Sustainability Now - Exploring Technologies And Paradigms To Shape A World That Works

A Sustainability Now Interview with Bill Reed, pioneer of Regenerative Design What if our buildings—and our communities—could heal the land, restore ecosystems, and regenerate life? In this deeply transformative conversation, Mira Rubin is joined by Bill Reed, one of the foundational voices in the green building movement and a pioneer of regenerative design. Far beyond sustainability as a checklist of efficiencies, Bill challenges us to shift our very way of being—to see development as an evolutionary, co-creative dance with the living systems that surround us. Drawing from decades of groundbreaking work with Regenesis Group, Bill reveals how true sustainability is impossible without regeneration, and how the places we build must be understood as dynamic expressions of life—not objects to control, but relationships to honor. From healing salmon streams in Idaho to catalyzing civic transformation in Chile, this episode is a powerful reminder that when we change our lens, we change what’s possible. Whether you’

In this enlightening conversation with Dr. Jude Currivan, cosmologist, planetary healer, and futurist, we delve into the profound intersection of ancient wisdom and modern science, and explore how this union can guide us toward a more sustainable and conscious future. Drawing on her extensive experience across diverse fields—ranging from quantum physics and archaeology to indigenous wisdom and corporate leadership—Jude offers a vision of unity that transcends separation, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all life and the profound potential for human metamorphosis. Through the lens of unitive consciousness, she invites us to embrace the idea that the universe is a living, breathing entity, where each of us plays a vital role. She shares how scientific evidence is finally catching up to ancient truths, affirming the reality of a holographic universe and a consciousness that shapes and is shaped by the entire cosmos. With hope and urgency, Jude challenges us to step into a collective journey of transformatio

A Sustainability Now Interview with Athena Steen, Co-Founder of the Canelo Project Athena is a master natural builder and devoted educator. For 35 years, she’s been crafting homes from earth’s simplest materials—straw, clay, and plant fibers, infusing each home with the warmth of earth-based materials, the stability of thoughtful design, and the harmony of organic forms. Athena teaches the art of straw bale building as a communal, creative, and sacred practice that reawakens a deep, ancestral relationship to the land. She speaks to the feminine energy and joy of building a home as a shared experience—stacking bales, mixing clay, and crafting with the earth itself—in an intimate dance with the natural world. Athena offers a visionary approach to sustainable living, where the very walls we raise become sacred vessels—imbued with intention, creativity and care. Join us as we explore the healing power of working with our hands, the joy of building in harmony with nature, and the profound possibility of creating h

A Sustainability Now Interview with Josh Farley What if our metrics for economic health are simply upside down? How can a “healthy” economy—measured by rising GDP—coexist with ecological collapse, mental health crises, and widening inequality? Josh Farley, ecological economist, isn’t just rethinking economics—he’s redesigning it. A professor at the University of Vermont and Fellow at the Gund Institute for Environment, his work bridges economics, ethics, and ecology, challenging the very foundation of how we think about money, nature, and our collective future. With clarity and a sharp eye for absurdity, Farley unpacks the dangerous delusion of GDP as a measure of well-being—revealing how our systems reward depletion and call it growth, while sidelining equity, health, and ecological integrity. Instead, he offers a new paradigm: one that prioritizes regeneration over extraction and collective stewardship over unchecked consumption. It’s not just a critique—it’s a grounded, hopeful invitation to redesign econo

A Sustainability Now Interview with Food Forward Founder, Rick Nahmias In a world where millions go hungry while billions of pounds of food go to waste, Food Forward is proving that abundance, not scarcity, is the problem—and the solution. Founded in 2009 by our guest, Rick Nahmias, what started as a backyard fruit-picking effort has grown into one of the most effective, large-scale food rescue operations in the country. With a laser focus on fresh, plant-based food, Food Forward moves an astonishing 100 million pounds of produce annually—more than even the LA Food Bank—directly into the hands of those who need it most. Their work isn’t just about feeding people; it’s about restoring dignity, health, and access to nutrient-rich foods while solving one of the most overlooked contributors to climate change: food waste. The key to their impact? Precision, partnerships, and logistics at scale. Food Forward operates at just 7 cents per pound—one-third the cost of a traditional food bank. By leveraging deep relatio

