Explore every episode of the podcast Thriving: The Breakthrough Movement
Dive into the complete episode list for Thriving: The Breakthrough Movement. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
S3.E4: Paying Nature's Invoice: Unlocking the $145 Trillion Ecoservices Economy
05 Aug 2026
00:26:17
Episode 4 is based on "Restoration" (Chapter 3).
Core Theme: Moving from the "crime of ecocide" to an economy that actively restores nature.
The Ecoservices Economy: Valuing nature's "invisible" contributions—like water purification and pollination—which are estimated to be worth $125 to $145 trillion per year, more than twice the measured global economy.
Rewilding and Keystone Species: A look at how the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone triggered "trophic cascades" that brought entire ecosystems—from river shapes to bird populations—back to life.
Arboreal Superheroes: Exploring the Trillion-Tree Challenge and "rainmakers" like the Brazil nut tree, which moves 3.5 bathtubs of water into the atmosphere every day.
Regenerative Agriculture: Moving from "sterile dirt" back to living soil using techniques like biochar and ancient Aztec chinampas to lock away billions of tons of carbon.
The Blue Carbon Revolution: Why marine biomes like seagrass and kelp are our best hope, fixing carbon at 35 times the rate of tropical rain forests
Season 3 is an experiment. It features an AI-generated dialogue that deep dives into each chapter of the book, Thriving: The Breakthrough Movement to Regenerate Nature, Society and the Economy. Let me know what you think!
S3.E3: Wicked or Entangled? Unravelling our Knotty Problems
29 Jul 2026
00:20:16
Based on "Paradox" (Chapter 2)
Core Theme: Recognizing the "forces of fragmentation" that act as triggers for systemic transformation.
The Forces of fragmentation: A look at the six distinct ways our current systems are breaking down: Degradation of ecosystems, Depletion of resources, Disparity in communities, Disease in individuals, Disconnection through technology, and Disruption of infrastructure.
The Stockdale Paradox: Inspired by Admiral James Stockdale, this concept encourages us to confront the "most brutal facts" of our current reality while maintaining unwavering faith that we will prevail in the end.
Wicked vs. Entangled Problems: Reframing our global challenges not as "wicked" (which implies a villain) but as "entangled" balls of twine that must be carefully and collaboratively unraveled.
10 Lessons from COVID-19: A breakdown of how the pandemic taught us about exponential growth, positive tipping points (like car-free city streets), and the fact that extreme adaptation is possible when humanity is pushed.
Season 3 is an experiment. It features an AI-generated dialogue that deep dives into each chapter of the book, Thriving: The Breakthrough Movement to Regenerate Nature, Society and the Economy. Let me know what you think!
39. How Regeneration Shifts us from being Apart From Nature to being A Part Of Nature, with David Harland
07 Jul 2023
00:31:46
My guest this week is David Harland, until recently the CEO (International) of the Eden Project, with its two biomes with a million plants and the world’s largest indoor rainforest. In this episode, he discusses how:
The Eden Project shows “the art of the possible” in turning ecosystem degradation into restoration
Buckminster Fuller’s “spaceship earth” concept and geodesic domes served as an inspiration for the Eden Project
The Eden Project showcases the positive impacts of regeneration of nature, society and the economy
End of life mining sites can become exemplars of nature restoration, social regeneration and economic resilience
Education is crucial for demonstrating our dependence on nature and interdependence with nature
37. Regenerative Agriculture Doesn’t Work Without Mutual Accountability, with Aneel Kumar Ambavaram
24 May 2023
00:35:53
My guest this week is Aneel Kumar Ambavaram is the Founder Director of the Raddis (Radically Disruptive) Cotton Program. In this episode, he discusses how:
He made the transition from selling agricultural chemicals to leading regenerative agriculture
Regenerative agriculture increases the resilience for small farmers in a climate damaged world
Transformation is a process of linking back to the traditional wisdom of older generations
Bringing diversity of crops and techniques back to farming is a key to success
Mutual accountability in the value chain requires long term investment by big brands
35. A Better Everyday Life for the Many People, with Ludvig Liljekvist
