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The Economics of Well-Being

The Economics of Well-Being

By Mark Anielski

Hi I’m Mark Anielski an economist and the author of An Economy of Well-being: Common Sense Tools for Building Genuine Wealth and Happiness and the award-winning book The Economics of Happiness.
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#23. Ellen Brown banking on the people, democratizing money

The Economics of Well-Being Jun 24, 2019

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54:58
#107: Eric Busropan (part 2): Financial Emotion continued

#107: Eric Busropan (part 2): Financial Emotion continued

Eric Busropan joins me for part 2 of a two part discussion on the subject of financial emotion; our complex relationship with money and how to transcend the trauma many of us have endured.

Eric has over 30 years of experience in researching the intricate interplay between money, emotion, and its impact on our overall well-being.

As a seasoned professional in this niche field, Eric bring a unique blend of academic insight and practical experience to empower individuals to achieve harmony between their financial decisions and their emotional well-being. His work has led to transformative outcomes for countless clients by improving their relationship with money while enhancing their mental and physical health. By leveraging my deep understanding of psychology, finance, and behavioral economics,  he is committed to helping others navigate complex financial landscapes with clarity and confidence.

Eric thrives on cultivating meaningful connections with his clients as they embark on their journey towards achieving sustainable financial emotional balance. With an unwavering dedication to excellence, he continues to spearhead innovative approaches that revolutionize how we perceive wealth management from an emotional standpoint. As a thought leader in this evolving space, he  remains steadfast in his mission to elevate awareness about the profound impact of emotions on our financial decisions while advocating for holistic well-being within our economic lives.

Eric’s commitment is not just limited to delivering impactful results but also actively contributing towards shaping a future where individuals can forge healthier relationships with money - one infused with emotional intelligence that fosters enduring prosperity across all facets of life.

Nov 28, 202339:39
#107: Eric Busropan (part 1): Financial Emotion; our relationship with money

#107: Eric Busropan (part 1): Financial Emotion; our relationship with money

Eric Busropan joins me from Rotterdam, the Netherlands to discuss his important work in the field of 'financial emotion.' This part 1 of a two part discussion on a fascinating topic.

I met Eric at the New Financial Forum in the Hague in 2010 where I presented my vision of economy based on love and well-being in front of 500 bankers and insurance industry people.

Eric has over 30 years of experience in researching the intricate interplay between money, emotion, and its impact on our overall well-being, He has dedicated his career to understanding and addressing the vital intersection of finance and emotions. Through extensive research and personalized coaching for numerous clients, he pioneered the term Financial Emotion as a groundbreaking concept that has reshaped the way we approach financial wellness. His expertise lies in fostering financial emotional balance through strategic interventions and tailored solutions.

Nov 28, 202337:57
#106 (part 2): Mary Morrison (Part 2) The Value of Wisdom: The Price of Presence

#106 (part 2): Mary Morrison (Part 2) The Value of Wisdom: The Price of Presence

Mary Morrison joins me again for Part 2 of our fascinating conversation about the value of emotions, reframed as wisdom, emotional reactivity in service to our vision and mission, and ancient cultural wisdom including the Chinese and native Turtle Islanders (North America).

Mary is a culture creator, a leadership coach, organizational wellness consultant, sustainability designer/entrepreneur, clinical acupuncturist and certified Zhineng Qigong teacher.

In Her Own Words

“It is not only ‘body’ or ‘embodiment’ practices, it is sense perception. It is incredibly simple and very nuanced at the same time. And I have yet to have a client say they have completely mastered any of the skills. It is an ongoing practice that attunes you to your power.”

Learn more about Mary and her work at

www.howweheal.info





Sep 06, 202329:36
#106: Mary Morrison (part 1): The Value of Wisdom: The Price of Presence
Sep 06, 202334:09
#105: What is inflation and how does it impact our well-being?

#105: What is inflation and how does it impact our well-being?

Thanks to a listener who asked me to try and explain inflation, I provide what I hope is a new perspective on what many of us find confounding. What is inflation? Why are the prices are virtually everything increasing stretching most of us to the limit of our income? Are wages keeping pace with inflation or falling behind? What impacts did the Covid 19 pandemic have on inflation and have government income support programs contributed to price inflation? What is the relationship between the massive increase in federal debt money (total federal government increased by 70% issued since 2019 reaching a staggering $1,274 billion by the end of 2022)? How much of our costs of living are hidden interest charges on debts that have exploded? Why aren't these interest costs discussed in our discussion of inflation? Why are housing prices so irrationally out of balance with disposable income? I will post some comments and graphs/data on my Linkedin profile to augment my comments. Thanks for listening!

Jul 21, 202334:18
#104 Jennifer England: On Being and Leadership Wisdom

#104 Jennifer England: On Being and Leadership Wisdom

Jennifer England joins me today from her home in Whitehorse, Yukon. Jennifer, who is originally from Edmonton, is a leadership coach with a mastery in helping others discover their genuine 'being.'

Jennifer started her intellectual journey studying feminist geography and working with some of the most wounded of Canadians in Vancouver's east-side.

At 26, she took an executive position in the public service in Yukon , where she led a growing gender equality department, collaborating across the country to amplify policy change on housing, finance, health care, and education.

She thrived in working across sectors to support the influence and power of self-governing First Nations and non-profits. She leaned into Response Based Practice, which centered the dignity, resilience and resistance of people to inequality in their lives. 

After 15 years in this field, something else was calling her.  She felt the desire to align my growing passion for personal development (the inner life) at the convergence of social change and leadership.

Increasingly sought after for support, advice and coaching by emerging leaders, she began to explore transformational approaches to social change with Robert and Judith Gass. Soon after, she discovered the work of Joanne Hunt and Laura Divine at Integral Coaching Canada and Otto Scharmer, at the Presencing Institute.

During this time, she spent time studying from wisdom teachers like Cynthia Bourgeault and Thomas Keating. After 18 months of intensive study and practice, she received my Master level coaching certification from Integral Coaching Canada.

Throughout her journey, she has been an integral part of systems change making at many scales and angles. 

She has experienced exhaustion and heart-broken discouragement of slow change and the groundswell of  inspiration from community activists who make a difference.

Her mission is to support the growth of awake and aligned leaders who want to give generously, lead from a place of deep alignment, and contribute to a thriving, loving and regenerative world. 

You can learn more about her work and coaching Spark Coaching and her podcast Tension of Emergence






Apr 03, 202344:18
#103 (part 2): Clara Lachman: Engaging citizens in co-creating a well-being economy of democracy

#103 (part 2): Clara Lachman: Engaging citizens in co-creating a well-being economy of democracy

Clara Lachman, an aspiring well-being-oriented politician and Prime Minister, joins me for part 2 of a lively conversation of how to engage citizens in co-creating a flourishing economy of well-being from the household to the nation level.  We cover a wide range of subjects from proportional representation to the response by Preston Manning a few years ago when I asked him in a public forum 'what would happen if we moved our desks in the parliament and legislatures (current in rows and in opposition) into a circle to honour the best ideas in the room?

Clara Lachman is a 23-year old Toronto-based political entrepreneur who is compelled by the ideas of an economy of well-being and aspires to become Canada's future Prime Minister with a well-being platform. Today we discussed her aspirations for helping to build an economy of well-being where all Canadians can flourish.

Clara a Gen Z entrepreneur, changemaker, storyteller & public policy advocate, working at the intersection of science, technology & spirituality to rewrite civilization's narrative towards a future of human & planetary flourishing.

Mar 09, 202320:30
#103 (part 1): Clara Lachman: A young entrepreneur's vision of becoming Canada's Future Prime Minister of Well-being

#103 (part 1): Clara Lachman: A young entrepreneur's vision of becoming Canada's Future Prime Minister of Well-being

Mar 07, 202338:22
102: Tor Fjelldal: A Norwegian's musings on what indigenous wisdom can offer our world today (part 1) Video

102: Tor Fjelldal: A Norwegian's musings on what indigenous wisdom can offer our world today (part 1) Video

Tor Fjelldal (part 1) joins me today from Entrance Ranch near Jasper National Park in Alberta. Tor is a Norwegian by birth who has had a rich and varied life that began with life-changing health conditions as a young boy growing up in a little town south of Oslo, Norway. His life path led him to Alberta where he has spent time at his Norwegian uncle Rocky's Entrance Ranch located on the Athabasca River just north of Hinton, Alberta.

There Tor encountered many Native wisdom keepers and traditions, including the spiritual teachings of Chief Jimmy O'Chiese (a direct descendant of the Odawa Anishnabe (Objiwa) Chief Pontiac (1714-1769), one of the key contributors to the Royal Proclamation of 1763  with King George III of Great Britain.

Tor is one of those special human beings that crosses one's path with such a variety of gifts and talents. Tor is a natural entrepreneur and inventor as well as a very spiritual person who has been immersed in indigenous or Native spirituality and ceremony.

