Seeds of Tao: Permaculture Pathways Beyond Sustainability: Recent Episodes

Seeds of Tao

We help permaculture practitioners find greater meaning and balance in their work so they can do the regenerative work they feel called to do.

You want to change the world… We all do in one form or another. You might have taken that Gandhi quote to heart to, "be the change you wish to see in the world." The challenge is knowing where to start and overcoming that feeling of overwhelm as we embody that change.

The Seeds of Tao Podcast shares the real-life journeys of those in and around the permaculture and regenerative movement. Stories from kindred spirits working to "be the change" help each of us understand the very nature of our life and work and excite us to improve every aspect of it.

If you're looking for a permaculture podcast that helps you find greater connection and community within the permaculture and regen movement while also helping you to find your own unique path beyond sustainability, you are in the right place! Wherever you are right now, tune in, be present, and start living your regenerative life. Be the change you wish to see in the world.

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For full show notes and podcast episode resources visit our website

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What if Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) isn't a rival to humanity, but a mirror reflecting our truest selves? In this mind-expanding conversation, Joshua Prieto sits down with quantum-physicist-turned-data-center-innovator Pete Sacco. They dive deep into the "What If" scenarios of a world where machines handle the picking up and putting down, freeing humans to return to what we were actually designed for: creating, innovating, and loving.

Pete challenges us to shift our mindset from fear to courage, predicting a post-scarcity future fueled by free fusion energy and decentralized compute. This episode is a call to action for every regenerative entrepreneur to take responsibility for their own "Inner AGI"—their body, mind, and spirit—as we prepare to hand the world over to the next generation of digital-native stewards.

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Are you ready to stop building in isolation and start co-creating the regenerative future? Join the United Learning Lab, our thriving sandbox for regenpreneurs to test frameworks, share resources, and build a resilient foundation for their impact. Visit Seeds of Tao United Learning Lab to become a member.

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Check out the full show notes and podcast resources on the Seeds of Tao website

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View full show notes and resources on the Seeds of Tao website here

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Click here for the full show notes and podcast resources

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Full show notes found on the Seeds of Tao website here

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Description: In this episode of the Seeds of Tao podcast, we're joined by Jonathan Appel, the visionary entrepreneur behind Eden Energy Solutions. We dive deep into his incredible journey of creating a technology that transforms harmful waste into clean, regenerative energy and organic fertilizers. Jonathan shares the inspiring origin story of Eden Energy, a mission sparked by a spiritual awakening and fueled by a lifelong passion for cleaning up our planet. Discover how this revolutionary, decentralized system has the potential to revolutionize industries, from agriculture to big oil, and learn about the challenges and triumphs Jonathan has faced on his entrepreneurial path. This is a conversation you won't want to miss if you're passionate about regenerative solutions, sustainable innovation, and the future of our planet.

Visit Seedsoftao.com for the full show notes and resources Show Notes: Episode 151: From Waste to Wonder with Jonathan Appel

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Jonathan Appel, co-founder of Eden Energy Solutions, as he unveils a groundbreaking technology that could be the key to a cleaner, regenerative future.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

  • [09:40] A Day in the Life: Jonathan shares his daily routine and what drives his passion for his work.
  • [13:08] The Genesis of Eden Energy: Learn about the revolutionary technology that converts waste into clean energy and fertilizers.
  • [20:30] Decentralizing for Impact: Jonathan explains the strategic shift from large biorefineries to portable, modular units.
  • [24:23] A Spiritual Awakening: Hear the incredible story of how a trip to Chichen Itza and a Mayan shaman's prediction set Jonathan's father on the path to creating this technology.
  • [30:26] The Journey to Now: From Turkey to a stem cell startup to Food Forest Abundance, Jonathan recounts the pivotal moments that led him to launch Eden Energy.
  • [41:42] Overcoming Entrepreneurial Hurdles: Jonathan shares his insights on perseverance, the importance of a supportive partner, and staying true to your mission.
  • [46:22] The Vision of "Restoring Eden": Learn about the powerful psychedelic experience that solidified the name and mission of Eden Energy.
  • [53:50] A Solution for a Cleaner Future: Jonathan discusses the wide-ranging applications of the technology, from oil spills to industrial waste.
  • [01:09:05] Get Involved: Find out how you can follow Eden Energy's journey, get in touch, and support their mission.

regenBEE Think Tank Promotional Highlight Ready to move beyond talk and into action? Join our monthly regenBEE Think Tank! This is where we, as a community of regenerative entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders, come together to tackle the real-world challenges of creating life-affirming economies. Each month, we dive deep into a new narrative, from stewarding our land and nature to building new models of community and governance. It’s your opportunity to connect with peers, share your insights, and co-create the media, messages, and strategies that will accelerate the regenerative movement. Let's build the future, together. Register for the next session now!

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[Get the Full show notes and blog posts by visiting the Seeds of Tao podcast here]

Description:

How does a small, community-owned organic dairy, rooted in the slow-paced traditions of Amish and Mennonite farmers, compete against slick, billion-dollar brands? The answer lies in authenticity, a deep understanding of customer values, and a story that truly resonates. In this episode, Joshua sits down with Sam Ingersoll, a passionate advocate and marketing leader in the regenerative food space.

Sam shares his incredible "full circle" journey—from growing up on a farm and hating it, to an Ivy League education and the high-stakes world of tech marketing, and finally back to his roots, promoting the very principles he once fled. This conversation is a masterclass in regenerative marketing, exploring how to build a resilient brand, why listening is your most powerful tool, and how the connection between soil health and our own gut health may be the most important story we can tell.

Show Notes:

  • (8:46) Welcome to Kalona, Iowa: Sam describes the unique "ecological oasis" where he works, home to one of the largest concentrations of Amish and organic dairy farms in the U.S.
  • (11:14) What Gets You Out of Bed? Sam shares his passion for being a consumer advocate and how marketing regenerative products is a way to have a tangible impact on human health and the planet.
  • (15:13) Building a Resilient Business: The fascinating story of how Kalona Supernatural was founded by Amish farmers and protected itself through diversification and vertical integration.
  • (22:23) A 'Regenpreneur's' Journey: Sam details his personal story, from a farm in Washington to Yale, to a spam-marketing office in Pakistan, and his eventual decision to reject the conventional corporate path for more meaningful work.
  • (29:25) Coming Full Circle: Sam talks about joining the board of Hungry World Farm, the very nonprofit that took over the farm he grew up on.
  • (38:37) From Ivy League to Farmer's Logic: How Sam's educational journey taught him the power of asking "why" and how that same principle of observation and adjustment is critical in regenerative agriculture.
  • (48:08) The Art of Regenerative Marketing: Sam reveals his strategy of slowing down, having one-on-one conversations, and building genuine, long-term relationships with customers and influencers.
  • (1:08:29) The Tipping Point for the Movement: Sam’s key insight—that the regenerative movement will truly take off when consumers, particularly women, connect the dots between soil health and their family's gut health.
  • (1:19:55) You're Not Selling a Carrot, You're Selling an Experience: Sam’s final advice for entrepreneurs on the importance of becoming educators and storytellers to differentiate their products and build a loyal following.

Resource Links:

  • Kalona Supernatural: kalonasupernatural.com
  • Hungry World Farm: hungryworldfarm.com
  • Savory Institute (Land to Market Verification): savory.global
  • The Arbinger Institute (Author of The Outward Mindset): arbinger.com
  • Bionutrient Food Association: bionutrient.org
  • Book Recommendation - What Your Food Ate by David R. Montgomery and Anne Biklé: Find it at your local bookstore or online.

Highlighted Promotion: Your Journey, Your Learning Lab In our conversation, Sam Ingersoll detailed his incredible learning journey—from hands-on farm work to an Ivy League education to deep-diving into the principles of holistic management. He learned what he needed to learn, when he needed to learn it, to move his mission forward.

Your regenerative enterprise is also a journey of constant learning. But you don't have to figure it all out alone.

The regenBEE United Learning Lab is your space to grow alongside your peers. It's not a one-size-fits-all curriculum. It's a living, breathing ecosystem of resources, mentorship, and peer-to-peer support tailored to the real-world challenges you face. Whether you need to master financial modeling, develop a marketing strategy, or design a governance structure, the Learning Lab connects you with the people and knowledge to take your next step.

[Let’s learn and grow together. Explore the regenBEE United Learning Lab today.]

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Podcast Episode 149: Funding the Commons: A Deep Dive into ReFi, DAOs, and the Future of Regenerative Economics Description:

What if our financial systems were designed to heal the planet instead of extracting from it? This isn't a far-off dream; it's the emergent reality of Regenerative Finance (ReFi) and Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs). In this roundtable discussion, host Joshua Prieto and co-host Noam Rifkind are joined by Stefan Fiedler-Alvarado, a leader in the ReFi space and the Director for the Certificate of Regenerative Entrepreneurship at UCI.

Together, they dive deep into the mechanics and philosophy of this new financial frontier. The conversation unpacks how ReFi is moving beyond the broken models of venture capital and philanthropy, using blockchain technology to create transparent, democratic, and direct funding flows to the frontline communities doing the essential work of regeneration. This is a must-listen for anyone who believes we need to fundamentally rewire our economy to support a thriving, life-affirming future. [View the full show notes and description on the Seeds of Tao Website]

Show Notes:

  • (7:13) Stefan Fiedler-Alvarado introduces the core idea that modern regenerative practices are a rediscovery of ancient, indigenous wisdom and a deep connection to place.
  • (15:10) A critical look at the flaws of traditional funding: how venture capital's "unicorn" model is wasteful and why philanthropic aid can create dependency and neocolonial dynamics.
  • (17:30) The Promise of Web3: How blockchain technology and DAOs can disintermediate finance, removing costly middlemen and empowering direct, peer-to-peer capital flows.
  • (23:28) Who governs the new system? A discussion on where ReFi protocols come from, blending top-down standards with bottom-up, hyperlocal community validation.
  • (33:32) A crucial clarification: Who is ReFi for right now? Stefan makes the case that these funds are for frontline, marginalized communities and common-good projects, not for conventional for-profit businesses.
  • (38:40) How it Works: A real-world example of using Gitcoin and Quadratic Funding, a mechanism that algorithmically rewards projects with the most community support.
  • (51:30) The Future of Finance: The panel explores what the next 10-20 years could look like, from blended financial models to bioregional funding facilities and the rise of "DMRV (Decentralized Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) as a service."
  • (1:01:10) Noam's "Beaver" Analogy: How the ReFi movement acts like beavers in an ecosystem, carefully channeling capital to create widespread vitality and avoid the mission capture seen in traditional philanthropy.
  • (1:10:00) From Scarcity to Abundance: Joshua challenges the scarcity mindset that still exists even in the ReFi space and poses the vision of truly funding "the commons."
  • (1:15:00) A Call to Action for Listeners: The episode concludes with powerful questions about building organizational capacity, crafting culturally-resonant narratives (like using Dragon Ball Z!), and the role every stakeholder has in building this new economy.

Resource Links:

  • Universidad para la Cooperación Internacional (UCI): uci.ac.cr
  • ReFi Costa Rica: reficostarica.com
  • Gitcoin - The platform for funding public goods: gitcoin.co
  • KarmaGap - The impact reporting tool mentioned: karmagap.com
  • Celo - The mobile-first blockchain ecosystem: celo.org

Highlighted Promotion: Unlock Your Narrative with StorySeed In the episode, Stefan Fiedler-Alvarado asked a critical question: "Do you have a culturally cohesive narrative that can make your work attractive?" He explained that the most successful projects connect with people on a deep, story-based level.

Your regenerative vision is powerful, but if you can't articulate it in a way that captivates your audience—be it customers, investors, or community members—your impact will be limited.

That's why we created the StorySeed Marketing & Messaging Course.

This course is designed specifically for regenerative entrepreneurs like you. We guide you step-by-step to unearth your core message, define your unique brand story, and craft a narrative that inspires action. Stop just talking about what you do; start sharing a story that moves the world.

[Enroll in StorySeed today and turn your mission into a movement.]

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Podcast Episode: The Soil & The Ledger: Seeding a Regenerative Future with MAD Capital >>Full Transcript, Blogpost, and Show Notes Here

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Part 2 of the ColivingDAO Podcast - This is a two-part series in collaboration with the ColivingDAO podcast. Make sure to catch the beginning of my own journey into creating a coliving space in Bogota, Colombia.

The Regenerative Brand Archetype Quiz - Gain greater clarity on how to present your brand's identity as a guide and leader for regenerative change. As you take this quiz you will learn your brand's archetype profile and how to best utilize it in your message and marketing.

Description: Join us as we delve into the world of co-living with Gareth and Daniel, the founders of Co-living DAO. Discover their vision for a future where community and sustainability intertwine, and learn how their innovative approach is reshaping the way we live and connect.

Show Notes:

  • Introduction:
    • Guests: Gareth and Daniel, Co-founders of ColivingDAO
    • Topic: Coliving and the ColivingDAO model
    • Gareth and Daniel's backgrounds and motivations for creating ColivingDAO
  • What is ColivingDAO?
    • Redefining homeownership: Combining ownership and renting benefits
    • Creating a sense of community and belonging
    • Addressing the challenges of traditional renting and homeownership
    • Focus on sustainability and regenerative practices
  • The ColivingDAO Story:
    • Gareth and Daniel's experience living in a coliving community
    • Identifying the need for a better coliving model
    • Combining organizational structures with crypto mechanisms
    • Early market validation and positive responses from co-living operators
  • The Importance of Vision and Community:
    • Defining the vision and culture of a coliving community
    • Attracting like-minded individuals and fostering a sense of belonging
    • Creating a soul and culture within the community
    • Balancing business aspects with human connection
  • Key Takeaways for Entrepreneurs:
    • The importance of starting and taking action
    • Being prepared to adapt and refine ideas
    • Staying connected to the original purpose and passion
    • Seeking out and connecting with like-minded individuals
    • The power of human touch and connection in business
  • Call to Action:
    • Listen to Part 2 on ColivingDAO Insights podcast
    • Visit colivingdao.com for more information

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Join us for a powerful conversation with climate leaders Bonita Ford and Eric Toensmeier as we explore the emotional toll of climate change, the importance of permaculture and adaptation strategies, and how entrepreneurs can make a real difference. Plus, learn about Bonita's upcoming book and workshop!

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The Regenerative Brand Archetype Quiz - Gain greater clarity on how to present your brand's identity as a guide and leader for regenerative change. As you take this quiz you will learn your brand's archetype profile and how to best utilize it in your message and marketing.

Description In this episode, we dive deep into the inspiring story of Hannah Temple, a regenerative entrepreneur who is dedicated to reinventing organizations and the way we do business. Hannah shares her journey of realizing the need for change at a young age and how she has been working towards building a more regenerative and socially responsible economy.

We explore Hannah's work with Tealco, an organization that supports businesses in becoming regenerative forces in the world. She discusses the importance of shifting the behavior of organizations to create positive impacts on economies, cultures, and the environment. Hannah also explains Tealco's process for helping organizations make the transition to regenerative models, including systems mapping and regenerative landscape assessment.