27 Apr 2023
00:35:28
My guest this week is Ludvig Liljekvist, Global Strategy, Development & Innovation Insight and Foresight leader for Ingka Group (largest IKEA retailer). In this episode, he discusses:
What “positive” means in IKEA’s People and Planet Positive strategy
Why circularity remains challenging for a retail business focused on affordability
How three “wicked” (entangled) problems are shaping possible, projected and preferable futures
Why world building is a useful foresight technique for strategy
How innovation needs to focus on resilience and regenerative design
34. Making Sustainability and Diversity Business-as-usual, with Audrey-Flore Ngomsik
12 Apr 2023
00:32:44
My guest this week is Audrey-Flore Ngomsik, CEO & Co-Founder of Trianon Scientific Communication and President of The Brussels Binder. In this episode, she discusses how:
A more complex and dynamic world makes diversity more necessary to survive and thrive
Incorporating diversity into targets and incentives is needed to make change happen
Role models are important for breaking barriers and inspiring those that follow
Diversity can drive better stakeholder engagement and commercial opportunities
The business case for sustainability is a strategic choice that begins with leadership
33. Impact Investing, Hip Hop and the Black Opportunity, with Tino Chebebe
29 Mar 2023
00:34:59
My guest this week is Tino Chibebe, author of The Black Opportunity, Founders’ Associate at Azteq and Investment Committee member at Impact Shakers Microfund. In this episode, he discusses how:
Impact investing can make a critical difference in tackling social and environmental challenges
Afropeans are underrepresented in the venture capital and technology space in Belgium
There is a bias against Black entrepreneurs, in part due to a lack of visibility and role models
The “daughter effect” in venture capital underscores the importance of educating investors
Diversity on investor teams and company boards is critical for changing the status quo
32. What Trees Can Tell Us About a Changing Climate, with Valérie Trouet
09 Mar 2023
00:32:34
My guest this week is Valérie Trouet, a palaeoclimatologist, Professor of Dendrochronology at the University of Arizona and Scientific Director of the Belgian Climate Centre. In this episode, she discusses how:
Studying tree rings can give insights into climate change over the past 2,000 years
There is evidence that climate change was a contributing factor to the fall of Rome
Science needs the support of enabling government policy to turn insight into action
Communicating scientific findings needs to generate consensus rather than division
Dendrochronology allows us to compare extreme climate events, such as wildfires, over time
30. Developing the Heartset of Femininity, Family and Flexibility, with Nuria Chinchilla
17 Feb 2023
00:30:59
My guest this week is Nuria Chinchilla, the IESE Business School Professor of Leadership and Head of the IESE Chair on Women in Leadership. In this episode, she discusses how:
Waste and pollution occur not only in the natural environment, but also in society
Values are different from value, help us to go beyond a new mindset to a new heartset
We need to challenge the view of employees as machines, resources or economic agents
Participative purpose is key to changing the tyranny of management by objectives
The keys to tackling discrimination against women are femininity, family and flexibility
S3.E2: Seeing the Forest for the Trees: The Power of Systems Thinking
22 Jul 2026
00:22:50
Episode 2 is based on "Thriving" (Chapter 1).
Core Theme: Using the science of systems thinking to create environments where all life can flourish.
The Wood Wide Web: Shifting perspective from individual parts to the whole system. The author explains how trees use vast underground fungal networks to communicate threats and share nutrients, reminding us to see the "forest" of relationships rather than just the "trees" of isolated issues.
Nested Systems: A look at the "Russian doll" nature of our world. The economy is nested within society, which exists within and is entirely dependent on nature—the self-regulating organism known as the Gaia Hypothesis.
The Six Keys Framework: A deep dive into the scientific fundamentals required for a system to thrive:
Complexity: Trillions of synapse connections in the human brain model how relationships strengthen a system. Much like the WWII Enigma code, life is a complex cipher of dynamic interactions that we must learn to navigate.
