Best Grow Ensemble Podcasts (2024)

1
Ep.49 Through Play You Find the Kid in You 54:45

19d ago54:45

54:45

La Transplanisphère, based in Paris, France, has been doing cutting-edge political theatre for two decades bringing artists, students, and “ordinary people” together to explore the political and cultural challenges facing Europe as it becomes more diverse. In residence, since 2018, at the Lycée Albert Schweitzer in Le Raincy, a working-class suburb…

1
Ep.48 Reviled, Mocked, Ignored 52:57

2M ago52:57

52:57

Desire Wandan and Dan Friedman co-host this episode with guest Ramsey Kanaan, publisher of PM Press, the most impactful publisher and distributor of anarchist, Marxist, and radical literature in the United States. The conversation touches on the history of anarchism (“reviled, mocked, ignored”) Kanaan’s own embrace of radical politics at the age of…

1
Ep.47 Dancing Toward Better Futures for the Planet 49:30

3M ago49:30

49:30

Dr. Jame McCray, grew up in Brooklyn, “hanging out with the ants and caterpillars on my block.” Today she is the Managing Director of the Alliance for Watershed Education at the National Wildlife Federation, a member of the Board of Directors of Black Marine Science, and the founder and leader of Ecotonic Movement, an organization that facilitates …

1
Ep.46 “Land for People, Not for Profit” How Unhoused People in Cape Town Turned an Abandoned Hospital into a Community 54:55

4M ago54:55

54:55

Cissie Gool House was an abandoned hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, empty and decaying for 40 years, when homeless activists snuck past security on the night of March 27, 2017, and began an occupation that, seven years later, has transformed it into a vibrant self-governing community of 1,000 formerly homeless, evicted, and displaced people. Tw…

1
#254 - What Makes a Great Company? - Dean's Beans Journey to Worker Ownership 1:22:29

4M ago1:22:29

1:22:29

Welcome to the Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast. In this thought-provoking episode titled "What Makes a Great Company?" we're diving into the inspiring journey of Dean's Beans Organic Coffee Company. Joining us are two remarkable guests, Dean Cycon, the founder of Dean's Beans, and the new CEO, Beth Spong, who are here to shed light on …

1
#253 - Seth Godin: How to Escape Industrial Capitalism's Race to the Bottom & Do Work Worth Doing 55:38

5M ago55:38

55:38

Yes, we need to make a living. But how do we make a life? It might not simply be about the money. When the world is in turmoil, when our health is at risk and the future seems murky, perhaps paychecks and productivity aren’t enough. Perhaps we can’t manage our way into the future. What if we created the best job someone ever had? What if we built a…

1
Ep.45 Homeless World Cup 51:08

5M ago51:08

51:08

The Homeless World Cup, founded in 2003, today brings unhoused people together in 70 countries to connect through the universal language of football, each year culminating in a World Cup tournament in a different city. Founder and leader Mel Young, and formerly homeless player turned referee Sarah Frohwein talk with host Desire Wanden about why and…

1
#252 - Is Globalization Good or Bad? The Effects of NAFTA & Global Supply Chains ⛓️ 31:09

5M ago31:09

31:09

On December 8th, 1993, Bill Clinton signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) into law. In his remarks at the signing, Clinton proclaimed, “NAFTA means jobs. American jobs and good-paying American jobs. If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't support this agreement.” Two decades after NAFTA had been in effect (1993 - 2013) the Economic Po…

1
#251 - 7 Examples of Greenwashing 23:22

6M ago23:22

23:22

In this episode of Grow Ensemble, host Cory Ames delves into the deceptive tactics of greenwashing, where companies mislead the public about their environmental and social responsibility. Through 7 compelling examples, Cory sheds light on how businesses use certifications, misleading marketing claims, and acquisitions to present themselves as susta…

1
#250 - What Makes Great Coffee? ☕️ 1:04:32

6M ago1:04:32

1:04:32

5 roasts, over 5 regions, and the story of the coffee supply chain from farm to cup. Our task here is to explore and reconsider this question: what makes great coffee? To do so I’ve enlisted the help of my many friends at Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee. Dean’s Beans is a 100% employee-owned, Certified B Corporation based out of Orange, Massachusetts. …

