
Next Economy Now: For the Benefit of All Life
Next Economy Now highlights the leaders that are taking a regenerative, bio-regional, democratic, equitable, racially-just, and whole-systems approach to creating the new economy. Popular guests include Vincent Stanley (Patagonia), Winona LaDuke (White Earth Reservation), Frederic Laloux (Reinventing Organizations), Autumn Brown (AORTA), Kate Raworth (Doughnut Economics), and Aaron Tanaka (Center for Economic Democracy). Learn more at www.lifteconomy.com
Latest episodes

Jan 30, 2024 • 57min
Kat Taylor: Banking to Benefit the Future
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/Send us a textJoin our fall cohort of the Next Economy MBA, beginning September 30th! Join an alumni community of 700+ entrepreneurs, activists, and artists working to transform our economy for the benefit of all life. Plus, save 20% on tuition when you register before August 11th, 2025.Learn more ➡️ http://lifteconomy.com/mba Current federal policy decisions are affecting businesses and workers in our community in big ways. Actions like the recent tariffs and funding freezes have real-world consequences. American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) is collecting stories to push for smarter, more sustainable policies. Add your voice to the movement: https://bit.ly/ASBNTellYourStorySupport the show

Jan 23, 2024 • 47min
Clay Brown: Transforming the Global Economy to Benefit All People, Communities, and the Planet
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/Send us a textJoin our fall cohort of the Next Economy MBA, beginning September 30th! Join an alumni community of 700+ entrepreneurs, activists, and artists working to transform our economy for the benefit of all life. Plus, save 20% on tuition when you register before August 11th, 2025.Learn more ➡️ http://lifteconomy.com/mba Current federal policy decisions are affecting businesses and workers in our community in big ways. Actions like the recent tariffs and funding freezes have real-world consequences. American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) is collecting stories to push for smarter, more sustainable policies. Add your voice to the movement: https://bit.ly/ASBNTellYourStorySupport the show

Jan 16, 2024 • 47min
Shari Davis: The Participatory Budgeting Project
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/Send us a textJoin our fall cohort of the Next Economy MBA, beginning September 30th! Join an alumni community of 700+ entrepreneurs, activists, and artists working to transform our economy for the benefit of all life. Plus, save 20% on tuition when you register before August 11th, 2025.Learn more ➡️ http://lifteconomy.com/mba Current federal policy decisions are affecting businesses and workers in our community in big ways. Actions like the recent tariffs and funding freezes have real-world consequences. American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) is collecting stories to push for smarter, more sustainable policies. Add your voice to the movement: https://bit.ly/ASBNTellYourStorySupport the show

Jan 9, 2024 • 53min
(Rebroadcast) Michael Newton: The Repeating Structures of Empire
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/Send us a textJoin our fall cohort of the Next Economy MBA, beginning September 30th! Join an alumni community of 700+ entrepreneurs, activists, and artists working to transform our economy for the benefit of all life. Plus, save 20% on tuition when you register before August 11th, 2025.Learn more ➡️ http://lifteconomy.com/mba Current federal policy decisions are affecting businesses and workers in our community in big ways. Actions like the recent tariffs and funding freezes have real-world consequences. American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) is collecting stories to push for smarter, more sustainable policies. Add your voice to the movement: https://bit.ly/ASBNTellYourStorySupport the show

Jan 2, 2024 • 47min
(Rebroadcast) Zoe Spencer: Critical Race Theory, the Law of Ma’at, and Co-Creating a More Equitable Future
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/Send us a textJoin our fall cohort of the Next Economy MBA, beginning September 30th! Join an alumni community of 700+ entrepreneurs, activists, and artists working to transform our economy for the benefit of all life. Plus, save 20% on tuition when you register before August 11th, 2025.Learn more ➡️ http://lifteconomy.com/mba Current federal policy decisions are affecting businesses and workers in our community in big ways. Actions like the recent tariffs and funding freezes have real-world consequences. American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) is collecting stories to push for smarter, more sustainable policies. Add your voice to the movement: https://bit.ly/ASBNTellYourStorySupport the show

