For some time now, on the Spotify, Google podcast and Apple podcast platforms, it is possible to listen to Anthropocene , a highly topical podcast series produced by Emons with other independent publishers.
The series offers the "voices" of some young Italian researchers on the links between Earth, nature and human beings .
The term anthropocene, proposed for the first time by the Nobel prize for chemistry Paul J. Crutzen, in fact indicates the current geological era , in which the earth's environment is strongly conditioned by the effects of human action. The first two podcasts, in co-production with the publishing house Nottetempo, are Quattro capanne by the philosopher Leonardo Caffo and Il Dio che danza by Paolo Pecere, professor of the history of philosophy at the University of Roma Tre.
We asked Maria Saracino, who curated the Anthropocene project for Emons, how the idea for this podcast series came about:
«The project was born in 2020 when we started discussing the idea of publishing a series of podcasts that would reproduce 'the voices', the words and experiences of some Italian researchers who had accompanied us with their books during the period of social distancing due to Covid. A distancing that has made some issues more urgent and even more alive.
What are the main features of the series?
«The main feature of this series of podcasts, as well as the premise of the whole project, is that of starting from the authors: young Italian researchers and scholars. Starting from them means focusing on books that tell, through various experiences, how human action is influencing the earthly environment in which we live. This is the stimulus of Anthropocene: to start a debate of ideas on the connections between the environment, society and different cultures. These are authors and works that Emons wants to offer together with independent publishers who have invested through their catalog in interesting works. Emons wants to try to create an audio geography, to provide the public with a tool to orient themselves within a vast panorama of publications. Anthropocene wants to accompany us on a thematic journey, answer philosophical but also scientific questions and create a community of active listeners».
What peculiarities do the podcasts that make up the series have?
«From an audio point of view, post-production and sound design are handled by Fiammetta Castagnini and the Emons Record team who have maintained a specific character for each audio content, respecting the rhythm and voice of the authors, enriching - when possible - with music and sound the episodes for an immersive experience that takes us back to the narrated places and makes us discover new and ancient practices while maintaining - in the musical and curatorial style - a narrative and stylistic thread typical of the series».
What are the goals of the Anthropocene?
«It aims to provide an invitation to read and give space and voice to the authors and those insights or comments that the size of the book was unable to accommodate. For example, in the podcast The god who dances we have tried to 'reconstruct', through music and sounds, those environments, those rites and those realities that Paolo Pecere collected in his travels, from Puglia to India, from Pakistan to Africa and to Brazil to document the possession trance induced by dance and music».
What kind of audience does this series want to intercept?
«If on the one hand we believe that the Anthropocene audience is first and foremost an audience of 'readers' interested in philosophical, anthropological and scientific topics, on the other hand we have decided to distribute these podcasts for free on all platforms (from Spotify to Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts) because we are convinced that the potential audience is much wider. In fact, we want to reach all those 'listeners', often very young, who are very attentive and close to the founding themes of our contemporary world such as respect and care for the Earth, which are a constant in our podcast project. Anthropocene wants to be the spokesperson for a collective commitment that also passes through the stimulus and in-depth study of contents that concern all of us and which today represent the most important challenge of our era".