Circularity: Moving beyond "bathtub thinking" to a circular economy where "waste equals food." Nature mimics this with 1.1 trillion tons of biomass that never becomes "trash" but instead fuels new life.
Creativity: Celebrating the "weedy entrepreneurs" who live on the fringes of convention. Like wildflowers, they are tough, tenacious, and essential for breathing new life into outdated economic paradigms.
Coherence: Examining ant colonies and the flocking phenomenon to understand how collective intelligence allows order to emerge from chaos without a central leader.
Convergence: The power of "systems flips." Just as transportation flipped from carriages to cars in 13 years, the convergence of renewable energy and digital tech is currently tipping the world toward a sustainable future.
Continuity: Embracing "cathedral thinking"—the Native American Iroquois philosophy of planning seven generations ahead—as an antidote to the "tyranny of short-termism" found in modern quarterly capitalism.
Season 3 is an experiment. It features an AI-generated dialogue that deep dives into each chapter of the book, Thriving: The Breakthrough Movement to Regenerate Nature, Society and the Economy. Let me know what you think!
29. Navigating the Nature Agenda, with Jason Walters
09 Feb 2023
00:34:21
My guest this week is Jason Walters, Director of GlobeScan, who has overseen research among 11,000 people from 11 countries on biodiversity and business. In this episode he talks about:
Why action on biodiversity is so far behind action on climate change – yet starting to gain traction in the past 2 years
How only 2% of people believe nature is in a good or satisfactory condition, and 88% of experts find the situation alarming or catastrophic
How most people are somewhat optimistic that we can make progress on protecting and restoring nature, but this needs a more integrated, inclusive and embedded approach
How indigenous people bring a much-needed perspective on nature, challenging prevailing views on nature as a resource to extract or exploit
Which sectors are leading and why the Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures and Science Based Targets for Nature are cause for hope
28. Don't Be Mean to the Holocene, with Lucy Siegle
02 Feb 2023
00:32:59
My guest this week is Lucy Siegle, a British journalist, broadcaster and author of books on ethical living, including most recently Be the Ultimate Friend of the Earth. In this episode, she talks about:
What the role of the media is in educating people on social and environmental issues – and how requirements for “balanced” reporting can be a barrier
How the politicisation of media is slowing progress, while the public (and often business) is ahead of politicians on issues like climate change
Why it’s important to bring a fun element (like quizzes) into media coverage and knowledge presentation on sustainability
How documentaries and books on the fashion industry and plastic in the ocean have helped to build movements of change
Why it is important to tell the stories of successful change that is happening in order to kindle the fires of hope
27. Regeneration: Putting Life at the Centre of Everything, with Paul Hawken
27 Jan 2023
00:57:52
My guest this week is Paul Hawken, environmentalist, entrepreneur, activist and author of the bestselling books The Ecology of Commerce, Drawdown and Regeneration. In this episode, he talks about:
Why sustainability has become a “weasel word” and limited practice that we may be better off avoiding altogether
How regeneration is different to sustainability – and is necessary to move beyond an extractive economy
Why climate change will never be “solved” unless we protect and restoring life (biodiversity and natural systems) on earth
How regenerative agriculture shows a pathway from a destructive industrial model to a thriving system
Why regeneration represents one of the biggest opportunities for creating purpose and meaning in people’s lives
My guest week is Jon Khoo, Head of Sustainability (EAAA) at Interface. In this episode, he talks about:
Why doing “less bad” is no longer a credible option and what becoming a restorative enterprise means in practice, in terms of ambitious strategy and regenerative design
How Interface is learning to live zero, love carbon, let nature cool and lead the industrial revolution (the four elements of the Climate Takeback mission)
Why changing the narrative on sustainability and climate action is critical to inspire and how innovation in nature can help us
How new leadership is about democratisation: connecting to people and empowering them to be part of a meaningful change process
What we can learn from indigenous communities, especially about perspectives on nature, experiences of resilience and practicing empathy
24. What’s Broken in our Food System, and How to Fix It, with Claudia Lee
