What if the way we build our lives, jobs, relationships, and communities is fundamentally flawed? Join us as we explore how Aaron Goggans, co-creator of WildSeed Society and Black Lives Matter DC, is reimagining society by rewriting some of its most basic agreements.
Kristy Drutman: Climate Change in the Digital Age
Climate change affects every aspect of our existence, and to fight it, we need to assess every part of our lives to see what needs to change in the hopes of preserving our planet. Joining us to unpack the intersectionality of media, diversity, and environmentalism is the speaker, consultant, media producer, and environmental educator, Kristy Drutman.
Matt Stinchcomb: From Rockstar to Climate Advocate
As environmental and social challenges intensify, what actions are needed to build a sustainable future? In this episode, we explore the story of Matt Stinchcomb, who turned his early passion for ecology into impactful work that champions sustainability and community engagement. Matt is a social impact leader focused on sustainable community development and climate action. Through Partners for Climate Action, he supports local climate initiatives, sustainable growth, and community engagement.
Kevin Bayuk and Erin Axelrod: Next Economy Living
No matter how much you've aligned your lifestyle with your values, there’s always room to take it further. Next Economy Living, a new online course from LIFT Economy, is designed to fill essential knowledge gaps and empower those eager to build the next economy. In this episode, we dive into the course concept and share actionable tips for your next steps, such as budgeting, investing in durable goods, and navigating administrative hurdles.
You’ll hear about our vision for Next Economy Living and why it's core to living our values. We discuss the diverse range of people who can benefit from this knowledge and explore the course’s unique framework, outlining the incremental steps participants might take. Registrations are open for our upcoming free Next Economy Living Q&A sessions, where we’ll preview upcoming trainings. If resources are a barrier, please reach out via email or social media. We look forward to seeing you there!
Key Points:
Next Economy Living: its purpose, goals, and how it fits within Next Economy Now [0:01:28]
What’s at stake in reimagining the way we meet our needs in the current system [0:09:29]
The intended audience and the ultimate goal of Next Economy Living [0:20:41]
How the course can benefit those engaged in aid, activism, or those with access to wealth [0:30:51]
The framework for “next steps” and participant-driven learning [0:34:00]
Practical next steps that participants will discover in the course [0:39:03]
The overlap between cutting expenses, building skills, and finding growth areas [0:43:01]
How everyone, regardless of their involvement in the next economy, can identify a next step [0:47:41]
Quotes:
“One of the challenges and opportunities that we often provocatively try and present is to rethink the economy from a principles-first perspective.” — @kevinbayuk [0:04:46]
“It’s not just about changing the nature of business. It’s actually about changing the nature of culture and how we think about our needs.” — @kevinbayuk [0:08:57]
“We’re going to create, in the container of the learning community, a place where people can request or solicit feedback, advice, and resources for taking their next step.” — @kevinbayuk [0:38:18]
“We are going to hold people in a compassionate, accountable, loving embrace as we support them in taking that step.” — @erinaxelrod [0:41:06]
“Even building community is a next step that many can take.” — @erinaxelrod [0:46:19]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Kevin Bayuk on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinbayuk/
Kevin Bayuk on X — https://x.com/kevinbayuk
Erin Axelrod on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinaxelrod/
Erin Axelrod on X — https://x.com/erinaxelrod
Michael Kramer: The Power of Sustainable Finance and Purpose-Driven Ownership
What can businesses do to meaningfully align their operations with social and environmental values? In today’s episode, Michael Kramer, Manager and Trust Steward at Natural Investments, and co-author of The Resilient Investor: A Plan for Your Life, Not Just Your Money, shares his insights on the intersection of socially responsible investing (SRI), resilience, and purpose-driven business models.
Nairuti Shastry and Zac Chapman: In Pursuit of More Just Economic Futures
What does it take to reimagine our financial structures so that social movements can thrive in abundant ecosystems rather than being starved for resources? In this episode, Zac Chapman and Nairuti Shastry from the New Economy Coalition (NEC) join us to explore the Solidarity Economy Funding Library, a powerful initiative that helps organizers access funding, investment, and fiscal sponsorship opportunities while fostering stronger relationships between movement organizations and funders.
