Permaculture Expert Interviews

Hi all,

I have been doing interviews for my website, thesociocapitalist, where I am "showcasing real change throughout the world."  As a result, a lot of my interviews have been with permaculture experts.

Here is one I just published with Paul Wheaton...

http://thesociocapitalist.com/2653/permaculture-interview-paul-wheaton/


Please let me know what you think about the interviews and how I can improve. I'm quite new at this but am having a lot of fun exploring all the cool stuff happening in the world with permaculture.



-Luke

I looked at some of your other interviews... really nice idea.

One interesting aspect... when your interviewee is talking, any movement on your part is distracting... even when you eyes scan.  In most productions, the shot switches away from the interviewer for this reason.  But in your productions you have to work extra hard to make yourself extra neutral during the interviewees part.  Although it probably feels weird, I bet you couldn't be too still while listening.

I would be interested in a little more on the people themselves, who they are, what they are doing, and how they feel about that.  Maybe using the initial part of the interview to cast a portrait of the person rather than their ideas.

Consider not only drawing out the main ideas of you interviewer, but perhaps also challenge them, perhaps from the perspective of the dominant paradigm.  Allow the interviewer to have that dialog with 'society' that allows us to try on their frame of reference.

I don't need you to agree or disagree with the interviewer.  Keep the focus on them, adn represent different points of view as much as your 'self'

just my 2 bits... thanks for what you do.

Thanks Paul!

-It is indeed for me to sit still and stay focused on the camera but knowing how distracting it is, I will certainly make a strong effort not to move! I had no idea.

-I will start doing more in-depth intros to show everyone who this person is and why the work they are doing is so incredible.

-This is great! And something I need to specifically strive for in every interview to challenge their ideas and make them validate their points.

-I will certainly start trying to bring the different perspectives into the interviews.


Thank you Paul for you continuously great feedback.

I would agree with Paul as well. You have had some great guests, keep up the great work!

Luke!  It was big fun - thanks for putting up with me and my awesome antlers.

And Toby Hemenway is up there somewhere too, right?

What does "sociocapitalist" mean, anyway?

Paul, I had a blast talking with you and definitely want to do it again!

Toby Hemenway did indeed do an interview, right here:

http://thesociocapitalist.com/2218/gaias-garden-toby-hemenway-interview/

As far as SocioCapitalist... It kind of sounds like sociopath or something disturbing like that doesn't it? (I guess if it didnt before, it will now).

The idea came from the need for socially driven/regulated capitalism. Basically they idea that pure capitalism and pure socialism are both bad, but they have good qualities that should not be forgotten. Thus... SocioCapitalism. But that domain was taken, and so we have www.TheSocioCapitalist.com.

What do you guys think of the name when you hear it?

Not liking sociopaths, and not being all that thrilled with capitalism, I'm not sure I like the word much!  Gives me automatic heebie-jeebies. 

"Socialism/Capitalism" is not really a binary opposition, Socialism is in fact a function *of* Capitalism. facepalm Marxist theory.

@Ludi Tyler

I'm not a fan of laissez-faire capitalism either. But the market, through competition for innovation, has brought us a lot of the advancements that almost all of us use on a daily basis.

The goal is to show people that the market can be harnessed so that the higher our GDP, the more good we are doing for us, our neighbors, and most importantly, our environment.

Excellent interviews, Mr. Callahan.

I thought it had something to do with economics with a focus on non-profits making the best in a capitalist society.

I definitely think there is a role for non-profits and foundations to play, but the big transformations have to come within organizations that are in business to make money.

The idea that businesses are bad for society and society is bad for business needs to change.


It's starting to happen with social enterprises all over the world. I will be doing more interviews in this realm soon and maybe even come up with a cool project at the end of the summer...

LukeMillerCallahan wrote:
The idea that businesses are bad for society and society is bad for business needs to change.

I've only spent a little bit of time on your site Luke, but I wholeheartedly agree with this quote and it makes me like your site that much more.

LukeMillerCallahan wrote:


The idea that businesses are bad for society and society is bad for business needs to change.

Does the idea need to change, or do business practices need to change?

Personally, I think ideas and practices are different things which feed into each other.  Ideas inform practices and practices reinforce ideas.

I'm bigger on practices than ideas my own self personally.  I'm sort of burned out on ideas and would like to see more in practice. 

H Ludi Tyler wrote:
Does the idea need to change, or do business practices need to change?

Both.  Corporations have been operating on a bottom line driven model that has led some companies to screw over society in one fashion or another for a long time.  It's only fair that profit-driven companies aren't always trusted.

Business models such as Triple Bottom Line seek to prove that this isn't the only way to run a profitable business.  Those are the companies that we should be supporting with our money, and those are the companies that we should be forming as entrepreneurs or farmers or however you identify yourself.