1
Ep.44 Performing Peace in the Wake of War 1:00:55

6M ago1:00:55

1:00:55

In this episode, Peter Harris, one of Israel’s major innovators of community-based theatre, shares the experiences and insights of fifty years of creating performances with marginalized communities. With the war raging in Gaza, he also talks about his work over the last decade in the Theatre Studies Department at the Western Galilee Academic Colleg…

1
Ep.43 Revolutionizing Relationships: Murray Dabby & Carrie Sackett on Social Therapeutic Coaching 48:56

7M ago48:56

48:56

In this episode of All Power To The Developing, Host Desire Wandan sits down with Murray Dabby and Carrie Sackett, the authors of "Social Therapeutic Coaching: A Practical Guide to Group and Couples Work." Our conversation dives into the heart of their upcoming book, exploring the innovative approaches and transformative methods they use for group …

1
Ep.42 Building Play Ensembles to Change the World 1:08:03

8M ago1:08:03

1:08:03

In 2020 with the pandemic ravishing Brazil and the country’s president doing nothing to combat it, a group of progressive Brazilian educators, led by Dr. Fernanda Liberali, of the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo and an East Side Institute Associate, found a way to move forward through play. Inspired by the Global Play Brigade, which was…

1
#249 - The 10 Characteristics of Success in Social Entrepreneurship 1:34:54

9M ago1:34:54

1:34:54

What does success mean to you? Defining success in a field can define the field. Defining success for ourselves will define our lives. And so here, friend and coach of mine, Paul Zelizer and I go through the essential exercise of defining what to each of us makes for a successful social entrepreneur. Paul is a business coach for social entrepreneur…

1
Ep.41 Co-Creating Our World 59:40

9M ago59:40

59:40

On the 30th Anniversary of the Taos Institute, co-founder Kenneth Gergen shares the birth of social constructionism, its challenge to the assumptions of modernism, and the impact it has had both in and beyond the academy. During this wide-ranging conversation with host Desire Wandan, Gergen discusses the practices, such as appreciative inquiry and …

1
#248 - Are we even close? | ensemble #1 15:03

9M ago15:03

15:03

In a little over a decade, Houston has housed over 28,000 people who were experiencing homelessness. The U.S.’s 4th largest city has cut its total homelessness figures by more than 60% since committing to tackle this issue head-on in 2012. Representatives from cities nationwide visit Houston to learn about how they’ve achieved such progress. Housto…

1
#247 - The Preamble: What's in a Name? | ensemble #0 7:17

10M ago7:17

7:17

We're thrilled to introduce a new format of the show — what we’ll be calling Ensembles. These ensembles are designed to be something of a meditation, helping us to explore the art of living and working sustainably and building a better world, from a different perspective. The goal here through sharing various stories from the wide world of sustaina…

1
Ep.40 Performing Environmental Education 57:02

10M ago57:02

57:02

Francine Kilemann and Marcia Donadel are bringing their experience with site-specific, immersive theatre to elementary school education in Brazil. Through Plato Cultural they lead students and teachers in creating fictional worlds in which the children become “SOS Agents” from the future tasked with helping to save the environment. The months-long …

1
#246 - Quit Stressing Me Out: How to Restore the World's Dying Coral Reefs 52:10

10M ago52:10

52:10

The right amount of stress at the right time. That’s all it requires to trigger coral to grow anywhere from 25—50x it’s natural rate as it would in the “wild.” In the practice of coral farming, this is called microfragmenting. Our guest today, Sam Teicher, is the co-founder of Coral Vita. In Freeport, Grand Bahama, Coral Vita is farming coral (usin…

1
Ep.39 Rhymes, Beats and Development 1:20:34

11M ago1:20:34

1:20:34

Nuyorican M.C., poet, and hip-hop educator Intikana shares his development as an artist, activist, and educator. He traces his journey through the economic poverty and cultural richness of the Bronx, the challenges of commercial co-optation, and bringing his revolutionary hip-hop educational techniques to young people in kindergartens, foster homes…