20 Nov 2022
00:30:32
My guest week is Claudia Lee, a journalist and podcaster on sustainable food systems. In this episode, she talks about:
How the food system needs to navigate the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, plastic and chemical pollution and food security
Why tackling food waste is critical, with pioneering cases like Rice Inc in China; I also share my revolutionary idea to radically cut restaurant and hotel food waste
The health benefits of plant-based diets and the environmental benefits of regenerative agriculture and cultivated (or cultured) meat
The role of technology in making agriculture more sustainable, including indoor farming, precision agriculture and agro-bots
Why genetically modified organisms (GMOs) may not all be bad and how they should be judged on their impacts
23. Pessimism is a Luxury We Can No Longer Afford, with Kumi Naidoo
11 Nov 2022
00:39:02
My guest this week is Kumi Naidoo, Founding Chair at Africans Rising and former Secretary General at Amnesty International and Executive Director at Greenpeace. In this episode, he talks about why:
Thriving requires a can-do attitude and intergenerational mentality that accepts that social and environmental justice is a struggle of a lifetime
Framing climate change as an environmental issue was a strategic and tactical blunder of major proportions
Environmental decline is not from lack of solutions, but rather lack of political will, appropriate economics and inclusive communication
We need to get better at speaking to the heart, not only the head, including by turbo charging “artivism” and a culture of emergence
The changes necessary will only happen when we scale societal movements that pressure business and politics to move further, faster
21. Making Net Positive the New Norm, with Andrew Winston
26 Oct 2022
00:38:14
My guest this week is Andrew Winston, co-author of Net Positive (with Paul Polman) and a globally recognized expert on megatrends and how to build companies that thrive by serving the world.
How net positive – which means thriving by solving the world’s problems, not causing them – is different from what came before
What the outside-in perspective – including the science-based targets movement – means for business strategy
What companies like Unilever, IKEA, Patagonia, Mars, Microsoft, Google, and Stripe are doing to earn their recognition as pioneers in net positive
Why partnerships and shifting societal norms are the key to making progress towards net positive – and achieving the scale of solutions that we urgently need
What examples we see of tipping points that are seeding the net positive movement – including in clean tech and sustainable finance
20. The Secret Revolution in Agriculture is Nitrogen, with Kelly Price
19 Oct 2022
00:33:58
My guest this week is Kelly Price, who is Co-Founder and CEO of Agreed Earth. Kelly talks about how:
Our current economic model looks a lot like cancer – and why systems thinking is a way to change our metabolism as a species
Food security is a challenge of distribution rather than production – and how regenerative agriculture can “feed the world”
We need to change the farmer’s business model – and get them out of the “weapons of agricultural war” business
Chemical fertilisers – with the energy it takes to produce them and the nitrogen and phosphorous run off – are disasters for nature and climate change
Regenerative agriculture can reduce farmers’ dependence on synthetic nitrogen input, saving them money, lowering their risk, and helping them get to net zero carbon
S3.E1: Surviving the Global Riptide: - From Panic to Purpose
15 Jul 2026
00:22:49
Season 3 is an experiment. It features an AI-generated dialogue that deep dives into each chapter of the book, Thriving: The Breakthrough Movement to Regenerate Nature, Society and the Economy. Let me know what you think!
Episode 1 is based on "Hope" (The Prologue).
Core Theme: Moving from panic to purpose in the face of global crisis.
The Sodwana Bay Metaphor: The author shares his personal story of nearly drowning in a South African riptide. He explains that it wasn't the current that was most dangerous, but the potential to lose hope and panic. This serves as a powerful metaphor for our current global challenges like climate change and inequality.
Regeneration vs. Degeneration: A look at the two competing forces of life. While entropy leads toward disorder and decay (degeneration), life is inherently regenerative, creating synergy and order out of randomness.
The Paradox of Progress: A reflection on the 30 years since the 1987 Brundtland Report, "Our Common Future." While we have seen spectacular progress in lifting millions out of poverty, we are simultaneously "speeding toward a cliff" regarding biodiversity loss and climate change.
