Currents: Podcast #7 The Ecosystem Paradigm

It’s easy to think of ourselves as individuals. We go about our day thinking about what “I’m” going to do. About what “I’m” going to eat or what “I” think.

But what if you understood that you’re actually not just an individual — distinct, tidily separate, and siloed from the rest of the world? What if you understood yourself as a collective — an ecosystem within an ecosystem within a context and constellation far bigger than just you?

Our existence is inextricably connected with and interdependent upon all kinds of ecosystems: from our micro-biome to the environment we live in, to the plants, animals, and beings thousands of miles away who are a part of the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food that sustains us. From a spiritual perspective, we hear all the time that “We are all connected. We are all one.”

But what if we actually understood ourselves that way? What would it mean for how we create change? How we understand ourselves as the planet we are here to care for? How we design our businesses? How we connect with each other across spacial, personal, and ecological divides?

These are some of the inspiration, reflections, and questions sparked in this episode of Currents with Innovation Architect, Author, Keynote Speaker, and friend, Neil Redding of “The Ecosystem Paradigm.” Neil has been working at the intersection of experience design, technology, and systems for decades now, so it was fun and fascinating to dive into this new way of looking at the world and what it means for how we think about business, what we create, and our place in it.

In it, we talk about everything from how higher consciousness leads to more holistic innovation, to how convergence of AR & the built environment could mean deeper human connection, to how psychedelics or spiritual practice could help business become less siloed and transform the climate movement as we know it by helping us understand that caring for the planet means caring for ourselves.

This is a jam-packed episode so take a listen and let me know what you feel.

• What is the benefit of ecosystem awareness for creating a more just and beautiful world?
• How might we make the shift from "Ego" to "Eco" — in our personal consciousness? Collectively? What practices/processes have been helpful for you in making this leap and what might support others?
• What are the implications/opportunities for business leaders and how might we invite them to the table?

Chime in. I’d love to hear your thoughts. We are, after all, in this together. 💛✨