Join me, Prof Wayne Visser, for inspiring conversations with leaders in the breakthrough movement to regenerate nature, society and the economy. Thriving is about going beyond sustainability to a net positive agenda of innovation and regeneration. Each episode is a dialogue with thought leaders and pioneering practitioners, capturing their perspective on the six great transitions to thriving: how to go from degradation to restoration of ecosystems, from depletion to renewal of resources, from disparity to responsibility in communities and workplaces, from disease to revitalisation of health, from disconnection to rewiring through technology, and from disruption to resilience in infrastructure and institutions. We also explore what kind of leadership are needed to create a thriving future, and how organisations can take action to integrate thriving into their strategies, products and services. This is not about 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 invited guests on the podcast. Credits: Host: Wayne Visser. Podcast music: Amil Raja
45. A Systems View of Life, with Fritjof Capra
My guest this week is Fritjof Capra, living systems theorist and bestselling author of The Systems View of Life. He discusses how:Systems thinking represents a shift from a mechanistic to an organic or network worldviewComplexity theory brought a breakthrough in our understanding of living systemsLiving systems are self-organising networks with processes of creativity and regenerationSocial systems are enabled by communities of practice, informal communication and cultureChange agency happens by aligning with and reinforcing feedback loops through movementsKey linksThe Capra Course (website)The Systems View of Life (book)The Environmentalist (poem)Thriving (book)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)
12/7/2023 • 38 minutes, 39 seconds
44. Stories of Life, Land and a Farming Revolution, with Sarah Langford
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 landWe can learn lessons for transforming the food sector from farmers struggling with the transition to regenerative agricultureReforming the agricultural system needs to simultaneously tackle public health, biodiversity loss and food securityLivestock farming (and the diets that supports this) needs to change, but cellular agriculture and precision fermentation have challengesIt is a myth that there is a trade-off between food production (yields) and nature conservation in regenerative farmingKey linksSarah Langford (LinkedIn)Sarah Langford (website)Rooted (book)Radical Activist (poem)Thriving (book)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)
11/9/2023 • 39 minutes, 57 seconds
43. The Purpose of Capital and the Nature of Value, with Jed Emerson
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 practicesESG investing is not a new idea or practice, going back at least to the Mennonite shareholder activism in relation to the Dutch East India CompanyThe ethical investment movement has evolved from screened socially responsible investments and best in class approaches to ESG integration and impact investingESG investment has reached a critical mass, but the business risk-based approach (single materiality) resulted in perceptions of greenwashingStakeholder capitalism represents a shift in societal norms and expectations of business, but face significant resistance from incumbent vested interestsKey linksJed Emerson (LinkedIn)Blended Value (website)AlTi Tiedemann Global (website)The Purpose of Capital (book)Mutualism (book)Thriving (book)I Like to Move It (poem)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)
10/26/2023 • 34 minutes, 44 seconds
42. Women Creating Social Impact for a Better World, with Robbin Jorgensen
My guest this week is Robbin Jorgensen, Founder and CEO of Women Igniting Change. She discusses how:“Listening tours” in Rwanda reveal inspiring women with resilience, innovation and creativityWe need to work with men and change societal norms to create the opportunities for womenChanging behaviours in companies is a systemic change that takes time and commitmentImposter syndrome is common among women and can be countered by solidary groupsMen may need to “pipe down” sometimes to ensure that women’s voices are heardKey links:Robbin Jorgensen (LinkedIn)Women Igniting Change (website)Left to Tell (book)Rwandan Women Rising (book)Thriving (book)Women of Africa (poem)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)
10/4/2023 • 33 minutes, 29 seconds
41. Doughnut Economics for Business, with Erinch Sahan
My guest this week is Erinch Sahan, Business & Enterprise Lead at Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL). In this episode, he discusses how: Incentives in business are working against planetary boundaries and social foundationsGrowth as a core driver of business is incompatible with doughnut economicsWe need to make the deep design of business regenerative and distributiveRedesign must be at the level of purpose, networks, governance, ownership and financeNew models of business (beyond B-Corps) and financial markets are emerging Key linksErinch Sahan (LinkedIn)Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL) (website)Doughnut Economics (book)A Swirling Story (poem)Thriving (book)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)
9/22/2023 • 34 minutes, 6 seconds
40. For the Love of Soil, with Nicolle Masters
My guest this week is Nicole Masters, Director of Integrity Soils and author of For the Love of Soil. In this episode, she discusses how: Farmers feel connected to the land, yet are destroying the living soil“Feeding the world” is a distribution problem, not a production problemRegenerative agriculture is a philosophy or paradigm, not a set of techniquesThe science of soil health and the movement of regeneration is still youngOur inner and outer landscape need to be more connectedKey links:Nicole Masters (LinkedIn)Integrity Soils (website)For the Love of Soil (book)We Have Earth (poem)Thriving (book)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)