Today we spoke about a variety of subjects that include his insights into his Norwegian homeland which regularly rated one of the happiest countries in the world and one of the richest in terms of GDP and a sovereign wealth fund. Norwegians, despite having enviable financial wealth, are struggling more with depression, suicide and growing rates of poverty. Tor has delved into alternative blockchain cryptocurrency systems; a subject of mutual interest. We also talk about what we can learn from First Nations elders and their spiritual wisdom applied to many of today's major challenges.

Tor gives us hope that we are indeed capable of greater things when we are in tune with the natural flow of nature and life.

Feb 03, 202331:41
#102: Tor Fjelldal: A Norwegian's musings on what indigenous wisdom can offer our world today

#102: Tor Fjelldal: A Norwegian's musings on what indigenous wisdom can offer our world today

Tor Fjelldal joins me today from Entrance Ranch near Jasper National Park in Alberta. Tor is a Norwegian by birth who has had a rich and varied life that began with life-changing health conditions as a young boy growing up in a little town south of Oslo, Norway. His life path led him to Alberta where he has spent time at his Norwegian uncle Rocky's Entrance Ranch located on the Athabasca River just north of Hinton, Alberta. 

There Tor encountered many Native wisdom keepers and traditions, including the spiritual teachings of Chief Jimmy O'Chiese (a direct descendant of the Odawa Anishnabe (Objiwa) Chief Pontiac (1714-1769), one of the key contributors to the Royal Proclamation of 1763  with King George III of Great Britain.

Tor is one of those special human beings that crosses one's path with such a variety of gifts and talents. Tor is a natural entrepreneur and inventor as well as a very spiritual person who has been immersed in indigenous or Native spirituality and ceremony. 

Today we spoke about a variety of subjects that include his insights into his Norwegian homeland which regularly rated one of the happiest countries in the world and one of the richest in terms of GDP and a sovereign wealth fund. Norwegians, despite having enviable financial wealth, are struggling more with depression, suicide and growing rates of poverty. Tor has delved into alternative blockchain cryptocurrency systems; a subject of mutual interest. We also talk about what we can learn from First Nations elders and their spiritual wisdom applied to many of today's major challenges. 

Tor gives us hope that we are indeed capable of greater things when we are in tune with the natural flow of nature and life.

Feb 03, 202352:05
#101: The Path of Love: 30 Year Anniversary of my Journey to Jerusalem in 1992

#101: The Path of Love: 30 Year Anniversary of my Journey to Jerusalem in 1992

It was 30 years ago on October 13, 1992 that I returned from Jerusalem completing a 3 month vision quest and vocational journey to explore the question: What does God want me to do next in my life as an economist? That journey started in Stockholm delivering a paper on ecological economics, a journey through Germany and Austria (my father's and grandfather's homelands), Rome and Assisi, then an epic sail boat journey down the Nile in Egypt to the ancient Egyptian sites. Little did I know that my arrival in the ancient city of Jerusalem would change my life forever. It was in the Old City, where I spent two weeks in prayer and reflection, that I felt a deep calling to 'build a civilization and economy of love.' That journey continues 30 years later. Love I believe is the foundation of all our lives. Love is who we are. Love created us. In our current state of the world, following a global pandemic and now a protracted economic crisis and an unnecessary war in the Ukraine, the message that a civilization of love is both possible and within our capacities to manifest is more urgent than ever.

Thanks for listening to my life story!

Mark Anielski

Nov 04, 202223:01
#100: An economy of love and joy: Interview with Justin Paul Abraham

#100: An economy of love and joy: Interview with Justin Paul Abraham

Justin Paul Abraham joins me today from his home in Cardiff, Wales UK to discuss his vision of an economy based on love, joy and well-being. We discuss the challenges of our current deficit-based economic mindset and the destiny of an abundance, joy-filled and love-based economy.

Justin Paul is the founder and co-director of Company of Burning Hearts (COBH) Ltd in the UK. Justin Paul is a futurist, transformational coach, popular speaker and author, known for his joy-filled, expanding teachings on KAINOS (new) creation realities, meditation and union-prayer. His bestselling book "Beyond Human" has been translated into several languages. Justin has travelled extensively speaking at retreats, conferences and schools. He lives in the Cardiff, WALES UK with his four children and his inspirational wife Rachel Abraham.

Jun 23, 202201:01:20
#99 Mark Anielski as guest on the Peripheral Thinking Podcast with Ben Johnston

#99 Mark Anielski as guest on the Peripheral Thinking Podcast with Ben Johnston

I had the pleasure of being the guest of author (Buddha on Board) and podcaster Ben Johnson in the UK to discuss my the economy of well-being and my favourite topic: money.

In his conversation with Ben, we discuss:

  • The difficulty we all have in understanding where money actually comes from
  • How money is created ex nihilo (”out of nothing”), and why this is a problem
  • The history of our relationship with money
  • A question around the translation of the Lord’s Prayer that relates to debt

Learn more about Ben, his book and ideas at

https://www.tenpercentbetter.co/

May 05, 202259:42
#98: Dr. Brian Fleck: Resiliency in Challenging TImes

#98: Dr. Brian Fleck: Resiliency in Challenging TImes

Dr. Brian Fleck is a professor of mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta.  His research is in energy and fluid dynamics (https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=QvtEOjgAAAAJ&hl=en).   He has been active in board governance (AER, AASUA, ANDP), is an entrepreneur and very active outdoors enthusiast.

Brian is a renaissance man which suggests he loves exploring a vast variety of subject matter. We discuss today the subject of resiliency in these challenging times.



Apr 29, 202255:36
#97: Kai Lee Worsley: Warrior of Earth, a story of Emilia, of hope and that anything is possible

#97: Kai Lee Worsley: Warrior of Earth, a story of Emilia, of hope and that anything is possible

Kai Lee Worsley, founder and ceo of Earthkdw.com and Edmonton-based social media marketing firm, joins me today (February 7, 2022) from Edmonton to talk about her first fictional novel Warrior of Earth which she recently self-published on Amazon. The book explores the themes of women’s issues and environmentalism through the lens of a fantastical world. It will appeal to fans of Richelle Mead’s Bloodlines series and L.J. Smith’s Night World series. This novel is the first of a planned series. Kai Lee presents to us a vision of the future, that anything is possible, through the lens of her main character Emelia.

Emilia’s powers come from the Earth. Only by connecting to it, respecting it as a living being with thoughts, feelings, and emotions can she do what she does, and what she does is amazing—talk to animals, heal the sick and injured, grow plants, change the weather, and that’s just the beginning. Yet not everyone views the Earth with such reverence.

The Anova view Emilia’s connection to nature as aberrant and wicked. They will do whatever it takes to hunt her and anyone like her down, bleeding all resources dry in the process. Only their way is the right way, and nothing will stop them from snuffing out all threats to their authority.

Emilia won’t go down without a fight. She will form an unlikely team and take down the Anova before they can take her down. She will uncover secrets of the past and present, crack open the mysteries of this magical world, and learn how to break the cycle of witch hunts that have plagued women for centuries. All the while, the father of her unborn child will be gone on assignment for the enemy. 

You can purchase Kai Lee's new book at https://www.amazon.ca/-/fr/Kai-Lee-Worsley/dp/B09QFDJJMM

Kai Lee founded Earthkdw was born almost a decade ago, in 2014, when Kai-Lee Worsley found herself wanting more from life than just to simply “live.” She began her modeling career, being published in her home country of Canada, as well as internationally. This led her towards a path and a deep passion for photography. Everything from high fashion, to travel, to brand influencing.

The world around her was shifting, social media marketing was King, and she wanted to become its Queen. Kai-Lee learned quickly the ins and outs of the trade, picking up tools and lessons from those who were garnering success from this new online movement. She fell in love. It was revolutionary, that brands from the size of Mom and Pop shops to the heavy hitting high end brands could now become as accessible as sunshine to their consumers.

Through trial and error Kai-Lee perfected her method of social media marketing so that you don’t have to. Earthkdw is the bridge between consumers and brands. Our ideology is built on the soul basis that building trust is the key to loyal consumers.

Learn more about Kai Lee and her social media marketing work at https://earthkdw.com/

This is a timely conversation, at a pivotal time in our human story with war in Ukraine, with at 25-year old creative artist, author and visionary who has found many reasons to remain hopeful about a future where anything is possible.

Mar 18, 202255:05
#96: Chrystia Chudczak: Lego Models and Blockchain Platforms for Building Citizenry of Trust in Canada and the Ukraine

#96: Chrystia Chudczak: Lego Models and Blockchain Platforms for Building Citizenry of Trust in Canada and the Ukraine

Podcast #96 (February 24, 2022) Chrystia Chudczak is a Ukrainian-Canadian policy analyst and founder of Decidium, a Global Human Centric Design Studio based in Ottawa, Canada.