An easy example of a company like this is Tom's Shoes.  They are a for-profit company with a non-profit subsidiary.  They don't explicitly follow the triple bottom line model to my knowledge, but that is just one of many ways to operate a business that is good for people, planet, and profit all at once.

When these practices become more prevalent, society's ideas about businesses will change.

To everyone who likes the the interviews that I have been doing with leaders in Sustainable Development like  Paul Wheaton + Toby Hemenway, and more you may be interested to know... (drum roll please)


We have just changed the name to www.GroAction.com - The Proaction Hub for True Leaders

Check out the new page and let me know what you think!


@Ludi - The whole premise of the site is action! Hope you like it
@Kane- You are exactly right, I could not have said your ideas better myself.
@maikeru - Thank you, glad you like them. Let me know what other guests/subjects you would like to see.
@Rob - Thank you too!
@Paul -Thanks for the constructive criticism, and keep it coming! These interviews are a passive way to help me on my path of personal development. I would love to hear more of your input
@Mr. Wheaton - Thank you for the incredible interview. (and this great platform to connect!)

@All- Help me improve! Leave comments on the site/ here, email me (luke at groaction.com). Give me your feedback. Let me know which interviewees and subjects will be of most value to you. I am doing this to help add value to you


For those who like the site, I would really appreciate a "like" on facebook. That way we can be friends all over the internet
http://www.facebook.com/pages/GroAction/215195255184778

Luke,

I thought it was fun.  I especially like the opportunity to show off my antlers. 

I am drowning in my own projects, but if you want to do another podcast thing, I would be happy to schedule something (even if you feel a picture of me with antlers isn't worthy of your front page )

Paul,

I had a blast as well. We definitely have to do it again soon, maybe September?

So you're calling me out on not having you picture up huh? If design was my specialty you would have been up there from the get go antlers and all... I clearly need to get a new iteration with your mug integrated ASAP!

In the meantime, since Toby Hemenway seems to be all abuzz on the forum here's the interview I did with him a couple months ago.

http://groaction.com/discover/2218/gaias-garden-toby-hemenway-interview/

I am doing another interview with Paul Wheaton tomorrow. We don't have an agenda, we'll just go off your questions for him


Tell me your questions, and I'll ask it in the interview.


Just follow the link below and submit your question as a comment. That's it!

http://groaction.com/discover/3100/paul-wheaton-question/

Luke Miller Callahan wrote:
the big transformations have to come within organizations that are in business to make money.

The idea that businesses are bad for society and society is bad for business needs to change.

I agree Luke.  I think the problems arise when the government grants special privileges to a few and not to all.

I constantly preach 'level playing field' - so the the little guy and the big guy both have the same opportunity to do business without one or the other receiving special subsidies, tax breaks, access to the marketplace and the like.

Yes Jeanine!

I just did an interview with Gunter Pauli about the Blue Economy and he also preached the need to remove subsidies completely. He has some very good perspectives on how we should progress as a society.

I have always been of the mind that we should subsidize renewable energy, but really it was only to keep in competition with the oil and coal subsidies. With all government handouts removed, there would be a level playing field and clean energy would have equal oppurtunities.

Thanks for sharing your view! Here's that interview with Gunter Pauli if you're interested:

http://groaction.com/discover/2807/gunter-pauli-energy-production-blue-economy/

Hi all, I am doing an interview with David Holmgren about "Permaculture Principles applied in the Developed World."

I would love to hear your questions for him. If you submit them in the comments of the link below, I will certainly ask them in the interview.  The interview is on Monday (8/22/11) @ noon GMT. Thanks!

http://groaction.com/discover/3110/david-holmgren-interview-permaculture-principles/

Luke Miller Callahan asks me a gob of questions about permaculture stuff including lots of questions from his people.

I'm surprised Luke didn't bleep a lot of it out:  I was using the full beauty of the English language!

We talk about:  natives; lawns; "landscaping"; the third ethic; pie; backyard ponds; natural pools; aquaponics; raising chickens; my spectacular eyebrows; survival knowledge; SHTF; local vs. organic; if I were king; organic scale; mullein vs. knapweed ...

And I have antlers on for the video!

http://groaction.com/discover/3100/paul-wheaton-permaculture/

Thanks for the great interview Paul!

To all who have already seen Part 1, I apologize for the virus notice that comes up on one browsers. There was a bug with the site a couple weeks ago and I thought I had it all sorted out... but apparently not. We're working on the issue right now. Feel free to email me at luke at groaction.com if you have any comments on the matter.


Also, I published the second half of the interview today. Check it out here:

http://groaction.com/discover/3387/paul-wheaton-permaculture-part2/


Luke

I went and hit play, and it loaded up some page about computer games. 

So I tried it again and the second time it played okay.

Hey all,

I've just published an interview with David Holmgren about... Permaculture! We talk a lot about the transition away from a fossil fuel based society as well as the hidden potential of suburbia.

check it out and let me know what you think

http://groaction.com/discover/3110/david-holmgren-interview-permaculture-principles/