Learn from Katy Shields & Joshua Stehr about principles, visions, and money narratives
We have the privilege and joy of listening to Katy Shields and Joshua Stehr and their pioneering explorations on a Regenerative Economy. Both share examples, principles, visions, and seeds of a Regenerative Economic System. Katy, now joined by Joshua, has designed and hosted a space for practitioners to collectively explore, learn, and apply regenerative economy ideas in the real world.
In this Episode, we discuss how for all three of us, regeneration equals genuine sustainability. Katy explains the difference between weak sustainability and strong sustainability and why many of us working in this field now prefer using the word regeneration to emphasise the need for strong sustainability practices.
I share how I had to unlearn my early resistance to economics to drive change. Katy traces her path from mainstream economics through the 2008 crisis and the Club of Rome works to systems thinking and doughnut economics, as introduced by Kate Raworth and the work of Daniella Meadows.
Joshua shares why design work kept running into extractive business models and growth incentives, and why learning how money works became a necessity.
I asked how the Regenerative Economy Lab works, and Katy describes a two-day outdoor and indoor lab that helps people move from theory to practice.
We discuss change at many levels, from European monetary choices and wellbeing economy work to local community wealth building and new ownership models like steward ownership and worker-owned firms.
I asked for concrete examples, and Joshua talked about Mended and about a German platform that helps farmers access subsidies for regenerative practices.
We underline that partnership and trusted relationships are a catalyst for implementation and that learning by doing in local projects builds capability.

💡 HIGHLIGHTS of this Episode
✨ From financial markets and austerity to systems thinking and Doughnut Economics
✨ Contrasting weak sustainability with strong sustainability and contextualizing regeneration
✨ The Regenerative Economy Lab is a two-day experience that links theory and action
✨ Mapping change from European money conversations and wellbeing economy ideas to local community wealth building and steward ownership
✨ Examples and Principles of potential regenerative business models/communities
👋 ABOUT Katy Shields (she / her)
Katy spent most of her career as a "mainstream" economic researcher and writer for corporations and media brands such as The Economist, Financial Times, and Newsweek. Economics is at the heart of decision-making, and she now believes critical flaws in mainstream thinking have greatly contributed to our multiple, overlapping crises. Katy writes and blogs about this on LinkedIn and has begun research for a series that will expose the problems and highlight pathways to reform.

🔗 CONNECT & follow Katy's work
👉 Website
👉 Regenerative Economy Lab
👉 Tipping Point Podcast
👉 LinkedIn

👋 ABOUT Joshua (he/they)
Joshua is a designer who turns strategic thinking into tangible impact — for people and the planet. He has over 10 years of experience designing services with purpose-driven startups, corporates, non-profits, public services, and consultancies such as Dark Matter Labs, Oatly, Mended, Work On Climate, and Impacc.

He's currently interested in regenerative food & agriculture, new ecologically and socially focused economic paradigms, and how we transition to them, as well as restoring and strengthening our capacity and infrastructure for empathy, conflict resolution, constructive disagreement as the foundations for a more resilient democracy.
🔗 CONNECT & follow Joshua's work
👉 Website: https://joshuastehr.com/
👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuastehr/

📚 RESOURCES to dive deeper
➡ Club of Rome Website
➡ Club of Rome - Books & Reports
➡ Kate Raworth - Doughnut Economics Book
➡ Kate Raworth Website + Action Lab
➡ Tim Jackson - Postgrowth
➡ Donella Meadows - Website
➡ Wellbeing Economy Alliance
➡ Purpose Film by Martin Oetting
➡ Mended Company
➡ Monzo Company
➡ Einhorn Company
➡ Hope in the Dark Book
💌 CONNECT & engage with Pia
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn to follow and support each other’s work. 🤗

If you consider yourself an #impactjobseeker or aspiring #impactpreneur at the beginning of your journey, jump on my Newsletter “Impact Insights” where I regularly share tools and best practices from my work as a sustainability consultant and system change facilitator. 🤓

For daily insights “behind the scenes” and event updates, join the extended community on the @work.with.impact Instagram account. 🧐💓

Take care of yourself and others!
Pia 🤍

P.S. You can also watch this Episode on our YouTube Channel to see our faces 👋 🙂

#regeneration #doughnuteconomics #postgrowth #systemsthinking #wellbeingeconomy #communitywealth #stewardownership #impactdesign #regenerativefinance #climatetransition #cooperative #strongsustainability