Interconnected: Exploring the World Through Systemic Design

What if the way we build homes is part of the problem — and the solution — to climate change, affordability, and outdated systems? In this episode, we talk with Chris Anderson, CEO of Vantem, about how his company is reimagining housing from the ground up. Using a modular, factory-built approach and an innovative panel system, Vantem is delivering energy-efficient, cost-effective homes at scale — without the usual trade-offs. It’s a conversation about systems thinking, climate impact, and why rethinking “shelter” could shift everything we live in — literally and figuratively.

What does it really mean for a business to be purpose-led? In this episode, we sit down with Danielle Duell, founder of People With Purpose, to explore how clarity of purpose can transform everything—from strategy and governance to employee engagement and long-term resilience. Danielle shares powerful examples from brands like Kellogg’s, McDonald’s, and Tesla, and breaks down the difference between having a purpose statement and being a truly purpose-led organization. We dig into how purpose helps businesses navigate uncertainty, why it matters for decision-making, and what it looks like to design a business model that creates value for all stakeholders—not just shareholders.

In this episode, we delve into the intricate world of systemic design with expert Mieke van der Bijl Brouwer. Systemic design merges systems thinking with design theory to address complex challenges not by dissecting them into smaller parts but by enhancing their interactions. Mieke explains how this approach can transform organizational behaviors and lead to significant societal shifts. From rethinking university systems for better student well-being to using visual tools for collaborative problem-solving, we explore how systemic design fosters deeper understanding and innovation. Join us as we uncover the potential of thinking in systems, revealing how interconnected perspectives can lead to meaningful change.

Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of systems thinking with Michael Lindfield, a visionary with over five decades of international experience. From his early days as a high school dropout to his transformative roles at the Findhorn Community and Boeing, Michael's journey epitomizes a life dedicated to exploring the depths of human potential and societal transformation. Now the Board President at Meditation Mount in Ojai, California, he shares his profound insights into the interconnectedness of self and environment. Tune in to discover how you can engage with the world and yourself more deeply.

Have you ever found yourself in a rut? Do you feel like your creative spark has flickered out? Maybe you're not even sure you even have that spark. In this episode, we engage with two extraordinary minds, Jane Hilberry, Professor of Creativity and Innovation, and Felicia Rose Chavez, Creativity and Innovation Scholar, both at Colorado College. They're here to shed light on the untapped creativity within each of us, even those moments when we might not feel particularly creative.

This story about a granite and gravel company (Luck Stone) pivoting into a values-based leadership and coaching not-for-profit business (Inner Will Leadership Institute) as well as a spin-off of a number of related businesses (Luck Companies) is a story about the power of vision. It’s about why connecting with your values matters and is an example of positive turbulence in action. To make things even better, we were able to talk to Dr. Tom Epperson, who started working at Luck Stone in college as a summer job and grew with the business through the transition to being the President of Inner Will (as well as the author of InnerWill: Developing Better People, Braver Leaders, and a Wiser World through the Practice of Values-Based Leadership) and Greg McCann a consultant, coach, presenter, author and professor and on the board of Inner Will. Don’t miss it.  

From the Center for Medical Simulation in Boston to our periphery, we bring you a conversation with Jenny Rudolph, Executive Director at the Center for Medical Simulation in Boston, Massachusetts. Jenny is a master at team building and leadership and a natural and effective turbulator. Leadership discussions are often focused on individual strengths and skills. Jenny offers us a framework for how individuals combine to create effective teams.

The problem with innovation is that it's handled like a business with masculine energy. It is very fact-based, data-based KPIs performance, speed, or so says Fabienne Jacquet, author of Venus Genius: The Female Prescription. Fabienne offers a solution and a whole lot of positive turbulence by making an important link to the power of feminine traits and how these are key to the front-end of innovation. She's pointing at something that everyone sees, but no one is talking about.

Is your team stuck in a rut? Maybe you're all burnt out after flexing, managing and adjusting through the pandemic. Join John Cimino, founder of Creative Leaps International, as we explore one highly effective way he developed to quickly generate positive turbulence for teams and change cultures using a technique called Concert of Ideas. It's unusual. It's out there. And it works! John's got 30 years of experience doing this and he shares some amazing stories. 

Darryl Stickel, the founder of Trust Unlimited, has cracked the code on building and maintaining trust. He’s the rare academic who not only has a big breakthrough in his field but also has developed a highly practical model. He’s applied this model in war zones, business settings, and families, all with great success. Darryl offers us the gift of learning how to build better and nurture trust. Our conversation with him dives into how vulnerability, uncertainty and context play into creating or inhibiting trust…and offers more than a few solid insights along the way.