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.
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.
Kevin and Ryan revisit some of their most meaningful podcast moments, from interviews with thought leaders like David Holmgren, Rose Marcario, and Janelle Orsi, to anecdotes about how the podcast has opened doors and sparked unexpected connections. Their reflections underscore the podcast’s role in surfacing underrepresented voices and ideas within the broader movement toward a just and resilient economy.
The episode also introduces LIFT Economy’s current theory of change, centered around seven hypotheses that identify key gaps (ranging from media and funding to skills and alternative security infrastructure) that must be addressed to build a more equitable future. Framing these gaps within triage, transition, and transformational timelines, Ryan and Kevin offer practical and long-term perspectives on how you might orient your own social impact strategies within today’s complex and challenging landscape.
Key Points From This Episode:
The origin of Next Economy Now and its founding themes. [0:00:43]
Podcasting as a powerful tool for surfacing overlooked conversations. [0:01:52]
Favorite episodes with movement leaders like David Holmgren and Rose Marcario. [0:03:43]
LIFT Economy’s mission to transform business as usual for the benefit of all life. [0:07:16]
Introduction to LIFT’s evolving theory of change and guiding hypotheses. [0:10:30]
Using triage, transition, and transformation to frame systems change over time. [0:13:25]
Encouraging resilient, aligned action across different time scales and capacities. [0:19:43]
Seven hypotheses that spotlight what's possible and fill critical gaps in knowledge, media, funding, infrastructure, and strategy. [0:25:27]
An in-depth analysis of hypothesis one: why we need more showcase examples. [0:31:59]
Quotes:
“By sharing our hypotheses, it might help somebody think, ‘I hadn't thought about that.’ Or, – ‘That helps me make sense, not only of LIFT’s activities, but I could see that hypothesis and the various strategies in alignment with that hypothesis shared amongst other organizations.” — @kevinbayuk [0:11:27]
“Transformation takes time. We can do things now that are, with foresight, intended to be transformational. We can ‘both/and.’ It doesn't mean there aren't actions where we can't have a triage effect, a transition effect, and a transformational – effect.” — @kevinbayuk [0:19:14]
“Collectively, our ‘theory of change’ is that by addressing those [seven hypothetical] needs, – that will at the very least help perpetuate the transformation of the economy to one that works for the benefit of all life with no one left out.” — @kevinbayuk [0:29:48]
“More showcase examples of next economy institutions helps us embrace the expansion of our imagination.” — @kevinbayuk [0:43:06]
“One of the barriers for more people to commit their time, energy, and resources to transforming the economy is the need for there to be more showcase examples – [of models that are] meeting human needs reliably and contributing to the regeneration, repair, and restoration of society and the environment around them.” — @kevinbayuk [0:32:28]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dave Holmgren: https://holmgren.com.au/
Janelle Orsi: https://www.janelleorsi.com/
Rose Marcario: https://www.rosemarcario.com/
Richard C. Schwartz: https://ifs-institute.com/about-us/richard-c-schwartz-phd
Thomas Hübl: https://thomashuebl.com/
Rebecca Adamson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-adamson-2405aaa/
Rha Goddess: https://www.rhagoddess.com/
‘David Holmgren: RetroSuburbia – The Downshifter's Guide to a Resilient Future’: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/david-holmgren
‘Janelle Orsi: What if No One Could Save Money?’: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/janelle-orsi-gift-economy
‘Rose Marcario: Patagonia’s CEO on Climate Change, Regenerative Agriculture, and Business for Good’: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/2016/6/20/rose-marcario-patagonias-ceo-on-climate-change-regenerative-agriculture-and-business-for-good
‘Dr. Richard Schwartz: Internal Family Systems (IFS) and the Next Economy’: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/richard-schwartz
‘Thomas Hübl: Healing Collective Trauma’: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/thomas-hubl
'Rebecca Adamson: Indigenous Self Determination & Principles Benefiting Both People & Business’: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/2017/8/8/rebecca-adamson-indigenous-self-determination-principles-benefiting-both-people-business
‘Rha Goddess: Aligning Entrepreneurial Approach with Awareness and Clarity of Purpose’: https://www.lifteconomy.com/blog/2016/9/1/podcast-rha-goddess-aligning-entrepreneurial-approach-with-awareness-and-clarity-of-purpose
The Burkina Institute – Pioneering a New Paradigm: https://berkana.org/resources/pioneering-a-new-paradigm/
‘Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System’: https://donellameadows.org/archives/leverage-points-places-to-intervene-in-a-system/
‘Apocalypse, Not’: https://tobyhemenway.com/114-apocalypse-not/
Future Scenarios: https://www.futurescenarios.org/
Our Table Cooperative: https://www.ourtable.us/
Ryan Honeyman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanhhoneyman
Ryan Honeyman on X: https://x.com/HoneymanConsult
Kevin Bayuk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinbayuk
Kevin Bayuk on X: https://x.com/kevinbayuk
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