Is the sustainable investment industry a competition for the conventional one? with Karen Wendt

[This podcast is recorded in German]What is the root of hatred, greed and a false sense ofseparatism in this world?Doesn’t it always start with the connection to ourselves?Someone who is in peace, who feels centered and is connectedto themselves and earth, attuned harmoniously to the world around them will notengage in wars, coups, betrayal or inclined to divide and spread hatred.So it starts with us.Imagine if politicians before parliamentary session took a5-minute meditation together to ground themselves, served each other tea andcoffee as acts of service and connected to one another in meaningful ways -only 5 minutes a day…The world would be a different place.Whether it is yoga, any devotional practice or spiritualpath, these practices are powerful tools beyond what we sometimes imaginepossible.Widespread engagement with spiritual practices and personalreflection, work and the deep connection and attunement to the inner and outerworld would change our societies deeply, sustainably and meaningfully.We create our lived realities, individually andcollectively. It takes hard work, that is often uncomfortable, that is deep andrevealing, but what happens on the other side of that is deeply healing forourselves and the entire planet if we choose this path.The creation of harmony within creates harmony without.The harmonious will seek and create harmony –the distraught will seek destruction.We muse on these topics in this episode which is the firstGerman episode on this podcast 🙏🏼Thank you for listening to this episode ☀🌊🌍which came alive through the voices ofHannah Puchertand your host Stella Sage 🌿

Nikki (@girl_on_gaia) is a special soul who is one of thosepeople defining herself, her purpose and place and this earth in multi-faceted,earth-connected and freedom seeking ways.In this episode we speak about what different ways ofrelating to earth within the current socio-economic systems might look like.New ways of generating an income that are independent from this system butstill utilizes its tools and offer chances to be financially stable all the way tofinancial freedom, while making a positive impact and being able to connect deeply to earth.Nikki is a glowing woman who really walks the talk. Havingmoved from South Africa to Europe at 19 years old in order to explore this partof the world, she moved from years of working hard out of necessity, withoutpurpose, in ways that deteriorated her well-beingto living a slow, purposeful, abundant life in Spain withher partner who shares her values.Many of us are finding out that being disconnected fromearth and hustling all day within a system that funnels our generated energy,monetary or material creations straight up the line to the company we work for,the CEOs and boards and governments of the countries we live in – is simply not it!Let us explore different ways of living that utilize modern tools but also connect us back to more ancestralways of🌱 living off the land, of being present and integrating a slowness backinto our lives that makes our days feel long and full again.💚Nikki’s message from the heart in this conversation is: “the medicine of the world is, that humanity starts seeing itself aspart of the earth again. It is a community. You’re not just a community withthe people around you. You are in community with the trees. You are incommunity with the animals, everything, all the elements in nature […] and thatis the medicine, the solution for going to the next level, the next dimension,the next frequency where we are all working towards the ‘new earth’. “Thank you for listening to this Talk ☀🌊🌍which came alive through the voices ofNikki (@girl_on_gaia)and your host Stella Sage🌿

Tess van Zalinge, a designer from the Netherlands, started her brand in 2016 with the urge to make sustainable couture. What makes her brand unique is that Tess and her Team create entire collections made from waste materials, crafting truly extraordinary pieces that prove that sustainability never diminishes the beauty of fashion but only adds to the allure because it was designed consciously by closing waste streams and using finite resources smartly and respectfully. Tess’s main inspiration comes from Dutch traditional craftsmanship which at its core, like most old traditional ways was inherently sustainable only that it was done out of practicality, financial reasons or emotional reasons, leading to continued repair and care for long lasting garments over decades as the norm. Her way of looking at textiles is influenced by the way her ancestors, repaired, upcycled and re-used garments until the very last thread which is an ecological and simply smart way of looking at any “resource” also beyond fashion. The beauty lies in re-discovering those traditional, artisanal techniques and practices that if utilized and highlighted can find their way back into the here and now. We can all get inspired by smart designing that combines traditional and contemporary technologies to combat and make redundant the craziness of today’s industries that often produce double the waste that it took to produce the intended items! On a planet where SO much clothing exists that it will last to clothe the next SIX generations, there is more than enough material to go round without any company having to produce another single new item for the next hundred of years!   Re-think, re-cycle, re-design, re-use. We hope you get inspired for your own work to look into ancestral crafting if you haven’t done so yet to harness that knowledge and intention that stems from a time where humans grew and produced without waste and for sustenance.   Thank you for listening to this Talk ☀🌊🌍 which came alive through the voices of Tess Van Zalinge and your host Stella Sage 🌿

