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What is it for education to be regenerative?
No matter how long ago it was for some of us, our experiences in educational settings have a huge impact on how we go on to behave in the world. The ideas we encounter, the values we form, the relationships we develop and the ideas of ourselves we create in these spaces and phases of our lives often prove to be foundational.
But schools, nurseries and universities are just as likely to reflect and perpetuate the dominant paradigm of control, separation, extraction and short-termism as any other.
In this episode we speak to educational pioneer Benjamin Freud about a school that is trying to do things differently. Benjamin is Head of Upper School at Green School Bali which is working to re-design curriculums, re-think assessments and re-imagine power dynamics to lean into an understanding of the world as alive and uncontrollable and steward learners who can truly contribute to a thriving world.
Key Links
Green School Bali: https://www.greenschool.org/bali/Joanne McEachen on Contributive Learning: https://www.thelearnerfirst.com/2020/10/13/joanne-mceachen-on-contributive-learning/
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Nature on the Board? Steward ownership? Employee ownership? Self-managing teams? For those seeking to establish regenerative organisations, the options in terms of how those organisations should be governed can feel overwhelming.
In this episode we dive deeper into the submerged world of governance and look at what it actually is, surface some principles of more regenerative approaches, jargon-bust a few buzzwords and look at some examples of organisations doing things differently.
My partners in this exploration are the co-founders of the aptly-named new venture, Regenerative Governance, Erica Neve and Patrick Andrews. Erica is a leader in business transformation, with a career spanning corporate transformation programs and mission-driven initiatives. She has helped global brands adopt nature-led and purpose-led business models to benefit both people and planet. Patrick (otherwise known as “The Barefoot Lawyer”) uses his decades of experience as a lawyer and governance advisor to help businesses find creative and holistic governance structures that contribute to a more just, sustainable society.
Together we have a wonderful collective geek-out on how important governance is and what it can do when approached with creativity, openness and heart.
Key Links
Regenerative Governance: https://www.regengovernance.org/Google’s project Aristotle: https://psychsafety.com/googles-project-aristotle/Purpose Foundation: https://purpose-economy.org/en/purpose-foundation/Riverford: https://www.riverford.co.uk/Riversimple: https://www.riversimple.com/ Subak: https://data.subak.org/ Wasafiri: https://wasafirihub.com/ Advice Process Playbook from Equal Experts: https://playbooks.equalexperts.com/advice-processThink like a Mother by Michelle Holliday: https://michelleholliday.com/think-like-a-mother-or-why-stakeholder-capitalism-is-a-dangerous-concept/
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Fehlende Folgen?
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What might it look like for the financing and other fundamental structures underpinning our organisations to truly help them create conditions for life's thriving?
Dr. Melanie Rieback is CEO/Co-founder of Radically Open Security, the world's first not-for-profit computer security company, and the "Post Growth" startup incubator Nonprofit Ventures. She is also a former Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the Free University of Amsterdam and was named "Most Innovative IT Leader of the Netherlands" by CIO Magazine (TIM Award) in 2017, and one of the "9 Most Innovative Women in the European Union" (EU Women Innovators Prize) in 2019.
Melanie talks to us here, not only about the non-extractive financing and ownership structures she has experimented with in her own organisation, but about the cultures and structures within the financial industry that often lead it to be extractive and the increasingly political nature of financing. We touch on the importance of collaborating with unexpected allies, letting go of control, opening up to uncertainty, embracing creativity and acting from empathy and love.
If there was ever a conversation to demonstrate the power, breadth and beauty possible in financing, it is this one. Enjoy.
