Idea featured: Transition Income, by Ad Vlems and Monique Vissers

How do we support the pioneers working outside the system?
Listening to “Transition Income”, an idea by Ad Vlems and Monique Vissers, we meet the “transition pioneers”: researchers and innovators who don’t fit the mold. The conversation explores what it takes to challenge academic conventions, the emotional side of risk-taking, and what new career paths and research environments could look like if we funded differently, with more trust, flexibility, and vision.

What would it mean to fund people rather than projects? In this episode we unpack the challenges faced by “mavericks” or “transition pioneers”, those who work across systems, disciplines, and institutions to push boundaries and make tangible change.
The discussion dives into why current funding models struggle to support such people, what alternative structures could look like, and how long-term, flexible funding could sustain those shaping the transitions we urgently need.

Host: Alex Szwaj
Speakers: Stephanie Holst and Mattijs Taanman

Find out more about the idea creators here: Ad Vlems, Monique Vissers,
www.ecodorpboekel.nl/
Relevant connections mentioned in this episode:
Thrive Institute: thriveinstitute.nl/knowledge-broker/
RARA Radio: rararadio.org/