Throughout the conversation, Hannah emphasizes the need for genuine diversity, courage, and learning from nature as key elements in driving positive change. Whether you're an entrepreneur or simply interested in creating a more sustainable future, this episode will leave you inspired and motivated to take action.

Connect with Hannah Temple and learn more about her work with Tealco through the A Thriving Futures Podcast and Tealco website.

Don't miss this thought-provoking conversation on reinventing organizations and the path to a regenerative economy.

Guest Bio: Hannah Coleman Hannah Temple is a recognised expert in the field of human rights and business. She has worked with many of the world’s largest organisations to practically implement human rights due diligence in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles across both their supply chains and their own operations.

Her experience has led her to work with a vast diversity of stakeholders, sectors and topics, helping organisations to grapple with the full spectrum of social, environmental and governance issues.

She has been invited to speak at and contribute to key forums in the sustainability, ethical business and human rights arenas, including the UN Global Compact Academy, Business Fights Poverty, Moodys Investors Services, Article 30 and the Ernst and Young Eco-Innovators Network.

She is a skilled facilitator, nature facilitator, systems thinker, trainer, strategist and analyst.

Visit our website for the full show notes here

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regenBEN Community and Resource Commons- a community of like minded impact entrepreneurs cultivating their regenerative businesses, and also a storehouse of free resources and all the recordings of our events for impact entrepreneurs.

Description Join us for an inspiring conversation with Paul Coleman, a regenerative entrepreneur who shares his remarkable journey of exploration, environmental action, and entrepreneurship. In this episode, Paul takes us from floating the Amazon to walking across the Americas, and ultimately building a regenerative livelihood in Chile. He beautifully illustrates how nature's beauty has shaped his entrepreneurial dreams and influenced his approach to environmental conservation.

Through captivating stories and personal experiences, Paul reminds us of the importance of envisioning our goals, making plans, and taking small steps towards creating meaningful change in the world. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or simply seeking inspiration, this episode will leave you motivated to embrace the beauty of nature and pursue your dreams.

To connect with Paul Coleman and learn more about his work, visit earthwalker.com or follow Paul & Konomi’s Garden on Facebook.

Don't miss this uplifting episode that highlights the power of nature's beauty in driving entrepreneurial endeavors. Tune in now!

Guest Bio: Paul Coleman Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary journey? Meet Paul, also known as the Earthwalker. He has traversed over 47,500 kilometers around the globe, dedicating his life to planting trees and inspiring others to preserve our precious natural environment.

Imagine walking alongside Paul as he shares his incredible story. Born in the UK, he now resides in La Junta, a serene village nestled in Chilean Patagonia. Together with his wife, Konomi, they have transformed a once degraded cattle pasture into an organic farm and sanctuary for wildlife. Their home, built with earth and turf, harmonizes with the surrounding nature.

Paul's life is a tapestry of captivating tales. From his upbringing in Manchester to his adventures at sea, his years as a private chauffeur, and his awe-inspiring expeditions down the Amazon, each experience has deepened his connection with the world we inhabit.

At Seeds of Tao, we invite you to join Paul on this remarkable journey. Explore the different chapters of his life, filled with adventure, wisdom, and profound insights. Allow yourself to be inspired by the beauty of nature and join the movement towards a more regenerative and sustainable future.

Together, let's embrace the transformative power of nature and unlock our potential to create positive change in the world.

Check out the full show notes on our website here

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regenBEN Community and Resource Commons- a community of like-minded impact entrepreneurs cultivating their regenerative businesses, and also a storehouse of free resources and all the recordings of our events for impact entrepreneurs.

Description In this episode, we sit down with Judith Horvath, a regenerative entrepreneur and farming expert. Judith shares her journey into farming and how she transitioned from a suburban farm to owning her own farm. She discusses the challenges she faced, the importance of self-reliant food practices, and her work as a regenerative farming consultant. Join us as we explore Judith's inspiring story and learn valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs in the farming industry.

For more information about Judith Horvath and her work, visit her website and listen to her podcast, Fair Hill Farmstead Life.

Don't miss this engaging episode filled with personal stories and valuable advice on regenerative entrepreneurship.

Guest Bio: Judith Horvath Regenerative Farmer/Rancher, entrepreneur, speaker, writer, agriculture/agribusiness consultant, and podcaster.

Judith Horvath is a passionate advocate for regenerative agriculture and the transformation of our food systems. After a successful career in corporate business, Judith made a bold decision to transition into regenerative farming, becoming a true regenpreneur.

Her journey into regenerative agriculture began with a desire to provide her family with a healthier diet and a more sustainable lifestyle. She started by implementing the Feingold System and gradually shifted away from processed foods, embracing the origins of food and self-reliance. This led her to start a suburban farm, which served as an incubator for her future endeavors.

Taking on the risk of buying a farm, Judith and her family embarked on a challenging yet rewarding journey. With determination and a commitment to sustainability, they slowly diversified their farm offerings, including grass-fed livestock and organic produce. Judith's farm not only became a source of self-reliant food production but also a platform for regenerative farming practices.

As a regenerative farming consultant, Judith helps others navigate the challenges of starting and maintaining regenerative farms. She shares her expertise and provides valuable insights to her clients, helping them avoid common pitfalls and build profitable and sustainable agricultural ventures.

Through her podcast, Fair Hill Farmstead Life, Judith inspires aspiring entrepreneurs in the farming industry. She shares personal stories, practical advice, and the importance of collaboration in the regenerative farming community. Judith believes that by working together, we can create a future where regenerative farming practices are the norm, benefiting both our environment and our communities.

Join Judith Horvath on her podcast and dive into the world of regenerative agriculture. Discover her inspiring journey, learn valuable insights, and explore the possibilities of becoming a regenpreneur in the farming industry.

For full show notes check out our website here

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Come join us at the Regenearth Convergence - December 7-9 in Colorado Springs we are coming together to bring two new regenerative real estate development projects into the world. Come present your project to be voted as one of those two or just come to support regenerative land development.

regenBEN Community and Resource Commons- a community of like-minded impact entrepreneurs cultivating their regenerative businesses, and also a storehouse of free resources and all the recordings of our events for impact entrepreneurs.

Description: In episode 142 of the podcast, Kirsten Liegmann shares her inspiring journey as a regenpreneur and explores the potential of regenerative communities. She discusses the importance of aligning with nature, pushing the boundaries of sustainable living, and the power of consciousness in creating a more connected world. Kirsten emphasizes the need for balance between structure and flow in entrepreneurship and shares valuable insights on following divine breadcrumbs, embracing authenticity, and the transformative potential of self-change. Join Kirsten as she invites listeners to get involved in the Regenearth Studio and be part of the movement towards a regenerative future. ✨🌱🌍🎙️❤️

View the full show notes on our website

Guest Bio: Kirsten Liegmann is a visionary leader and the founder and CEO of New Humanity Ventures. She is also the co-founder and COO of Oliizoi, a regenerative real estate developer, and the co-founder of the Regen Earth Studio.

With her coaching, mentoring, trainings, and presentations, Kirsten empowers individuals to become extraordinary leaders and pioneers of a new paradigm way of living on Earth. She believes that conscious, mature, and evolved leadership is essential to transform our unsustainable and life-destroying ways and create a regenerative and life-giving future founded in respect.

Kirsten's approach is rooted in the understanding that in order to solve our problems, we need to change our thinking. She guides her clients and audiences through a step-by-step process to break free from limitations and fears, and fully embrace their leadership roles with joy, courage, strength, and clarity.

Her areas of expertise include awakened leadership, spiritual and personal growth, conscious entrepreneurship/regenpreneurship, sustainability, regenerative elders mentorship, new paradigm designs, and virtual and in-person facilitation.

Kirsten holds an MBA in Sustainable Management and has a wealth of experience in business and project management. She has successfully led and managed numerous virtual events, including HOPE 11-11 and a virtual memorial for her late husband and Chicago 7 activist, Rennie Davis.

In this transformative time, Kirsten believes that a more emotionally and spiritually mature New Humanity can awaken and come together as a powerful global force for change. She is dedicated to igniting, training, and uniting this New Humanity to create a new way of living on Earth.

Kirsten is a captivating presenter and welcomes inquiries about speaking engagements. Feel free to reach out to her directly on LinkedIn.

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Alexandre Family Farm Regenpreneur Masterclass- on November 21st @ 9 am PT (12pm) ET we will be diving into the specific lessons, knowledge, and wisdom Blake and Stephanie have to share about starting, growing, and operating a dairy farm.

regenBEN Community and Resource Commons- a community of like-minded impact entrepreneurs cultivating their regenerative businesses, and also a storehouse of free resources and all the recordings of our events for impact entrepreneurs.

Podcast Links & Resources:

Alexandre Family Farm Website: check out the farm's website. They have loads of information on their farming practices, A2/A2 dairy, products they produce, and more

Come visit their farm in North Cali: are you in the area or plan to be? Come visit their farm and have a guided or self-guided tour.

Savory Institue: Blake mentions the Alan Savory Institute as a big contributor to their regenerative farming strategy.

Regenerative Organic Alliance: Alexandre Family Farm is certified regenerative organic. You can check out more about what that means on the ROA website.

In this episode, Blake and Stephanie Alexandre, owners of Alexandre Family Farm, share their inspiring journey towards regenerative agriculture and becoming the first regenerative-certified dairy farm in the United States. With a multi-generational farm that has been passed down through the family, they discuss their deep-rooted passion for farming alongside Mother Nature and the vital importance of aligning with natural processes.

Blake and Stephanie emphasize the significance of building organic matter in the soil and implementing regenerative practices to restore the health and vitality of their land. They explain how their farm has transitioned from conventional farming methods to regenerative practices, guided by a profound understanding of the wisdom found in regenerative agriculture. By embracing regenerative principles, they are not only connecting back to nature but also setting an example for others in the agricultural industry.

During this insightful conversation, Blake and Stephanie share the challenges they faced on their journey and the lessons they have learned as regenerative entrepreneurs. They discuss the transformative power of restoring our connection to nature and the positive impact it has on sustainability and the environment. Their story serves as an inspiration to all those who aspire to create a more regenerative and sustainable future through their entrepreneurial endeavors.

Join us as we delve into the wisdom and experiences of Blake and Stephanie Alexandre, exploring the incredible journey of their multi-generational farm and the exciting path they are forging for this and the next generation of farmers.

You can read the full show notes on our site

Keywords: regenerative agriculture, dairy farm, organic matter, natural processes, regenerative practices, entrepreneurship, sustainability.

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StorySeed Marketing and Messaging Course - a comprehensive course for regenerative entrepreneurs to build and scale their message and marketing efforts. (currently at beta price)

Description:

In this captivating episode, we sit down with Dan Kittredge, the visionary founder of the Bionutrient Foundation, to explore his inspiring journey in regenerative agriculture and the pursuit of food quality. Dan's day, a blend of soil advocacy and paper-writing, reflects his passion for quality food. His infectious enthusiasm emanates from a deep desire to make a positive global impact. Discover how his upbringing on an organic farmstead shaped his unique perspective, offering competence and a lifelong connection to nature to his children. For those aspiring to embrace the farmstead lifestyle, Dan's invaluable advice provides a roadmap to success. He emphasizes balance and shares ways to get involved. Tune in for a journey that inspires change, one nutrient-dense bite at a time. 🌱🌍

You can read the full show notes on our site.

Guest Bio: Dan Kittredge

Dan Kittredge has been an organic farmer for more than 30 years and is the founder and Executive Director of the Bionutrient Food Association (BFA), a non-profit whose mission is to “increase quality in the food supply.”

Dan grew up on Many Hands Organic Farm in central Massachusetts. After a global career in food and seed activism where he worked with farmers across India, Russia, and Central America, Dan returned to the U.S. and launched the BFA in 2010 to ignite a movement around food quality.

His resonating message has filled hundreds of workshops and speaking engagements with farmers and eaters alike hungry for answers. To expand upon these concepts is the BFA flagship event, the annual Soil & Nutrition Conference, now in its tenth year that has hosted speakers such as John Kempf, Ray Archuleta, Kathleen DiChiara, David Montgomery, Fred Kirschenmann, Judith Schwartz, Graham Sait, Bernard Pollack, Glen Rein, Dorn Cox, Elaine Ingham, Joel Salatin, Stephan van Vliet, Fred Provenza and many more luminaries in the food and ag sectors.

A born leader in this field, Dan has solidified himself as an expert in the world of “nutrient density” and biological or regenerative agriculture. Through this mission, the Bionutrient Institute was launched, with partner organizations, Our-sci LLC, FarmOS, and Next 7, to demonstrate and share the connections between nutrient density and soil, plant, and human health.

BFA’s significant growth since 2018 now means three labs in the U.S. and one in Europe are conducting surveys of the food supply, measuring the variation of nutritional compounds found in food, and connecting it to management practices.

In 2021, the Institute unveiled a second-generation prototype of a hand-held consumer spectrometer called the Bionutrient Meter, calibrated by the sampling done at the labs. The meter is designed to test nutritional quality at the point of purchase, bringing transparency to the marketplace and providing growers with the needed tools to increase nutrition in their crops and leverage economic incentives to drive complete system regeneration.

The most recent lab in Boston is designed to further the mission of our understanding of nutrient density and to engineer an advanced version of the Bionutrient Meter with the data used for calibration all being open source, demonstrating the BFA’s commitment to small landholders and the greater global Commons.

To learn more about this work, visit: Bionutrient.org and BionutrientInstitute.org

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Seeds of Tao Incubation Cohort - Launching early 2024, enrollment is opening in October 2023 for our first incubation cohort designed to help regenerative businesses accomplish their goals, and have a consistent support network along the way.

Have you ever wondered about the true goal of a regenerative business? In Episode 139 of the Seeds of Tao Podcast, we embark on a journey to uncover this profound purpose. Drawing insights from nature's wisdom, we explore the intricacies of setting, tracking, and achieving regenerative business goals.

🌍 Join us as we break down the complexities of regenerative thinking and design. Discover how aligning with nature's intrinsic systems can lead to reduced waste and enhanced sustainability. Learn the art of managing energy, both yours and others', to foster positive change in your business.

🌟 Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation that delves deep into creating businesses that nourish life and bring about lasting impact. Tune in now to gain invaluable wisdom on the goals of regenerative businesses! 🎧

You can find the full show notes on our site.

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Seeds of Tao Incubation Cohort - Launching early 2024, enrollment is opening in October 2023 for our first incubation cohort designed to help regenerative businesses accomplish their goals, and have a consistent support network along the way.

🌟 Join us in Episode 138 as we delve into the incredible journey of Minou Schillings, a passionate regenpreneur. Discover what drives her exciting work and how she's embracing uncertainty while building capacity as an impact entrepreneur. Minou shares her wisdom on the early days of entrepreneurship, partnerships, regenerative business, and the essential principles she values in businesses. Tune in to uncover valuable insights and connect with her on LinkedIn to keep the conversation going. 🌍

You can find the full show notes on our site.