Stop Ecocide International‘s goal is to create a new international Crime of Ecocide (long-standing, wide-sclae, severe damage to the environment) within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court where it would sit alongside the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression as one of the “crimes against peace”, which are those crimes which are considered to be most serious by humankind. Sue Miller is Head of global networks where her distinctive role is to help seed and socialize the concept of “Ecocide” in as many communities as possible. Sue explains that when people are introduced to the term “Ecocide” and its meaning they can’t believe that this doesn’t exist anyway – that there is no law that protects earth from large scale damage already. So why do crimes against earth, which at the end affect every single one of us, take much more hard work and push to be acknowledged as the crimes they are? Perhaps the lack of political will and the assumption that environmental protection will somehow detract from people’s lives?   You will also find out what happens once countries decide to include Ecocide into their legislature and rules of law. Let us imagine the changes and shifts that would be happening in a world/economies/societies where crimes against Earth are recognized, tried in courts of law and made an ARRESTABLE offense… While you will never be able to bring round all companies it is hopeful to hear that more and more are realizing that business as usual is not an option anymore – change seems to be happening.   We hope you enjoy this Talk ☀🌊🌍 which came alive through the voices of Sue Miller and your host Stella Sage 🌿

Ange Chakana is a permaculture & Montessori school teacher as well as a forest educator. She was also one of my own teachers during my Permaculture Design Course this summer. Ange started Earth Keepers camps two years ago after leaving the US and struggling to find good ways to teach permaculture to children in the school system. We speak about how permaculture is so much more than just land management but a pathfinder and guide in life that allows us to (re-)connect to ourselves, our roots, our skills and abilities which is so transformative in a majorly disconnected world where many humans suffer from “mistaken identities”. Permaculture is about a shift in vocabulary, a shift in language, a shift in the way we relate to ourselves and the world around us. We speak about the capacity, the capabilities we have as people to take responsibility and actively BE the living, breathing, tangible, local transformations, each and every one of us in our own rights. “I think that’s what is needed right now, that we move from being consumer driven to being PRODUCERS and also to realize our ECOLOGICAL IDENTITY.” -starting by questioning our actions and the ways we are living our lives. We explore the question of why “sitting in silence together and deep listening in community has the potential to transform societies”. Ange also shares some practical ways to re-connect, to engage in permaculture, one of them being to live with the seasons – and helps us understand better how we can do this. To experience Ange’s offering for permaculture kids courses visit her website https://www.earthkeepers-camps.org/ or send her a mail for more information as well as offers for adult courses and learning at [email protected] PS if the story Ange shared about the community intersection in Portland you can find more information about this or inspiration and support for transforming your home town here https://cityrepair.org/ Thank you for listening to this Talk ☀🌊🌍 which came alive through the voices of Ange Chakana and your host Stella Sage  

This episode features Andreas Koch, founder of Tourythm which is about creating a new rhythm in the tourism industry to help the people in it to regenerate the world and themselves. A business sector that needs a lot of impulses towards more conscious, earth-aligned practices – the travel and tourism industry -which produces 10 % of GDP and employs 10 % of humans on the planet. Andreas works with hotel Teams to become more sustainable from the ground up. Being holistic and inclusive he connects the localities, local businesses, farmers etc. with hotels or event sites to help weave a web of interconnection and mutual support. Inviting farmers to join forces with hotels to create events in collaboration that may include regenerative wine/olive oil tastings or bringing hotels together with engineering experts to redesign energy flows. “Sustainability may mean, doing less harm to nature. Where we want something of a balance sheet between economic, social and ecological activities – and I feel that is not enough. […]The system is asking for change. […] I always describe climate change as being burnout on the outer and depression on the inner landscape. When I heard about regeneration, about permaculture, I felt as a biologist this is something I can apply to the economic world.” A sustainable hotel for Andreas is one where every relationship inside and outside the hotel, everything that it is connected with (infrastructure, food, suppliers, cleaning, personnel,…) feels regenerative. -Employees as ambassadors for regeneration -Suppliers that regenerate the region through what they are producing -Giving back to visitors so they feel regenerated and can relax and renew in meaningful ways and so much more. We talk about what resilience looks like in this industry and why creating redundancies is important, exploring questions like: “how can we serve not just the clients but also the employees, the land, the culture..?” 💡 Andreas' TIP: Explore socialbnb, traveling to unique accommodations around the world that support local projects, communities and ecosystems for your next meaningful holiday. Thank you for listening to this Talk ☀🌊🌍 which came alive through the voices of Andreas Koch and your host Stella Sage 🌿

Claire Murigande is the host and executive producer of the "Narratives of Purpose Podcast" in which she speaks to global changemakers about social impact topics that are aimed to inspire action. Claire is a scientist (life sciences), speaker and podcast host, with a mission to amplify the voices of changemakers around the world. In this wonderful conversation we are speaking about her connection to nature which is centered much around trying to be self aware through connection to nourishment like taking time out of her day to cultivate different kinds of Kefir in peace and silence : ) We speak about the importance of slowing down especially when things are going fast. Exploring the significant role of "boredom" when it comes to problem solving, idea cultivation and feeding our creativity in an overstimulated world. We speak about the beauty of how placing all our attention and focus on the present moment brings satisfaction and clarity, serving as a remedy to a wide spread "distraction epidemic".   Practical tips from Claire and me to help focus attention and experience more aware, rich moments in our everyday lives to eliminate boredom and to experience the world around us differently. Claire shares some of the common threads she sees within all the changemakers she interviews in terms of creating change and taking responsibility for their actions and the impact they all wish to make. -> The power of taking responsibility “If it’s to be it’s up to me.” 📣Listen to the "Narratives of Purpose Podcast" here   Thank you for listening to this Talk ☀🌊🌍 which came alive through the voices of Claire Murigande and your host Stella Sage 🌿