Chrystia recently spent several days on the streets of Ottawa with her camera capturing images of the Freedom Trucker Convoy that captured the attention of Canadians and citizens around the world. She is now immersed in the conflict in the Ukraine with Russia.  

Chrystia is passionate about helping people capture business and pivot their lives in a post-COVID world.

She uses human-centric design, with Lego being her favourite platform, to do it.

This means putting her clients, consumers or the community & everyone at the centre of the opportunity or problem.

She then designs an experience so that we can figure out a solution that works for the future.

Chrystia has worked with incredible women CEOs, Founders, Designers, Technology Innovators, Communicators & Indigenous leaders around the world to make it happen.

Chrystia and I discuss our common passion for the potential use of blockchain technologies and new platforms for designing and building new economies and communities based on well-being.

Learn more about Decidium and Chrystia's work at https://decidium.ca/

Feb 27, 202201:08:25
#95: TED RITZER, the man who first introduced me to Zoom

#95: TED RITZER, the man who first introduced me to Zoom

Welcome to episode #95 of The Economy of Well-being Podcast; conversations that matter to our well-being.

Today I'm joined by a good friend Ted Ritzer, a former civil servant with the Government of Alberta (where I also spent 13 years as an economist) to talk about his many creative ideas for making the best of new technologies that can contribute to a better life and a lower carbon footprint.

Several years ago Ted had an idea for 'greening government' by using a new platform called Zoom. His idea was that the heavy carbon footprint of meetings and travel could be reduced saving both time and the planet. Ted helped launch the Green Government series to profile people of interest, including myself, to speak publicly about their ideas. 

Ted was and still is ahead of his time when it comes to technology and its practical uses.

He speaks to me today from his home in Edmonton on a variety of subjects of interest including things like 'technology is not enough to save our planet', 'what are the opportunities for curatorial publishing', and 'why are we still not prepared for extreme weather events.' 

Enjoy the conversation.


ABOUT TED RITZER

Ted Ritzer has been actively involved in nature interpretation for Alberta Parks for 20+ years. He has worked in the private sector on Internet service provision, security and consulting. He has also worked in community development and recreation development for a decade.   Ted is also a film producer having produced a number of films on the northern Rockies & Willmore Wilderness Park with the help of Emmy award winning cinematographer Andrew Manske. Ted helped introduce Zoom to the government of Alberta, and hosted the Greening Government Speaker Series for the government of Alberta.

Feb 18, 202252:46
#94: Why do we work? Money, Money, Money with Ben Johnson

#94: Why do we work? Money, Money, Money with Ben Johnson

Business coach, consultant, and podcaster Ben Johnson joins me today (January 13, 2022) from England to talk about his take on why we work and our relationship with money. 

Ben leads a community of fellow agitators, innovators and entrepreneurs creating projects and businesses. He co-owns online platform and community, Sangha.Live, he writes on and talks about money at Waking Up To Money and has created and sold businesses, including experience design and innovation firm, FreeState, sold to Hassell. He is an active investor, advisor, teacher and talker. He writes books and blogs. He coaches and consults.

Check his part I of the ebook, ‘Buddha on the Board’; an ongoing play with the question: if the Buddha was on your company board, what it would it do, why and how?

His new podcast, Peripheral Thinking, is an inspiration and resource for the community he works with. It’s a place to feed curiosity and spark emergent conversation, where ancient wisdom, contemporary science and all in between might fuse and bubble.

He is an active investor, advisor, teacher and talker. He writes books and blogs

Learn more about Ben at https://www.tenpercentbetter.co/

Feb 01, 202253:38
#93: Don Paré: Business Ethics, Morality, Integrity and a HOppy Life!

#93: Don Paré: Business Ethics, Morality, Integrity and a HOppy Life!

Don Paré’s passion is to launch entrepreneurs towards funding and success. He has a consistent track record that both investors and entrepreneurs have come to rely upon.

Don was a regular guest lecturer in my University of Alberta School of Business class (2002-2012) in corporate social responsibility and social entrepreneurship where he would discuss morals, ethics and integrity in the business world.

Don has years of experience as an entrepreneur and start-up mentor; he has hit multiple home runs, himself, with exits between 700-1700 ROI for the early investors. He speaks from experience not from an academic perspective and is often called to turn companies around or assess them using his proven innovative valuation and pivot strategy models.

Mr. Paré has over 40 years of experience with high technology companies and end-user departments, holding various executive roles including Chairman, CEO, President, V.P. Operations, V.P. Sales and Marketing, General Manager, VP partners and channels, Development and Marketing Manager, Minority Shareholder and Active Director.

From 2001 till present , Mr Pare has helped over 70 companies with their strategy, funding and launches to an outstanding 95% success rate.

He is an international speaker on Crowd Funding and an expert with Angel funding.

He participated in the Launch of an effective and massive program in Chile to create almost 1500 new start-ups every year to deliver 100,000s of new jobs. He believes such a program can make a big difference in Alberta during these tough times.

From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Paré was President and CEO at MessagingDirect, where he raised over 18 million dollars in start-up funding and boosted the company to #1 growth firm in Edmonton’s high technology sector.

Learn more about Don at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/donpare/

Jan 14, 202255:46
#92: How Banks Create Money and The Great Financial Jubilee Reset: In Conversation with Ben Johnson (Peripheral Thinking podcaster)

#92: How Banks Create Money and The Great Financial Jubilee Reset: In Conversation with Ben Johnson (Peripheral Thinking podcaster)

Ben Johnson, entrepreneur and business-man as well as host of the Peripheral Thinking, joins me in conversation on the important subject of debt, bank-created money and opportunities for rebooting our world financial system in the year of Jubilee (year 5782 in the Jewish Calendar). Under ancient Jewish economic laws and practices (borrowed from the ancient Sumerian and Babylonian cultures), all debts would have been forgiven (i.e. 'clean slate' laws in Sumeria) and all wealth redistributed in the 50th year called Jubilee. 

Why in January of 2022, in the very year of Jubilee, are there no discussions about wiping the debt accounts clean around the world? This would eliminate the enormous interest cost burden on all of humanity. I've estimated the average American, Canadian and European household spends 55% or more of their earned income on hidden interest payments on what is mostly bank-created debts (i.e. loans) that have been accumulating since the end of WWII. This debt can never be repaid out of current income and thus the interest payments on this debt continues to eat up more and more of our incomes and GDP. The burden of interest payments on this debt also contributes to the pressure on economic output and directly impacts greenhouse gas emissions adding to the climate risks from GHG emissions; something never discussed at the COP meetings on climate change nor at the G7 or G20 meetings of world leaders.

It's time for wiping out these unnecessary debts providing everyone on the planet with the ability to pursue a life of meaning, free from the burden of debt with the bonus of more discretionary time (life energy) to spend doing things that bring joy to our lives.

If you want to learn more about how banks create money through loans have a listen to the German economist Prof Richard Werner who has proven empirically how banks create loans and thus create over 95% of what we call money in our modern economies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkCU_n0h4Qc


Jan 12, 202201:20:50
#91: Nancy Dyson and Dan Rubenstein: Addressing the Legacy of Residential Schools and Child Welfare Inequities

#91: Nancy Dyson and Dan Rubenstein: Addressing the Legacy of Residential Schools and Child Welfare Inequities

On the Economy of Well-being Podcast, Dan Rubenstein and Nancy Dyson share their story about their lived experience of the trauma they witnessed at one of Canada's many residential schools that has impacted so many indigenous brothers and sisters. 

In June of this year a book by Nancy Dyson and Dan Rubenstein was released just as news was breaking about the unmarked graves of children outside former residential schools. Saint Michael’s Residential School: Lament & Legacy is the story of four months in 1970 when Dan and Nancy were hired as childcare workers at an Indian residential school in Alert Bay, BC. Their book is available at independent bookstores, Chapters/Indigo and Amazon.

Chief Doctor Robert Joseph, founder and ambassador for Reconciliation Canada, has asked Dyson and Rubenstein to promote conversations about Reconciliation. 

Dyson and Rubenstein are published authors. Their first work, Railroad of Courage, a work of youth fiction, was published by Ronsdale Press in 2017. St. Michael’s Residential School: Lament & Legacy is available at independent book stores, Chapters stores and on Amazon. They are donating royalties and honorariums to the IRSSS, the Indian Residential School Society, Reconciliation Canada and other support groups for Survivors.

Nancy is a retired early childhood educator. Dan was an auditor with the Office of the Auditor General of Canada.  They live in Ottawa and enjoy spending time at their lake-side cottage, especially when their three adult children and nine grandchildren are able to visit.  You can visit their web site at: Dan Rubenstein & Nancy Dyson – Published Authors (rubenstein-dyson.com).