1
Ep.38 Therapy for and by the People 58:22

12M ago58:22

58:22

The ASSIM (Like This) Institute in Florianopolis, Brazil is dedicated to bringing therapy free or at affordable rates to those who need it the most—the poor, the oppressed and the marginalized. Not only does ASSIM bring therapy to the people, it also provides poor people with free therapeutic training that allows them to lead groups in their own co…

1
All Power To The Developing | JUNE 2023 UPDATE 1:54

1y ago1:54

1:54

In this time of political, ecological and emotional crisis, Developing Across Borders has emerged as a Zoom-enabled support network for activists and others around the world. This month "All Power to the Developing" would like to draw your attention to "Border Crossers Build Their Culture." This episode is even more relevant now than when it was fi…

1
Ep.37 American History, Black Heritage and Progressive Activism 56:58

1y ago56:58

56:58

Darryl Heller, lifelong progressive political activist, shares his journey from grassroots organizing in Boston and New York to becoming a labor historian, a professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at Indiana University, and director of the South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center. “I don’t think we can realize our full humanity if we're not develop…

1
#245 - What Is a Sustainable Product? (And How Can You Identify One?) 38:19

1y ago38:19

38:19

Assessing the sustainability of any individual product or company is a core facet of the work we do here at Grow Ensemble. But if there’s no agreed-upon definition of “sustainability,” it’s unclear what anyone means when they say their product is sustainable. So, for the sake of setting important definitions, here we are asking: What is a sustainab…

1
Ep.36 Theatre-Making in a Prison Community 50:55

1y ago50:55

50:55

Join host Desire Wandan in a conversation with Rivka Eckert—theatre maker, activist, and educator—about her creative work with homeless youth and police officers in Arizona and with prisoners, correctional officers, and community members in the prisons of upstate New York. Eckert, a professor in the Theatre and Dance Department at the State Univers…

1
#244 - Doing Real Estate Development Differently, with Anyeley Hallová of Adre 1:08:09

1+ y ago1:08:09

1:08:09

The role of a real estate developer is not only to improve a piece of land or build to increase its monetary value. They are also responsible for designing an environment and community that can promote sustainability, social justice, and equity. Anyeley Hallová is a real estate developer and the Founder of Adre, a community-driven real estate devel…

1
Ep.35 Let’s Imagine Impossible Worlds Together 41:36

1+ y ago41:36

41:36

Steven Licardi spent most of his childhood and adolescence, in his words, “in-and-out of psych wards.” He emerged from our oppressive and brutal “mental health” system with his flame of creativity burning brightly. He now shares that creativity with his clients as a social worker, social therapist and innovative poet and artist. In this fascinating…

1
Ep.34 Playworlds of Imagination and Development 36:32

1+ y ago36:32

36:32

Playworlds are a performatory approach to early childhood education that brings children and teachers together to create an imaginary world where they can all develop emotionally, cognitively, and socially. Dr. Beth Ferholt of Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York is one of the world’s leading practitioners and…

1
#243 - What's Possible with Hydropower, with Gia Schneider of Natel Energy 49:38

1+ y ago49:38

49:38

Hydropower was the first and is now the oldest large-scale source of renewable energy that we’ve deployed worldwide. Hydropower offers a unique set of advantages in the context of an entirely decarbonized energy grid. It can offer storage capacity and be more consistent when sources like wind and solar are not available. Gia Schneider is the CEO of…

1
Ep.33 What’s So Funny About Growth and Development? 49:35

1+ y ago49:35

49:35

This special episode, originally released by Laugh Box, the podcast of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, brings humorists Katy Bee and Jim Bob Williams together with East Side Institute director Dr. Lois Holzman to talk, joke, and giggle about the importance of humor, fun and happiness in human development. Guaranteed to raise some…

