The Way Forward Regenerative Conversations

In a time when AI is both celebrated for its potential and feared for its risks, join us as we dive into the complex world of artificial intelligence with Hiwot Tesfaye , Technical Advisor in Microsoft's Office of Responsible AI.   She provides a perspective on how we can harness this powerful technology responsibly. From addressing systemic inequities to imagining a future where AI and humans coe...

In this episode, hosts Dr. John Izzo and Alain Gauthier engage in a conversation with youth climate activists Tony Passino and Sarah Hill from the organization Change the Chamber. The discussion revolves around the resurgence of youth activism on college campuses, particularly in relation to the climate emergency. Tony and Sarah share their personal journeys into activism and discuss the work thei...

Welcome to this episode of The Way Forward Regenerative Conversations podcast, where we delve into transformative ideas and pressing issues that shape the future of humanity and our planet. Today, we explore the profound impact of nature on leadership and personal transformation. As we navigate through unprecedented global challenges, it is crucial to find new ways to lead and live, particularly f...

How can we harness the power of activism to transform the environmental landscape and policy worldwide? Today we address this pressing question with Tzeporah Berman , whose life's work exemplifies the profound impact that dedicated activism can have on our planet's future. With a unique blend of direct action and policy advocacy, Tzeporah has navigated the complex interplay between grassroots move...

Our podcasts explore the way forward and how we can shape our future as a society, our planet, and our personal journeys, especially as we navigate the later stages of life. Today’s episode will resonate with anyone pondering the essence of aging with intention and vitality, whether for yourself or someone you know. We explore aging with a sense of purpose, transforming our later years into a peri...

In this compelling episode, we engage in a deep conversation with guest Elliot Kotek on the impactful role of storytelling and filmmaking in shaping a sustainable and regenerative future for humanity and our planet. Elliot shares his journey from a young aspiring writer influenced by the cultural richness of Melbourne, Australia, to becoming a purpose-driven filmmaker in Los Angeles, tackling subj...

 In this special anniversary episode of "The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations," hosts Dr. John Isso, Alain Gauthier, and producer Jim Burke reflect on a year of impactful conversations with a diverse array of guests, from biologists and CEOs to indigenous experts, climate scientists and elders finding purpose in their third act. Celebrating 28 episodes of exploring alternatives for humanity...

With the humanitarian crisis and ongoing conflict in Gaza and the Middle East on all our minds, passions run high as world leaders and nations attempt to navigate the complexities of this difficult situation and help all parties find a mutually agreeable solution.   This episode features an in-depth look at the pressing issues facing the Middle East with Barbara Slavin . From the roots of the Iran...

There is a growing problem in our approach to waste in this country and the world. Our global consumption has increased, leading to a significant rise in waste production and the materials we are using are often less desirable for recyclers due to their declining economic value. This trend has led to a decrease in recycling. Tom Szaky a pioneering entrepreneur and environmental thought leader is b...

With our extended lifespan in the 21st century, midlife can extend from our 30s to our 60s or longer.  What are the challenges and potential transformative experiences that face us, as we navigate that part of life?  Chip Conley describes his forties as a difficult time for him.  He lost five male friends to suicide and faced numerous personal crises.  In this conversation, Chip shares his journey...

How do we find hope or optimism about a regenerative future in the 21st century? For many of the guests on this podcast it has been their experience with young people that inspires hope.  In our conversation with Maia Ervin , Chief Impact Officer at JUV Consulting , we explore Generation Z as they emerge into adulthood.  Gen Z’s are now in their teens and twenties and are asking different question...

As we all navigate the many transitions life has in store for each of us, where we can find a guide or map to help us?  Paul Ward in his conversation with us today, shares the collaborate journey that has led him with his co-authors to write a new book “ Midlife, New Life: Living Consciously in Midlife and Beyond ”.  In his self-described role as a life transition coach, Paul describes how we can...

The United Nations panel that studies climate change found that consumption surpassed population growth as the biggest driver of resource and material use on the planet at the turn of the 21st century.  In the United States the population has increased 60% since the 1970s while the consumption of consumer items has increased 400%.  We consume 13 times more than the average person in one of the poo...

Elders Climate Action (ECA), a grassroots organization founded as project of Elders Action Network in 2014 has taken the lead in activating elders to be educated about and address the growing climate crisis at the federal, state, and local levels – through national policy initiatives and regional chapters.  With a strong emphasis on partnerships - especially intergenerational - ECA addresses clima...

Health span is the period of life during which you are generally healthy and free from serious chronic disease. In the United States the average lifespan historically has been lower compared to many developed countries. The U.S. also faces challenges with chronic disease, obesity and other health issues which negatively impact health span.  In 2016 the average life expectancy at birth in the US wa...

On YouTube and in current books, stories of pending societal collapse are increasingly apparent.  Are we just experiencing the recurrence of the age-old theme” the end is near” or is something new happening?  Are the increasing climate catastrophes, supply chain shortages, rising fuel and food prices caused by our growing environmental footprint? Are they symptoms of pending societal collapse? Are...

Retirement is often presented by the media as a time of leaving meaningful work to pursue hobbies, travel, and more time with family.  With increased life expectancy and evolving societal norms, the traditional notion of retirement is undergoing change.  Some people now opt for semi-retirement, gradually reducing their work hours, or they switch careers to less demanding but more fulfilling work. ...

Many of us feel stuck in a paradigm that no longer serves us or life. Others believe “The Great Turning”, as Joanna Macy calls its, has begun?   There is also an emerging request that we Boomers humbly and courageously step beside the next generation of young leaders to support and learn from them?  Some call for   shared leadership as a model to be embraced.  Our guest Akaya Windwood, who serves...

In 2005 we deployed less than 1 GW of solar.  By 2023 there was 350 gigawatts of solar produced with a cost reduction of 85 to 90%.   Hydrogen as a renewable energy source has long been promoted for its potential to revolutionize the energy landscape due to its abundance and clean burning nature.  Despite decades of anticipation its widespread adoption and integration into the global energy mix ha...

Albert Einstein was once asked what question would he most want to know the answer to if he returned to Earth in 500 years, he replied “Is the universe friendly?” We live in a pivotal period where numerous aspects of our modern societies face unprecedented challenges.  Some fear we may already be on the path of societal and environmental collapse.  It is in this context that redefining and reimagi...

As record breaking temperatures are recorded in the United States and across the world during the summer of 2023, Climate Change” and “Global Warming” can no longer be relegated to the future.  For more and more of us it has become a lived experience.  What can we do as individuals, groups and as a society to take action in the face of this ever-emerging crisis.  Brian Stewart is the founder of “...

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...