Jan 10, 202248:59
#90: Dr. Jennoa Graham: Well-being Financial Wisdom, Accounting and Life Lessons

#90: Dr. Jennoa Graham: Well-being Financial Wisdom, Accounting and Life Lessons

I'm pleased to have Dr. Jennoa Graham as my 90th podcast show guest. Jennoa is the sister of my last guest, Jayson Graham. Jennoa holds two PhDs, one in leadership and a second in sustainability.
Jennoa calls herself Dr. GNP (Dr. Graham-in-Purpose). She is an international public speaker, author, professor, and adjunct executive team leader. Her 20-year career of combined multinational corporate accounting and consulting experience reflects core values of transparency, integrity, efficiency, and sustainability resulting in multi-million-dollar savings.
We cover some interesting topics from her experience as a life coach, financial literacy and our common passion of accounting.
Thanks for listening to my podcast throughout 2021! See you in the new year.
Dec 23, 202143:04
#89: M. Jayson Graham: Storytelling our way to well-being

#89: M. Jayson Graham: Storytelling our way to well-being

M. Jayson Graham is a remarkable human being. Jayson is a master storyteller and is helping actors and artists from all disciplines find more creative ways of telling their stories. We all have a story to share. We all have a purpose for being. Telling our story helps us to flourish and experience true well-being. 

M Jayson Graham is an international lecturer, narrative designer, and the owner of MJG Story Creation LLC, a company whose purpose is to encourage entrepreneurship within the artistic community. After graduating from Howard University, he spent six years in Los Angeles working with a number of independent production companies to develop television series pilots, show bibles and feature film scripts. It was during that time that he saw the increasing demand for transmedia storytelling and created a narrative world building platform. Along with consulting on transmedia and product development, M Jayson travels throughout the year, as a guest panelist and presenting workshops on various aspects of storytelling at comic book, gaming, and writing conventions such as Momocon, Gencon, Dragoncon and DreamHack, just to name a few.

You can find out more about Jayson's work or reach out to him to help you write your story at www.mjgstorycreation.com

Nov 24, 202148:32
#88: Jan Wegelin: Discovering Statistical Treasurers in Well-being and Happiness Survey Research

#88: Jan Wegelin: Discovering Statistical Treasurers in Well-being and Happiness Survey Research

Jan Wegelin joins me today from South Africa to explore his statistical insights into the well-being survey results from the Ireland Well-being Survey I conducted in April 2021 for Independent Media out of Dublin. Jan also discusses some remarkable findings into the attributes of the soul print of well-being survey results, a survey I've been conducting over the past 2 years that asks people to self-assess their mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Jan's mastery at statistical analysis and insights into human behaviour are exceptional.

Oct 19, 202101:09:01
#87: Claudia Tordini and Richard Franklin: Building Family Wealth Trusts based on well-being

#87: Claudia Tordini and Richard Franklin: Building Family Wealth Trusts based on well-being

Claudia Tordini and Richard Franklin have a remarkable business advising families on managing their collective financial wealth that is strategically oriented to the well-being of the family.

Claudia Tordini provides coaching and consulting through Appanage LLC. She consults with families on wealth and inheritance planning, helping to design a family framework to support well-being and flourishing. She brings together her background in business, humanistic psychology studies and art to offer an integrated positive approach to wealth and well-being. Claudia has pioneered a powerful model for using art and art experiences to facilitate learning and development for individuals and families.

Richard Franklin is wealth and inheritance consultant with Appanage LLC. Richard has practiced law as a trusts and estates attorney for 30+ years. His experience in working with wealthy families has been instrumental in informing his thinking and his work on behalf of Appanage on the broader subject of family wealth and inheritance planning. He has a keen interest in the intersection of well-being theory and inheritance planning. Richard has written and spoken extensively on estate planning topics.

Read their article in the Bloomberg newsletter 

Franklin, R. and Tordini, C., Wealth and Well-Being - What Wealthy Families Can Learn from Sovereign Government Policies and Measuring Human Progress, Bloomberg, Vol. 46, Estates, Gifts and Trusts Journal, Number 3 (May 13, 2021).

Or visit their Appanage LLC website 



Sep 09, 202158:00
#86: Paul Dunny: Measuring Wellbeing and Happiness in Ireland

#86: Paul Dunny: Measuring Wellbeing and Happiness in Ireland

Paul Dunny joins me today from Dublin, Ireland to discuss our recent well-being and happiness survey of Ireland (both Northern and the Republic) which was conducted in April 2021 during the Covid 19 pandemic. Paul is head of CRM and Retention with Mediahuis (Independent News and Media) which is Ireland's largest digital and print media outlet. Paul had approached me several months ago asking if I might conduct a national well-being and happiness survey for his digital media firm. I was thrilled since this would be the first opportunity to test the Soul Print of Well-being Survey I had developed and been testing over the last 2 years. The Ireland survey was conducted over a 15 day period in April 2021 with remarkable results and an excellent response rate of nearly 2500 Irish from both the North and the South. 

The results showed that there was a very small gap between life satisfaction of Northerner vs the Irish in the South; the people in the North were slightly happier than the South but their trust for government was much lower. Most surprising was the high level of trust and sense of feeling welcome and belonging to their local neighbourhoods and communities. The value of assessing the perceptions of mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being was clearly demonstrated in this important project that we hope others will model elsewhere around the world.

The results of the survey will be published soon on Independent.ie platform.

Jul 16, 202134:53
#85: Jodi Calohoo-Stonehouse Indigenous Visionary: Running for National Chief for the Assembly of First Nations

#85: Jodi Calohoo-Stonehouse Indigenous Visionary: Running for National Chief for the Assembly of First Nations

Today, June 21, 2021, is National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada, In celebration of this important day, I'm joined by Jodi Calahoo-Stonehouse, a Cree and Mohawk woman, who is running to be the first female indigenous leader of the Assembly of First Nations. 

Jodi shares her vision and hopes for Canada, for both indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. 

As part of her campaign, I've helped Jodi launch a national Indigenous Well-being Survey that anyone can take to express their views on the future of indigenous peoples in Canada and get a sense of indigenous people's well=being. Here is the link to the survey.

https://forms.gle/NZxsoXES2iC2LsQg6

Jun 21, 202119:40
#84: Esther Robles and Dominique Conterno: The Emergence of Conscious Leadership (Love, Joy and Play)

#84: Esther Robles and Dominique Conterno: The Emergence of Conscious Leadership (Love, Joy and Play)

Esther Robles (originally from Mallorja, Spain) and Dominique Conterno (originally from Paris) discuss their co-creation of the Conscious Enterprises Network what they have learned in their respective corporate lives as the path forward for conscious leadership. This is a remarkable wide-ranging conversation that spans subjects from Rudolph Steiner, the ancient and lost civilizations of Atlantis and Lumeria, to humility as a characteristic of wise leadership, corporate sociopaths, and ultimately the future of humanity based on love, joy and play.

Dominique Conterno is the Co-Founder of Conscious Enterprises Network. After spending over 30 years working in the engineering and Information Management industries, he decided to quit corporate life and invest in his own company and life mission.

Based on his experience at successfully delivering major projects and services to multinationals and governmental departments, Dominique learned a lot about the world's dark ways. Being a visionary, both in technologies and spirituality, he has grown many insights about the human condition in a society unfit to support fundamental changes.  Being a decent chess player, this has helped him to develop since childhood a logical and highly creative mind. His spiritual insights also gave him the capability to understand spirituality in a very dynamic manner and develop his theory of the nature of consciousness and the purpose of creation. The culmination of his journey led him to create Conscious Enterprises Network community, which is dedicated to connecting conscious leaders worldwide to co-create a new paradigm.

Dominique was born in Paris, France, which he left to start a journey into the unknown at a young age.  He has traveled mainly in Europe, the USA and Mexico. He currently lives in Bristol, England.

Esther Robles is the Co-Founder of Conscious Enterprises Network. She has 17 years of logistics, data management and wellbeing experience, working for international corporations and individuals.

In these years, she was responsible for many successful projects. She excels at emotional intelligence and wellbeing related disciplines that has allowed her to grow insights into society's human conditions. Esther studies different holistic practices such as Ayurveda, Yoga, Chinese Medicine, and Qi Gong. Esther is a great inspiration force for anybody who meets her. She has a boundless enthusiasm for conducting what she feels is right for others.

Esther believes that only when we join forces and work together in communities dedicated to serve others a ripple quantum effect can be created and actual change in society can be seen.

She was born and raised in Spain but soon she got the travel bug and left her beautiful island to conquer Europe and learn about other cultures. She has lived in 5 different European countries, loves to speak different languages and dreams to become citizen of a planet without boundaries. In her spare time, she spends time being in one with nature exploring new territories and developing herself. 

She currently lives in Malmo, Sweden.

May 17, 202101:06:35
#83: Rosie von Lila: Building a better world based on human flourishing

#83: Rosie von Lila: Building a better world based on human flourishing

Rosie von Lila works at the intersection of finance, public policy, and human flourishing.

Rosie von Lila and I in conversation about this remarkable woman's vision of what is possible when we orient our economies and lives towards human flourishing.

