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How can communities reconnect with place while shifting away from extractive systems? Matt Biggar, researcher, consultant, and author of Connected to Place, joins Kevin Bayuk to explore how place-based systems change can help regenerate nature, strengthen communities, and build more resilient local economies. Drawing on his background in education, sustainability, and transportation research, Matt reflects on the experiences that shaped his thinking and the frameworks he now uses to understand systemic change.

The conversation explores why awareness alone rarely changes behavior, and how physical infrastructure, social relationships, and cultural norms shape the choices people make every day. Matt and Kevin discuss the levers for systems change outlined in Matt’s book, including shifting power, transforming land use, resetting culture, and building collaboration across sectors. They also examine examples from cities like Paris and San Francisco that show how changes to streets, public space, and local infrastructure can influence broader social and economic transformation.

Matt also reflects on collaboration fatigue, the importance of trust and shared vision in collective action, and why personal change and systems change must work together rather than in opposition. Listen in for a thought-provoking conversation about reconnecting with place and building the foundations for a more regenerative future!

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What You’ll Learn:

Discover Matt’s work on sustainability, systems change, and why awareness alone rarely changes transportation and environmental behavior. [0:01:40]
Explore how infrastructure, social support, culture, and connection to nature influence daily transportation choices. [0:07:43]
Examine the systems change levers that can counter corporate capitalism’s hold on communities. [0:16:31]
Learn how cities like Paris and San Francisco transformed land use through systems change levers. [0:26:42]
Discover how strategic collaboration, cultural change, and local action can drive long-term transformation. [0:37:43]
Find out what Matt is excited about and where you can learn more about his work. [0:43:15]

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Memorable Quotations:

“Our choices are so constrained by existing systems.” — Matt Biggar [0:18:19]

“If we can reorient our lives around the places where we live, and bring more in connection with our communities, nature's local economies, I feel like we're getting more at the root of the change. But corporate capitalism is pushing us constantly away from our places.” — Matt Biggar [0:19:08]

“How can we take care of all our needs, within our region, within our localities, as opposed to having to rely on extraction of cheap nature and labor from around the world?” — Matt Biggar [0:27:11]

“We cannot possibly address these problems without coming together in strategic ways.” — Matt Biggar [0:40:52]

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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Matt Biggar – Website: https://www.connectedtoplace.com/

Matt Biggar – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtbiggar/

Connected to Place – Book Link: https://www.connectedtoplace.com/

NOLS – website: https://www.nols.edu/

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