Podcast

Building Climate Resilience Through Lo-TEK (w/ Julia Watson)

Climate resilience is not only a matter of innovation but also of honoring what communities have practiced for centuries. In this episode, Julia Watson, designer, activist, and leading expert on Lo—TEK — a term that combines low-tech and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) — shares how traditional practices offer vital solutions for sustainable design and regenerative economics.

As the co-founder of the Lo—TEK Institute and author of Lo—TEK: Design by Radical Indigenism and the forthcoming Lo—TEK Water, A Field Guide for TEKnology, Julia explains how traditional ecological knowledge offers some of the most sophisticated climate solutions on the planet. From India’s living root bridges to Bali’s Subak rice terraces and Kolkata’s wetlands, Julia highlights how Indigenous innovations safeguard food systems, water, biodiversity, and community governance. The discussion also explores conservation as a colonial legacy, the urgency of biodiversity protection, and the hybridization of ancestral technologies with contemporary tools.

This episode is a powerful reminder of how sustainable practices and regenerative economics can grow from social impact strategies that honor cultural wisdom and ecological balance. Tune in to this impact podcast to learn how Lo—TEK can inspire resilient futures and guide the green economy.

Key Points From This Episode:

  • Julia Watson’s background and early influences in Australia, including the Aboriginal environments course that reframed her worldview while studying architecture. [0:03:08]

  • Studying contested sacred landscapes at Harvard, challenging Eurocentrism, and guiding students to uncover Indigenous technologies [0:07:12]

  • A discussion on conservation as a colonial legacy and why Lo—TEK matters today. [0:14:48]

  • Examples of Lo—TEK: living root bridges, Bali’s Subak terraces, and East Kolkata wetlands. [0:27:18]

  • Hybridizing ancestral technologies with contemporary design. [0:39:37]

  • Examples of hybrid projects, from sponge cities to seaweed thatching. [0:45:00]

  • Protecting Indigenous intellectual property through blockchain. [0:51:44]

  • Using blockchain and Living Earth curriculum to protect and teach Indigenous knowledge. [0:51:44]

  • What’s next for Julia and Lo-TEK, including her Lo—TEK Water book release, the launch of the Lo—TEK Office, and upcoming coursework. [01:00:17]

Quotations:

“The conservation story isn't a story that we can disassociate from the atrocities of ethnocide and stolen lands.” — Julia Watson [0:08:22]

“I think the — realization at the end of this century, [will be] that we have actually lost some of the most important climate technology that exists on this planet, that has existed for millennia, that has upheld all of the planet's working, vital, healthy ecosystems and its biodiversity.” — Julia Watson [0:20:35]

“The intention of these traditional systems and traditional technologies is not to extract, is not to make money, is not to make profit. The intention of these systems is to provide for the next seven generations. The intention is [that] this will be long-lasting.” — Julia Watson [0:25:23]

“I think that [linear], extractive technologies – will die. And we're starting to see that with the death of fossil fuels. Regenerative, circular, or cyclical, — technologies, like renewable energies, they will keep going because they understand how time works.” — Julia Watson [0:43:58]

“What's beautiful and super sophisticated about [Traditional Ecological Knowledge] is that it doesn't have to be ‘not artificial’ or ‘not digital’. It can be ancestral and digital. It can infuse artificial with ecological. It can be both at the same time.” — Julia Watson [0:50:26]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Julia Watson — www.juliawatson.com
Julia Watson on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianicolewatson/

Lo—TEK Institute — https://www.lo-tek.com/
Lo—TEK Design by Radical Indigenism — https://www.lo-tek.com/book
Lo—TEK Water, A Field Guide for TEKnology — https://www.lo-tek.com/product-page/preorder-lo-tek-water

Kevin Bayuk on LinkedIn —  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinbayuk/

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Join the growing global network of 500+ alumni who are catalyzing a global shift towards an economy that works for all life. Learn more and sign up for news about upcoming cohorts: https://lifteconomy.com/mba.

Show Notes + Other Links

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the show, you can view our previous episodes and show notes here: https://lifteconomy.com/podcast. Feel free to share with colleagues or friends searching for podcasts for social entrepreneurs, too!

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Freedom Practice in an Unfree World (w/ Autumn Brown)

Autumn Brown returns to Next Economy Now for her third conversation with Ryan Honeyman. Autumn is a mother, theologian, facilitator, musician, and cohost of How to Survive the End of the World alongside her sister adrienne maree brown. In this episode, she shares her journey of moving from cooperative leadership at AORTA into a new phase of life focused on music, writing, and martial arts, as well as her forthcoming book on fugitivity. At the heart of her work is the question: how do we practice freedom in an unfree world?