We discuss how her experience with Burning Man has shaped how she interacts with the world.

We also discuss how the landscape of the institutional investing world is changing and what this means for society.

What is the cost of the American caste system to civilization?

Rosie shares what Burning Man has taught her about our potential for human flourishing.

We explore her ideas of regenerative economics and regenerative businesses,

How have both capitalism and socialism failed us in so many ways? How can human flourishing become a new economic platform?

Finally, we discuss what Rosie is up to now, what she might do if she were the US President and her forthcoming book on human flourishing.

Rosie serves as board member of New America Alliance, a national advocacy organization serving diverse and women investment fund managers.

She is passionate about investing across numerous asset classes, including public equities, crypto currencies, and real estate.

Rosie has attended Burning Man 19 times, and has advised and worked with Burning Man headquarters since 2013.

She is currently a correspondent for the Burning Man Live podcast.

She is the author of a framework for engaging people and building cultural and business ecosystems.

Through her von Lila Framework for stakeholder engagement, she has been invited to be a guest at the US Pentagon and a guest lecturer at the US National Defense University.

She is frequently invited to participate in strategic discussions and action groups focused on inclusion, cognitive diversity, and collaboration.

Rosie lives in Brooklyn and New York’s Hudson Valley.

To find Rosie's show episodes, TEDx talk and framework: vonlila.com

May 13, 202155:11
#81: Graham Boyd: Theoretical physics, solutions to income inequality, the Love Quotient, and what they didn't teach you about the real odds of gambling/coin tosses.

#81: Graham Boyd: Theoretical physics, solutions to income inequality, the Love Quotient, and what they didn't teach you about the real odds of gambling/coin tosses.

Graham Boyd joins me today (April 29, 2021) to discuss his insights into theoretical physics, regenerative businesses, the truth about mathematical probabilities, solutions to solving income inequality, the true nature of coin toss statistics, Jack Ma's Love Quotient (LQ) algorithm and other subjects vital to operating an economy of well-being.

Graham and I met at Robert Dellner's home in Woking, England 3 years ago. Robert and I have been exploring the creation of well-being-based Impact Investment Funds and management protocols.

He is the co-author of a new book "Rebuild the Economy, Leadership and You: A tool kit for a better world" with economist Jack Reardon.

Graham has been educated in theoretical physicist in Germany and is a practical business person who believes in the notion of regenerative businesses, integrated spiral dynamics and the wisdom of ecosystems as a model for an economy of well-being.

He believes we can rise, phoenix-like, from today’s burning global challenges. He believes that all of us, and our children, can thrive in the coming decades, because we can build a regenerative global economy: an ecosystem of regenerative businesses. Graham is passionate about building business ecosystems that work because everything is whole, from each individual involved through to the entire business ecosystem.

Today he applies his expertise gathered across three careers (theoretical particle physics, Procter and Gamble new product management, serial startups) to bring that vision to reality. He helps others incubate regenerative startups and is now starting a seed stage investment fund for ecosystems of regenerative startups. 

Graham consults to multi-nationals and start-ups on harnessing conflict to drive their own regeneration. All based on whole incorporation, where all capitals and all stakeholders have an equitable right to engage in governance and an equitable share of the wealth generated. Companies that are whole because every element is present, and every element is whole in itself.

Graham was born and raised in Southern Africa, finished his studies in Germany. He has lived and worked in Germany, Italy, Japan, Belgium, China, and the UK. In his spare time he enjoys being in forests and mountains, both hiking and riding.

May 08, 202101:14:21
#80: Dennis Cuku: What my children taught me about play, awesomeness and well-being in manifesting Alberta's first net zero commercial building (the Mosaic Centre for Conscious Community)

#80: Dennis Cuku: What my children taught me about play, awesomeness and well-being in manifesting Alberta's first net zero commercial building (the Mosaic Centre for Conscious Community)

April 20, 2021. Dennis Cuku is an engineer, father of teenage children, husband, entrepreneur and speaker who is passionate about self improvement, productivity, mental health and sustainable development.

He is the co-founder of the former Mosaic Family of Companies, a knowledge-worker collective designed to effect positive social change through business.

He and his former partner dreamed of and manifested The Mosaic Centre for Conscious Community and Commerce, and it was completed in the spring of 2015.

The Mosaic Centre in the deep southern district of Edmonton would become the crown jewel of sustainable building in Edmonton, becoming the first Net Zero energy commercial office building in Alberta — an example of Alberta’s oil and gas abundance igniting innovative sustainable projects.

As a visionary entrepreneur, Dennis operates on the manifesto that Normal is Broken and that capitalism need not come at the expense of human values, environmental sustainability or personal happiness.

Dennis is an animated and stimulating communicator with a zeal for fun, awesomeness and abolishment of status quo.

Dennis Cuku is a mechanical engineer by training with expertise in drilling rig design. He served as acting President of Oil Country Engineering which designed and built drilling rigs until the price of oil collapsed beginning in 2015 with the tough love of that market collapse beginning to bite hard in 2016. Dennis knew the writing was on the wall when large rig orders were cancelled. Sadly, he had to let go of his beloved Mosaic Centre and move on to other ventures.

He is compassionate by nature with a heart for altruism; Dennis Cuku believes an altruistic approach to business will help society adapt to a rapidly changing world.

Dennis understands that in this time of rapid change and disruption our leaders are being called upon to develop healthy workplaces, schools, family units and governments capable of thriving, not just surviving. “There needs to be a humanistic approach to business,” he says. “If we’re going to subscribe to this idea of capitalism, we don’t have to rape and pillage along the way. We can still have free enterprise and we can still have what our planet needs.”

Apr 25, 202101:02:17
#66: Dr. Zach Bush: Heal our soil, our gut, and economies

#66: Dr. Zach Bush: Heal our soil, our gut, and economies

Dr Zach Bush is my next guest on The Economy of Well-being podcast. Zach and I have become good friends during the pandemic of 2020 exploring new exciting ventures that point pragmatically to a flourishing economy of well-being founded on simple principles of restoring the health and vitality of our soils, which in turn will help heal our inner biome (our guts), increasing the strength of our immune systems and ultimately healing our economies. Zach engenders hope and his joyful demeanour is refreshing during these dark times filled with fear.

Zach Bush MD is a physician specializing in internal medicine, endocrinology and hospice care. He is an internationally recognized educator and thought leader on the microbiome as it relates to health, disease, and food systems. Dr Zach founded *Seraphic Group and the non-profit Farmer’s Footprint to develop root-cause solutions for human and ecological health. His passion for education reaches across many disciplines, including topics such as the role of soil and water ecosystems in human genomics, immunity, and gut/brain health. His education has highlighted the need for a radical departure from chemical farming and pharmacy, and his ongoing efforts are providing a path for consumers, farmers, and mega-industries to work together for a healthy future for people and planet. His work in for-profit and nonprofit arenas is creating avenues for collaborative action for all stakeholders in our global community for a regenerative future of health for the planet and our children.

His work in for-profit and nonprofit arenas is creating avenues for collaborative action for all stakeholders in our global community for a regenerative future of health for the planet and our children.

More more information on Zach Bush visit his website

https://zachbushmd.com/

Apr 13, 202101:05:47
#79: Galven Lee: How a Singaporean millennial sees Singapore's success, the world and the disruptive economics of ‘love’

#79: Galven Lee: How a Singaporean millennial sees Singapore's success, the world and the disruptive economics of ‘love’

Galven is a Singaporean millennial who grew up in this ‘East meets West’, cosmopolitan, tiny and yet multicultural island city-state of contradictions. Professionally, he represents 34 telecoms companies in Asia Pacific as a corporate innovator, engaged in fields such as 5G, data analytics and immersive technologies. He is also co-founder of Sound of Art, an Asian art platform promoting faith-inspired art and visual culture.

He is a keen observer of faith and its role in society, having co-authored Unfolding His Story, a 2015 book documenting the Charismatic Christian revival in Singapore of the 1970-80s and its impact on the nation. As we move deeper into the 21st century, he believes that Singapore again has a critical role to play as a global broker and incubator for new and radical models of doing business with love, grace and honour.

Apr 13, 202101:08:09
#78: Yasushi Ohki: Green Violin... investing in well-being through a new model of affordable housing and community assets development

#78: Yasushi Ohki: Green Violin... investing in well-being through a new model of affordable housing and community assets development

Yasushi Ohki is the founder and director of Green Violin, an Edmonton-based community development company with a remarkable vision for building affordable housing with a well-being impact focus. 

As Urbanists, the mission of Green Violin is to improve the well-being of our neighborhoods by building innovative spaces where SUSTAINABLE HOUSING and community come together. We are all about Inclusivity, Earth Friendly Design, and Social Connectedness.

We spoke today (April 6, 2021) about his vision for building affordable housing in which you and I as friends, neighbours and investors can support the building of homes that are affordable to the most economically challenged members of our neighbourhoods.