Guest Bio: Minou Schillings

"When you never change your mind, why have one?" I am here to help you to break with business-as-usual thinking and imagine and realize a regenerative future. The business-as-usual mindset is broken. For decades or even centuries, this mindset has damaged nature and big parts of society. We have now (finally) got to the point that it is also harming businesses. Sticking to this old way of thinking will make your business less resilient, less likely to survive an economic crisis and less innovative. Leaving the business-as-usual mindset behind and striving to create positive impact on people and the planet is now not only the right thing to do, it is also a wise business decision. I am here to help you to realize the mindset shift needed to transition to a regenerative and just future. We will only realize a better future once we can imagine it. I spend most of my time exploring regenerative pathways with business owners, teams and impact-driven individuals. My Dutch background makes me direct, no-nonsense, down-to-Gaia and efficient.

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In Episode 137 of the Seeds of Tao Podcast, we dive into the fascinating world of networking and its profound significance for systems change. Join us as we explore why networking matters, not only for personal and organizational growth but also for the well-being of our communities and the planet. Discover the key ingredients that make networking work for some and not for others, unveiling the powerful role of charity, humility, and shared goals. Get ready to harness the art of networking to drive regeneration in your work and make meaningful connections that pave the way for positive change. Tune in and let's cultivate connections that transform our world! 🌱🌏

You can find the full show notes and resources on our site.

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StorySeed Community and Resource Commons - a community of like minded impact entrepreneurs cultivating their regenerative businesses, and also a storehouse of free resources and all the recordings of our events for impact entrepreneurs.

Join us in Episode 136 of the Seeds of Tao Podcast as we chat with Matthew Sherman. From coaching to performance psychology, and even a transformative health crisis, Matthew's story is a captivating journey into regenpreneurship. Learn how he defines regenerative business, shifting away from old mechanistic thinking, and discover his insights on changing the programming of your business for a brighter, more regenerative future. Tune in and let Matthew's transition away from business as usual, towards business built on regenerative principles inspire you as you cultivate your regenerative business! 🔥🌱

You can find the full show notes on our website.

Guest Bio: Matthew Sherman

Matthew Sherman is widely known as a community creator, and culinary innovator. His mission over the past decade has been to transform the category of healthy foods from a boring, arduous and exclusive landscape to a fun, and inspiring experience, focused on building the community of health. Sherman’s multifaceted abilities to brand, lead and cultivate experiences quickly set him apart from other entrepreneurs and chefs. In his late 20’s Sherman started to truly understand how dynamic, human performance really is. “The approach to health has to be all encompassing. You cannot drive a car with one tire and you cannot create optimal performance without examining a persons food choices, physical movement, past experiences, DNA, cognitive tools, emotional flexibility and strength, relationships and spirituality.” Says Matthew. In 2010 Sherman embarked on a journey to nourish his community and raise the vibration of clients, customers and employees. The vision was to provide the most nutrient dense food and juices that he possibly could. He opened jugofresh, an organic cold-pressed juice, smoothie and vegan food restaurant, which quickly gained a cult like following. Both jugofresh and Matthew received national and international attention with appearances on the Today Show, articles in Conde Naste, Travel & Leisure and USA today, as well as features in The Miami Herald, Ocean Drive, and Miami Magazine. Sherman recently launched Oneness Projects, LLC in June of 2018, which is forging new and progressive ideas, building a real estate and revitalization project. Matthew is committed to spreading his core values of more unity, more peace, more love, and ultimately more thriving free people.

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In Episode 135 of the Seeds of Tao Podcast, we embark on a soulful journey with Hoda Mohajerani, the visionary behind Chakra Chai. Discover the profound story that led to the creation of this unique organic, ayurvedic food and beverage company. Hoda shares the transformative power of a deeply significant life event that ignited a passion for accelerating human consciousness through their business. From sourcing organic to giving back to charitable causes and fostering a cradle-to-cradle lifecycle, Chakra Chai is rewriting the script on conscious entrepreneurship. Tune in to explore the inspiring tale of creation, commitment, and a profound connection to the natural world. 🍵🌿

You can find the full show notes and resources on our website.

Guest Bio:

Hoda Mohajerani has synthesized over three decades of experience in women’s, environmental and human rights advocacy; natural medicines, premium organic branding, fashion and music production; into a systems-based, servant-leadership, to nurture and realize visions for people and the planet.

A graduate from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, Hoda’s academic background spans sociology, literature, arabic and comparative religions. She has worked with various ngo’s such as the Women’s Environmental Network, the UN, the Centre for the Study of Democracy and has been a frequent guest on the BBC.

She has been described by those closest to her as a: Visionary Leader. Servant of Love. Critical thinker and Compassionate Bullshit Slayer.

The many routes of Hoda’s personal “Silk Road” all eventually led to the founding of CHAKRA CHAI: A regenerative, mission-driven company rooted in the five thousand year tradition of Ayurveda. Their primary tagline “Conscious Nourishment for The Conscious Age“ hints at the company’s fundamental principle: Consciousness is at the heart of our existence. Our

heightened (or reduced) access to Consciousness determines the realities that we experience- individually and collectively.

Hoda says “we are not just another food and beverage brand. Chakra Chai is a vehicle for our collective movement towards higher consciousness, reconnecting us to the sacred nature of creation and food as a form of Communion.”

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In Episode 134 of the Seeds of Tao Podcast, we embark on an enchanting journey with Sarah Spencer, where she unveils the incredible potential of thinking like a tree. Sarah's passion for finding nature-inspired solutions to the world's challenges shines through as she shares her transformation from a human rights lawyer to a social permaculture advocate. Discover how nature's patterns can enrich our personal lives and businesses, fostering resilience, long-term vision, and a deeper connection with the natural world. Sarah's insights offer a refreshing perspective on reimagining success through the lens of the forest. Tune in, get inspired, and explore the secrets of nature with Sarah Spencer. 🌱🌳

You can find the show notes and other resources on our site.

Guest Bio: Sarah Spencer

I help visionary leaders and team-members grow their purpose-led enterprises (of all size and type) in a way that is healthy, resilient, creative and abundant, inspired by living-systems success. In our complex and uncertain world, leaders and their organisations are facing multiple issues: Funding and finance worries Employee dissatisfaction, lack of productivity Work-life balance issues Worries around sustainability Adapting and innovating in volatile markets... Through working with us, visionary (but sometimes overwhelmed) leaders can discover how to unleash the potential that is within their team, their organisation and their networks, to create regenerative organisations fit for 21st century challenges. We know that nature is a perfect role model for success, resilience, adaptability and health, and because our organisations are dynamic living systems (not machines as outdated paradigms would have us believe), when visionary leaders transition their teams to new, regenerative ways of working, they create positive flows for themselves, their teams, their stakeholders and the world. Our key programmes are: Think like a Forest Regenerative Organisation FUNDAMENTALS – for leaders and changemakers in purpose-led businesses and organisations – a 3 month online course -a deep-drive into growing an making an impact with your regenerative organisation. Think like a Forest Regenerative Organisation ADVENTURE – for whole teams or whole organisations. A whole-team adventure over 6 months. Think like a Forest Regenerative Organisation EXPERIENCE – a one day introduction to regenerative business, in-person, in nature. You can read more about everything we offer, including the bios of myself and other trainers, at https://www.thinklikeatree.co.uk/for-businesses-and-organisations/ We are also looking for nature-inspired visionaries to join our network of Think like a Tree facilitators. Get in touch if you would like to add Think like a Tree facilitation to your existing skills. My background: My experience in business, organisations, charities, social enterprises as an entrepreneur spans decades. The common thread is the purpose-led nature of my work, for people and planet. My career began as a legal representative and team leader for the UK’s largest refugee charity. I later trained extensively in a range of regenerative practices, including regenerative leadership, permaculture (land and social), forest school and regenerative design. I founded Think like a Tree in 2017 and published Think like a Tree: the natural principles guide to life in 2019.

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In Episode 133 of the Seeds of Tao Podcast, we delve into the heart of personal resilience and its pivotal role in shaping ecological and community resilience. Join Emily and Josh Prieto as they unravel the art of aligning purpose with goals, navigating the impact of your actions, and fortifying your journey with empowerment and release practices. 🎙️✨ Discover the key to becoming a resilient leader and fostering the change our world craves. Tune in for insights that empower your regenerative journey! 🌿🌍

You can find the accompanying blog post on our website.

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Being an entrepreneur is tough, and being an impact entrepreneur working to create a regenerative business can feel like an uphill battle. In episode 132, LaUra Schmidt joins us to shed light on the importance of taking care of ourselves, our Zone 0, as we work to create positive change. She especially talks through the aspect of eco-grief, how to work through that feeling, and protecting ourselves from burnout (a common plague among entrepreneurs).

You can find the show notes and other resources on our site.

Guest Bio: LaUra Schmidt

LaUra Schmidt is the founder of the Good Grief Network and the brain behind the “10-Steps to Resilience & Empowerment in a Chaotic Climate” program and the FLOW Facilitation Training modality. She is a lifelong student, curator, and practitioner of personal and collective resilience strategies. LaUra holds a BS in Environmental Studies, Biology, and Religious Studies and an MS is in Environmental Humanities. LaUra has earned certificates in “Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy” and “Climate Psychology.”

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We don't become impact entrepreneurs without some sense of purpose and desire for impact. And as entrepreneurs, our level of personal development and mindset is so closely linked to the health of our business, it's important to be always progressing and building our emotional resiliency. Today's episode 131 is the recording of a Masterclass from back in January with Anamaria, where she guides us through different exercises to connect with ourselves on a deeper level and align ourselves with our highest level of purpose.

You can find the Masterclass recording, with video, in our free Resource Commons. We are now hosting Masterclasses every month, so you can find out the next Masterclass on our site as well.

We also have the show notes and accompanying resources on our site.

Presenter Bio: Anamaria Aristizabal

Anamaria Aristizabal is a Master Certified Integral Coach®, Leadership Trainer, Culture Consultant, and Trained Facilitator dedicated to supporting individuals, teams, and organization in their development and change initiatives. She excels at designing impactful coaching programs, as well as workshops and transformational journeys with creative and participatory methodologies. With her work she hopes to inspire, empower, and transform, in order to generate positive social, environmental, and economic impact.

She is based near Bogotá, Colombia in an intentional ecological community called Aldeafeliz, a global demonstration center for a regenerative and inspirational lifestyle. She seeks to contribute to a transition towards more empowered, humane, entrepreneurial, and regenerative cultures that facilitate the next stage of human evolution.

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Step into the world of regenerative design with us on Episode 130 of the Seeds of Tao Podcast. 🌿✨ Join us in conversation with Erik Ohlsen, a passionate permaculture designer, and founder of Permaculture Artisans. From tending a 1-acre food forest to transforming industries, Erik's journey is a symphony of change. Discover how he breathes life into landscapes and envisions an economy deeply rooted in regenerative practices. Tune in and explore how Erik's story can inspire you to create lasting impact! 🎙️🌍

Check out the full show notes and accompanying blog post on our site!

Guest Bio: Erik Ohlsen

Erik Ohlsen is a passionate writer, inspiring educator and experienced professional landscape designer. His goal is to help people connect deeper with nature and themselves.
www.erikohlsen.com

Erik is an internationally renowned certified permaculture designer/practitioner and certified permaculture teacher. For nearly 20 years he has taught ecological landscape design and implementation to thousands of students and clients around the world. He is driven to looking for effective ways to reach larger audiences in his mission to steward the environment.

Erik is the Director of the Permaculture Skills Center, a vocational training school which offers advanced education in ecological design, landscaping, farming and land stewardship. He is also the Founder/Principal at Permaculture Artisans, a fully licensed contracting firm specializing in the design and installation of ecological landscapes and farms throughout California.

In the field of ecological land development and management, Erik has extensive experience with projects that range from small urban lots to 100+ broadacre design and implementation. His many years of experience observing and listening to landscape patterns, and managing installation crews and design teams, have led to an extensive knowledge of all aspects of ecological land development and planning. He is a specialist in water harvesting systems, food forest design, community organizing, facilitation, vocational education and more.

Erik resides in Sebastopol, California with his wife Lauren, raising a family, a homestead and running their businesses.

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Regenerative Brand Archetype Quiz - a free lesson from StorySeed, this quiz will help you identify your dominant brand archetypes and the accompanying Toolkit with help you apply that knowledge into your marketing so you can show up with a consistent personality and voice to your audience.

Ever wondered how to redefine the investor-entrepreneur dynamic? 🤔 Join us for an insightful chat with Alessandra Caine in Episode 129 of the Seeds of Tao Podcast. 🎙️ Discover how Alessandra's journey from nurturing a 1000-acre foundation to venturing into ecommerce paved the way to shaping the narrative around regenerative business. Explore challenges, transitions, and the wisdom of seeking the right people as she shares valuable advice for fellow impact entrepreneurs. 🌍✨ Tune in to explore the world of investing in regeneration and be inspired to change the game! 🌟🌿

Check out our website for the full show notes.

Guest Bio: Alessandra Caine - LinkedIn Profile

Trained as an environmental scientist, I believe the best way to accelerate the shift towards a regenerative economy is to understand that any business operates in a complex ecosystem and its social and environmental impacts go beyond its factories. Only by redesigning business models with these impacts in mind, we will be able to transform our value chains in truly sustainable ones.

With almost 10 years of experience in international sustainability programs worldwide, I am dedicated to scale successful solutions by working alongside impact investors and companies which are serious about halting and preserving biodiversity.

Host Bio: Emily Prieto - LinkedIn Profile

Emily is an explorer for the new creative solarpunk world and catalyst for regenerative economies and permanent cultures (permacultures). As the co-founder of Seeds of Tao she helps create experiences and opportunities for entrepreneurs to build strong regenerative enterprises. She is an artist, creative designer, and brand strategist who has worked with small and large businesses to create content that shares the brand identity through a compelling message and story. Using her creative design talent, Emily has also become a permaculture land designer, helping to design both commercial and residential lands for long-term regenerative change. She fluently speaks Spanish and English, adores Latin-American culture and chooses to build community and regenerative stewardship in the rainforests of Central America alongside her husband and four children.

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StorySeed Message and Marketing Course - a comprehensive course for regenerative entrepreneurs to build and scale their message and marketing efforts. (currently at beta price)

Regenerative Brand Archetype Quiz - a free lesson from StorySeed, this quiz will help you identify your dominant brand archetypes and the accompanying Toolkit with help you apply that knowledge into your marketing so you can show up with a consistent personality and voice to your audience.

Join us in Episode 128 of the Seeds of Tao Podcast, where we explore the art of collaborative storytelling for impact entrepreneurs. From shaping internal narratives within teams to embracing collective movements, we delve into the four quadrants that interlace personal and collective stories. Discover how these interconnected tales cultivate regenerative businesses and contribute to a vibrant tapestry of transformation. Tune in as we unravel the power of collaborative storytelling in crafting a more harmonious world.

You can see the full show notes on our site.