Hope as an Action Verb: Hope is not "blind optimism" or a "happily ever after" prescription. It is a radical choice to work at the "root" (the Latin radicalis) of systems to effect change.
The "Possibilist" Attitude: Adopting the spirit of Hans Rosling and Viktor Frankl—choosing to be positive because we have a hand in creating the future.
S1.E19: Enabling Environments for Peak Performance in Work and Life, with Eddy Annys
08 Oct 2022
00:30:24
My guest this week is Eddy Annys, who is Managing Director of Randstad Belgium and a former Olympic athlete. Listen to Eddy talk about:
His experience as a world class high jumper, and how peak performance by world class athletes is only possible by having an enabling system
Why ensuring that everyone has an opportunity for meaningful work remains a challenge – even in times and places of economic prosperity
How we need to challenge historical stereotypes of difference – such as gender and ethnicity – that stand in the way of diversity and inclusion
Why resilience has become a key competence as the world gets more fast-paced and complex – and how this links to the Good Work Goals
How cobots (collaborative human-robot interfaces) are a new, hopeful trend – and why job automation is not necessarily to be feared
S1.E18: Helping Farmers to Kick their Chemical Drug Addiction, with Charlie Curtis
28 Sep 2022
00:30:58
My guest this week is Charlie Curtis, who is Founder and Director of Progressive Agriculture Services and Head of Agriculture and Environment for the Cool Agriculture Alliance. Listen to Charlie talk about:
How in developing countries offer many lessons on regenerative farming practices that can help to transform our food system in the global north
Why our farms are like drug addicts that we need to wean off chemicals in the transition to regenerative agriculture
How challenging the waste and inefficiency of current farming practices is key to freeing up the land we need for bringing back nature
Why factory farming of livestock is cruel and unnecessary, and how there are alternatives that incorporate animals in a regenerative approach
How we need to bust the myth that regenerative agriculture is more expensive or less productive than intensive industrial agriculture
S1.E17: Regenerative Agriculture as an Investment Opportunity, with Antony Yousefian
24 Sep 2022
00:31:32
My guest this week is Antony Yousefian, who is the Founding Partner of ReFi Ventures and Advisor to Tech Nation. Listen to Antony talk about how:
Conventional intensive agriculture is extractive, while regenerative agriculture is better for food security, resilience and health
Innovation through regenerative agriculture can turn farming into a “hero industry” that reverses the destruction of nature’s ecoservices
Early-stage investment and financial innovation (such as soil carbon credits) needs to help to fund the transition to regenerative agriculture
AgTech (agricultural technology) can give us tools to measure nature’s services (like soil health and carbon cycling) and to quantify climate risks
Cultivating micro-proteins is a hundred times more energy efficient than the current farming system and five times more efficient than cell agriculture
S1.E15: Grassroots Solutions to the Biodiversity Crisis, with Douglas Tallamy
10 Sep 2022
00:28:04
My guest this week is Douglas Tallamy, who is the T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture at the University of Delaware, where he has authored over 100 research publications and has taught insect-related courses for more than 40 years. His bestselling books include book Bringing Nature Home, The Living Landscape, Nature’s Best Hope and The Nature of Oaks. Listen to Douglas talk about:
How biodiversity loss is a silent catastrophe – and why you, me and everybody are nature’s best hope
Why it’s important not to panic during a crisis; most often, we have the solutions and just need to implement and scale them
How plant-insect interactions provide a clue to why native plants are necessary to support the food web
Why talking about problems is not enough; people need to know that they can make changes where they live, where they work, where they play, or where they farm
How movements and feeling that we are not alone in trying to make a positive difference is critical – like via Homegrown National Park
S1.E14: Thriving in an Age of Disruption, with Micaela Patron
31 Aug 2022
00:35:46
My guest his week is Micaela Rizo Patrón, who is general manager of Perú Sostenible, a network of over 80 companies, which represents the World Business Council for Sustainable Development in Peru. Listen to Micaela speak about:
What the more chaotic conditions and informal systems of developing countries can teach us about creativity and resilience