Yasushi is a remarkable person and visionary. His model for a new form of affordable housing combines some of the strengths of the Habitat for Humanity program with an investment platform that provides local investors like you to invest our money in real community asset development rather than see our money go to equity markets, stocks, and bonds that don't necessarily benefit our communities. 

Yasushi is not your typical property developer. He has adopted a well-being-by-design approach (something I wrote about in my book An Economy of Well-being) to the affordable housing development space. We have worked together in designing investment instruments that would allow smaller amounts of local capital investment to be invested in community asset development that will generate a genuine well-being return on investment that benefits both the beneficiaries of the affordable housing units Green Violin builds but also investors like myself who have been searching for investments that provide tangible and verifiable well-being impacts (a Well-being ROI).

Yasushi was raised in Edmonton and has called it home since completing degrees in civil engineering (University of Alberta) and architecture (University of British Columbia). For over 22 years, he has worked in the land development industry, including greenfield development, infill residential construction and project management.

Yasushi has also spent a good portion of his professional life in civil service, first in Strathcona County’s Current Planning Department, then in the Government of Alberta’s Ministry of Infrastructure, and finally in the City of Edmonton’s Housing and Homelessness Section. In his most recent nonprofit role, he served as Director of Housing at Homeward Trust Edmonton, an organization focused on the homeless-serving sector.

Yasushi brings to his work a love of urban design and a keen eye for how people interact with architecture, combined with a sensitivity to the realities of building construction and maintenance. He continues his work in community development with the establishment of a trio of sustainability-oriented organizations: the Green Violin Community Development Company, the Rose Cello Affordable Housing Society, and the Prairie Sky Property Management Corporation.

“I am all about Caring and Sharing. I love the indigenous philosophy of One Bowl One Spoon and I too want to make sure that everybody has enough to eat and that we don’t take more than our share, both from nature and from each other."

Apr 06, 202150:23
#77: Sander Tideman: Pathways to Genuine Conscious Capitalism and Finance

#77: Sander Tideman: Pathways to Genuine Conscious Capitalism and Finance

Sander Tideman joins my from his home in The Netherlands to discuss a wide range of subjects related to shifting the mindset and consciousness of business and finance towards well-being and what some call consciousness capitalism. Sanders and I first met at his home in Holland where we discussed shifts in economic consciousness with some of Holland's leading thinkers. We subsequently met at the Garrison Institute on the Hudson River in upstate New York at a gathering called Climate, Mind and Behaviour along with other leading economists, journalist, bankers and thought leaders like Paul Hawken (author of the Ecology of Commerce).

Sander Tideman is a leadership educator, social & sustainability entrepreneur, author and humanitarian, motivated by fostering the human capacity to address the unprecedented societal and ecological challenges of this age. Sander integrates insights from Eastern philosophy and psychology with Western science and practices of management, business and economics. He has held senior leadership roles himself, in many complex stakeholder fields, co-founded several sustainable enterprises, worked on three continents with leading companies and organizations.

Sander’s academic training reflects his interest in East-West integration: he studied International Law at University of Utrecht and International Economic Law at London School of Economics (LSE), while also completing a degree in Asian Legal Systems at the London School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). He deepened his understanding of the East by studying Chinese philosophy, language and culture in Taiwan, and Buddhist philosophy in Nepal and India. In his subsequent career as lawyer, banker, social entrepreneur and management & leadership consultant, he developed a theory and practice for sustainability leadership, which he calls Triple Value Leadership.

He is currently Executive Director at Garrison Institute International, Senior Faculty at Mobius Executive Leadership in Boston, Faculty Member Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, and Board Director at the European Platform for Compassionate Leadership for Climate & Peace (EUPCL) in Luxembourg.

Sander authored several books and articles. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Economist, NRC Handelsblad and the Journal for Corporate Citizenship. 

For more information: www.sandertideman.com.

Mar 31, 202150:22
#76: Leaha Mattinson: Silver Linings of Well-being

#76: Leaha Mattinson: Silver Linings of Well-being

Leaha Mattinson is an Edmonton-based health expert and Coach with over 30 years experience counselling, training elite athletes, CEOs, and multi-million dollar business owners.

She specializes in coaching her corporate and private clients towards health, self-love and energetic confidence. Including weight-loss, symptoms of illness reversal,  multi-generational family health and relationship restoration. She works with CEOs and senior managers to build leaders, address issues of workplace conflict, and ensure positive change.

Born and raised on a farm in Viking, AB, Canada, mother and grandmother she works globally with clients who access her services to become introspective and intentional about implementing positive change.

Leaha is courageous urging each of us to find the source of wellness and wellbeing which is found within.

Over 20 years ago she lost over 100 pounds and has kept if off and in-spite of being diagnosed with an incurable, chronic, terminal, neurological disease (Huntington's) that affects the brain and progressively shuts down the mind and body she remains symptom free.

Leaha is dedicated to both her own wellness and to fully promoting that - no matter what.

She believes that we each have moments every single day to practice gratitude and most importantly compassion which leads to happiness within ourselves, love in our families and ultimately a harmonious workplace and world.

In her first book Silver Linings: The Essential Guide to Building Courage, Self-Respect and Wellness, Leaha shared how the inheritance of the gene for Huntington's disease--an incurable genetic illness that attacks the mind and body--inspired her to change her life for the better.

She is host of Master Your Life which you can find on YouTube.

Learn more about Leaha on Linkedin or at https://healthoncommand.com/

Mar 23, 202101:08:08
#75: Ray Kurzon: From Near Death to a Life of Purpose, Hope and Unconditional Love

#75: Ray Kurzon: From Near Death to a Life of Purpose, Hope and Unconditional Love

Ray Kurzon is a 72-year old entrepreneurial visionary with 50 years of experience in the restaurant, mining, financial services, timber and wellness industries. Ray is a remarkable human being with a story, like many of us, that some will find hard to believe.

He has over 30 years of experience in raising capital in all industry sectors with a particular focus on mining and mining services.

His current focus is on a higher purpose in all things that he does. He believes in miracles and momentum. He believes that there are no limitations to what is possible when you put your mind and heart into life. He believes in abundance and 'on one left behind.'

Ray believes that time is fiction and that non-attachment leads to unconditional love.

Ray shares some of his most recent life journey story from near death to life of unconditional love and purpose. 

He joined me on Feb 16, 2021 from his home in Dallas, Texas.

Ray is also a power lifter and still goes to the gym daily to pump iron!

He is truly an inspiration for many of us who might see the world as a dark and depressing place; he feels that all of us can collectively raise the vibration of this planet through love.




Mar 21, 202101:03:31
#74: Rose Neufeld: Stories of Nursing, Well-being, and First Nations Wisdom

#74: Rose Neufeld: Stories of Nursing, Well-being, and First Nations Wisdom

My next guest is Rose Neufeld, RN, BN, MN

Rose is a registered nurse with many years of experience in the health care field and has completed her Master of Nursing degree in Administration at the University of Manitoba.

Rose serves as a strategic advisor to communities and organizations on a broad range of health and wellness initiatives. Knowledgeable on provincial, federal and Indigenous government health systems, programs and processes. Collaboration on development of First Nations culturally supportive health care service delivery models.

Rose and I have had the honour of working with the Opaskwayak Cree Nation in Manitoba; I serving as economic strategic advisor on building an economy of well-being and Rose with her focus on advising on systems of improving health and well-being outcomes.

She began her career as a critical care nurse in a tertiary care hospital in Winnipeg, and followed that with work in northern Manitoba, providing primary and emergent care to clients in remote nursing stations. During this time, she became aware of greater systemic issues that exist in the delivery of health care services to people living in the north, particularly as it pertains to Indigenous people. She also became aware of the social determinants that impact the health and well-being of this population. She credits her many First Nations friends and mentors for their wisdom and patience in sharing their knowledge as she has come to understand the importance of culture in the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. This knowledge has become the basis of her work and significant in the partnerships she has developed.

Rose currently works as a consultant with First Nation communities to build and develop improved health care services that focus on improving efficiency in resource utilization and bridging the gaps between federal and provincial jurisdictions. Rose has developed respectful relationships with many First Nation communities and supports their position that communities know what is best for their own families and community members. This has led to her current success in working on several innovative projects and program development. Her focus is to develop new initiatives and work towards system redesign to improve health outcomes for northern Manitoba residents, including First Nations and Metis populations.

Mar 15, 202159:38
#73: Beth Sanders: Building Nest Cities of Well-being

#73: Beth Sanders: Building Nest Cities of Well-being

Beth Sanders joins me today on The Economy of Well-being Podcast to discuss her ideas for improving city 'nest-making' and well-being across our neighbourhoods.

Beth has developed a mastery in municipal strategic planning having recently helped our city, Edmonton, develop a new strategic plan called ConnectEdmonton which sets the direction for Edmonton's future and vision for Edmonton in 2050.