In this episode I am joined by the beautiful Amy Jane Storrønning who ventures out alone into the wild as a way to re-connect.In the spirit of the saying “We can only truly receive when we are empty” Amy has found a way for herself to strip away the impositions of the world and society when she needs a break and a recharge.Discomfort is radical.Silence is radical.Finding peace within is radical.Sitting with our discomfort, truly feeling ourfeelings and taking responsibility for them is radical.In this episode we discuss the blessings,gratitude and transformation we receive when we engage with and sit with discomfort.We speak about the urgency and beauty of becoming aware again. Of walking through our days, neighborhoods, streets,homes, forests, beaches, with open eyes, ears and hearts. Of being present and attuned to our surroundings.To see them for what they are and to be less distracted on our walk through life.Amy shares what growing up in the rainforest meant for her development and how it meant understanding that ecosystem and placing trust in earth at a very early age.She speaks about how she is grounding into “real life” and how you can still hold spiritually and sensitivity while working a 9 to 5 and being embedded into regular society.After all, life is the crossing of manydifferent realities, everyday, everywhere.I want to leave you with something that touchedme deeply that Amy said towards the end of the podcast:“I feel like everything as it is, is perfect right now. I don’t feel that anything is wrong. […] If it’s still here there is still something for us to learn from it. If there was nothing left to learn then we would have learned from, transmuted and moved through it and we’d be in a different iteration of reality.” If you would like to get to know Amy better or experience her Gene Key readings and more, feel free to visit her site and offerings here. Thank you for listening to this podcast🌊☀🌍which came alive through the voices of Amy Jane Storrønning and your hostStella Sage 🌿

You want to know more about the world of sustainable investing? About the opportunities, obstacles, how reliable ESG criteria are and what it would potentially take to overpower the harmful investments which are still ruling the industry - then this is the episode for you. Karen Wendt is the CEO of ECCOS Impact, ECCOScience Researcher and Lecturer, Editor for the Springer Nature Series "Investment Reinvented" Investment Banker, Positive Impact Investor and Serial Impact Entrepreneur. She is honest and knowledgeable and shares her very objective opinions about the current state of the sustainable investment management industry. What is the Impact of the EU Taxonomy Directive in comparison to filtering by ESG guidelines? How may large sums of money be divested from dirty funds to truly sustainable ones without hurting pensioners ? Karen explains the current significance of Infrastructure Finance and what decoupling (constructing economic growth without using more planetary resources) is all about. Next to the need for a global Societal Contract in Sustainable Finance we also talk about the turn off topic of politicians and conventional economics - DEGROWTH. How may we reshape the industry and shift it towards truly meaningful, plentiful and sustainable investments and opportunities without creating financial and political upheaval and division while also closing the gap of already deeply engrained national and global inequalities.... Let's dive into it together! this episode came alive through the voices of Karen Wendt and your host Stella Sage 🌍🌊☀🌱

-Midwifery care that bridges the sacred and the scientific- Melissa Chappell has been helping babies enter this world in holistic ways for many years and is a vessel of knowledge when it comes to preserving the naturally induced physiological state women go into during the birth process that is vital for a natural birthing scenario. She got her licensure in 2016 and opened her first birth birth center in 2018. She has since opened another birth center and with her team served over 500 families! Melissa has had the opportunity to travel the world doing birth work in Haiti, Costa Rica, Kenya, and Ethiopia. She is a wonderful person to speak and listen to, full of knowledge and love for the process of birth and connecting it back to its natural roots. In this episode we debunk some myths surrounding birth that are very common. Melissa talks us through some of the ways of how the setting for a safe, holistic delivery can be created and why she isn't a fan of in-hospital births if not absolutely necessary. We speak about the importance of re-establishing trust. In oneself in earthly processes, the knowledge that birth is natural to us and that our body knows how to navigate it if we let it. Partially, this episode was very emotional. Honestly, although it is a long way ahead, I could already picture myself feeling very safe under Melissa's guidance to support my own birth process one day. 🦋If you are located in Provo or Utah county and feel called to contact Melissa to have her and her Team guide you on your path to and through a holistic birth process, find her website here You have been wanting to take a doula or widwifery training? Great news! Melissa offers courses to carry on this sacred knowledge and practice👼🏼🌱 Thank you for listening to this Talk☀🌊🌍 which came alive through the voices of Melissa Chappell and your host Stella Sage🌿