Dec 26, 2023 • 41min
(Rebroadcast) Ben Cohen: Co-Founder of Ben & Jerry’s on Business Done Differently
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/Send us a textJoin our fall cohort of the Next Economy MBA, beginning September 30th! Join an alumni community of 700+ entrepreneurs, activists, and artists working to transform our economy for the benefit of all life. Plus, save 20% on tuition when you register before August 11th, 2025.Learn more ➡️ http://lifteconomy.com/mba Current federal policy decisions are affecting businesses and workers in our community in big ways. Actions like the recent tariffs and funding freezes have real-world consequences. American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) is collecting stories to push for smarter, more sustainable policies. Add your voice to the movement: https://bit.ly/ASBNTellYourStorySupport the show

Dec 19, 2023 • 35min
Ed Mitzen: Rebuilding Left-Behind Communities
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/Send us a textJoin our fall cohort of the Next Economy MBA, beginning September 30th! Join an alumni community of 700+ entrepreneurs, activists, and artists working to transform our economy for the benefit of all life. Plus, save 20% on tuition when you register before August 11th, 2025.Learn more ➡️ http://lifteconomy.com/mba Current federal policy decisions are affecting businesses and workers in our community in big ways. Actions like the recent tariffs and funding freezes have real-world consequences. American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) is collecting stories to push for smarter, more sustainable policies. Add your voice to the movement: https://bit.ly/ASBNTellYourStorySupport the show

Dec 12, 2023 • 34min
(Rebroadcast) adrienne maree brown: Grief, Future Visioning, and Why People Doing Movement Work Should Write More Fiction
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/Send us a textJoin our fall cohort of the Next Economy MBA, beginning September 30th! Join an alumni community of 700+ entrepreneurs, activists, and artists working to transform our economy for the benefit of all life. Plus, save 20% on tuition when you register before August 11th, 2025.Learn more ➡️ http://lifteconomy.com/mba Current federal policy decisions are affecting businesses and workers in our community in big ways. Actions like the recent tariffs and funding freezes have real-world consequences. American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) is collecting stories to push for smarter, more sustainable policies. Add your voice to the movement: https://bit.ly/ASBNTellYourStorySupport the show

Dec 5, 2023 • 34min
Vivek George: Building Sustainability With Co-Ops
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 companies like Yuti Co-op can address issues around sustainability, democracy, and inequality. For full show notes, visit: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/vivek-george/Send us a textJoin our fall cohort of the Next Economy MBA, beginning September 30th! Join an alumni community of 700+ entrepreneurs, activists, and artists working to transform our economy for the benefit of all life. Plus, save 20% on tuition when you register before August 11th, 2025.Learn more ➡️ http://lifteconomy.com/mba Current federal policy decisions are affecting businesses and workers in our community in big ways. Actions like the recent tariffs and funding freezes have real-world consequences. American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) is collecting stories to push for smarter, more sustainable policies. Add your voice to the movement: https://bit.ly/ASBNTellYourStorySupport the show

Nov 28, 2023 • 35min
Joshua Prieto: Impact Entrepreneurs Building Regenerative Economies
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/Send us a textJoin our fall cohort of the Next Economy MBA, beginning September 30th! Join an alumni community of 700+ entrepreneurs, activists, and artists working to transform our economy for the benefit of all life. Plus, save 20% on tuition when you register before August 11th, 2025.Learn more ➡️ http://lifteconomy.com/mba Current federal policy decisions are affecting businesses and workers in our community in big ways. Actions like the recent tariffs and funding freezes have real-world consequences. American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) is collecting stories to push for smarter, more sustainable policies. Add your voice to the movement: https://bit.ly/ASBNTellYourStorySupport the show