Beth Sanders MCP RPP is the author of Nest City: How Cities Serve Citizens and Citizens Serve Cities. She is an award-winning city planner, including the International Integral City Meshworker of the Year in 2013.

At 21 years old, Jane Jacobs served as the spark to help Beth find her passion: to learn about, understand and support the relationship we have with cities and with each other in our cities. At city planning school, she began to notice the work that called to her.

She has worked for municipalities across Western Canada, including as general manager of planning and development in Fort McMurray, in the heart of the oil sands, when it was the fastest growing municipality in North America in the mid-2000s.

In 2007 she founded POPULUS to shepherd efforts to make city habitats that serve citizens well. Beth is a fourth-generation settler of English, Irish and Norwegian descent living in the territory of the Treaty 6 First Nations and the homelands of the Métis people.

She makes herself at home in Edmonton, a welcoming city where the first footsteps that marked this place belonged to the Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, Blackfoot, Métis and Inuit.

Beth believes the following about Social Habits and Cities

I walked away from my dream job because I learned that I wanted to be part of an organization — and cities — that explicitly supports employees and citizens to do their best work.

I wanted more. I wanted conscious city making.

I want to co-create social habitats that foster conscious city making. And so I set up a consulting company and dove in. I responded to the inner call to work differently, and create the conditions for me — and others — to do so.

I have beautiful clients who want and ask me to do the work I love to do. I have made time to write and write, to figure out more clearly where this work is taking me. And here I am, with you, to work together to make our cities places that serve us well. To co-evolve together.

I believe a city can choose to look after itself and its people.

It’s not easy work, and it will never end.

It is a call to experience the city as a learning ground, a partner in our evolutionary journey as a species.

This is the direction in which I wish to move.

Learn more about Beth's work at

https://www.bethsanders.ca/

Mar 13, 202154:04
#72: The Alberta Well-being Budget 2021 Budget Speech: What If?

#72: The Alberta Well-being Budget 2021 Budget Speech: What If?

As a former senior policy advisor to former Alberta Treasurer Jim Dinning in the mid-1990s, I've had experience in helping prepare budgets, budget speeches and performance measurement reports. I've had the honour of serving on the Alberta Audit Committee under Premier Rachel Notley's government.

As many of you know, I dream of a day when government's will table capital and operating budgets which are linked to improving the well-being conditions of citizens. I call this Well-being-based Budgeting.

On February 25th 2021, the Alberta 2021-22 Budget was table by Finance Minister Travis Toews. The news was grim: a huge deficit and debt levels growing to $100 billion.

Budget speeches and budgets predict what may happen tomorrow; they also reflect a desired fiscal future. But like all narratives, they depend on what the authors believe is possible and at best attempt to predict the future.

Economists aren't very good at forecasting the future. No one would have known in January 2019 that Covid 19 would decimate our government fiscal conditions.

Governments as such operate without a proper balance sheet; there is no full accounting of the state of well-being of the key assets of our province: our people, our relationships, and the state of our landscapes. Failure to account for the state of 'well-being' of these key assets that determine our economic future is simply poor accounting.

What if our capital and operating budgets were tied to our genuine wealth and well-being conditions? After all, the word 'wealth' means 'the conditions of well-being' from the 13th Century Old English)?

What would a budget say if it aspired to actually improving a common aspiration of 'better well-being' for all Albertans?

What might we express as a new path towards improved well-being with the pandemic causing us to pause and count our blessings?

In 2019 I prepared (for fun) a fictional Canada 2020 Well-being Budget Speech which many of you liked.

It's amazing what is possible to dream about a different approach to budgeting and governance that would be focused on a simple aspiration: better well-being.

I would love your feedback and comments.


Mar 10, 202117:02
#71: Chief Larry Sault: Get-er-done...Building Sovereign Nations of Well-being

#71: Chief Larry Sault: Get-er-done...Building Sovereign Nations of Well-being

Chief Larry Sault is the former Chief of the Mississaugas of New Credit and former Grand Chief of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians in Southwestern Ontario, which Six Nations was a founding member. The traditional territory of the Six Nations includes the city of Toronto. 

Larry's maternal connection to Six Nations (Iroquois) is from his mother and both great-grandmothers. Through this maternal lineage, Larry is from the Mohawk Wolf Clan. On the paternal Mississauga Nation side, he is from the Eagle Clan.

Larry  spent more than a decade in the Silicon Valley in the Financial Services Industry.

Larry is a remarkable leader with a 'get-er-done' philosophy to life.

"I am a hands-on, ‘get-er-done’ person willing to climb the mountains that are before us. I believe in planning and ensuring we build a strong foundation. I believe in policy and regulatory processes that govern and guide our institutions - BUT our policies should be friendly, allowing for innovation and creativity. I believe in negotiating the best deals possible. But at the end of the day, let’s stop the talking and all the rhetoric, let’s see some production and let’s seize the opportunities that are in our grasp."

Larry brings over 25 years of dynamic leadership of working with First Nations in Canada, Native American Tribes in the United States, Arctic Inuit, Maori of New Zealand and Aborigine of Australia. He has held key positions in political leadership, private sector corporations and non-profit organizations.

Larry helped co-create Sault Minds a business focused on monetizing the development of First Nations lands, creating commercial innovations unique to First Nations communities, and managing First Nations wealth to the betterment of today, tomorrow and generations to come. The company's business model is to fund and commercialize opportunities unique to Indigenous Peoples and provide the support and infrastructure to go-to-market successfully.

You can learn more about Larry's ideas and current work at https://chieflarrysault.com/



Mar 04, 202101:08:19
#70: Lorraine Smith: A regenerative economy of well-being as a super marathon aspiration

#70: Lorraine Smith: A regenerative economy of well-being as a super marathon aspiration

B. Lorraine Smith joins me today (February 12, 2021) to explore her views and years of experience in the world of corporate social responsibility, sustainability reporting and advising companies globally on pursuing what might be viewed as a future fit for genuine well-being.

B. Lorraine Smith is a writer and an independent consultant. She imagines a future where the economy serves a thriving society within a healthy biosphere. She invests her time in making that idea reality.

​As a writer, Lorraine shares her ideas through her blog which introduces different people, places and possibilities that are showing signs of that future emerging today.

Lorraine spends her spare time knitting and running super marathons. Running for 4-5 hours at a time has taught her to learn from the lessons of the natural environment around her. Nature has taught her a great deal that the sustainability road is a very long pursuit. As Ray Anderson of Interface once said 'we are only half-way up Mt. Sustainability.'

As a consultant, since 2004 she has been working with companies in Brazil, Canada, Europe, the UK, and the US, collaborating with corporate leaders who are keen to shape the next phase of business. Along with working directly with clients, she is also a senior consultant with BuzzWord, an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting and strategy group based in the US.

Lorraine is also a member of the Expert Council of the Future-Fit Business Benchmark, an open source tool that quantifies how businesses are contributing to a sustainable future.

Originally from Toronto, Canada, Lorraine has lived in Australia, Brazil, Germany, New Zealand and New York City. She currently calls Montreal home. To find out more about Lorraine, visit https://www.blorrainesmith.com/.

Her latest newsletter — Calling All Angels — walks us through this world as best I can.

Check out the blog for the latest on the shift to the regenerative economy or reach me through any one of the following channels:

Website /      https://www.blorrainesmith.com/

YouTube /    Lorraine's Channel 

Facebook /    https://www.facebook.com/BLorraineSmith/ 

Twitter /        @BLorraineSmith

mobile /        +1.514-632-4848

Instagram /  blorrainesmith

LinkedIn /    https://www.linkedin.com/in/b-lorraine-smith-155a875/

Mar 03, 202154:48
#69: Dr. John Cobb Jr.: Celebrating 96 Years of Wisdom

#69: Dr. John Cobb Jr.: Celebrating 96 Years of Wisdom

Dr. John Cobb Jr. turned 96. John has led a remarkably long and good life. Born in Kobe, Japan and growing up in Hiroshima he moved back to the US (Georgia) in 1944 before the bombing of Hiroshima. John's love for Asian culture continues in his important work on advancing the ideas of an ecological civilization in Asia and in his home in Pomona, California. John is considered one of the world's foremost process theologians. Highly respected in China, Japan and South Korea for his wisdom and counsel on the notion of an ecological civilization, he was an inspiration to Mayor Park Won-soon of Seoul, South Korea. Both John and I were guests of Mayor Park in September 2019 where we explored the prospects of South Korea adopting the concept of an ecological civilization and my well-being economic governance ideas.

It's so important to have elders like John in one's life. I cherish his wise counsel and his encouragement. 

He has been my mentor and encouraged me for many years to keep pursuing the truth about economics, money and well-being.

John was the inspiration behind the Genuine Progress Indicator and the Index for Sustainable Economic Welfare which was developed along with ecologist Dr. Herman Daly, published in their seminal book on sustainability called For the Common Good (1987).

