Seeds of Tao: Impact entrepreneurs seeding regenerative paths beyond sustainability

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.

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 have Morag Gamble on the podcast for the second time! Morag first joined us on the podcast in episode 28 where both Morag and Michael Ney advocated for and shared their experiences of living in intentional communities. Today, we are diving into her wonderful story of how she became regenerative entrepreneur. Morag shares that entrepreneurship wasn't the likely career she or her parents originally had in mind. However she knew in heart that the immersive process of building a regenerative enterprise was for her and it has become her greatest opportunity to create the change she wishes to see for herself, family, community, and beyond.

Join us as we explore how Morag has designed her life and business in accordance with regenerative principles. We'll talk about the business side of things as usually, but also the personal and family dynamic that comes with being an impact entrepreneur. Let her story inspire you to do what your passionate about, create the impact you desire, and influence those around you to do the same. Thanks Morag for being such a wonderful example.

You can view the full show notes on our site with the accompanying blog post.

Guest Bio:

Morag Gamble - LinkedIn Profile

For the past 30 years as a Global Permaculture Ambassador, Morag Gamble has led programs in 22 countries. Local food systems and permaculture education have seen her teach in communities and universities around the globe – most recently at Schumacher College in England – and leading a Food Politics course at Griffith University.

Morag lives amidst an award-winning permaculture education garden in a UN recognised permaculture village, and works with city farmers, school farmers, community gardeners, and educators.

She sees the direct social and ecological impact of industrial farming on marginalised farming communities around the world – in Indonesia, India and most recently in East Africa.

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.

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 lesson from StorySeed, this resource and tool helps regen brands discover their identity and create messaging that breaks them out of the noise.

This week Jenny Patton joins us to share her transition from working on branding and marketing with large brands like Coca Cola to focusing on purpose-driven businesses. She talks about the over-complexity of the marketing realm, and the power of marketing for good or evil, and addresses the important topic of re-framing.

To learn more about Jenny's work, check out her website at levelstudio.uk, and she also brings up the Global Regenerative Co-Lab as a resource.

Check out the Show Notes on our site

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.

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.

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.

Free Monthly Think Tank Events: monthly meetings 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.

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.

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.

• Resource Commons and Community Forum: an open community, packed with free resources, 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.

Guest 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.

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.
• Resource Commons and Community Forum: An open community packed with free resources for 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.

Promotional Links:

• Resource Commons and Community Forum: An open community of regenerative entrepreneurs creating change through the businesses they start, build, and grow.
• 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.