8/24/2023 • 37 minutes, 10 seconds
39. How Regeneration Shifts us from being Apart From Nature to being A Part Of Nature, with David Harland
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 restorationBuckminster Fuller’s “spaceship earth” concept and geodesic domes served as an inspiration for the Eden ProjectThe Eden Project showcases the positive impacts of regeneration of nature, society and the economyEnd of life mining sites can become exemplars of nature restoration, social regeneration and economic resilienceEducation is crucial for demonstrating our dependence on nature and interdependence with natureKey linksDavid Harland (LinkedIn)The Eden Project (website)Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth (book)On the Brink (poem)Thriving (book)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)
7/7/2023 • 31 minutes, 46 seconds
37. Regenerative Agriculture Doesn’t Work Without Mutual Accountability, with Aneel Kumar Ambavaram
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 agricultureRegenerative agriculture increases the resilience for small farmers in a climate damaged worldTransformation is a process of linking back to the traditional wisdom of older generationsBringing diversity of crops and techniques back to farming is a key to successMutual accountability in the value chain requires long term investment by big brandsKey linksAneel Kumar Ambavaram (LinkedIn)RESET Cotton Program (Instagram)The Earth Turns (poem) Thriving (book)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)
5/24/2023 • 35 minutes, 53 seconds
25. The Factory as a Forest, with Jon Khoo
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 designHow 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 usHow new leadership is about democratisation: connecting to people and empowering them to be part of a meaningful change processWhat we can learn from indigenous communities, especially about perspectives on nature, experiences of resilience and practicing empathyKey linksJon Khoo (LinkedIn)Sustainability at Interface (webpage)Regeneration (poem)Thriving (book)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)
12/4/2022 • 34 minutes, 32 seconds
20. The Secret Revolution in Agriculture is Nitrogen, with Kelly Price
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 speciesFood 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” businessChemical fertilisers – with the energy it takes to produce them and the nitrogen and phosphorous run off – are disasters for nature and climate changeRegenerative agriculture can reduce farmers’ dependence on synthetic nitrogen input, saving them money, lowering their risk, and helping them get to net zero carbonKey linksKelly Price (LinkedIn)Agreed Earth (website)Farm (and Other F Words), by Sarah K Mock (book)Chasing the Red Queen, by Andy Dyer (book)Farm to Fork, by Joe Stanley (book)Thriving (book)Connected (poem)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)
10/19/2022 • 33 minutes, 58 seconds
18. Helping Farmers to Kick their Chemical Drug Addiction, with Charlie Curtis
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 northWhy our farms are like drug addicts that we need to wean off chemicals in the transition to regenerative agricultureHow challenging the waste and inefficiency of current farming practices is key to freeing up the land we need for bringing back natureWhy factory farming of livestock is cruel and unnecessary, and how there are alternatives that incorporate animals in a regenerative approachHow we need to bust the myth that regenerative agriculture is more expensive or less productive than intensive industrial agricultureKey linksCharlie Curtis (LinkedIn)Never Too Late (poem)Thriving (book)Wayne Visser (website)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)
9/28/2022 • 30 minutes, 58 seconds
16. Innovation to Help Customers Become Net Positive, with Virginie Helias
My guest this week is Virginie Helias, who is Chief Sustainability Officer at Procter & Gamble. Listen to Virginie talk about:Why the goal of thriving must be thriving for all people, not only for the few – and how innovation and collaboration are the keyHow licensing technology – such as digital watermarks to enable increased and improved plastic recycling – can help sustainable innovations to scaleWhy it is essential that employees are part of the thriving movement, most of whom now expect companies to help them achieve net positiveHow changing consumer behaviour is key, which requires creative communication, and increased performance and convenience of sustainable productsWhat P&G’s new commitment to build a water positive future means, including restoring more water than is consumed during the use of its productsKey links:Virginie Helias (LinkedIn)P&G Lead With Love (webpage)P&G Sustainability (webpage)P&G Citizenship Report 2021 (report)A Place to Thriving (poem)Thriving (book)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)
9/15/2022 • 34 minutes, 44 seconds
15. Grassroots Solutions to the Biodiversity Crisis, with Douglas Tallamy
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 hopeWhy it’s important not to panic during a crisis; most often, we have the solutions and just need to implement and scale themHow plant-insect interactions provide a clue to why native plants are necessary to support the food webWhy 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 farmHow movements and feeling that we are not alone in trying to make a positive difference is critical – like via Homegrown National ParkKey links:Homegrown National Park (website)Nature's Best Hope (book)Thriving (book)Wayne Visser (LinkedIn)