A Sustainability Now Interview with Water Stories Founder, Zach Weiss What if the key to impacting climate change isn't as much about carbon as it is about water? In this episode, we are delighted to welcome back Zach Weiss, visionary water restoration expert and founder of Water Stories, for an exploration of how and why healing the water cycle can regenerate the planet. From extreme weather events—droughts and wildfires to catastrophic mudslides and floods—our planet's most pressing climate crises are symptoms of a broken water cycle—a situation that we have the ability to heal. Zach shares why water cycle restoration is the most effective, immediate, and scalable solution to stabilizing our climate, cooling landscapes, reversing desertification, and restoring thriving ecosystems. Drawing from real-world success stories, Zach shares how farms, cities, and even entire river systems are being revived through simple, nature-based interventions. In Montana, a parking lot became a thriving wetland in just two ye

A Sustainability Now Interview with Solarrolla founders Brett and Kira Belan Join us for a conversation with Brett and Kira Belan of Solarrolla, a company reimagining transportation with fully solar-powered electric vehicles. Drawing on Brett’s mechanical engineering expertise from Ford and Jaguar, their journey began with a bold experiment—a solar-powered VW bus that carried their family 1,400 miles on sunlight alone. Now, they’ve built everything from solar camper vans to electric tractors, embodying a vision for a future untethered from fossil fuels. More than an alternative to gas-powered travel, these vehicles invite us to embrace a slower, more attuned way of moving—where nature, rather than deadlines, dictates the journey. With solar arrays generating up to 100 miles per day, they double as mobile power stations, supplying electricity during grid failures, natural disasters, or remote work setups. Solarrolla’s vision is transformative. Imagine a world where solar-powered highways create roaming energy

A Sustainability Now interview with Dr. Kristin Reihman, MD Double board-certified physician Kristin Reihman invites us to rethink everything we know about healing. Drawing on her extensive expertise in integrative medicine and brain injury treatment—as well as her own remarkable recovery from chronic illness—she challenges conventional medicine’s tendency to mask symptoms rather than address their root causes. When it comes to brain health, and a deep insight into neuroplasticity, she reveals how the brain’s ability to heal is far greater than mainstream medicine typically acknowledges. In a fascinating shift of brain health paradigm, Kristin explains how natural movements from infancy—such as tummy crawling and creeping—can reawaken the brain’s regenerative capacity at any age. As unconventional as it sounds, these innate patterns can help adults and children alike recover from inflammation and injury, sharpen cognitive function, and unlock deeper healing potential. This insight is especially critical as co

A Sustainability Now interview with Co-Founder, Maddie Hamann. PACHA’s mission is centered around regenerative agriculture, leveraging the power of buckwheat—an adaptable, nutrient-dense crop—to provide delicious nutrition, enhance soil health and foster long-term ecological restoration. In contrast to conventional farming methods that rely heavily on synthetic chemicals and tilling, regenerative practices like those championed by PACHA enrich the soil, sequester carbon, and promote biodiversity. More than just a bread product, PACHA is part of a movement to heal the planet, one loaf at a time. But sustainability doesn't stop at the farming. PACHA Bread’s commitment extends to every aspect of its operation, from using 100% home compostable packaging to minimizing food waste. In a bold move away from petroleum-based plastic, PACHA's bio-based packaging not only aligns with their eco-conscious values but also champions a circular economy where waste is reduced and resources are repurposed. Even the byproducts f

A Sustainability Now interview with Founder, Adina Popescu—a groundbreaking AI-driven predictive platform that integrates global oceanic and satellite data to map and monitor ocean health. Starting with the oceans, ÆRTH’s bold mission is to eventually build a real-time, dynamic digital twin of the planet—to uncover global ecosystem patterns, predict ecological impacts, and drive sound restorative interventions. The importance of this work cannot be overstated as illustrated by the cautionary tale of a proposed project to cover the Saharan Desert with solar panels. Predictive modeling revealed the fact that such a project would disrupt the flow of nutrient-rich Saharan sand to the Amazon, potentially causing the rainforest’s collapse. ÆRTH’s mission is to make visible the hidden connections within Earth’s ecosystems to guide responsible environmental stewardship. Having been an advisor to organizations like Apple’s Media Arts Lab and Conservation International, Adina brings an audacious vision founded in scien

Featuring Neal Spackman, Founder and CEO of Regenerative Resources Co. and globally recognized pioneer in ecological restoration and sustainable design. Through his work, Neal showcases the power of nature-based regenerative practices to restore ecosystems, revitalize economies and build cultural and environmental resilience. We discuss Neal’s groundbreaking Al Baydha Project, a prime example of regeneration in action. In the heart of the desert, he collaborated with semi-nomadic tribes to turn barren, unproductive land into a thriving ecosystem. By employing techniques such as watershed management, reforestation, and agroforestry, and scalable solutions like check dams and silvopasture systems, the project restored the land, revitalized the local community and reintroduced life to one of the harshest environments on Earth. Neal’s current project, RAFT (Regenerative Aqua-Forestry Technology), reimagines aquaculture through a circular economy lens. By integrating sustainable shrimp farming with mangrove restor

Featuring Nedo Bellucci, Phenom Biotech CEO Join us for a stimulating conversation with Phenom Biotech’s CEO, Nedo Bellucci, as he introduces us to an eco-innovation with potential to shake up agriculture as we know it. With their Energy Potential Technology (EPT), Phenom has crafted a way to boost crop yields and improve livestock health—all without the usual chemicals and costs. Imagine healthier, faster-growing plants and animals powered by natural compounds like citric acid instead of synthetic inputs.   But that’s just the beginning. Nedo reveals how EPT doesn’t just support better farming; it tackles organic waste too. Turning animal waste into high-quality fertilizer with minimal emissions, EPT is redefining what waste management can do for a cleaner planet. Plus, Phenom’s citric acid-based sanitizers are outclassing chlorine and could reshape food safety with natural, powerful disinfection that extends shelf life and neutralizes pathogens.   More than just a cool concept, Bellucci’s vision offers a bl

Featuring Molly Burhans, environmental advocate and Founder of GoodLands Imagine harnessing the vast resources of one of the world’s largest landowners to combat climate change and promote social justice. This is precisely the visionary work of Molly Burhans, an American cartographer, data scientist, and environmental activist who is transforming how the Catholic Church—and potentially other major landholders—responds to our planet’s most pressing sustainability challenges. At just 26, Molly founded GoodLands, an organization dedicated to mobilizing the Church’s extensive landholdings for ecological conservation and community benefit.She spearheaded the creation of the first unified digital global map of the Catholic Church, a groundbreaking project unveiled at the Vatican in 2016, which revealed the immense potential for environmental stewardship embedded within the Church’s properties—estimated to exceed the combined size of France and Spain. Molly’s innovative use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) te

  Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with Roland Vandermeer, Executive Chairman of UpTerra, an ag-tech company pioneering the future of farming by combining ancient principles with cutting-edge science. With over 15 years of experience in sustainable investments across water, agriculture, and energy, Roland shares how UpTerra is introducing a groundbreaking approach to farm wellness through structured water and energetic frequencies. UpTerra’s innovative three-part system begins by transforming farm irrigation water into structured water, which is more hydrating and energizing for both crops and livestock. The second phase infuses this water with targeted frequencies to boost plant and animal vitality, while the final step introduces remote digital amendments that enhance farm health and deter pests. These technologies have been tested and validated, showing remarkable improvements in plant and animal resilience, crop yield, soil health, water retention, and pest management. With insights into th

Founder and Executive Director of Better Giving, Chauncey St. John’s innovative platform is transforming the nonprofit landscape. With a free, all-in-one solution for fundraising, savings, and investment, Better Giving is helping nonprofits globally to streamline their operations and enhance financial sustainability. With more than $6 million raised for over 180 nonprofits, Chauncey shares how Better Giving is reducing administrative burdens and enabling organizations of all sizes to thrive. Better Giving's model, allows nonprofits to accept donations in multiple forms—from traditional payments to cryptocurrency and stock donations—opening doors to a broader range of affluent donors. The platform’s approach also democratizes access to high-yield savings and managed investment funds, creating a long-term financial strategy for organizations. By providing a seamless, no-cost fundraising service, Better Giving empowers even the smallest nonprofits to compete on a global stage. Chauncey shares insights into the i

With a distinguished 45-year career and over 1,500 presentations and publications, sustainable energy expert Michael Totten delves into the prospects of transitioning into a solar-powered economy utilizing the transformative power of agrivoltaics and digital innovations. Michael describes how these technologies are revolutionizing farming practices and creating the potential for sustainable, self-sufficient communities. Learn about his pioneering work on tri-level natural farming using solar microgrids, his collaborations with rock bands like Pearl Jam to combat climate change, and the groundbreaking concept of digital twins, a virtual visualization tool to help manage and optimize all manner of production scenarios.   #Agrivoltaics #SustainableFarming #DigitalInnovations #SolarEnergy #RenewableEnergy #SustainableAgriculture #GreenTechnology #DigitalTwins #ClimateChangeSolutions #FutureOfFarming

Join us for an insightful conversation with Chris Marquis, the Sinyi Professor of Management at the University of Cambridge, as we delve into the world of sustainable economics and his latest book, "The Profiteers: How Business Privatizes Profits and Socializes Costs." In this episode, Chris will share how his academic research aims to tackle some of the most pressing crises of our time, including climate change, inequality, and discrimination. Discover what inspired Chris to write "The Profiteers" and explore the hidden costs of business, known as externalities. Learn how current business models reward companies for transferring these costs to consumers and whether this practice is prevalent in other countries. We will also dive into critical issues such as who bears the burden of carbon emissions, environmental damage, cheap goods, cheap labor, and systemic discrimination.  Finally, Chris will discuss potential solutions for building a regenerative economy. He will explain the concept of the commons, the ro

A Sustainability Now Interview with Nathan Lou, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Mongol Tribe. Agro-ecologist Nathan Lou is Co-founder and Executive Director of San Diego-based Mongol Tribe, a 501C3 providing hands-on education and experiences with traditional and regenerative land management practices. With local resiliency as his rally cry and food sovereignty as its anthem, Nathan is all about taking back our autonomy, the ability of our communities to grow our own food and medicines with less dependency on external inputs. We talk about urban food forests and public policy, seed libraries and how to develop them, community building and cultivating connection to the land, even in a city environment. Links and resources from this episode at https://www.sustainabilitynow.global/2024/03/16/urban-food-forests-seed-libraries-as-food-sovereignty-strategies/  #UrbanFoodForests #SeedLibraries #FoodSovereignty #SustainabilityNow #CommunityResilience #RegenerativeAgriculture #LocalFoodSystems #LandStewardship #

A Sustainability Now interview with Nina Simons, author, speaker, teacher and co-founder of Bioneers Join us for a thoughtful and visionary conversation with Nina Simons, co-founder of Bioneers and author of the top Nautilus award winning book, Nature, Culture, and the Sacred: A Woman Listens for Leadership. Nina invites us into what she calls “full spectrum leadership;” leadership that reclaims our human wholeness, that values the wisdom of our hearts, our bodies, our intuition, dreamtime and our ancestors. She calls for regenerating leadership in service to Mother Life in a way that values being as much as doing and is committed to learning how to live in right relationship with nature while reclaiming our fullest human capacities. Throughout her career, spanning the nonprofit, social entrepreneurship, corporate, and philanthropic sectors, Nina has worked with nearly a thousand women leaders across disciplines, race, class, age and orientation to create conditions for mutual learning, trust and leadership d