Together, Autumn and Ryan dive into what has shifted since 2020—exploring the backlash to racial justice movements, the difference between symbolic versus relational change, and why so much of today’s organizing can feel performative when not grounded in real relationship. Autumn emphasizes the need to move beyond fear, resentment, or judgment and instead organize from love, courage, and grief—energies that replenish rather than deplete. The conversation touches on coalition building across difference, how to choose when to hold firm and when to meet people where they are, and what it means to reach for governing power while staying rooted in liberatory practice.

Toward the end, the two reflect on martial arts as a surprising but powerful practice for those committed to nonviolence. Autumn shares how Aikido has reshaped her relationship to conflict and power, while Ryan reflects on his own entry into boxing as a healthy channel for rage and resilience. Though a smaller part of the discussion, it underscores a central theme: the practices that help us stay grounded, embodied, and awake are essential to sustaining movements and our lives within them.

Key Points From This Episode:

  • A brief overview of what we have missed in Autumn’s life since we last spoke. [0:06:40]

  • Autumn shares her thoughts on the current political climate and what that says about who we are as people. [0:14:52]

  • Navigating how to create actual social change (not symbolic change) in a damaged political system. [0:23:52]

  • Autumn shares how to balance prioritizing safety and political education in different environments. [0:35:23]

  • The danger of performative gestures and asking yourself what you can do and will do to identify where your fear lies. [0:44:25]

  • Reframing how we see people and why Autumn doesn’t see humans as fundamentally good or bad. [0:48:40]

  • Challenging your worldview and considering the most generous interpretation of a situation. [0:54:43]

  • Autumn tells us about her new book and the concept of practicing freedom as a fugitive. [0:57:41]

Quotations:

“It is often the case that people who are organizing for social change forget that they are deeply a part of the system that they are trying to change and that anything about that system that they find problematic lives inside of them.” — Autumn Brown [0:16:55]

“When you have social change relying on symbolic and not deeply understood actions, that sets us up for failures that we can’t anticipate.” — Autumn Brown [0:24:30]

“[Our political system] relies on oppression to function.” — Autumn Brown [0:29:43]

“I take the position that humans are neither fundamentally good nor fundamentally bad.” — Autumn Brown [0:48:48]

“We live in a society that is fundamentally violent in the way that it’s shaped, and in order for us to be functional inside of that society, a lot of us have to walk around in a fugue state.” — Autumn Brown [1:00:01]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Autumn Brown: https://www.iambrown.org/ 

Autumn Brown on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/autumn-brown-0bab514/ 

Autumn Brown on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autumnmeghanbrown/ 

How to Survive the End of the World: https://endoftheworldshow.org/ 

Stay Connected To Next Economy News with our Newsletter!                                                                                       

Interested in receiving the latest news from the Next Economy? Sign up for our newsletter and receive monthly tips, advice, and resources from our team and partners: https://lifteconomy.com/newsletter

Dive Deeper With The Next Economy MBA 

Interested in exploring Next Economy principles in a community of practice with other entrepreneurs, changemakers, and impact leaders? Offered in the spring and fall, the Next Economy MBA is a nine-month online course for folks who want to learn key business fundamentals (e.g. vision, culture, strategy, and operations) from an equitable, inclusive, and regenerative perspective.

 Join the growing global network of 800+ alumni who are catalyzing a global shift towards an economy that works for all life. Learn more and sign up for news about upcoming cohorts: https://lifteconomy.com/mba.

Show Notes + Other Links

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the show, you can view our previous episodes and show notes here: https://lifteconomy.com/podcast. Feel free to share with colleagues or friends searching for podcasts for social entrepreneurs, too!

If you enjoy Next Economy Now, please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps folks interested in Next Economy work discover our show. With your help, we can reach folks looking for podcasts about regenerative agriculture, worker co-ops, racial justice, and more.

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Music by Chris Zabriskie: https://chriszabriskie.com/

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Intentional Living and the Future of Tiny Housing (With Jewel Pearson)

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Freedom and fulfillment aren’t measured in square footage; they’re shaped by how we live and what we value. In this episode of Next Economy Now, we welcome Jewel Pearson, a tiny house expert, intentional living advocate, and longtime voice for representation in the tiny house movement. With over ten years of experience living in a tiny house, Jewel brings lived experience and deep expertise as a consultant, educator, and speaker. She challenges traditional ideas of housing and wealth building, helping people design homes and lifestyles rooted in sustainability, equity, and community.

