The Way Forward Regenerative Conversations

The Sixties were a time of cultural revolution in the United States that faded into individualism, consumerism, and a move to right-wing politics.  As the Boomer generation become elders, they are faced with unprecedented crisis: climate change has become a lived experience, inequity continues to grow, democracies teeter on the brink and authoritarians are on the rise. Bill McKibben believes the n...

Corporations and businesses have driven consumerism in the United States and the World since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.  Having more and larger has become the sign of success.  Shareholder value, short-term profit and a market-driven economy were assumed to be good for all.  As the climate warms, sea levels rise, biodiversity declines and income inequality widen we are becoming mo...

For the last decade democracies around the world have been in a rut not just a simple recession.  In this post globalization world autocrats are waging a sophisticated campaign using new dynamics around information, polarization, and technology.    The tools, and tactics of repression are being exported to many countries creating a pernicious environment, a cauldron that has seen a setback in demo...

Forests and trees play a critical role for our planet and the people who inhabit it.  In this conversation we explore Forests as a complex networked adaptive system where relationships are the defining factor in the continuing health of the ecosystem.   Suzanne Simard discusses the importance of these relationships and how our current forestry practices put healthy carbon sequestering forests at r...

In this special edition Dr. John Izzo’s keynote speech launches the Elders Action Networks environmental campaign Take the Pledge.  On Monday, May 1st 2023 the Elders Action Network launched it’s one month-long campaign called Take the Pledge. Our campaign invites elders, their families, friends, and neighbors to pledge to reduce their consumption in five major areas: clothing, food, transportatio...

In this conversation, we explore Indigenous World Views as a pathway toward regeneration.  We talk with Lloyd Hansen – a humble, curious, and wise person who has earned the privilege of being called a 21stcentury renaissance man.  He was raised by a minister whose focus was love and social justice.  As a young man he became intrigued by the work of Joseph Campbell ­– which led him to recognize tha...

In this episode we explore the situation in Russia, Ukraine, and China.  We talk with Brian Finley about Russia ’s evolution since the fall of the Iron Curtain. We discuss what has led to the current dilemma we face in Ukraine and how that might end.  We finish our conversation talking about China , how we see them and how they see us.  Brian Finlay is the President and Chief Executive Officer of...

In this episode we explore biomimicry, the bridge between biology and design.  We talk with Janine about how using nature-inspired strategies can help mankind solve many of the most pressing problems of our time.  Through her consultancy Biomimicry 3.8,  Janine works with large corporations and organizations to change their relationships with the built environment.  By looking attentively at natur...

In this episode we explore the role of business in moving the paradigm from sustainability to regeneration in our response to the crises of our time.    Focused on profit, market share and growth, corporations have rightfully earned much of the distrust that the public feel.  Continuous growth on a finite planet appears ludicrous to many now. Can businesses and corporations reinvent themselves for...

In this episode we explore the role of men and boys in a positive way forward. It is often said that men and the traditional masculine patriarchal model play a significant role in the creation and the persistence of the most crucial problems humanity now faces. Men and boys are falling behind across the globe with higher rates of death by suicide and addiction , increased homelessness , and decrea...

While capitalism continues to be the dominant economic system with benefits we describe as innovation, wealth, and prosperity, there is a dark side.   Materialism, consumerism, and the financial pressure for continuing economic growth all come with a steep price to pay which includes enormous environmental and social justice impacts that endanger life on Earth.       Our guest today,  Molly Young...

Welcome to The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations Podcast # 3.   I am Jim Burke the producer. While top-down hierarchal organizations have historically been good at addressing complicated issues, we are now faced with complex problems that need a new way of organizing that engages collectively many people who can feel ownership of the issues.   For David Ehrlichman ( ehrlichman@converge.net )...

Welcome to The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations podcast number two: The United State has long history of voter’s rights activism and a history of repeated efforts at voter suppression.   Our guest today, John Sorensen, now in his 80s, finds himself and the organization that he founded Elders Action Network at the forefront of the getting-out-to vote movement.  Our hosts Alain Gauthier and D...

John, Alain and Jim as elders talk about why they came together to create this podcast in service of a regenerative future for all and the planet.  This podcast is sponsored by the Elders Action Network.