1
#242 - How to be a Conscious Consumer 34:16

1+ y ago34:16

34:16

There are two seemingly contradicting realities of “conscious consumerism”: No matter how “consciously” we buy, we aren’t going to shop our way into a more sustainable and equitable world. The ways we do/don’t spend our money are incredibly impactful. Maybe this is confusing at first glance, but it becomes clearer when we explore what conscious con…

1
Ep.32 The Efficiency of Play: A powerful modality for inclusion 42:10

1+ y ago42:10

42:10

Based in Mexico City, Lorena Elizondo is a free-lance consultant and feminist activist who works with corporations, NGOs and community groups, using play, improvisation and performance to explore conflict and structural barriers. “Play is efficient — it may not be fast — but through play, far more voices can be heard,” she says about the power of p…

1
Ep.31 Hip Hop Impresario, King UpRock, Exports Brooklyn-Born Beats to Communities Worldwide 48:44

1+ y ago48:44

48:44

Ralph Casanova, aka King Up Rock—hip hop dance pioneer, international teacher, and a community organizer with deep roots in his neighborhood of Bushwick, Brooklyn—shares his life, art, and love for his community with host Desire Wandan. His father was a noted conga player, his mother an expert salsa dancer and Casanova was playing drums and piano a…

1
#241 - Magic Exists 8:23

1+ y ago8:23

8:23

Magic is all around us, whether we are looking for it or not. Unlike the supernatural forces often featured in books and movies, this form of magic operates on the miracles of nature; the wonderful things Mother Nature creates, such as life, and her power to maintain the co-existence of all. In today’s episode, Cory explores the existing magic that…

1
#240 - What's Next: Learn. Understand. Love. Protect. Repeat. ∞ 9:09

1+ y ago9:09

9:09

The Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation podcast is back with exciting, meaningful, and impactful discussions to help make the world a better place! Listen in to hear about the new approach of sharing stories that matter to learn what is possible in creating sustainable discussions, and understanding the impact of what we can do to save the plane…

1
Ep.30 Identity, Trauma and Development in Taiwan 48:31

1+ y ago48:31

48:31

In 2022 the conflicted and shifting relationships between Taiwan, China, and the United States have gained worldwide attention. Within that global frame, this intimate political conversation between East Side Institute co-founder and director Lois Holzman and Taiwanese social worker, activist, and political organizer Peiyu Kuo takes on a special si…

1
Ep.29 Performance of a Lifetime: Developing Leaders Through Play 42:10

2y ago42:10

42:10

Founded in 1996, Performance of a Lifetime (POAL) has pioneered bringing play and improvisation into corporations, non-profit organizations and government agencies. Working with clients as diverse as the Bank of America and the United States Olympic Committee, Jet Blue and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, POAL has invited organizational leaders to d…

1
Ep.28 Voice Arts, New Zealand: Giving a Performatory Voice to the Elderly & Unheard 46:59

2y ago46:59

46:59

Meet East Side Institute Associate, Nicola Pauling, whose Wellington, New Zealand-based Voice Arts builds community through play and performance. Most recently, bringing performance workshops into nursing and retirement homes for the elderly, Voice Arts takes theatre games and exercises used by actors to prepare for the stage and adapts them — “see…

1
#239 - We’re Taking a Short Break! Here’s Why & When We’ll Be Back 14:05

2y ago14:05

14:05

Check out this latest episode to hear about our plans moving forward for the Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast. TLDR; We're taking a break for September, but will be back in October telling more stories about all things building a better world. But! With a new approach. :) -- -- 💌 BETTER WORLD WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: The Better World Weekly i…

1
#238 - How (& Why) to Institute Shorter Work Weeks, with Dr. Alex Pang 59:23

2y ago59:23

59:23

Overwork and burnout – so prevalent in today’s society that over 60% of employees around the globe suffer from workplace stress, creating billions of additional health costs annually. By re-examining how we work and reducing the number of working hours each week, we can greatly reduce this additional stress and financial burden. Dr. Alex Pang is th…

1
#237 - How Business Can Help Get Money Out of Politics, with John McCrea of American Promise 35:57