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In episode 127 of the Seeds of Tao Podcast, Thomas Richardson is joining us to share his amazing journey from his gypsie travels around Europe, to regenerative entrepreneurship. Through his experience with a myriad of people, a mindset of lifelong learning, and boots on the ground experience in festival and event creation, he's crafted his journey into regeneration. Like so many of us, along his journey Thomas made a huge pivot to live a higher level of alignment with his values and passion in regenerative entrepreneurship. Join us in this episode as we talk about entrepreneurship, the power of regeneration, and transitioning the economy from an extractive system to a regenerative one.

You can check out the full show notes on our site.

Guest Bio: Thomas Richardson

I'm a serial entrepreneur with a varied and completely unique history. I held the title of head elephant boy for Chipperfield's circus at 13, launched a music producing label and studio in my early career, founded and currently run Geosculpt Ireland, an award-winning environmentally innovative garden and landscape business that brings traditional stonemasonry techniques into the 21st century with advanced permaculture and cutting-edge design, and am the founder and CEO of GEIA, the Global Ecological Investment Agency, which finds novel ways to fund regenerative agricultural and ecological projects through full circle systems.

Host Bio: Joshua Prieto

Josh is the Co-Founder and Director of the Seeds of Tao learning platform for regenerative entrepreneurs. He has over 10 years of experience creating, building, and operating startup solutions alongside entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes. That experience has shown him that entrepreneurs have the biggest role to play in the Anthropocene as we either create the solutions for, or become the root problem of, our people, planet, and future. Josh now co-creates educational programs that disrupt the current way our entrepreneurs learn. His holistically designed educational programs empower entrepreneurs to stop chasing “silver-bullet” solutions and start designing solutions that use regenerative systems.

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In this episode of the Seeds of Tao Podcast, we're sharing a Masterclass from our Regenpreneur Masterclass Series, we loved this Masterclass that Jenny Patton presented at, all about shifting paradigms through our story and message. We know there are SO many messages out there, a lot of noise. But if we want to connect with our audience and open their minds to regenerative solutions, we've got to be effective in that message. Our message must be clear, concise, emotionally engaging and transformative. If you'd rather watch the Masterclass to get the whole experience, you can find it in our free Resource Commons.

You can also find the full Show Notes of the episode and more on our site.

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In Episode 125 of the Seeds of Tao Podcast, get ready to be inspired by Jesse Fisher's incredible Regenpreneur Story! 🌱🏡 Discover how he cultivates resiliency and prosperity through intentional communities, sharing valuable lessons from building a cooperative town during a global recession. Jesse's experiences, including the remarkable story of Mondragon, will leave you motivated to embrace cooperative principles and manifest positive change in your own life. Don't miss this captivating episode where Jesse shares his wisdom and empowers us to create a more regenerative world! 🌍💚🎧

You can find the complete Show Notes and Blog Post on our website.

Guest Bio: Jesse Fisher - LinkedIn Profile

All my life's personal and professional experiences and interests led me to join the "Operation Self-Reliance" non-profit land development initiative, or OSR, in 2019. OSR assists families to achieve greater independence, safety, preparedness and family unity through engaging in some level of food production -- from backyard urban homesteading to multi-acre self-reliant rural farmsteads surrounded by others doing the same.

While reading about the economic history of Utah, I learned that Brigham City, Utah, during the 1870s, had overcome all the downsides of dog-eat-dog Competitive Free Enterprise. When I learned that they:
- Converted their town's entire economy to Cooperative Free Enterprise,
- Achieved 100% employment,
- Built homes for all the widows,
- Provided food, shelter, and work for the homeless, and
- Had their best year ever during the world-wide recession of 1873,
I asked myself, "Why aren't we building towns like this today?"

And now, I am.
And, if you inherited your pioneer ancestors' can-do resolve,
I invite you to join us recreating that economic miracle.

Learn how "Operation Self-Reliance" got started and about its progress today: https://bit.ly/OSR-Intro

Host Bio: Joshua Prieto - LinkedIn Profile

We help impact entrepreneurs to start, grow and scale their regenerative enterprises.

You want to change the world… We all do in one form or another. You might have taken that Gandhi quote to heart, to "Be the change you wish to see in the world." The challenge is creating a livelihood that allows us to be that change while finding growth for ourselves and our loved ones. Where do you start? How do you start?

Seeds of Tao is here to help you seed regenerative paths beyond sustainability with tools and resources to help regenpreneurs be the change, it's all a part of our United Learning Academy. First, we provide e-learning resources that teach the six core areas impact entrepreneurs are desiring greater competency: marketing and messaging, finances and funding, cultural forces and flows, personal development, organizational management, natural capital management. Second, After giving you the knowledge frameworks to be successful, we provide a network of peers, mentors, educators, and facilitators that help you find your unique path to developing your regenerative enterprise. Whether it is helping you to incubate an entrepreneurial venture, start a regenerative career, or become a permaculture professional, the United Learning Academy is designed to bring each individual towards a truly impactful regenerative enterprise that improves our people, planet, and future.

If you're looking to create or grow your regenerative enterprise and be the change you wish to see in the world, start by taking part in our free Resource Commons. Here you’ll find educational content, a supportive community, and collaborative events to support you on your journey. We’re here to help pioneers like yourself pave the way (tao) to a regenerative future. Let’s get to work and be an example for others to follow.

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In Episode 124, we're bringing you an exciting discussion with Joshua Prieto, where we'll be uncovering the secrets to Scaling our Impact in this age of Degrowth! Yeah, that's right – we're making economic degrowth sexy! 💚

We'll be spilling the beans on five powerful strategies that can take your regenerative enterprise to new heights, and believe us, it's not just any ordinary growth. We're talking about growth that's in service to people, the environment, and future generations! It's the kind of growth that'll have you feeling good about every step you take, and your customers feeling amazing about supporting you. 🌍🌿

So, if you're eager to learn how to craft an authentic narrative, build marketing systems that don't exploit others, and assemble a rock-solid marketing team, you're in for a real treat. Trust us, it's all interconnected and has the potential to make degrowth look utterly irresistible! 😎

If you're ready to join the movement and see how your regenerative business can thrive while making a positive impact, buckle up because this episode is about to blow your mind! Let's make degrowth sexy together and create a world that truly flourishes! 🚀💫

Now, if you're craving more in-depth insights and eye-opening discussions, don't miss out on the full podcast episode, available now on all major platforms and on our site with the accompanying blog post. Tune in and get inspired to scale your impact like never before! Happy listening, folks! 🌱🎧

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In this episode of the Seeds of Tao Podcast, we dive into the inspiring story of Paulinho Muzaliwa, a passionate regenpreneur dedicated to solving the challenge of malnutrition in refugee camps. As COVID-19 hit and food rations became limited, Paulinho and his community faced dire circumstances. Their literal hunger led them to discover regenerative solutions, including permaculture and utilizing food waste as organic fertilizer. Overcoming challenges such as unemployment, they initiated entrepreneurial projects like soap making and worm farming to create sustainable change. Join us as Paulinho shares his journey and emphasizes the importance of focusing on regenerative enterprises to make a lasting impact.

You can find the show notes and accompanying blog post on our site.

Guest Bio: Paulinho Muzaliwa

Paulinho is Congolese by nationality living in Uganda since 2017. He has a diploma in business and administration in DRC. In 2018 he got a scholarship at Idea4africa where he learnt Entrepreneurship, Business and Leadership and conducted trainings for identifying opportunities with and for the communities. He later founded the project Unidos Social Innovation Center in the same year.

     Passionate about Regenerative Agriculture, a permaculture teacher certified by the Permaculture Education Institute, a Warm Data host, certified and accredited by the Bateson International Institute, an Ambassador in SEEDS regenerative financial ecosystem and a business and leadership facilitator.

Connect with Paulinho on LinkedIn

Host Bio: Joshua Prieto

Josh is the Co-Founder and Director of the Seeds of Tao learning platform for regenerative entrepreneurs. He has over 10 years of experience creating, building, and operating startup solutions alongside entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes. That experience has shown him that entrepreneurs have the biggest role to play in the Anthropocene as we either create the solutions for, or become the root problem of, our people, planet, and future. Josh now co-creates educational programs that disrupt the current way our entrepreneurs learn. His holistically designed educational programs empower entrepreneurs to stop chasing “silver-bullet” solutions and start designing solutions that use regenerative systems.

Connect with Josh on LinkedIn

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Discover the remarkable story of Michael Twist, a regenpreneur on a mission to redefine our economic currencies through biodiversity.

In episode 122 of the Seeds of Tao Podcast, we explore how Michael's journey began with a simple question: What's the coolest job you could do? From there, we unravel the profound connection between biodiversity and our economic systems, challenging traditional models like carbon markets and embracing a new "Gold Standard" built on nurturing our planet's natural wealth.

Join us on this captivating episode and visit our website for more insights and inspiration. Let's change the world together.

Read the full show notes and accompanying blog post on our site.

Guest Bio: Michael Twist

I have dedicated my life to helping build a missing piece of the puzzle, one that may, help solve climate change and close the poverty gap. We have began working to build a stable digital (similar to a stable coin) that we are planning to pay equally and directly to landowners and workers for successfully growing life into, soil, grass, waters and trees. It is our goal to pay the same amount of our Dollars for the same amount of CO2 captured into bio-diverse living environments. In other words, we are going to pay people who are successfully saving our environment anywhere on the planet at a rate that we hope makes it worth doing in any country.

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn

Host Bio: Joshua Prieto

Josh is the Co-Founder and Director of the Seeds of Tao learning platform for regenerative entrepreneurs. He has over 10 years of experience creating, building, and operating startup solutions alongside entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes. That experience has shown him that entrepreneurs have the biggest role to play in the Anthropocene as we either create the solutions for, or become the root problem of, our people, planet, and future. Josh now co-creates educational programs that disrupt the current way our entrepreneurs learn. His holistically designed educational programs empower entrepreneurs to stop chasing “silver-bullet” solutions and start designing solutions that use regenerative systems.

Connect with Josh on LinkedIn

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StorySeed Message and Marketing Course - a comprehensive course for regenerative entrepreneurs to build and scale their message and marketing efforts. (currently at beta price)

Regenerative Brand Archetype Quiz - a free lesson from StorySeed, this quiz will help you identify your dominant brand archetypes and the accompanying Toolkit with help you apply that knowledge into your marketing so you can show up with a consistent personality and voice to your audience.

🌱🎙️ Discover the power of regenerative marketing in Episode 121 of the Seeds of Tao Podcast: "Marketing - Regenerative Designed." Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of marketing and debunk the notion that it is inherently exploitative. In this thought-provoking episode, we explore how marketing can be a tool for good, a creative process, and a system that aligns with individual, organizational, and societal goals. We examine the patterns and systems within marketing and highlight the importance of strategy, content, and distribution. If you're curious about designing a regenerative marketing system for your business—one that empowers both people and the planet—then this episode is a must-listen. Read more about this enlightening discussion and explore additional resources on our website. Let's reshape marketing together! 🌍✨

Dive deeper into this episode with its accompanying blog post on our site.

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StorySeed Message and Marketing Course - a comprehensive course for regenerative entrepreneurs to build and scale their message and marketing efforts. (currently at beta price)

Regenerative Brand Archetype Quiz - a free lesson from StorySeed, this quiz will help you identify your dominant brand archetypes and the accompanying Toolkit with help you apply that knowledge into your marketing so you can show up with a consistent personality and voice to your audience.

Welcome to the Seeds of Tao Podcast, where we help impact entrepreneurs in their journey to cultivate regenerative businesses. In this episode, we explore the critical role negotiations play in driving positive change. Our guest, Ben, shares his experiences and insights gained from working with regenerative businesses and projects. From navigating the "Valley of Death" to transitioning his career towards regenerative outcomes, Ben offers valuable lessons on negotiation patterns, drawing inspiration from Nelson Mandela's approach. Join us as we uncover the art of negotiation and discover how it can be harnessed to create a sustainable and impactful future.

You can read the full show notes and accompanying blog post on our site.

Guest Bio: Ben Kimura Gross - LinkedIn Profile

I live & breathe negotiation. In my experience, the best deals happen when you've established a human connection. Yes, techniques like knowing your BATNA, framing, anchoring etc matter.

But nothing beats a negotiator with great perspective-switching skills, a naturally curious, empathic trust-builder. And nothing's worse than a guy on the other side of the table who comes across like a bulldozer.

Of course, even those can be handled with skill - and that's part of my mission: to help small and medium-sized companies improve their results when NEGOTIATING WITH GOLIATH.

Having trained leaders at major corporations and the German government, I know a thing or two about "Goliaths" - and I've supported people on the inside to facilitate much-needed change.

Recently, my focus has shifted to the green tech sector (aka blue tech in shipping), for three reasons:
1. personal desire to help
2. increased requests for help
3. time's runnin' out, folks.

If this is you, write me and let's see what I can do for you. I'm all in.

Host Bio: Joshua Prieto - LinkedIn Profile

Josh is the Co-Founder and Director of the Seeds of Tao learning platform for regenerative entrepreneurs. He has over 10 years of experience creating, building, and operating startup solutions alongside entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes. That experience has shown him that entrepreneurs have the biggest role to play in the Anthropocene as we either create the solutions for, or become the root problem of, our people, planet, and future. Josh now co-creates educational programs that disrupt the current way our entrepreneurs learn. His holistically designed educational programs empower entrepreneurs to stop chasing “silver-bullet” solutions and start designing solutions that use regenerative systems.

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StorySeed Message and Marketing Course - a comprehensive course for regenerative entrepreneurs to build and scale their message and marketing efforts. (currently at beta price)

Regenerative Brand Archetype Quiz - a free lesson from StorySeed, this quiz will help you identify your dominant brand archetypes and the accompanying Toolkit with help you apply that knowledge into your marketing so you can show up with a consistent personality and voice to your audience.

Welcome to the Seeds of Tao Podcast, where we dive into the inspiring stories of impact entrepreneurs who are cultivating regenerative businesses. In today's episode 119, we have the pleasure of speaking with Chloe D’Agostini, a remarkable individual who has harnessed the power of storytelling to make a positive impact on the world.

At the age of four, Chloe's deep connection to nature and community began shaping her journey. She discovered her voice early on and used it to advocate for her environmental passions and concerns. Throughout her life, she held onto the belief that no matter where you are, you can make an impact.

Join us on this insightful journey as we learn from Chloe's regenpreneur story and uncover valuable takeaways that will empower us to take action and live the story we want to tell. Remember, it's never too late to make a difference.

To learn more about Chloe and her agency, visit versallescreative.com. And for the detailed show notes and accompanying blog post, check out our website. Let's dive in and be inspired together.

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Promotional Links:

StorySeed Message and Marketing Course - a comprehensive course for regenerative entrepreneurs to build and scale their message and marketing efforts. (currently at beta price)

Regenerative Brand Archetype Quiz - a free lesson from StorySeed, this quiz will help you identify your dominant brand archetypes and the accompanying Toolkit with help you apply that knowledge into your marketing so you can show up with a consistent personality and voice to your audience.

In this episode of the Seeds of Tao podcast, join hosts Emily and Josh Prieto as they delve into the power of effective brand storytelling to overcome common challenges faced by businesses in engaging clients.