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A Journey to Personal Liberation (with Christine Platt)

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In celebration of our second cohort of Next Economy Living, we’re launching a mini-series on the podcast to explore ways to build our individual and collective resilience strategies during these critical times. 

If you enjoy this episode and are excited about designing your life in alignment with your values in a supportive community environment, consider joining our fall cohort of Next Economy Living. In this six month learning journey, we’ll learn how to deepen our security and resilience practices to thrive and flourish amidst ecological and economic challenges. Learn more and sign up for a free coffee chat with one of our facilitators at bit.ly/nexteconomyliving.

When you understand the power of a limiting belief and change it into a liberating belief, you get to take your power back and achieve personal freedom. In this segment of our Next Economy Living mini-series, we are joined by author and advocate for personal liberation, Christine Platt, to talk about her new book, Less is Liberation, and to share her liberation story. 

Christine felt she no longer resonated with her success that was deeply rooted in her afrominimalist identity and decided to take ownership of her own life and liberate herself from the constraints of a career that didn’t serve her deepest desires. Tune in to hear Christine share her story, how she let go of limiting beliefs and fear, why she’s passionate about storytelling, the power of personal freedom, not just collective liberation, and so much more! Christine redefines ‘selfishness’ for listeners and, in doing so, shows us how we can free ourselves from limiting beliefs. We also discuss the five foundations of wellness before delving into learning how to ‘get well’. 

Finally, Christine touches on where limiting beliefs stem from and how you can pinpoint them. To hear all this and be inspired to seek out personal liberation and figure out who you truly are, be sure to press play now! 


—-

Key Points From This Episode:

  • How Christine’s first book, The Truth About Awiti, kick-started her path to liberation. [0:04:16]

  • The power of storytelling and sharing stories that need to be told but aren’t. [0:13:16]

  • Letting go of limiting beliefs and behaviors and choosing to go on your journey. [0:16:24]

  • Christine’s first act of career liberation and how frightening liberation is. [0:21:40]

  • Personal liberation versus collective liberation, and what a limiting belief actually is. [0:24:50]

  • Redefining ‘selfishness’ and the danger of not being able to self-assess. [0:32:01]

  • The five foundations of wellness and how a health scare changed Christine’s life. [0:43:04]

  • Pinpointing your limiting beliefs in order to achieve collective wellness and freedom. [0:50:41]

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Quotes:

“We are living in the lasting implications of decisions of those who came before us – [and] the decisions that we make hold that same power.” — Christine Platt [0:14:46]

“People don’t talk about how liberation is frightening – [and] how hard it is to make a decision that is going to impact and change your entire life.” — Christine Platt [0:21:59]

“A lot of the overwhelm that we experience in our lives is self-induced.” — Christine Platt [0:23:50]

“Our bodies are always trying to be well. So you will ‘get well’ but you have to learn how to listen to your body.” — Christine Platt [0:47:42]

“Until we, ourselves, are liberated, until we, ourselves are well, there’s not going to be collective liberation.” — Christine Platt [0:53:51]

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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Christine Platt: https://www.iamchristineplatt.com/ 

Christine Platt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-platt-afrominimalist/ 

Christine Platt on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamchristineplatt/ 

Less is Liberation: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/christine-platt/less-is-liberation/9781538758304/ 

The Truth About Awiti: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-truth-about-awiti-cp-patrick/12074086?ean=9780692287736&next=t 

Afrominimalist: https://www.afrominimalist.org/ 

Necessary Losses: https://bookshop.org/p/books/necessary-losses-the-loves-illusions-dependencies-and-impossible-expectations-that-all-of-us-have-judith-viorst/16021189?ean=9780684844954&next=t 

The Untethered Soul: https://bookshop.org/p/books/necessary-losses-the-loves-illusions-dependencies-and-impossible-expectations-that-all-of-us-have-judith-viorst/16021189?ean=9780684844954&next=t 

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Stay Connected To Next Economy News with our Newsletter!                                                                                             

Interested in receiving the latest news from the Next Economy? Sign up for our newsletter and receive monthly tips, advice, and resources from our team and partners: https://lifteconomy.com/newsletter

---

Dive Deeper With The Next Economy MBA

Interested in exploring Next Economy principles in a community of practice with other entrepreneurs, changemakers, and impact leaders? Offered in the spring and fall, the Next Economy MBA is a nine-month online course for folks who want to learn key business fundamentals (e.g. vision, culture, strategy, and operations) from an equitable, inclusive, and regenerative perspective.

Join the growing global network of 500+ alumni who are catalyzing a global shift towards an economy that works for all life. Learn more and sign up for news about upcoming cohorts: https://lifteconomy.com/mba.

