Next Economy Now: For the Benefit of All Life

Resmaa Menakem, New York Times bestselling author of “My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies,” is a visionary Justice Leadership coach, organizational strategist and master trainer. Resmaa is a leading voice in today’s conversation on racialized trauma. As a therapist, trauma specialist, and the founder of Justice Leadership Solutions, a leadership consultancy firm, Resmaa Menakem dedicates his expertise to coaching leaders through civil unrest, organizational change, and community building. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/2020/15/10/next-economy-now

What if addressing the problem of homelessness was not only a moral necessity but the most financially efficient choice? Sibley Simon is the President of New Way Homes, a nonprofit operating an Impact Investment Fund to develop workforce opportunities and affordable housing. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/sibley-simon/

What is the regenerative economy movement? Can it help us overcome our societal addiction to growth and transform the current economy? Joining us today to unpack these questions is John Fullerton, the Founder and President of the Capital Institute, a self-described unconventional economist, teacher, writer, and impact investor. Tune in as we talk with John about his background in finance, why he walked away from Wall Street, and the key ideas that lie at the heart of the regenerative economy movement. We explore the core problems of finance ideology, the essential role of collaboration in transforming our economy, and some of the inspiring initiatives that are successfully employing regenerative economics principles. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/john-fullerton/

Racial equality and social justice cannot be achieved without all members of society playing their part. And as the historical makers of systems of segregation, white men need to start by looking inward. Joining us today to further explain a white man’s role in social justice is the Curriculum Coordinator, Facilitator, Immersion Coordinator, Change Maker, Equity and ABAR Specialist, and Founder of White Men for Racial Justice (WMRJ), Kevin Eppler. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/kevin-eppler/

Is it possible to create an effective economic system where life is at the center? In this conversation, we explore the possibilities with Marjorie Kelly. A thought leader in next-generation enterprise design, employee ownership, impact investing, and building a community-rooted democratic economy, Marjorie is a distinguished senior fellow at the Democracy Collaborative and the author of four books. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/marjorie-kelly/

Is there a ‘right way’ to approach whiteness? In this conversation with Garret Bucks, author of The Right Kind of White and Founder of Barnraisers, we dissect the impact of attitudes of white saviorism on authentic relationships. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/garrett-bucks/

Due to their unique positions, businesses have a better chance of making a lasting impact on their communities compared to NGOs, governments, or other entities that promise help that ultimately, never arrives. Hugues Sygney Jr. from B Lab United States & Canada has made it his mission to bridge the divide between businesses and the communities that desperately need their help, and he joins us today to share his story. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/hugues-sygney-jr/

When antitrust laws were first established in America, they functioned as a direct assertion that private institutions and individuals should not control democracy. But what is the state of competition and antitrust today? And what are the tools we have at our disposal to curb the most egregious excesses of private firms? Here to help us unpack the complex topic is Denise Hearn, a writer, applied researcher, and advisor specializing in how economic power and paradigms shape our world. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/denise-hearn/

What if the Next Economy started with self-connection? During this episode, Feldenkrais practitioner Andrew Gibbons joins us for the first installment of our culture series. Sharing his experience of discovering, implementing, and learning to teach the Feldenkrais Methodology, Andrew offers a deep dive into the world of changing behavior and coordination through slow and intentional movement. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/andrew-gibbons/

Embarking on a journey of self-discovery requires sacrifice and, unfortunately, far too many of us lack the time or space to pursue it. But what if we could rely on our communities and one another for support? Joining us today to help us unpack this topic is Lama Rod Owens as we explore love, activism, and what it means to be a spiritual warrior. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/lama-rod-owens/

Doing the urgent work of dismantling white supremacy and capitalism is an overwhelming task that cannot be achieved alone. But how do we find healing and connection within our communities and move forward when there is so much hurt to be overcome? Joining us today to help unpack this nuanced and urgent topic is Roxy Manning, Ph.D. — an Antiracist, Nonviolent communication (NVC) speaker, consultant, and psychologist. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/2024/2/13/roxy-manning-the-antiracist-heart-nonviolent-communication-and-learning-to-practice-compassion

What if honing the skill of self-compassion was an entry point to better communicate with, understand, and connect with others? Today, Haitian-American artist, activist, and educator Phoenix Soleil joins us to explore the concept of nonviolent communication and its impact on relationships. By sharing her transformational journey, Phoenix shares some of the tools she has used to build a healthier approach to communication and conflict resolution. Diving deeper to address the systems and power dynamics behind societal norms around communication, we discuss an alternative approach that embraces self-empathy and connection, as well as Phoenix’s Culture Offerings workshop series for Next Economy leaders. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/culture-offerings-phoenix/

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 today to explore the scientific and business cases for regenerative agriculture and its role in restoring our world. Tune in to find out how Kat’s focus has evolved since she was first interviewed on Next Economy Now, the mission behind Radicle Impact, and how it is unfolding today, and an update on the status of Beneficial State Bank. Unpacking the regenerative agriculture efforts Kat is currently driving, we explore the pivotal role of carbon in sustaining all forms of life. We currently find ourselves at a pivotal point in history when it comes to measuring impact and Kat provides an in-depth explanation of what that means for us and how to respond accordingly. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/kat-taylor/

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, Certification, and Product Delivery for B Lab, Clay plays a critical role in evolving, growing, and scaling new and existing programs, products, and tools, including the B Corp Certification, which B Lab is perhaps best known for. In this episode, he outlines the evolving B Corp Certification standards and explains how B Lab is adapting and advancing its performance requirements to not only meet the needs of the moment but also optimize the movement for the future. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/clay-brown/

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 of community responsibility found in martial arts. We discuss what participatory budgeting is and how it works toward making decision-making for budgeting more democratic and equitable by involving communities in the process of design, proposal development, and ideation. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/shari-davis/

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 history and culture have also been used as references for TV shows, such as Outlander. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/michael-newton/

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 get to talk about what her vision for the future looks like. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/zoe-spencer/

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, dismantling white supremacy, and tackling climate change. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/ben-cohen/

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/

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 those visions into practical frameworks. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/amb/