How disruption can highlight the importance of purpose, the power of interconnection and the necessity for clear metrics of progress
Best practices from the hydro company Celepsa, which is helping Peru to deal with water stress in Lima, the second largest desert capital city (after Cairo)
Dealing with patriarchy and inequality in society and business, especially by supporting entrepreneurial women to access finance and opportunities
The importance of cultural diversity and taking sustainability inspiration from indigenous history, such as the 5000-year old sacred city of Caral
S1.E13: To Shared Value and Beyond, with Mark Kramer
24 Aug 2022
00:28:06
My guest this week is Mark Kramer, a Harvard lecturer and leading researcher, writer, speaker and consultant on strategies for social impact. He is best known as the co-author of seminal articles on creating shared value, collective impact, and catalytic philanthropy. Listen to Mark speak about:
Why there is a synergy between successful companies and healthy societies, a message that is at the heart of creating shared value
How start-ups, rather than large incumbent companies, are better positioned to lead the creative destruction necessary for a thriving revolution
Why visionary CEO leaders are crucial but not enough, and how government has to play a much stronger role
How capitalism is evolving to incorporate social and environmental impact and the valuation of companies
What needs to change to make shared value and thriving a realistic alternative to the status quo and which companies are leading the way
S1.E12: Think Big, Act Small, Start Now, with Claire Maxwell, John North and Anders Aspling
17 Aug 2022
00:34:52
My guests this week are Claire Maxwell, John North and Anders Aspling, who make up the leadership team of the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative (GRLI). They speak about:
The critical importance of building trust and holding courageous conversations that help us navigate the liminal space between extinction and hope
Why freedom, stability, regulation and imagination are some of the prerequisites for creating fair societies and the ability to flourish
How constant emergence is necessary for thriving to occur at the level of me (the self), we (the others) and all of us (the system)
Why governance structures need guardians of values, who are custodians of the ethos and spirit of the organisation
How globally responsible leadership is a question to live and grapple with, and the test of leadership is rooted in action
S1.E10: Turning Food Waste into Value with Frankie Fox
03 Aug 2022
00:31:46
My guest this week is Frankie Fox, CEO and Co-founder of foodsquared.earth, and a founder on Cohort 2 of Carbon13’s Venture Builder for the climate crisis. Listen to Frankie talk about:
How waste from industrial processes is a massive business opportunity for social and eco-entrepreneurs
Why start-up venture incubators are critical for seeding and scaling innovation for tackling climate change
How by-products of the food and drinks sector, such as grain from beer companies, can be turned into high value ingredients for other foods
Why we can’t afford to charge a green premium for more sustainable solutions, or to compromise quality
How the willingness of people to collaborate around issues that they have a passion about is a cause for hope
My guest this week is David Lorimer, an educator and philosopher, program director of the Scientific and Medical Network and author of A Quest for Wisdom: Inspiring Purpose on the Path of Life. Listen to David talk about:
How we can reframe education as “drawing out” rather than “stuffing in” – and why local action is a key to empowerment
Why we have a vacuum of meaning in our modern society – due to materialistic science and consumerist culture
How we can link science, spirituality and consciousness – and why having a living relationship with nature provides a clue
How sustainability has enabled companies to carry on taking, rather than shifting to a balance of give and take
Why we must move from technology-centred humans to human-centred technology and from a death economy to a life economy
S1.E8: Remaking Fashion by Regenerating Cotton with Niccy Kol
20 Jul 2022
00:31:05
My guest this week is Niccy Kol, Brand and Impact Catalyst for Raddis Cotton, which is building the world’s first regenerative cotton value chain, and Ambassador for Waste2Wear. Listen to Niccy talk about:
Why promoting recycled and recyclable textiles in a circular economy do not go far enough – and why natural fibres are better
What it takes to create the world’s first regenerative cotton value chain – and four companies that are showing what’s possible
Why it is crucial for brands to invest directly in farmer livelihoods – and to cut out the intermediaries wherever possible