---

Show Notes + Other Links

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the show, you can view our previous episodes and show notes here: https://lifteconomy.com/podcast. Feel free to share with colleagues or friends searching for podcasts for social entrepreneurs, too!

If you enjoy Next Economy Now, please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps folks interested in Next Economy work discover our show. With your help, we can reach folks looking for podcasts about regenerative agriculture, worker co-ops, racial justice, and more.

---

Stay Connected With Us On Social:

X: https://twitter.com/LIFTEconomy

Instagram: https://instagram.com/lifteconomy/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/LIFTEconomy/

YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/Lifteconomy

Music by Chris Zabriskie: https://chriszabriskie.com/

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Rethinking Home and Belonging Through Intentional Community (with Cynthia Tina)

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What if the solution to better housing, health, and happiness isn’t greater independence, but deeper interdependence? In this episode of Next Economy Now, sustainability educator and regenerative living advocate Cynthia Tina invites us to rethink how we live, highlighting what it means to live in alignment with shared values, and why intentional communities are emerging as a powerful response to today’s social and ecological challenges.

A Theory of Change: Closing the Skills Gap for the Next Economy (with Kevin Bayuk)

How do we equip people with the skills and support they need to build a regenerative, community-centered economy? In part two of our series on the hypotheses that guide our work at LIFT Economy, Kevin Bayuk and Ryan Honeyman explore the critical training and skills gaps facing entrepreneurs and organizations working to create economic systems rooted in community well-being, environmental regeneration, and the common good.

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How to Transition to Shared Ownership (with Jason Wiener)

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Transitioning to shared ownership is one of the most powerful ways a business can align its values with its structure. In this episode of Next Economy Now, Jason Wiener, founder of the law and consulting firm Jason Wiener P.C. and co-founder of Colorado Cooperative Developers, joins Ryan Honeyman to unpack the legal, cultural, and financial considerations behind alternative ownership models, from worker cooperatives to purpose trusts.

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Patagonia's "Tools to Save Our Home Planet" (w/ Nick Mucha)

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As social and environmental crises intensify, the need for skilled, grounded activism has never been greater. In this episode of Next Economy Now, Nick Mucha, Senior Director of Environmental Issues and Strategy at Patagonia, shares what it takes to support movements and build capacity for lasting impact. Nick also introduces Patagonia’s new book, Tools to Save Our Home Planet, a practical guide for changemakers at every stage of their journey.

A Theory of Change: Showcasing What’s Possible in the Next Economy (with Kevin Bayuk)

How can we transform the global economy to serve all life? In this conversation, Next Economy Now co-hosts Ryan Honeyman and Kevin Bayuk reflect on the podcast’s 10-year journey and dive into the regenerative economic strategies that guide their work at LIFT Economy. They discuss what inspired the creation of the show, how it has evolved, and the values-based conversations it has helped surface around topics like worker ownership, sustainable business practices, and corporate social responsibility.

Liza Mueller: Building an Irresistible Future for Social Innovation

What if the economy prioritized sustainability over short-term gains, justice over extraction, and people over profit? Today on Next Economy Now, Liza Mueller, Vice President of Knowledge at Echoing Green, joins us to discuss how fearless social entrepreneurs are spearheading the shift toward regenerative economics, sustainable business practices, and social impact initiatives.

Meklit Hadero: How Solidarity Economies Can Reshape the Music Industry

What if the way we support artists is broken, but the answers have been with us all along? Today on Next Economy Now, we’re joined by Ethiopian-American vocalist, composer, and cultural activist Meklit Hadero to explore how migration shapes music, why the traditional music industry is collapsing, and how collective economic models could be the key to artists' survival. 

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Janelle Orsi: What if No One Could Save Money?

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What would life look like if saving money became impossible for everyone? In this thought-provoking episode of Next Economy Now, Janelle Orsi, lawyer, writer, cartoonist, and activist for social and environmental justice, shares her journey of questioning traditional systems. From her early days as a “sharing lawyer” to her leadership at the Sustainable Economies Law Center, Janelle explores how wealth redistribution, Indigenous land relationships, and love-driven collaboration can redefine society.

Tameka Peoples: Creating Partnerships to Move Your Business Forward

How can businesses create sustainable products while supporting historically marginalized communities? Joining us to share the transformative work being done within the industry is returning guest, Tameka Peoples, Founder of Seed2Shirt. As the first Black woman-owned, ethically produced blank t-shirt company, Seed2Shirt connects cotton farmers and textile workers to a regenerative, community-driven system.