Key Links
Radically Open Security: https://www.radicallyopensecurity.com/Post-Growth Entrepreneurship Incubator: https://nonprofit.ventures/Online free version of Melanie's post-growth entrepreneurship course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApINAX7XEqc&list=PL14vcCXv7XVONAwzNv0ApYwZ5iepLzz3S&index=1Purpose Foundation where you can learn more about steward ownership: https://purpose-economy.org/en/NLnet Foundation: https://nlnet.nl/ Snowball Impact Investment: https://www.snowballimpactinvestment.com/Purpose Ventures: https://purpose-economy.org/en/ventures/The book I couldn't remember!: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24097668-alternatives-to-capitalismThe petition that Melanie and others started to get a steward ownership model debated in the Dutch Parliament: https://www.stewardownershiprechtsvorm.nl/articles/english
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We are so lucky in this episode to be joined by Annette Dhami from Dark Matter Labs. Annette leads the Beyond the Rules initiative which explores the organising and governance practices needed for an economy designed for life. Its work is in the rewriting, reinvention and reimagining of the rules, norms and laws that hold us in the current system.
In this episode we will dive deep into the incredible power of contracts and contracting processes for establishing the boundaries of what is possible together. She offers practical tips on what to include in contracts and how to approach the process to create conditions for regenerative, life-giving relationships and work.
Key Links
Dark Matter Labs: https://darkmatterlabs.org/Beyond the Rules: https://darkmatterlabs.notion.site/Beyond-the-Rules-19e692bf98f54b44971ca34700e246fdRe-Imagining Pay Portal: https://darkmatterlabs.notion.site/Reimagining-Pay-40a3a4c7795d407db4b733c64f47ba47Employment Contract Portal: https://darkmatterlabs.notion.site/Contract-ing-Between-the-Rules-Employment-contracts-a6a967f1f78f4f3f9aef4c1ab6f8cc9aFunding and Partnership Agreement Portal: https://darkmatterlabs.notion.site/Funding-Partnership-Agreements-a108ad3354774c0f9f9094966bff36a7Angela Tang: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelatanguk/Bates Wells: https://bateswells.co.uk/RAD HR: https://radhr.org/
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How can we approach organisational evolutions and endings regeneratively? In this episode I speak with the amazing Iris Andrews about New Constellations and their decision to enter a "chrysalis phase" of evolution.
Our approaches to change and transition, particularly in Western industrialised cultures, are often fraut with emotions like fear, shame, guilt and anxiety. And yet, change and transition is one of the only constants in life. In this episode Iris generously shares with us the thoughtful, loving and nature-inspired process that New Constallations is going though as part of its own evolution and allows us to deduce some key practices and design principles for cultivating a greater readiness for transition in our own organisations.
Key Links
New Constellations: https://newconstellations.co/
New Constellations' blog announcing their decision to chrysalis: https://newconstellations.substack.com/p/celebrating-five-years-and-preparing
Lily Piachaud from New Constellations' blog on Reimagining Organisations: https://newconstellations.substack.com/p/reimagining-organisations
The Wheel of the Year: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_of_the_Year
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So often the conversation around regenerative organisations centers on corporations, and with good reason. Corporations are incredibly powerful and often very destructive forces in our world. But all types of organisation need to evolve to become more regenerative, and this certainly includes some of the most powerful organisations in our society - national governments.
In this episode I speak with Jane Davidson, the architect of the Welsh Wellbeing of Future Generations Act. This world-leading piece of legislation commits the Welsh government to putting the wellbeing of future generations at the heart of everthing it does. It is a beautiful example of what it could look like for governments to embody more of the practices and values of regeneration and it is a source of inspiration and hope for me and many others.
We explore the impacts the Act has had, the key features that have enabled it to be successful, the 5 ways of working that embed the spirit of the act into everyday practice and the challenges she and others encountered bringing it to life.
Key Links
Jane Davidson: https://janedavidson.wales/The Wellbeing of Future Generations Act: https://www.futuregenerations.wales/about-us/future-generations-act/Net Zero 2035 work: https://netzero2035.wales/Donella Meadows and The Limits to Growth: https://donellameadows.org/archives/a-synopsis-limits-to-growth-the-30-year-update/
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The third in this series of episodes where we explore what it means for organisations to be regenerative by considering different aspects of their practice and activity.
