Next Economy Now: For the Benefit of All Life

Does a beneficial banking model hold the power to transform our economy and our environment for the better? Kat Taylor works in service of restoring social justice to environmental well-being, to build a more equitable and inclusive world. She is a co-founder of Beneficial State Bank and Radicle Impact Partners venture fund and Founding Director of TomKat Ranch Educational Foundation. She joins us...

With social chasms widening and climate change intensifying, it has never been more important to reframe what it means for businesses to “do good” in an ever-changing world. Today, we’re joined by Clay Brown from B Lab Global to discuss how we can transform the global economy from a system that profits a few to one that benefits all people, communities, and the planet. As Head of Standards, Certif...

We're excited to reshare this conversation with Shari Davis, Co-Executive Director at Participatory Budgeting Project, a nonprofit organization that empowers people to decide together how to spend public money, primarily in the US and Canada. Our conversation with Shari starts with her journey into the work that she does with Participatory Budgeting Project and its beginnings in the culture o...

We're excited to reshare this conversation with Dr. Michael Newton to the show to talk about the history of Gaelic culture and coloniality in Scotland. Michael has a Ph. D. in Celtic studies from the University of Edinburgh and was previously an Assistant Professor in the Celtic Studies Department at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. His extensive writing and authority on Gaelic h...

We're excited to reshare this conversation with professor and activist, Dr. Zoe Spencer! Zoe is a published author who currently teaches at Virginia State University, where she is dedicated to educating and opening the minds of her students, in order to build a better and more equitable future. She has dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of oppressed people and in this episode, we g...

Ben Cohen, as the co-founder of one of the country’s most beloved brands, is far from what you might expect. His company, Ben & Jerry’s, is a household name, yet they have managed to maintain a connection to the community and a deep ethos of care. Ben is an activist and has been involved in issues related to ending qualified immunity, getting money out of politics, taxing billionaires, dismant...

What is the best way to help rebuild communities that have been left behind and forgotten? And is it necessary to throw out the manual and rather bring new ideas and fresh perspectives? To help answer these questions, we are joined today by the Founder and CEO of The Fingerpaint Group, Ed Mitzen. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/ed-mitzen/ Interested in creating a world...

Future vision can be a powerful force for action when it is clearly conveyed and there is a genuine desire to bring it into reality. We're resharing this conversation with Ryan Honeyman and adrienne maree brown about the compelling and highly-detailed future visions that exist in works of science fiction, speculative fiction, and visionary fiction and how organizations can help articulate tho...

Vivek George is a founding member and chief catalyst at Yuti Co-op, a sustainable marketplace that is owned by its workers and community. As a company, its mission is to help consumers by giving them a sustainable alternative that they can access and afford. In our conversation, Vivek breaks down the principles that Yuti Co-op was founded on and gives a detailed account of how multi-stakeholder co...

Imagine a world where global economies are no longer extractive or exploitative, where economies are tied to local bioregions, and enterprises are designed around regenerative business systems. Today, we are joined by Joshua Prieto, Co-Founder and Director of Seeds of Tao, to find out how to make this world a reality. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/joshua-prieto/ Inte...

Diverse perspectives enable decision-makers to better serve all the people within their orbit. Maryam Ahmed is an entrepreneur, speaker, writer, and activist immersed in the world of food and wine and during this conversation, we discuss how her lived experience informs her incredible work to improve diversity and equality in the industry. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/bl...

At times, it can feel as though the world is changing faster and faster, and it is up to business leaders around the globe to ensure that they and their companies are keeping up with the multitude of cultural evolutions. Today we are joined by the co-author of Management In a Changing World , Jakada Imani, as he explains how his 30-plus years of experience in racial, social, and economic justice m...

Contemporary critical theorist, legal advocate, and author Bernard Harcourt has developed a transformative theory and practice that builds on global models of successful cooperation. His new book, Cooperation: A Political, Economic, and Social Theory , provides a positive vision for addressing some of the world’s most urgent challenges. In it, Bernard shows that by drawing on “the power of people...