The episode begins by addressing a prevalent problem: businesses with exceptional products and services often struggle to connect with their target audience. Despite having a valuable offering and qualified leads, something seems to be missing. Emily and Josh explore this issue and propose a solution - the art of becoming an effective brand storyteller.

Drawing from the timeless pattern of Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, the hosts demonstrate how storytelling has played a crucial role throughout history in various mediums such as mythology, philosophy, books, movies, and even brands. They break down the key elements of a brand's transformative story, including the hero's desire, challenges, meeting a guide, receiving a plan, experiencing an epiphany, taking action, achieving success, undergoing transformation, and ultimately becoming the guide themselves.

Listeners are guided through the process of framing their own stories, starting with the desired transformation in mind and aligning it with the clients' desires and the brand's purpose. The hosts emphasize the importance of developing a clear plan, breaking it down into easy-to-understand steps, and helping clients visualize their progress.

Furthermore, the episode explores the crucial role of conflict in storytelling. By understanding and effectively illustrating the physical, emotional, and philosophical obstacles standing in the way of clients' goals, businesses can create compelling narratives that captivate their audience and foster a deeper connection.

Join Emily and Josh Prieto on this thought-provoking podcast episode as they unlock the power of storytelling to strengthen regenerative enterprises and engage clients on a profound level. Discover the secrets to crafting narratives that inspire, motivate, and drive transformative action within your organization.

You can check out all the graphics we mentioned as well as the accompanying blog post on our site

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In March of 2023 we had Chloe and Leonie as Masterclass presenters, and they shared their knowledge about community-building. Whether or not we are actually developing an intentional community, these principles help us as we weave our work with others in the movement, and develop communities within our businesses.

This is the audio version of the Masterclass, but if you’d like to watch the whole Masterclass, they are free and available in our Resource Commons. If you don’t have an account yet, you can create that here.

We are so thrilled to help our friends at Whole Systems Network (WSN) announce the new online version of their course, Grounding Your Village!! This course covers all the essential components to buying land and sharing it with a group of people. We can personally say that this course is a must-have for anyone who wants to start a resilient, off grid project with like-minded people.

If you or anyone you know has:

  • Fantasized about buying land and creating your own community or group homestead
  • “Window shopped online” for property and then sent it to your friends
  • Yearned for a group who shares interests, values, daily chores, and fun activities
  • Needing tangible action steps to get yourself and your group motivated

Then check out the first module and see if it’s right for you.

This course will lead you through all of the steps needed to form a resilient, successful community. It includes 10 self-paced video modules, templates to found your community, an exclusive Ecovillage ChecklistⒸ, and two group Q&A Zoom sessions per month.

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Promotional Links:

• StorySeed Message and Marketing Course - a comprehensive course for regenerative entrepreneurs to build and scale their message and marketing efforts.

This week we are diving into a really important topic for businesses in general, but especially regenerative ones… your target audience. We will discuss common symptoms of not bringing in your ideal clients, the different ways we can mis-read who our target clients are, and how to get better at speaking to the right people, in the right way. By really understanding who is it we’re wanting to talk to, the language they use, and the challenges they’re having, we are better able to serve them and increase our positive impact.

Check out the accompanying blog post on our site at https://www.seedsoftao.com/blog/episode-116-identifying-the-ideal-client-for-your-regenerative-enterprise

Host Bios:

Emily Prieto

Emily is an explorer for the new creative solarpunk world and catalyst for regenerative economies and permanent cultures (permacultures). As the co-founder of Seeds of Tao she helps create experiences and opportunities for entrepreneurs to build strong regenerative enterprises. She is an artist, creative designer, and brand strategist who has worked with small and large businesses to create content that shares the brand identity through a compelling message and story. Using her creative design talent, Emily has also become a permaculture land designer, helping to design both commercial and residential lands for long-term regenerative change. She fluently speaks Spanish and English, adores Latin-American culture and chooses to build community and regenerative stewardship in the rainforests of Central America alongside her husband and four children.

Joshua Prieto

Josh is the Co-Founder and Director of the Seeds of Tao learning platform for regenerative entrepreneurs. He has over 10 years of experience creating, building, and operating startup solutions alongside entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes. That experience has shown him that entrepreneurs have the biggest role to play in the Anthropocene as we either create the solutions for, or become the root problem of, our people, planet, and future. Josh now co-creates educational programs that disrupt the current way our entrepreneurs learn. His holistically designed educational programs empower entrepreneurs to stop chasing “silver-bullet” solutions and start designing solutions that use regenerative systems.

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Synergetic Press: a diverse and eclectic catalog of books that cover topics such as ecology, sustainability, indigenous cultures, visionary art, and more. Use discount code tao20 at checkout for a 20% discount that also supports the podcast.

Here are some of Vandana’s books on Synergetic Press

  • Agroecology and Regenerative Ecology
  • Philanthro-Capitalism
  • Reclaiming the Commons

We are so excited to have Dr. Vandana Shiva on the podcast this week. Dr. Vandana Shiva is an author, physicist, ecologist, and advocate of biodiversity conservation and farmer’s rights. Her pioneering work around food sovereignty, traditional agriculture, and women’s rights created fundamental cultural shifts in how the world views these issues. She is at the forefront of the regenerative movement, devoting her life to creating positive change in the world. In this episode we’ll dive in deeper into Vandana’s journey into the regenerative movement and the guiding philosophies that have brought her to this point. We also dive into the potential of those in the movement right now, the unlimited potential we all have, just like a seed.

Episode 113: Show Notes - You can find all the Show Notes and more information on Vandana's work in the blog post.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Vandana Shiva

Vandana Shiva is an Indian scholar, environmental activist, food sovereignty advocate, ecofeminist and anti-globalisation author. Based in Delhi, Shiva has written more than 20 books. She is often referred to as "Gandhi of grain" for her activism associated with the anti-GMO movement.

Vandana is one of the leaders and board members of the International Forum on Globalization (with Jerry Mander, Ralph Nader, and Helena Norberg-Hodge), and a figure of the anti-globalisation movement. She has argued in favour of many traditional practices, as in her interview in the book Vedic Ecology (by Ranchor Prime). She is a member of the scientific committee of the Fundacion IDEAS, Spain's Socialist Party's think tank. She is also a member of the International Organization for a Participatory Society.

Host Bio:

Emily Prieto LinkedIn Profile

Emily is an explorer for the new creative solarpunk world and catalyst for regenerative economies and permanent cultures (permacultures). As the co-founder of Seeds of Tao she helps create experiences and opportunities for entrepreneurs to build strong regenerative enterprises. She is an artist, creative designer, and brand strategist who has worked with small and large businesses to create content that shares the brand identity through a compelling message and story. Using her creative design talent, Emily has also become a permaculture land designer, helping to design both commercial and residential lands for long-term regenerative change. She fluently speaks Spanish and English, adores Latin-American culture and chooses to build community and regenerative stewardship in the rainforests of Central America alongside her husband and four children.

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Welcome to another Seeds of Tao Podcast episode! In Episode 112: The Regenerative Business Economy Map, we're having a more interactive conversation around crowdsourcing the mapping of the current ecosystem of regenerative enterprise building. Our goal is to share this information with everyone and explore the possible uses of such a map.

We'll be using some tools to do this mapping experiment, including The Brain (a tool we’ll talk about in the episode), this blog post that goes alongside the recorded podcast episode, and an intake form to crowdsource data from impact entrepreneurs. In the blog post you'll see an embedded version of the digital mind map we're calling the Regenerative Business Economies Network map or for short the regenBEN map. It's a visualization tool we'll be using to map the relationships between regenerative enterprises.

You can check out the blog post and more info on regenBEN here.

Here's a link to the intake form to start getting your work mapped into regenBEN.

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Promotional Links:

StorySeed Marketing and Messaging (Beta) Course - An all-inclusive marketing and messaging course for impact entrepreneurs seeking to get their emotionally-engaging message to the right people, in the right way, at the right time. StorySeed is a self-paced course that takes you from the core aspects of brand story development all the way through scaling your efforts and weaving your work in the movements you’re passionate about. This is a truly regenerative approach to marketing using the tools and techniques business goliaths use, but designed to be true to the principles and ethics of the greater sustainability and regeneration, putting the marketing power in the hands of the positive change-makers of the world.

Welcome back to the Seeds of Tao Podcast, we have another great interview with a regenerative entrepreneur this week, a true systems changer. Josh interviews Max Rünzel, Co-Founder and CEO of HiveTracks, who is revolutionizing the way beekeepers can gather data, and changing the narrative of the value of biodiversity to the masses. Max shares his entrepreneurial journey though travel and study, involvement with the United Nations, and learning to bring big visions to market as an entrepreneur. He also goes into his experience with getting funding rounds and building capital as a regenerative enterprise to expand his positive impact in the world.

Here are the notes from the episode, don’t forget to follow, comment, or write a review of the podcast if you enjoyed today’s episode. It means a lot 🙂

Episode 111 Show Notes

View the full notes for this or any episode by visiting us on our website at SeedsofTao.com and clicking on the Podcast in the menu.

Guest Bio: Max Rünzel - LinkedIn Profile

Max joined HiveTracks following his appointments with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), where he worked on digital tools to empower smallholder producers. Being fluent in six languages and having lived on three continents, Max believes in a truly global solution to improving bee health.

Host Bio: Joshua Prieto - LinkedIn Profile

Josh is the Co-Founder and Director of the Seeds of Tao learning platform for regenerative entrepreneurs. He has over 10 years of experience creating, building, and operating startup solutions alongside entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes. That experience has shown him that entrepreneurs have the biggest role to play in the Anthropocene as we either create the solutions for, or become the root problem of, our people, planet, and future. Josh now co-creates educational programs that disrupt the current way our entrepreneurs learn. His holistically designed educational programs empower entrepreneurs to stop chasing “silver-bullet” solutions and start designing solutions that use regenerative systems.

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Welcome back to the Seeds of Tao podcast, today we’ve got Liz Reitzig, an inspirational regenpreneur, activist, and momma bear. Liz and Emily dive into the importance of resilience, finding hope in troubling times, and balancing life as an entrepreneur and momma. Liz is the owner of Nourishing Liberty, a private consulting business focused on developing restorative food systems within local communities. She is also the founder and facilitator of Grassfed On The Hill, creating non-profit buying clubs where grassroots organizations offer families in the Eastern United States the benefits of locally sourced, organic foods via direct farmer-to-consumer sales. And lastly, she also has a substack with many awesome articles she’s written on topics like raw milk and food security, she’s on there as Raw Milk Mama.

Here are the notes from the episode, don’t forget to follow, comment, or write a review of the podcast if you enjoyed today’s episode. It means a lot 🙂

Episode 110: Show Notes

View the full notes for this or any episode by visiting us on our website at SeedsofTao.com and clicking on the podcast.

(Promotional Link) Free monthly Think Tank: a monthly meeting where impact entrepreneurs from all over come together to help each other overcome challenges, share resources, and support each other in our collective regenerative work.

Guest Bio: Liz Reitzig - LinkedIn Profile

Liz has a strong experience in creating and adapting meal plans for any person who wants to have the healthiest possible lifestyle.

Familycomes first for Liz. She believes that all people should leave the world better than we met it. Thus Liz, as a parent, just like you, wants to offer her children a foundation of exceptional health.

Promoting the use of principles such as "food network, food webs, permaculture, and buying clubs," Liz has helped countless families to change their state of mind, thus they have gained: strong immunity, stress reduction and of course learning to take responsibility for their food systems.

Host Bio: Emily Prieto - LinkedIn Profile

Emily is an explorer for the new creative solarpunk world and catalyst for regenerative economies and permanent cultures (permacultures). As the co-founder of Seeds of Tao she helps create experiences and opportunities for entrepreneurs to build strong regenerative enterprises. She is an artist, creative designer, and brand strategist who has worked with small and large businesses to create content that shares the brand identity through a compelling message and story. Using her creative design talent, Emily has also become a permaculture land designer, helping to design both commercial and residential lands for long-term regenerative change. She fluently speaks Spanish and English, adores Latin-American culture and chooses to build community and regenerative stewardship in the rainforests of Central America alongside her husband and four children.

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  • Pando Academy Commons: an open community of regenerative entrepreneurs creating change through the business they start, build, and grow.
  • Synergetic Press: a diverse and eclectic catalog of books that cover topics such as ecology, sustainability, indigenous cultures, visionary art, and more. Use discount code tao20 at checkout for a 20% discount that also supports the podcast.

This week’s podcast guest is Mark Nelson, a long-time regenpreneur highly knowledgeable about the importance of the interconnectedness between us and the Earth, as well as between us and our community. He is also one of the creators and participants of Biosphere 2, where he lived for two years. We’re talking about taking on challenges, accepting and integrating feedback, pushing the envelope, and waste systems. If you enjoy today’s episode, please review us on Apple podcast or follow us on your preferred podcast platform.

Episode 109 Show Notes: You can find the rest of the show notes and links to Mark’s work on our website.

Host Bio:

Mark Nelson

Dr. Mark Nelson is a founding director of the Institute of Ecotechnics and has worked for several decades in closed ecological system research, ecological engineering, the restoration of damaged ecosystems, desert agriculture and orchardry and wastewater recycling. He is Chairman and CEO of the Institute of Ecotechnics (www.ecotechnics.edu), a U.K. and U.S. non-profit organization, which consults to several demonstration projects working in challenging biomes around the world; Vice Chairman of Global Ecotechnics Corp. (www.globalecotechnics.com), head of Wastewater Gardens International (www.wastewatergardens.com).

Mark has helped pioneer a new ecological approach to sewage treatment, “Wastewater Gardens®” which are constructed subsurface flow wetlands with high biodiversity and has created over 90 such systems in Mexico, Belize, Bali & Sulawesi, Indonesia, West Australia, France, Spain, Portugal, Poland, the Bahamas, the Philippines, Algeria and the United States since 1996 (www.wastewatergardens.com).

He served as Director of Space and Environmental Applications for Space Biospheres Ventures, which created and operated Biosphere 2, the 3.15 acre materially closed facility near Tucson, Arizona, the world’s first laboratory for global ecology (www.biospheres.com). Dr. Nelson was a member of the eight person “biospherian” crew for the first two year closure experiment, 1991-1993. His research inside included litter fall/decomposition in the tropical biomes, population dynamics and biomass increase, sustainable agricultural system, and constructed wetland sewage treatment system.

Beginning in the 1970s, Mark worked in the high desert grassland south of Santa Fe, New Mexico where he made hundreds of tons of compost, planted over a thousand fruit and windbreak trees, creating an oasis in previously overgrazed and eroding country. Since 1978 Mark has worked in the semi-arid tropical savannah of West Australia where he helped start Savannah Systems P/L a project centered on the pasture regeneration and enrichment of a 5000 acre property in the Kimberley region.