In this episode we embrace the trunk and examine what it means for the internal world of an organisation, what it feels like and how it works INSIDE, to be more regenerative.
We consider three different layers to this area: the heartwood which represents the deep values and culture of an organisation; the sapwood, representing all of the organisation's practices, policies and processes; and finally the bark or the actual physical spaces where the organisation does its work.
For each of these areas we explore what it would look like for them to be more supportive of the greater thriving of life. Let's get started.
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This epsiode does exactly what it says on the tin. Me and Kate Simpson, the Director of the Systemcraft Institute at Wasafiri, have a full-on geek-out about the ins and outs of self-management.
Having more self-managing, adaptive teams and structures is one of the key characteristics people most often mention when they talk about becoming a more regenerative organisation. However this area is often confusing and filled with complex theories and myths. In this discussion Kate lays out the very practical methods and practices that Wasifiri uses to get the optimum benefits of this more distributed, dynamic form of organising and offers us a huge set of tools and guidance for bringing this into our own organisations.
Key Links
Wasafiri: https://wasafirihub.com/
Systemcraft Institute: https://wasafirihub.com/systemcraft-institute/
Systemcraft Essentials: https://systemcraft.wasafirihub.com/plans/251613
Join the Systemcraft community! https://systemcraft.wasafirihub.com/about
We didn't talk about these explicitly but for those wishing to dive deeper into some of the key theories and bodies of work behind self-management should investigate Holocracy https://www.holacracy.org/ and Sociocracy https://sociocracy30.org/
The nursing example Kate mentions: https://www.buurtzorg.com/ and you can learn more here: https://reinventingorganizationswiki.com/en/cases/buurtzorg/
Antonio Machado's poem "Traveler, your footprints" https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/58815/traveler-your-footprints
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In this episode I speak with coach, scientist and entrepreneur Sharmishtha Dattagupta.
From the foothills of the Himalayas Sharmishtha tells us the story of Dularia and the radical ways in which this organisation has put love and life at the centre of everything it does.
Key Links
Dularia website: https://dularia.org/
Dularia instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dularia_centre/?hl=en
Vipassana meditation: www.dhamma.org
Bio-Leadership project: www.bio-leadership.org
Raku pottery: https://instagram.com/chanoyuceramics?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Sharmishtha's permaculture teacher Yuval Leibovich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuval-leibovich
Inheritors of the earth: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/inheritors-of-the-earth-how-nature-is-thriving-in-an-age-of-extinction-chris-d-thomas/3972084?ean=9780141982311
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In this episode we explore the next element of what it means to be a regenerative organisation - the Root System.
The root system represents an organisation's network, its relationships and connections with the people and ecosystems within and around it.
Hannah identifies four key things that characterise a more regenerative organisational root system that those looking to introduce more life-centered practices can consider.
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In this episode I speak with award-winning environmental activist and architect Adib Dada.
Adib is the founder of regenerative consultancy and architecture firm The Other Dada. Based on Biomimicry thinking, The Other Dada’s work promotes a symbiotic relationship between nature and the built environment, working with nature to develop resilient and generous cities. The organisation is also engaged in rewilding the city of Lebanon and reclaiming public space by planting native Miyawaki forests. Since 2019 The Other Dada has planted over 11 forests across Lebanon, reclaiming more than 3,700 square meters of degraded land by planting them with over 10,500 trees and shrubs.
In this discussion we explore how to use the lens of Biomimicry to engage with and weave the teachings of nature across an organisation.
We talk about what trust and humility have to do with regeneration and the importance of not waiting for permission to do this work, even in incredibly challenging circumstances.
Key Links:
The Other Dada: theotherdada.com/en/
The Other Dada Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotherdada/?hl=en
Growing Back Beirut Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB5gBBsUcPc
Bio-Leadership Fellowship: https://www.bioleadershipfellowship.org/
Biomimicry 3.8: https://biomimicry.net/history/
AskNature: https://asknature.org/
Reinventing Organisations: https://www.reinventingorganizations.com/
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In this episode I speak with Executive Director of collective consultancy Culture Hack Labs, Mehul Sangham. Culture Hack supports organizations, social movements and activists to expose and disrupt cultural narratives, creating spaces for new life-centric narratives to emerge.