What certification brings in terms of benefits, but also why it acts as a barrier for small farmers to switch to regenerative organic agriculture
Why creating a regenerative corporate value chain is more responsible than spending money on corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities
My guest this week is Dr Ervin Laszlo, a philosopher and systems scientist, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, founder and president of the international think tank The Club of Budapest, and author, co-author or editor of 106 books, including The Upshift. Listen to Ervin talk about:
Why we are at a chaos point in society – and how that represents a positive evolutionary opportunity
What Putin’s invasion of the Ukraine and other great disruptions could mean from a systems change perspective
How holism is a key organising principle in nature and society – and how this links to a higher purpose or spiritual force
Why he is inviting us to join the upshift movement, a grassroots based international and intercultural movement dedicated to building a better world
What hopeful monsters are – and why they are necessary antidotes to the forces of aggression and breakdown in society
S1.E6: Pathways to Dignity and Regeneration with Indira Kartallozi
07 Jul 2022
00:30:02
My guest this week is Indira Kartallozi, who is Founder Director of Sustainability Leadership Kosova and co-director of the Kaleidoscope Futures Lab. Listen to Indira talk about:
How her own journey as a refugee brought insights into individual resilience and the challenges of diversity and inclusion in society
What is necessary to support migrants and refugees through their transition – and why ensuring dignity is so important
Why, in supporting mental wellbeing, we must move beyond treating post-traumatic stress to enhancing post-traumatic growth and thriving
How working with young people is key to advancing sustainability and social entrepreneurship, especially in developing countries like Kosovo
What we can learn from the data-driven movement to tackle deforestation and to protect and regenerate forests in Kosovo
S1.E5: Redefining the Purpose of the Economy with Stuart Hart
29 Jun 2022
00:34:16
My guest this week is Professor Stuart Hart, who is the Steven Grossman Distinguished Fellow in Sustainable Innovation at the University of Vermont's Grossman School of Business, and author of "Capitalism at the Crossroads". Listen to Stuart talk about: - Why thriving is a revolutionary agenda – and goes to the heart of the real purpose of the economy and capitalism - The necessity to get beyond the business case for sustainability –- to the point where sustainability is the business - How business education is at the root cause of our unsustainability –- and why we must creatively destroy the MBA - Challenging shareholder primacy and ESG –- and redefining the value through initiatives like the long-term stock exchange - What the motive force for the reformation of capitalism might be –- and how the conditions for a major shift are ripe
S1.E4: The Wisdom of Natural Intelligence with Leen Gorissen
22 Jun 2022
00:32:12
My guest this week is Leen Gorissen, founder of the Centre4NI and author of "Building the Future of Innovation on millions of years of Natural Intelligence". Listen to Leen talk about: - What natural intelligence means --- and how it applies to business and government - How termites and whales can help us to respond to climate change - What shifting from a circular economy to a regenerative approach could mean - How nature thrives on chaos -- and how some companies are applying this principle - What we can learn from nature about rest, redundancy and resilience
S1.E3: Turning Business into an Institution for Hope with R. Edward Freeman
15 Jun 2022
00:34:00
My guest this week is R. Edward Freeman, Olsson Professor of Business Administration at the Institute for Business in Society at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, and the founding father of stakeholder theory. Listen to him talk about: - Why the real business case is about creating stakeholder value -- and moving beyond trade-offs to synergies - What we can learn about thriving from ancient and modern philosophers -- and why there's no such thing as an ethical leader - Why he's a big fan of the short term -- and doesn't buy into the notion of the short-term versus long-term divide - How we need to break from the grip of unhelpful narratives -- like the triple-bottom line and the invisible hand of the market - Why creative imagination is essential to make capitalism work -- and how all have have a crucial role to inspire ourselves and others
S1.E2: The Lightning Bolt of Systems Thinking with Dame Polly Courtice
08 Jun 2022
00:31:41