2y ago35:57

35:57

In any political election—especially major ones, such as the upcoming midterm elections in the United States—it’s important to know where the money to fund various campaigns is coming from. As citizens, we should also understand how that flow of money (both in and out) affects the business community. John McCrea is the National Business Network Man…

1
#236 - How to End the World's 'Hurricane of Hunger' in One Generation, with Roland Bunch of Better Soils, Better Lives 59:29

2y ago59:29

59:29

The world's hunger crisis continues to worsen, affecting millions of people globally. Most people refer to this problem as a result of climate change, but the reality is that 80% of the problem is caused by soil, and only about 20% by climate change. Roland Bunch is one of the most well-respected thought leaders in regenerative land development and…

1
Ep.27 Does Dementia Have a Future? Challenging the Tragedy Narrative with Play & Poetics 47:16

2y ago47:16

47:16

Dementia, for most of us, is associated with stigma, fear and dehumanization. What if, instead of approaching it as a dreaded medical disease that we had to fight, we collaborated with it and found ways to help those diagnosed—along with those around them—to continue to be creative and grow? That’s exactly what John Killick has been doing for thirt…

1
#235 - The Making of an Impact Report, with Annie Agle of Cotopaxi 1:01:11

2y ago1:01:11

1:01:11

An impact report is a document essential in measuring a company's impact on people and the planet. It’s a tool that can help businesses align their core values and make informed decisions, providing insight and promoting a culture of accountability and transparency for customers and value chain members. Annie Agle is the Senior Director of Sustaina…

1
#234 - How to Fix Chicken Farming with Regenerative Agriculture, with Paul Greive of Pasturebird 1:06:35

2y ago1:06:35

1:06:35

Whether a fatty snack or nutritious meal, all the food we consume has a massive impact on our bodies. That’s why it’s important that we have access to foods that are safe, nutritious, affordable, and, ideally, work in harmony with the environment. Paul Greive is an accountant, marine veteran, family man, and founder of Pasturebird. Pasturebird is o…

1
#233 - How to Buy Less, Buy Better, and End Consumer Culture, with Aja Barber 1:01:45

2y ago1:01:45

1:01:45

Do you ever wonder where old clothes end up? We see so many ads for unlimited types of clothing, the shops are full of people… When they’re worn out or just tired of a style, do most people donate items? Repurpose them? Recycle? The simple answer: most of them go into a trash wasteland and end up contributing to climate change. Aja Barber is an eco…

1
#232 - The Future of Finance & Social Enterprise on the Good Future Podcast, with John Treadgold 48:05

2y ago48:05

48:05

Sustainable impact investing is one way for businesses to have financial gains and positively impact social and environmental issues at the same time. John Treadgold is a sustainable investment expert and the Founder and host of the Good Future podcast. Good Future highlights business leaders in sustainable, ESG (Environmental, Social and Governanc…

1
Ep.26 The Sound of Development: Ursel Schlicht Conducts a World-Music Sonic Exchange 39:46

2y ago39:46

39:46

Can music be developmental? Probably not. However, the creation of music—particularly when done in ensemble through improvisation—most certainly can. Ursel Schlicht, an innovative music maker based in Kassel, Germany, shares her approaches to creating music across political and cultural borders. Her “Sonic Exchange” program is an international cruc…

1
#231 - How to Make a Clean Energy Transition that Benefits All, with Brett Isaac of Navajo Power 52:06

2y ago52:06

52:06

There are different ways to generate power and electricity, one being coal mining. But this method has a significant environmental impact, such as soil erosion, loss of natural habitat, and pollution. After Brett came home from college, his community decided it was time to start a transition. They chose Brett to help build a company that provides c…

1
#230 - How (& Why) to Save the Mangroves, with Vahid Fotuhi of Blue Forest 1:04:44

2y ago1:04:44

1:04:44

Vahid Fotuhi is the Founder and CEO of Blue Forest, a mangrove forest restoration and conservation development organization. He is also the Founder of the Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA), the largest and most active solar trade organization in the Middle East. Vahid has 25 years of experience in the sustainable and renewable energy i…

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