In today’s episode, we host Paul Zelizer, a social entrepreneur and executive coach for impact leaders. His wealth of experience also extends to hosting the Awarepreneurs Podcast, directing social media for Wisdom 2.0, and pioneering a men’s center in New Mexico. To start our conversation, Paul provides an overview of his storied career and impact work in Northern New Mexico before sharing key ins...

What if you didn’t have to choose between generating profits and facilitating change? World Centric is on a dual mission to support sustainable practices and empower communities experiencing poverty. CEO Aseem Das and Director of Impact Janae Lloyd join us in conversation to discuss World Centric’s unique model and ongoing evolution. For show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/world-ce...

Today, we chat with the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Navalent, Ron Carucci. Navalent is a consulting firm that offers executive coaching and consulting for senior leaders to solve organizational problems at the source. Ron’s 30-plus years of experience in helping executives with transformational change at their organizations has seen him become a juggernaut in the field, and a prolific autho...

It is widely acknowledged that our society faces a profound issue of wealth inequality. The entrenchment of systemic racism and patriarchy has amplified the advantages enjoyed by affluent white men. Over the last thirty years, the wealthiest white males have seen their fortunes grow, while those living in poverty have experienced a deepening of their financial struggles. In this compelling and tho...

In this enlightening episode of Next Economy Now, we sit down with Charles Conn, a cross-sector leader, life sciences investor, environmentalist, and best-selling author. Charles is not only a co-founder and partner at Monograph Capital, but also a board member and chair at Patagonia. Our conversation delves into the nexus of the environmental crisis and the pivotal role that businesses can play i...

Over the years, Patagonia has been recognized as much for its social and environmental practices as it has for its clothes. In an unprecedented move in 2022, the Chouinard family gave the company away, converting ownership to a simple structure of trusts so that all its profits could be used to protect our “home planet” and reverse the climate crisis, an enduring and pressing issue that has been a...

The idea of upcycling, which Daniel Kurzrock happened upon as he was looking for better things to do with the “brewers spent grain” (BSG) from his home-brewed beer business than throw it away, is what forms the foundation of his company, Upcycled Foods, Inc. By turning it into consumables like energy bars and loaves of bread, Daniel and his team are chipping away at the 20 billion pounds of BSG th...

Social impact trailblazer Lisa Kleissner co-founded KL Felicitas Foundation, Toniic, and Hawaii Investment Ready, all key players in the movement to bring down the barriers to impact investing. Lisa also brings her two decades of experience in impact investing and philanthropy to her work as a board member at Aqua-Spark and Real Good Fish. During this episode, she shares her story. Tuning in, you...

The links between movement and wellness are not easily disputed, and yet we find ourselves in an extremely sedentary society, where people are either unable to move enough or choose not to. On the show today to talk about her work on the subject is Katy Bowman. Her numerous books are helping to change the way we look at and think about movement and its role in contemporary life. For full show note...

From serving as a passionate advocate for policy reform to using the power of storytelling as a tool for social change, everything author and activist Christine Platt does is a reflection of her vision for intentional living. Also known as the Afrominimalist, Christine has worked at the intersection of racial, social, and environmental justice since 2005, and her literature is focused on African d...

In today’s episode, we are joined by Cheryl Whilby, Communications Director at Soul Fire Farm, who is here to share some of the inspirational work that they are doing. Cheryl’s ancestors were farmers, but while she was growing up her family experienced food insecurity. When Cheryl came to understand the systemic nature of this problem, she made it her mission to make positive changes in the space....

Vincent Medina is a member of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, where he also serves as a Councilman representing his family’s lineage. He and Louis Trevino co-founded mak-‘amham, an organization and restaurant focused on reviving and strengthening traditional Ohlone foods and sharing them with their communities. Vincent was born and continues to live in his family’s indigenous tribal area of Halkin (Sout...