In this discussion we explore the spiritual and philosophical side to regeneration, the relationship between the work we do out in the world and the work we have done within ourselves and how traditions like Zen Buddhism and Daoism relate to the work of growing more regenerative organisations.
We also talk about the critical importance of narrative change in systems change work. Mehul shares with us how the "Soil" of Culture Hack has given it the freedom to thrive and we discuss the relationship between what "regenerative organisational structures" look like depending on the specific features of each organisation.
Key Links
Culture Hack Labs: https://www.culturehack.io/
Examples of their work: https://www.culturehack.io/hacks/
Their Fellowship: https://www.culturehack.io/fellowship/
The Web of Meaning by Jeremy Lent: https://www.jeremylent.com/the-web-of-meaning.html
*Please note, as flagged in the intro and outro, the correct terms referred to in our discussion are wu-wei and yu-wei
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The first of the solo episodes where Hannah works through the five areas of the tree framework from Episode 1. In these episodes we exploring what it means for different aspects of organisational practice to be more or less regenerative and reflect on what the episodes so far have taught us.
In this episode we dive deep into the soil and explore the foundational, "grounding" elements of an organisation.
We look at organisational histories and legacies, their key statements of identity and purpose and the legal and financial arrangements upon which organisations are based. And we investigate how these elements can support the organisation to contribute to the greater thriving of life.
As mentioned in the show, the database from UCL's Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery can be found here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/
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"Just because the system is broken, it doesn't mean we have to be"
"Mine your imagination, not the Earth"
In this discussion with multi-award winning environmental entrepreneur Kresse Wesling CBE, we go deep into what it means to be regenerative at a very human level.
We talk about what it means to be a regenerative organisation and how she has embedded the values of regeneration into her own luxury business. We cover the role of money, how to think about growth, the wisdom of childhood and the importance of welcoming emotions into your work.
Kresse's clear, frank and grounded perspective is a powerful reminder to not get stuck on the challenges and to embrace the joy and freedom of working and living regeneratively.
Key links
https://www.elvisandkresse.com/
https://www.instagram.com/elvisandkresse/
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In this episode I speak with entrepreneur, farmer and founder of the Regeneration Academy Yanniek Schoonhoven.
Yanniek shares with us a really simple and powerful framework for thinking about it means to be a regenerative organisation and we talk about the practical steps she has taken to bring this to life in the organisations she runs.
We discuss the challenges of pursuing this path and the key practices that can help you to do so successfully.
Yanniek challenges us all to move away from what we know and the established patterns and instead to ask "Is this the world we want to build?"
Key Links
La Junquera: www.lajunquera.com
Commonland 4 Returns: https://www.commonland.com/4-returns/
Courses on regenerative agriculture: www.regeneration-academy.org
Come and help with reforestation: https://ecosystemrestorationcamps.org/camp-altiplano/
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In this introductory episode we’ll gather up some critical tools for our onward journey. We’ll explore what this word “regenerative” means and how it could relate to organizations. I share my own definition of a regenerative organization and offer three initial points about what this definition tells us about what it means for an organization to be more regenerative.
I also introduce a framework that we will be using throughout the podcast, share a few words about the amazing guests we are about to meet and encourage us to set some intentions for how we want to approach the discussions to follow.
Thank you for being here.
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In this podcast we will meet pioneering organisations and communities experimenting with radically different ways of operating that put the greater thriving of life at the centre.
Regenerative organisation specialist Hannah Temple introduces us to businesses, charities, movements and governments from all over the world. We will learn about their journeys and gather lessons from their experience that we can all use to make our own organisations and initiatives more supportive of a thriving future for us all.
Let's get started.
