Podcast

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A Journey to Personal Liberation (with Christine Platt)

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Next Economy Now is a weekly social impact podcast sharing stories & dialogue from the front lines of the new economy. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, or wherever you find your podcasts.

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! 


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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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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.

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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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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.

How to Transition to Shared Ownership (with Jason Wiener)

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.

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.

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Kevin Bayuk and Erin Axelrod: Next Economy Living

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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: