Category Archives: Podcast

799: Josh Bandoch, part 2: Leadership: Humans feel first, then reason

on December 27, 2024 in Podcast

Josh and I talked about a few aspects of his acting on his commitment from the Spodek Method. For one thing, since he and I both study, practice, and teach leadership, we talked about the technique, how it works, how it impacted him. Since leadership involves emotion, empathy, and related social and emotional skills, we talked about the emotional journey. If you ever want to infuriate me, maybe the most[…] Keep reading →

798: Nick Romeo: The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy

on December 24, 2024 in Podcast

Regular listeners and readers of my podcast and blog know I grew up with parents who helped form a grocery buying group which folded into a food co-op. Different co-ops work differently, but the general idea is that shoppers co-own the business. There’s less motivation to stock doof and more to source local, fresh produce and keep money in the community. While we still shopped at supermarkets, we favored the[…] Keep reading →

797: Alden Wicker, part 2: Try and Try Again: E-biking in Vermont

on December 20, 2024 in Podcast

Many people think sustainability requires fixing everything or else we’ll collapse. The Spodek Method creates a mindset shift followed by continual improvement, not, as they might hope, a mindset shift followed by perfection. Alden has had her electronic bike in Vermont for some time but hasn’t ridden it. She’s used doing the Spodek Method as her excuse to ride it, but it’s taken time. This time she used it and[…] Keep reading →

796: Jack Spencer, part 3: Authenticity on Acting on Sustainability (also Project 2025)

on December 18, 2024 in Podcast

We start by talking about the internal challenges Jack felt about acting to do something he wouldn’t have otherwise. He cares about the environment and lives accordingly. Still, he wouldn’t have done what he committed to when we spoke. Does that mean what we would do is inauthentic? Then we talk about nuclear and other policy issues. Heritage’s Project 2025 came up so he shared some back story the news[…] Keep reading →

795: Lorraine Smith, part 1: Leaving mainstream “sustainability” to pursue actual sustainability

on December 13, 2024 in Podcast

Lorraine is one of the few people I know who saw mainstream sustainability efforts for what they are: ineffective and often counterproductive but self-congratulatory. I call most of them “stepping on the gas, thinking it’s the brake, wanting congratulations.” Unlike most others, once she saw their counterproductivity, if not outright lies, she left. She works to promote an “economy in service of life.” I think it’s easy to see that[…] Keep reading →

794: Lorna Davis, part 3: Before taking the sustainability leadership workshop

on December 11, 2024 in Podcast

Lorna first appeared on this podcast in 2021. We became friends and remained so, though we challenge each other, as you’ll hear in this conversation. We don’t try to. Just things about the other annoy us. But how much we respect and learn from each other outshines that annoyance. Lorna knew about the Spodek Method and workshops for years. I don’t know why she didn’t join one until now, but[…] Keep reading →

793: Nick Loris, part 1.5: Heartwarming nature, family, and fatherhood

on December 9, 2024 in Podcast

People I talk to on the political left who care about the environment see people on the political right as opponents to defeat. When I share that I talk to people from Heritage Foundation, where Nick worked, they sound skeptical at best, more commonly incredulous and fearful. In this episode, you’ll hear heartwarming stories of Nick’s childhood with his father, then Nick today finding a way to manifest what he[…] Keep reading →

792: Travis Fisher, part 2: The spirit that America was founded on, Cato, and sustainability

on December 6, 2024 in Podcast

We recorded this conversation just after the election. We talked about it, especially Travis’s and the Cato Institute’s views. One of his main views is that the US puts too much executive authority in the president. I’m also We shared our concerns about the Inflation Reduction Act coming from different standpoints, but agreeing with each other. Our main conversation was about approaching sustainability from a view of freedom, not coercion[…] Keep reading →

791: Sustainability Leadership Is a Performance Art

on November 18, 2024 in Podcast

I’m following up my recent solo post, 790: Talking to a guy injecting on the sidewalk, with another extemporaneous one. This one is also with a former podcast guest and fellow teacher of our sustainability leadership workshop, Evelyn Wallace. This episode gives an inside view of how I develop ideas in our entrepreneurial team. In particular, I share a few insights into what I offer in the workshops. I’ve long[…] Keep reading →

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