Publications include the books “Life Under Glass: Crucial Lessons in Planetary Stewardship from 2 Years in Biosphere 2” (2nd edition, Synergetic Press, 2020), “Pushing Our Limits: Insights from Biosphere 2” (University of Arizona, February 2018), “The Wastewater Gardener: Preserving the Planet One Flush at a Time” (Synergetic Press, 2014), co-authoring “Life Under Glass” and “Space Biospheres”, editing “Biological Life Support Technologies: Commercial Opportunities” and numerous chapters in books on space life support systems. His research papers include ones on ecological hierarchy, wastewater recycling through the use of constructed wetlands, and applications of closed ecological systems. Dr. Nelson is an Associate Editor of the journal Life Sciences in Space Research.

Mark’s educational background includes a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering Sciences from the University of Florida. His dissertation involved the creation of experimental Wastewater Gardens® for protection of groundwater quality and coral reef health along the coast of Yucatan, Mexico. His M.S. was in the School of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Arizona; and his B.A. in Philosophy/Pre-Med Sciences was from Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire. Mark was awarded the Yuri Gagarin Jubilee Medal, 1993 for outstanding service to international cooperation in space and the environment by the Russian Cosmonautics Federation; and elected a Fellow of the Explorers Club (1994) and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (2001).

Host Bio:

Joshua Prieto - LinkedIn Profile

Josh is the co-founder and CEO of Seeds of Tao an education and incubation company for regenerative entrepreneurs. If you ask him the purpose of SoT, he’ll tell you it is to create paths to a more inclusive, fair, and balanced economy. He feels a special kind of entrepreneur is the key to that path. In the past he has felt discouraged, disappointed, and confused by the extractive and degenerative practices of the businesses he has helped during his career as an entrepreneur and marketing strategist. When he found the regenerative and permaculture movement he realized that if entrepreneurs used regenerative principles and practices in their business our economy and culture would change from an extractive, degenerative one to a consciously regenerative one. Today he focuses on building up and increasing the number of regenerative entrepreneurs through open education services and incubator programs. He would absolutely love it if you joined him in his efforts.

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Promotional Links:

  • StorySeed: Marketing and Message Course for regenerative entrepreneurs: Learn to start, build, and scale your business by building the skills that allow you to effectively market your impact-driven enterprise.
  • Pando Academy Commons: An open community of regenerative entrepreneurs creating change through the business they start, build, and grow.

Just like last month, we have another special bonus episode sharing the startup story of an impactful regenerative entrepreneur. This time we are talking to Mugagga Kiyimba from Uganda about how he started the Treasure Foundation. Join us as we dive into the life of a true community leader who empowers everyone around him. We’ll talk about looking at problems as opportunities, finding the strength to overcome and persist, being in-tune with your community to create solutions, and much, much more. If you enjoy today’s episode, please review us on Apple podcast or follow us on your preferred podcast platform.

Episode 108 Show Notes: You can find the rest of the show notes and links to Keri’s work on our website.

Mugagga Kiyimba - LinkedIn Profile

Mugagga is the founder of the Treasure Foundation that teaches and supports local communities in Uganda. His foundation creates regenerative impact by deeply engaging with the local communities they serve. Mugagga helps turn a community’s struggles into opportunities by teaching simple principles of health and wealth and supporting community members to take ownership of both. The Treasure Foundation has implemented seed saving and soil building programs for the youth, a microfinancing institution that funds regenerative business activities for the unemployed and underfed, and food forestry programs that grow and teach others to grow nutrient dense food for their families and community. He is a community leader, educator, and regenerative entrepreneur who values the life and vitality of each individual, helping everyone to find the treasure within themselves.

Host Bio:

Joshua Prieto - LinkedIn Profile

Josh is the co-founder and CEO of Seeds of Tao an education and incubation company for regenerative entrepreneurs. If you ask him the purpose of SoT, he’ll tell you it is to create paths to a more inclusive, fair, and balanced economy. He feels a special kind of entrepreneur is the key to that path. In the past he has felt discouraged, disappointed, and confused by the extractive and degenerative practices of the businesses he has helped during his career as an entrepreneur and marketing strategist. When he found the regenerative and permaculture movement he realized that if entrepreneurs used regenerative principles and practices in their business our economy and culture would change from an extractive, degenerative one to a consciously regenerative one. Today he focuses on building up and increasing the number of regenerative entrepreneurs through open education services and incubator programs. He would absolutely love it if you joined him in his efforts.

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Promotional Links:

  • Pando Academy Commons: An open community of regenerative entrepreneurs creating change through the businesses they start, build, and grow.
  • The Regenpreneur Think Tank: As you work to design your own regenerative business, we encourage you to engage with other entrepreneurs through a monthly Think Tank event we have on the first Wednesday of the month.

Hello again fellow regenpreneurs! This month Emily and I are sharing some of our own thoughts about regenerative business design. We understand that a truly regeneratively designed business is not a stamp and repeat business. Each business is designed to fulfill a unique purpose in regenerating people, the planet, and our future. So how do we go about designing these highly specific and purposeful businesses? That's what we'll be exploring in this episode and sharing some lessons we've learned as we've designed our own business.

Check out the Seeds of Tao website for the full show notes here.

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Promotional Link:

  • Pando Academy Commons: An open community of regenerative entrepreneurs creating change through the business they start, build, and grow.

Hello and welcome back for a special bonus episode this month. Keri Evjy joins us for a wonderful exploration of her regenerative startup story and what led her to start not only one but four regenerative businesses. We’ll talk about the healing power nature and the outdoors has been in her life, how moments that test and stretch us help define and strengthen us, and of course the origins of Keri’s two current business and lessons learned from two other businesses she moved on from.

Episode 106 show notes: You can find the rest of the show notes and links to Keri’s work on our website.

Keri Evjy - LinkedIn Profile

Keri is a seeker, pathfinder, teacher, healer, and earth dweller committed to seeding mycelia and cultural topsoil to nudge human evolution. She is moved by a deep passion to love life, to be of service, and help others cultivate a regenerative relationship with themselves and the earth. Keri founded Healing Roots Design, an edible and medicinal landscape design, installation, and education project, and Regenerative Life Design Program, an online embodied earth-based toolkit for living life according to Nature’s Intelligence. Her recently released multimedia playbook, Regenerative Life Design Playbook, can be found on Amazon and in select bookstores.

Host Bio:

Joshua Prieto - LinkedIn Profile

Josh is the co-founder and CEO of Seeds of Tao an education and incubation company for regenerative entrepreneurs. If you ask him the purpose of SoT, he’ll tell you it is to create paths to a more inclusive, fair, and balanced economy. He feels a special kind of entrepreneur is the key to that path. In the past, he has felt discouraged, disappointed, and confused by the extractive and degenerative practices of the businesses he has helped during his career as an entrepreneur and marketing strategist. When he found the regenerative and permaculture movement he realized that if entrepreneurs used regenerative principles and practices in their business our economy and culture would change from an extractive, degenerative one to a consciously regenerative one. Today he focuses on building up and increasing the number of regenerative entrepreneurs through open education services and incubator programs. He would absolutely love it if you joined him in his efforts.

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Promotional Links:

  • StorySeed - Message and Marketing Course: a comprehensive course for regenerative entrepreneurs to build and scale their message and marketing efforts.
  • Regenerative Brand Archetype Quiz - a free resource and tool to help regen brands discover their identity and create messaging that breaks them out of the noise.
  • Pando Academy Commons - An open community of regenerative entrepreneurs creating change through the businesses they start, build, and grow.

Here are the references for the episode. Please don’t forget to follow, comment, or write a review of the podcast if you enjoyed today’s episode.

Episode 104 Show Notes: View the full notes and reference links for this or any other episode by visiting us on our website at SeedsofTao.com and clicking on the podcast.

What comes to your mind when I say greenwashing, bluewashing, pinkwashing, or social-washing?

In this podcast, we will be discussing the challenges facing regenerative entrepreneurs in 2023, including the problem of greenwashing in the regenerative movement. We will explore the desires of entrepreneurs, investors, and consumers for more regenerative and responsible products and services. We will also examine the problem of greenwashing and the lack of clear standards, policies, and regulations in the regenerative movement. We will discuss how strong regenerative brands with a clear sense of identity can guide us out of this problem by helping to bring clarity to the standards, metrics, regulations and policies needed. The podcast will also provide guidance on how brands should present themselves, including an easily identifiable personality and a strong purpose and direction. We will also explore how to create transparency and the ability to track and hold brands accountable.

Your Hosts:

Emily Prieto - LinkedIn Profile

Emily is an explorer for the new creative solarpunk world and catalyst for regenerative economies and permanent cultures (permacultures). As the co-founder of Seeds of Tao she helps create experiences and opportunities for entrepreneurs to build strong regenerative enterprises. She is an artist, creative designer, and brand strategist who has worked with small and large businesses to create content that shares the brand identity through a compelling message and story. Using her creative design talent, Emily has also become a permaculture land designer, helping to design both commercial and residential lands for long-term regenerative change. She fluently speaks Spanish and English, adores Latin-American culture and chooses to build community and regenerative stewardship in the rainforests of Central America alongside her husband and four children.

Joshua Prieto - LinkedIn Profile

Josh is the co-founder and CEO of Seeds of Tao an education and incubation company for regenerative entrepreneurs. If you ask him the purpose of SoT, he’ll tell you it is to create paths to a more inclusive, fair, and balanced economy. He feels a special kind of entrepreneur is the key to that path. In the past he has felt discouraged, disappointed, and confused by the extractive and degenerative practices of the businesses he has helped during his career as an entrepreneur and marketing strategist. When he found the regenerative and permaculture movement he realized that if entrepreneurs used regenerative principles and practices in their business our economy and culture would change from an extractive, degenerative one to a consciously regenerative one. Today he focuses on building up and increasing the number of regenerative entrepreneurs through open education services and incubator programs. He would absolutely love it if you joined him in his efforts.

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Thanks again for joining us today on the Seeds of Tao podcast. Today, Joshua Hughes joined us for an amazing Regenpreneur Startup Story. Joshua shares why he became an entrepreneur building regenerative communities through the two businesses he founded, Blacksheep Regenerative and VerdEnergia Pacifica. His story and insights will help you to see the bigger role regenerative businesses play in helping to restore communities, create connections, and unify what often looks like a very divided world.

Here are the references for the episode. Please don’t forget to follow, comment, or write a review of the podcast if you enjoyed today’s episode.

Episode 104 Show Notes: view the full notes and reference links for this or any episode by visiting us on our website at SeedsofTao.com and clicking on the podcast.

  • (Promotional Link) Pando Academy Commons: A free learning resource and community for entrepreneurs creating impact using regenerative design principles and ethics

Guest Bio: Joshua Hughes - LinkedIn Profile

Hughes is the founder of Blacksheep Regenerative and VerdEnergia where he has helped establish agroforestry and regenerative business practices in Costa Rica and abroad. Those efforts have helped replace the extractive and toxic food, herbs and building materials industry we see all over the world. He started Verdenergia, a permaculture farm in 2006 which became the beginning of a long and very fulfilling journey jammed packed with lessons. Rallying over 4000 people to come help reforest their little spot in Costa Rica, they have regenerated the landscape, improved their community and taught others to do the same in their own areas. 16 years later, they are still going strong as one of the worlds top Permaculture and agroforestry education centers.

Host Bio: Joshua Prieto - LinkedIn Profile

Joshua Prieto is the co-founder and CEO of Seeds of Tao an education and incubation company for regenerative entrepreneurs. You’ll get to know Josh quite well if you ask him what his purpose in life is. He will respond with something so deep you’ll have a hard time replying though he would want nothing more but to have a deep conversation on your own purpose in life. If you ask him the purpose of his enterprise, he’ll tell you it is to create paths to a more inclusive, fair, and balanced economy. He feels a special kind of entrepreneur is the key to that path. In the past he has felt discouraged, disappointed, and confused by the extractive and degenerative practices of the businesses he has helped during his career as an entrepreneur and marketing strategist. When he found the regenerative and permaculture movement he realized that if entrepreneurs used regenerative principles and practices in their business our economy and culture would change from an extractive, degenerative one to a consciously regenerative one. Today he focuses on building up and increasing the numbers of regenerative entrepreneurs through open education services and incubator programs. He would absolutely love it if you joined him in his efforts.

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Thanks for joining us for today’s episode! Today we had Joshua Prieto host and guide us in a conversation about Storytelling and the narratives we put out into the world to help us grow and scale our regenerative businesses and the regenerative economy we are building together.

Here are the references for this month’s podcast. Don’t forget to follow and write a review of the podcast if you enjoyed today’s episode.

Episode 103 Show Notes: view the full notes and reference links for this or any episode by visiting us on our website at SeedsofTao.com and clicking on the podcast.

Regenpreneur Brand Archetype Quiz: here you will find our brand archetype quiz to help you more clearly define and implement your brand’s unique identity.

StorySeed Marketing and Message course: enroll in StorySeed and learn to build and scale your regenerative enterprise using the power of story.

Host Bio: Joshua Paul Prieto

Joshua Prieto is the co-founder and CEO of Seeds of Tao an education and incubation company for regenerative entrepreneurs. You’ll get to know Josh quite well if you ask him what his purpose in life is. He will respond with something so deep you’ll have a hard time replying though he would want nothing more but to have a deep conversation on your own purpose in life. If you ask him the purpose of his enterprise, he’ll tell you it is to create paths to a more inclusive, fair, and balanced economy. He feels a special kind of entrepreneur is the key to that path. In the past he has felt discouraged, disappointed, and confused by the extractive and degenerative practices of the businesses he has helped during his career as an entrepreneur and marketing strategist. When he found the regenerative and permaculture movement he realized that if entrepreneurs used regenerative principles and practices in their business our economy and culture would change from an extractive, degenerative one to a consciously regenerative one. Today he focuses on building up and increasing the numbers of regenerative entrepreneurs through open education services and incubator programs. He would absolutely love it if you joined him in his efforts.

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We are so excited for this week’s guest on the podcast, Cynthia Tina is an expert in the field of intentional communities, having traveled to over a hundred sustainability and community projects worldwide. She helps people connect to intentional communities as a matchmaker for seekers and as a consultant for growing community projects.

Cynthia is Co-Director of the Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC), a 35 year-old nonprofit dedicated to supporting intentional communities as pathways towards a more cooperative, sustainable, and just world. She is also the founder of Ecovillage Tours (since 2019), was an officeholder on the Board of Trustees for the Global Ecovillage Network (2015-2020), and was Director of the youth ecovillage network NextGENNA (2013-2018).

Cynthia lives in an intentional community in Vermont where she is currently building a passive solar home and tending a permaculture garden. Learn more and book a community matchmaking session with Cynthia at www.cynthiatina.com.

Read the full blog-post here on the Seeds of Tao website...

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Sometimes the state of the world with its climate change and ecosystem destruction is so overwhelming! Where do we start!? In this week's podcast episode, Jonathan DeLong joins us to share his journey through the overwhelm to find a place where he could make a difference in the regenerative work. Let's be honest, when diving into the regenerative field it can be like Jonathan says, a "fire-hose" to the face. So let's find a place to get involved with what we have, where we're at, right now. Enjoy this week's episode!

Jonathan mentions a few of the wonderful organizations he's involved in, here are a couple to check out:

Seaworthy Collective

Abundant Earth Foundation

Keep Growing Permies!

