happening more from your side only, that you hang out less and less even though there’s really no great explanation for that, and if it feels as your partner is stop investing themselves in your relationship the same way they used to, then that’s early signs of the eventual beginning of banksying – it it not already has started to happen.

In this situation, it’s important to bring this up to conversation with your partner, and actually confront them. 

Saying things such as “What is going on here?”, “Are you no longer interested in me?”, “Are you going through a tough time and need support?”, and “How can we go on from here? Because I can’t take this situation where I’m not knowing what’s happening, rather say that you’re no longer interested than do like this!” are great things to let them hear.

Also don’t take no answer for an answer – push them if necessary until they let you know what’s going on, and don’t accept the eventual (and very likely) excuses! 

Remember to always be honest to yourself and trust your gut-feeling. If something feels off, it’s most likely off, so don’t ignore that. 

To set ultimatums or set your partner in an uncomfortable situation where you ask the tough questions is fully okay if that’s what you need! The most important in this situation is to prioritize your feelings and well-being first. 

Jacobsen: What is the appropriate Advice for those who may be tempted to fade out of relationships this way?

Roos: All I can say is to end things with respect, and do it the way you would want it to be done if someone was about to call things off with you. 

This doesn’t mean that you need to have a long explanation prepared, but just a simple “I don’t feel as if I want to keep meeting you anymore, so I want to stop dating you / be in a relationship with you” is enough!

And even though it’s not ideal, even doing it over the phone is a better alternative than banksying! 

This is not only way more respectful for your partner, it’s also something that will make you grow and become more mature. And who knows – what comes around goes around, so hopefully, you’ll be treated with the same respect back the day you eventually is being dumped by someone!

Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Sofie.

Last updated May 3, 2025. These terms govern all In-Sight Publishing content—past, present, and future—and supersede any prior notices.  In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons BY‑NC‑ND 4.0; © In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen 2012–Present. All trademarks, performances, databases & branding are owned by their rights holders; no use without permission. Unauthorized copying, modification, framing or public communication is prohibited. External links are not endorsed. Cookies & tracking require consent, and data processing complies with PIPEDA & GDPR; no data from children < 13 (COPPA). Content meets WCAG 2.1 AA under the Accessible Canada Act & is preserved in open archival formats with backups. Excerpts & links require full credit & hyperlink; limited quoting under fair-dealing & fair-use. All content is informational; no liability for errors or omissions: Feedback welcome, and verified errors corrected promptly. For permissions or DMCA notices, email: [email protected]. Site use is governed by BC laws; content is “as‑is,” liability limited, users indemnify us; moral, performers’ & database sui generis rights reserved.

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Banksying vs. Ghosting: Colette Jane Fehr on Modern Dating

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): A Further Inquiry

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/10/28

Colette Jane Fehr is a couples therapist and relationship expert providing practical, compassionate guidance to help partners rebuild trust, improve communication, and resolve conflict. She works with dating, engaged, and married couples, as well as individuals seeking to transform relational patterns. In private practice at Colette Jane Fehr Relationship Expert, she blends attachment informed, trauma aware, and evidence based strategies tailored to each client’s goals. Focus areas include intimacy, boundaries, life transitions, and repair after betrayal. Colette contributes commentary on relationships and modern dating and is available for media interviews and workshops and conferences.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Why do people engage in “banksying”?

Colette Jane Fehr: Most people who banksy aren’t trying to be cruel, they’re trying to dodge a hard conversation. They rationalize fading with a softer exit as less hurtful, but it’s really about avoiding their own discomfort.  There’s nothing kind about basking and the irony is that by trying not to hurt someone, they actually cause more harm through ambiguity.

Jacobsen: How does it differ from ghosting?

Fehr: Ghosting is an abrupt cut off. One minute you’re talking, the next there’s radio silence. Banksying is slower and sneakier: texts get shorter, plans fall through, the energy drops. And because it’s gradual, the person left behind stays stuck in limbo, confused, struggling to figure out what’s happening. It’s ghosting in slow motion and it can be just as painful.

Jacobsen: What are the psychological effects of being “banksied”?

Fehr: It can trigger anxiety, self-doubt, a feeling of being gaslit, and a deep sense of rejection. You’re not sure if something is wrong or if you’re just imagining it. That uncertainty creates cognitive dissonance, which means you’re trying to make sense of mixed signals while your nervous system is stuck stays on high alert. The lack of closure makes it harder to heal because you’re stuck questioning what really happened.

Jacobsen: What does this trend say about modern dating and emotional accountability?

Fehr: It reflects a bigger problem in the modern dating world: we’re losing our tolerance for emotional discomfort and we’re de-humanizing people and their feelings. Dating apps and constant access to new people make it easy to treat relationships like disposable experiences. But relationships require communication, consideration, and emotional maturity.  If we keep choosing avoidance over accountability, we don’t just hurt other people,  we stunt our own relational growth.

Jacobsen: How can someone recognize banksying early and protect their emotional health?

Fehr: Watch for inconsistency and pay attention to your gut. If someone’s energy shifts their messages get vague, or the warmth fades, that’s your cue. Don’t ignore your gut feeling. Address it directly and maturely: I’ve noticed the energy shift between us. Is eventing okay? If they avoid the question, don’t beg for clarity.  You deserve directness and mutual effort. If you’re constantly trying to decode someone’s behavior, that’s already your answer.

Jacobsen: What advice do you have for people tempted to banksy someone else?

Fehr: Say the thing. Yes, it’s uncomfortable. But having a short, honest conversation is an act of respect. You don’t need a long explanation, just a simple, “I’ve enjoyed getting to know you, but I don’t see this going further.” That’s how you build emotional integrity. You don’t have to keep dating someone, but you do have to take ownership of how you end it.

Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Colette.

Last updated May 3, 2025. These terms govern all In-Sight Publishing content—past, present, and future—and supersede any prior notices.  In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons BY‑NC‑ND 4.0; © In-Sight Publishing by Scott  Douglas  Jacobsen 2012–Present. All trademarks, performances, databases & branding are owned by their rights holders; no use without permission. Unauthorized copying, modification, framing or public communication is prohibited. External links are not endorsed. Cookies & tracking require consent, and data processing complies with PIPEDA & GDPR; no data from children < 13 (COPPA). Content meets WCAG 2.1 AA under the Accessible Canada Act & is preserved in open archival formats with backups. Excerpts & links require full credit & hyperlink; limited quoting under fair-dealing & fair-use. All content is informational; no liability for errors or omissions: Feedback welcome, and verified errors corrected promptly. For permissions or DMCA notices, email: [email protected]. Site use is governed by BC laws; content is “as‑is,” liability limited, users indemnify us; moral, performers’ & database sui generis rights reserved.

#Copyright #CreativeCommons #licensing #TermsOfService