My guest this week is Dame Polly Courtice, DBE, LVO, who is the Founder Director of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. Listen to Polly talk about: - How her roots in South Africa shaped her thinking on sustainability -- and how issues of social justice remain close to her heart - What has changed in the sustainability movement over the past 30 years -- and what we have to urgently focus on today - Why so few leaders really understand systems thinking -- and how the principles of thriving can be like a lightening bolt of new consciousness - Why sustainability is necessary but not sufficient as an agenda for change -- and how young people are refusing to accept the future we are offering them - How moments of personal and professional crisis can bring clarity to the necessity for hope -- and what gives her hope now
In the episode, the following books are mentioned: - The Top 50 Sustainability Books, by CISL and Wayne Visser - Holism and Evolution, by Jan Smuts - A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future, by Sir David Attenborough
S1.E1: The Science and Science Fiction of Thriving with John Elkington
04 Jun 2022
00:35:02
My guest in this week's inaugural episode, launched on World Environment Day 2022, is John Elkington, Founder and Chief Pollinator at Volans, author of Green Swans and widely hailed thought leader in the global sustainability movement. Listen to him talk about: - Why he withdrew the triple bottom line (the 3Ps of people, planet, profit) 25 years after introducing it -- and then added 3Rs (you'll have to listen to find out what they are) - Why he gave up science when he was 14 -- and then went on to write for New Scientist magazine - Why he thinks we are still failing to grasp systems thinking -- and how nature may be our best teacher - What he has learned about sustainability and thriving from science fiction -- and why Kim Stanley Robinson's "The Ministry for the Future" may be prophetic - Why hope is our most precious commodity, and why sustainability has to be fun, engaging, educational and rewarding -- or else it's simply not going to work
S1.E0: Thriving: An Introduction to the Podcast Series
03 Jun 2022
00:02:18
Welcome to the Thriving podcast. This short description tells you what to expect in the coming episodes, which launch on World Environment Day 2022. Join me, Prof Wayne Visser, for inspiring conversations with leaders in the breakthrough movement to regenerate nature, society and the economy. We do not indulge in false hope or blind optimism, but we actively focus on innovative solutions and positive tipping points for change. The podcast builds on the foundations of my bestselling book Thriving: The Breakthrough Movement to Regenerate Nature, Society and the Economy. I look forward to having you join the movement for thriving and welcome your suggestions for who I should feature as a guest on the podcast. You can contact me via my website: waynevisser.com. Music credit: Amil Raja
44. Stories of Life, Land and a Farming Revolution, with Sarah Langford
09 Nov 2023
00:39:57
My guest this week is Sarah Langford, author of Rooted: Stories of Life, Land and a Farming Revolution. She discusses how:
The UK’s policy of “public money for public good” is helping farmers to reclaim their role as stewards of the land
We can learn lessons for transforming the food sector from farmers struggling with the transition to regenerative agriculture
Reforming the agricultural system needs to simultaneously tackle public health, biodiversity loss and food security
Livestock farming (and the diets that supports this) needs to change, but cellular agriculture and precision fermentation have challenges
It is a myth that there is a trade-off between food production (yields) and nature conservation in regenerative farming
43. The Purpose of Capital and the Nature of Value, with Jed Emerson
26 Oct 2023
00:34:44
My guest this week is Jed Emerson, Chief Impact Officer, AlTi Tiedemann Global and author of The Purpose of Capital. He discusses how:
Impact investing, social return on investment, venture philanthropy, and blended value are related, reinforcing concepts and practices
ESG investing is not a new idea or practice, going back at least to the Mennonite shareholder activism in relation to the Dutch East India Company
The ethical investment movement has evolved from screened socially responsible investments and best in class approaches to ESG integration and impact investing
ESG investment has reached a critical mass, but the business risk-based approach (single materiality) resulted in perceptions of greenwashing
Stakeholder capitalism represents a shift in societal norms and expectations of business, but face significant resistance from incumbent vested interests