Voices of the New Economy

About Voices of the New Economy

Voices of the New Economy shares stories from the people, projects, and communities building a more just, sustainable, and democratic economy. Produced by the NENA (New Economy Network Australia) Storytelling Hub in partnership with the Humanitarian Changemakers Network, this podcast explores how Australians are reimagining work, enterprise, governance, and care — from community-owned energy to regenerative agriculture, social enterprises, cooperatives, and circular economies.

Publisher

New Economy Network Australia

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

31 Dec 2025

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

22 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   14 Oct 2026

   22. Could a Gift Economy Replace Capitalism? Rethinking Money, Work and the Future with Terry Leahy

   What if the biggest barrier to building a fair, sustainable society isn't capitalism alone—but money itself? For decades, sociologist Terry Leahy has explored one of the most radical ideas in the new economy movement: replacing monetary exchange with a gift economy built on cooperation, voluntary agreements and mutual care. While the idea may sound utopian at first, Terry argues that many of its foundations already exist in community-supported agriculture, cooperative projects and autonomous communities around the world. Our conversation explores why modern economies have become so dependent on endless growth, what everyday life might actually look like in a gift economy, and why Terry believes a post-growth future will require us to fundamentally rethink work, technology, consumption and our relationship with one another. Along the way we discuss anarchism, degrowth, abundance, community governance and the practical pathways that could help societies transition beyond capitalism. Voices of the New Economy is a collaborative storytelling project of NENA. The podcast is produced by the Humanitarian Changemakers Network (HCN), an Anchor Organisation of NENA, as part of its commitment to strengthening economic literacy, amplifying community innovation, and supporting pathways to systemic change. Each episode features researchers, practitioners, organisers, and everyday changemakers working across disciplines and communities to re-imagine how our economies can serve people and planet. LISTEN & EXPLORE FURTHER A full companion article for this episode is available here. Connect with NENA: Website (https://app.notion.com/p/1-Localisation-as-a-Direction-of-the-Economy-Why-Localisation-Matters-with-Henry-Coleman-2ac2fd8217b38073a7cacddbe4d78584?pvs=21), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/neweconomyaustralia), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/neweconomynetworkaus/), LinkedIn (https://au.linkedin.com/company/new-economy-network-australia) Connect with Humanitarian Changemakers Network (HCN): Website (https://humanitarianchangemakers.com), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/humanitarianchangemakers/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/humanitarianchangemakers), LinkedIn (https://au.linkedin.com/company/humanitarianchangemakers) Get involved: NENA members and friends are warmly invited to participate in the podcast — as interviewees, storytellers, or contributors to the NENA Storytelling Hub. To get involved, visit the Hub page or email: nena@neweconomy.org.au (mailto:nena@neweconomy.org.au)

2. 

   9 Oct 2026

   21. Banking, Climate Change and the Future of the Economy with Ruth Irwin

   In this thought-provoking conversation, philosopher and systems thinker Ruth Irwin explores why our economic system has become dependent on perpetual growth, how modern banking quietly fuels that growth, and why technological innovation alone cannot solve our ecological challenges. Ruth also challenges some of our deepest assumptions about progress, time and human society, drawing on Indigenous knowledge, systems thinking and ecological philosophy to imagine an economy built around interconnection rather than endless expansion. Ruth Irwin is a philosopher, systems thinker and researcher whose work explores the intersections of climate change, economics, banking, thermodynamics and social transformation. For more than three decades she has investigated the structural drivers of ecological crises, developing new ideas around entropy economics, post-growth futures and the role of banking in shaping modern economies. Ruth is the author of Economic Futures: Climate Change and Modernity, where she brings together philosophy, economics, Indigenous perspectives and systems thinking to reimagine how societies can thrive within ecological limits. Voices of the New Economy is a collaborative storytelling project of NENA. The podcast is produced by the Humanitarian Changemakers Network (HCN), an Anchor Organisation of NENA, as part of its commitment to strengthening economic literacy, amplifying community innovation, and supporting pathways to systemic change. Each episode features researchers, practitioners, organisers, and everyday changemakers working across disciplines and communities to re-imagine how our economies can serve people and planet. LISTEN & EXPLORE FURTHER A full companion article for this episode is available here. Connect with NENA: Website (https://app.notion.com/p/1-Localisation-as-a-Direction-of-the-Economy-Why-Localisation-Matters-with-Henry-Coleman-2ac2fd8217b38073a7cacddbe4d78584?pvs=21), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/neweconomyaustralia), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/neweconomynetworkaus/), LinkedIn (https://au.linkedin.com/company/new-economy-network-australia) Connect with Humanitarian Changemakers Network (HCN): Website (https://humanitarianchangemakers.com), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/humanitarianchangemakers/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/humanitarianchangemakers), LinkedIn (https://au.linkedin.com/company/humanitarianchangemakers) Get involved: NENA members and friends are warmly invited to participate in the podcast — as interviewees, storytellers, or contributors to the NENA Storytelling Hub. To get involved, visit the Hub page or email: nena@neweconomy.org.au (mailto:nena@neweconomy.org.au)

3. 

   22 Sept 2026

   20. Feeding the Future: Food Security, Local Communities and Global Cooperation with Saba Sinai

   How do we feed a world of 10 billion people in the face of climate change, conflict, resource constraints and increasingly complex global supply chains? Saba Sinai, Lecturer in Agriculture at CQUniversity, joins Voices of the New Economy to explore why the future of food security is about much more than simply producing more food. Drawing on his work at the intersection of agriculture and society, Saba examines how affordability, access, food waste, infrastructure, climate change and conflict shape who gets to eat — and why socioeconomic solutions need to sit alongside agricultural and technological ones. We explore the relationship between local and global food systems, why strong communities are essential to food security, how conflict can disrupt agriculture and turn food into a geopolitical issue, and why peace and international cooperation matter to the future of food. We also discuss humanity's relationship with the natural world, the resilience and ingenuity of farmers, and why creating a more secure food future ultimately requires us to think not only about the solutions we pursue, but how we work together to create them. Join Saba at ⁠Newkind Conference⁠ (https://www.newkindconference.com/) 2026: use the code NENA for 20% off registration. Voices of the New Economy is a collaborative storytelling project of NENA. The podcast is produced by the Humanitarian Changemakers Network (HCN), an Anchor Organisation of NENA, as part of its commitment to strengthening economic literacy, amplifying community innovation, and supporting pathways to systemic change. Each episode features researchers, practitioners, organisers, and everyday changemakers working across disciplines and communities to re-imagine how our economies can serve people and planet. LISTEN & EXPLORE FURTHER A full companion article for this episode is available here. Connect with NENA: Website (https://app.notion.com/p/1-Localisation-as-a-Direction-of-the-Economy-Why-Localisation-Matters-with-Henry-Coleman-2ac2fd8217b38073a7cacddbe4d78584?pvs=21), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/neweconomyaustralia), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/neweconomynetworkaus/), LinkedIn (https://au.linkedin.com/company/new-economy-network-australia) Connect with Humanitarian Changemakers Network (HCN): Website (https://humanitarianchangemakers.com), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/humanitarianchangemakers/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/humanitarianchangemakers), LinkedIn (https://au.linkedin.com/company/humanitarianchangemakers) Get involved: NENA members and friends are warmly invited to participate in the podcast — as interviewees, storytellers, or contributors to the NENA Storytelling Hub. To get involved, visit the Hub page or email: nena@neweconomy.org.au (mailto:nena@neweconomy.org.au)

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Spotify

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Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.