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Hey everyone, we’re so excited to have you back for this week’s episode as we start rounding out the year. What a crazy journey it’s been this year in 2020, but I think it’s only appropriate towards the end of the year to find your enthusiasm for what will carry you into the next year. There’s no better person that could inspire enthusiasm than Matt Powers himself. Matt is a man on a mission to empower people everywhere to live more regeneratively, and he does so through his books, courses, and many resources. To check out more of what Matt’s got going…

You can go to his website, or check out his new book, Regenerative Soil

But What Really is Enthusiasm? Sometimes when we’re talking about words we all know and use in conversation, it’s nice to go back to a dictionary definition. And since enthusiasm became a magic word in this week’s episode with Matt, I think it would be beneficial here too. Enthusiasm is defined as intense and eager enjoyment, interest or approval. It’s also a thing that arouses feelings of intense and eager enjoyment. In the episode Matt really drives home the point of finding what makes you enthusiastic and running with it. So essentially, find what lights you up and go after that. Is that what you’re currently doing? Is there something else that lights you up more? How in line are you living with what makes you enthusiastic?

This doesn’t come easy to everyone, many people even shy away from true enthusiasm... (Read more on the Seeds of Tao website)

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As we start to wrap up this year, we're excited to release two episodes this week about totally different but important topics. Earlier on Tuesday, we talked about health and leadership with Mike Garcia, and today we're talking with Caroline Cohen, who focuses more on the mindset aspect. We've found over and over again how important a positive, regenerative mindset is in the regenerative sphere (as in everywhere else, of course). We hope you enjoy this episode and come away with new ideas to improve your mindset. 

If you'd like to learn more about Caroline, check out her Linked In Profile, and her Instagram is @CarolineAbigail_LC.

Also, people interested  in coaching can get a free 45-minute sample session at CarolineAbigailCoaching.as.me 

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This week on the Seeds of Tao Podcast we’re talking with Mike Garcia, sustainability expert and founder of EnviroscapeLA Landscaping. This is a little bit of a twist since oftentimes landscaping is the opposite of regenerative agriculture and landscape rehabilitation. However, Mike has a store of knowledge to create landscapes in Los Angeles that are ecosystem supportive, and actually beneficial to the environment. Mike has a store of knowledge and content online, you can check out more of what he’s been doing on his website, his YouTube channel (which is packed with great videos), or on his Facebook Page.

That One Vital Piece In the episode Mike shared many really cool stories, we especially liked the one about his trip to a Tony Robbins seminar, and the point was brought home that you are nothing without your health. There are many aspects of building a regenerative livelihood, but all of them are less effective or irrelevant if we don’t have our health...

Read the full post on the Seeds of Tao website...

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One of the most amazing things about permaculture is that it inspires us to channel our creative energy into everything around us. In this week’s episode of the Seeds of Tao Podcast, we’re talking with Javan Bernakevich about his amazing journey through natural building, permaculture land design, and eventually holistic permaculture life design. Javan is a big mover and shaker in the industry, we’re grateful to have him as our guest, with his extensive knowledge and experience. Let’s dive in!

Check out the full post on the Seeds of Tao website...

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One of the most amazing things about permaculture is that it inspires us to channel our creative energy into everything around us. In this week’s episode of the Seeds of Tao Podcast, we’re talking with Javan Bernakevich about his amazing journey through natural building, permaculture land design, and eventually holistic permaculture life design. Javan is a big mover and shaker in the industry, we’re grateful to have him as our guest, with his extensive knowledge and experience. Let’s dive in!

Read the full blog post on the Seeds of Tao website...

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This week on the Seeds of Tao Podcast we're addressing the big scary elephant in the room for everyone - death. It sucks. It's happening all over the globe, and it's going to happen to both of us. Now that we've gotten that out, let's dive into moving past this fear and into a place of presence. If we can stay fully present, we can move forward with peace and confidence throughout our lives, rather than be stuck in a place of fear and paranoia.

The Big D All over the world, we’re facing a global pandemic, so naturally, we’re paying more attention to death rates this year. (Though the actual effect of COVID on the death rate is still negotiable, the numbers of actual COVID deaths are HIGHLY controversial) Many of us are still at home, away from everyone else, putting a lot of time and energy into not catching COVID… avoiding a possibly fatal disease. The thing is, spending our time focusing on death or the possibility of illness isn’t going to do us any good. Sure we can strategize preparations to make, but other than that, it’s really out of our hands.

For some people that can be crippling. We’re not 100% going to control when we get sick, or when we die. So how do we move forward with knowledge of this impending doom that could strike at any moment? We need to STOP focusing on the future and start staying present.

View the full blog post on the Seeds of Tao website...

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Bonita Ford joins us this week on the Seeds of Tao Podcast Episode 063 as we dive into cultivating hope, even in the darkest of times. Bonita is a non-violent communication expert, group facilitator, and coach who combines permaculture with non-violent communication, body and nature awareness, movement, and Reiki into her work. She’s just released her first book, Embers of Hope which she describes in the episode. Especially in these times of pandemics and uncertainty, her message of hope in the darkness is vitally important for us to utilize and maintain the regenerative mindset we seek.

Get in touch with Bonita:

https://www.embersofhopebook.com/

http://livinghearth.net/

https://www.instagram.com/ourlivinghearth/

https://www.facebook.com/bonita.ford.1

Here's where she first took a PDC:

https://merrittlandhort.com/programs/academic-programs/permaculture-design/

Here's where she got her permaculture diploma:

https://permaculture-upp.org/le-cursus-de-formation/dpa-diplome-de-permaculture-appliquee/

NVC resources:

https://www.cnvc.org/

https://nvctraining.com/

Lighting the Fire In the episode, Bonita shares her journey of writing her book and the struggles she was having before her friend fell very ill and passed away. In this process, Bonita went to a very dark place, and found that she did not have to stay in that dark place, but could still have hope. This hope pulled her from the darkest places and yet allowed her to stay in the dark places if necessary and work through them in a way that helped her to value each and every day we have on this earth. She says, “If we can hold ourselves gently and courageously in that dark place, then it really shows us how precious our lives are.” In her book, Embers of Hope, she relates this to building a fire.

If you’ve ever built a fire by hand with primitive tools or a bow drill, not matches or a lighter, you’ll know how much work goes into creating that first ember, and how very precious it is to keep alive. These small pieces of light and hope are likewise extremely important for us, especially in times of darkness in our lives. That ember looks different for everyone, for some it’s their spouse or their kids, maybe it’s their community or their work, it doesn’t matter what shape it takes, just that it’s a light point to focus on when things get rough.

Read the full post on the Seeds of Tao website...

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Welcome back, friends! This week we’re diving into a SUPER important topic that affects permies (and everyone else for that matter) worldwide. That topic is financial sovereignty. Laura Oldanie is joining us to share her journey and epiphanies she has had over the years as she has sought to create a stable financial life. Laura is such a great resource, in fact we had her teaching the group in one of our MOKR Masterminds not long ago. To check out more of what Laura’s up to…

Her website is https://www.richandresilientliving.com/

Or you can follow her on social media on:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Pinterest

In the episode she also mentions having a ton of student loan resources for those of you trying to get out of student loan debt:

https://thecollegeinvestor.com/student-loan-guide/

https://thecollegeinvestor.com/578/ways-to-get-student-loan-forgiveness/

https://thecollegeinvestor.com/student-loan-forgiveness-programs-by-state/

https://singlemothersgrants.org/help-with-paying-off-student-loans/

https://thebudgetnistablog.com/student-loan-tips/

https://studentdebtcrisis.org/tools/

https://sites.google.com/studentdebtcrisis.org/borrower-resource-center

https://sites.google.com/studentdebtcrisis.org/borrower-resource-center

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/loans/student-loans/how-to-spot-student-loan-scam

What a Capital Idea! Laura shares many awesome epiphanies and ideas throughout the podcast episode this week, but here in the blog post we really wanted to hone in on one big idea she shared - that there are eight forms of capital. This is such a wonderful concept because we really shouldn’t have tunnel vision and only look at capital around us in terms of $$$. Rather, we need to use our wide-angle vision to adequately see the resources that are abounding around us. So let’s dive into the eight forms of capital that Laura brought up!

Read the full post on the Seeds of Tao website here

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Welcome back to our next installment of the Seeds of Tao Podcast! This week we have a fantastic, super-knowledgeable guest with us, Jorge Eduardo Acevedo Pallares, who is a climate change and sustainability consultant. In the episode, Jorge shares his awesome permaculture journey from Mexico to Australia and through projects he’s undertaken, such as building a house out of clay and local waste products. So inspiring! If you’d like to check out more about what he has going on, check out the following…

  • Jorge’s page on Facebook: Casa Urbana Sustentable
  • Linkedin article to know more about CUS
  • Airbnb link to book a stay: Booking a room and Booking the whole house
  • TEDx Talk: TBC
  • World Green Building Council for more trustworthy information about sustainable construction

The Unseen Costs of Modern Homes In this week’s episode, Jorge and Josh spent a lot of time talking about traditional vs. natural home building...

Check out the blog post for the full show notes and additional resources.

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Welcome back, everyone! We’ve got another World Report this week, focusing on Earth Care. No matter where you’re located in the world, surely you’re aware of the crazy mega-wildfires we’ve been dealing with increasingly for the past years. What the heck!? Is the world just burning up? Well, kind of. This week as we focus on Earth Care, we’re talking about wildfires and what we can do about them to become more resilient mentally and physically. The inspiration for this episode and blog post is coming from Javan K. Bernakevitch’s YouTube video… 

Check out Javan's Facing Fire Documentary along with the full blog post on our website.

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Welcome to this week’s blog post! This week we’re talking with Ray Milidoni from Australia, a super knowledgeable permie-preneur, always out to help people push their dreams forward and connect with others. Today in the podcast he’s sharing the very special epiphany he had, to “know thyself,” and encourages everyone to master this principle instead of trying to conform to what everyone else thinks you should be or do. Ray is a Pando student and frequent attendee of out MOKR Masterminds, so if you’d like to get to know Ray more, come to one of our Masterminds, or check out the following:

Resources:

  1. Stay Sharp
  2. Kolbe Test
  3. Farming Secrets

Cookie Cutter Education We start this episode with Ray sharing a really funny story about how, as a child, he would disassemble his toys to find out how they worked, and how our education system is hard for those who think outside the box. Ray mentions how schools don’t prepare so many needful skills for life, so where do we turn when we get out of school? Often self-help books or programs. We seek extra education to fill in the gaps that are left after we graduate.

I struggled with this a lot as well. I actually did really well in the education system, I knew how to work the system, memorize just what I needed to get A’s and only learn enough for the tests, and then forget most of it. I did walk away with some valuable skills like public speaking and a wider world view, but when I graduated, I was a hot mess. Just like Ray, I eventually found personal development and realized I had a HUGE gap in my knowledge of how to handle my mindset, and I had serious emotional baggage I was carrying around. My inability to express myself in fear of disappointing people made communication and connection really hard for me. My first dive into personal development was with Kirk Duncan and 3 Key Elements. They totally changed my world, but I also found a lot of value in the permaculture movement and the lessons from nature we can apply to our minds and emotions. Josh and I have gone through a lot of personal development books and pieces of training, as Ray has, and we’ve definitely had to come to our own realization of what works, and what doesn’t for us in particular.

For more on this week's podcast head over to our website...

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This week on the Seeds of Tao Podcast we have Daniel Kleinman with us, a marine robotics engineer passionate about creating awareness of the issues our oceans are facing and inspiring us to get out there and do something about it. To get involved with Daniel or follow his journey check out…

https://www.seaworthycollective.com/

You can follow him on social at...

https://www.facebook.com/seaworthycollective/

https://twitter.com/SeaworthyCollec

https://www.instagram.com/seaworthycollective/

A Universal Problem In permaculture, we talk a lot about how there are many issues in the world needing fixing, but we need to start with our communities to create real, lasting change. That doesn’t mean that we should be disconnected from the global problems we’re facing though. And what about the oceans? If we live inland, we aren’t really connected to them, right?

Check out the full blog post and show notes for this episode on our website...

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Welcome back to another episode of the Seed of Tao Podcast, this week with not one, but two return guests who we know and love, Adam Brock and Marie-Pierre (MP) Bilodeau. This week is a unique episode, MP is sharing her community food forest project in a diverse neighborhood, and the struggles she is finding along her way, and Adam is weighing in with his extensive knowledge of social permaculture.

If you’d like to get in contact with Adam or MP, they are both in our Slack community, or here are their individual contact resources…

Adam Brock:

  1. His website is adambrock.me
  2. His book is Change Here Now is available through his website or on amazon.

Marie-Pierre Bilodeau:

  1. Her organization, Refarmers can be found on her site at https://refarmers.org/ (the images in this post are from Refarmer's work in Africa)
  2. MP is also a frequent attendee of our weekly MOKR Mastermind

First, Build Relationships In the episode this week there is just an abundance of wisdom and insight from the conversation, but a really important place the conversation started was with relationships. MP was sharing about the other two people who are spearheading this community food forest project with her, and Adam chimed in to emphasize the importance of relationships in the success of our projects. He related, “If the group doesn’t really trust each other, all the shadows within that group will be projected outward, into all of the things that group does together.” Sometimes we will band together with people because we share a common vision, and yet if we’re not working on that interpersonal relationship with them, we’re undermining the potential for that vision’s success... (Read more on the Seeds of Tao Podcast)

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This is a great conversation this week on the Seeds of Tao Podcast. We are talking with Joe Nisbett, a permaculture student of Geoff Lawton and recent graduate from grad school as he seeks to find his place between the edge culture of permaculture, and mainstream society. If you’d like to get in contact with Joe, you can through these channels:

Joenisbett.com

joenisbett@gmail.com

linkedin.com/in/joenisbett

@joe.nisbett on Instagram

@joeneilnisbett on Facebook

If you’d like to get in contact with or learn more about the permaculture student club he founded at Auburn University, you can here:

https://auburn.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/permaculturetigers

permaculturetigers@gmail.com

@permaculturetigers on Instagram and Facebook

Also, for anyone thinking about these ideas of center and edgework: Permaculture Institute of North American, North American Leadership Summit - Join the Mainstream Action working group: https://pina.in/about-the-north-america-leadership-summit/

Catching the Permaculture Bug We began this episode with Joe quoting Geoff Lawton about how permaculture is a virus, once you catch it starts taking over, and you inevitably spread it to others around you. This is such a great analogy. We have had many guests on the podcast, and all of them talk about their awakening to permaculture as a life-changing event. It is so life-changing, in fact, that many people will drop their previous career or lifestyle goals, and pivot to go after new dreams of homesteading regenerative farming, and eco-villages. Sometimes their permaculture epiphany will lead them to almost completely removing themselves from society...

Read the full post at SeedsofTao.com

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Welcome back to another episode of the Seeds of Tao Podcast - we’ve officially hit our year mark - HOORAY! Thanks to all of you who have been listening and cheering us on from the beginning, as well as those of you who have hopped on along the way. We really hope that as you listen to the podcast, read the blog posts, and get involved in the community on Slack that you will find greater balance and inspiration as you move along your personal regenerative journey.