Both John and Herman have inspired my own pursuit of an alternative economics based on well-being and happiness.

I first met John (and his son Cliff Cobb) in 1999 while working on the US Genuine Progress Indicator with the US economic think-tank Redefining Progress. 

Mar 03, 202151:17
#68: Walter Brueggemann: Finding Glimmers of Joy and Laughter in the Wilderness

#68: Walter Brueggemann: Finding Glimmers of Joy and Laughter in the Wilderness

Walter Brueggemann, one of the world's most prolific Old Testament scholars, returns to my podcast to share his wisdom from 87 years of a good life lived with joy. A prophetic voice in the wilderness of our so-called enlightenment, his humour and laughter reminds me of the joy that is always present in the depths of our hearts. 

We all need elders in our lives to help us reflect on the many graces we have been given in our lives.

An economy of well-being is one in which we listen carefully to our elders before they pass on from this earthly existence.

Walter is still writing, his most recent writings can be found on the Church A New.org blog

https://churchanew.org/brueggemann?author=5e8395f4103b585101d04954

Enjoy Walter's voice, crying with joy from the wilderness!


Feb 23, 202145:26
#67: Edmonton Councillor Aaron Paquette: Joy and the Economics of Well-being

#67: Edmonton Councillor Aaron Paquette: Joy and the Economics of Well-being

Edmonton Councillor Aaron Paquette joins me today in a lively and joyful conversation about how Edmonton might orient its decisions and budgeting process towards well-being.

Aaron exudes pure joy and hope when he speaks. His passion for life is infectious.

A gifted visual artist and father of four, Aaron's indigenous roots gives Aaron a unique perspective in politics and his appreciation for my remarkable home of Edmonton, known to the Cree people as the great 'pehonen' or gathering place on Turtle Island (North America). In the word Edmonton is the Cree word 'monto' meaning 'Great Spirit.'

Councillor Paquette is committed to building strong and diverse communities in northeast Edmonton.

Prior to his election to Council, Aaron worked as an award-winning Indigenous artist and author. His work can be viewed in museums, schools, hospitals and LRT stations across our city. His novel, Lightfinder, is taught in schools and post-secondary institutions across Canada. He has also worked with local schools in Edmonton’s north side to help create mural projects.

His passion for education also led him to work with Alberta Education, various school boards and teachers associations to help develop art curriculum and improve academic achievement. In 2012, he created an education conference to lay new ground for more effective approaches to creating healthy and respectful learning environments for students and teachers.

In his role as City Councillor for Ward 4, Aaron sits on Executive Committee, Utility Committee and the City Manager and City Auditor Performance Evaluation Committee. He has sponsored the Council Initiative on Food Security, and has also taken a leadership role working on the Child-Friendly Edmonton, End Poverty Edmonton, Multiculturalism and Urban Isolation/Mental Health initiatives.

Aaron lives in Brintnell with his wife Clarice and their four children.

Jan 25, 202154:41
#65: Leah Geoghegan: Restoring Functional Cellular Health and Well-being
Dec 24, 202046:32
#64: Brynja Magnusson: Discovering the 'gene key' to your life's purpose

#64: Brynja Magnusson: Discovering the 'gene key' to your life's purpose

Brynja Magnusson is my next special guest on the Economy of Well-being podcast. Brynja has Icelandic cultural roots and lives in upstate New York. Her life journey (only 28 years and counting) has led her soaring heights of wisdom and insights to who we are, our purpose for being on earth. Her insights into indigenous animal totems and the ancient Chinese I Ching helps people understand the real nature of their being and life purpose.

Growing up between the lush forests of New York and the mossy lava fields of Iceland, Brynja has been immersed in nature spirituality since childhood.  For over 10 years she has been studying the use of animal totems and the I Ching as a practical tool for guidance and self-awareness.  After several life-altering spiritual encounters in nature resulting in the recovery from chronic illness, the study of spirituality has been her sole focus and career through modalities such as Shamanism, Eastern Spirituality, manual therapies, rituals, initiations, and nature immersion.  Brynja integrates tools such as Human Design and the Gene Keys with the study of symbolic and mystical modalities.  In 2019 Brynja created Ceremoniance, a company dedicated to producing visual and text learning materials to make the study of energetics and spiritual concepts more accessible for beginners or cross-disciplinary students. Ceremoniance uses art and design as the medium for bridging inspiration, interest, and understanding to meaningful wisdom tools.  Brynja has published four products through Ceremoniance since the company's creation one year ago, of which she is the sole artist, designer, and writer.

Website: https://www.brynjamagnusson.com/

Insatgram: @ceremoniance

Dec 19, 202001:00:48
#63: Jesse Harless: Transcending addictions to discover the heart math of well-being.

#63: Jesse Harless: Transcending addictions to discover the heart math of well-being.

Jesse Harless (M.A.), has transcended the trauma of losing his father at the age of 4, then the challenges of addictions, and has become a coach and guide to others (including entrepreneurs) to journey into the source of well-being and joy, the heart. 

Jessie the Founder of  Entrepreneurs in Recovery®, Author, HeartMath® Certified Trainer, Life Coach, Facilitator

He is a leader in the addiction recovery and mental health space.

He is also the author of the best-selling book Smash Your Comfort Zone with Cold Showers and the creator of Entrepreneurs in Recovery® Events, which are highly experiential online and in-person events to help individuals and organizations discover their inherent ability to increase coherence, build resilience, harness strengths, amplify appreciation, and create purposeful visions.

His new book, “If Not You, Then Who?” will be available on 1/22/2021 

To learn more about Jesse, visit his website at RecoveryFacilitation.com

Dec 17, 202036:01
#62: Loren Duffey: The Medicine of Well-being

#62: Loren Duffey: The Medicine of Well-being

Loren Duffey took a very different path from the generational doctors in his family.

He was on the more artistic side of things.

During grade school and through college he studied music with a foundation in business.

After college he traveled and toured in a band for 6 years playing the drums before eventually landing in real estate.

He has been a licensed real estate agent for 20 years now and had been investing in real estate even before that.

His passion for many years was to build and designing homes using 100-year old Baltimore rowhomes as his canvas.

He has a unique/creative style, using salvaged wood details. People lined up to purchase them.

10 years ago he was opened up the energetic arts and that has definitely been his passion ever since.

He strives to spread the word of different healing methods that are available for everyone to use.

This has resulted in the recent website that he is developing called Karma HuBB.

Prior to Covid he co-hosted a healing circle at a wellness center once a month experiencing different modalities for himself.

These days selling real estate is his day job and KarmaHuBB (https://karmahubb.com/) his night job.

He feels he is currently Living with Passion.

I would describe Loren as a 'genuine well-being doctor' in the truest sense of the word 'medicine' which originates from the Latin medicina which means "the healing art,"

Dec 17, 202040:13
#61: Barbara Phillips: 85-year old bison rancher shares her wisdom about what the buffalo and healthy soils have to teach us about a restorative economy of well-being.

#61: Barbara Phillips: 85-year old bison rancher shares her wisdom about what the buffalo and healthy soils have to teach us about a restorative economy of well-being.

Barbara Phillips, a 85-year old former bison/buffalo rancher shares her wisdom about what the buffalo and healthy soils have to teach us about a restorative economy of well-being.

Barbara, who lives in Edmonton, discussed a wide range of topics from her experience as a buffalo rancher in Oregon, regenerative agriculture,  mediation and circle dialogue facilitation.  Barbara shares some excellent tips on advancing an economy of well-being.

Barbara is a skilled and highly experienced mediator, trainer, facilitator, speaker and coach.

She has worked with groups as diverse as ministerial levels of government and top executives of U.S. Fortune 50 companies as well as social services professionals, blue-collar line staff, engineers, lawyers, street people, caregivers and artists, among others.

Her shortcuts help people process complex emotions so as to foster healthy relationships and to remove barriers to functionality.

She has 25 years’ of experience in mediation and facilitation with emphasis on both sensitive issues as well as the complex, technical and highly polarized

She has been an Adjunct Faculty at University of Santa Clara Law School, Golden Gate University Law School, Erickson College, Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society Edmonton, and the Justice Institute’s Conflict Resolution Program and faculty / coach for the TLC Caregivers School in Edmonton

Barbara invites clients to think and see in new ways while providing effective, immediately usable new skills.

Kenneth Cloke the founder and former president of Mediators Beyond Borders has this to say about Barbara:

"Barbara Phillips is brilliant. She is incredibly insightful – not simply in spotting surface issues, or even those that lie hidden beneath the surface – but in rooting out the deeply subconscious, artfully camouflaged, deliberately locked away issues that are key to transformational outcomes. She is gentle, kind, intelligent and articulate, and possesses uncanny accuracy and limitless courage. She has had a profound impact on thousands. May you be fortunate enough to be one of them.“

Dec 06, 202045:01