Dr. Richard Schwartz: Internal Family Systems (IFS) and the Next Economy
We are all made up of various parts that dictate how we relate to and engage with the world around us. And when these parts are hurt, we struggle to find joy, peace, and comfort. These revelations formed the basis of Dr. Richard Schwartz’s Internal Family Systems Model (IFS), and today, he joins us to discuss how his groundbreaking philosophy can help to build the Next Economy.
Jasmine Rashid: The Financial Activist Playbook
Financial activism is more than just making trades on Wall Street; it’s about making impact-driven investments that sustainably grow entire communities and about providing a platform for a more equitable society. The Financial Activist Playbook is a comprehensive resource designed to empower everyday people with insider knowledge on moving money for a more equitable economy, and we are thrilled to be joined today by its author, Jasmine Rashid.
Natalie Foster: Fighting for America’s Next Economy by Raising the Floor for Everyone
How would America’s economy change if we could guarantee financial support for everyone? In this conversation with Natalie Foster, Economic Security Project president and author of The Guarantee, we explore how stability can be found for American people if the government provides an economic floor through which no one can fall and that can provide guaranteed income.
Exploring Overworking Through the Lens of Nonviolent Communication
In our fast-paced society, many of my clients face the challenge of overcommitment and overworking. This tendency is influenced by various socio-economic pressures, such as the need to perform and keep up with the rapid changes in our world. While some of these pressures are systemic and vast, recognizing and detaching from the internalized beliefs about productivity can offer significant freedom. Rather than enacting habitual programming that may have been helpful in the past but is no longer supportive, you can make decisions that are more aligned to your needs and self-awareness. You may realize you have more choice in the moment than you may have thought.
Below are some journal prompts crafted to guide your exploration through the principles of Nonviolent Communication (NVC). These prompts are designed to help you connect more deeply with your feelings and needs in relation to overworking. As you reflect on each question, please use the accompanying feelings and needs list link to support your inquiry.
Reward and Recognition: Reflect on times when you received belonging, acceptance, or appreciation for exceeding expectations. Using the NVC feelings and needs list, identify the emotions and needs that were met during these instances.
How does striving for perfection or excellence relate to your sense of self-worth and identity?
Have there been other ways that these needs were met while you were in alignment with your deepest self?
Past Experiences and Validation: Think about moments from your past where being capable, helpful, or productive brought you validation or a sense of belonging. Acknowledge the feelings of joy or fulfillment from these achievements.
How can you integrate this understanding into a more balanced work-life approach while honoring your emotional needs?
Introducing 'Beyond the B,' Our New B Corp Podcast!
LIFT team members Emmy Allison and Ryan Honeyman facilitate an ongoing conversation about what is working and not working in the B Corp movement, advise companies on how to increase their impact, and provide a deep dive into the new B Corp standards that are shaping our community.
Dana Brown: The Next System of Healthcare
While healthcare has the potential to function as an essential pillar of the next economy, it’s no secret that the current US healthcare system is dysfunctional. Today, we are joined by Dana Brown, a leading expert in public-sector pharmaceutical production, to imagine a non-extractive system of healthcare that prioritizes the health and wellbeing of people over profits.
Chris Marquis: A New Regenerative Paradigm for Tomorrow’s Economy
From climate change to inequality, many of society's most pressing issues are deeply intertwined with the prioritization of wealth accumulation at the expense of broader societal and environmental concerns. Today, we are joined by Chris Marquis, the author of The Profiteers: How Business Privatizes Profit and Socializes Cost, to discuss how we can rebalance interactions between corporations, governments, and civil society to deliver outcomes that benefit both people and the planet.
Sibley Simon - Affordable Housing for the Future
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.
John Fullerton: Collaboration and The Regenerative Economy Movement
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.
Kevin Eppler: Finding Meaning, Connection, Direction, and Purpose as Allies
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.
Marjorie Kelly: Imagining the Next System of Capital
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.
Garrett Bucks: The Right Kind of White
Is there a ‘right way’ to approach whiteness? In this conversation with Garrett Bucks, author of The Right Kind of White and Founder of Barnraisers, we dissect the impact of attitudes of white saviorism on authentic relationships.
Hugues Sygney Jr.: Businesses for Change
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.
Denise Hearn: Embodied Economics, Antitrust, and Changing the Profit Paradigm
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.