The Danger of Imbalance In this episode, Josh talked a lot about some key insights from the recent PINA Leadership Summit, and how they brought up the imbalance among the three ethics these days in the permaculture sphere. They noticed, as we have, the intense focus on Earth Care. That’s usually how people discover permaculture, through its unique approach to gardening and regenerating the land. And yet oftentimes People Care and Future Care are either neglected, or just not focused on as much. The problem is, if we don’t focus on taking care of the people involved in the movement, or the future generations of the movement, all our efforts will be less effective. We need to take care of the people now and in the future if we truly want this movement to grow and continue forward... (Check out the full blog post here)

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This week on the Seeds of Tao Podcast we've got Ronald Porter back again to chat about our energetic bodies and how to find balance in our lives. This has been a topic we have been diving into over the past few years and have found amazing results with the heightened conscience and balance we've achieved by working within this sphere. We hope that today you'll walk away with a better understanding of the energetic centers, and be inspired to journey towards more energetic balance in your life. 

Consciousness of the Culture Early on in the episode Ronald brings up the fact that our culture is largely unaware of our energies and their interaction with our environment. Society lives in the lower chakras, focused on safety, gratification and power. Yet when people come along dwelling at a higher energetic frequency, leading with love or intuition, they are almost shunned in some circles. The problem is that we can't utilize what we are not aware of. If we can make changes in our lives to access the full spectrum of energy available to us, we can live more intentionally and impactfully, because we'll be overcoming the blocks that are holding us back... Read more on the Seeds of Tao website.

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Did you see that up top? Episode 050 everyone! Thanks to all of you who have been with us since the beginning, and if you're a recent joiner to the gang, welcome! We're excited today to talk with Pierre and Philip about their company called Yolele, where they have a mission to help smallholding farmers in Western Africa to sell the ancient grain they have relied on for centuries, fonio. Before we hop into the blog post, if you'd like to learn more about fonio...

You can order some from Whole Foods, and check our Yolele's website. 

You can dive into the show notes and full blog post here!

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In the podcast, there are a few links and resources we mentioned one of those being a fun video Lulu made with her dad to help share the permaculture principles with the youth. Give them a look...

The permaculture youth group that Lulu is a part and that Morag Gamble, another past guest, has created: https://www.permayouth.org/

Morag's course that she is currently working through: https://permacultureeducationinstitute.org/

Her parents project's web page: https://dadazanzibar.net/ Their project report 2020: https://dadazanzibar.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/dadazanzibar-permaculture-report-2020.pdf And the song Lulu and her... Continue Reading...

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In the past few months, I've been hearing about more and more people using social permaculture to uplift those around them, build community, and create a positive impact in the world. This week's guest on the podcast, Shera Sever is a prime example of this. Shera has spent years gaining knowledge about traditional permaculture applications, as well as social permaculture topics like communication, and is now using her knowledge in all sorts of ways in order to help build resiliency and empowerment in communities around the country. But social permaculture can kind of be this huge, nebulous topic. So here in the blog post, we're going to break down some of the big aspects of social permaculture that Shera brought up in hopes of inspiring you to further apply Social Permaculture into your life, home, and community. But first, if you'd like to find out more about Shera and the amazing things she's moving forward, go check out her website at https://sherylsever.com/. 

See all the show notes and blog post on the Seeds of Tao website...

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Thirty episodes ago, in Episode 016: Entrepreneurship in Permaculture with Adam Jastrzebski, we brought up the topic of entrepreneurship in permaculture and the sustainability realm. We believe that helping these eco-preneurs and permie-preneurs is vital to the current and future economy, so we're back to revisit another side of entrepreneurship with Steven Bourne. In the episode, Steven tells all about the real-life struggle of budding entrepreneurs and definitely doesn't sugar coat it. He uncovers some vital steps to launching into the entrepreneurial life, and tips for those already wading in it. Before we dive into those steps, if you'd like to get in touch with Steven, you can do so in the following ways...

Instagram - @ripplefarms

Twitter - @ripple_canada

Website - Ripplefarms.ca 

Read the show notes and full blog post on the Seeds of Tao website here...

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Welcome back to the Seeds of Tao podcast everyone! Today we're talking with Carley Corrado about banding together to access our shared intelligence. What a fascinating topic to apply to a permaculture perspective! Before we dive in too much into this super interesting topic, if you'd like to learn more about or get in touch with Carley and all she has going on check out the following...

Enliven Leadership's offerings include Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training, Women's Leadership Accelerator, and Cohesive Team Transformation. Learn more about Enliven Leadership's work building creative, cohesive, and inclusive teams at www.enlivenleadership.com. Connect with Dr. Carley Corrado on LinkedIn as well as follow Enliven Leadership on LinkedIn. Read the articles she referenced: * Google study on teams revealing that the #1 top factor in team success as psychological safety. * Effects of stress versus play on...

Check out the entire blog post and show notes here.

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Welcome back to another episode of the World Report, this time focusing on People Care... which is rather ironic considering the social unrest as of late across the U.S. over George Floyd's death. It seemed very timely to address this issue, so rampant throughout the country, and really, the world - racial inequality.

Josh went into plenty of detail in the podcast episode about the issues we're facing and the shift that needs to happen, in our own minds at first, so here we're going to address more of the resources he mentioned in the podcast to help you jump start your personal research on the topic.

First off, it is ESSENTIAL to point out that the recent unrest is NOT simply cops vs. African Americans. Here's a snippet from the news showing that that isn't where we are drawing battle lines.

Check out the full blog post and show notes here...

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Hello there! We're glad to have you back for another episode of the Seeds of Tao Podcast, this week we have the brilliant Delton Chen with us, tackling a HUGE issue in the world, the economy. Before we dive into what exactly Delton is proposing, and the value of his hypothesis, we wanted to be sure to reach out to our permaculture community to let them know that Delton's Silver Gun Hypothesis is in need of some passionate permies to help them move their vision forward...

  1. Living Systems Economy

https://www.livingsystemseconomy.org/ Call for Help "The website needs a graphic artist, as we want to develop the website on WordPress (or similar) and to create an attractive and inspiriting graphical look for the Living Systems Economy (LSE) movement. " Contact
James McGreen (USA): jamesmcgreen@yahoo.com Delton Chen (Australia): delton.b.chen@gmail.com 2. The Silver Gun Hypothesis Stanford MAHB https://mahb.stanford.edu/?s=delton+Chen For a good introduction, see Summary of Part II of the Silver Gun Hypothesis: The Entropy of Carbon See the Global 4C website for the technical report. http://www.global4c.org/the-silver-gun/ Call for Help We need help to find physicists, scientists, and computer programmers to consider this hypothesis and to propose an experimental test for the hypothesis. The experimental test might be based on a computer model that simulates the evolution of multi-agent systems in terms of their (1) energy efficiency and (2) entropic certainty. The model is needed to investigate whether these two performance metrics will alternate with each subsequent generation of multi-agency. The model experiment will need to simulate the evolution of multi-agency under natural selection. Other experimental methods might include biological and social experiments. Contact Delton Chen (Australia): delton.b.chen@gmail.com Also, here's a link to the Global Carbon Reward policy Delton mentions in the podcast, and the analytical equations explaining the macroeconomic solution... http://www.global4c.org/ The strategy of the Global Carbon Reward policy is to substitute fossil energy with cleaner energy, and to reduce fossil energy demand and to sequester carbon... (Read the full blog post on the Seeds of Tao website here)

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If you've been following us for a while now, you'll have noticed the emphasis we put on building consciousness so that we can create change. One of the many aspects this applies to our food. I'm personally super excited for this episode and post, because I (Emily) am a major deciding factor when it comes to what food enters our house and makes it into our mouths. I've always been an outspoken advocate for taking out the synthetics in our foods that are negatively affecting our health, and for finding more sustainable options. I'm also the catalyst for a lot of our diet experiments, whether we tested out being vegetarian, vegan, keto, alkaline, you name it. I'm constantly looking at ways to improve the quality of the food my family eats. So obviously, I'm super excited to dive into this topic with our guest from the podcast, Thane, who is an amazing author and permaculturist. He mentioned a few of his books in the episode, so if you'd like to check them out, visit the blog post that goes alongside this episode.  

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Welcome back to the Seeds of Tao Podcast and blog post, today we're definitely talking about a hot topic in the world, and especially in the U.S. right now. For Episode 041, we've brought on the amazing Cortina Jenelle to address with us the White Supremacy narrative, and exploring how we can move past this global issue. 

First off, if you'd like to connect further with Cortina, you can listen to her podcast, Rhythm in Resilience on the major podcast platforms, and check out her website at http://www.theadeproject.org/.

Rhythms in Ourselves and Nature  We began our podcast by addressing rhythms, and I think that's a great way to set up this topic. There are rhythms everywhere, from the planets and seasons, to our daily routines and thought patterns. Permaculture itself is a design rhythm, patterned after nature, that we can implement just about everywhere. One thing I've found through homeschooling is that you get much greater success by working WITH... (Continue reading on Seeds of Tao)

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Welcome back! This week on the Seeds of Tao podcast we're interviewing Mike Dorion, an awesome permaculture teacher and practitioner in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He has an important and timely message to share with all of us - do it like Grandma did it! Before we dive into the post here, if you'd like to get in contact with Mike or check out what he's up to, you can pop over to...

His main business, Living Soil Solutions at https://www.livingsoil.ca/

His YouTube channel for Living Soil Solutions at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL8W6zR2MOXA4Xrdgyzreag

Then his land revitalization program in Calgary he mentioned in the podcast is at https://highfieldfarm.ca/

Grandma's Garden My maternal grandmother's family were sheep farmers in Idaho, and my grandmother is one of nine children. While she went off to work, marry, and raise her family in California, many of her siblings and their families stayed in Idaho. Many summers growing up, my mom and I would go up to visit... (Continue reading on the Seeds of Tao website)

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We're back for the next World Report, and around to Earth Care again! Recently we have been doing tons of research and watching documentaries on soil, the state of it, the direction it's moving across the globe, and how to help it. In Episode 039, Josh is addressing this soil-loss issue, and mentioning many resources he has found along his research path. However, there is a lot of information out there, and we feel like everyone needs to be in charge of their own education on this urgent matter. Here in the blog post we're going to list out some resources for you to dive in to, to understand the situation better for yourself. (Read more on the Seeds of Tao website)

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This week on the Seeds of Tao Podcast, we have a very special guest. Ronald Porter is on the air with us telling his amazing story about traveling the world, and incorporating what he's learned into his teaching, permaculture practice, and yoga. 

Before we dive in, if you'd like to connect more with Ronald, you can do so through our Slack community, where he'll be posting his free online yoga classes he's putting on. Also, here are some resources Ronald recommends to dive into, some of which he mentioned in the episode...

The Tibetan Book of the Dead Luminous Emptiness: Guide to the Tibetan Book of the Dead   The Heart of Understanding: Commentaries on the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra   The Alchemist (we've read and highly recommend)   Warrior of the Light: A Manual   Avatar: The Last Airbender (super great show for all ages, really cool to connect to eastern philosophies of chakras and such...) 

(Read the show notes and more on the Seeds of Tao website) 

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Welcome back for Episode 037 of the Seeds of Tao Podcast! Today we're talking with Marcus Sheffer, Enviroenergist at 7Group, and he's telling us about his awesome journey to truly living in tune with his heart. The head and heart battle are very common, and many people really struggle with this. Let's dive into truly living with ours hearts in this post, but first, if you'd like to get in contact with Marcus...

You can check out his website at www.sevengroup.com

Or connect with him on LinkedIn.

Creating Change with the Head vs. the Heart Marcus starts out his story with his struggle to create the impact he really wanted, showing people how to live more sustainably. Marcus was working in the sustainable energy field, trying to show people how to build for less, require less energy, and work more in harmony with the environment. And yet, all the data and numbers wouldn't make them change their ways. Through this journey, he discovered that people didn't necessarily make decisions... (Read more and check out the show notes on the Seeds of Tao website)

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This week's podcast episode is a real treat. We've got the fantastic Jenna Beatrice with us, an herbalist permie with a great message to share. There were so many profound things mentioned in the episode, here we'll be taking a closer look at a few of the ideas brought up. But before we get started, if you'd like to get in touch with or learn more about Jenna, here are some resources for you!

Her website... WildDandelion.co 

And she's very active on her LinkedIn Profile.

Revisiting the Three Ethics One of the brilliant ways this conversation starts out is Jenna leading the discussion over to revisit the three ethics. We have Earth Care, one of the more common areas we find permies, rehabilitating the land and healing the soil. Next comes People Care, which is deeper than is seems. Not only does People Care include caring for those around us, but it also includes caring for ourselves, which would make sense considering the fact that we need to take care of ourselves in order to... (Read more on the Seeds of Tao Podcast and Blog page)

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And we're back again for the next World Report, this time focusing on Fair Share/Future Care. This comes at an interesting time in the world - we are still in the thralls of COVID-19, though politicians are planning to slowly open things back up. We're all looking to each other and to the future to try to figure out what our new "normal" will look like. But at the same time, the global environmental issues we were facing before the pandemic aren't going away anytime soon either. 

Last week we watched a documentary called The Need to Grow. It provided an in-depth look at the state of the world and followed the stories of a few passionate movers and shakers trying to really help change the way we do things. One of the scariest statistics we encountered in the documentary was that the earth only has 60 years of topsoil left if we keep food production going the way that it is. 

Sixty years.

Our oldest son will be 68, our daughters 66 and 64, and our little guy 62. This... (Read more on the Seeds of Tao Podcast and Blog Page)

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As we start winding up for next week's World Report revolving around Fair Share/Future Care, it seemed only fitting to share clips from another conversation we had with last week's guest, Kevin Cormack. We had some amazing conversations with Kevin, both of us are really passionate about being lifelong learners. What we really wanted to do here was to examine the education avenues available and ask good questions about those avenues.

While this story definitely wasn't a normal episode, we hope that it opened up the conversation so that we can get more eyes really looking at the situation with education so that we can find a more regenerative solution.

In your opinion, what is the most valuable education out there to learn?

What are the drawbacks to that?

Is there another route you can take to not deal with those drawbacks?

(Read the full blog associated to this podcast on the Seeds of Tao website)

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Welcome back! This week on the Seeds of Tao Podcast we have the world-traveler, Kevin Cormack, here to share his fantastic story of his adventures in finding himself and becoming who he was meant to be. This is a journey all of us face in our lives, some more than others, and a big takeaway from this podcast was really to go after your passions wholeheartedly. 

Making the Decision In Kevin’s interview, he brings up some really common struggles that he was faced with when he was younger, including finding out who he was and what he wanted out of life. We hear this all too often. Teenagers will spend their adolescent years trying to “find” themselves, most of the time trying to be what other people expect out of them. But even then, it’s extremely common for adults in their 20’s and 30’s to finish college and get a job, only to find out that’s not what they really want to be doing. Sometimes we even hear of the older adult who just... (Read the full blog post associated with this podcast episode here)