Helena Norberg-Hodge offers a path forward that stems from a transformative experience that she had in Ladakh, a remote region on the Tibetan plateau. Ladakh had been completely sealed off to the outside world for centuries—resulting in the happiest and healthiest people that Helena had ever met. But as this paradise opened up to the modern world, its social and ecological well-being quickly unraveled. How might we design ancient futures that reclaim the abundance and equality that our ancestors once enjoyed—what Helena calls the Economics of Happiness.

Regenesis seeks to design a built environment and human systems to harmonize with natural systems. Their approach to development proves that human activity does not have to be destructive — it can be a source of health & renewal. We speak with Pamela Mang and Joel Glanzberg, two of the founding members and principals of Regenesis. Together we explore the mindset and methods of regenerative development — a radically different way to think and act that has the potential to transform the way humans inhabit the Earth.

Facilitation is the process of making something possible. And if you’ve ever led a meeting or organized a group to get something done… you’ve been a facilitator. Originally from the Philippines, Mila Aliana has had quite a remarkable journey leading strategic change projects all over the world. For her, facilitation isn’t just a skill, but a way of being in the world. Together we explore the practice and presence required to facilitate real breakthroughs within groups.

A new design methodology is emerging that can transform a collection of self-interested individuals into a harmonious and effective group. And it shows how these groups can work with other groups to create scaling fractals of positive change. This episode is a deep inquiry into collaboration and cooperation with the Prosocial method. We’ll explore the foundational science and core design principles with the founder of Prosocial World, Dr. Paul Atkins. Our journey also takes us to Sierra Leone to speak with Hannah Bockarie and Beate Ebert about their experience with Prosocial during the Ebola outbreak of 2014.

In a world full of mass produced objects and experiences, designed for anyone and everyone, Abraham Burickson designs for someone. As co-founder of Odyssey Works, he has been experimenting with a highly bespoke form of design that breaks the mold. From performances made for an audience of one, to homes designed for who you want to become, Abe’s work is a vanishing point for empathetic experience design.

A global network of people from all walks of life has somehow coalesced into a thriving online community — The Earth Regenerators. Their intention is to weave relationships that restore planetary health at scale. In part two of our series with Joe Brewer, we tell the story of this vibrant community and explore how to design truly regenerative human cultures.

Joe Brewer is a culture designer learning how to live regeneratively in the Andes mountains of Colombia. His project, Origen del Agua, aims to transform a community and a landscape — all to bring a river back to life. This living demonstration shows us a path to restore planetary health at scale. And is also giving birth to a design school for Earth regeneration.